[CIO] European Commission favors consumer choice over net neutrality legislation

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Neelie Kroes wants to give consumers the opportunity to choose neutral Internet access services, but won’t ban limited access services. […]

At least 20 percent of E.U. mobile broadband users, and potentially up to half of them, have contracts that allow their providers to restrict access to P2P file sharing and to VOIP services such as Skype, Kroes said. […]

Consumers should be free to choose to obtain a discount by buying limited online services if they wish, she said. Enforcing net neutrality for all could create obstacles to entrepreneurs who want to provide tailored connected services or service bundles, she said. […]

« I have been expecting this but I am indeed disappointed, » said Jérémie Zimmermann, co-founder and spokesperson of citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net, which favors an E.U.-wide net neutrality law. Kroes’ conclusions are not satisfactory for users, Zimmerman said. « The status quo is to satisfy the operators. »

http://www.cio.com.au/article/426145/european_commission_favors_consumer_choice_over_net_neutrality_legislation/