EC launches net neutrality consultation

It will help to ensure that all data on the internet is treated equally

All interested parties must respond by the end of September

Following Ofcom’s net neutrality discussion paper released this week, the EC has launched a consultation on the issue.

The consultation will looking at traffic management practices, such as prioritising one kind of traffic over another and conditions under which this is unfair, and whether or not competition between ISPs and the transparency requirements of the new telecom framework are sufficient to enable consumer choice and avoid problems.

The consultation will feed into a Commission report on net neutrality, which should be presented by the end of this year.

Net neutrality is generally agreed to represent the idea that all data on the internet should be treated equally regardless of its source or destination. This means that internet users should be able to access the content or application of their choice.

The consultation and report aim to provide an open and neutral internet, underpinning many of the targets set out in the Digital Agenda for Europe.

All interested parties, including service and content providers, consumers, businesses and researchers are invited to respond to the consultation by 30 September 2010.