Netflix Exec Now Says It Didn’t Actually Want FCC to Regulate Broadband So Heavily

Netflix CFO David Wells, in comments at an industry conference, appeared to backtrack on the company’s previous position that broadband Internet service should be regulated by the US government as a telecommunications utility -- but Netflix later said that its position remained unchanged on the issue. Wells said the company wasn’t happy with the Federal Communications Commission move. He said that, while the streaming-video company wanted to see “strong” net neutrality measures to ensure content providers would be protected against Internet service providers charging arbitrary interconnection fees, Netflix would have preferred a lighter regulatory touch.

“Were we pleased it pushed to Title II? Probably not,” Wells said. “We were hoping there would be a non-regulated solution.” Asked for clarification, a Netflix rep said there has been no change in the company’s stance: “Netflix supports the FCC’s action last week to adopt Title II in ensuring consumers get the Internet they paid for without interference by ISPs. There has been zero change in our very well-documented position in support of strong net neutrality rules.”