Net Neutrality Battle Continues

Net neutrality (NN) is gaining a big momentum amongst the Indian net users.

TRAI Releases Fresh Consultation Paper on Net Neutrality 

Net neutrality or the principle which seeks equal access to all internet content is vital to stop service providers from misusing the internet traffic or structure for their own profits. There have been multiple consultations on the issue of net neutrality and its related aspects. The ongoing consultation process by the Indian telecom regulator TRAI was initiated pursuant to this reference from the Department of Communication (DoT). The present consultation paper is accordingly being issued in continuation to the Pre-Consultation Paper on Net Neutrality. In view of the complexity of the subject of NN, the Authority decided to undertake a two-stage consultation process. 

Issues Raised in Pre-consultation paper on Net Neutrality 

TRAI had, in its pre-consultation paper dated 30th of May 2016, discussed issues such as the definition of NN, scope of traffic management practices, importance of unrestricted access and transparency, need for preserving customer privacy and national security. The pre-consultation paper also highlighted salient points of the recommendations made by DoT's High Level Committee constituted on the same subject in May 2015. In addition to this, the paper listed various regulatory approaches seen worldwide in the treatment of NN issues, with a detailed account of the approach followed in jurisdictions like the United States, the European Union, Australia, Japan and Brazil.