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Labour MP counters Vaizey with net neutrality motion
ZDNet - Tom Watson, a longstanding parliamentary proponent of digital rights,
has put forward an early day motion against communications minister Ed
Vaizey's anti-net-neutrality stance.
Watson tabled the EDM on Wednesday, after Vaizey indicated the government would not legislate to preserve net neutrality. Vaizey had called for a light regulatory touch,
and said competition would serve to keep the internet "open". Net
neutrality advocates have taken this as a green light for ISPs to try charging content providers
such as the BBC and Google for the privilege of having their content
given priority over that of rivals — a move they say will lead to a
'two-speed internet'.
The motion
expressed "concern at the recent comments made by the Minister for
Communications and Creative Industries that internet service providers
should be allowed to abandon the principle of internet neutrality and
prioritise users' access to certain content providers".