Comcast has begun imposing a fee on Netflix middleman Level 3

[dkf]

Comcast Corp. has begun imposing a fee on Internet middleman Level 3 Communications Inc., one of the companies that Netflix Inc. has hired to deliver movies and TV shows to Web customers.

Comcast, the largest U.S. cable TV company, has set up an Internet “toll booth,” charging Level 3 whenever customers request content, the Broomfield, Colorado-based company said in a statement yesterday.

Level 3 plans to complain to U.S. regulators who may enact so-called net-neutrality rules next month. The Federal Communications Commission is seeking to bar phone and cable providers from interfering with legal traffic on their networks. The rules are backed by President Barack Obama and companies led by Google Inc., EBay Inc. and IAC/InterActiveCorp. Phone and cable companies say rules aren’t needed and may hurt investment.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-30/comcast-starts-online-video-toll-booth-netflix-web-partner-level-3-says.html

[sakabatou]

1. Those bastards at Comcast

[villager]

2. as long as people remain dutiful Comcast customers, they'll keep doing it...

If people started cancelling their "service," then maybe the company would notice...

[ohheckyeah]

4. My only alternative is to go back to dial up...

that isn't going to happen. Comcast may suck, but dial up sucks the big one. I work over the internet and I could do that with dialup.

[Angleae]

13. And out other choices are?

My only other broadband choice is Verizon and they can't even keep the phone working (I kid you not, when the phone went dead, the only thing they wanted to talk about is how I can fix it myself).

[Poll_Blind]

3. In my neck of the woods, QWest has been snapping up dissatisfied Comcast customers left and right.

I steer people away from that bullshit every chance I get.

PB

[Iwillnevergiveup]

5. That's good to hear

Kinda like the banks - drop 'em. Netflix is a great endeavor with service not many companies provide.

[the redcoat]

6. Hahaha, "rules aren’t needed and may hurt investment."

Well if that hasn't been the corporate stance on deregulation since...forever...then I don't know what has.

[pam4water]

7. Comcast is already gouging the hell out of it's cable customers. Does it need everyone money?

[Skittles]

8. corporations rule now

just who the fuck is going to stop them?

[Lance_Boyle]

11. other corporations

I'd expect the company(ies?) Comcast is trying to gouge for double pay here will not like it. Maybe they'll buy some congresspeople to do their bidding, too.

[SoCalDem]

9. I swear by Dish..

But then we are not "movie people", and are willing to wait until HBO or Showtime shows a movie..

[ET Awful]

10. Has nothing to do with this article though . . . this is about streaming video

and internet services.

That said, Comcast is my only choice for high speed internet, but for TV I use DirectTV.

[Enthusiast]

12. Me too. nt