EU: Fake Net Neutrality

It was an odd event yesterday that rivaled the US net neutrality of last week.

While the EU commission on communications didn't say nothing in public.....their documents found their way into the hands of a couple of journalists.  My humble guess is that some members of the commission disagree about what is being discussed and this was the only way to get public reaction.....complete open discussion prior to some big decision.

So, the talk within the commission?  You can have full up and turbo-powered net neutrality.  Yep....no one will stop net neutrality from occurring.  Oddly....the telecom groups (commercial organizations) will have the authority to monitor and arrange speed to customers.  In essence, there will be a minimum of two speed situations.  Those who pay extra.....will get extra.  Those who pay minimum.....will get plain vanilla speed.  But in the end, everyone will get net neutrality.

I know.....you will start laughing because it's a fake scheme and doesn't do much of anything, but that's the only way to keep current rates where they are.  You have to remember, there's already taxes built into the various government schemes in Europe.....so you pay a communications tax and sales tax into the package.  To suggest another tax, for what?  None of the current taxes find their way to improve the network....they simply move into the gov't pocket of revenue.

Folks disturbed by this? There are a number of folks who kept thinking the EU crowd would take the same steps as the FCC, and render net neutrality.  Well, they will deliver on that promise.....but it's not real net neutrality and simply plays on words, at best.

Living in Europe, as I do....I've come to some realizations about where things are going.  State-run and commercial-run TV is slowly dying off.  It might take twenty years but neither is going to be the vehicle of choice in thirty years for most residents of Germany.  Internet TV options will the pick, and state-run TV knows that it's a limited future for them....meaning their 18-Euro a month mandated tax is going to eventually dissolve.  It's almost impossible as it is now.....to find some sixteen-year-old kid who watches state-run TV.

I think the EU commission is looking at the situation and simply preparing people for the package deal......you want real speed via net neutrality.....you will pay for it.  The customer will determine this and sign up for it.  The lesser-speed crowd?  Month by month.....they will decline in number and more will opt for better speeds and more cost.  The customer wins in the end.

As for the fake words of net neutrality here in Europe?  As long as you say it's fair and you allow two speeds to exist.....people will believe it.  You could utter 'beer neutrality' or 'car neutrality' or 'ice cream neutrality', and people would all believe in some fairness to be skimmed off the gimmick in question.  That's life.