[bestbits] Indian regulator bans differential pricing, including zero rating

Seth Johnson seth.p.johnson at gmail.com
Mon Feb 8 16:46:42 EST 2016 

Note that India doesn't have the blindness we have in the US regarding
the nature of right of way oversight, so is much more capable of
putting in something that keeps facebook from establishing a model
that could replace the open Internet. This is also why the Indian
Constitution's guarantees apply here (they wouldn't if they were like
the US -- at least according to our incumbent telcos).  What happened
here was a strong assertion of the nature of the Indian telecom regime
as one that understands the rights of access that apply -- and doesn't
suppose, like other areas do, that you can actually have a workable
telecom regime without that.  India's domestic regime is now
distinguishing itself both internationally -- and as opposed to absurd
forms of privatization.


Seth

On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 4:05 PM, Raman Jit Singh Chima
<raman at accessnow.org> wrote:
> We would love information or any points on other existing zero rating
> related regulatory standards that this community has seen in other
> countries. From our current information, the regulations issued by the
> Indian telecom regulator (TRAI) represent one set of clear dedicated
> national telecom rules strongly prohibiting zero rating.
>
> I also want to call out and thank the many groups [including many GNN
> members!] who signed the joint academic institutions and civil society
> letter that was filed with TRAI in January, which the Centre for
> Communication Governance at National Law University coordinated. And I
> apologise to some of the excellent people who offered their names later, but
> could not be included since the filing had already been officially sent to
> TRAI. The language from that filing made it directly into TRAI's official
> explanatory brief for these regulations published today. That specifically
> on how international standards and India's own constitution mandated
> regulatory action which advanced free expression, access to information,
> plurality and diversity of media, as well as noting how a non-discrimination
> rule could help advance net neutrality.
>
> And just to flag that its still not over in India, as with many other
> countries. More comprehensive binding net neutrality rules still need to be
> passed (to more clearly set rules against throttling and prioritisation for
> example), though this was a fantastic development and momentum is currently
> with all the progressive actors working hard on this.
>
> Raman.
>
> On 9 February 2016 at 01:42, Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>>
>> Correction, the info goes like this: Colombia, one of the countries who
>> adhered to Internet.org, was accused of substituting its own governmental
>> initiative to increase internet access in the country by Internet.org
>>
>>
>> https://r3d.mx/2015/12/15/facebook-da-internet-gratis-demasiado-bueno-para-ser-verdad/
>>
>> On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 4:45 PM, Renata Aquino Ribeiro <raquino at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I do not wish to ruin any hopes but I believe a bit more context is much
>>> needed in this moment. Were there national telecom regulations against such
>>> practices like Internet.org before in other countries? More importantly,
>>> were these regulations revoked? I'm trying to find a bit more info but I
>>> believe Colombia may have had a similar moment a while ago?
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 2:57 PM, Mwendwa Kivuva
>>> <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> If FB had gone through with their plans, India would have set precedence
>>>> across the world. FB would have paraded India as a shining example in
>>>> executing their strategy. I'm sure the direction the regulator took was the
>>>> best for the Internet. But more research is needed to identify best options
>>>> for connecting the unconnected.
>>>>
>>>> Regards
>>>>
>>>> On Feb 8, 2016 6:54 PM, "Renata Avila" <renata.avila at webfoundation.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> If you sent me all info I can put together it on a wiki.
>>>>>
>>>>> R
>>>>>
>>>>> On 8 Feb 2016 16:41, "Douglas Onyango" <ondouglas at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Hello Mishi,
>>>>>> I think many will definitely use and learn from India's blueprint as
>>>>>> this war continues to rage on in developing countries.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 8 February 2016 at 18:37, Mishi Choudhary
>>>>>> <mishi at softwarefreedom.org> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> For those of you who supported our work in India  a  big thank you.
>>>>>>> For
>>>>>>> others  who are fighting this battle in other countries, let us know
>>>>>>> how we can help. I can help provide all submissions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 02/08/2016 06:53 AM, Renata Avila wrote:
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > It was the amazing work of people like you, the free software
>>>>>>> > community,
>>>>>>> > grassroots, comedians. Bravo.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > CONGRATULATIONS Inline image 1
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Renata Avila
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Jabber ID renataavila at jabber.ccc.de
>>>>>>> > <mailto:renataavila at jabber.ccc.de>
>>>>>>> > - Skype ID renata.avila.pinto
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Key: 0xB43D89CA1 Fingerprints C8A2 5CC8 2E10 BEC2 3E86 7E0E 4AFC
>>>>>>> > 981A
>>>>>>> > B43D 89CA
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Telephone +49 15252609522
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > @webwewant  <https://twitter.com/webwewant>
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > *1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20005,
>>>>>>> > USA* *| **www.webfoundation.org* <http://www.webfoundation.org/>* |
>>>>>>> > Twitter: @webfoundation*
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > *
>>>>>>> > *
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > On Mon, Feb 8, 2016 at 12:16 PM, parminder
>>>>>>> > <parminder at itforchange.net
>>>>>>> > <mailto:parminder at itforchange.net>> wrote:
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >     (apologies for cross posting)
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > http://www.trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/WhatsNew/Documents/Regulation_Data_Service.pdf
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >     shorter press release is at
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > http://trai.gov.in/WriteReadData/PressRealease/Document/Press_Release_No_13%20.pdf
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >     Can be considered as a path breaking regulatory move, which may
>>>>>>> > set
>>>>>>> >     the trend for developing countries...
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >     parminder
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >     ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> >     You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> > You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> Warm Regards
>>>>>>> Mishi Choudhary, Esq.
>>>>>>> Legal Director
>>>>>>> Software Freedom Law Center
>>>>>>> 1995 Broadway Floor 17| New York, NY-10023
>>>>>>> Direct: +1-212-461-1912| Main: +1-212-461-1901| Fax: +1-212-580-0898
>>>>>>> www.softwarefreedom.org
>>>>>>> Assistant: Rose Regina Lawrence | roseregina at softwarefreedom.org
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Executive Director
>>>>>>> SFLC.IN
>>>>>>> K-9, Second Floor, Jangpura Extn.| New Delhi-110014
>>>>>>> Main: +91-11-43587126 | Fax: +91-11-24323530
>>>>>>> www.sflc.in
>>>>>>> Assistant: Mamta Varma | mamta at softwarefreedom.in
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
>>>>>>>      bestbits at lists.bestbits.net.
>>>>>>> To unsubscribe or change your settings, visit:
>>>>>>>      http://lists.bestbits.net/wws/info/bestbits
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Douglas Onyango, PRINCE 2, ITILv3
>>>>>> UG: +256 776 716 138
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> ____________________________________________________________
>>>>> You received this message as a subscriber on the list:
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ____________________________________________________________
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>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ____________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
>
> --
> Raman Jit Singh Chima
> Policy Director
> Access Now | accessnow.org
>
> Email: raman at accessnow.org
> Skype: raman.chima
> PGP ID: 0x2A186000
>
> Join the Access Now team - we're hiring!
>
> ____________________________________________________________
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