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Network Neutrality

Net neutrality is the idea that all data on the Internet should be treated equally. In other words, neither governments nor Internet service providers should change the pricing or availability regardless of the user, content-accessed, application, type of equipment, or modes of communication. Proponents of net neutrality are concerned broadband providers may use their infrastructure to block Internet websites, services, or protocols and eliminate competition, forcing consumers to use their services. Opponents often say service providers have no plans to block content or degrade network performance, even though there have been cases of this type of anti-competitive activity. They further argue that some data discrimination is necessary to guarantee quality of service.
“Network neutrality is best defined as a network design principle. The idea is that a maximally useful public information network aspires to treat all content, sites, and platforms equally.” – Tim Wu, Columbia Law School
A full definition and details of network neutrality can be found here:
 http://timwu.org/network_neutrality.html
1. Background:
Net Neutrality in the UK
Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries wrote in their 2011 “Approach to net neutrality” that some forms of traffic management may be beneficial.” According to Ofcom:
It is possible to identify two broad forms of internet traffic management:
• ‘Best-efforts’ internet access, under which network operators attempt to convey all traffic on more or less equal terms. This results in an ‘open internet’ with no specific services being hindered or blocked, although some may need to be managed during times of congestion.
• Managed Services, under which network operators prioritise certain traffic according to the value they ascribe to it. An example may be the prioritisation of a high quality IPTV service over other traffic. This amounts to a form of discrimination, […]

By |February 27th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    EC Proposed framework for audio programme making and special events spectrum use

EC Proposed framework for audio programme making and special events spectrum use

A stable long term policy solution for the audio PMSE (Programme Making and Special Events) industry is being sought out by The European Commission. A new system comprising of harmonization and semi-harmonization was presented last week to a PMSE working session in Brussels.

A small portion of harmonized spectrum would be secured for audio PMSE with an additional tuning range. The proposed framework would also designate the majority of PMSE spectrum in the hands of the national regulators.

The commission put forward a three-part proposal. The first of which would be the allocation to audio PMSE 29 MHz of spectrum in the duplex gaps of 800MHz and 1800MHz. The CEPT Report 50 includes technical studies upon which this decision is based. However, LTE signals pose harmful interference to this spectrum. Technical solutions were presented at the workshop could allay some of the fears from the PMSE community regarding this band. For example, The Joint Research Centre believes that the interference could be avoided by using small cells at indoor events for cellular networks.

The second proposal would be to make 30MHz available in the 470-790MHz band tuning range upon request. The majority of Audio PMSE devices use this tuning range.  The third element of the proposal would allow member states, at their own discretion, to assign additional spectrum on a case by case basis.

PMSE industry players and EU member states have been asked to provide insight on the matter. The intention is to later present the proposal to the inter-governmental Radio Spectrum Committee.

By |February 26th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) publishes Guidelines on the Rights of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data.

European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) publishes Guidelines on the Rights of Individuals with regard to the Processing of Personal Data.

The (EDPS) European Data Protection Supervisor Strategy for 2013-14, has set out the guidelines on The Rights of Individuals with regards to The Processing of Personal Data.

The guidelines serve as instructions for Data Protection staff representatives and coordinators along with anyone else whose personal data might be handled by the institutions.  The guidelines are directed at all the departments and services within the administration of EU institutions and bodies that handle personal data.

A Factsheet on data protection rights can be found here:  http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_EDPS-14-5_en.htm

Beyond just the scope of the EU institutions it is aimed at, these guidelines offer general guidance for all public sector bodies on the topic of data protection. Subject rights are taken into account along with information on relevant topics, best practice guidelines, and specific information on the definition of personal data.

By |February 25th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    The Future of the BBC: Culture, Media, and Sport Committee Hears Oral Evidence

The Future of the BBC: Culture, Media, and Sport Committee Hears Oral Evidence

The third oral evidence session in the debate over the future of the BBC was held on 25 February in UK’s Parliament in preparation for the review of its Royal Charter. The inquiry aims to review all aspects of the BBC, including its purpose, scale, and funding and government arrangements beyond the current Charter, which will end in December 2016.

The third evidence session is dedicated to hearing evidence from witnesses representing the commercial radio sector and local/regional media organisations. Members of the Committee of Culture, Media and Sport will look at the BBC in relation to these sectors and consider the witnesses’ views of how the BBC should appear and function.

The witnesses included:  Travis Baxter, Director of Content and External Affair at Bauer Radio; Will Harding, Group Director of Strategy at Global Radio; Kip Meek, Board Member at RadioCentre; Ian Murray, President of the Society of Editors and editor of the Southern Daily Echo; Adrian Jeakings, CEO Archant; and Newspaper Society President Geraldine Allinson, Chairman of KM Group

The session can be viewed at:

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=14947

By |February 25th, 2014|0 Comments|
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The BBC Charter Review

The BBC undergoes a review every 10 years in preparation for the renewal of the Royal Charter, which sets out the aims and purposes of the corporation and the governance arrangements including its relationship with government.  As it faces a review due to be completed in 2016, The BBC has only recently emerged from cuts and reputation crisis, after damaging revelations such as the Jimmy Savile scandal and the concerns over level of pay and transparency in behaviour of senior executives and presenters.

An outline of BBC’s structure:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/managementstructure/bbcstructure/

The Conservative Party is also currently concerned with their representation and coverage by the BBC. Links regarding these concerns can be found in the Background and Appndix (Press Samples) section. The Conservative Party website briefly outlines their outlooks for the BBC:

http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Culture_Media_and_Sport.aspx

Mr. Rob Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading East, moved a debate in April, 2013 on the role of the BBC Trust in oversight of the BBC, claiming that BBC’s management was failing and needed revision. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr. Edward Vaizey, responded on behalf of the Government.

You can watch the debate here: http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=13004&st=16:26:40

1. Background:

The BBC Charter: The Royal Charter acts as a constitutional basis for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It outlines the purposes of the BBC to the public, guarantees its independence, and the duties of the BBC Trust and the Executive Board.  The Charter has been revised and amended every ten years since 1926. The current Charter was established in July 2006, took effect in January, 2007, and runs until 31 December 2016.

A new Charter Review will take effect in January, 2017. A copy of the current Charter can be found at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctrust/governance/regulatory_framework/charter_agreement.html

One of the more notable changes in 2007 […]

By |February 25th, 2014|1 Comment|
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    European Commission’s public consultation on copyright closes 5 March 2014

European Commission’s public consultation on copyright closes 5 March 2014

The European Commission launched a public consultation as part of its on-going efforts to review and modernise EU copyright rules. The consultation invites stakeholders to share their views on areas identified in the Communication on Content in the Digital Single Market (IP/12/1394), i.e. territoriality in the Single Market, harmonisation, limitations and exceptions to copyright in the digital age; fragmentation of the EU copyright market; and how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of enforcement while underpinning its legitimacy in the wider context of copyright reform.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: “My vision of copyright is of a modern and effective tool that supports creation and innovation, enables access to quality content, including across borders, encourages investment and strengthens cultural diversity. Our EU copyright policy must keep up with the times.”

In its Communication on Content in the Digital Single Market, the Commission set out two parallel tracks of action: the completion of its on-going efforts to review and modernise the EU copyright legislative framework as announced in the Intellectual Property Strategy “A Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights” (IP/11/630), while facilitating practical industry-led solutions through the stakeholder dialogue Licences for Europe (IP/13/1072) to issues on which rapid progress was deemed necessary and possible.

The Licences for Europe process has been finalised now. The Commission welcomes the practical solutions stakeholders have put forward in this context and believes that these initiatives will provide a valuable contribution to improving the availability of copyright-protected content online in the EU. Discussions and results of Licences for Europe will be taken into account in the context of the review of the legislative framework.

The consultation is open until 5 March 2014. To learn more about the process and to submit your […]

By |February 19th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    New report from Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and opportunities

New report from Net Children Go Mobile: Risks and opportunities

The Net Children Go Mobile Project launched a report showing that smartphone and tablet users engage in more online opportunities, but are also exposed to more risks.

51% of children own a smartphone and 45% use it daily to go online, while 20% own a tablet but 30% use it on a daily basis to access the internet.

Smartphone and tablet users engage more in communication and entertainment activities. They also have a higher level of digital skills, safety skills and communicative abilities. However, they are more likely to be exposed to online risks.

Risk does not necessarily mean harm. Bullying is still the most harmful risky experience: two out of three children who have been bullied on – or offline claim they have been ‘very’ or ‘a bit’ upset. Sexual risks are second: half of the children who have received sexual messages or have seen sexual content of any kind (on- and offline) have been concerned. While smartphones and tablet users encounter more risks, they don’t report more harmful experiences. Mobile internet access and use is not, therefore, a factor of vulnerability.

Giovanna Mascheroni heads up this European wide project, and says: ” Exposure to online risks appears greater among children who also use mobile devices to go online when compared to the 2010 EU Kids Online data. This is not a causal relationship, though. Rather, we observe the same correlation between opportunities and risks: older users and smartphone and tablet users benefit from more online opportunities, but are also exposed to more risks. As children go online more in a variety of contexts and from a wider range of devices, they also encounter more risks”.

Children say they are unhappy with online content. While over four in […]

By |February 11th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    New report: Preventive measures – how youngsters avoid online risks

New report: Preventive measures – how youngsters avoid online risks

Children’s perceptions of online risks and problematic situations may greatly differ from those of adults, with the line between positive and negative online experiences being very thin. This can lead to teenagers participating in risky pursuits, such as sharing sexual pictures with friends.

These are some of the conclusions of a new report from EU Kids Online, a research project based at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to mark Safer Internet Day (Tuesday 11 February).

The report, based on qualitative research coordinated by the Czech Republic (Masaryk University), paints a disturbing picture of how teenagers view the online risks related to posting sexual content online, with the majority of the male and female teenagers surveyed suggesting that it is up to the girls to take responsibility to avoid sexual pictures being shared.

The researchers held 57 focus groups and 113 personal interviews with children aged 9 to 16. In total, 349 participants from nine European countries were invited to explain what they perceive as problematic or harmful online, and what they do to prevent this from happening.

Researchers revealed that youth’s online problematic experiences are related almost to all contexts of their development, such as exploring their identity and sexuality, building relationships with peers or romantic relationships, but also to moral and ethics development.

Researcher Sofie Vandoninck, Catholic University of Leuven, said: “The teenage years are key times for young people to explore their identity and sexuality, and this, of course, filters into their online use. While parents, teachers or other adult caregivers may feel that exposure to certain online content or communication is risky, youngsters perceive this very differently. For example, posting sexual pictures and receiving flirty comments can be flattering and exciting. If these receive negative comments or are shared between too many people, however, this previously ‘positive’ experience can become traumatic.

Lead researcher […]

By |February 11th, 2014|0 Comments|
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    House of Lords Communications Committee publishes media plurality report

House of Lords Communications Committee publishes media plurality report

The House of Lords Communications Committee published a new report on media plurality and called for media regulator Ofcom to take a leading role in deciding whether specific media transactions can go ahead.

In an interview about the report and its proposed policies, Committee Chairman Lord Inglewood, said, “the real core of our report is that we are coming forward with a system that deals both with issues of plurality deriving from organic change and from transactions. We propose steps that can be taken which deal with each of them, and at the same time  work in parallel. There are the regular plurality reviews, which come through every five years or so we anticipate, and then if something particularly dramatic happens, the transaction will trigger an investigation. The investigation deals with both the competition aspects and the plurality aspects of each case, and we’ve slightly re-balanced the relationship between competition policy and the plurality policy.”

The full text of the report can be found below:

Report: Media plurality (PDF)
Inquiry: Media plurality
Select Committee on Communications

 

By |February 4th, 2014|0 Comments|
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US Court rules against net neutrality

On Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 The US Appeals Court ruled in favour of The ISP giant, Verizon, and against The FCC’s right to protect net neutrality.  According to The Court’s decision Verizon will be allowed to give privilege to content providers and potentially slow or block competitor’s traffic.

Regulators will no longer be allowed to enforce net neutrality, though many are hoping the FCC will appeal.

Verizon argued successfully that regulation limited the company’s ability to provide high-speed internet access for premium content and that it was a barrier to completing effective corporate deals with content providers. It was argued that deregulation could motivate further growth and increase the ISP’s ability to provide higher speeds for desirable content such as video.

The opposition made the case that ISP’s should be obligated to provide equal access to bandwidth for all legal content.  The FCC argued that net neutrality is a key element to the foundations of the internet, and that it is this framework that encourages innovation.

Verizon insisted it would make decisions based on consumer choice and not limit open access to the internet. However, the ruling sparked fear amongst free speech activists and groups.

Pro-net neutrality organizations are concerned with the potential ramifications of any disruption to net neutrality both on a nationally and globally.  They argue that the result of this ruling could make it more difficult for individuals and start-ups to get access to the type of internet that is desirable, and that it could potentially stall the growth of social media. There is also fear that higher costs will eventually effect consumers.

For more information see: U.S. Court Throws Out Net Neutrality Rules – Explained.

By |January 14th, 2014|0 Comments|
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