US telecoms infrastructure company Level 3 Communications has asked the FCC to add a condition on cableco Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal (NBCU) that would ensure “unfettered access” to internet content, according to reports.
Level 3 has sent a…
US telecoms infrastructure company Level 3 Communications has asked the FCC to add a condition on cableco Comcast’s acquisition of NBC Universal (NBCU) that would ensure “unfettered access” to internet content, according to reports.
Level 3 has sent a letter to the FCC and the Department of Justice, suggesting that they add a provision to the Comcast-NBCU deal that would stop Comcast from charging unfair rates to internet backbone carriers to use their service, reported Reuters.
The group provides internet backbone services, but also delivers content to customers through film – and TV – streaming services like Netflix. It has criticised Comcast over the cableco’s decision to charge Level 3 to send content over its network.
The argument is being seen as a test case in the wider debate on net neutrality.
Level 3 released a statement in November that accused Comcast of running “an internet toll booth” by charging fees to carry content.
Comcast said that the fees were justified because there had been a doubling of the amount it was being asked to handle on behalf of Level 3. This meant that it was asked to carry five times more traffic for Level 3 as it sent in the other direction.
