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Net neutrality in various countries

In US, the Federal Communications Commission is fighting to uphold net neutrality while European Parliament voted against adopting net neutrality for entire EU

Net neutrality in different countries
BS Reporter New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 08 2016 | 7:17 PM IST
In United States
The term ‘net neutrality’ was coined in US by law professor Tim Wu while discussing “competing contents and applications.” In the latest in the net neutrality tussle US Federal courts has given a go ahead to rules that prevent net firms from blocking or slowing down online traffic. The courts are not postponing implementation of net neutrality rules, despite opposition from firms such as Verizon and AT&T. The country’s Federal Communications Commission is fighting to uphold net neutrality.

In Netherlands
On June 4, 2012, the Netherlands became the first country in Europe to enact a network neutrality law. The law requires that providers of public electronic communication networks used to provide Internet access services as well as providers of Internet access services will not hinder or slow down services or applications on the Internet.

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In Chile
National Congress of Chile in June 2010,  amended its telecommunications law in order to preserve network neutrality, becoming the first country in the world to do so. The law added three articles to the General Law of Telecommunications, forbidding Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from arbitrarily blocking, interfering with, discriminating, hindering or restricting an Internet user's right to use, send, receive or offer any legal content, application, service or any other type of legal activity or use through the Internet. ISPs must offer Internet access in which content is not arbitrarily treated differently based on its source or ownership

In European Union
European Parliament in September 2015, voted against adopting net neutrality for the entire European Union. Only Slovenia and the Netherlands have net neutrality laws.

In Canada
In Canada, ISPs generally provide Internet services in a neutral manner. The government few years back updated the Telecommunications Policy Objectives and Regulation with new objectives such as promoting affordable access to advanced telecommunications services in all regions of Canada, including urban, rural and remote areas, enhancing the efficiency of Canadian telecommunications markets and the productivity of the Canadian economy. It is still reviewing Internet traffic management of ISPs and has not come out on a decision on that.

In Australia
The country’s National Broadband Network (NBN) is still holding discussions on net neutrality. NBN believes that it is a discussion they need to have a sophisticated debate around the country on this issue.  

In China
While China claims that there is net neutrality in the country, according to experts, internet service providers are owned and operated by the government, which allegedly has an iron grip on the content which is let out on Internet. In the early days of the internet in China, the Communist Party stopped attempts by China’s Democracy Party to establish unrestricted internet access.

Experts claim that the Chinese government employs sophisticated technology to limit content online. It has a lot many rules, regulations and laws to help ensure censorship of the net.

In Japan
Japan is basically a net neutral country.

In Israel
Israel's parliament in 2011 passed a law requiring net neutrality in mobile broadband. Later these requirements were extended to wireline providers in an amendment to the law. However according to experts in that country the law is vague on a number of issues such as data caps, tiered pricing, paid prioritization and paid peering.

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First Published: Jan 08 2016 | 6:50 PM IST

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