Is net neutrality worth worrying over?
Europe's relative lack of interest in the ongoing debate surrounding the issue of new neutrality could lead the continent's ISPs being unexpectedly hit by the fallout of US legislation, according to some observers.
Indeed, just recently the president of the British Computer Society, Professor Nigel Shadbolt, warned of the potential dangers facing those businesses falling behind their trans-Atlantic counterparts.
Perhaps more shocking than the worst-case scenario put forward by Professor Shadbolt, however, is the fact that he made such comments at all, given that even in America net neutrality is no longer anywhere near the hottest topic on the lips of online communications professionals.
Undoubtedly, the question of whether internet traffic should be tiered, prioritised and priced accordingly, was a big deal until only recently.
It was, in the words of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, the very future of the internet.
"Without Net neutrality the current experience that Internet users enjoy today is in jeopardy," she said
"Telecommunications and cable companies will be able to create toll lanes on the information superhighway. This strikes at the heart of the free and equal nature of the Internet."
Such concerns were backed up with lobbying in parliaments across the world, loud protests staged by the more clued-up citizens and millions being spent on campaigns by interested parties such as Google fighting their corner.
The controversy has, however, now largely died down and, rather than being down to the intervention of the US Congress or the European Union, this is largely the result of the industry smoothing things out itself, as many in the pro-neutrality camp, including the Communications Workers of America – the largest union representing installers and maintainers of telecoms infrastructure in the US – originally predicted.
In particular, this looks likely to be the future of the issue in the UK.
At the first significant debate held on the issue of net neutrality to be held here earlier this year, the former trade minister Alun Michael concluded that the developments in the US should be viewed as "an answer to problems we don't have, using a philosophy we don't share".
The UK communications watchdog Ofcom has adopted a laissez-faire attitude to the issue, which has proven to be a wise move.
Most notably, the regulator declined to intervene left well alone when contracts issued by T-Mobile blocked VoIP calls though, in reaction to other communications services providers offering the technology, the firm was swift to change its stance, again showing that the industry is, at least for now, capable of finding its own way.
While it may be wise to follow Professor Shadbolt's example consider worst-case scenarios, for now it would appear that the matter will take care of itself with minimal fuss. 
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