Last Thursday, Verizon Communications sent the major video streaming website, Netflix, a cease-and-desist letter after they began to blame video slowdowns on Verizon’s Internet service.
If a user was watching Netflix on the Verizon network they would receive a statement saying “The Verizon network is crowded right now.” The first sighting of this was a tweet by Yuri Victor, who happens to be a Verizon FIOS user.
Verizon’s general counsel member, Randal S. Milch, wrote “Netflix’s false accusations have the potential to harm the Verizon brand in the marketplace,” and included that in a letter to Netflix.
Netflix has not made these accusations before and this is not seen on other internet networks. With their millions of users, Netflix has the potential to change customer’s opinions and perhaps have them switch carriers. With Verizon FIOS being one of the fastest internet providers in the United States, Netflix’s claim of a slowdown appears to be incorrect.
“As Netflix knows, there are many different factors that can affect traffic on the Internet, including choices by Netflix in how to connect its customers and deliver content to them, interconnection between multiple networks, and consumer in-home issues such as in-home wiring, Wi-Fi, and devices setting and capabilities,” Dave Hyman, from Verizon, stated.
Therefore, Hyman and Verizon are demanding that Netflix ceases all messages claiming Verizon is the issue for slowdowns. They are also asking for Netflix to provide them with proof to support their claim that Verizon is the issue here. “Failure to provide this information may lead us to pursue legal remedies.”
Oh snap, netflix. pic.twitter.com/wMfavoHOyj
— Yuri Victor ♥ (@yurivictor) June 4, 2014
Surprisingly, Netflix is putting up a fight against the $120 billion company. They claim that “this is about consumers not getting what they paid for from their broadband provider. We are trying to provide more transparency, just like we do with the Netflix ISP Speed Index, and Verizon is trying to shut down that discussion.”
With Verizon offering some of the fastest internet in the country and Verizon FIOS being only in certain areas of the country, I believe Netflix’s actions are incorrect. If anything, a company such as Time Warner Cable, would be a crowded network with their millions of users. I believe if Netflix attempts to fight Verizon in this battle they will end up in a falling spiral.
© 2014 techsupportforum.com
1 Comment
Well Netflix must have some proof or they wouldn’t be going through all this trouble. I don’t think they are targeting Verizon.