Opinion ID: 3046525
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: DEALINGS BETWEEN COMCAST AND LSSi

Text: LSSi is a certified LEC and a provider of directory assistance services, call completion services, data aggregation services, and other services to telecommunications carriers. It thus participates in the last two stages of providing directory assistance: fashioning data into a usable database, and using the database to provide directory assistance services to customers. On May 15, 2007, Comcast and LSSi entered into an agreement by which Comcast provided access to its raw directory listing data in exchange for LSSi helping to process and distribute that data. The 2007 agreement was renewable year-upon-year, and either party could decide not to renew the agreement so long as they gave thirty days notice before termination. On April 14, 2011, Comcast sent LSSi a letter terminating their arrangement. Consistent with the requirements of the 2007 agreement, Comcast informed LSSi that it would cease providing its raw customer data directly to LSSi 5 Case: 11-12221 Date Filed: 09/26/2012 Page: 6 of 19 effective May 15, 2011. Instead of its prior arrangement with LSSi, Comcast now has a contract with Targus, making Targus the exclusive collator, distributor, and processor of its data. Under this new arrangement, if LSSi wishes to continue accessing Comcast’s data, then LSSi will have to enter into an agreement with Targus to purchase that access. According to Comcast, its own customers receive directory assistance services from a company called “kgb USA,” and kgb USA will access Comcast’s DALD from Targus at the same rates, terms, and conditions as all other directory assistance service providers, including LSSi. Thus far, Comcast has not disclosed the terms of its agreement with Targus, or the terms of the license agreement between Targus and kgb USA.