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
Yes Pooja I read that one..:)
By this time TRAI also would have got confused and panic.
5 lacs emails are for favour or against the NN topic in real? 
@Nandini - Internet users in India are only about 250 odd million or so :P
isnt that sad...and if you read my comments ( which i assume u didnt )...that was the reason i was favoring free internet option too along with regular paid one....but then some privilegded sections seems to want the situation remain that way..
After Flipkart moved out of Airtel Zero, now Cleartrip has come out in support of Net Neutrality. 
Cleartrip announced moving out of the Internet.org scheme, which is similar to Airtel zero. Moreover, they have written a very nice blog-post on why they earlier opted for Internet.org , but now decided to move out of it. Read it- http://blog.cleartrip.com/2015/04/15/cleartrip-is-standing-up-for-netneutrality/
See the second comment on that cleartrip blogpost
Joy Gupta Apr 15, 2015So you guys were trying to sell hotel reservation to the “underserved” who can’t afford data?
But they book Bus tickets too
Going to the bus stand and catching a bus is much better than booking a bus ticket online :P
You have a problem?
There are good arguments both for and against the matter and having read both opinions, I stand firmly for net neutrality. ISPs should continue their hands off approach from internet traffic. And I do hope TRAI comes up with clear and precise rules protecting net neutrality.
that doesnt explain if sites decides to go app only...what will happen to net neutrality ..if sites forces one to use app only like myntra/flipkart is planning to do in near future by shutting their desktop versions completely....many other sites will follow suit....what then?
@Nandini Deka: I may have misunderstood your question. And I am going to apologise right at the onset for not having read all your comments so I might be missing something here. But anyway as per my understanding if we have net neutrality, once you have an internet plan you should be allowed to access any website without discrimination. Implies that as long as you have an internet plan you can access the apps for Myntra/Flipkart etc on your smartphone or tablet at no extra charge.
But I am curious... if certain websites choose to become an app only service how does it challenge net neutrality? I mean, as per net neutrality as long as I have an internet plan I can access whatever I want, so what if it is an app?
@Tangerine...nobody with sane mind would be against net neutrality....everyone wants to access the way things are. its wrong to assume that someone would be against it....from begining ive always maintained the way we are currently access net should not be disrupted....however keeping that intact, there can be a possibility of free net access for the unpriviledged...
@shantinath....if certain websites choose to become an app only service ...arent we being forced to use their app thingy only? since website version wont be there? so only my smartphone plan will be able to access it...not my normal desktop internet plan...isnt that discrimination?
@Nandini Deka: When did I imply you are against net neutrality? I have already very politely apologised for not reading all your previous coments and yet the tone of your response feels unpleasant (perhaps that's because I do not know you). I was merely trying to help with your query regarding apps from only a net neutrality stand point alone. And here you are telling me what is right and what is wrong.
I will say it again, even if certain websites become app only version, to my understanding (and yes I might be wrong), it is not against net neutrality. Yes, people without a smartphone will not be able to access those sites. But whether or not someone can afford a smartphone has nothing to do with net neutrality. (Yes I may be wrong again)
About being able to provide free internet to the underprevilaged, yes I am all for philantropy. I did not say it outright coz the question was about what will happen to NN if websites become apps only not providing free internet to the underprevilaged.
PS: Even though I am for NN. I don't think calling people with anti NN views insane. But you are prefectly free to have your own opinion.
*Also to my knowledge, whether someone can acess something from a phone but not from the desktop has nothing to do with net neutrality. (Eg: instagram or whatsapp are thriving in USA which has NN laws, so I am making an educated guess here)
Someone with better understanding on the topic please weigh in.
@Shantinath Chaudhary: I just noticed you confirmed my views even before I asked for expert opinion 
Anyway, time for emailing TRAI is over... fingers crossed for the verdict!
ok i got mixed up with names... second part was also for tangerine not shantinath
tangerine >> my reply was for this >> There are good arguments both for and against the matter and having read both opinions,
if you were refering to this particular thread..nobody has spoken against net neutrality....so i clarified..thats all....if you were refering other arguements beyond this forum...then i dunno...and i'm not saying what is right or wrong.
@Shantinath Chaudhary: Really sorry. I didnot mean it that way. I meant more like. "Your comment on apps and NN was exactly the confirmation I was looking for thank you. Because I was making answering based on my understanding and wasn't 100% sure. You replied even before I had a chance to ask for it." Calling your opinion from an expert was a compliment... Again I apologise if I offended you
@Tangerine: Oh No need to feel Sorry and apologise that way (as if you did a crime). You could have simply said that you meant the other way. Misenterpretation of expressed opinions is not rare. I guess reading your sentences I somehow misenterpreted it. Anyway, thanks for your compliments
Just to add up to the discussion, US came up with a clear NN law very recently. On the contrary, UK has clear anti-NN regulations in place! Many other countries too have anti-NN regulations in place. So I think as of now, only US has come up with a NN law to safeguard consumers' interests.
hmmm, I wasn't aware of that.
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