Plea to ensure net neutrality made in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: A strong plea was today made in the Lok Sabha for ensuring net neutrality with demands that the recent consultation paper brought out by TRAI should be scrapped and attempts by certain telecom and internet service providers be scuttled.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, M B Rajesh (CPI-M) alleged that the consultation paper brought out by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India was "blatantly supporting" assault on net neutrality by telecom and internet service providers.

He said some telecom and internet providers were trying to form a cartel to kill net neutrality and such attempts should be scuttled.

Concerns over net neutrality could be gauged from the fact that the TRAI has got a million emails since it has come out with the consultation paper, he said, adding MPs are also getting thousands of emails in the matter.

Noting that the Competition Commission of India was going into the whole issue, he said it was time government make its stand clear and declare net as a "public utility".

Several opposition members wanted to have their say on the issue.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said a notice should be given for a half-an-hour discussion and she would allow it.