EU outlines stiff new net neutrality rules

ISPs, the new rules say, “should treat all traffic equally, without discrimination, restriction or interference, independently of its sender or receiver, content, application or service, or terminal equipment.” Quality of service measures are allowed, according to the EU, but those measures have to be “transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate,” as well as being targeted strictly towards technical service quality, and not commercial gain.

The new rules also include provisions that mandate accurate upload and download speeds in marketing materials, place strict limits on the use of zero-rating, and much more.

The move was applauded by pro-net neutrality groups in the US. The New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute said in a statement that EU regulators made the right decision.

“BEREC was under intense pressure from ISPs to enact weak, loophole-ridden rules, but today’s guidance shows that BEREC resisted that pressure,” said Joshua Stager, the OTI’s policy counsel.

Net neutrality, needless to say, is deeply unpopular with ISPs both in Europe and in the US, and a court battle over the 2015 decision by the FCC to start regulating such companies as telecommunications providers is ongoing. But the momentum appears to be with regulators, as US telecoms have lost most of the major courtroom battles so far.