Is Comcast Hustling Netflix Partner?

The legal battle surrounding web neutrality has just been given a fresh case that could have a significant impact on the future of web based television streaming services. The nation’s largest cable provider, Comcast, is demanding internet providers pay extra fees to allow streaming services to their customers.

The move from Comcast now requires a major internet provider, Level 3 Communications, to pay extra fees in order to provide customers with web TV streaming services. The move strikes a blow to Netflix in particular, who relies heavily upon Level 3 to deliver their streaming movies.

Comcast’s decision threatens the open nature of the internet, and their decision to charge extra fees to deliver streaming services has been likened to a toll booth. The cable provider’s move is viewed by many as an abuse of its dominant position in the cable industry in the interest of protecting the services they provide to customers.