Netflix bulks up K St. help

By Megan R. Wilson - 08/08/14 12:37 PM EDT
Netflix bulks up K St. help
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Netflix has hired its first outside lobbying firm since terminating all of its K Street help last year.

The online content provider has signed up Scott Corley, previously an aide to former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.), and his firm Corley Consulting, according to forms filed with the Senate. 

Though the disclosure reports appeared this week, the firm has been working for Netflix since May. It’s dealing with a wide range of tech issues, including “video on-demand; broadband, telecommunications mergers; interconnection [and] net neutrality,” according to the reports.

"We periodically hire consultants to help us work on specific issues," a company spokeswoman told The Hill on Friday.

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At one point, Netflix had four powerhouse firms on its roster: Monument Policy Group, Franklin Square Group, Kountoupes Denham and Greenberg Traurig. It began to shed the firms in 2012 and finished the job in the first three months of 2013, turning its lobbying operation insular.

Now, with several tech battles brewing, it appears that Netflix is staffing back up -- if only potentially for a short while. 

The company has been among the most vocal tech companies in the battle over net neutrality rules and has criticized interconnection deals, which it has signed to ensure users have quick access to its videos. 
 
Last month, the company responded strongly to a Federal Communications Commission proposal on net neutrality. 
 
"No rules would be better than rules legalizing discrimination on the Internet," it said in a long letter to the FCC, which critics said would offer “fast lanes” for some providers.
 
The company spent $600,000 on its in-house lobbying operation in the first half of 2014 and $1.2 million during all last year. In 2012, when it had all four other firms on retainer, it spent about $1.03 million — still a far cry from the $20,000 it spent in 2009. 
 
Corley Consulting also represents Microsoft, Intel and Oracle, among others.
 
 
Updated at 1:57 p.m.
Tags Netflix Corley Consulting