The next-generation Internet, and revised draft administration measures:
1) The PRC State Council’s Opinion on the Development of Construction of Next-Generation Internet in the 12th Five-Year Plan identifies goals for the next-generation Internet, which is one of China’s seven strategic and emerging industries (SEIs). The Opinion encourages foreign players to participate in research, developing equipment, industry applications and services consulting. It builds on the revised Catalog for Guiding Foreign Investment in Industry, which encourages foreign investment in next-generation Internet service equipment, broadband passive network equipment, and next-generation DSL chips and equipment. Industry standards related to the next-generation Internet should be released before the end of 2012.
2) In June, the State Internet Information Office and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published a draft amendment to the Measures for the Administration of Internet Information Services, which generally affirm current requirements: 1) information service providers are required to have a license issued by the Internet Information Content Administration Department to operate online forums, blogs or provide information searching services, 2) users providing content to the public through such media must disclose their actual identities for registration, 3) service providers must keep information they or their users publish for six months and log information for 12 months, and 4) access or information service providers must keep Internet users’ personal and log information confidential.