[governance] Dutch will enshrine net neutrality in telecom law

[Michael Gurstein]

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:05 PM
Subject: Dutch will enshrine net neutrality in telecom law


hereby the press release, translated, with comments in italics.  


Guarantee for a free internet in the telecommunications law

The Telecommunications law will be changed to guarantee a free (unobstructed
RB) access to the internet. Minister Verhagen, Minister of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture and Innovation announced this in the second chamber of
parliament on Tuesday May 24th. 

Skype and Whatsapp

Some providers of mobile internet had announced a surcharge for specific
services. This because of the needed investments in the network and the
decline in voice and sms-traffic. Minister Verhagen isn’t against paying for
the quantity or the speed of the data traffic.  The Cabinet (Council of
Ministers, including the prime minister RB) however is of the opinion that a
surcharge on specific services like Skype or Whatsapp goes too far. 

Netneutrality

Minister Verhagen will draft a proposal in the coming weeks to include this
in the telecommunications law. That means that the so called netneutrality
will be legally incorporated. The consumer can then entrust that specific
internet service on their mobile will not be additionally taxed or blocked
by mobile providers. The Second Chamber of Parliament had insisted on this
through the motion Bakhuizen (a motion is a request of the Second Chamber of
parliament on a minister or the cabinet to take action in a specific case,
often leaving the minister a bit of leeway in the way he executes the
motion. The motion was accepted by most parties in parliament, except one of
the ruling coalition’s parties, who weren’t against the idea of
netneutrality, but more concerned about the specific way it would be
implement RB)

European Union

Verhagen will also confer in the European Union about free access to
internet. The Netherlands is with this announced change in the law one of
the first countries in the world to guarantee free access to the internet in
law. 

 

 

Garantie vrij internet in telecomwet

Nieuwsbericht | 24-05-2011

De Telecomwet wordt gewijzigd om vrije toegang tot het internet te
garanderen. Dat maakte minister van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie
Verhagen dinsdag 24 mei 2011 bekend in de Tweede Kamer.

Skype en WhatsApp

Sommige providers van mobiel internet hadden een heffing aangekondigd voor
bepaalde diensten. Dit vanwege de benodigde investeringen in het netwerk en
het afnemende bel- en sms-verkeer. Minister Verhagen is niet tegen betaling
voor de hoeveelheid of de snelheid van het dataverkeer. Het kabinet vindt
een heffing op bepaalde diensten zoals Skype of WhatsApp echter te ver gaan.

Netneutraliteit

Minister Verhagen komt binnen enkele weken met een voorstel om dit op te
nemen in de Telecomwet. Daarmee wordt de zogeheten netneutraliteit wettelijk
vastgelegd. De consument kan er dan van op aan dat specifieke
internetdiensten op de mobiel niet extra door de providers worden belast of
geblokkeerd. De Tweede Kamer had daarop met de motie Braakhuizen al eerder
aangedrongen.

Europese Unie

Verhagen zal ook binnen de Europese Unie overleg voeren over vrije toegang
tot internet. Nederland is met de voorgenomen wetswijziging één van de
eerste landen in de wereld die de vrije toegang tot internet wettelijk
garandeert.

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