Complete title:
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - The open internet and net neutrality in Europe
Description (short summary):
This report underlines the need to ensure that citizens and businesses are easily able to access an open and neutral internet. It follows a Commission commitment, at the time of adoption of the EU telecom reform package, to report to the Parliament and Council and reflects comments made during a public consultation, which attracted over 300 responses, and wide discussions with interested parties including a summit organised with the European Parliament.
The Commission will be vigilant that new EU telecoms rules on transparency, quality of service and the ability to switch operator, which entered into force on 25 May 2011, are applied in a way that ensures that these open and neutral internet principles are respected in practice. For example, the Commission will pay close attention to the existence of generalised restrictions of lawful services and applications and to EU citizens' and businesses' broadband connections being as fast as indicated by Internet Service Providers' advertising.
Other rules directly relevant to net neutrality that have also been in force as part of new EU telecoms rules include requirements concerning:
- transparency (e.g. any restrictions limiting access to services or applications, connection speeds)
- quality of service (regulators can set minimum quality levels) and
- the ability to switch operator (within one working day).
Number of pages: 11
