[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] Turncoat EU Parliament Gives Up on Defending Free Wireless Communications

Sat Nov 12 14:14:01 CET 2011

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Wed, Nov 9, 2011 at 6:26 PM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] Turncoat EU Parliament Gives Up on Defending
Free Wireless Communications
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net

La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/turncoat-eu-parliament-gives-up-on-defending-free-wireless-communications

Turncoat EU Parliament Gives Up on Defending Free Wireless Communications

*** Paris, November 9th, 2011 — In discussions on the future of wireless
communications policies, the EU Parliament is giving in to Member States by
accepting a watered-down version [1] of the Radio Spectrum Policy
Programme. Last Spring, the Parliament had made very constructive proposals
in favour of open spectrum policies, calling [2] for citizen-controlled
wireless communications. Sadly, the first major effort to harmonise
spectrum policy in Europe is being held back by EU governments'
conservatism and the Parliament's surrender. ***

On Thursday, the EU Parliament's Industry committee (ITRE) is expected to
finalise debates on the first European Radio Spectrum Policy Programme [3],
by accepting national governments' bad amendments [4] to the text. Member
States are refusing any binding EU-wide policy to free up radio waves and
encourage citizen uses of the spectrum. [5] By doing so, they are holding
back real competition, intense innovation, and enhanced wireless access to
the Internet. The obvious beneficiaries of such government control over
this crucial public resource are dominant telecom operators, who will be
able to consolidate their control on airwaves.

The Parliament entered negotiations with a strong call in favour of opening
up spectrum to innovators and entrepreneurs. In the Spring, MEPs had
adopted [6] important amendments calling the Commission and Member States
to authorise the creation of “super Wi-Fi” networks by giving unlicensed
access [7] to so-called “white spaces” (bands of frequencies left unused by
broadcasters [8]). This would have allowed for more affordable and open
wireless Internet access, which is currently undermined by the harmful
restrictions imposed by telecom operators [9].

“As the European Council proposed a bad compromise, the Parliament didn't
fight and gave in, renouncing to defend citizens' interest. Just as the
United States moves closer to establishing a comprehensive framework for
open wireless communications [10], the EU will be lagging behind because of
the Parliament's lack of political courage and our governments'
conservatism. The EU is missing an opportunity to foster the development of
a decentralised wireless Internet, boost innovation and help bridge the
digital divide, and instead plays into the hands of dominant telecom
operators who attempt to control wireless communications.”, said Félix
Tréguer, policy and legal analyst for La Quadrature du Net.

* References *

1. See:
http://www.laquadrature.net/files/RSPP_after_Coreper_28.10_for_the_EP.pdf

2. See:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-parliament-calls-for-free-wireless-communications

3. See: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5872922

4. See the compromise version of the RSPP:
http://www.laquadrature.net/files/RSPP_after_Coreper_28.10_for_the_EP.pdf

5. See our analysis of the compromise amendments on open spectrum:
http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/RSPP_Compromise
  Member States deleted "unlicensed" and introduced the wording "where
appropriate" in a very important amendment, thereby rendering it
non-binding and ineffective.

6. See:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/eu-parliament-adopts-open-wireless-communications-policy

7. See “The Spectrum of our Freedoms”:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/the-spectrum-of-our-freedoms

8. See Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spaces_%28radio%29
  For recent experiments on the potential of these frequencies, see:
http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2011/09/27/cambridge-white-space-trial-runs-hd-iplayer/

9. See the "Respect My Net" platform for Net neutrality violation
reporting: http://respectmynet.eu/list/

10. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/07/white_space_database/

** About la Quadrature du Net **

La Quadrature du Net is an advocacy group that promotes the rights and
freedoms of citizens on the Internet. More specifically, it advocates for
the adaptation of French and European legislations to respect the founding
principles of the Internet, most notably the free circulation of knowledge.

In addition to its advocacy work, the group also aims to foster a better
understanding of legislative processes among citizens. Through specific and
pertinent information and tools, La Quadrature du Net hopes to encourage
citizens' participation in the public debate on rights and freedoms in the
digital age.

La Quadrature du Net is supported by French, European and international
NGOs including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Open Society
Institute and Privacy International.

List of supporting organisations:
https://www.laquadrature.net/en/they-support-la-quadrature-du-net

** Press contact and press room **

Jérémie Zimmermann, jz at laquadrature.net, +33 (0)615 940 675

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/press-room

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