MSO says Level 3 walked away when Comcast wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome without first testing a 'different architectural approach'

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

December 17, 2010

3 Min Read
Comcast: Level 3 Balks at Trial Offer

Just when Level 3 Communications Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) and Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) appeared to have found some common ground on their dispute over network traffic sharing, a blog post has revealed that the two sides remain at odds over dollars and cents as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) draws closer to its vote on new network neutrality rules.

The dispute between the companies took another turn Thursday night when Comcast posted an update on the matter, claiming it offered to test out a "different architectural approach" put together by the two companies, but Level 3, the MSO said, balked at the idea when the MSO declined to agree to a "'zero cost' outcome" until it could gauge the results of the proposed trial.

According to John Schanz, Comcast's EVP of national engineering and technical operations, the two sides held several face-to-face meetings during a 48-hour period, coming up with a "potential new and different architectural approach that we proposed to trial with Level 3 as soon as next month."

Schanz didn't divulge any of technical details on this newly crafted option, which would represent "a significant shift of Internet infrastructure." But he did allow that the approach would require a "mutual and relatively modest investment" that would help both sides "better understand the traffic, routing, and economic considerations."

Comcast, he said, offered to keep the new agreement between the companies, which is the subject of the kerfuffle, at "no cost" until both companies could glean the actual costs of the new approach.

While that indicates that progress was being made, "Level 3 chose to leave the meeting when we wouldn't agree to a 'zero cost' outcome without the benefit of a trial and the opportunity to understand -- with Level 3 -- the full implications of the new approach, including the impact on our mutual customers," Schanz added.

Level 3 did not have an immediate response to Comcast's progress report.

Why this matters
Comcast and Level 3 are at odds regarding the fundamental basis of the imbroglio. Comcast insists it's just a run-of-the-mill peering dispute following Level 3's new deal to carry Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) traffic, a deal that will end up dumping more traffic on the MSO's networks than Comcast is sending to Level 3's. Level 3 claims Comcast is violating net neutrality rules, alleging that the MSO's intention is to create "toll booth" for competitive over-the-top video services.

This fight entered public view just weeks before the FCC was set to vote on a new set of new network neutrality rules, which will reportedly be a slam dunk when the agency meets on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Level 3 also aired its original complaint as Comcast hopes to close its NBC Universal acquisition without being hit with a flood of troublesome conditions.

For more
For more on how all the punches have been traded so far, please check out the following stories:



  • Level 3: This Is Not a Peering Dispute

  • Level 3 Sticks to Its Guns

  • Did Level 3 Know What It Was Getting Into?

  • Level 3: Comcast Erected Web Video 'Toll Booth'



— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Light Reading Cable



About the Author(s)

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

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