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Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

trai.gov.in

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Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#11

Post by gcr »

gcr wrote: post #10
bugger_guy wrote: post #3

did they do that? but how can they. didnt they say to FCC that such practices are against NN and how can they say this in INDIA. isnt it hypocrisy?

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in India. Super simple. Facebook, or other foreign capitalistic entities, can do basically whatever they want. This could change when: - The country puts more regulations on Internet service providers like the FCC does here (maybe this is happening? maybe this isn't? I'm not familiar with India ISP regulation entities), or - The people say "No" and choose not to use this service. But…

What I'm curious is: how many Americans recognize this hypocrisy and take action (e.g. stop using Facebook or campaign against it?)

After all, we have the oversight of the FCC to prevent this from happening here (at least to some degree).

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#12

Post by jace »

gcr wrote: post #10
bugger_guy wrote: post #3

did they do that? but how can they. didnt they say to FCC that such practices are against NN and how can they say this in INDIA. isnt it hypocrisy?

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in India. Super simple. Facebook, or other foreign capitalistic entities, can do basically whatever they want. This could change when: - The country puts more regulations on Internet service providers like the FCC does here (maybe this is happening? maybe this isn't? I'm not familiar with India ISP regulation entities), or - The people say "No" and choose not to use this service. But…

TRAI is India's telecom regulator and is currently running a consultation on whether differential pricing of data should be allowed. Facebook has run a $44 million ad campaign in the country asking the public to lobby TRAI about something they're calling "digital equality". TRAI isn't amused at all and has thrown out their submissions as invalid, because they didn't answer the questions the regulator had asked.

http://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/internet/trai-...

OP's post is Facebook's own submission to the regulator.

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#13

Post by jace »

dangerpowpow wrote: post #8

just waiting for facebook stocks to crash

Wall Street certainly has their hopes up:

http://www.nasdaq.com/article/facebooks-fb-free-basics-drive...

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13419399/1/will-facebook-fb-s...

Both articles fail to consider that the mood around Facebook in India is extremely negative, with widespread sentiment of them being a bully that doesn't mind destroying net neutrality for their own selfish goals.

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#14

Post by allengeorge »

gcr wrote: post #11
gcr wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in India. Super simple. Facebook, or other foreign capitalistic entities, can do basically whatever they want. This could change when: - The country puts more regulations on Internet service providers like the FCC does here (maybe this is happening? maybe this isn't? I'm not familiar with India ISP regulation entities), or - The people say "No" and choose not to use this service. But…

What I'm curious is: how many Americans recognize this hypocrisy and take action (e.g. stop using Facebook or campaign against it?) After all, we have the oversight of the FCC to prevent this from happening here (at least to some degree).

India is far away - why should I care what happens there?

Facetiousness aside, I suspect the statement above answers your question. As far as the average citizen is concerned it's "not my problem" (and honestly, they probably have more immediate problems with obvious impact).

Besides, net neutrality doesn't have the same emotional imagery or appeal as sweatshop labor or species extinction, though its long-term impact (deciding who gets to see what) has severe consequences for societal health.

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#15

Post by defective »

gcr wrote: post #11
gcr wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in India. Super simple. Facebook, or other foreign capitalistic entities, can do basically whatever they want. This could change when: - The country puts more regulations on Internet service providers like the FCC does here (maybe this is happening? maybe this isn't? I'm not familiar with India ISP regulation entities), or - The people say "No" and choose not to use this service. But…

What I'm curious is: how many Americans recognize this hypocrisy and take action (e.g. stop using Facebook or campaign against it?) After all, we have the oversight of the FCC to prevent this from happening here (at least to some degree).

How many Americans are going to read this posting on an Indian regulator's website?

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#17

Post by rubberstamp »

jace wrote: post #2

It's remarkable that a company that stands strongly in favour of net neutrality in the US is so strongly against it in India. Speak of double standards. So strong against it, they've spent $44 million in ads to tell the public to oppose net neutrality and instead support something they're calling "digital equality", aka free Facebook (and friends) without data charges. Source for $44 million figure: https://twitter.c…

I fail to understand how its digital equality. I don't wanna give them control over Internet too. Hope trai shows them the door

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#18

Post by lucozade »

gcr wrote: post #10
bugger_guy wrote: post #3

did they do that? but how can they. didnt they say to FCC that such practices are against NN and how can they say this in INDIA. isnt it hypocrisy?

The FCC doesn't have jurisdiction in India. Super simple. Facebook, or other foreign capitalistic entities, can do basically whatever they want. This could change when: - The country puts more regulations on Internet service providers like the FCC does here (maybe this is happening? maybe this isn't? I'm not familiar with India ISP regulation entities), or - The people say "No" and choose not to use this service. But…

> We see something like this in the EU

The EU net neutrality legislation has specific exemptions for precisely what Facebook wants to implement in India i.e. internet.org [0]

[0] http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/oct/27/eu-net-neu...

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#19

Post by onewaystreet »

scorpion032 wrote: post #6

Would Facebook exist today, if there were a gatekeeper (AOL, Google, Yahoo?) that needed to approve it as a "Basic service", that had exclusive access to a billion users? This Anti-competitive practice is as notorious as the ones MSFT once engaged in at their peak, for which they still get a lot of negative press, decades later.

Facebook would only be a gatekeeper in India if no one else decides to offer a competing service. Google plans to.

Re: Facebook submits to the TRAI supporting differential pricing of data [pdf]

#20

Post by ikeboy »

jace wrote: post #7
akerro wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>stands strongly in favour of net neutrality in the US Could you provide some sources?

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/may/08/google-fac... http://mashable.com/2014/05/08/fcc-letter-net-neutrality/#as...

None of that is against zero-rating. They specifically mention paid prioritization, which means the data is prioritized, while zero-rating is a billing practice.
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