May interest some people I know:

http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/event.php?eid=183

Westminster eForum Keynote Seminar:
Net neutrality in the UK
Date: 28th September 2010
Venue: Central London

As Ofcom consults on whether to end net neutrality, this seminar will examine internet traffic management, whether it’s necessary in the UK, the possible economic benefits, and what the unintended consequences may be for users and the network operators.

Discussions will also look ahead to how traffic management may work in practice and the options to ensure transparency for users, and consider whether consumers need to be protected with a minimum level of service guarantee.

http://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/forums/agenda/Net-Neutrality-Agenda.pdf

Registration

Chairman’s opening remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

Traffic management and ‘net neutrality’
Alex Blowers, Director of International, Ofcom
Questions and comments from the floor

The effects and consequences of ending net neutrality
Themes: Is net congestion a short?term issue created by current online usage trends? How are different networks and players being affected? Would ending net neutrality lead to ‘unfair’ traffic discrimination? What are the economic benefits of traffic management? What will be the effect on quality of service of traffic management? What effect, if any, would traffic management have on innovation? Would ending net neutrality encourage investment in NGA (next generation access)?

Andrew Heaney, Executive Director, Strategy and Regulation, TalkTalk
Senior representative, network operator
Senior representative, website
Senior representative, high bandwidth website
Analyst
Question and comments from the floor

Chairman’s closing remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

Coffee

Chairman’s opening remarks
Senior Parliamentarian

Consumers and traffic management
Themes: To what extent is ending net neutrality in the consumer’s best interests? What can be done to ensure traffic management is transparent to consumers? How can information on traffic management be presented so that it is accessible and meaningful to consumers, both in understanding any restrictions on their existing services, and in choosing between rival offerings? Should a minimum level of service be introduced to ensure broadband access is not determined by economic circumstance?

Senior representative, network operator
Senior representative, high bandwidth website
Consumer representative
Senior representative, ISP
Question and comments from the floor

Final thoughts from Ofcom
Alex Blowers, Director of International, Ofcom

Chairman’s and Westminster eForum closing remarks
Senior Parliamentarian
Thomas Raynsford, Senior Producer, Westminster eForum

It costs money to attend and although I had a decent experience the one time I attended, I am not sure how much this really influences “people of influence”.

I would be interested to know who the “Consumer representative” will be, and what weight might be given to their opinion…