Overview
Steptoe partners Pantelis Michalopoulos and Yves Botteman, and associate Agapi Patsa were quoted in a Communications Daily article titled "Wheeler’s Net Neutrality Stance Said Likely to Influence Europe."* The February 6 article discusses the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) approach to net neutrality and its likely impact on EU regulation.
Mr. Michalopoulos explains that the FCC’s provisions on net neutrality are "very strong rules" which are likely to become the norm for doing business online in Europe and in the rest of the world.
Mr. Botteman adds that discussions on net neutrality in Europe are mainly taking place at member state level and that it is expected that Internet players will lobby EU governments and the EU institutions based on what is happening in Washington in this area. Ms. Patsa further explains that the European Commission (EC) is expected to launch a "digital single market (DSM)" package in May but it is not known if it will include net neutrality provisions. She adds that the EC may try to "bridge" legislation on net neutrality until the DSM package, which could take years to negotiate, is in place.
* posted with the permission of Warren Communications News, 1-202-872-9200.
