At a Meeting Organized by Lawmakers
Netflix reiterated on Nov. 25 its stance against paying network usage fees to internet service providers (ISPs). Netflix is having a legal battle with SK Broadband with regard to the Korean ISP’s demand that it pay network usage fees.
Rep. Kim Sang-hee, deputy speaker of the National Assembly and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Rep. Kim Young-shik of the main opposition People Power Party, held a meeting to hear the opinions of Netflix, domestic stakeholders, regulators and expert groups.
Thomas Volmer, a director of global content delivery policy at Netflix, refuted the claim that Netflix pays network usage fees to ISPs outside Korea. He asserted that the company might have done so in the past but not any longer.
Volmer reiterated Netflix’s policy against paying network usage fees, saying that the company cannot treat Korean ISPs differently.
Volmer took the same position as Dean Garfield, vice president responsible for global public policy at Netflix who visited Korea in early November. At that time, Garfield contacted Korean government officials, lawmakers, and media outlets to explain the global OTT giant’s policy against paying for network use.