[img]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2010/11/7-12-07-fastinternet.jpg
[/img]
According to networking company Level 3 Communications, Comcast just
couldn't wait for its NBC deal to go through before getting all jerky
with the access to online video, telling Level 3 on November 19th that
it would need to pay a fee to deliver video to Comcast customers.
Level 3 delivers videos from many companies over its networks, but the
timing is particularly notable since on November 11th it signed up
bandwidth-chewing Netflix as a major customer. While this sounds like
exactly the kind of anti-net neutrality nonsense that makes us want to
crank some OK Go, Comcast has responded saying it's doing no such
thing, and it's actually Level 3 seeking a competitive advantage by
suddenly sending far more information onto Comcast's network than it
accepts. The cable company goes on to claim this situation is no
different than its existing deals with Level 3's competitors, and that
as long as traffic remains in balance it is willing to allow access
settlement free, but if they want to push their growth (read: Netflix)
onto Comcast's pipes, they'll have to pay up. We'll wait and see if
this is all just a simple negotiating ploy or a true strike in the
battle over net neutrality, but you may still want to get a refresher
course on exactly what net neutrality is all about from our friend Tim
Wu just in case.
No comments:
Post a Comment