Europe Could See Beginning Of Two-Tier Internet

Politicians are planning a two-tier Internet in Europe - just days after a similar move in the US was blocked.
EU member states are drawing up proposals to allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to prioritise specific Internet traffic.
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the chief executives of both Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom both argued for rules to allow them to give priority to some services.
Operators often cite emergency services data as an example of traffic that should be prioritised - but many fear that customers will see their traffic throttled in favour of higher-paying individuals and corporations.
New proposals by Latvia, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Council, has outlined its belief that traffic across networks should be treated equally.
But it says ISPs should "free to enter into agreements" to deliver faster speeds at higher prices, provided it does not "impair" the services of the majority of users.
The rules will be put to the ambassadors or representatives of EU council member states for a vote on Wednesday.
If passed, they will then be discussed by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the EU Council again.
If an agreement is reached, it is likely to be before the summer.
Last week, the US Federal Communications Commission passed new rules to require companies to act in the "public interest" and not intentionally block or slow web traffic.
A Democratic commissioner who voted in favour of the rule said: "We cannot have a two-tiered internet that speeds the traffic of the privileged and leaves the rest of us lagging behind."    
Sky   http://ow.ly/KfOUv