NNSquad - Network Neutrality Squad
[ NNSquad ] [IP] EU net neutrality vote would let ISPs charge for Internet "fast lane"
----- Forwarded message from Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> ----- Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 19:56:51 -0400 From: Dave Farber <dave@farber.net> Subject: [IP] EU net neutrality vote would let ISPs charge for Internet "fast lane" Reply-To: dave@farber.net To: ip <ip@listbox.com> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Dewayne Hendricks* <dewayne@warpspeed.com> Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Subject: [Dewayne-Net] EU net neutrality vote would let ISPs charge for Internet "fast lane" To: Multiple recipients of Dewayne-Net <dewayne-net@warpspeed.com> EU net neutrality vote would let ISPs charge for Internet "fast lane" Ban on roaming charges helps push through controversial net neutrality package. By Jon Brodkin Mar 18 2014 < http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/03/eu-net-neutrality-vote-would-let-isps-charge-for-internet-fast-lane/ > A European telecom law approved by a committee today is intended to prevent Internet service providers from blocking or slowing down Web applications, but lets ISPs charge content providers for higher quality of service. Critics say this allowance will create an Internet "fast lane" and undermine the principles of net neutrality, that Internet service providers should treat all traffic equally. The European Parliament's Industry Committee announced its vote in favor of the "Connected Continent" legislation, saying that "Internet providers should no longer be able to block or slow down Internet services provided by their competitors." Under the heading, "Net neutrality," the committee announcement said it "inserted strict rules to prevent telecoms companies from degrading or blocking Internet connections to their competitors' services and applications. In 2012, for example, EU telecoms regulator BEREC reported that several internet providers were blocking or slowing down services like 'Skype.'" The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO), a telco lobby group, criticizes the restrictions as too severe, saying, "This would make an effective management of the network almost unworkable." On the other side of the aisle, consumer advocates are worried about an exception in the legislation for "specialized services." "Companies would still able to offer specialized services of higher quality, such as video on demand and business-critical data-intensive cloud applications, provided that this does not interfere with the Internet speeds promised to other customers," the committee announcement said. "Measures to block or slow down the Internet would be allowed only in exceptional cases, e.g., where specifically ordered by a court." Charging content providers "will enable telecom operators to generate additional revenue streams from OTT [over the top] actors, content providers as well as from consumers who are willing to pay for better or faster services," a bill description states. "These revenues in turn, will enable operators to finance investments into network upgrades and expansion." Some European parliament members objected. Marietje Schaake of the Netherlands said the benefits of a stronger rule have been demonstrated in her home country, which passed a net neutrality law in 2012. "For Dutch companies a level playing-field is important; being the frontrunner has its disadvantages as long as not all European companies have to abide by the same rules. Without legal guarantees for net neutrality, Internet service providers were able to throttle competitors. This could push players without deep pockets, such as start-ups, hospitals or universities, out of the market. Today's vote risks allowing just that," she said. The net neutrality regulation was proposed by another Dutch politician, Neelie Kroes, the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda. Kroes touted her proposal's "new safeguards to ensure access to the open Internet. Today, millions of Europeans find services like Skype blocked, or their Internet access degraded: my proposal will end those discriminatory practices. Extra new 'specialized services' (like for IPTV, e-Health, or cloud computing) would be allowed only if they don't cause general impairment of regular Internet access." The full parliament is scheduled to vote on the proposal April 3. [snip] Dewayne-Net RSS Feed: <http://dewaynenet.wordpress.com/feed/> ------------------------------------------- ----- End forwarded message ----- --Lauren-- Lauren Weinstein (lauren@vortex.com): http://www.vortex.com/lauren Co-Founder: People For Internet Responsibility: http://www.pfir.org/pfir-info Founder: - Network Neutrality Squad: http://www.nnsquad.org - PRIVACY Forum: http://www.vortex.com/privacy-info Member: ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com Google+: http://google.com/+LaurenWeinstein Twitter: http://twitter.com/laurenweinstein Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800 / Skype: vortex.com _______________________________________________ nnsquad mailing list http://lists.nnsquad.org/mailman/listinfo/nnsquad