Netflix Won't Back Down In Claiming Verizon Delivers Slow Speeds

Netflix Inc.

once again claimed Monday that Verizon Communications Inc.

is offering declining Internet connection speeds. Verizon demanded in June that Netflix stop publishing its monthly so-called ISP Speed Index, but Netflix declined. Netflix's June index, published Monday said Verizon "continued its decline, dropping another two spots to number 12" on a ranking of 16 Internet service providers. Netflix says the rankings are based on data from 48 million members . "A faster network generally means a better picture quality, quicker start times and fewer interruptions." But Verizon last week blamed Netflix for its low position on the list. "For whatever reason (perhaps to cut costs and improve its profitability), Netflix did not make arrangements to deliver this massive amount of traffic through connections that can handle it," Verizon's regulatory affairs chief David Young said in a blog post. Along with Verizon, Netflix said AT&T Inc.'s

U-verse ranks below DSL offerings from Frontier Communications Corp.

Windstream

and CenturyLink, Inc.

. Continue to lead Netflix' index and showing improvements over the last three months are Cablevision Systems Corp.

and privately held Cox Communications and Suddenlink.