[Xylakant]

A rough look at the data suggests that Verizon DLS used to be around a stable 1.4 Mbps until October 2013 and is on a continuous decline since then with a current low of 1.17 Mbps. That would support the OPs theory, but it's only a single datapoint that may have other underlying causes.

[twoodfin]

I believe that's a few months after Netflix started heavily using Cogent as a provider, and thus Cogent's peering disputes with Verizon and Comcast began:

http://gigaom.com/2013/06/17/having-problems-with-your-netfl...

My company uses Cogent as an ISP, and remote workers have had nothing but trouble trying to use VPN and other connections back home via Comcast or Verizon because the Cogent/Comcast+Verizon peering points are severely overloaded, dropping packets at a 5%+ clip at some times during the day.

[yxhuvud]

It can also be so simple that there is some pipe that is full somewhere along the way that will be upgraded eventually.

[paulgb]

Interestingly, the net neutrality ruling wasn't until last month.