Feud-sparked Net outage ends

After nearly three days of sporadic Net blackouts sparked by a billing dispute between backbone network providers Level 3 Communications and Cogent Communications, data seems once again to be flowing normally between the two networks.

Level 3 had cut off a direct connection between the two companies' networks on Wednesday, preventing each companies' customers from reaching Web sites or sending email to people on the other network. Thousands of people, including subscribers to Time Warner's Road Runner cable modem service, were affected.

The connection was restored late Friday afternoon, after growing calls by consumer groups and some political figures for government oversight.

Update: In a statement, Level 3 said that it has restored the connection only temporarily, in order to allow Cogent and its customers to make alternative arrangements. The company will sever the link between the networks again at 6:00 am E.T. on November 9, it said.