Netflix Backs Away From Fight Over Internet Rules Now That Traffic is Flowing

Netflix helped spark the debate over net neutrality three years ago by raising concerns about how its internet traffic was being handled. But as the US government prepares to repeal the rules, the video giant has been less vocal on a key issue. That is because its concerns over so-called interconnections—the places where web traffic is passed from one company to the other—have largely been addressed by commercial deals. And some telecom and other companies that were calling for more government oversight of these links have stepped back from the discussion. Netflix, after serving as the standard-bearer for the FCC’s stronger rules to protect web companies from unfair treatment by carriers, says it is less at risk now that it is big enough to strike favorable deals with telecom companies. The company did just that, reaching several deals in recent years to pay broadband providers for ample bandwidth into their networks. “Where net neutrality is really important is the Netflix of 10 years ago,” Chief Executive Reed Hastings said. “It’s not our primary battle at this point.” Netflix has since eclipsed many of the broadband providers it once battled. Its domestic subscriber based has doubled over the past four years to 53 million, while its market value quadrupled to about $80 billion.