US FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed to end the Obama Administration's Net Neutrality regulation, and move to what the FCC calls is a "bipartisan, light-touch framework that preserved a free and open Internet for almost 20 years." This development is important because it comes at a time when the Indian Telecom Regulator TRAI is holding its own consultation on throttling of Internet traffic. Indian telecom operators and ISPs are asking for a "light-touch" framework as well. Pai is pitching the regulations as a switch back to the regime under the Clinton administration, saying that it would allow the preservation of "vibrant and competitive free market that presently exists for the Internet...unfettered by Federal or State regulation", saying that under the Obama administration, "the FCC suddenly changed course even though there was no problem that the agency needed to solve." Under that regulation, broadband carriers were brought under Title II, which meant that they were governed as public utilities. This shift in the FCC's stance under Pai was expected, indicated by his move to drop investigation into complaints of Net Neutrality violations by zero rating services. It's important to note that this is a proposal. The FCC is planning a public consultation process on Net Neutrality. Our analysis 1. Competition and Investment: - What Pai said: "...when it comes to high-speed Internet access, or broadband, I've found that there is far more that unites us than divides us"..."people tell me that they want fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access.…
