Parliament against government and industry: how Switzerland decided to implement net neutrality against all odds

Abstract

This article investigates the net neutrality policy-making process in Switzerland in the past decade, from first attempts to regulate net neutrality to the implementation of regulation in 2019. Based on a qualitative content analysis, the study assesses the arguments employed by various policy-making actors to advocate or prevent particular governance solutions. Results of the empirical analysis show that early attempts to regulate net neutrality failed, but discussions about its handling were continued during the revision of the Telecommunications Act. Though the government was ultimately in favor of including only transparency requirements in law, parliament stood up to government and industry and proposed a net neutrality regulation that is inspired by EU legislation.