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Apart from PM Modi’s foreign jaunts, Raffale deal and the economic status of Dassault company; Indians on the net are busy discussing and debating something else. This time, it is not ‘my way or highway’ kind of a speech. They are seriously drawing up petitions, waking up those in net slumber to get up and vote for a level playing ground as far as <keyword id="6357247" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet">internet</keyword> usage is concerned. <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net Neutrality</keyword> is trending on Indian internet and how! 
 
Before we get to the discussion on the significance of net neutrality, it is important to understand why it became such a raging debate in India and US, while China and UK have largely remained aloof from this matter. In US, the Federal Communications Commission recently released detailed report on how it would regulate internet service providers as a public utility. Has this made things better? Well, for starters, the entire thing looks all set for a legal battle in the days to come. 
 
Right now net neutrality sounds perfectly delicious. More or less like a free meal which we have been savouring so far, without knowing it was free. Or, was it, really? 
 When the <keyword id="30356" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> and Government come together to make sure consumers cough up more to access a few services and apps, net neutrality may be understood better in experience than as a concept. But in more ways than one, how will it make any difference to the end user? Right now, those who are supporting net neutrality are the general public who are hooked to the net like it is their alternate form of existence. Like their alter ego lives somewhere in the hinterlands of net, and that they have to save it from being shot down. 
For a large section of society which is still out of the clutches of the internet, and smartphones; net neutrality doesn’t mean a thing. 
 
Again, for those whom it matters; net neutrality is some sort of a lifeline since they anticipate that the internet may not function as efficiently as it does now. Like a level playing field. And guess what, they are right to a large extent! 
 
UK has remained aloof to this entire net neutrality thing owing to the fact that internet itself is in knots over there. In simple words, it’s anarchic. Or, even better way of putting it would be to understand that UK, and other countries such as Japan, and South Korea etc have known that the consumers are well prepared to pay for a few services which can be far more efficient than the others. So, net neutrality falls flat in such cases. Things could change for better, but people may have to wake up before they are taken for a ride too far. 
 
In India, the wake up call has been sounded and various internet activists have been making sounds about retaining the net neutrality – which is about providing uniform space for communication using the internet. This means the service provider should allow equal speed access to all the sites as desired by the consumer/customer as he/she pleases without influencing the decision or forcing the person to change the course. 
 
If net neutrality is compromised with, it is bound to make some services costlier than the others by which way there would be huge disparity in the way ecommerce is growing in India. For instance, Flipkart has already said it would go with differential pricing. Same isn’t the case with Zomato which is still finding its feet in the net world. 
 
At a basic economic level, net neutrality makes sense for Indian market because it seems like it posts huge savings for the various age groups of people who access the net – through their phones or personal computers. Right now, one can buy a recharge pack at highly affordable prices. Differential pricing may actually kill this market, thus posting heavy loss to the telecom industry and mobile operators. 
 
The way things are proceeding, looks like the progress that was achieved through mobile portability or the sense of democracy that came with it, would be undone with net neutrality coming down. 
 
Tearing into the territory of ‘level playing field’ would be difficult since smartphone users are also aware of the economy boost they are providing. But, to understand that economy will find new ways to grow and will turn innovative to make new forays is a simple thing. Whether India will retain its net neutrality today only to undo it tomorrow is a million dollar question. Whatever may be the outcome of this battle; one thing would be clear. When it comes to internet, people rule the roost. 
Image: thinkstock

#NetNeutrality is trending: Is India heading 'towards' or 'beyond'?

A telecom department panel on <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword> submitted its report to the communications &amp; IT minister <keyword id="6354886" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar-Prasad">Ravi Shankar Prasad</keyword>, which will be a key component for the government’s policy on net neutrality, over the weekend. The report, which has been compiled by a six-member committee appointed in January, comes at a time when the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (<keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="TRAI">Trai</keyword>) is busy in the consultation process of defining net neutrality and whether over the top players should be brought under some licensing architecture. 

	Some members of the committee felt that the definition (of net neutrality) should not be at cross-purposes with the government's policy and objectives of Digital India. The upshot is that essential services such as e-governance, as envisaged in the 'Digital India' plan, should be delivered on a preferential basis to end-users. 
 

	The final Trai report along with the internal committee's report will together define the government's policy on net neutrality. 
 

	Last month, Prasad in Rajya Sabha had announced that the government was in favour of maintaining the core principles of net neutrality and internet for all.

	 
	(image credits: www.gammanews.in)

Report on net neutrality submitted to Telecom Minister

In the past week, there has been a lot of social outcry in India regarding <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net Neutrality</keyword>. It all started with Airtel coming up with a Zero Programme and Flipkart deciding to partner with it. However, on April 11, 2015, YouTube group <keyword id="1875393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="AIB">AIB</keyword> came up with a video explaining what Net Neutrality means and that the video went viral. Several celebrities took to their Twitter to save the cause and we had #SaveTheInternet trending for hours together. 
 The public backlash forced Flipkart to withdraw from this initiative and even Airtel came out with statements that its Zero initiative is not against Net Neutrality. In between all this, Flipkart and Airtel both manage to drag <keyword id="6354576" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook">Facebook</keyword> and RCOM’s FreeInternet.org and raise questions if this too was against the principles of Net Neutrality. 
 
In a <a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology-topstories/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-ht-net-neutrality-and-universal-connectivity-must-co-exist/article1-1337766.aspx">Hindustan Time</a>s column, Facebook’s CEO and Founder, shares a reply to the same and has said, “The Internet is one of the most powerful tools for economic and social progress. It gives people access to jobs, knowledge and opportunities. It gives voice to the voiceless in our society, and it connects people with vital resources for health and education. I believe everyone in the world deserves access to these opportunities.” 
 
While talking specifically on why Internet.org was created, he said, “In many countries, however, there are big social and economic obstacles to connectivity. The Internet isn't affordable to everyone, and in many places awareness of its value remains low. Women and the poor are most likely to be excluded and further disempowered by lack of connectivity.” 
 <keyword id="353568" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zuckerberg">Zuckerberg</keyword> also mentions that currently over 600 million people in 8 countries can now access free basic services through Internet.org and that this step complements <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> <keyword id="128905" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narender-Modi">Narender Modi</keyword>’s Digital India Initiative. 
 
Coming to the sensitive topic of Net Neutrally, he stresses that he is full pro it. He furthermore adds, “Net neutrality is not in conflict with working to get more people connected. These two principles - Net Neutrality and universal connectivity - can and must coexist.” 
 
[<a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology-topstories/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-to-ht-net-neutrality-and-universal-connectivity-must-co-exist/article1-1337766.aspx">Source</a>]

Zuckerberg
defends Internet.org initiative amidst #NetNeutrality debate

At a time when country’s free Internet is under attack and the telecom operators are willing to implement new strategies to earn more profit, political parties have come together in support of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net Neutrality</keyword> in India. Net Neutrality or democratic internet plans for all under the sun has made possible the impossible. There has been only one instance when political parties had joined together to protest – that was almost 70 years before in India’s freedom struggle against the British rule. 
 A news report by The Economic Times said, political parties have joined the pitch for Internet freedom. "<keyword id="1575" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Congress">Congress</keyword> completely supports net neutrality, Internet freedom must not be compromised," said Congress leader Ajay Maken. 
 
"If ISPs control where you should shop from, then consumers will be powerless," Maken slammed. 
 The government has also backed an open Internet. Telecom Minister <keyword id="8748" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Ravi-Shankar">Ravi Shankar</keyword> Prasad has said the common man should be able to access it without discrimination and declared that the final decision on the controversial net neutrality issue will be taken by the telecom department and not the regulator. 
A six-member panel set up by telecom department will submit its recommendations next month, following which a final view will be taken on Net Neutrality, the principle that guarantees consumers equal and non-discriminatory access to all data, apps and services on the Internet. 
 Meanwhile, after the significant backlash that it faced, online retailer Flipkart on Tuesday withdrew from the controversial <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> Zero plan. "We think equal access to Internet is important for healthy growth of internet services in India. We have realised that Airtel Zero could go against net neutrality," Flipkart said. 
 
"We will be internally discussing details of actions over the next few days. We have a deeper understanding of the implications of zero rating," Flipkart said on social media. "We are committed to the larger cause of Net Neutrality," Flipkart said in a statement. 
 
On its part Airtel, who pioneered the move with introduction of Airtel Zero said that it believes in the concept of Net Neutrality. "We have always supported net neutrality. The Internet is open and we believe it should be non-discriminatory. It should be transparent and open and completely support net neutrality as a concept," Gopal Vittal, CEO of Airtel India told the ET. 
 
Asked whether Airtel is planning to withdraw the product, Vittal said, "We stand committed to the product. We are disappointed by the kind of criticism on the product. This cannot be a conversation on rich versus the poor. 
 
(Image: India Times)

Is Net Neutrality Movement India’s new struggle for freedom? Flipkart vows for net neutrality

Sunday wasn’t that lazy this time! Indians woke up to a viral storm on twitter with AIB (All India Bakchod), which got ‘roasted’ by moral police last month for their vulgar roast of actors is once again in news. This time the bunch of young standup comedians have a made video on net neutrality. Dipping their biscuits on the steaming morning tea, the viewers got an explained idea on the benefits of net neutrality. 
As per a news report in The Economic Times, the video explaining net neutrality, which was vastly shared by the netizens including Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan ended up being removed from Facebook due to unusually high activity. Though the takedown was temporary, this sparked a huge uproar in the social media. 
 
Indian telecom sector is undergoing a ‘to be or not to be’ internal conflict on net neutrality. Several telecom operators are pitching to price Internet usage according to their wish, which would mean the websites paying the operator would load fast where as the others suffer slow bandwidth. While some countries in the world including the USA have supported net neutrality, India is still to take a call on it. TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) is asking for opinions from commoners on the same at <a href="http://www.savetheinternet.in">www.savetheinternet.in</a>. 
 
AIB’s video brought in comparison with an entry to a children’s park where kids are charged for each ride they take. As per the financial daily, the video went viral and helped the already growing online movement called "Save the Internet", and picked up steam as more startups, politicians, actors and other public figures came on board over the weekend. As the takedown of the video was noticed in Facebook by AIB members, the social networking website acted swiftly to restore it after several complaints surfaced. "Can you check now? there was a bug and it is fixed. The post should be visible again," Facebook's growth manager Abhishek Nag tweeted in response to a query by AIB group member Gursimran Khamba. 
 
The ET has reported, Shiv Sena Youth wing President Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday urged the TRAI chairman to halt the move to kill OTT services, which includes popular apps such as Whatsapp, Viber, Skype and so on, pointing out that access to Internet "cannot be governed by the commerce of the telecom operator, who should be rather focusing on bettering the services people pay for". The paper has drawn widespread flak from net and free speech activists, who feel it favours the interests of telecom companies, and have been asking people to join the movement to "Save the Internet" from telecom operators who want greater control over their network. 
 
On Sunday, several actors, such as Farhan Akhtar, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, and Siddharth Malhotra tweeted about net neutrality and save the Internet. Several political figures including Ajay Maken, Ahmed Patel, Sanjay Jha also tweeted in support of net neutrality. 
 
Image: Indiatimes

Net Neutrality: AIB video on net neutrality removed! The reaction shocked Facebook!

Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart that has so far maintained its silence on the ongoing debate over India’s take on net neutrality. However, it has now openly come in support for the idea, saying that all content on the internet should be treated equally. It however has chosen to steer away from commenting about <keyword id="3073276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Free-Basics">Free Basics</keyword>, the Facebook programme that has garnered heavy criticism for being misleading. 
 
"Absence of net neutrality will affect web innovations and create digital inequality in India," said a statement from Flipkart. "We believe that the spirit of net neutrality should apply equally to all companies in India." 
 In the recent past, Facebook’s similar initiative called Internet.org was stalled after it received negative reviews from the believers in <keyword id="3181257" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-equality">digital equality</keyword>. 
 
<a href="http://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.in%2Fphoto%2F50118074.cms">Image source</a>

Flipkart supports net neutrality; stays mum about Free Basics

<keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net neutrality</keyword> has become a raging issue in the country and over the last one month everybody has been talking about it. Net neutrality is the concept that makes it mandatory for all service providers to offer access to consumers to all content on the internet including websites and applications, irrespective of the source and no special favors or blocking of any applications or websites. 
 Unfortunately, the giant telecos in the country are lobbying against this. Common users as well as many corporates, especially in those in the tech domain are coming out to support net neutrality. The huge debate erupted when <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> came up with Zero programme and e-commerce giant Flipkart decided to party with it. Post the huge outburst on the social media, Flipkart announced that it was walking away from the Zero initiative. 
 Airtel too has come out and said that it is not against net Neutrality in India and the company is now looking at reaching out to its customers through direct mails. The mail quotes <keyword id="521074" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gopal-Vittal">Gopal Vittal</keyword>, MD and CEO of Airtel, who states, “Our vision is to have every Indian on the internet. There are millions of Indians who think that the internet is expensive and do not know what it can do for them. We believe that every Indian has the right to be on the internet. We know that if we allow them to experience the joys of the internet they will join the digital revolution” 
 
Talking specifically about the recent controversy, Vittal says, “There has been a deliberate effort by some quarters to confuse people that we will offer differential speeds or differential access for different sites. This is untrue. After all we earn revenues from data. If there are more customers who are on the Internet the better it is for our business. Our revenues are not dependent on which sites they visit because we charge on the basis of consumption of mega bytes not which site they visited.” 
 
<a href="http://www.in.techradar.com/news/internet/broadband/What-is-net-neutrality-and-why-does-it-matter/articleshow/38479919.cms">Read Also: Net Neutrality and Why does it matter?</a> 
 
Even Cellular Operators Association in India (COAI) has come up and shared that it is all up for net neutrality. In its statement it also made a strong pitch for ‘Net Equality’ that will enable access to Internet for a Billion Indians as part of the Government’s Digital India vision. 
 
The Association urged all stakeholders to have a comprehensive and informed debate on the subject of Net Neutrality keeping in mind the requirements of India and its citizens. An important and complex subject such as this, which is still being debated in many countries, which has taken years to conclude in many other countries and which is the subject of litigation in some, should not be left to the opinion of a few. 
 
It further said, “We need the same spirit to connect a Billion Indians to the Internet. This means innovations across the ecosystem – affordable smartphones, more efficient networks, even more broad ranging applications (especially in areas such as education, health, governance) and pricing flexibility – that promotes greater digital inclusion. Only then can our citizens in rural India, or from a lower economic strata, be empowered through internet access”. 
 
A lot of top men in corporate and technology world too have come in support of net neutrality. Here is a snapshot of what some of the leading players in the industry have to say 
 
 
Ritesh Agarwal CEO, OYO Rooms (revolutionary budget hotel) in support of net neutrality said, “Net neutrality is absolutely essential for a free and competitive market especially now since there is a start- up boom in the country particularly in the online sector. Most importantly Internet was created to break boundaries and as concerned industry players, we should maintain that. We support net neutrality and will do all needed to build this further.” 
 
Manav Sethi, Group CMO, Askme believes, "Internet is an essential service and should be provided without any discrimination, zero rating platforms can seriously affect the freedom and growth of the billions of entrepreneurs, quite against the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ vision of our government. Any violation of internet neutrality can have a serious bearing on effective and fair competition in the market place. We feel it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure a level playing field for home grown entrepreneurs and at the same time protect the interests of netizens." 
 
Rajesh Magow, Co-Founder and CEO-India, MakeMyTrip says, "We are committed to a free internet and fully support Net Neutrality. Innovation is core to our DNA and a free internet will foster innovation and boost the pace of economic growth of the country. A 2011 McKinsey Report on ‘The Impact Of Internet On Economic Growth &amp; Prosperity’ suggests that higher internet penetration leads to a rise in living standard and drives business transformation and economic modernization. In light of this analysis, it will be important for India to not only accelerate the penetration of internet, but also make sure that the next set of mobile-first users who are coming online from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities find valuable services, in a language they understand, on the internet. We urge all government departments to consider how internet can be integrated in their respective areas, in order to provide value to this first-time internet user, instead of treating the internet as a separate vertical. We would also like to propose a democratic network-neutral platform, where companies can come together to build solutions for these first-time internet users (in their native languages), to support the growth and penetration of internet in India, without any commercial arrangement between the parties involved." 
 
Tripti Lochan, CEO VML says, “Keeping neutrality of data is sacred. It levels the playing field and as a country gives us hope - that we are about enterprise and not just about scale, where big eats small. It's about a very simple fundamental principle - equality. Today, consciously, let's make a choice that counts.” 
 
Kallol Borah, CEO &amp; Founder, Lukup Media believes, "The internet needs to be neutral - no internet application provider ‎or consumer should be deprived of or get a different treatment based on a special contract or payment made to the telecom or internet service provider. However, we all know that telecom and internet infrastructure requires huge investments and since that infrastructure is so poor and is not available to all, there is a case for a levy made equally on all internet application providers by internet service providers based on outgoing traffic that such internet application providers consume. So, if a website sends out X GB of data another website sends out Y GB of data, they will pay an additional charge per GB to the internet service provider." 
 
Lead Image: Thinkstock

Net
neutrality: What The Top People in Industry Have to Say

India’s telecom arena is fighting an inner conflict of to be or not to be on the issue of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. In this crucial juncture, <keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> acted smart and introduced <keyword id="2796594" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="airtel-zero">Airtel Zero</keyword> yesterday where companies, including startups, can let users access apps for free. In effect, the app maker will pay for the customer's free usage to the operator. 
 
We have reported earlier that this will affect net neutrality. As per a news report in The Economic Times, this move has been severely criticized by the experts including Internet &amp; Mobile Association of India, whose spokesperson has said that, all apps should be made accessible to users on a non-discriminatory basis, not just a few. 
 In a bid to defend the same, Airtel's <keyword id="2798199" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Director-for-Consumer-Business">Director for Consumer Business</keyword> Srini Gopalan told the ET, “No bandwidth is allocated whether an app is on Airtel Zero or not and there is no impact on performance of the app.” He said Airtel has worked with 10-20 apps, including large eCommerce players and smaller startups on the platform on a pilot basis over a couple of months, which has resulted in a 65% drop in the digital spending. However, Airtel did not divulge the names of apps or companies which have signed up for Airtel Zero. 
 
While discussing with the financial daily, some experts pointed out TRAI’s lack of guidelines on this kind of collaborations. While Airtel has planned this in a major scale, this is nothing new in the Indian telecom scene. 
 In February, <keyword id="46907" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Reliance-communications">Reliance Communications</keyword> tied up with Facebook to launch internet.org in India, which provided access to 33 websites free of charge. In another instance, Uninor offered free usage of WhatsApp for Rs 1 a day and Rs 0.5 per hour for Facebook last year, and followed up with free Wikipedia for three months beginning April 1. This was another way of offering zero-rating plans, promoting unbridled access to the Internet, a senior executive had told the ET. 
 
A few days back, TRAI had floated a consultation paper on net neutrality, which implies that telcos cannot block certain apps or websites and promote a few. 
 
(Image: India Times)

Airtel is violating net neutrality and no one is liking it!

Net Neutrality and Internet Freedom

When the Supreme Court of India struck down the draconian <keyword id="1468581" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Section-66">Section 66</keyword> A of the <keyword id="6379296" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT-Act">IT Act</keyword> in its entirety, for once we felt that we have won the right to enjoy <keyword id="78075" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="free-speech">free speech</keyword> on the <keyword id="6357247" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet">Internet</keyword>. But did we? The ongoing <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword> debate tells us otherwise—and has added more to the doubts that Freedom of speech and expression won’t come in easy to Indians. Especially to those who don’t like to mince their words in public and on social media. 
 
Take, for instance, the case of the net neutrality video done by AIB; the video went viral over the weekend but has now been ‘temporarily’ removed from the Web for some unknown reasons. This has given rise to another debate: Is net neutrality going away from the Indian Internet industry? Would we ever get to have complete freedom on what we want to see, post or read on the Web? 
 
Logical Indian has an interesting take on the issue and has beautifully depicted what the Internet would look like if Net neutrality ends in India in five interesting images. Scroll down to take a look. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Net-Neutrality-5-interesting-interpretations-on-what-the-future-would-look-like-if-net-neutrality-goes-away/articleshow/46905644.cms">Image Credit</a>

Net Neutrality: 5 interesting interpretations on what the future would look like if net neutrality goes away

The <keyword id="97393" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Competition-Commission-of-India">Competition Commission of India</keyword> (CCI) has decided to wait for regulations on <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">Net Neutrality</keyword> before taking any action against telecom and Internet firms over giving preferential treatment to mobile operators and websites. 
 
The CCI said it would wait for more clarity on regulations ensuring access to free Internet before moving ahead. 
 
“With regard to the issue of Net Neutrality, there are no clear regulations in place so far. The authorities are working on it and once the regulations are clear, then we (Commission) can look at the issue,” a senior CCI official told a news agency. 
 The Government has so far maintained that it stands by ensuring non-discriminatory access to Internet to all. Even the <keyword id="30356" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Telecom-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Telecom Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (<keyword id="6356988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="TRAI">TRAI</keyword>) had invited suggestions from net users on Net Neutrality. 
 
CCI, which keeps a tab on unfair business practices across sectors, will order a detailed probe into a matter only if there is prima-facie evidence of anti-competitive ways. 
 The debate over Net Neutrality was triggered after leading telecom carrier <keyword id="6354287" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharti-Airtel">Bharti Airtel</keyword> announced ‘<keyword id="15491" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airtel">Airtel</keyword> Zero’, an open marketing platform that allows customers to access a variety of mobile applications for free, with the data charges being paid by start-ups and large companies. 
 
TRAI last week had said it did not intend to police the Internet but there were three unexceptional principles including ‘no blocking’ which are not debatable. 
 
It recently came out with a consultation paper for regulatory framework on over-the-top (OTT) service like Internet-based calling and messaging services and Net Neutrality.

Fair trade watchdog to wait and watch before taking on telcos in Net Neutrality

<keyword id="5268" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rahul-Gandhi">Rahul Gandhi</keyword>, vice president of Indian National Congress, has escalated his political campaign for the much debated cause of <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword>. He has also accused the Modi government of delaying its policy stand on it and has warned that the Digital India pitch might end up as a "surrogate for the interests of big corporations". 
 
"Nasscom has asked for net neutrality, over 500 startup entrepreneurs are pleading for it, young in India have been demanding it, yet we have a government which under the pretext of repeated discussions has been delaying framing of a clear-cut policy on this," Rahul said in a statement which was released on Sunday. 
 
The Gandhi scion also alleged that the NDA regime "quietly looked the other way" when telecom companies started introducing differential pricing through zero rating plans and began attempting charges for OTT (over the top) services. 
 
These comments have come at a time when Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is soon expected to announce its decision on differential pricing for data services and Facebook's Free Basics initiative. 
 
"Like millions of Indian, I am earnestly hoping to see a Trai report and the Modi government's commitment in favour of an open internet in its entirety where there is no ambiguity in regard to difference in pricing or VOIP," Gandhi said. 
 
Congress leaders opine that by taking up the issue of net neutrality, Rahul Gandhi is trying to clearly associate his image with that of the entrepreneurial spirit of India's youth. He already has fought, politically, for the causes of farmers and tribals on issues like land bill and Forest Act. 
 
"Rahul has been the first to forcefully come out in favour of free internet at a time many telecom giants are lobbying hard against it. Gandhi unflinching crusade for net neutrality will mount pressure on the Modi government's and TRAI's wishy-washy attitude on the issue," AICC chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewalla was quoted saying. 
 
Gandhi went ahead to say that Congress has wanted internet and telecom service providers and the government to treat all data with equality. 
"This is imperative for India to grow in 21st century. I sincerely hope that Trai report and Modi government will adhere to this bounden need espoused by millions of Indians," he said. 
 
"Congress party's and my belief is shaped by our faith that Internet users should be free to connect to any website or service that they want, enabling a level-playing field on the 'world wide web'. We recognise the danger of privileging a private platform over a public Internet, introducing a new digital divide," he continued. 
 
<a href="http://sathiyamnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Rahul-Gandhi.jpg">Image source</a>

Listen up! Rahul Gandhi has something to say about Net Neutrality

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="160638" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="FCC">FCC</keyword> Chairman <keyword id="1702548" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Ajit-Pai">Ajit Pai</keyword> will step down on January 20, 2021.</li><li>Pai was controversial for his role in repealing <keyword id="6391709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Net-neutrality">net neutrality</keyword> rules.</li><li>Online reactions showed that people expect a relitigation of net neutrality under a Biden-appointed FCC chairman. </li></ul>Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai announced that he plans to step down on January 20, 2021, the day <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/30/21726572/ajit-pai-fcc-step-down-date-trump-telecom-net-neutrality">Joe Biden will be inaugurated.</a>Pai was appointed to the role by President Trump in 2017, after previously <a href="https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/fcc-ajit-pai-leave-january-2021-biden-president-1234842166/">serving as commissioner</a> under the Obama administration. His five-year term was set to end in July 2021. Pai was a controversial figure, and under his leadership the FCC ended <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fcc-net-neutrality-repeal-will-lead-to-higher-prices-fewer-choices-2017-12">net neutrality</a> rules that had governed the internet and been encoded in 2015. In short, net neutrality is the idea that ISPs should treat all data the same, without giving preference to certain websites or slowing down others.Other notable industry developments under Pai included the merger of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/30/21726572/ajit-pai-fcc-step-down-date-trump-telecom-net-neutrality">T-Mobile and Sprint</a>, and the FCC adding new anti-robocall measures.So far, not many big names in <keyword id="6358815" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tech">tech</keyword> and privacy have reacted to the announcement. Most reactions so far indicate that people expect a renewed fight around net neutrality.Digital Rights advocacy group Fight for the Future released a <a href="https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2020-11-30-goodbye-ajit-pai-the-senate-should-reject-nathan/">statement</a> on "the most unpopular FCC Chairman in history" stepping down. The statement condemned Pai and emphasized the need for a "functional FCC that will quickly repair the damage done by Ajit Pai and get to work protecting the public from ISP abuses."As of 2018, a majority of registered voters were in favor of net neutrality, based on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vast-majority-voters-against-net-neutrality-repeal-charts-2018-5">data from Statista.</a>The other main reaction found on Twitter were proponents of repealing net neutrality, mocking fears that repealing the rule would have disastrous effects.Biden has not announced any plans to replace Pai, but <a href="https://www.protocol.com/joe-biden-possible-fcc-picks">Protocol</a> put together a list of possible nominees back in September.

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