The barriers for internet access are the same for everyone, however that could all change dramatically if telecommunication companies and ISPs are able to exploit loopholes in the current European net neutrality regulatory agreements.
The regulations, drafted in October 2015, are currently open for public consultation in their regulatory implementation until July 18th 2016, which means that like the thousands of start-ups, artists, activists, educators, businesses and concerned citizens fighting to protect the internet, you have the opportunity to have your own say about the future of the internet in Europe.
Net neutrality is a founding principle of the internet which states that ALL WEB TRAFFIC MUST BE TREATED EQUALLY.
This means that telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) cannot and should not block, throttle or prioritise access to any websites, services or platforms on the internet. It means protecting citizens’ rights to connect to the free and open web and not just the parts of it that big content providers, social networks and ISPs want us to see.
“Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.”
Imagine if your Netflix account is slowed (throttled) or blocked because your access provider has a sponsorship deal with HBO Go which puts their product in an internet “fast lane.”
Or imagine if Facebook dictates to mobile internet users which sites they get to see unless they pay extra for access.
Envisage your start-up idea never getting off the ground because you couldn’t pay ISPs to prioritise your service to run at the same speed as other more established companies.
Internet activists, like Thomas Lohninger from SaveTheInternet.eu are working hard to get the message out to internet users in Europe that the telcos and ISPs are fixing to become internet gatekeepers, controlling what we see and do online. He says that the work of BEREC, who drafted the guidelines and regulations, has been excellent in defining Europe’s net neutrality rules however more work needs to be done to clear up ambiguities in the text and prevent loopholes from being exploited by internet providers.
Zero rating
A particular bugbear in the guidelines is the practice of zero rating (also known as toll free or sponsored data) by telcos and ISPs which allows users unlimited access to specific sites and services whilst making them pay extra to access anything outside these services (ie. the internet).
The practice limits users’ experience of the internet and also presents an economic barrier to citizens without the means to afford full access.
Opponents of net neutrality (namely, IPSs and equipment manufactures like CISCO) believe that net neutrality stifles innovation through over-regulation. However, by placing everyone on an equal playing field it means that a fledgling start-ups have the opportunity to grow as big as the established players.
While zero rating can limit our freedom of speech and choice, it is also detrimental to competition. “If your start-up’s competitor is zero rated then you are restricted in your freedom to offer services. Competition, innovation and diversity in the internet will suffer” says Thomas.
Specialised services
Another concern is the provision of specialised services to be run on fast lanes; think medical applications like heart rate monitors or traffic lights and other critical networked services.
But as Thomas states, these services have always run outside of the internet’s infrastructure as the internet is not stable enough for them to run reliably. For that reason, specialised services should not be open to access as a trump card to circumvent the ban in the regulation on paid prioritisation .
Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.
In an interview in March this year with Motherboard, Malkia Cyril, co-founder of the centre for Media Justice in the US held that “poor people, communities of color, and people who have been pushed to the margins of society need equal and affordable access to the whole internet, not just these companies’ preferred portions of it.”
Net neutrality is also important to the work of EAVI and other social justice organisations to be able to grow, promote media literacy and active citizenship and develop a community where productive discussion can happen.
EAVI’s position on net neutrality is that anything that will increase the digital divide by preventing citizens from accessing, participating, creating and empowering themselves through effective use of the internet must be prevented.
If you would to learn more about savetheinternet.eu’s campaign, sign the petition and add your comment to be sent to BEREC you can click the link above.
Please also feel free to share and tell others to do so. For a more in depth explanation of the vital importance of net neutrality watch savetheinternet.eu’s video below the jump.
Related Posts
The barriers for internet access are the same for everyone, however that could all change dramatically if telecommunication companies and ISPs are able to exploit loopholes in the current European net neutrality regulatory agreements.
The regulations, drafted in October 2015, are currently open for public consultation in their regulatory implementation until July 18th 2016, which means that like the thousands of start-ups, artists, activists, educators, businesses and concerned citizens fighting to protect the internet, you have the opportunity to have your own say about the future of the internet in Europe.
Net neutrality is a founding principle of the internet which states that ALL WEB TRAFFIC MUST BE TREATED EQUALLY.
This means that telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) cannot and should not block, throttle or prioritise access to any websites, services or platforms on the internet. It means protecting citizens’ rights to connect to the free and open web and not just the parts of it that big content providers, social networks and ISPs want us to see.
“Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.”
Imagine if your Netflix account is slowed (throttled) or blocked because your access provider has a sponsorship deal with HBO Go which puts their product in an internet “fast lane.”
Or imagine if Facebook dictates to mobile internet users which sites they get to see unless they pay extra for access.
Envisage your start-up idea never getting off the ground because you couldn’t pay ISPs to prioritise your service to run at the same speed as other more established companies.
Internet activists, like Thomas Lohninger from SaveTheInternet.eu are working hard to get the message out to internet users in Europe that the telcos and ISPs are fixing to become internet gatekeepers, controlling what we see and do online. He says that the work of BEREC, who drafted the guidelines and regulations, has been excellent in defining Europe’s net neutrality rules however more work needs to be done to clear up ambiguities in the text and prevent loopholes from being exploited by internet providers.
Zero rating
A particular bugbear in the guidelines is the practice of zero rating (also known as toll free or sponsored data) by telcos and ISPs which allows users unlimited access to specific sites and services whilst making them pay extra to access anything outside these services (ie. the internet).
The practice limits users’ experience of the internet and also presents an economic barrier to citizens without the means to afford full access.
Opponents of net neutrality (namely, IPSs and equipment manufactures like CISCO) believe that net neutrality stifles innovation through over-regulation. However, by placing everyone on an equal playing field it means that a fledgling start-ups have the opportunity to grow as big as the established players.
While zero rating can limit our freedom of speech and choice, it is also detrimental to competition. “If your start-up’s competitor is zero rated then you are restricted in your freedom to offer services. Competition, innovation and diversity in the internet will suffer” says Thomas.
Specialised services
Another concern is the provision of specialised services to be run on fast lanes; think medical applications like heart rate monitors or traffic lights and other critical networked services.
But as Thomas states, these services have always run outside of the internet’s infrastructure as the internet is not stable enough for them to run reliably. For that reason, specialised services should not be open to access as a trump card to circumvent the ban in the regulation on paid prioritisation .
Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.
In an interview in March this year with Motherboard, Malkia Cyril, co-founder of the centre for Media Justice in the US held that “poor people, communities of color, and people who have been pushed to the margins of society need equal and affordable access to the whole internet, not just these companies’ preferred portions of it.”
Net neutrality is also important to the work of EAVI and other social justice organisations to be able to grow, promote media literacy and active citizenship and develop a community where productive discussion can happen.
EAVI’s position on net neutrality is that anything that will increase the digital divide by preventing citizens from accessing, participating, creating and empowering themselves through effective use of the internet must be prevented.
If you would to learn more about savetheinternet.eu’s campaign, sign the petition and add your comment to be sent to BEREC you can click the link above.
Please also feel free to share and tell others to do so. For a more in depth explanation of the vital importance of net neutrality watch savetheinternet.eu’s video below the jump.
Related Posts
The barriers for internet access are the same for everyone, however that could all change dramatically if telecommunication companies and ISPs are able to exploit loopholes in the current European net neutrality regulatory agreements.
The regulations, drafted in October 2015, are currently open for public consultation in their regulatory implementation until July 18th 2016, which means that like the thousands of start-ups, artists, activists, educators, businesses and concerned citizens fighting to protect the internet, you have the opportunity to have your own say about the future of the internet in Europe.
Net neutrality is a founding principle of the internet which states that ALL WEB TRAFFIC MUST BE TREATED EQUALLY.
This means that telecommunications companies and internet service providers (ISPs) cannot and should not block, throttle or prioritise access to any websites, services or platforms on the internet. It means protecting citizens’ rights to connect to the free and open web and not just the parts of it that big content providers, social networks and ISPs want us to see.
“Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.”
Imagine if your Netflix account is slowed (throttled) or blocked because your access provider has a sponsorship deal with HBO Go which puts their product in an internet “fast lane.”
Or imagine if Facebook dictates to mobile internet users which sites they get to see unless they pay extra for access.
Envisage your start-up idea never getting off the ground because you couldn’t pay ISPs to prioritise your service to run at the same speed as other more established companies.
Internet activists, like Thomas Lohninger from SaveTheInternet.eu are working hard to get the message out to internet users in Europe that the telcos and ISPs are fixing to become internet gatekeepers, controlling what we see and do online. He says that the work of BEREC, who drafted the guidelines and regulations, has been excellent in defining Europe’s net neutrality rules however more work needs to be done to clear up ambiguities in the text and prevent loopholes from being exploited by internet providers.
Zero rating
A particular bugbear in the guidelines is the practice of zero rating (also known as toll free or sponsored data) by telcos and ISPs which allows users unlimited access to specific sites and services whilst making them pay extra to access anything outside these services (ie. the internet).
The practice limits users’ experience of the internet and also presents an economic barrier to citizens without the means to afford full access.
Opponents of net neutrality (namely, IPSs and equipment manufactures like CISCO) believe that net neutrality stifles innovation through over-regulation. However, by placing everyone on an equal playing field it means that a fledgling start-ups have the opportunity to grow as big as the established players.
While zero rating can limit our freedom of speech and choice, it is also detrimental to competition. “If your start-up’s competitor is zero rated then you are restricted in your freedom to offer services. Competition, innovation and diversity in the internet will suffer” says Thomas.
Specialised services
Another concern is the provision of specialised services to be run on fast lanes; think medical applications like heart rate monitors or traffic lights and other critical networked services.
But as Thomas states, these services have always run outside of the internet’s infrastructure as the internet is not stable enough for them to run reliably. For that reason, specialised services should not be open to access as a trump card to circumvent the ban in the regulation on paid prioritisation .
Net neutrality is a founding tenet of the internet and a central reason for why it is such a wonderfully colourful, diverse, empowering and innovative ecosystem. It is crucial to be aware of its importance to our lives today and the digital future of our society.
In an interview in March this year with Motherboard, Malkia Cyril, co-founder of the centre for Media Justice in the US held that “poor people, communities of color, and people who have been pushed to the margins of society need equal and affordable access to the whole internet, not just these companies’ preferred portions of it.”
Net neutrality is also important to the work of EAVI and other social justice organisations to be able to grow, promote media literacy and active citizenship and develop a community where productive discussion can happen.
EAVI’s position on net neutrality is that anything that will increase the digital divide by preventing citizens from accessing, participating, creating and empowering themselves through effective use of the internet must be prevented.
If you would to learn more about savetheinternet.eu’s campaign, sign the petition and add your comment to be sent to BEREC you can click the link above.
Please also feel free to share and tell others to do so. For a more in depth explanation of the vital importance of net neutrality watch savetheinternet.eu’s video below the jump.
