Interesting People mailing list archives
Dutch parliament neatly slashed Gordian Knot of neutral network issue
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 10:12:52 -0400
Begin forwarded message: From: "D.H. van der woude" <dirkvanderwoude () gmail com> Date: October 26, 2006 10:10:33 AM EDT To: dave () farber netSubject: Dutch parliament neatly slashed Gordian Knot of neutral network issue
Hi Dave, Last week I subscribed to your list and I like it. Thanks! Last tuesday Dutch parliament took some sweeping unanimous votes on the issue of neutral networks. Alas quite underrepoterd in the English language press. Maybe you 're interested in it. greetings, Dirk van der Woude Underreporting on Dutch Parliaments votes on neutral network issue - first Parliament in the world to demand strict separation between networks and services. The reporting focused on the effects for cable companies, but erroneously stated that just a majority was in favour and, more important missed the broader context. First: parliament voted on TWO resolutions (translations below) Second: both resolutions were adopted UNANIMOUSLY ( i.e. 150 of 150 votes), not by a majority. So the gest of the resolutions apparantly goes beyond the normal political nitty gritty discussions. Last: of course the open coax cable network is one issue, but actually the Dutch parliament is the first that neatly slashed the Gordian Knot of the neutral network issue: it wants ALL networks open and as well a (new) Telecommunicaton Law based strict separation between networks and services for ALL networks, be them based on copper, coax or fiber. Of course now the demands of parliament for a new design of the Telecom Law go into procedure, have to be discussed with Brussels and what not. Still: here a parliament of an OECD member state unanimously madea clear choice in favour of abolishing vertical integrated telecommunication
networks. Resolution 1: - considering that the telecom sector more and more has strategies towards vertical integration of networks and services - considering that this integration can hinder free competition between service providers- considering that existing competion- end telecom laws offer insufficient
means to resist these competion barriers - considering that government as well as parliament are in favour of a standing charge model (as proposed in the earlier accepted motion of MP Atsma of 2004) - invites the government to propose within a year to parliament for changes in the Telecommunication law, by which the markets forinfrastructure and services will strictly be divided by the introduction
of a standing charge model as well as the prohibition of the conditional sale of network and services.Of this motion Trade minister Wijn said that it might be difficult to get
Brussels to agree to it, however it has his sympathy - and he will do his best to see it through. Resolution 2 - Considering that developments in the telecom sector have developed rapidly - considering that there hardly is any difference anymore between telco- and cable networks, form the perspectives of technology as well as use- considering that free access for all service providers furthers innovation and ICT in the Netherlands
- invites the government to to propose within a year to parliament for a change in the Telecommunication law, leading to mandatory, open, non discriminatory access to all networks for all serviceproviders On the above motion the new Trade minister Wijn has said that it has all of his heart. -- 'We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.' — Decca executive, rejecting the Beatles, 1962 ------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/
Current thread:
- Dutch parliament neatly slashed Gordian Knot of neutral network issue David Farber (Oct 26)