Both Roadrunner and Cogent users are complaining about a level 3 decision to turn off public peering with Cogent, likely because of an ongoing peering and contract spat. As a result, many broadband users can't hit websites such as Photo Bucket or The Drudge Report. Customers who call in for support are being told that the network partners are working on a resolution, but aren't given an ETA.

Some additional information is available on the NANOG newsgroup, where Cogent is blaming Level3, and Level3 is blaming Cogent. The official statement from Cogent:

"As of 5:30 am EDT, October 5th, Level(3) terminated peering with Cogent without cause (as permitted under its peering agreement with Cogent) even though both Cogent and Level(3) remained in full compliance with the previously existing interconnection agreement. Cogent has left the peering circuits open in the hope that Level(3) will change its mind and allow traffic to be exchanged between our networks. We are extending a special offering to single homed Level 3 customers.

Cogent will offer any Level 3 customer, who is single homed to the Level 3 network on the date of this notice, one year of full Internet transit free of charge at the same bandwidth currently being supplied by Level 3. Cogent will provide this connectivity in over 1,000 locations throughout North America and Europe.

However a large number of users heap the blame for the cutoff squarely in the lap of Cogent, who has a bit of a sketchy history when it comes to peering arrangements. One of our users hits it cleanly on the head.