Equal treatment of traffic doesn't mean equal service quality for users • The Register

Net neut: Equal treatment of traffic doesn't mean equal service quality for users • The Register: "Expert in telecoms law and net neutrality regulations Diane Mullenex of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.com, said: “The net neutrality guidelines proposed by BEREC have not proven universally popular. Net neutrality supporters, such as the Save the Internet group, are concerned about ‘paid fast-lane for big internet companies’, the amount of discretion ISPs have with regards traffic management measures and the impact zero-rating has on lowering data caps."

 "At the International Bar Association telecom and antitrust conference in Amsterdam this week regulators discussed at great lengths zero-rating issues. The Netherlands implemented net neutrality rules before the EU regime was introduced and has one of the most stringent net neutrality frameworks in the world” and the regulator has very strong views on prohibiting zero rating until a court rules otherwise," she said." 'via Blog this'

Net neutrality BBC urges Ofcom to protect iPlayer (Feb25 while I was at BEREC): Guardian

Net neutrality: BBC urges Ofcom to protect iPlayer | Media | The Guardian: "“Public sector broadcasters could be increasingly exposed to this gatekeeper power, as the incentives of ISPs – and vertically integrated, converged platform operators in particular – are unlikely to be aligned with PSB objectives,” warned the report. “Such a risk is exacerbated by a regulatory regime which is in need of modernisation.”

 The corporation also said rules guaranteeing public sector broadcasters’ prominence on linear TV guides should be extended to the web, and internet providers should not be able to charge public service broadcasters for making their content available over the internet.

 The UK’s biggest broadband provider, BT, is investing heavily in its own TV service while dominant pay-TV provider Sky is moving aggressively into broadband. James Murdoch, who returned as chairman of Sky last month, has publicly criticised the BBC, saying its size and ambitions were “chilling”.

 The growth of Netflix in the US has also raised concerns about the power of internet providers over content companies, after cable TV and broadband provider Comcast began slowing down connections to Netflix until the web TV company agreed to pay for fast access." 'via Blog this'

Regulating Net Neutrality - little or no impact?

"In the UK all the major UK providers of internet access services are thought to be largely in compliance with most of the open internet provisions of the EU Regulation, through the existing voluntary framework of the Open Internet Codes of Practice. There is little or no evidence of current traffic management practices that would breach the Regulation. It is unlikely therefore that there will be many instances where Ofcom will need to undertake specific investigations requiring a more detailed level of information from providers. However, as Ofcom have suggested and providers consulted have confirmed, this information should still be easily obtainable."

The Open Internet Access (EU Regulation) Regulations 2016 - entry into force 17 June

The Open Internet Access (EU Regulation) Regulations 2016: "Citation, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Open Internet Access (EU Regulation) Regulations 2016 and come into force on 17th June 2016.
" 'via Blog this'

EU net neutrality draft guidelines split the crowd—public told to wade in | Ars Technica UK

EU net neutrality draft guidelines split the crowd—public told to wade in | Ars Technica UK: "BEREC’s advice is to take a case-by-case approach. But digital rights activist Thomas Lohninger of AK Vorrat Austria claimed the plan “reeks of compromise, and leaves everyone worse off—except perhaps litigation lawyers.”

 The watchdog added that certain practices, such as when a user reaches their data cap and all apps are blocked except zero-rated applications, were prohibited.

But BEREC said that other cases were less clear. The body has advised national regulators to ask whether the practices circumvent the general aims of the regulation and to take into account market position, and end-user rights including the freedom of expression.

Jurisdictions such as India and the Netherlands have outlawed zero-rating completely.

A potential clash with Dutch rules banning zero-rating was highlighted by BEREC vice-chair, Henk Don, who represents the country's consumer rights' regulator ACM. He said that it would continue to enforce Dutch law, but that it was for "judges to decide."

Don added: “Our minister believes it is in line with the regulation and we will enforce that law when we find infringements,” before saying that any decision was likely to face a legal appeal." 'via Blog this'

Phorm ceases trading - Business Insider. Oh dear, what a shame, never mind

Phorm ceases trading - Business Insider: "Phorm also said that its broker, Miribaud Securities, had resigned and its shares, suspended in February, will be automatically cancelled as a result.

It marks the end of a spectacular fall from grace for Phorm.

At one point in 2008 its shares were changing hands for more than £35 ($49.52) after it announced deals with BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk to install its technology on their broadband networks.

 The system aimed to intercept and analyse millions of Britons’ web browsing, building a profile of their interests that would allow Phorm to replace web advertising banners with more targeted messages. The company aimed to share the spoils with broadband providers and publishers keen for a taste of the riches being swept up by Google.

 But the plans prompted an outcry from privacy campaigners and legal experts, who claimed Phorm’s technology amounted to an unlawful wiretap. The controversy exploded when it was revealed that BT had secretly run trials on tens of thousands of customers without their consent." 'via Blog this'

Snoozing through BEREC Guidelines and some measurement metrics by FCC

Here is the PPT of the BEREC session - no news really - and on slides 38-39 of FCC March Technical Advisory Committee slides is some interesting work on CDNs and interconnection...