[x-pubpol] Norway says no to zero rating

[Joly MacFie]

http://www.telecomtv.com/articles/net-neutrality/cant-get-norway-its-not-part-of-the-union-11989/

The Norwegian telecoms regulator has come out against so called
'zero-rating' of Internet data on the basis that it violates the country's
network neutrality principles. Norway is not a member of the European Union
so the move doesn't in any way jump the gun on the EU telecoms and network
neutrality legislation currently stuck somewhere inside the system. But it
is, nevertheless, a welcome sign that at least some European
administrations are still pro-net neutrality.

On the downside, it's a particularly doctrinaire judgement over an issue
(zero rating) which is at the very least more nuanced than most neutrality
issues (such as blocking or surcharging). To that extent it unfortunately
plays into the hands of those who argue net neutrality regulation will
inevitably be heavy-handed and counter-productive.

According to the Norwegian regulator's senior adviser, the Norwegian
guidelines (Norway has been successfully operating a neutrality code) state
that Internet connections must be free of discrimination with regard to
type of application, service or content or based on sender or receiver
address. So zero-rating is out.

<snip>

at least the Norwegian move looks like a blow for the right side as net
neutrality in Europe has taken a sudden dive, just as Obama has steamed in
and tipped the balance the other way in the US.

According to some reports, Europe's bitterly fought 'connected continent'
package may be subject to a complete 'rip it up and start again' reboot at
the behest of the new European Commission. The new commission may, in turn,
be acting in response to strong political currents from within the dominant
member states (France and Germany) which are known to want a pro-telco
consolidation. It's all (as always) somewhat unclear, but stand by for
fireworks.

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