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UK joins USA on net neutrality debate
24 Jun 2010 | 15.35 Europe/London
The FCC has just launched a public consultation on net neutrality and today Ofcom is following suit in the UK.
The USA debate has been driven by the regulator losing a court case which underlined that it has less power to govern broadband providers than telephone operators. However, the process is being driven in the UK by EU rules, which become UK law next year, which require the regulator to press ISPs for transparency on traffic management.
Net neutrality is essentially a philosophy that ISPs should treat all traffic as equal and is being championed by online campaigners in America and the UK as ensuring all get broadband access regardless of their tariff or location.
However, some ISPs insist they need to prioritise some forms of traffic, such as voice or video streams, to give customers a good service. They also insist heavy data users should have their connections slowed if they download an excess amount of material or else they would risk slowing down the network for all.
Submissions to Ofcom need to be made before September 9th.
The USA debate has been driven by the regulator losing a court case which underlined that it has less power to govern broadband providers than telephone operators. However, the process is being driven in the UK by EU rules, which become UK law next year, which require the regulator to press ISPs for transparency on traffic management.
Net neutrality is essentially a philosophy that ISPs should treat all traffic as equal and is being championed by online campaigners in America and the UK as ensuring all get broadband access regardless of their tariff or location.
However, some ISPs insist they need to prioritise some forms of traffic, such as voice or video streams, to give customers a good service. They also insist heavy data users should have their connections slowed if they download an excess amount of material or else they would risk slowing down the network for all.
Submissions to Ofcom need to be made before September 9th.