The New York attorney general has launched an investigation to determine whether three major Internet service providers (ISPs) are short-changing customers by overcharging them for slower internet than what they’re promised.

“New Yorkers deserve the Internet speeds they pay for. But, it turns out, many of us may be paying for one thing, and getting another,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.

Three letters were sent to Verizon Communications Inc., Cablevision Systems Corp., and Time Warner Cable Inc., respectively, asking each company to provide documents of the disclosures with its customers. The attorney general also requested copies of internet speed tests.

The AG’s office is conducting the investigation out of concern that ISPs are charging their customers premium rates for less-than-premium service. The ISP companies are naturally denying that they skimp their products to customers, but customers experiencing lackluster internet on premium plans is all too common.

Investigators will focus on “interconnection arrangements” that ISPs strike with other network for mutual exchange of data. Customers usually suffer in this arrangement.

For more on this story, visit the Huffington PostNew York Launches Investigation Into Major Internet Providers Over Connection Speeds”

Farron Cousins is the executive editor of The Trial Lawyer magazine and a contributing writer at DeSmogBlog.com. He is the co-host / guest host for Ring of Fire Radio. His writings have appeared on Alternet, Truthout, and The Huffington Post. Farron received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of West Florida in 2005 and became a member of American MENSA in 2009. Follow him on Twitter @farronbalanced