131 lines
5.9 KiB
HTML
131 lines
5.9 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
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<html newsdate="2021-08-05">
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<version>1</version>
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<head>
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<title>Dutch authority enforces Router Freedom</title>
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</head>
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<body>
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<h1>Dutch authority enforces Router Freedom</h1>
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<p>
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The Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has published new rules
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that will move Router Freedom forward in the Netherlands. Within 6 months
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ISPs have to comply and offer the option for
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consumers and companies to connect a modem or router of their own choice.
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The FSFE acknowledges this decision as a major win for consumer rights.
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</p>
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<p>
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<a href="/activities/routers/">Router Freedom</a> is the
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right that consumers of any Internet Service Provider (ISP) have to choose and use a private modem and
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router instead of equipment that the ISP provides. In its <a href="https://www.acm.nl/sites/default/files/documents/beleidsregel-handhaving-besluit-eindapparaten.pdf">publication
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(.pdf)</a> the Dutch Authority cites the <a href="https://berec.europa.eu/eng/document_register/subject_matter/berec/regulatory_best_practices/guidelines/9277-berec-guidelines-on-the-implementation-of-the-open-internet-regulation">BEREC
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Guidelines on the Implementation of the Open Internet Regulation</a> as the
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reason for stating the <a href="https://www.acm.nl/en/publications/consumers-and-businesses-are-allowed-choose-their-own-modems">new
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rules</a>. These guidelines came about with the persistent effort of the
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FSFE to draw attention to the importance of and right to Router Freedom. As
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another motivation the ACM explicitly mentions the "significant" group of
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users wanting to take control of their personal data and network devices.
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</p>
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<p>
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The new regulation clarifies which part of the infrastructure falls under
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the governance of the ISP and for which part the user is free to choose
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their own solution. Router Freedom also implies a user is still free to
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choose a modem or router offered by the ISP. It is an important step forward
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that this practice will be the norm from 27 February 2022 and will be
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enforced by the Dutch regulator. Although the legal aspects have been
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defined now in the Netherlands, in practice Router Freedom was <a href="https://wiki.fsfe.org/Activities/CompulsoryRouters">already tolerated
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in the country</a>. Most ISPs indicated that they allow consumers to connect
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their own preferred devices. One even gives consumers a discount if they use
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their own router or modem.
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</p>
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<h2>The details</h2>
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<p>
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An important step forward is the explicit choice by the ACM for the Network
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Termination Point (NTP). The BEREC Guidelines suggest three possible
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locations, in short A) at the end of the cable B) after the modem C) after
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the router or mediabox. The ACM has opted for the NTP to be at the end of
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the cable, offering the maximum of flexibility to the user. This "passive"
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termination point avoids users having to accept the operation of a device
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outside of their control, and allows for Router Freedom.
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</p>
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<figure>
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<img src="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/big/6d6922a13499024cacf5c0872f0a65df.png" alt="Network Termination Point (NTP) - ISP and user domain"/>
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<figcaption>Schematic overview of the Network Termination Point (NTP)</figcaption>
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</figure>
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<p>
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The new rules contain statements on what service should be provided. ISPs
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are allowed to publish a list of devices, but cannot limit the support to
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only that list of devices. ISPs should provide the administrative measures
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within one working day. ISPs maintain the ability to disconnect a user in
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case damage is done to the network. For troubleshooting a policy is
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described by which first the ISP has to check it is not their network that
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is faulty, after which the user can be requested to use a known working
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device provided by the ISP to verify it is not the different modem or router
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that is at fault. In case the custom modem or router is at fault, the ISP is
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allowed to request a financial compensation for providing the known working
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device for testing purposes.
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</p>
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<h2>Space for improvement</h2>
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<p>
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ACM's decision is a major win for all end-users in the Netherlands. The
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decision provides more clarity on the legal aspects involving the NTP.
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However, ISPs' commercial practices involving routers and modems still pose
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barriers against end-users' Router Freedom:
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</p>
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<ul>
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<li>Most ISPs currently offer little to no support for users wanting to
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install their own router;</li>
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<li>Most ISPs demand you still lease a modem as part of the service and keep
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it stored;</li>
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<li>Most ISPs don't offer the same level of service like IPv6 when choosing
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your own router;</li>
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<li>
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Some ISPs offer IPTV (streaming television) solutions that rely on
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different channels than the internet service and so these mediaboxes will
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not work in combination with a custom modem. This point is underscored by
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the ACM as something that they will be reevaluating in the future.
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</li>
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</ul>
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<p>
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The new rules don't contain statements that will change the situation on
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these points, so the FSFE will continue to call for a more robust Router
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Freedom and monitor the situation in the Netherlands.
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</p>
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<h2>The Router Freedom initiative</h2>
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<p>
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Since 2013, the Free Software Foundation Europe has engaged with Router
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Freedom, promoting end-users' freedom to choose and use their own terminal
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equipment - first in Germany as a precedent, and now in many European
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countries. Join us and learn more about the several ways to get <a href="/news/2021/news-20210330-01.html">involved</a>.
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</p>
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</body>
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<tags>
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<tag key="front-page"/>
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<tag key="routers">Router Freedom</tag>
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<tag key="nl">Netherlands</tag>
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</tags>
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<image url="https://pics.fsfe.org/uploads/medium/5a92ce4766c686c21f06f0fec28618e1.jpg"/>
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<translator/>
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</html>
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