The MEPs added some small amendments to the text, notably on the proposed cost recovery for operators due to the planned end of roaming from June 2017. EU member states had included a stipulation that if operators can prove that they cannot recover their costs and that this affects domestic prices, national regulators may authorize them to impose minimal surcharges on roaming in exceptional circumstances to recover these costs. The MEPs added that national regulators authorities would have the means to amend or reject the surcharges if they are unfounded.
The MEPs also inserted wording to "safeguard equal and non-discriminatory treatment of traffic" on the internet. Internet providers would not be permitted to block or slow down internet speeds for certain services for commercial reasons. Internet traffic could be “managed” only to deal with temporary or exceptional congestion, protect against cyber-attacks or in response to a court order or legal obligation. If such traffic management measures are needed, they would have to be "transparent, non-discriminatory and proportionate" and may not be maintained longer than necessary.
At the Parliament’s request, the deal includes a provision to give consumers a right to better information about their contracts. Until 15 June 2017, consumers will continue to be informed by SMS of roaming tariffs when they go abroad and thereafter in the exceptional case of the “fair use” clause being triggered. As on internet quality, consumers will be informed, in clear language, about the minimum, normally available and maximum internet speeds they can expect when signing a contract. If the operator does not deliver the promised speeds, this would be deemed to be a breach of contract.
