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economy needs to favour innovative companies’ not outdated incumbents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.