For those who question whether Netflix is willing to fight to keep net neutrality in place, the streaming giant has made itself clear. It’s willing to go to court to battle the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Less than a month after three members of the FCC repealed net neutrality, which ensures that all internet traffic is treated equally, the Internet Association—a trade association that represents internet companies in public policy—said in a statement that it planned to “act as an intervenor in judicial action against this order.”
Netflix was a little more blunt about its intentions.
In 2018, the Internet is united in defense of #NetNeutrality. As for the FCC, we will see you in court. https://t.co/Ucf4H1xhne
— Netflix (@netflix) January 5, 2018
Though Netflix has long been a supporter of net neutrality, it has also been accused of stepping back from the fight, especially since it’s become a streaming giant and because it can afford to pay whatever it needs to have the fastest broadband service. In fact, CEO Reed Hastings said at a conference this summer that, “We’re big enough to get the deals we want.”
But Netflix kept up the pressure after the FCC voted along party plans to repeal net neutrality (three Republicans voted to end it; two Democrats voted to keep it).
We’re disappointed in the decision to gut #NetNeutrality protections that ushered in an unprecedented era of innovation, creativity & civic engagement. This is the beginning of a longer legal battle. Netflix stands w/ innovators, large & small, to oppose this misguided FCC order.
— Netflix (@netflix) December 14, 2017
This isn't only about Netflix. Without #NetNeutrality, we would never have been able to grow into the business we have today. There's a whole future of startups that deserve that chance.
— Netflix (@netflix) December 14, 2017
Though Hastings said this summer that net neutrality wasn’t the company’s “primary battle,” net neutrality advocates can take heart that the fight is still awfully important to Netflix.
H/T the Wrap