[pp.int.general] Chile: Government enacted LAW OF THE INTERNET AND NETWORK NEUTRALITY

[Enrique Herrera Noya]

 http://bit.ly/bvr3cO

Chile: Government enacted LAW OF THE INTERNET AND NETWORK NEUTRALITY 	

Pioneering legislation worldwide was published today in the Official Journal

Guarantees the right of anyone on the Internet to use, send, to use or
provide any content, application or legal services through the Internet
without blocking or arbitrary discrimination.

 "It is a concrete step for greater transparency in the broadband
market, stimulating competition for quality of service," said the
Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Felipe Morande.

from today, Chile officially becomes the first country in the world to
guarantee the principle of network neutrality, setting a framework of
transparency and rights for Internet users.

The new law guarantees the right of anyone on the Internet to use, send,
receive or provide any content, application or service over the Internet
legally, with no crashes or arbitrary discrimination.

On 17 May, for the World Telecommunication Day, the Minister of
Transport and Telecommunications, Felipe Morande, announced that the
Government would urge the handling of this Act under discussion since
2007 in Congress, because "consumers In our opinion, require greater
transparency, better information and, above all, clear and effective
rights, "stated the Secretary of State.

Three months later, it has confirmed the validity of this legislative
initiative with the enactment of the law by the President of the
Republic and its publication in the Official Journal, establishing a
regulation that promotes transparency, enshrines the principle of
network neutrality establishing clear and expeditious procedures to
claim when not meet the technical and commercial conditions offered.

"It is a concrete step for greater transparency in the broadband market,
stimulating competition for quality of service, which is the backbone of
our public policy in telecommunications," said Morande.

"I would emphasize the cross support of all parliamentarians in the
enactment of this Act, which places our country in the world leader in
the field of network neutrality. It shows that in Chile there is
political will to modernize the regulation in telecommunications and
empower consumers. That's the way we are going to benefit the citizens,
"stressed the Minister.

For its part, the Undersecretary of Telecommunications, Jorge Atton,
stressed that the government is going ahead with its telecommunications
agenda, fulfilling their commitments on competition.

"The President of the Republic has given us a clear task: to promote
competition and transparency in the markets, removing entry barriers and
obstacles for consumers. This Act marks a new era in the Internet
industry, where consumers spend to be in the center. They are now users
who have the control to choose the provider that delivers better service
and to navigate freely without undue restrictions or blockages. "

Deputy Gonzalo Arenas, precursor of the parliamentary motion that gave
rise to this law, said he is very happy with the publication of
legislation, "because it is a long way to protect the rights of Internet
users. It is also the first law in the world that enshrines the
principle of net neutrality that distinguishes our country.It is a
success by all authorities involved in processing the project and would
like to thank for having put Subtel urgency to the Act, facilitating
their adoption. "