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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNetflix Just Opened the Door to Paying ISPs More Access Fees
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-21/netflix-just-opened-the-door-to-paying-isps-more-access-fees?google_editors_picks=trueNetflix (NFLX) Chief Executive Officer Reed Hastings is seeking your help to keep Internet service providers from charging higher fees to stream all the video its customers watch. In the process, he may have just opened his wallet to any Cox, Time Warner Cable (TWC), Verizon Communications (VZ), or AT&T (T) across the nation.
In a blog post on Thursday, Hastings said the companys recent decision to pay Comcast (CMCSA) millions in access fees arose from a degradation of the cable providers handling of Netflix data. That led to streaming glitches and other problems for Netflix customers, a situation that has also been reported by Verizons FiOS customers. After its payment to Comcast last month, Hastings wrote, our members are now getting a good experience again.
However, in the process of agitating for new, tougher net-neutrality rules, Hastings may have validated that same strategy for other ISPs: Throttle Netflix streaming until its unwatchable, and wait for the video service to write you a check. Net neutrality means that the companies controlling the infrastructure of the Internet cant treat different kinds of Web activity differently. Netflix believes strong net neutrality is critical, but in the near term we will in cases pay the toll to the powerful ISPs to protect our consumer experience, Hastings wrote.
Given the tone of the postand the issues high profile in WashingtonComcast responded swiftly, saying that companies such as Netflix have always paid for their interconnection to the Internet and can guarantee good performance for a fair price. We are happy that Comcast and Netflix were able to reach an amicable, market-based solution to our interconnection issues and believe that our agreement demonstrates the effectiveness of the market as a mechanism to deal with these matters, Comcast Executive Vice President David Cohen said.
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Netflix Just Opened the Door to Paying ISPs More Access Fees (Original Post)
steve2470
Mar 2014
OP
lostincalifornia
(3,639 posts)1. If he really believed in net neutrality he should have fought it
Fantastic Anarchist
(7,309 posts)2. Fucking ridiculous.
Fuck ... is there anything that isn't up for sale anymore?