Dear TRAI,

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. 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; what entertainment we can access; and how companies can innovate.

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.

This is not only critical for me as a customer but also as an innovator. The great power of the internet today, in its neutral form is that it allows a one person innovator at the same pedestal as a multi million dollar company. I, as an individual have the ability to innovate on a service and bring it to thousands of consumers through the internet. Removing net neutrality will tip this delicate balance in favor of behemoths who are loathe to innovate. This will suppress innovation and whatever budding start up ecosystem we have nutured in India will die an untimely death. We need net neutrality in India to make sure that the next big internet startup comes from our own backyard rather than US or Europe.

Regards,

Gaurav Sadana