European Parliament backs net neutrality

Net neutrality has been a much-discussed topic backed by some and opposed by certain groups as well. Net neutrality, which is short for network neutrality, is defined as a network design principle that pushes for few or no restrictions by Internet service providers or governments on the types of data or networks that users can access on the World Wide Web.

Virgin Media’s CEO of entertainment and broadband, Neil Berkett, weighed in on the matter, saying: “Site blocking is a possible part of the solution, but it’s not the solution. How do we go about making sure it’s the right site that’s being blocked and ensure we have a regime that means if a site has to be blocked, everybody blocks it?” He asserts that net neutrality is not an issue in the UK as the broadband market is already healthy enough, adding: “We have to do more to convince people that stealing is wrong when many people don’t see it as such. Beating them over the head with a stick is not a good start. We need to encourage people to change their behaviour.”

However, a study by Plum Consulting concluded that net neutrality was crucial and that not pushing for it would result in “irreversible harm.” The study was commissioned by a number of software and content providers, including the BBC, Channel 4, Blinkbox, Yahoo, and Skype. The report states: “Some network access providers have claimed that the open Internet model should now be changed. They argue that growing demand for content and applications is a problem… We conclude that there is no reason to believe that a departure from the open Internet norm would be economically efficient – rather, we find a departure from this model would risk irreversible harm.”

Aside from these groups, the government is also giving their two cents on the matter. In a vote on Thursday, the European Parliament is calling for the internet to be kept open and neutral, encouraging broadband firms and providers to refrain from diverging from the principles of net neutrality.

The MEPs backed a motion that reiterated the importance of the Internet’s open nature and the effects that might arise if ISPs were allowed to block sites with the purpose of eliminating their competition. The resolution appealed to the European Commission to “ensure 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.”

Chair of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee, Herbert Reul, stated: “Reasonable data traffic management is required and very useful to prevent network congestion and the smooth running of applications and service. Nonetheless, it is clearly understood that traffic management practises must not be used for anti-competitive purposes.”

Source – ZDNet