Net neutrality clamour grows, govt backs public

Frompageone

NEW DELHI: Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad hinted on Monday the government was in support of net neutrality amid one of the biggest online protests to keep the internet free and accessible to all but said a final call would be taken after a ministry committee submitted its report in the second week of May

“The internet is one of the finest creations of the human mind. To become global, it must have an integral link to local. I am equally proud of the great role young people have played in the field of net expansion. We must give them due respect. There must be non-discrimination and digital inclusion,” Prasad told HT.

A citizen campaign to uphold net neutrality in India has taken the web by storm with over 200,000 people – including filmstars and politicians -- writing to the country’s telecom regulator that has come out with a consultation paper ahead of formulating guidelines on the matter.

Activists say net neutrality – an idea that stipulates that companies treat all data as equal so that it is accessible to everyone at the same possible speed and cost – is crucial to keeping the internet a levelplaying field and encourage innovation.

He, however, refused to spell out the gover nment’s stand and said the ministry has already for med a committee, which will consult all stakeholders before submitting its report.

“The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is also considering it. We respect its advisory. We will take a call after we receive the committee report,” said the telecom minister.

Official sources said the government is conscious of the wave of support by netizens for the issue after certain firms argued they should be allowed to charge more for certain applications and services. Activists say such a move would effectively tilt the balance in favour of the bigger players and potentially stifle innovation and start-up growth.

In the run up to the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP suc- cessfully mobilised people, especially the youth, through social media and the ruling party doesn’t want to “let down” its supporters by compromising on net neutrality, said sources.

“The government is open to hearing the views of telecom operators. At the same time there is no question of hurting the common man’s interest,” said a senior BJP leader.

The opposition Congress has also jumped into the debate as it sees an opportunity to wean the “internet generation” away from the BJP.

Senior Cong ress l eader Digvijaya Singh said in two separate tweets, “I support Net Neutrality and had asked question in Rajya Sabha. AnswerGOI considering! Consider? Just do it! Request to all my followers on facebook and twitter pl support this movement. Country needs NET NEUTRALITY. Go ahead!”

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has backed the campaign, tweeting that his party was committed to a neutral internet. DMK treasurer MK Stalin has also come out in support of net neutrality too, saying that any move to allow telecom companies to allow preferential treatment of websites “goes against the very concept of the internet”.