Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#1

Post by stultus » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 6:33 AM UTC

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]
trai.gov.in

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#2

Post by stultus » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 6:34 AM UTC

Main Points -----

• First, Facebook tried to mislead it's users into sending emails to TRAI which just said "We support Free Basics".

• After receiving hordes of such emails, TRAI picked on Facebook to communicate with the senders in order to advise them to send emails that contained answers to the consultation. Accordingly, TRAI extended the consultation period by 7 days.

• Facebook responded towards the end of the period that they were unable to reach users. Apparently, they claimed in their letter to TRAI that peoples' support for Free Basics in the emails (somehow) translated to answers to TRAI's questions.

• Facebook claimed that 11 million emails were sent to TRAI through their platform. TRAI says it only received 1.89 million.

• TRAI has declared that it has not received any revised responses.

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#3

Post by bugger_guy » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 7:08 AM UTC

good move to finally unmask and reveal fbs real face. hypocrisy at its peak. supporting diff pricing and the only internet firm to side with telcos on breaking net neutrality

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#4

Post by aneeshnl » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 7:17 AM UTC

Hope TRAI scraps it and go to favor of net neutrality

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#5

Post by achanda358 » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 7:23 AM UTC

Weird how official letters to Facebook were sent to a hotel. I'm sure they have a permanent office in India.

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#6

Post by dang » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 8:07 AM UTC

Please do not editorialize the titles of stories you submit to HN. It breaks the site guidelines to do so. Users are asked to change the title only when it is misleading or linkbait, and only to something accurate and neutral.

The submitted title was "[India] TRAI is going hammer and tongs after Facebook [pdf]". If someone suggests a better title, we can change it again.

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#7

Post by anilgulecha » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 8:34 AM UTC

stultus wrote: post #2

Main Points ----- • First, Facebook tried to mislead it's users into sending emails to TRAI which just said "We support Free Basics". • After receiving hordes of such emails, TRAI picked on Facebook to communicate with the senders in order to advise them to send emails that contained answers to the consultation. Accordingly, TRAI extended the consultation period by 7 days. • Facebook responded towards the end of the…

I'd also like to note that TRAI has usually been on the side of user's and not usually caved into lobbying. Over the years they've made sure of:

* Free incoming calls

* state-level number portability so you can switch carriers and hang on to the old number

* national level number portability

* compensation to callers for dropped calls -- an incentive for telecoms to uphold a certain level of service quality

* and now, a stern reply to FB's misleading campaign on free basics.

India as a result has very healthy competition in the telecom space, and the lowest rates in the world.

Kudos, TRAI.

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#8

Post by thewhitetulip » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 9:46 AM UTC

seems like net neutrality is going to win

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#9

Post by simula67 » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 10:12 AM UTC

Hard to tell if this is the usual gymnastics from bureaucrats trying to cover their butts or if TRAI is really annoyed that Facebook is using their platform dominance to lobby favorable government policy.

Re: Telecom Regulatory Authority of India: Letter to Facebook [pdf]

#10

Post by meanduck » Wed, Jan 13, 2016, 10:25 AM UTC

anilgulecha wrote: post #7

stultus wrote: post #2

Main Points ----- • First, Facebook tried to mislead it's users into sending emails to TRAI which just said "We support Free Basics". • After receiving hordes of such emails, TRAI picked on Facebook to communicate with the senders in order to advise them to send emails that contained answers to the consultation. Accordingly, TRAI extended the consultation period by 7 days. • Facebook responded towards the end of the…

I'd also like to note that TRAI has usually been on the side of user's and not usually caved into lobbying. Over the years they've made sure of: * Free incoming calls * state-level number portability so you can switch carriers and hang on to the old number * national level number portability * compensation to callers for dropped calls -- an incentive for telecoms to uphold a certain level of service quality * and now…

> I'd also like to note that TRAI has usually been on the side of user's

What about when it goes against users ? Even now, it has gone against some users. Why do you think its a good thing for The goverment intervention was absolutely unnecessary. They should have left it to market to judge.