Net Neutrality Debate: Trai to Write Back to Free Basics Supporters

In a statement, Facebook said, “We hope to “resolve this situation soon” so the program, which it had launched with Etisalat Egypt some two months ago, could be restored”.

“No, the TSPs (Telecom Service Providers) should not be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for accessing different websites, applications or platforms”, IAMAI said in its comment over Trai’s “Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services”.

He, however, did not elaborate if the people did not reply to Trai, the comments on Free Basics would be termed invalid. Our consultation paper is not an opinion poll. We are asking why you think it is yes or no because that helps us in formulating the policy or guidelines.

The regulator has received 381,000 comments from people claiming to be supporters of net neutrality.

Sharma said although these comments are also in a template form but the template answers all the questions with minor variations so there is no need to write back to them. According to TRAI, over 3.8 lakh people have sent email in support of netneutrality.

On Wednesday, Trai extended the last date for submission of comments and counter comment to 7 and 14 January, respectively.

It is important to note that Facebook has launched a multi-media campaign to build the case in favour of its Free Basic – its revised version of the earlier internet.org initiative that was shelved amidst protest by the users. The move comes amid growing debate over whether the service, which critics say would create a “walled garden” prioritizing some websites over others, violates the principles of net neutrality.

Seems like many people don’t like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s idea of free internet access (but to Facebook only) as has been evident by the ban faced by the company in India and Egypt. The idea behind Facebook’s “Free Basics” is to offer free internet access to smartphone users but the trouble is that everything at the moment opens via Facebook.

Not satisfied with such “invalid” answers, TRAI has now made a decision to ask such respondents (who sent comments on Free Basics) to send comments on specific questions pertaining to differential pertaining, rather than supporting “Free Basics”. “They just can’t say they love Free Basics”, Sharma said.