In a partnership initially established in February, the "official Live Video and Content Delivery Services provider" will support the distribution of both traditional broadcast and online viewing of the convention throughout the four-day event, including the first-ever live HD streaming of the convention, according to the Level 3 website.

Specifically, Level 3 says it will deliver HD and analog video feeds to national and international TV networks, live online video streaming as well as on-demand video content to enable viewers to watch convention content according to their personal preferences.

Based on the schedule on the DNCC website, some of the content that can be expected to come out of the convention include speeches from Michelle Obama, Jessie Jackson Jr., Senator Hillary Clinton and former president Bill Clinton as well as musical performances by John Legend and the Colorado Children's Chorale.

In preparation for the convention, Level 3 says it has installed more than five miles of fiber optic cable to connect both the Pepsi Center and Invesco Field to the Level 3 network. Level 3 has also established fiber route diversity from each venue, redundant video encoding facilities and enhanced network security to ensure network performance throughout this event.

Level 3 has a comprehensive animated demo on its website, outlining the entire route the video will take from the filming of live convention footage, to the aggregation of video in the Level 3 network, to the live broadcast on television and the Internet.

A screencap of the animation on Level 3's website (to view the animation, click here).

"The 2008 Democratic National Convention provides a showcase for our services and offers an important opportunity to use technology in new ways to provide millions of people with a virtual 'all-access' pass to this historic event," says Grant van Rooyen, president of Level 3's content markets group. "Since 2004, the Internet is different, conventions are different and the public appetite for information is different. Level 3 is pleased to be supporting the convention and helping more people to engage in the political process than ever before."

As an official provider for the convention, Level 3 says it brings a long-standing history in support of live events, like the Super Bowl, and political coverage including prior broadcast coverage of conventions, election debates and the annual State of the Union address.

The 2008 Democratic National Convention is expected to pump an estimated $160 million into the Denver area's economy and draw approximately 35,000 visitors to the region.

The convention has also been pegged as the "greenest political convention in history."