Netnod's response to the proposal on "Distribution of radio and TV in the new media landscape"

Netnod has submitted its formal response to the interim report Distribution of radio and TV in the new media landscape (SOU 2025:116). The response focuses on ensuring robust crisis communication while maintaining the core principles of internet, specifically by upholding the end-to-end principle , protecting net neutrality through equal 'best effort' traffic treatment, and avoiding asymmetric regulations that risk distorting competition or hindering technical innovation

Key points from the response:

• Support for FM radio in vehicles: Netnod supports the proposal to require FM radio receivers in all new cars and buses. We consider FM radio a robust, cost-effective, and technically stable solution for reaching the public during crises, unlike terrestrial TV which has largely lost its role as a critical information channel.
• Opposition to data traffic prioritization: Netnod rejects any potential plans to investigate legislated prioritization of data traffic for media services. We maintain that the internet should remain open and transparent based on the "end-to-end" principle, where traffic is treated equally. Prioritizing specific content risks hindering innovation and could be technically counterproductive across different network layers.
• Netnod opposes the proposed law on the prominence of media services, as it creates a problematic model where content is prioritized solely based on the provider. This would mean that entertainment programs from specific platforms are automatically given precedence, while equivalent, high-quality news or information from other sources would be forced to undergo a separate qualification process.
• Instead of asymmetric regulation that only affects Swedish-based providers, Netnod advocates for the use of metadata to highlight specific content of public interest (e.g., news or crisis info). We also encourage public service broadcasters to proactively strengthen their own resilience through redundant connections and local traffic exchange points.