ETNO Comments regarding the FCC NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

ETNO appreciates this opportunity to restate its support of the open Internet and its commitment to the success of the Internet as an open platform where users have access to any lawful content, application or service of their choice.

The debate on the open Internet is global and advanced policy discussions are taking place both in Europe and the US. In Europe, ETNO is closely following discussions on the European Commission’s proposal for a draft ‘Connected Continent’ Regulation, which inter alia seeks to provide guarantees for a dynamic open Internet while at the same time allowing for continued innovation and differentiation in networks and services.

Although we see some commonalities between the European and US debate on open Internet principles, it is not ETNO’s intention to take a position on the specificities of the US debate and the legal and regulatory conditions underpinning it. Instead, we avail of this opportunity to set out high level principles which we believe should form part of any policy approach to the Open Internet. Further, we would like to respond to the FCC’s specific request for clarification on its analysis of the European legal framework on the Open Internet.

As the US and Europe consider their respective approaches to the open Internet, we urge policy makers to adopt a future-proof path to ensure that the Internet can continue to grow, consumers and all players in the eco-system can continue to benefit, and that those that invest in the underlying infrastructure can continue to do so at the necessary levels to sustain the intense growth of ‘Digital’ in both economies. 

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