Why the battle over Network Neutrality isn’t getting settled anytime soon

The most pressing issue at the ITU’s World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) is not the frequently misreported ‘plot’ to take over the Internet. No, the really dangerous proposal, coming from the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO), covers the banning of network neutrality around the world.

Thankfully others, such as the European Parliament, have different ideas on the matter. With perfect timing, on December 11 the EP passed two resolutions – one on the ‘digital single market’ and the other on a ‘digital freedom strategy in EU foreign policy’ – that both backed network neutrality. The first of those two even called for new European legislation to protect the concept. But that’s the European Parliament, which had already voted in favor of network neutrality just over a year ago. For those unfamiliar with the EU legislative process, the EP does not propose legislation: that’s the role of the unelected European Commission.