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back to article Net neutrality: EU's three-headed beast now at war with itself

Europe’s telecoms ministers are miles from an agreement with the European Parliament on net neutrality, as differences between the EU's governmental bodies become more apparent. The EU’s Telecommunications Council - made up of national ministers - will meet in Brussels tomorrow to discuss how to move forward on the proposed …

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  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I thought the EU was supposed to stick up for the consumer?

    If they were then they'd just eliminate roaming charges. The "cost" of doing so is just lost profits from mobile operators largely, so what? many of these companies are EU wide anyway.

    4 3 Reply
    1. Dr Stephen Jones
      Reply Icon
      FAIL

      Don't stop there A/C

      They should also buy everyone free beer. And lashings of ginger beer, too.

      The only "cost" is the so-called "profits" of drinks companies, so what?

      4 4 Reply
      1. Spanners Silver badge
        Reply Icon
        Facepalm

        Re: Don't stop there A/C

        There is a slight difference between cutting down on gouging and giving away freebies.

        For most of us, beer and even ginger beer are optional. If not optional, it is not too hard to partially limit your intake. Mobile phones seem much less optional to people. Apparently, in some places, you pay to actually *receive* a text message. That is gouging for sure...

        Beer companies do make profits but it certainly feels like much of the cost of a pint is down to tax in one form or another. Mobile comms costs are seen as much more profitable. That is why they pay such huge prices for their bits of the spectrum.

        3 0 Reply
      2. Anonymous Coward
        Reply Icon
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Don't stop there A/C

        Most roaming costs are not justified nor by costs to deliver the service, nor by the need of a reasonable profit. It's just customers exploitation. Even more so when both the company you have a contract with and the network you're using are the same.

        It's just like if a beer in a pub outside your home town would cost you much more just because.

        If EU wants better integration and less boundaries, it goes through stopping unfair commercial practices as well.

        3 0 Reply

  2. This post has been deleted by its author

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "16 of whom (including OpenForum Europe, La Quadrature du Net, Chaos Computer Club, Net Users' Rights Protection Association and Access) have written to the Council to urge it to change its position"

    In other words, about 16 soap dodgers.

    0 4 Reply
  4. cortland

    "miles from an agreement"

    Km, yes?

    1 0 Reply

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