TRAI extends time for responding to Free Data consultation paper

TRAI just extended the time period for submitting responses to it’s consultation paper on Free Data. This was a reaction to requests by stakeholders to provide more time. Previously, the comments were supposed to be closed on June 16, and the counter-comments were to be closed by June 30. Under the revised schedule, the comments will be closed on June 30, and the counter-comments will be closed by July 14. Interested parties can send in their responses to broadbandtrai@gmail.com. TRAI has been trying to figure out a way to give unrestricted free internet access to increase usage of the Internet. TRAI issued a consultation paper on Free Data for this reason, for proposals on mechanisms that would allow telecom service providers to give free data to consumers. TRAI wants to find a way to do this without violating the principles of net neutrality as laid down by the regulation that banned differential pricing for applications and services. Savetheinternet.in has launched a hacktivism campaign again, representing the views of the majority of the consumers. A number of pricing options are suggested to telecom service providers, to allow more users to easily start using broadband. These include offering lower speeds for free, with tiered pricing for higher speeds or freemium subscriptions that allow an initial amount of data to be consumed for free. TRAI has however requested users not to spam them with template responses.