Dear TRAI,
On the recent move to regulate internet messaging and calling services
in favour of unreasonable demands by telecom companies, I would like to
provide my inputs, comments and feedback. I urge you to look at what net
neutrality means, how that works out in other (especially developed)
countries with much more widespread internet access, and finally at
'regulation' itself.
1. Move by telecom companies to sabotage net neutrality to allow them
slaughter tapping is nothing new. It has been strongly proposed in the
USA and been overruled by the FCC just a few weeks ago[1]. Bear in mind
- the FCC chairman was previously a lobbyist for telecom companies and
even he himself up-voted for net neutrality. To give you a perspective,
a curt explanation is at [2].
2. Net neutrality is a very important concern in the EU and all
countries in the union, and they have strong laws either already
implemented or in progress. More details at [3] and [4].
3. The Netherlands is one of the first EU countries to pass net
neutrality law, with a strong emphasis on "providers will not hinder or
slow down services or applications on the Internet". The law (in Dutch)
is at [5].
4. If you have paid any attention to the tactics played by big telecom
companies in the USA such as AT&T, Comcast or Time Warner Cable, you
would get an idea about the magnitude of hideous practices of these
companies causing hindrance to progress, competition and innovation.
Please don't allow to repeat such unfair and consumer hostile practices
by Indian telecom companies.
5. You are the "regulatory" authority of telecom companies in India,
entrusted with power to make right decisions that affect the common
people, progress and innovation in the country. Please don't aid the
greed of telecom companies to sabotage fairness, neutrality and
progress; instead "regulate" the unfair practices of those telecom
companies.
Regards,
Rajeesh, a technology user and citizen of India.
[1]
http://www.fcc.gov/openinternet
[2]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbOEoRrHyU
[3]
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/eu-actions
[4]
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/net-neutrality-challenges
[5]
https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2012-235.html