The Comcast-Netflix paid peering agreement (CD Feb 25...

The Comcast-Netflix paid peering agreement (CD Feb 25 p2) deserves “a hard look” at the FCC and Justice Department, said Consumers Union, which opposes Comcast’s plan to buy Time Warner Cable for about $45 billion, in a Wednesday news release (http://xrl.us/bqn6bt). Comcast broadband subscribers with problems streaming Netflix had sought faster connections from the operator at higher prices, after the operator possibly violated FCC net neutrality rules on ISPs’ transparency about network management practices, wrote CU to the commission (http://xrl.us/bqn6bn) and DOJ (http://xrl.us/bqn6bp). Such traffic “degradation” may have violated the DOJ consent decree and FCC order letting Comcast buy control of NBCUniversal, wrote CU Policy Counsel Delara Derakhshani Tuesday to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Attorney General Eric Holder. The peering deal with Netflix “raises serious concerns about the clout of Comcast,” amid reports Verizon may strike a similar Netflix deal, she wrote. Comcast and Netflix representatives had no comment.