European Internet Proposal Under Attack

[Commentary] The European Parliament voted for strong rules that would prevent telecommunications companies from creating fast and slow lanes on the Internet. But that measure is now facing significant opposition from some leaders like Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany who want Europe to water down the rules to benefit big telephone companies.

Chancellor Merkel said telecommunications companies should be allowed to divide Internet access into two tiers, one for “special services” like telemedicine and self-driving cars and one for everything else. Chancellor Merkel said her proposal would encourage innovation by providing more reliable and secure service to applications that require it while guaranteeing that all other Internet traffic is treated equally by telecom companies. There are major problems with that approach. Tempting as lawmakers might find it to support their national broadband companies, Europe should reject proposals that would undermine the openness of the Internet.