Chile Legally Mandates Network Neutrality and Increased Transparency for ISPs

WASHINGTON July 15, 2010- The Chilean Congress has just passed a major set of amendments to the General Telecommunications Law which not only mandates network neutrality but also requires internet service providers to give users detailed information on the speeds they offer.

The law states that it will be illegal for an ISP to block, or slow down downloads if users are conducting legal activities. Additionally all ISPs will now be required to offer parental controls.

The new transparency laws will require ISPs to provide users with the maximum speeds along with the average speeds users will be able to achieve. Additionally they will have to differentiate between international and national connections and the quality of the connections.

"It's an important project, as it makes clear the provision of Internet services and allows users are better served, because they will know the type of service they are buying," said Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Felipe Morande.

Network neutrality and increased transparency are both ideas that Chairman Genachowski has espoused but he has so far been unable to get the commission to adopt the principals.