Premium broadband services are simply prioritized delivery services offered by a broadband service provider in conjunction with an InterStream Mediated Bandwidth Agreement. The InterStream MBA defines standard terms for providers and members in the economy. An InterStream MBA is an extension of standard peering and transityagreements made between network providers and content providers. Mediated Bandwidth Agreement enables additional service levels beyond "best-effort" service level so that a broadband provider may receive incremental payment traffic receiving guaranteed service. Payments for the guaranteed service are held in escrow by nuMetra until the transaction completes and has met the service level required.

nuMetra, InterStream's Escrow & Metering provider, also enables this service via technology known as TCP Mustang.  Under this arrangement, ordinary peering agreements may be used with nuMetra's technology. TCP Mustang packet scheduling algorithms designed to mediate the network and enable InterStream Transit providers to properly offer downstream broadband connections with measurable quality. InterStream broadband providers who have signed the InterStream escrowed settlement agreement may license nuMetra's stateless mediation contoroller technology.  nuMetra's technology insures that downstream bottlenecks provide fair service to all flows while providing guaranteed levels of service for the ISTP streams using industry association set metrics.  In essence, the combination of InterStream and nuMetra allow broadband providers to maximize the billable capacity of their networks while measurably improving the quality of experience for their users.

Contractual Agreements: Published Rack-Rate, Private Preferred, and Open Market Pricing

Depending on which jurisdiction the MBA is administered, broadband service providers may independently set the prices of their premium services or charge their subscribers a flat-rate premium for InterStream service. 

Currently, leading experts in net neutrality, telecom law, and media, are defining the terms of this agreement for specific jurisdictions where law or public policy mandates incremental fees to be paid only by broadband consumers. This agreement may include  simple provisions for broadband providers to charge a flat rate fee for branded ISTP service if they meet the association quality requirements.

In addition, other types of  pricing agrements may be established in other jurisdictions; Specifically there are three tiers of proposed pricing: a published rack-rate price, an open market price, and a private preferred price. Rack-rate pricing enables anyone using ISTP to stream with high quality by purchasing bandwidth in the system. Open market prices are intended to offer high quality streaming services to those content companies who wish to participate as members of the InterStream association. They may directly negotiate their prices with any InterStream broadband provider. Private, or preferred pricing agreements, are intended to be directly negotiated between the escrow and metering company and broadband providers. The preferred pricing is offered to a "buyers club" of InterStream charter members.

The InterStream Escrow system is “blind” to any specific transaction price, but will track aggregate discounts, provided by all broadband service providers to all ISTP account holders.