Is Comcast Ruining the Internet?
Fantastic summary from the Atlantic Wire. Basically, Level 3 is a jerk, but Comcast could easily be perceived as one.
Level 3 made a gutsy bet that Comcast protesting against the immense volume of traffic they’re throwing Comcast’s way (remember, Netflix alone is the biggest traffic generator in the US) would be perceived as an anti-competitive action since Level 3’s data compete’s with Comcast’s other products.
This isn’t the clear Net Neutrality battle we’d like. In fact, it threatens to screw Net Neutrality either way it goes. Either Level 3 cedes to Comcast’s bill and potentially establishes precent for traffic metering or Comcast lets Level 3 slide (voluntarily or not) and structures all future deals with this situation in mind, upping costs for smaller start ups to come.
And for the record: I was wrong.
