NEW YORK (TIP): The Indian National Overseas Congress Chair George Abraham has applauded the decision of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to choose Net Neutrality banning immediately any differential pricing for data – that means no content can be offered under a varying pricing scheme, said George Abraham, Chairman of the Indian National Overseas Congress and a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations.
The TRAI has prescribed a heavy penalty for violators. ‘Violators will be penalized at INR 50,000 (around USD 800 at the current exchange rate) per day, said regulator TRAI, stressing that “content agnostic” access to the internet is the operating principle; however, data charges can be dropped during public emergencies like flooding’.
TRAI is justified in suspending the push by Facebook and others in their argument that it violates the principles of ‘net neutrality, the concept that all websites on the internet are treated equally. Differential pricing would have placed small content providers and start-ups at major disadvantage.
Net neutrality translates into an open Internet where users can have full freedom of access and navigation. It means innovators can develop products and services without restraints. The broadband providers cannot block, throttle or create special ‘fast lane’ (prioritize) for their preferred set of users and content providers.
‘We also salute Mr. Rahul Gandhi, Vice-President of the AICC, who stood alongside with neutrality activists and raised this critical issue inside and outside of the Parliament’.
‘We are indeed quite satisfied that we were also able to contribute our share of arguments in support of ‘net neutrality and the authorities who have made this difficult decision under tremendous pressure deserve the gratitude of a nation’, the statement continued.
Read http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/india-preserve-net-neutrality-for-innovation-and-growth-