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Russia: Proposals suggest YouTube tax

By  |  October 9, 2014

Russian competition authorities are proposing implementing a fee for users to access YouTube and other high volume websites as the government looks for ways to fund growing capacity.

According to reports, the nation’s Federal Antimonopoly Service is considering amendments to the communications law that would require subscriptions to certain websites. The rule changes would also bar Internet service providers from prioritizing services over others.

But YouTube and other high traffic sites may face special subscription rates because of their high use of broadband resources. These rates would guarantee uninterrupted, quality content delivery, say reports.

The FAS has reportedly cited cases within the US in its proposals in which lawsuits were filed to allow service providers to charge content providers to deliver contents, a practice that disrupts what is known in the US as Net Neutrality.

Full content: Russian Legal Information Agency

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