In the complex and politically charged world of high-speed internet access, this is a landmark agreement. Traditionally, content providers like Netflix — which streams TV shows and movies over the net — have not paid for direct access to consumers who use home internet connections from ISPs like Comcast, and the move has sparked countless questions about what the arrangement means for the future of the internet, with many asking whether Comcast and other big internet providers will have too much control over what travels across the networks.

The wildcard here is that Comcast isn’t just a company that ultimately delivers services like Netflix. As the owner of TV and movie giant NBCUniversal, it also competes with services like Netflix. The concern is that Comcast has the power to quickly deliver its own content over its own network, while charging extra for others to use the network — a situation that could prevent smaller and newer outfits from competing.