GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Will the U.K. Preserve Net Neutrality?

Dave Greenfield | Date: 12-06-10 | Comments

The net neutrality debate is heating up in the United Kingdom. Here are some arguments from both sides.

Net neutrality refers to the open and free use of the Internet by users, as well as how information and data are treated by Internet service providers. Under net-neutral policies, ISPs do not discriminate between online content and applications. Threatening net neutrality are cable and telephone companies, which want to charge for quicker access to Websites, more speed with which to run apps and permission to plug in other devices. They want to charge the providers of these services for the right to use the network. The consequences for those not inclined to pay include slower load speeds and shoddy functioning of apps and devices. The U.K.'s Communication Minister recently caught flak for his suggestion that users such as Google pay for fast-track service in a "tiered Internet" scheme.

U.K. Communications Minister Ed Valzey said that ISPs should be free to charge sites so their content gets priority and faster load speeds and performance. Valzey had said at a recent telecom conference that a "lightly regulated Internet is good for business, good for the economy and good for the people." Further, there was no "evidence of any impact either on competition or consumers from traffic management."

Valzey's remarks met with immediate criticism. Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group, responded, "Removing net neutrality is likely to reduce innovation and reduce people's ability to exercise their freedom of speech."

After the overwhelmingly outraged response, Valzey has been backpedaling to explain his meaning. In a Telegraph interview, Valzey said, "People are already entitled to choose the speed of their connection, but we're not saying one ISP should be able to prioritise one provider's content over another and I don't support the commercial decision to downgrade a rival's site."

Tom Watson, U.K. Labour MP, tweeted, "I think you may have forced a powerful minister to recalibrate. Well done all." What Valzey has certainly done, though, is to move net neutrality into the forefront of the Internet world's consciousness.