[P2P-F] Fwd: [opennetcoalition] Net Neutrality Resolution Adopted in EU Parliament

[Michel Bauwens]

Dear Chris,

could you publish this on our Ning blog?

Many thanks!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: La Quadrature du Net <jz at laquadrature.net>
Date: Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Subject: [opennetcoalition] Net Neutrality Resolution Adopted in EU
Parliament
To: opennetcoalition at laquadrature.net


La Quadrature du Net - For immediate release

Permanent link:
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/net-neutrality-resolution-adopted-in-eu-parliament


Net Neutrality Resolution Adopted in EU Parliament



*** Paris, October 20th, 2011 — The “Industry” Committee of the EU
Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on Net neutrality. Through this
vote asking the European Commission to promptly assess the need for further
legislative action, the Parliament is taking a strong stance in favour of
Net neutrality. Pressure now increases on EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes, who
may soon be forced to break away with her failed “wait and see” approach and
take action. ***

The resolution unanimously adopted by the Industry (ITRE) committee of the
EU Parliament, which has been fiercely negotiated [1], is overall a positive
text. It commits the EU Parliament to key issues:

 * The text is a strong political statement in favour of Net neutrality. It
brings a useful definition of Net neutrality and of the network management
policies that are detrimental to the users' freedoms and to competition [2].

 * The resolution asks the Commission to move past its failed “wait-and-see”
approach by assessing the need for further regulation on Net neutrality,
within 6 months of EU telecoms regulators (BEREC) releasing their study on
the discriminatory practices of ISPs [3].

However, the resolution falls short of asking for immediate legislative
action to protect Net neutrality and for sanctions against Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) who restrict access to the Internet. It also includes a
loophole [4], which risks being interpreted as accepting such restrictions
on mobile Internet on the pretext of congestion [5].

“While rather weak, the adopted resolution is a political commitment from
the European Parliament in favour of Net neutrality, and aims to prevent
telecom operators from restricting Internet access. Pressure is increasing
on Commissioner Neelie Kroes and the EU telecoms regulators to come up with
further legislation. Mrs Kroes must break away from her 'wait and see'
approach and take action to effectively protect competition, innovation as
well as citizens' freedom of expression and privacy online.", says Jérémie
Zimmermann, spokesperson for La Quadrature du Net.

The text adopted today in the ITRE committee vote will now move to be
adopted in plenary without the possibility of further amendments, in a vote
scheduled for late-November.


* References *

1.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/finalization-of-eu-parliaments-weak-net-neutrality-resolution

2. Compromise amendment 8 "calls on the Commission consequently to guard
that Internet Service Providers do not block, discriminate against, impair,
or degrade the ability of any person to use a service to access, use, send,
post, receive, or offer any content, application, or service of their choice
irrespective of source or target".
https://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Network_Neutrality_resolution_amendments#Compromise_amendment_8_.2B.2B

3. Release of the Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications'
(BEREC) study on Internet traffic management practice is expected for
February 2012.

4.
http://www.laquadrature.net/en/major-loophole-remains-in-net-neutrality-resolution

5. See paragraph 7 of the resolution, as amended by compromise amendment 10:
https://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Network_Neutrality_resolution_amendments#Compromise_amendment_10_-



** 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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