The following article is an excellent overview of the Netflix/Comcast deal and how deals like these will transform the discussions of Network Neutrality. Cogent has also made a deal with Verizon and other cable companies to pay capital cost to upgrade peering links with these providers. Since Cogent is currently Netflix ISP, Cogent probably did this as a way to protect their business with Netflix. The Internet is changing and the lines are being blurred between the Backbone Providers and Residential cable Providers with these mergers. Settlement Free Peering for Companies like Cogent may be a thing of the past.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/02/23/comcasts-deal-with-netflix-makes-network-neutrality-obsolete/
