Cablevision Systems has sued Verizon Communications for allegedly running advertising that misrepresents Cablevision’s Internet speeds, based on old info. The TV, radio, direct mail and Internet spots claim that a “just released” FCC study shows Cablevision delivers at most 59% of its advertised speeds during peak hours, according to the complaint filed 12/7 in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.
“The FCC report cited in Verizon’s ads reported the results of speed tests performed in March 2011,” Cablevision said in its complaint. “Cablevision has made significant upgrades to its broadband network in 2011 that render the March 2011 results obsolete.”
The FCC issued a public announcement that Cablevision’s results in the August report on the March tests are outdated, Cablevision said. Cablevision is asking the court to force Verizon to pull the ads and to award unspecified damages.
Verizon’s ads are based on the FCC’s months-long study of Internet speeds released in August, Bill Kula, a spokesman for Verizon, told Bloomberg: “In terms of the accuracy of its advertising, Cablevision was the worst,” Kula said in an e-mailed statement. “Verizon will defend Cablevision’s lawsuit vigorously to ensure that consumers continue to receive truthful information about Cablevision’s misleading Internet speed claims.”
