Video-streaming powerhouse Netflix was one of the main corporate proponents of the Federal Communications Commission's recent move to enforce net neutrality. But on March 4, at an investor conference in New York, Netflix CFO David Wells said his company was "probably not" pleased the FCC had reclassified broadband internet as a Title II utility. "We were hoping there might be a non-regulated solution to it."
That prompted some gloating from net neutrality opponents. "Netflix Recants on Obamanet," wrote L. Gordon Crovitz at The Wall Street Journal. AT&T issued a statement from its top lobbyist, Jim Cicconi, saying it was "awfully hard to believe" that Wells would "go into a major investor conference and misspeak on an issue supposedly so crucial to their future." More likely, Cicconi said, "he had an attack of candor. At least 'til his company's lobbyists got hold of him."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Test of faith for Trump Media's investors'Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
-
Fallout: one of the 'most faithful – and best – video game adaptations'The Week Recommends This 'genre-bending' new Amazon series is set in a post-apocalyptic wilderness where survivors shelter below ground
-
Will Iran attack hinder support for Ukraine?Today's Big Question Pro-Kyiv allies cry 'hypocrisy' and 'double standards' even as the US readies new support package
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
