<html><head><base href="x-msg://167/"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Dear All<div><br></div><div>The European Commission has released this questionnaire. This is open to all stakeholders and ISOC is considering providing input to this request.</div><div>I'm happy to bring this to your attention for further input as ISOC can, here again, demonstrate its wide regional and local added value on such an important call.</div><div>We will get back to this list with our first thoughts by end of September and of course we look forward to hear from your opinion with a view to include regional/local input to the contribution.</div><div><br></div><div>The deadline for this consultation is October 15.</div><div><br></div><div>Please note also that we will share with you soon our input to the last BEREC consultation on the same topic.</div><div><br></div><div>thanks </div><div><div apple-content-edited="true"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><br>Best Regards<br>Frederic<br><br>Frederic Donck<br>Director European Regional Bureau<br>Internet Society<br><br><a href="http://www.isoc.org">www.isoc.org</a><br><br></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; "><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#000000"><br></font><p class="astandard3320titre" style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 3pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center; font-size: 16pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; position: static; z-index: auto; "><span lang="EN-GB">Rapid: Digital Agenda: Commission opens public consultation on preservation of the open internet (net neutrality)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="a3520normalp3" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">The European Commission is today launching a public consultation seeking answers to questions on transparency, switching and certain aspects of internet traffic management, with a view to its commitment to preserve the open and neutral character of the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; position: static; z-index: auto; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">These questions have emerged as key issues in the "net neutrality" debate that has taken place in Europe over the past years, including the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://www.erg.eu.int/doc/whatsnew/pr29052012.pdf" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: rgb(21, 102, 159); ">recent findings</span></span></a></span><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of the Body of European Regulators of European Communications (BEREC).</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Input is sought from all interested public and private parties, including fixed and mobile internet service providers, Internet content and application providers (including comparison websites), equipment manufacturers, transit providers, investors, public authorities, consumers and their associations. The responses to this consultation will be crucial input for the Commission's planned recommendations announced by European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes on 29 May 2012 (see<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/389&format=HTML&aged=0&language=en&guiLanguage=en" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: rgb(21, 102, 159); ">MEMO 12/389</span></span></a></span><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">)</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Neelie Kroes said:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span class="at31" style="font-style: italic; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">"Today there is a lack of effective consumer choice when it comes to internet offers. I will use this consultation to help<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span class="at21" style="font-style: italic; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">prepare recommendations that will generate more real choices and end the net neutrality waiting game in Europe. Input from this consultation will help turn BEREC's findings<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span class="at41" style="font-style: italic; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">into practical recommendations</span></span><span class="at5"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">.</span></span><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">"</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="a3520normalp3" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">In particular the Commission seeks views on:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="atiret201p9" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; position: static; z-index: auto; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">internet traffic management, including congestion management, managed services and privacy issues;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="atiret201p9" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">transparency, in particular regarding the actual internet performance (speed and quality) and restrictions of internet access products;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="atiret201p9" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">the possibility for consumers to switch operators and<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="atiret201p9" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 2pt; margin-left: 36pt; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: 0cm; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; "><span>·<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">internet interconnection issues between network operators.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; position: static; z-index: auto; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">The consultation document and additional information are available at:<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/actions/oit-consultation/index_en.htm" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="at6"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: rgb(21, 102, 159); ">http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/actions/oit-consultation/index_en.htm</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Responses to the public consultation should be sent before 15 October 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="asous-titre201p7" style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Background<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">In November 2009, the EU electronic communications framework was revised. The new rules include the objective that subscribers should be able to access and distribute information or run applications and services of their choice. At the same time, the Commission set out in its<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/netneutrality/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: rgb(21, 102, 159); ">Declaration on Net Neutrality</span></span></a></span><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>its commitment to preserve the open and neutral character of the internet.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Following a more general public consultation (</span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/860&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: rgb(21, 102, 159); ">IP/10/860,</span></span></a></span><span class="at1"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">), the Commission published a Communication on the open internet and net neutrality in Europe in April 2011. At the same time the Commission asked the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) to undertake a fact-finding exercise on issues crucial to ensuring an open and neutral internet, including barriers to changing operators, blocking or throttling of internet traffic and transparency and quality of service.</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="a3520normalp3" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">On 29 May 2012 BEREC published the results of its traffic management investigation, which showed that several fixed and mobile network and service operators apply certain usage restrictions (blocking or slowing down of certain services) affecting a significant number of subscribers in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="a3520normalp3" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">As the previous consultation was of a more general nature, this consultation will focus specifically on transparency, switching and certain aspects of traffic management in order to provide input for future guidance that the Commission intends to publish in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandardsous-titre201" style="margin-top: 12pt; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">For more information<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="a3520normalp4" style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">European Commission's<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/roaming" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-GB">roaming website</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/digital-agenda/index_en.htm" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-GB">Digital Agenda website</span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Neelie Kroes'<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kroes/" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; "><span lang="EN-GB">website</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="astandard3520normal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 2.85pt; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span style="font-size: 9.5pt; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; ">Follow Neelie Kroes on<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://twitter.com/neeliekroeseu" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">Twitter</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><a href="http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/817&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en" style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; ">http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/12/817&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; "><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; "><o:p> </o:p></span></div></div></span></div></div></div></body></html>