India set to lose Net Neutrality? Act now
This topic is very much related to blogging in terms of internet access.
What is Net Neutrality?
As per this article http://www.medianama.com/2014/11/223-net-neutrality-simple-explanation/
Telecom operators/ISPs are access services providers, and can control either how much you access, what you access, how fast you access and how much you pay to access content and services on the Internet.
It’s important for access to knowledge, services and free speech, as well as freedom and ease of doing business online, for this access to be neutral:
– All sites must be equally accessible - The same access speed at the telco/ISP level for each (independent of telco selection) – The same data cost for access to each site (per KB/MB).
This means, Net Neutrality is about: – No telecom-style licensing of Internet companies (see this and this) – No gateways (Internet.org, Airtel OneTouch Internet, Data VAS), censorship or selection; – No speeding up of specific websites (that may or may not pay telcos) – No “zero rating” or making some sites free over others (and that goes for you too, Wikipedia and twitter).
Folks, please go through these links to understand better.
Action needs to be taken soon.
How you can act: https://www.change.org/p/rsprasad-trai-don-t-allow-differential-pricing-of-services-let-consumers-choose-how-they-want-to-use-internet-netneutrality
To gain some understanding of the situation: http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/pj61D8cXPVQXwO0UJnd67I/The-Airtel-Zero-idea-Splitting-Indias-Internet-into-many-I.html
Thanks,
Reason: formatting
This thread is more than GD (Group Discussion). It is great to see that all of you given feedback and concern on this topic. Able to know additionally. Appreciate it. Leave it!
What purpose does that savetheinternet website solve? What is the use of everyone sending a mail with the same content. If the mails received by them have different content, may be they will make an effort to read them. Now, when 99.99% of the mails have the same copy paste content, why should they read them?
This looks similar to what happens with thesis reports. Almost everyone copies from somewhere else, so the prof. don't read any of the reports, not even those which students wrote on their own. :s 
And isn't mailing the same content to trai plagiarism? 
I thought that bloggers hate plagiarism. 
Mailing copied content is better than not mailing at all.
Like copying and writing answers in an exam is better than not writing anything?
They may not go through all the emails
So, would someone think twice before writing a (un-copied) reply knowing that it might get lost in the junk
Ranjith, TRAI has kept open the input of citizens till 24th of April. So no matter what you send, but it should be in opposition with their regulatory framework.
Finally, I have finished up reading the complete document. It is time taking, but the document is really exhaustive.
Basically, they are raising 3 major issues:- 1) Concerns of profit loss raised by Telecom providers (2) All the mobile apps being non-regulated by Indian laws (3) Security, Privacy, and National secutiry concerns with apps
Whereas point 1 looks compltely disagreeable , point 2 and 3 are valid enough issues raised by TRAI. Since apps are not registered in India, they are not binded by Indian laws, so they can be a ground for havoc. TRAI has also mentioned the UBER case in this regard. So they have a valid issue there. btw, I have got so much information after reading the document, that I think I would better write a blog on the same/ 
Net neutrality awareness is coming in different forms/websites like http://www.netneutrality.in/ but leads to the same page finally. Last date to submit opinion is 24th Apr 2015.
the document is alarming, here is one short excerpt from the document-
QoS techniques may also be employed to provide tiered internet access to end users, or to manage the traffic of certain end users (as opposed to certain protocols). Light users could be offered limited access to the internet in return for a discount to the current flat rate price for unlimited access. This means that access to websites or services that are not included in the selected internet access package would be denied, or will cost extra. At the same time, the cost for an unlimited internet access is likely to increase, because it is no longer cross subsidized by the light users. However, with respect to fixed-line internet access, proponents of NN fear that such practice may lead to a fragmentation of the internet.
While reading the Consultation Paper of TRAI, I had made some notes of the major points written. I have compiled all of those major excerpts from the document and uploaded it on scribd. People can have a look at it, if they wish to know what's all written there in that document. The original document is of 118 pages, the summarised notes version by me is 13 pages long- https://www.scribd.com/doc/261652181/TRAI-Consultation-Document-Excepts
Isn't it a good thing that increased usage charges for Whatsapp/Facebook will discourage people from using them too often and people would talk over phones and in person? 
Isn't that unrelated to NN?
Right now, you can access fb and wa even on normal internet. With those packs, you will have access to only those specific sites at a reduced cost.
No. Its very much related to NN. The basic premise of NN is that donot differentiate between different kind of sites/app.
But that is actually beneficial to those who want to use fb/wa but can't afford to pay for full internet. And it doesn't affect those using normal internet in any way. :s
How did you calculate that it will be cheaper as compared to the normal net pack? There is a general pack for 200MB, and these guys are giving a specific pack for FB of 200MB. How is it cheaper? It may even be costlier.
and the argument connecting it to NN, would be similar as the argument connecting the Zero/Free concept to NN. I
If normal net pack costs same as fb net pack, why will someone buy fb net pack? 
Point! Conceded. But then the argument is same as "Isn't the free internet concept good! Those who can't afford, can use it, and those who want more, can go for the paid version?" The basic flaw there is that differentiating between different kinds of data/app/website, which violates the very basic principle of Net Neutrality- that all data are same. Don't prioritise any kind of data, don't make any specific data/website cheaper or costlier.
"Isn't the free internet concept good! Those who can't afford, can use it, and those who want more, can go for the paid version?"
i actually will like it if it happens...but only if the paid version remains as it is ( i.e the one i'm using now ) and also a free option available. if paid version stays same...why bother if theres a free thingy somewhere, just ignore it.
The basic flaw there is that differentiating between different kinds of data/app/website, which violates the very basic principle of Net Neutrality- that all data are same. Don't prioritise any kind of data, don't make any specific data/website cheaper or costlier.
That is the essence of business and competition.
Did people ever stop high budget movies from buying costly ad spots on tv channels citing movie neutrality - that all movies should be treated the same, high budget or low budget?
Best example will be of DTH service which was hit in Indian market few years ago. Even though customers paid and purchased antenna and set top box. In addition to that only few channels were freely available (like DD or similar ones) and to get more they were asked to pay for separate packs like sports pack, east pack, west pack, south pack, north pack etc., Remember here all requirements like entertainment or movie or sports will come for a cost.
Similary here we have phones and internet connection by paying some money. In addition to available internet pack, To get specific services we need to shell out more money as we are used to such services. People may argue may be other services instead of WhatsApp can be used but what if such services are provided with low access speeds or no access at all? people will be directed or forced for paid services.
Can anyone imagine IRCTC website going down or slow and yatra and expedia (just examples) websites are able to book railway tickets much faster than IRCTC demanding extra bucks? Necessity will force us to pay.
Don't think only about Apps like WhatsApp or viber. Imagine situation Google asking to pay for email service or YouTube for watching video. What alternatives we have for the comfort and flexibility of Gmail and YouTube? If Gmail joins race, microsoft also joins for similar thing.
Necessity will definitely force us to pay. But if the necessity itself is forced on us externally??
Better we support for net neutrality.
Can anyone imagine IRCTC website going down or slow and yatra and expedia (just examples) websites are able to book railway tickets much faster than IRCTC demanding extra bucks? Necessity will force us to pay.
If IRCTC is down, then you can't book rail tickets on Yatra /Expedia. Yatra /Expedia servers need to connect to IRCTC servers while booking the tickets.
Imagine situation Google asking to pay for email service or YouTube for watching video. What alternatives we have for the comfort and flexibility of Gmail and YouTube? If Gmail joins race, microsoft also joins for similar thing.
Google can ask you to pay for using their services even if net neutraility is to remain.
IRCTC is down in the sense if the access is slowed down then.
Google will not do unless others do it. But no net neutrality gives better chance to them to propose charges. if Google ask now then surely people will move away for other free services as some alternative will be there in net neutrality.
I have written a blog-post on this issue, which is strictly based on the understanding gained by reading the TRAI consultation paper. I would request anyone still having not fully understood the issue, to read my blog-post on the issue Thanks
I hope all of u gt to see the news hour today with Arnab and understood the gravity of the situation. If its reached his talk show it definitely means its going to pinch our right to freedom alot
I don't like Arnab, so no value of issue reaching his show. But yes, this issue has already started getting huge attnetion. Lots of celebrities have tweeted about it- SRK, Farhaan, Arjun Kapoor, Gul Panag, to name a few. So many media houses too have published it. More than 1.5 lacs emails have been sent. In fact the email ID of savetheinternet guys being used for getting the bcc copy, was blocked by google for receiving emails at too fast a rate (limit is 3600 emails/hour). So it means a lot. Lots of positive actions being undertaken. These efforts will surly not go waste.
Hahah hi five his voice irritates me to the core but sometimes u cant help but watch a bit of the show down.
It's a slap on the face to know that to show your talent or innovation or idea now comes at a heavy price rather than the intial freedom to express and get the required attention for ur quality of work
In fact the email ID of savetheinternet guys being used for getting the bcc copy, was blocked by google for receiving emails at too fast a rate (limit is 3600 emails/hour).
Really? Any reference link?
Telecom service provider's concern is more on voice calls than data. They try to increase the charges on voice call services like Viber, Skype, FB calls and so on than accessing / charging normal data usage sites.
Not really. Their focus is on all kinds of mobile apps being used in any kind of communication, be it text, audio or video. Because these are what hitting them hard.
Yes, but accessing any websites have no issue for them since it could take less data for that process but accessing various features like audio and video gives them trouble on using huge datas beside other disadvantage. The 'voice calls' trouble them more due to directly hit their Telecom business on ISD/Conference calls and its rates in addition to consuming higher datas.
Yes, they also concern on less benefits and less saving (than current one) for future investment on technology upgrades to retain the customer or gain the customer to stay in business for a long.
been hearing a lot about it on twitter. lets see where it takes us from here. TRAi did ask for suggestions, is that deadline over yet?
FK would have joined hand with Airtel Zero by mistake and without knowing the real picture of the new process, thus it might have escaped now to retain the current customers / affiliates 
.
oh..and you said its not about airtel zero
oh spare me thy double talk...thanks
Nandini Deka Everyone can see easily that you are failing to see beyond the Airtel zero concept (or may be you are deliberately turning blind eye), which has never been the main issue. But it's ok. To each his own.
yes..i'm failing to see beyond airtel zero....but you are the one who does the "yippee flipkart removed from airtel zero...yipee see power of people...airtel's bride's runs away blah blah'"...your comment was all about airtel zero who according to you wasnt the main issue/////hence, spare me thy double talks...enough footage given already///tata
Bad luck. Now, we'll be forced to choose SnapDeal. Everytime, I open that site, my laptop slows down horribly.
@Nandini: You are failing to understand the issue, you are failing to understand my comments, you are failing to understand the motive and intention of my various comments. But it's ok, everyone is free to fail. TATA!!
i didnt fail to point out the double talk...tata
@Nandini: If you fail to understand the issue even after so long, you can fail in anything TATA! TATA!!
yeah...except you no one understand the issue...thats why for last few pages you scream its not about airtel zero and that opening links are wrong too....and then do a 360degree turn and say yippe flipkart moved from airtel zero blah blah.
its failure on part of YOU to assume that one is not understanding the issue just cos they are asking questions...maybe they are doing their own loopholes-search in the entire thingy, but then you wont understand all that.....and yeah...you wont understand the mails ive been recieving in my inbox too by PRs handling many small time entrepreneues/start-ups who have put in their quotes on the issue..on how it'll affect them and all that stuff as well... you wont undertstand cos making assumptions on others and feeling self-intelligent is easy. and i know like you didnt understand till now what i say first time around itself and i had to clarify few times what i actually meant, you wont understand what I just typed too...
@Nandini: Yeah you didn't understand, I didn't understand, they didn't understand. Nobody understood!! So be happy
@ Hafeezur Rahman Flipkart was aware of zero App issue but they wanted to check if it works and pressurise users to buy from their App and realising it won't work carefully witdrawn from AirTel so that AirTel will get major share of blame and not FlipKart.
@Nandini Deka: How to make such a distinction affordable and not afforadable among users as we don't have any unique measure till now to classify it(even Aadhar cannot)? Quite difficult. Internet users are more in middle class genre than in upper and lower ends. May be some steps to educate and empower computer literacy is must so that it can reach all walks of life but net neutrality is not about it.
Internet users are more in middle class genre than in upper and lower ends.
oh and how did you make the distinction? eh?
As per IB policy I dont want to be off topic. See this link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2327182/The-myth-great-Indian-Middle-class-Roughly-30-Indias-population-lives-poverty-line.html
instead of relying on some foreign media to know about india.....it'd be better to move out of the comfort of our homes...hop on a train/bus ourselves...visit rural places and see for ourselves how many people actually know about smartphones or even has seen internet.
Reading this thread in its entirety has made me a lot more informative on the issue. Thanks All
I think for discussions running into pages, there should be a summary of the discussion happend in that page.
LOL Funny, but actually you have a point there. This thread is anyway smaller, but those threads which run into 100s of comments, they really deserve some kind of summary
Slowly, anti-Net Neutrality arguments too are coming forward. I came across a very convincing argument, here it is:- https://www.facebook.com/guruprasad.gp/posts/10206136369277470
Interested people can read that post. It's by a die-hard BJP supporter, but keeping that apart, the arguments do make sense. It argues that all data are not same, hence all data can't be treated equally, so different kinds of data should be priced differently.
It's by a die-hard BJP supporter
:s
We have a professor who is an aap supporter and every time something happens, he blames bjp in the class. :s And he keeps talking bad about some student who is a member of some executive council and is probably a bjp supporter.
@Ranjith: Surly you may have. I have seen blind supporters of both sides, Kejriwal Bhakt, and Modi-Bhakt. Both kinds. But still, nonetheless, the linked post of that BJP supporters does make sense. I just pointed it out, lest someone outrightly blasts that argument on the basis of it coming from such a BJP supporters (bcoz he does seem to blindly support BJP sometimes)
I read that fb post. I am not an electronics/telecommunication engineer but the arguments did sound reasonable.
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