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- <title>FSFE signs association joint letter for terminal device freedom</title>
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- <h1>FSFE signs association joint letter for terminal device freedom</h1>
-
- <p>Together with 9 other civil and economic
- organisations the Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) sent a letter
- to numerous members of the German Bundestag concerning the compulsory
- routers issue at the present Wednesday. The letter is supposed to
- highlight the importance of passing the bill for freedom of terminal
- devices in telecommunication.</p>
-
- <p>On the 4th of November the four parliament committees Economy and
- Energy, Law and Consumer Protection, Traffic and Digital
- Infrastructure, and Digital Agenda will consult about the bill „for
- selection and connection of telecommunication terminal devices“. The
- 132 representatives who sit in the committees will bear a special
- responsibility since it is in their power to save the rights of
- consumers and protect small and medium-sized businesses.</p>
-
- <blockquote>
- <p>„We welcome the Federal Government drafting a bill which can
- effectively eradicate compulsory routers“, says Matthias Kirschner,
- FSFE's President. „The current status of compulsory routers is harmful
- for both citizens and economy. This fact has to be known to all
- representatives cross-party. Now we need a quick and unmodified
- implementation of the drafted law.“</p>
- </blockquote>
-
- <p>The bill is the outcome of a long discussion about so-called
- compulsory routers. These forbid internet users to use a terminal
- device of their choice and force them to always have the provider's
- device in the own home network. This widespread practise is a threat to
- security, privacy, and independence of all internet users and has
- negative effects on free and fair competition of manufacturers.</p>
-
- <p>Despite the unanimous opinion of experts, consumer protectors, and
- politicians some members of the Federal Council aligned with the few
- current bill's opponents. In doing so they adapted technically
- inconsistent and long-disproved arguments of internet providers and
- network carriers. Up to now the Federal Government rejected the
- Council's criticism as not reasonable.</p>
-
- <blockquote>
- <p>„Today's letter shall prevent a repetition of the Council's
- disappointing reaction. With a broad alliance of many-faceted
- supporters of terminal device freedom we ask the committees' members to
- put those basic user rights as soon as possible and without any rotten
- compromises into law“, says Max Mehl, FSFE's Germany Coordinator. „As
- of today no representative can plead lack of knowledge of the
- importance of terminal device freedom for the independent usage and
- security of the internet.“</p>
- </blockquote>
-
- <p>You can view the depersonalised version of the sent association
- joint letter <a
- href="/activities/routers/files/20151027_Verbaendeschreiben.pdf">here</a>.
- Additionally we listed all important events in the course of the
- compulsory routers debate separately <a
- href="/activities/routers/timeline.html">on our website</a>.</p>
-
-
- </body>
-
- <tags>
- <tag key="front-page"/>
- <tag key="competition">Competition</tag>
- <tag key="de">Germany</tag>
- <tag key="policy">Policy</tag>
- <tag key="routers">Compulsory Routers</tag>
- </tags>
-
- </html>
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