Netflix didn’t just cave to Comcast’s demands for direct access to its cable subscribers. The movie streaming service also worked out a deal with Verizon today.
"We have reached an interconnect arrangement with Verizon that we hope will improve performance for our joint customers over the coming months," said a Netflix spokesperson.
That means while Netflix rallies against what it has in the past called “ISP trolls” for violating unenforceable net neutrality rules, it’s paying those same trolls undisclosed sums of money.
This bitter-sweet move for tortured Verizon FiOS customers comes at the same time the FCC is prepping new rules that are said to allow ISPs to charge for faster access in some cases.
That’s something that Netflix opposes and it betrays the original intent of the open internet rules that previously made net neutrality effective against throttling.
Paying the piper
Today’s Netflix deal with Verizon isn’t unexpected. In fact, AT&T wants in on the ability to charge Netflix for faster distribution to its U-Verse subscribers too.
ISPs are double dipping by charging their customers for access to Netflix and, now, charging Netflix to access to their customers or face slower speeds. But this ransom did end peacefully.
Comcast subscribers saw a Netflix streaming speeds increase by 65%, meaning more and more ISPs are likely to follow suit.
For more streaming options, check out our Amazon Fire TV review
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