ISP group wary of proposed net neutrality code

 

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By Stewart Mitchell

Posted on 11 Mar 2011 at 11:27

The ISP Association is worried that planned net neutrality rules could favour larger ISPs.

The Broadband Stakeholder Group is expected to launch a net neutrality Code of Conduct for its members next week.

The code would require BSG members to be more transparent on traffic management, which would be in line with Ofcom's stance on network shaping being permitted as long as the ISPs are open about it.

However, the ISPA - which represents most UK ISPs - is concerned that the code being drawn up by the BSG could favour larger ISPs.

Although larger ISPs are members of ISPA as well as the BSG, relatively few small web providers are in the BSG.

“There are differences between large and small ISPs to do with scale and contention and other issues, so we'll be looking at what the BSG is suggesting when they publish the code of practice next week,” said a spokesperson for ISPA.

“When it is published we'll talk to members and see whether it's based on principles we want to sign up to.”

ISPA also pointed out that it already had a Best Current Practice document in place governing what members should do with regard to traffic management.

Openness welcomed

The BSG guidelines are expected to require ISPs be more open about how traffic is managed on their networks, and the proposal has already been given the thumbs up by at least one ISP.

Virgin Media said a code on net neutrality would be good for users, who would be able to see how much their ISP throttled bandwidth. Indeed, the company believes the code should go further and include typical broadband performance.

"We fully support, and have been actively engaged, in the development of the Broadband Stakeholder Group's Code of Practice and are pleased that other ISPs and operators will now provide consistent standards of openness on traffic management,” a spokesperson for the company said.

“But as the demand for faster broadband speeds grows, transparency must extend beyond traffic management and it's critical that ISPs provide this level of honesty about the real world speeds they deliver.”