Netflix forms PAC for donating to candidates

The video rental and streaming company Netflix has formed a political action committee (PAC) for donating to candidates.

Christopher Libertelli will be the treasurer for the “Lobbyist/Registrant PAC” and Kate Gabler will be the custodian of records. Libertelli works out of Washington as the head of global government relations for Netflix, while Gabler and the PAC are based out of Los Gatos, Calif.

Netflix did not immediately return request for comment about the PAC.

The PAC registered with the Federal Election Commission last week, and adds to Netflix’s growing presence in Washington, D.C. The company has been active in lobbying since 2005, working with a number of K Street’s top firms, including Patton Boggs.  

Netflix spent $175,000 on lobbying in the fourth quarter of 2011, retaining outside firms Kountoupes Consulting, Monument Policy Group and Franklin Square Group.

Among the issues Netflix lobbied on last quarter was the Video Privacy Protection Act, a 1988 law that bans the sharing of video rental information without the consumers' consent.

Netflix argues the law should be amended to allow users to opt in to automatically and share their viewing habits on social networks like Facebook. Users can already share the songs they listen to and the articles they read.

Brendan Sasso contributed to this report.

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