Net Neutrality Discussion in Germany

 

It seems that more and more countries in Europe look at Net Neutrality. After seeing the UK (see "Net-Neutrality Crosses the Pond" - here) and while waiting for the French regulator meeting next week (see "Net Neutrality Train Next Stop: France (?)" - here) we get a research paper, published by the Reference and Research Services of the Deutscher Bundestag (German parliament).

The document (here) is in German. A short abstract is available on the Deutscher Bundestag site - "Network neutrality- Network neutrality (also net neutrality, Internet neutrality) is a principle proposed for Internet access that advocates no restrictions on content, sites, or platforms. This principle follows the assumption that the net works best when Internet Service Provider (ISP) deliver every Internet site's traffic without discrimination. The danger is that the Internet might be split into a fast lane and a slow lane. Proponents of the principle of neutrality call for new legislation or regulation to protect network neutrality." 

Going through the document (and using Google Translate) I can see that the following issues are discussed -DPI allowing different level of QoS for different type of traffic, music and Video uploads and downloads causing traffic congestion,  and a discussion of the risk of creating two-classes service by censorship or traffic blocking.

It seems that the idea has wide acceptance in the German parliament and is part of the recent coalition agreement (between the CDU/CSU and FDP parties, signed on December 2009): "We trust that the existing competition will ensure the neutral transmission of data on the internet and other new media (net neutrality) but will observe this closely and, if necessary, take countermeasures to preserve net neutrality" (here).