The infrastructure and standardisation basket
The basic principles In recent years, policy debates and regulations on network neutrality have crystallised a few key principles for network neutrality:43 P
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Transparency: Operators must provide complete and accurate information on their network managing practices, capacity, and the quality of their service to customers, in a form understandable by an average user.
Access: Users should be able to have [unrestricted] access to any [legal] content, service or application [with minimum quality of service guaranteed for the meaningful use, as prescribed by the regulator] or to connect any hardware that does not harm the network. (Non)discrimination: Operators should make no discrimination [or reasonable discrimination] of traffic based on: p p
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Origin of sender or receiver.
Type of content, type of application and service [with fair competition – no discrimination against undesired competitors or OTT service providers’ services].
Where ‘reasonable’ could be any practice for public benefit (assuring quality of service, security and resilience of network, innovations and further investments, lowering costs, etc.) but not for business advantage only.
Other principles most frequently debated in international forums such as the IGF meetings and the EuroDIG dialogue include: P P
P P
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P P
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Preserving freedom of expression, access to information, and choice.
Assuring minimal quality of service and security and resilience of the network. Preserving incentives for investments.
Stimulating innovations [including opportunities for new business models and innovative businesses, i.e. new entrants].
Defining rights, roles, and accountability of all parties involved (providers, regulators, users) including the right to appeal and redress. Preventing anti-competitive practices.
Creating a market environment that would allow users to easily choose and change their network operator. Protecting the interest of the disadvantaged, such as people with disabilities and users and businesses in the developing world. Maintaining diversity of content and services.
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