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Dear All, <br>
<br>
I recall sometime McTim had written net neutrality but we did not
discuss it, probably because we have been dealing with so many
other policy and regulatory issues at the moment, least of all the
current situation on the second determination on voice termination
rates, MNP, among others<br>
<br>
Responding to this post, a good friend and colleague has asked "
what are the key issues? what are the implications for this for the
ICT value chain and its suppliers?<br>
<br>
Seen as a controversial domestic regulatory issue, net neutrality
discussions have mainly focused on the kind of policies required
for broadband access at the national level. But with increased
access to the internet this debate now goes further to address the
right of internet users to access services, content and applications
on the Internet without interference. It also includes the issue
of the rights of network/infrastructure operators to be free of
liability for transmitting applications and content considered
illegal. <br>
<br>
Is net neutrality going to become a global internet governance
principle combining concepts of universal access to rights to
communication, innovation, etc?<br>
<br>
and back to the question what are the key issue and implications?<br>
<br>
best<br>
<br>
Alice<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Subject: </th>
<td>[kictanet] Netherlands first European nation to adopt net
neutrality</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Date: </th>
<td>Mon, 13 Jun 2011 17:24:14 +0300</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">From: </th>
<td>Alice Munyua <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:alice@apc.org"><alice@apc.org></a></td>
</tr>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">Organization:
</th>
<td>Association for Progressive Communication (APC)</td>
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<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">To: </th>
<td><a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:alice@apc.org">alice@apc.org</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th align="RIGHT" nowrap="nowrap" valign="BASELINE">CC: </th>
<td>KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke"><kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke></a></td>
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<br>
<br>
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<h2><a moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/09/netherlands_1st_european_country_to_adopt_net_neutrality">http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/06/09/netherlands_1st_european_country_to_adopt_net_neutrality</a></h2>
<h2><br>
</h2>
<h2>Netherlands first European nation to adopt net neutrality:
Telcos wail as revenues snatched from paws</h2>
<p>The Dutch Parliament yesterday agreed to make the Netherlands
the first nation in Europe to officially put net neutrality
principles into law. The law will force ISPs and telecom
operators to ensure access to all types of content, services or
applications available on the network.</p>
<p>The new telecom law has won a near unanimous vote, despite
fierce opposition from telecom operators, who had been planning
to charge for over-the-top services, such as Skype or WhatsApp
Messenger, which bypass traditional cellular communications.
Vodafone Netherlands is currently still blocking the use of
Skype on its 3G mobile network.</p>
<div id="article-mpu-container">
<div style="width: auto; height: auto; margin-top: 0px;"
class="ad-now" id="ad-mpu1-spot"> </div>
<p>Facing sharp criticism, the largest Dutch political party –
the liberal VVD – withdrew an amendment which would still
allow carriers and ISPs to charge extra for services. The
proposal came from Afke Schaart, who until last year was
Director of Public Affairs for KPN, the biggest telecom
operator in the Netherlands.</p>
</div>
<p>In recent months, Dutch telecom operators have complained that
the volume of text messaging is slowing sharply because of
cross-platform mobile messaging apps which allow users to
exchange messages without having to pay for SMSes.</p>
<p>KPN recently reported that its youth-oriented brand, Hi, saw an
8 per cent decline in text messages per customer in the first
three months of this year. The uptake of the WhatsApp messaging
app grew from 0 per cent of Hi's Android phone users in August
2010 to 85 per cent in April 2011. KPN proposed new pricing
models, but said it would not block VoiP services.</p>
<p>Vodafone in particular lobbied the country's minister of
economic affairs, Maxime Verhagen, for a more lenient law. The
new law would still allow ISPs to filter porn or other offensive
content, but only if customers ask for it.</p>
<p>The final vote on the new telecommunications act in the Dutch
House of Representatives will take place next Tuesday, but is
considered a formality.</p>
<p>Last year, Chile was first country in the world to approve, by
100 votes in favour and one abstention, a law guaranteeing net
neutrality. ®</p>
</div>
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<h3><br>
</h3>
<br>
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