Re: from Dave Farber's list: Ireland to regulate peering

[Sean Donelan <sean () donelan com>]

On Sun, 15 Jun 2003, Steve Bellovin wrote:
> ComReg is planning to apply the principles of voice interconnect to all
> network types; this means that "operators of public communications
> networks shall have a right, and when requested by other [operators], an
> obligation to negotiate interconnection with each other for the purpose of
> providing publicly available electronic communications services." In
> effect, IP networks will have to peer with each other on request.
>
> Even worse, the "interconnect" (i.e. peering) prices will be subject to
> review by the Irish regulator if either party feels that they're not being
> offered a fair deal.

This doesn't look like Ireland is regulating peering.  They are regulating
the price of Internet service.

If I'm willing to pay list price, I can get "peering" or an interconnection
with almost any ISP in the world.  I can call the sales offices of any
provider, and on request most of them will sell me a connection to their
network.

Ireland appears to be saying, if I don't like the price I can ask the
Irish government to order ISPs in Ireland to charge less.  If I think
a grocery store in Ireland is charging too much for potatoes, can I
ask the Irish government to order the grocery store to change its price
on potatoes?