Net Neutrality in Europe
A note on Net Neutrality in Europe.
Europe, unlike the US, has largely maintained open access policies — that is, linesharing rules — for DSL. It also has general anti-discrimination rules for telecom, though their operation is complex. For that reason there is much less temptation to adopt new or separate NN rules, since such rules indirectly accomplish the same purposes, using competition to fight discrimination, instead of just a rule.
However there is some chance that Europe’s approach may backfire, as compared to the combo of no linesharing plus NN rules which is the de facto and partially de jure state of affairs in america.
Europe may end up with limited fiber buildouts, limited cable internet yet STILL have certain forms of discrimination resulting from reliance on linesharing as a bulwark against discrimination.
This is just a blog post, though a well thought through point. But it is a possibility. Ten years hence we’ll know.