14 DAY TRIAL // While the US may have dragged its feet over net neutrality and its biggest supporter Google abandoned the fight, it seems that Europe is finally doing something about the issue.
Granted, European bureaucracy is a marvel to behold, so nothing may come out of it.
But the European Commission is now promising union wide net neutrality laws which would prevent ISPs from slowing down or blocking the services of a competitor to bolster their own.
Neelie Kroes, the European Commission's vice president in charge of the Digital Agenda, made clear her ideas on what net neutrality should look like in Europe.
The proposal takes into account the needs of the ISPs, but not at the detriment of consumers. For example, ISPs should be able to offer a guaranteed quality of service for some products at a premium price.
However, the basic service should offer a "best efforts" Internet equally to any product that is using the network, VoIP apps, video streaming services, and so on.
Another area that needs work, she believes, is transparency surrounding the speeds customers can expect from broadband or mobile data connections, real world speeds, and what services are included.
ISPs should also make it easier for customers to switch providers by banning practices such as termination fees, modem hires, and so on.
Finally, ISPs will have to carry any service and product, without throttling or blocking, indiscriminately.
"It's clear to me that many Europeans expect protection against such commercial tactics. And that is exactly the EU safeguard we will be providing. A safeguard for every European, on every device, on every network: a guarantee of access to the full and open internet, without any blocking or throttling of competing services," she said.
At this point, her recommendations are just that, recommendations. It remains to be seen whether the European Commission decides to put them up for vote in the European Parliament and Council.
The recommendations may not pass intact. Even if they do, it will be another year before all the countries pass local laws implementing the recommendations. That’s if member states don't drag their feet.