| Subject: Net Neutrality |
| From: Niraj Chaturvedi |
| Date: 09-Apr-15 10:33 AM |
| To: advqos@trai.gov.in |
| CC: netneutralityindia@gmail.com |
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innovative companies’ not outdated incumbents with vested interests.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.
PS:-Thanks TRAI for asking for our(public) opinions before taking actions,I heartly respect you for that.Thanks again for that.