This document summarizes the battle for net neutrality in Europe and outlines strategies for continuing the fight. It discusses how civil society groups campaigned against the European Commission's initial proposals, which would have undermined net neutrality. Through lobbying efforts including media appearances and a public awareness campaign, these groups helped convince the European Parliament to pass legislation enforcing strong net neutrality protections. While the regulations are not perfect, it was a major victory. The document concludes by acknowledging there is still work to be done and thanking the many individuals and organizations involved in the campaign.

1. How We Won The Battle On
Net Neutrality In Europe
…and what we need to do to win the war
1
Joe McNamee Thomas Lohninger

2. case history
2

3. Neelie Kroes
Jan 2010: “There is still some
confusion about net neutrality.
[…] The core issue is whether
internet access providers or
network operators should be
able to exercise control or limit
users’ access to any content.
For me, when that is done for
commercially motivated
reasons, that is absolutely a
no-go.”
3

4. Neelie Kroes
• six consultations
• The Netherlands & Slovenia
adopt net neutrality legislation
• BEREC study about violations
50% of mobile and 20% of
fixed line customers affected
4

5. Neelie Kroes
May 2012: “making sure you get
champagne service if that’s what
you’re paying for”
5

6. European Regulator
• 2012 “Summary of BEREC
positions on net neutrality”
• Nov 2012 “BEREC Guidelines
for quality of service in the
scope of net neutrality”
6

7. Telecom Single Market
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
laying down measures concerning the European single market for electronic
communications and to achieve a Connected Continent
7

8. 8

9. legislative package
• radio spectrum
• single EU authorisation
• regulatory jurisdiction
• market consolidation
• ending roaming charges
• killing net neutrality
9

10. not neutrality
• voluntary internet censorship
• internet fast lanes
• as Specialised Services
• as obligation for paid QoS peerings
• price discrimination & volume exclusion
10

11. strategy of the commission
1. Use the elections
2. Add a populist element
3. Use bizarre, complex language
4. Pretend you support net neutrality
11

12. 12

13. plenary vote
• we got real net neutrality!
• text is still not perfect
• weak enforcement
• adopted from S&D, ALDE,
Greens & GUE
• “child pornography”
13

14. 14

15. campaign
16

16. 17
.eu

17. 18

18. 19

19. 20

20. facts
• ~ 30.000 faxes
• translated in 9 languages
• min. 50 media appearances in 7 languages
(before the final vote)
• 266 git commits from 12 contributors
23

21. 27

22. 28

23. 29

24. 32

25. 33

26. Lobbying
34

27. Output
• Policy Analysis
• Analysis of every Opinion, Report and Amendment
• 1 pager about effects on SMEs & economy
• collection of contradictory statements from COM &
ETNO
• joint letter of civil society, companies and consumer
protection organisations
35

28. 36

29. Allies
• EDRi member network
• BEUC
• StartUps for net neutrality, Netflix, VON, Open
Forum Europe, Greenhost, Austrian StartUp
Association
37

30. what’s next?
39

31. 40

32. 41

33. Credits
42
@exile6e