WWW.iptegrity.com is reporting the following as a proposed text by the European
Commission on 'net neutrality'. When looked at in detail, all it is really
saying is that it will look at net neutrality again next year and see if
additional might be needed. It is not close to the outcome we are seeking as
citizens so we will keep pressing for changes during the conciliation process.
Here is the full text of the European Commission declaration on "net
neutrality":
"The Commission attaches high importance to preserving the open and neutral
character of the Internet, taking full account of the will of the
co-legislators now to enshrine net neutrality as a policy objective and
regulatory principle to be promoted by national regulatory authorities,
alongside the strengthening of related transparency requirements and the
creation of safeguard powers for national regulatory authorities to prevent the
degradation of services and the hindering or slowing down of traffic over
public networks. The Commission will monitor closely the implementation of
these provisions in the Member States, introducing a particular focus on how
the "net freedoms" of European citizens are being safeguarded in its annual
Progress Report to the European Parliament and the Council. In the meantime,
the Commission will monitor the impact of market and technological developments
on "net freedoms" reporting to the European Parliament and Council before [the
end of 2010/ the end of October 2010] on whether additional guidance is
required, and will invoke its existing competition law powers to deal with any
anti-competitive practices that may emerge."
Regards
Mike
