I agree - I almost edited my post to say something similar but decided against it.

If it is to allow Comcast to invest in additional capacity then it doesn't seem that wrong. If Comcast were doing something to purposely hinder Netflix traffic then that would be an issue. It could be difficult to prove that they chose to put Netflix traffic over congested links as a way to blackmail Netflix into paying out.

I think there is more behind this story than either Comcast or Netflix will admit to.

No, that's all it is - Comcast slowing down Netflix to force them to pay. It's easily shown by http://ispspeedindex.netflix.com/

But does that prove that they are actually slowing Netflix or just that they are investing less than the other ISPs. Without seeing that Netflix is directly worse than other parts of the internet than that page does not prove they are deliberately slowing Netflix compared to other sites/protocols.

You seem to think they are in competition with other ISPs. It has already been pointed out that the US market doesn't work like that.

I never said that. You are suggesting that they are slowing things down and using speeds of other ISPs to show that. The link you posted does not prove intent to slow Netflix down to allow them to extort money

That's exactly what it shows. They will now rise through the ratings as Netflix are paying.

Sorry, I disagree. Net neutrality is about everything being treated equally - so if Comcast have underinvested in capacity then everything will be performing slowly - that website gives no proof one way or the other.

By Netflix paying Comcast presumably will invest in capacity just for Netflix meaning reserved bandwidth available. And the moment they do that they are no longer neutral as they are providing a better service for Netflix than for everything else

Therefore netflix have the cash to be able to make their service better and therefore could stop other niche/new providers from getting started - exactly what Netflix say they don't want to do

You clearly don't understand Net Neutrality

Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers and governments should treat all data on the Internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, and modes of communication.

This is exactly what has happened.

I do understand it but seem to see it differently

I have seen no evidence that Netflix traffic was not treated the same way as all other traffic on Comcast. However, by Netflix paying they are looking to get an increased level of service.

How is Netflix paying to get their traffic higher priority than other traffic not against net neutrality?

So before Netflix paid Comcast was being neutral (or there is no evidence proving they aren't). Post them paying they are getting higher priority and therefor no longer neutral. But Netflix are saying they want net neutrality.

In reply to a post by ian72:

How is Netflix paying to get their traffic higher priority than other traffic not against net neutrality?

It is against net neutrality, which is why Netflix are complaining.