Dear Sir/Ma'am,
I am writing to express my concern against the actions that telecom carriers are taking to restrict fair access to the internet (Net Neutrality). I believe the internet is a vital resource – it helps me communicate, work, and thrive as a citizen.
I use various services accessed fully or partially over the Internet (say Google Search, Govt. Cab Aggregator Services, OlaCabs, Whatsapp, YouTube and so on) and pay for my data usage as per the amount of data I consume. If telecom operators can discriminate internet traffic on the basis of which services pay the most, we are allowing telcos control over a vital and necessary technological resource. By doing so we allow them to define what information we can view and access; what entertainment we can access; and how companies can innovate. It's like saying here's a telephone line and you can call any random stranger who is not related to you for 1 rupee and if you want to call up your own family or relatives, you will be charged 10 rupees.
It will not only hinder new businesses from coming up and challenging existing ones using technology, but also lead to higher prices for the average consumer. So, you can be sure that the government's 'Make In India' and 'Digital India' campaigns will be a big fail. Apart from that, you can also be sure that your 'Aam Aadmi' will end up paying higher prices for Internet services (as if Internet and 3G plans are not expensive already).
This is completely unfair and harms India’s long term role in the global market. I strongly believe the growth of telecoms and the well-being of the internet can go hand-in-hand. I’m asking for a framework to ensure long term and fair access for all services regardless of size. I want my generation and those that come after me to have unfettered access to the Internet, with no telcos or ISPs having the ability to charge for specific services I use on top of it. Please understand that the internet is an important resource and vital to me and to every other Indian citizen. I would like to see it kept free and protected under Net Neutrality to ensure fair and equal access for all and forever.
Regards,
Praful P. Pai
Ph.D. Student, Department of Electronics and Electrical Communication Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Phone: +91-8001060407