In an unexpected (and frankly inexplicable) move, the Indian telecom regulator TRAI has issued a consultation paper focused on differential pricing of data services, asking whether telecom operators should be allowed to charge differently for different websites, focused purely on the price discrimination aspect of Net Neutrality. Net Neutrality, as explained by Columbia Professor Vishal Misra, is the principle where telecom operators and ISPs do not give a competitive advantage to any specific application or website. The deadline for submissions is 30th December 2015, and for counter comments is the 7th of January 2016. In the paper (download the PDF), the TRAI has asked the following questions: Question 1: Should the TSPs be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for accessing different websites, applications or platforms? Question 2: If differential pricing for data usage is permitted, what measures should be adopted to ensure that the principles of nondiscrimination, transparency, affordable internet access, competition and market entry and innovation are addressed? Question 3. Are there alternative methods/technologies/business models, other than differentiated tariff plans, available to achieve the objective of providing free internet access to the consumers? If yes, please suggest/describe these methods/technologies/business models. Also, describe the potential benefits and disadvantages associated with such methods/technologies/business models? Question-4: Is there any other issue that should be considered in the present consultation on differential pricing for data services? Update: Compare these questions with those asked in the last consultation paper on Net Neutrality: Question 14: Is there a justification for allowing differential pricing for data access…
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