Whatsapp downThe Dutch parliament on Wednesday approved a tough net neutrality measure that is all but certain to become law, an action that may set an example for the rest of Europe. Mobile-phone operators will be banned from charging extra for use of services such as Skype, and from blocking or slowing traffic of such services, which often compete with their own. Besides Skype (which has strong ties to and offices in Silicon Valley and is being bought by Microsoft), the Associated Press says other companies such as Facebook and Googlewhich provide services or content that could eventually be targeted or hindered by telecom companies also are seen as winners from approval of the measure.
Other telecoms that had lobbied against the bill include Vodafone and T-Mobile, according to the AP. Telecom company KPN has warned that the bill will lead to higher broadband prices. The Netherlands becomes the second country, after Chile, to write net neutrality into its telecom law, according to the New York Times. The NYT details how the measure was born out of a move by KPN to begin charging a tariff for services such as those provided by Silicon Valley-based WhatsApp, which allows users to bypass wireless carriers and send free text messages. Dutch legislators acted quickly; KPN just made its plans known last month.
In the U.S., there is not likely to be any similar quick action by legislators. The FCC late last year introduced watered-down net neutrality rules — most of which don’t apply to mobile broadband — that are now being challenged by telecom companies and mostly Republican legislators who question the FCC’s authority. (See Internet rules with no bite seem a tad heavy on the ‘neutrality’ and Quoted: on latest net-neutrality battle.)
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