U.S. Net Neutrality Rollback Highlights India’s divergent path on issue

Syllabus :GS 3/IT and Computers  

In News

• The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the second attempt of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enforce Net Neutrality.  

About 

• The U.S. tech companies like Netflix opposed telecom companies and ISPs charging them for extra bandwidth, fearing the creation of “fast lanes” and “slow lanes” for internet traffic.
• The U.S. experienced a cycle of net neutrality policy changes, with Obama-era rules being rolled back under President Trump and later reinstated under President Biden.

What is Net Neutrality?

• Net neutrality is the principle that internet providers must treat all web traffic equally, preventing them from blocking or slowing access to websites or content.

Significance

• Consumer Rights: It ensures consumers can access content freely without restrictions or extra charges from ISPs.
• Innovation and Competition: It promotes innovation by allowing startups to compete on an equal footing with large companies.
• Freedom of Expression: Protects free speech by preventing ISPs from censoring content or controlling information flow.

The Debate

• Proponents : They argue net neutrality is essential for a free and open internet, preventing ISPs from controlling access or prioritizing content for profit.
• Opponents: ISPs and some policymakers argue regulation limits investment and innovation, suggesting prioritization may be necessary for quality service.

India’s approach

• India’s approach to net neutrality has evolved differently over the last decade, with telecom companies seeking ways to extract payments from large tech platforms.
• In India, the net neutrality debate started in 2014 with Bharti Airtel’s attempt to impose higher tariffs on internet calls (e.g., Viber), sparking widespread opposition against discriminatory data pricing.
• In 2016, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) ruled in favor of net neutrality, ensuring equal treatment of all internet traffic. This decision ended a public debate, prohibiting programs like Facebook’s Free Basics and telecom operators’ plans to charge extra for data calls using apps like Viber.
•  In 2018, the Department of Telecommunications further solidified net neutrality by embedding it into the Unified Licence, making it a binding condition for all telecom operators and internet providers.
• Telcos’ New Demand in India: Indian telecom companies have recently pushed for network usage fees, demanding that large tech companies pay for the traffic they generate on telecom networks, a demand that has raised concerns among net neutrality advocates.

Conclusion and Way Forward 

• Net neutrality is key to preserving an open internet, safeguarding consumer rights, encouraging innovation, and ensuring freedom of expression. 
• Balancing regulation and freedom will be crucial moving forward.

Source :TH