Mozilla announces $250,000 prize for equal rating internet access innovation

Mozilla has announced a $250,000 prize pool for innovative new products, services, business models, or infrastructure ideas to deliver equal rated internet access to the next billion people. The next billion is a phrase for the currently underserved people without devices with access to the internet. A solution for subsidising internet access to allow those who cannot afford it to surf the internet, was zero rated schemes. Zero rated schemes were not aligned with the principles of net neutrality , and faced protests worldwide, including India, where such schemes were banned. Mitchell Baker coined the term equal rating for a type of subsidised access to the internet, where the end user is free to choose the content or service to access with the free data. “A brought to you by” overlay, or an ad supported subscription to data services are examples of equal rating schemes. Once users have internet access, they can freely surf any portion of the internet, without the subsidy provider interfering with what sites are accessed. To encourage equal rating solutions, Mozilla has announced the Equal Rating Innovation Challenge . Mozilla is splitting the $250,000 prize pool in three ways to encourage new solutions for the implementation of equal rated internet access. The best overall solution, with the key metric being scalability, a runner up, and a innovative idea with a high risk but chances of a big payoff are going to get portions of the prize pool. Submissions for the challenge are open from 1 November 2016 to 6 January 2017. After the open submissions, 5 selected teams will be mentored to improve on their solutions. Semifinalists will have to demonstrate their solutions to a panel of judges, which will be followed by a round of public voting. The strongest ideas will win the challenge. Those with solutions can submit them here .