Dear TRAI,
I strongly oppose to separate tariff being meted out for certain utility apps/sites. Just because they have an enormous usage you cannot cash on it. You cannot violate our need for it. You can simply not allow the telecos to charge for those utility services. Its a draconian step.
Recently, there was an episode on "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver" regarding Net Neutrality where Mr. John addressed the whole issue and how it is a curse than a blessing. That was the tipping point in the hopes of many reporters and campaigners batting for net neutrality as FCC in USA passed law in favor of net neutrality on 26 Feb, 2015. Surely a major step towards justice and development.
But here the service providers are batting against it. Lost revenue because of whatsapp, skype etc is not even a reason for these telecos to charge for every website. This is anti-development we are talking about! We do not expect this from the government. One step forward, two steps backwards? Pretty much looks like the case here.
One of the first countries where net neutrality was implemented - Netherlands. Agitators much like us were always for the cause. Everyone joined hands and made sure their voices were heard and Net Neutrality was implemented.
The telecos here are already making a bomb by charging One Rupee for a message whereas the real cost to be charged should be less than Five Paise. Add to that, constant increase in data pack rates every 2 months for 2G and 3G, No proper bandwidth allocated. Many complaining about paying for 3G and receiving 2G speeds and these telecos still want to charge even more than the profit they are making.
So, I urge you, TRAI, to please read all our complaints/arguments/view and vote in favor for net neutrality, in favor for development.