[x-pubpol] Belgians aim to be third neutral-net nation

[Joly MacFie]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/09/13/belgium_headed_for_net_neutrality/

Three political parties have joined forces to launch a proposed law (in
Dutch <http://www.scribd.com/doc/64242715/%20Wetsvoorstel-netneutraliteit>),
which they hope will be approved early next year.

If accepted, all internet traffic in Belgium needs to be treated equally,
regardless of its type, with one exception: ISPs are still allowed to block
heavy traffic from p2p or video services to avoid quality deterioration, as
well as heavy-duty traffic from botnets. Charging for rival messaging, or
VoIP services, is strictly forbidden. IPTV services through DSL or fibre
will not be part of the proposal.

Belgian ISPs, including KPN's Base, are not happy with the proposed laws.
They want to introduce low latency internet services for gamers and believe
e-health services should be given priority. Under the proposal, these
services wouldn't be acceptable.

However, it is unclear if the proposed law will be adopted. At the moment
the three parties do not have the majority parliamentary support. More
importantly, Belgium has been without a formal government for over a year,
breaking a modern-day record that was held by Iraq, and is hamstrung by an
inability to take decisive action.

On 22 June, the Dutch
Parliament<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/09/netherlands_1st_european_country_to_adopt_net_neutrality/>
passed
a similar law stopping mobile operators from blocking or charging extra for
voice calling done via the internet. In 2010, Chile became the first country
in the world to guarantee net neutrality. ®

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