TRAI: Don't allow differential pricing of
services on the Internet & let the consumers choose how they
want to use Internet.
Answers:
Question 1:
Ans: Any regulatory framework which breaks the principles of Net
Neutrality should NEVER be adopted, neither now nor in the future.
Question 2:
Ans: NEVER because it will hamper consumer choice, stifle growth
of new kinds of products and services, and impede India’s economic
progress. For example, if airline companies decide to offer online
customer service through voice chat, an already heavily taxed and
loss-making industry should not have to take another license.
Question 3:
Ans: Radio channels cannot tax television channels for reduction
in revenue. Even if OTT players are impacting the traditional
revenue streams of TSPs, the TSPs cannot tax OTT services. Market
forces should allow TSPs to reach a profitable price-point. TSPs
need to invest in the quality and expansion of their existing
products. TSPs need to explore outside their traditional revenue
streams. India’s economy needs to favour innovative companies’ not
outdated incumbents with vested interests.
Question 4:
ANSWER: OTT players should NEVER pay TSPs for anything that can
entail the violation of principles of Net Neutrality.
Question 5:
ANSWER: The Internet IS a levelled playing field for everybody. In
today’s world, OTT players do not operate solely in the virtual
world but, on the contrary, interact with “REAL” world products
and services, and result in creation of innumerable jobs. In an
ever more connected world, any law or regulation which breaks this
‘FLAT’ and ‘NEUTRAL’ nature of the Internet would harm economic
growth.
Question 6:
ANSWER: This question requires a completely separate debate in
itself. First and foremost, governments and all companies should
respect and uphold the consumer’s Right to Privacy. If we lose
privacy, we lose freedom itself because we no longer feel free to
express what we think. India cannot be allowed to become a
complete surveillance state which taps every OTT service which a
consumer accesses. Second, OTT services should be allowed to
freely combine and bundle online communication services within
applications, and shouldn't be forced to keep data records. For
example, an online vegetable ordering service should not be forced
to save online communications between a buyer and seller.
Question 7:
ANSWER: All OTT services should adopt state of the art security
standards in online communication. And they should keep consumers
informed about the right privacy and security choices. In fact,
the government should be pro-active in making companies aware of
such practices.
Question 8:
ANSWER: As already answered, NO regulatory framework is required
which violates Net Neutrality.
Question 9:
ANSWER: A FREE and OPEN Internet is a pillar of democracy and our
fundamental right. Internet service providers and governments
should treat ALL data on the internet EQUALLY, not discriminating
or charging differentially by user, content site, platform,
application, type of attached equipment, or modes of
communication.
Question 10:
ANSWER: Any kind of traffic discrimination or management practices
should never violate principles of Net Neutrality. And TSPs should
be completely transparent about their traffic management
principles.
Question 11:
ANSWER: Again, any case by case traffic management of OTT
applications, even if it is transparent, violates Net Neutrality.
So, this question won’t arise if TRAI ensures Network Neutrality.
Question 12:
ANSWER: Free market forces should allow TSPs to reach a
price-point where they can profitably invest in network
infrastructure. As a municipal water supply does not charge
companies making washing machines and does not tax people for
using these machines, similarly OTT players should be given a free
market to flourish.
Question 13:
ANSWER: Again, DO NOT violate the principles of Net Neutrality.
Question 14:
ANSWER: Again, DO NOT violate the principles of Net Neutrality.
Question 15:
ANSWER: ALL data on the Internet is EQUAL. ALL bits are bits, NO
need to segregate OTT players. TSPs need to focus on improving
their existing products and quality of service.
Question 16:
ANSWER: Ensure that the principles of Net Neutrality are upheld.
TSPs with vested interests should NEVER be able to impede consumer
access to any app.
Question 17:
ANSWER: Again, NO regulatory framework required. NO segregation of
OTT players required. NO traffic discrimination required. ALL bits
are bits. DON’T hamper industry growth. Uphold Net Neutrality.
Question 18:
ANSWER: Again, NO regulatory framework required. DON’T hamper
industry growth. Uphold Net Neutrality.
Question 19:
ANSWER: Again, NO regulatory framework required. DON’T segregate
or discriminate OTT players. DON’T hamper consumer choice. DON’T
hamper industry growth. Uphold Net Neutrality.
Question 20:
ANSWER: Uphold Net Neutrality. Uphold an Open Internet. Uphold the
citizens’ Right to Freedom of Speech.
Questions:
Question 1: Is it too early to establish a regulatory framework for
Internet/OTT services, since internet penetration is still evolving,
access speeds are generally low and there is limited coverage of
high-speed broadband in the country? Or, should some beginning be
made now with a regulatory framework that could be adapted to
changes in the future? Please comment with justifications.
Question 2: Should the Internet/OTT players offering communication
services (voice, messaging and video call services through
applications (resident either in the country or outside) be brought
under the licensing regime? Please comment with justifications.
Question 3: Is the growth of Internet/OTT impacting the traditional
revenue stream of Telecom operators/Telecom operators? If so, is the
increase in data revenues of the Telecom Operators sufficient to
compensate for this impact? Please comment with reasons.
Question 4: Should the Internet/OTT players pay for use of the
Telecom Operators network over and above data charges paid by
consumers? If yes, what pricing options can be adopted? Could such
options include prices based on bandwidth consumption? Can prices be
used as a means of product/service differentiation? Please comment
with justifications.
Question 5: Do you agree that imbalances exist in the regulatory
environment in the operation of Internet/OTT players? If so, what
should be the framework to address these issues? How can the
prevailing laws and regulations be applied to Internet/OTT players
(who operate in the virtual world) and compliance enforced? What
could be the impact on the economy? Please comment with
justifications.
Question 6: How should the security concerns be addressed with
regard to Internet/OTT players providing communication services?
What security conditions such as maintaining data records, logs etc.
need to be mandated for such Internet/OTT players? And, how can
compliance with these conditions be ensured if the applications of
such Internet/OTT players reside outside the country? Please comment
with justifications.
Question 7: How should the Internet/OTT players offering app
services ensure security, safety and privacy of the consumer? How
should they ensure protection of consumer interest? Please comment
with justifications
Question 8: In what manner can the proposals for a regulatory
framework for OTTs in India draw from those of ETNO, referred to in
para or the best practices? And, what practices should be proscribed
by regulatory fiat? Please comment with justifications.
Question 9: What are your views on net-neutrality in the Indian
context? How should the various principles be dealt with? Please
comment with justifications.
Question 10: What forms of discrimination or traffic management
practices are reasonable and consistent with a pragmatic approach?
What should or can be permitted? Please comment with justifications.
Question 11: Should the Telecom Operators be mandated to publish
various traffic management techniques used for different OTT
applications? Is this a sufficient condition to ensure transparency
and a fair regulatory regime?
Question 12: How should the conducive and balanced environment be
created such that Telecom Operators are able to invest in network
infrastructure and CAPs are able to innovate and grow? Who should
bear the network upgradation costs? Please comment with
justifications.
Question 13: Should Telecom Operators be allowed to implement
non-price based discrimination of services? If so, under what
circumstances are such practices acceptable? What restrictions, if
any, need to be placed so that such measures are not abused? What
measures should be adopted to ensure transparency to consumers?
Please comment with justifications.
Question 14: Is there a justification for allowing differential
pricing for data access and OTT communication services? If so, what
changes need to be brought about in the present tariff and
regulatory framework for telecommunication services in the country?
Please comment with justifications.
Question 15: Should OTT communication service players be treated as
Bulk User of Telecom Services (BuTS)? How should the framework be
structured to prevent any discrimination and protect stakeholder
interest? Please comment with justification.
Question 16: What framework should be adopted to encourage India
specific OTT apps? Please comment with justifications.
Question 17: If the App based/OTT communication service players are
to be licensed, should they be categorised as ASP or CSP? If so,
what should be the framework? Please comment with justifications.
Question 18: Is there a need to regulate subscription charges for
App based/OTT communication services? Please comment with
justifications.
Question 19: What steps should be taken by the Government for
regulation of non-communication App based/OTT players? Please
comment with justifications.
Question 20: Are there any other issues that have a bearing on the
subject discussed?
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Regards,
Ashok Rajan E.