TSM: Net neutrality provisions 4-column working document
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18.6.15
TSM: Net neutrality provisions
4-column working document
At the 3rd trilogue on 2 June, the co-legislators invited the Commission to make compromise proposals and undertook to work on them. The 4th
column is accordingly based on the Commission non-paper of 4 June on the net neutrality provisions.
EP text of 8 May Council text of 29 May Commission non-paper of 4 June EP text of 18 June
Recitals Recitals Recitals Recitals
Marking for recitals: bold- Marking for recitals: bold- Marking for recitals: bold-
italic/strikethrough shows differences italic/strikethrough shows differences italic/strikethrough shows differences
with Council text of 17 April with Council text of 29 May 2015 with COM non-paper of 4 June
(1) This Regulation aims at (1) This Regulation aims at (1) This Regulation aims at
harmonising rules on safeguarding harmonising rules on access to open harmonising rules on access to open
access to open internet by ensuring internet by ensuring end-users’ right to internet by ensuring end-users’ right to
end-users’ right to access and access and distribute information and access and distribute information and
distribute information and lawful lawful content, run applications and lawful content, run applications and
content, run applications and use use services of their choice, as well as use services of their choice, as well as
services of their choice, as well as by by establishing common rules on the by establishing common rules on the
establishing common rules on traffic equal treatment of internet traffic and equal and non-discriminatory
management which not only protect traffic management which not only treatment of internet traffic and traffic
end-users but simultaneously guarantee protect end-users but simultaneously management which not only protect
the continued functioning of the guarantee the continued functioning of end-users but simultaneously guarantee
Internet ecosystem as an engine of the Internet ecosystem as an engine of the continued functioning of the
innovation. Reforms in the field of innovation. Reforms in the field of Internet ecosystem as an engine of
roaming should give end-users the roaming should give end-users the innovation. Reforms in the field of
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confidence to stay connected when confidence to stay connected when roaming should give end-users the
they travel in the Union, and should they travel in the Union, and should confidence to stay connected when
become over time a driver of become over time a driver of they travel in the Union, and should
convergent pricing and other convergent pricing and other become over time a driver of
conditions in the Union. conditions in the Union. convergent pricing and other
conditions in the Union.
(2) The measures provided in this (2) The measures provided in this (2) The measures provided in this
Regulation respect the principle of Regulation respect the principle of Regulation shall respect the principle
technological neutrality, that is to say technological neutrality, that is to say of technological neutrality, that is to
they neither impose nor discriminate in they neither impose nor discriminate in say they neither impose nor
favour of the use of a particular type of favour of the use of a particular type of discriminate in favour of the use of a
technology. technology. particular type of technology.
(3) The internet has developed over (3) The internet has developed over (3) The internet has developed over
the past decades as an open platform the past decades as an open platform the past decades as an open platform
for innovation with low access barriers for innovation with low access barriers for innovation with low access barriers
for end-users, content and application for end-users, content and application for end-users, content and application
providers and internet service providers and internet service providers and internet service
providers. The existing regulatory providers. The existing regulatory providers. The existing regulatory
framework aims at promoting the framework aims at promoting the framework aims at promoting the
ability of end-users to access and ability of end-users to access and ability of end-users to access and
distribute information or run distribute information or run distribute information or run
applications and services of their applications and services of their applications and services of their
choice. However, a significant number choice. However, a significant number choice. However, a significant number
of end-users are affected by traffic of end-users are affected by traffic of end-users are affected by traffic
management practices which block or management practices which block or management practices which block or
slow down specific applications. These slow down specific applications. These slow down specific applications. These
tendencies require common rules at the tendencies require common rules at the tendencies require common rules at the
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Union level to maintain ensure the Union level to ensure the open internet Union level to ensure the open internet
open internet and to avoid and to avoid fragmentation of the and to avoid fragmentation of the
fragmentation of the single market single market resulting from individual single market resulting from individual
resulting from individual Member Member States’ measures. Member States’ measures.
States’ measures.
(10 4) In the open internet end-users (4) In the open internet end-users (4) In the open internet end-users
should have the right to access and should have the right to access and should have the right to access and
distribute information and content, distribute information and content, and distribute information and content, and
and to use and provide applications to use and provide applications and to use and provide applications and
and services without discrimination, services without discrimination, via services without discrimination, via
via their internet access service. The their internet access service. The their internet access service. The
exercise of this right is subject to exercise of this right is subject to exercise of this right is subject to
Union law and national law, Union law and national law, compliant Union law and national law, compliant
compliant with Union law, regarding with Union law, regarding the with Union law, regarding the
the lawfulness of content, services or lawfulness of content, services or lawfulness of content, services or
applications. However, this applications. However, this Regulation applications. However, this Regulation
Regulation does not seek to regulate does not seek to regulate the does not seek to regulate the
the lawfulness of the information, lawfulness of the information, content, lawfulness of the information, content,
content, application or services, nor the application or services, nor the application or services, nor the
procedures, requirements and procedures, requirements and procedures, requirements and
safeguards related thereto. These safeguards related thereto. These safeguards related thereto. These
matters remain thus subject to Union matters remain thus subject to Union matters remain thus subject to Union
legislation or national legislation in legislation or national legislation in legislation or national legislation in
compliance with Union law, including compliance with Union law, including compliance with Union law, including
measures giving effect to such Union measures giving effect to such Union measures giving effect to such Union
or national legislation (for example, or national legislation (for example, or national legislation (for example,
court orders, administrative decisions court orders, administrative decisions court orders, administrative decisions
318.6.15
or other measures implementing, or other measures implementing, or other measures implementing,
applying or ensuring compliance with applying or ensuring compliance with applying or ensuring compliance with
such legislation). If those measures such legislation). If those measures such legislation). If those measures
prohibit end-users to access unlawful prohibit end-users to access unlawful prohibit end-users to access unlawful
content (such as, for example, child content (such as, for example, child content (such as, for example, child
pornography), end-users should abide pornography), end-users should abide pornography), end-users should abide
by those obligations by virtue of and in by those obligations by virtue of and in by those obligations by virtue of and in
accordance with that Union or national accordance with that Union or national accordance with that Union or national
law. law. law.
(4 5) End-users should be free to (5) End-users should be free to (5) End-users should be free to
choose between various types of choose between various types of choose between various types of
terminal equipment (defined in terminal equipment (defined in terminal equipment (defined in
Directive 2008/63/EC on competition Directive 2008/63/EC on competition Directive 2008/63/EC on competition
in the markets in telecommunications in the markets in telecommunications in the markets in telecommunications
terminal equipment) to access the terminal equipment) to access the terminal equipment) to access the
internet. Providers of internet access internet. Providers of internet access internet. Providers of internet access
service should not impose restrictions services should not impose restrictions services should not impose restrictions
on the use of terminal equipment on the use of terminal equipment on the use of terminal equipment
connecting to the network, in addition connecting to the network, in addition connecting to the network, in addition
to those imposed by terminal to those imposed by terminal to those imposed by terminal
equipment’s manufacturers or equipment’s manufacturers or equipment’s manufacturers or
distributors in compliance with Union distributors in compliance with Union distributors in compliance with Union
law. law. law.
(5 6) Internet access service is any a (6) Internet access service is a (6) Internet access service is a
publicly available electronic publicly available electronic publicly available electronic
communications service that provides communications service that provides communications service that provides
connectivity access to the internet, access to the internet, and in principle access to the internet, and in principle
418.6.15
irrespective of the network technology to all its end-points, irrespective of the to all its end-points, irrespective of the
and terminal equipment used by end- network technology and terminal network technology and terminal
user. However, for reasons outside the equipment used by the end-user. equipment used by the end-user.
control of internet access service However, for reasons outside the However, for reasons outside the
providers, some end points of the control of internet access service control of internet access service
internet may not always be accessible, providers, some end points of the providers, some end points of the
for instance due to measures taken by internet may not always be accessible, internet may not always be accessible,
public authorities. Therefore, a for instance due to measures taken by for instance due to measures taken by
provider is deemed to comply with its public authorities. Therefore, a public authorities. Therefore, a
obligation related to the offering an provider is deemed to comply with its provider is deemed to comply with its
internet access service within the obligation related to the offering an obligation related to the offering an
meaning of this Regulation when that internet access service within the internet access service within the
service provides connectivity to meaning of this Regulation when that meaning of this Regulation when that
substantially virtually all end points of service provides connectivity to service provides connectivity to
the internet. Providers of internet virtually all end points of the internet. virtually all end points of the internet.
access services should therefore not Providers of internet access services Providers of internet access services
restrict connectivity to any end- should therefore not restrict should therefore not restrict
points of the internet which are connectivity to any accessible end- connectivity to any accessible end-
accessible to them. points of the internet. which are points of the internet.
accessible to them.
(6 7) In order to exercise their right (7) In order to exercise their rights (7) In order to exercise their rights
set out in Article 3(1), end-users set out in Article 3(1), end-users set out in Article 3(1), end-users
should be free to agree with providers should be free to agree with providers should be free to agree with providers
of internet access services on tariffs of internet access services on tariffs of internet access services on tariffs
with specific data volumes and speeds with specific data volumes and speeds with specific data volumes and speeds
or on other technical or commercial of the internet access service. Such of the internet access service. Such
characteristics of the internet access agreements, as well as commercial agreements, as well as commercial
518.6.15
service. Such agreements, as well as practices conducted by providers of practices conducted by providers of
commercial practices conducted by internet access service, should not limit internet access service, should be non-
providers of internet access service, the effective exercise of the right set discriminatory and should not limit
should not limit the exercise of the out in Article 3(1) and thusor the effective exercise of the rights set
right set out in Article 3(1) and thus circumvent provisions of this out in Article 3(1) or circumvent
circumvent provisions of this Regulation on safeguarding internet provisions of this Regulation on
Regulation on safeguarding internet access. National regulatory authorities safeguarding internet access. National
access. National regulatory should be empowered to intervene regulatory authorities should be
authorities should be empowered to against agreements or commercial empowered to intervene against
intervene against cCommercial practices which by reason of their agreements or commercial practices
practices which by reason of should scale, lead to situations where end- which by reason of their scale, lead to
not, given their scale, lead to situations users’ choice is significantly reduced situations where end-users’ choice is
where end-users’ choice is in practice. To this end, the significantly reduced in practice. To
significantly reduced in practice. Since assessement of agreements and this end, the assessement of
the right to open internet is based on commercial practices should take into agreements and commercial practices
end-user’s choice to access preferred account whether they are should take into account whether they
content and information , national discriminatory in nature, as well as are discriminatory in nature, as well as
regulatory authorities should be the respective market positions of the the respective market positions of the
required, as part of their monitoring involved providers of internet access involved providers of internet access
and enforcement function, and to services and of content, services and services and of content, services and
intervene when commercial, such applications. Since the right to open applications. Since the right to access
practices would therefore result in internet is based on end-users’s choice the open internet is based on end-
undermining the essence of this right. to access their preferred content and users’ right to send and receive choice
information, national regulatory to access their content and information
authorities should be required, as part without discrimination, national
of their monitoring and enforcement regulatory authorities should be
function, to and intervene when required, as part of their monitoring
618.6.15
agreements or commercial practices and enforcement function, to intervene
would result in undermining the when agreements or commercial
essence of this right. practices would result in undermining
the essence of this right.
(7a) In an open internet all traffic (7a) In an open internet all traffic
should be treated equally, without should be treated equally, without
discrimination, restriction or discrimination, restriction or
interference, independently of its interference, independently of its
sender, recipient, content, device, sender, recipient, content, device,
service or application. The principle service or application. The principle of
of equal treatment is a general equal treatment is a general principle
principle of Union law. According to of Union law. According to settled
settled case-law, that principle case-law, that principle requires that
requires that comparable situations comparable situations must not be
must not be treated differently and treated differently and that different
that different situations must not be situations must not be treated in the
treated in the same way unless such same way unless such treatment is
treatment is objectively justified. objectively justified.
(8) End-users should have rights to (8) End-users should have rights to (8) The objective of reasonable
access their preferred content and access their preferred content and traffic management is to contribute to
information, to use and provide information, to use and provide an efficient use of network resources
preferred services and applications, as preferred services and applications, as and to an optimisation of overall
well as terminal equipment. well as terminal equipment. transmission quality responding to the
Reasonable traffic management Reasonable traffic management objectively different quality of service
contributes to an efficient use of contributes to an efficient use of requirements of specific categories of
network resources and thus also network resources and to an traffic technical requirements of the
protects to an optimisation of the optimisation of overall transmission content, services and applications
718.6.15
freedom of internet access service quality responding to the technical transmited. Reasonable traffic
providers to conduct a business. requirements of the content, services management measures applied by
Innovation by overall transmission and applications transmitted. providers of internet access services
quality responding to the technical Moreover, reasonable traffic should be transparent, proportionate,
requirements of the content, services management measures applied by non-discriminatory and should not
and applications providers should be providers of internet access services constitute anti-competitive behaviour
fostered. In order to be considered should be transparent, proportionate, be based on unjustified commercial
transmitted. Moreover, reasonable, non-discriminatory and should not be considerations such as preferring or
traffic management measures applied based on unjustified commercial disadvantaging competing content,
by providers of internet access services considerations constitute anti- services or applications. The
should be transparent, proportionate, competitive behaviour such as requirement for traffic management
non-discriminatory and should not preferring or disadvantaging measures to be non-discriminatory
constitute anti-competitive behaviour. competing content, services or does not preclude providers of internet
The requirement for traffic applications. The requirement for access services to implement, in order
management measures to be non- traffic management measures to be to optimise the overall transmission
discriminatory does not preclude non-discriminatory does not preclude quality, traffic management measures
providers of internet access services to providers of internet access services to which differentiate between different
implement, in order to optimise the implement, in order to optimise the categories of traffic. Any such
overall transmission quality, traffic overall transmission quality, traffic differentiation should, in order to
management measures which take into management measures which optimise overall quality and user
account objectively which differentiate between different experience, be permitted only on the
differentiate between different categories of traffic services or basis of objective technical quality of
categories of traffic, service or applications. Any such differentiation service requirements (for example, in
applications. Any such differentiation in order to optimise overall quality terms of latency, jitter, packet loss, and
should be permitted only on the basis and user experience should be bandwidth) of the different categories
of objective technical quality of permitted only on the basis of of traffic, which cannot be considered
service requirements of certain traffic objective technical quality of service to be but not on the basis of
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(for example, in terms of latency, or requirements (for example, in terms of commercial considerations. Such
high jitter, packet loss, and latency, jitter, packet loss, and differentiating traffic management
bandwidth). Blocking, of the different bandwidth) of the different categories measures should be proportionate in
categories of traffic, but not on the of traffic, which cannot be considered relation to the purpose of overall
basis of commercial considerations. to be but not on the basis of quality optimisation and should treat
Such differentiating traffic commercial considerations. Such equivalent traffic equally in line with
management measures should be differentiating traffic management the principle of non-discrimination.
proportionate in relation to the measures should be proportionate in The traffic management measures
purpose of overall quality relation to the purpose of overall should not be maintained longer than
optimisation and should treat quality optimisation and should treat necessary.
equivalent traffic equally. equivalent traffic equally.
Any traffic management practice 8(a) Any More intrusive traffic (8a) Any Any traffic management
which goes beyond such reasonable management practices which goes practices which go beyond such
measures, including reasonable beyond such reasonable measures, reasonable measures by blocking,
differentiation, by blocking, slowing including reasonable differentiation, slowing down, restricting, interfering
down, altering, degrading or namely by blocking, slowing down, with, altering, degrading or
discriminating against between specific restricting, interfering with, altering, discriminating between specific
content, applications or services should degrading or discriminating between content, applications or services, or
be prohibited, subject to justified and specific content, applications or specific categories of content,
defined exceptions laid down in this services, or specific categories of applications or services, should be
Regulation. Content, services and content, applications or services, prohibited, subject to justified and
applications should be protected should be prohibited, subject to defined exceptions laid down in this
because of the negative impact of justified and defined exceptions laid Regulation. These exceptions are
blocking or other restrictive measures down in this Regulation. These subject to strict interpretation and
on end-user choice and innovation. exceptions are subject to strict proportionality requirements.
918.6.15
Rules against altering content, services interpretation and proportionality Individual Content, services and
or applications refer to a modification requirements. Individual applications should be protected, as
of the content of the communication, Contentcontent, services and well as categories thereof because of
but do not ban non-discriminatory data applications should be protected, as the negative impact of unjusitified
compression techniques which reduce well as categories thereof because of blocking or other restrictive measures
the size of a data file without any the negative impact of unjustified on end-user choice and innovation
modification of the content. Such blocking or other restrictive measures would be even greater if applied to
compression enables a more efficient on end-user choice and innovation entire categories . Rules against
use of scarce resources and serves the would be even greater if applied to altering content, services or
end-users’ interest in reducing data entire categories. Rules against applications refer to a modification of
volumes, increasing speed and altering content, services or the content of the communication, but
enhancing the experience of using the applications refer to a modification of do not ban non-discriminatory data
content, services or applications in the content of the communication, but compression techniques which reduce
question. do not ban non-discriminatory data the size of a data file without any
compression techniques which reduce modification of the content. Such
the size of a data file without any compression enables a more efficient
modification of the content. Such use of scarce resources and serves the
compression enables a more efficient end-users’ interest in reducing data
use of scarce resources and serves the volumes, increasing speed and
end-users’ interest in reducing data enhancing the experience of using the
volumes, increasing speed and content, services or applications in
enhancing the experience of using the question.
content, services or applications in
question.
(8b) Technical information on (8b) Technical information on
specific quality of service specific quality of service requirements
requirements of traffic is usually of traffic is usually contained in the
1018.6.15
contained in the data packet header. data packet header. Reasonable traffic
Reasonable traffic management does management does therefore not require
therefore not require techniques techniques which enable to monitor the
which enable to monitor the content content or payload of data packets,
or payload of data packets, such as such as deep packet inspection. By
deep packet inspection. By contrast, contrast, legal obligations or the
legal obligations or the preservation preservation of network security may
of network security may exceptionally in exceptional circumstances
require monitoring of the content of exceptionally require monitoring of the
data packets, subject to concrete content of data packets, subject to
suspicious facts and strict concrete suspicious facts and strict
proportionality. These exceptions do proportionality. These exceptions do
not justify systematic monitoring of not justify systematic monitoring of the
the content of data packets. content of data packets.
(9) Providers of internet access (9) Providers of internet access (9) Providers of internet access service
service may be subject to legal service may be subject to legal may be subject to Union or national
obligations requiring, for example, obligations requiring, for example, legislation (for example, Union or
blocking of specific content, blocking of specific content, national legislation related to the
applications or services. Those legal applications or services. Those legal lawfulness of content, applications or
obligations should be laid down in obligations should be laid down in services, or legislation related to public
Union or national legislation (for Union or national legislation (for safety), in compliance with Union law,
example, Union or national legislation example, Union or national legislation including criminal law, requiring, for
related to the lawfulness of related to the lawfulness of example, blocking of specific content,
information, content, applications or information, content, applications or applications or services or to measures
services, or legislation related to public services, or legislation related to public implementing or applying such
safety), in compliance with Union law, safety), in compliance with Union law, legislation, in compliance with Union
or they should be established in including criminal law, requiring, for law, such as national measures of
1118.6.15
measures implementing or applying example, blocking of specific content, general application, court orders,
such legislation, such as national applications or services or they should decisions of public authorities vested
measures of general application, courts be established in to measures with relevant powers, or other
orders, decisions of public authorities implementing or applying such measures ensuring compliance with
vested with relevant powers, or other legislation, in compliance with Union such legislation (for example,
measures ensuring compliance with law, such as national measures of obligations to comply with court orders
such legislation (for example, general application, court orders, or orders by public authorities
obligations to comply with court orders decisions of public authorities vested requiring to block unlawful content).
or orders by public authorities with relevant powers, or other The requirement to comply with Union
requiring to block unlawful content). measures ensuring compliance with law relates, among others, to the
The requirement to comply with Union such legislation (for example, compliance with the requirements of
law relates, among others, to the obligations to comply with court orders the Charter of Fundamental rights of
compliance with the requirements of or orders by public authorities the European Union in relation to
the Charter of Fundamental rights of requiring to block unlawful content). limitations of fundamental rights and
the European Union in relation to The requirement to comply with Union freedoms. As stated in Directive
limitations of fundamental rights and law relates, among others, to the 2009/140/EC any limitations of
freedoms. Reasonable traffic compliance with the requirements of fundamental rights or freedoms may
management should also allow actions the Charter of Fundamental rights of only be imposed if they are
to protect the integrity of the network, the European Union in relation to appropriate, proportionate and
for instance in preventing cyber- limitations of fundamental rights and necessary within a democratic society,
attacks through the spread of malicious freedoms. Reasonable Restrictive and their implementation shall be
software or end-users’ identity theft traffic management measures, subject to adequate procedural
through spyware. In the operation of including blocking, should also allow safeguards in conformity with the
their networks, providers of internet actionsshould also be considered to be European Convention for the
access services should be allowed to justified when employed to protect the Protection of Human Rights and
implement reasonable traffic integrity and security of the network, Fundamental Freedoms including
management measures to avoid for instance in preventing cyber- effective judicial protection and due
1218.6.15
congestion of the network. attacks through the spread of malicious process. Accordingly, these limitations
software or end-users’ identity theft may only be taken with due respect
through spyware. In the operation of for the principle of the presumption of
their networks, providers of internet innocence and the right to privacy. A
access services should be allowed to prior, fair and impartial procedure
implement reasonable traffic shall be guaranteed, including the
management measures to avoid right to be heard of the person or
congestion of the network. persons concerned, subject to the
need for appropriate conditions and
procedural arrangements in duly
substantiated cases of urgency in
conformity with the European
Convention for the Protection of
Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms The right to effective and
timely judicial review shall be
guaranteed.’ Restrictive traffic
management measures, including
blocking, should also be considered to
be justified when employed to protect
the integrity and security of the
network, for instance in preventing
cyber-attacks through the spread of
malicious software or end-users’
identity theft through spyware.
Exceptionally, more restrictive traffic (9a) The derogations, subject to (9a) The derogations, subject to strict
management measures affecting strict interpretation, should also interpretation, should also include
1318.6.15
certain categories of content, include more restrictive traffic more restrictive traffic management
applications or services may be management measures affecting measures affecting certain categories
necessary for the purpose of preventing certain categories of content, of content, applications or services
network congestion, i.e. situations applications or services which may be which may be necessary for the
where congestion is pending. about to necessary for the purpose of preventing purpose of preventing impending
materialise, and in the mitigation of impending network congestion, i.e. network congestion, i.e. situations
Moreover, minimising the effects of situations where congestion is about to where congestion is about to
actual network congestion, should be materialise, and in the mitigation of the materialise, and in the mitigation of the
considered reasonable provided that effects of network congestion, effects of network congestion,
network such congestion occurs only provided that such congestion occurs provided that such congestion occurs
temporarily or in exceptional only temporarily or in exceptional only temporarily or in exceptional
circumstances. The principle of circumstances. The principle of circumstances. The principle of
proportionality requires that traffic proportionality requires that traffic proportionality requires that traffic
management measures based on this management measures based on this management measures based on this
exception treat equivalent categories exception treat equivalent categories of exception treat equivalent categories of
of traffic equally. Temporary traffic equally and are only applied as traffic equally and are only applied as
congestion refers to specific, non- long as necessary. Temporary long as necessary. Temporary
recurring situations during short congestion should be understood as congestion should be understood as
periods of time. Exceptional referring refers to specific, situations referring to specific situations of short
circumstances are infrequent This of short duration, where a sudden duration, where a sudden increase in
includes situations, especially in increase in the number of users in the number of users in addition to the
mobile access networks, where despite addition to the regular users, or a regular users, or a sudden increase in
operators’ efforts to ensure the most sudden increase in demand for a demand for a particular content or
efficient use of the resources available particular content or service, may service, may overflow the transmission
and thus prevent congestion, demand overflow the transmission capacity of capacity of some elements of the
occasionally exceeds the available some elements of the network and network and make the rest of the
capacity of the network, for example in make the rest of the network less network less reactive. Temporary
1418.6.15
large sport events, public reactive. Temporary congestion may congestion may occur especially in
demonstrations concerts or festivals occur especially in mobile networks, mobile networks, which are subject to
and other situations where a much which are subject to more variable more variable conditions, such as
larger number than usual of users is conditions, such as physical physical obstructions, lower indoor
trying to make use of the network at obstructions, lower indoor coverage, coverage, or a variable number of
the same time. or a variable number of active users active users with changing location. It
with changing location. It may be may be predictable that such temporary
predictable that such temporary congestion will occur from time to
congestion will occur from time to time at certain points in the network –
time at certain points in the network – such that it cannot be regarded as
such that it cannot be regarded as exceptional -, without it recurring often
exceptional -, without it recurring or for such extensive periods that a
often or for such extensive periods capacity expansion would be
that a capacity expansion would be economically justified. Exceptional
economically justified. Exceptional congestion should be understood as
congestion should be understood as referring to unpredictable and
referring to unpredictable and unavoidable situations of congestion,
unavoidable situations of congestion, both in mobile and fixed networks.
both in mobile and fixed networks. These situations may be caused e.g. by
These situations may be caused e.g. a technical failure such as a service
by a technical failure such as a outage due to broken cables or other
service outage due to broken cables or infrastructure elements, unexpected
other infrastructure elements, changes in routing of traffic or large
unexpected changes in routing of increases in network traffic due to
traffic or large increases in network emergency or other situations beyond
traffic due to emergency or other the control of the internet access
situations beyond the control of the service provider. Such congestion
1518.6.15
internet access service provider. Such problems are likely to be infrequent
congestion problems are likely to be but may be severe, and are not
infrequent but may be severe, and are necessarily of short duration. The need
not necessarily of short duration.non- to apply intrusive traffic management
recurring situations during short measures to prevent or mitigate the
periods of time. Exceptional effects of temporary or exceptional
circumstances are infrequent network congestion should not give
situations, especially in mobile access operators the possibility to circumvent
networks, where despite operators’ the general prohibition of blocking,
efforts to ensure the most efficient use slowing down, altering, degrading or
of the resources available and thus discriminating between specific
prevent congestion, demand content, applications or services, or
occasionally exceeds the available specific categories of traffic. Recurrent
capacity of the network, for example in and more long-lasting network
large sport events, concerts or festivals congestion which is neither
and other situations where a much exceptional nor temporary should not
larger number than usual of users is benefit from such a derogation and
trying to make use of the network at should rather be tackled through
the same time. The need to apply expansion of network capacity.
intrusive traffic management
measures to prevent or mitigate the
effects of temporary or exceptional
network congestion should not give
operators the possibility to circumvent
the general prohibition of blocking,
slowing down, altering, degrading or
discriminating between specific
1618.6.15
content, applications or services, or
specific categories of traffic.
Recurrent and more long-lasting
network congestion which is neither
exceptional nor temporary should not
benefit from such a derogation and
should rather be tackled through
expansion of network capacity.
(9a 10) For the purposes of this (10) For the purposes of this (10) For the purposes of this
Regulation, prior explicit consent Regulation, prior explicit consent Regulation, prior explicit consent
should mean any freely given specific, should mean any freely given specific, should mean any freely given specific,
distinct and informed indication of distinct and informed indication of distinct and informed indication of
end-user’s wishes by which the end- end-user’s wishes by which the end- end-user’s wishes by which the end-
user signifies his unambiguous user signifies his unambiguous user signifies his unambiguous
agreement to allow the provider of agreement to allow the provider of agreement to allow the provider of
internet access services to prevent the internet access services to prevent the internet access services to prevent the
transmission of unsolicited transmission of unsolicited transmission of unsolicited
communication or to implement communication or to implement communication or to implement
parental control measures. In addition, parental control measures. For the parental control measures. For the
it is also important to recall that purposes of giving effect to the purposes of giving effect to the
according to Article 20 of the provision requiring a prior explicit provision requiring a prior explicit
Universal Service Directive1, contracts consent of the end-user for the consent of the end-user for the
for services providing connection to a implementation of parental control implementation of parental control
public communications network and/or measures by the provider of the measures by the provider of the
publicly available electronic internet access services, this internet access services, this
communications services should Regulation should be applied in Regulation should be applied in
1718.6.15
inform consumers and other end-users accordance with national rules. accordance with national rules.
so requesting about, inter alia, any Therefore, this Regulation does not Therefore, this Regulation does not
conditions which limit access to and/or affect national rules which define, for affect national rules which define, for
use of services and applications. example, parental rights and example, parental rights and
Finally, and f For the purposes of obligations. In this respect, and by way obligations. In this respect, and by way
giving effect to the provision requiring of an example, the aim of parental of an example, the aim of parental
a prior explicit consent of the end-user control measures could be to prevent control measures could be to prevent
for the implementation of parental the access of minors to content, the access of minors to content,
control measures by the provider of the applications and services, such as those applications and services, such as those
internet access services, this involving pornography or gratuitous involving pornography or gratuitous
Regulation should be applied in violence, which might seriously impair violence, which might seriously impair
accordance with national rules. minors’ physical, mental or moral minors’ physical, mental or moral
Therefore, this Regulation does not development. Parental control development. Parental control
affect national rules which define, for measures should be applied in a measures should be applied in a
example, parental rights and manner that ensures that the end-user manner that ensures that the end-user
obligations. In this respect, and by way decides which categories of content decides which categories of content
of an example, the aim of parental should be filtered, blocked or should be filtered, blocked or
control measures could be to prevent controlled. They should also include a controlled. They should also include a
the access of minors to content, clear alert to the end-user that such clear alert to the end-user that such
applications and services, such as those measures have been used to filter, measures have been used to filter,
involving pornography or gratuitous block or control content or categories block or control content or categories
violence, which might seriously impair of content when the end-user attempts of content when the end-user attempts
minors’ physical, mental or moral to access such content. The measures to access such content. The measures
development. Parental control should also include a clear and should also include a clear and
measures should be applied in a transparent mechanism by which the transparent mechanism by which the
manner that ensures that the end-user end-user who has consented to the use end-user who has consented to the use
decides which categories of content of these measures may withdraw this of these measures may withdraw this
1818.6.15
should be filtered, blocked or consent at any time. consent at any time.
controlled. They should also include a
clear alert to the end-user that such
measures have been used to filter,
block or control content or categories
of content when the end-user attempts
to access such content. The measures
should also include a clear and
transparent mechanism by which the
end-user who has consented to the
use of these measures may withdraw
this consent at any time.
(7 11) There is demand on the (11) There is demand on the part of (11) There is demand on the part of
part of content, applications and content, applications and services content, applications and services
services providers, as well as on the providers to be able to provide, as well providers to be able to provide, as well
part of end-users, for the provision of as on the part of end-users, for the as on the part of end-users, for the
electronic communication services provision of, electronic communication provision of, , electronic
other than internet access services, services other than internet access communications services other than
based on specific quality of service services, based onwhich require internet access services, for which
levels. Agreements in this respect specific quality of service levels. require specific quality of service
could also play an important role in the Agreements in this respect could levels are indispensable. Such specific
provision of services with a public alsoSuch specific quality levels are, quality levels are, for instance,
interest as well as in the development for instance, required by some required by some services responding
of new services such as machine-to- services play an important role in the to a public interest (e.g. e-health) or by
machine communications. At the same provision of services withresponding some new machine-to-machine
time, such agreements should allow to a public interest (e.g. e-health) or as communications services. Providers of
providers of electronic well as in the development by some of electronic communications to the
1918.6.15
communications to the public to better new services such as machine-to- public, including providers of internet
balance traffic and prevent network machine communications services. At access services, and providers of
congestion. End-users including the same time, such agreements should content, applications and services
providers of content, applications and allow providers of electronic should therefore be free to offer
services, should therefore remain free communications to the public to better services which are not internet access
to conclude agreements with providers balance traffic and prevent network services and which are optimised to
of electronic communications to the congestion. Providers of electronic meet the specific indispensable quality
public and providers of content communications to the public, requirements of specific content,
applications and services, which including providers of internet access applications or services, or a
require specific levels of quality of services, and providers of content, combination thereof.
service. Such services should not be applications and services End-users
offered as a replacement for internet should therefore remain be free to
access services, and their provision conclude agreements with providers of
should not impair in a material manner electronic communications to the
the availability and quality of internet public and providers of content
access services for other end-users. applications and offer services which
National regulatory authorities should are not internet access services and
ensure that providers of electronic which are optimised to meet the
communications to the public comply specific quality requirements forof
with this requirement, as set out in specific content, applications or
Article 4. In this respect, national services, or a combination thereof
regulatory authorities should assess which require specific levels of quality
whether the negative impact on the of service.
availability and quality of internet
access services is material by
analysing, inter alia, quality parameters
such as timing and reliability
2018.6.15
parameters (latency, jitter, packet loss),
levels and effects of congestion in the
network, actual versus advertised
speeds, performance of internet access
services compared with services other
than internet access services, and
quality as perceived by end-users.
(11a) In order to avoid a negative (11a) In order to avoid a negative
impact of the provision of such impact of the provision of such
services on the availability or quality services on the availability or quality
of internet access services for end- of internet access services for end-
users other than those having users other than those having
subscribed to the specific service, subscribed to the specific service,
sufficient capacity needs to be sufficient capacity needs to be ensured.
ensured. Providers of electronic Providers of electronic
communications to the public, communications to the public,
including providers of internet access including providers of internet access
services, should, therefore, offer such services, should, therefore, offer such
other services, or conclude other services, or conclude
corresponding agreements with corresponding agreements with
providers of content, services or providers of content, services or
applications facilitating such services, applications facilitating such services,
only if the network capacity is only if the network capacity is
sufficient to provide them in addition sufficient to provide them in addition
to any internet access services to any internet access services
provided. The open internet provided. The open internet provisions
provisions of Article 3 should not be of Article 3 should not be
2118.6.15
circumvented by other services usable circumvented by other services usable
or offered as a replacement for or offered as a replacement for internet
internet access services. However, the access services. However, the mere
mere fact that corporate services such fact that corporate services such as
as virtual private networks may also virtual private networks may also give
give access to the internet should not access to the internet should not be
be considered as a replacement of the considered as a replacement of the
internet access service provided that internet access service provided that
such access to the internet is such access to the internet is compliant
compliant with Article 3(1) to (4) of with Article 3(1) to (4) of this
this Regulation and thus cannot be Regulation and thus cannot be
considered a circumvention of those considered a circumvention of those
rules.Such services should not be rules.
offered as a replacement for internet The provision of these services should
access services, and tTheir provision not impair the availability and general
of these services should not impair in a quality of internet access services for
material manner the availability and end-users other than those having
general quality of internet access subscribed to the specific service.
services for other end-users other than
those having subscribed to the specific National regulatory authorities should
service. National regulatory authorities ensure that providers of electronic
should ensure that providers of communications to the public comply
electronic communications to the with this requirement, as set out in
public comply with this requirement, Article 4. In this respect, national
as set out in Article 4. In this respect, regulatory authorities should assess the
national regulatory authorities should impact on the availability and general
assess whether the negative impact on quality of internet access services by
2218.6.15
the availability and general quality of analysing, inter alia, quality parameters
internet access services is material by (latency, jitter, packet loss, etc.), levels
analysing, inter alia, quality parameters and effects of congestion in the
such as timing and reliability network, actual versus advertised
parameters ((latency, jitter, packet loss, speeds, performance of internet access
etc.), levels and effects of congestion services compared with services other
in the network, actual versus than internet access services, and
advertised speeds, performance of quality as perceived by end-users.
internet access services compared with
services other than internet access
services, and quality as perceived by
end-users.
(11 12) National regulatory authorities (12) National regulatory authorities (12) National regulatory authorities
play an essential role in ensuring that play an essential role in ensuring that play an essential role in ensuring that
end-users are effectively able to end-users are effectively able to end-users are effectively able to
exercise the right to avail of open exercise the right to avail of open exercise the right to avail of open
internet access. To this end, national internet access. To this end, national internet access. To this end, national
regulatory authorities should have regulatory authorities should have regulatory authorities should have
monitoring and reporting obligations, monitoring and reporting obligations, monitoring and reporting obligations,
and should ensure compliance of and should ensure compliance of and should ensure compliance of
providers of electronic providers of electronic providers of electronic
communications to the public with the communications to the public, communications to the public,
obligation to ensure sufficient network including providers of internet access including providers of internet access
capacity for the provision of non- services, with their obligations services, with their obligations
discriminatory internet access services pursuant to Article 3, including the pursuant to Article 3, including the
of high quality which should not be obligation to ensure sufficient network obligation to ensure sufficient network
impaired by provision of services with capacity for the provision of non- capacity for the provision of non-
2318.6.15
a specific level of quality. Providers of discriminatory internet access services discriminatory internet access services
internet access services should ensure of high quality which should not be of high quality which should not be
maximum transparency in the impaired by the provision of services impaired by the provision of services
provision of internet access services with a specific level of quality. with a specific level of quality.
according to the additional Providers of internet access services National regulatory authorities should
transparency measures laid down in should ensure maximum transparency also have powers to impose technical
Article 4. Therefore, national in the provision of internet access characteristics, minimum quality of
regulatory authorities should enforce services according to the additional service requirements and other
compliance with Article 3 and the transparency measures laid down in appropriate measures on all or
respective parts of Article 4. They Article 4. Therefore, national individual providers of electronic
should also have powers to impose regulatory authorities should enforce communications to the public if this is
minimum quality of service compliance with Article 3 and the necessary to ensure compliance with
requirements on all or individual respective parts of Article 4. They Article 3 or to prevent degradation of
providers of electronic National regulatory authorities should the quality of service of internet access
communications to the public if this is also have powers to impose technical services for other end-users. In doing
necessary to prevent degradation of the characteristics, minimum quality of so, national regulatory authorities
quality of service of internet access service requirements and other should take utmost account of relevant
services for other end-users. In doing appropriate measures on all or guidance from BEREC.
so, national regulatory authorities individual providers of electronic
should take utmost account of relevant communications to the public if this is
guidance from BEREC. necessary to ensure compliance with
Article 3 or to prevent degradation of
the quality of service of internet access
services for other end-users. In doing
so, national regulatory authorities
should take utmost account of relevant
guidance from BEREC.
2418.6.15
(13) The open internet provisions (12a) The open internet provisions
should be complemented by effective should be complemented by effective
end-user provisions which address end-user provisions which address
issues particularly linked to internet issues particularly linked to internet
access services and enable end-users access services and enable end-users to
to make informed choices. These make informed choices. These
provisions should apply in addition to provisions should apply in addition to
the applicable provisions of Directive the applicable provisions of Directive
2002/22/EC as amended and Member 2002/22/EC as amended and Member
States may maintain or adopt more States may maintain or adopt more far-
far-reaching measures. Providers of reaching measures. Providers of
internet access services should inform internet access services should inform
end-users in a clear manner about end-users in a clear manner about any
any traffic management practices traffic management practices deployed
deployed and about the possible and about the possible impact of other
impact of other services to which they services to which they subscribe on the
subscribe on the quality and quality and availability of their
availability of their respective internet respective internet access services. In
access services. In view of the view of the increasing use of data
increasing use of data volume volume allowances it is essential that
allowances it is essential that end- end-users be able to be fully aware of
users be able to be fully aware of any any such allowances and to
such allowances and to continuously continuously monitor their data
monitor their data consumption. consumption. Discrepancies between
Discrepancies between advertised advertised quality parameters, in
quality parameters, in particular particular speeds, and the actally
speeds, and the actally available available quality of internet access
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