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EU Backs Net Neutrality Bill In 'Historic' Vote(Sky News (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The European Parliament adopted a "net neutrality" bill on Thursday stopping internet service providers from giving preference to some kinds of traffic on their networks. The legislation came amid fears providers would allot higher shares of bandwith to people and companies willing to pay extra. This would have slowed internet services for everyone else. The bill also bans telecommunications companies from blocking or slowing apps such as Skype or WhatsApp to prevent them from competing with their own services. The 534-25 vote was hailed as "historic" by European Commission vice president Neelie Kroes, who authored the bill. In the US, a net neutrality law was struck down in January. Since then, Netflix has struck a deal with Comcast for preferential treatment of internet traffic bearing its film streams. The bill will also scrap roaming fees charged for using a mobile phone abroad. The bill must pass a final hurdle before it becomes law by getting the approval of national politicians at a Council of the European Union meeting later this year. (c) Sky News 2014 |