Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Writes To TRAI, Appeals For Protection of Net Neutrality

Flipkart pulling out of the Airtel Zero deal with Bharti Airtel is definitely a huge step towards supporting and protecting net neutrality. NDTV, Times Group and Cleartrip followed suit, pulling out of the internet.org platform, a concept by Facebook, which maintains that it is not encroaching upon net neutrality, but is in fact trying to grant people all over the world access to the internet by signing deals with internet companies.

But if in fact, like they claim, their only motive is to connect the world, then why have they signed deals only with major and established companies, and not with upcoming and innovative e-commerce firms as well?

A lot of people have spoken out about net neutrality, with the likes of Anurag Thakur- the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on information Technology- also speaking out in favour of protecting net neutrality, and the latest being the Chief Minister of Odisha- Mr. Naveen Patnaik.

The CM of Odisha wrote a letter to Rahul Khullar, who is the Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), demanding that TRAI should urgently come up with measures to protect net neutrality.

Saying that he has been following the Net Neutrality debate closely, he adds that the growth of the internet is going to affect each and every one of us, especially the young and dynamic population of the country.

“Presently the youth of this country is paying a high cost for an inefficient net connection. I do not see any justification in limiting the ability of new start-up companies to reach the net user,” said the chief minister.

“It must be noted that this is not an issue of just elite as it is being made out to be. It will affect even the poor because so many services are delivered over the internet today. The government is trying to extend its services to the people through this medium because it will be effective and inexpensive.”

“While the under-privileged deserve much more than what is available, nobody should decide what exactly are their requirements. You cannot force a person to use a certain mobile application because a telecom company believes that it should be doing so.”

He ended his letter by expressing that TRAI should urgently come up with measures to protect net neutrality, and should ensure that it does not favour regressive measures such as licensing online services.

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