Netflix gets friendly with consumer groups for lobby support

Netflix is cozying up to some of the city’s leading consumer advocacy groups as it builds up its lobbying presence in Washington. The fast-growing media company, which hired its first in-house lobbyist earlier this year and has seen its share value go through the roof, is trying to build partnerships with telecom reform gurus in the advocacy world. Among other issues, Netflix and consumer groups — including Free Press, the Media Access Project, Public Knowledge and Consumers Union — have a common interest in fighting overage fees on Internet users who access a high volume of data. Data limits could strain Netflix’s business model, which increasingly is built on video streamed over Internet lines, not mailed as DVDs in the company’s signature red-and-white envelopes. Public-interest groups say data caps could stifle innovation and throw a wet towel on broadband growth.