Advocacy groups cheered on Tuesday the release of new guidelines for implementing net neutrality rules in the European Union.
The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) released the guidelines after years of haggling over the rules. Groups that are supportive of net neutrality — the idea that all content on the internet should be treated in the same way — called the guidelines a victory.
{mosads}“These guidelines allow the EU to join the leading voices on Net Neutrality globally, and bring much-needed clarity for the industry and the users — something to be truly proud of,” said Estelle Massé, a senior policy analyst at Access Now, in a statement.
Advocates were wary of the rules when they were initially adopted last year, because they included what they saw as abstract language that could lead to strikes against net neutrality. In June, BEREC announced draft guidance for implementing the rules. Those drew 500,000 comments.
Now, activist groups say that the guidelines help to clarify the worrisome language.
“Internet users have fought and won Net Neutrality protections in India, South America and the United States,” said Timothy Karr, the senior director of strategy for advocacy group Free Press. “Europe’s decision today — heeding the advice of internet users who favor robust safeguards for the open internet — is an essential part of this global push to advance the online rights of everyone.”
Massé said that Access Now was less-than-pleased with the case-by-case standard used to consider plans where data is delivered for free to consumers in exchange for using certain apps or services, a practice known as zero-rating.
“Unless all regulators hold the industry to a high standard, we could see fragmentation across the EU in the protection of users’ right to receive and impart information,” said Massé.
And advocates warned that net neutrality supporters should continue to watch how the rules are implemented by the individual countries in the E.U.
“Internet freedom supporters must remain vigilant in ensuring that the rules remain strong—particularly as BEREC’s guidelines are implemented by EU member states,” said Joshua Stager, a policy counsel at the Open Technology Institute, in a statement.
The United States’ Federal Communications Commission approved new net neutrality regulations last year, despite an outcry from industry over the rules.