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Trai Disputes Facebook's Claimed Number of Responses to Consultation Paper

Trai Disputes Facebook's Claimed Number of Responses to Consultation Paper 4v5y1m

By Press Trust of India | Updated: 13 January 2016 11:58 IST

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In yet another face-off, Facebook and Trai are sparring over responses to a consultation paper on differential pricing for data services submitted via the social networking giant's campaign with the regulator saying only a tenth of responses claimed were actually received.

Releasing number of responses received through 'facebookmail.com and @freebasics.in', Trai said only 1.89 million had responded against Facebook's January 6 claim of more than 11 million ing its plan to make parts of the Internet available for free under 'free basics'. 553u6a

(Also see: Net Neutrality Debate: Trai Gets 80 Percent Replies via Facebook)

Facebook's 'Twitter.

Trai also has expressed its disappointment for Facebook's inability to reach out to the s who responded via missed calls to free basics.

The regulator had on January 1 raised doubts over Facebook doing enough to reach out to all the respondents and asked if specific questions raised in the consultation paper were asked. Facebook responded to this on January 6.

(Also see: Facebook Launches Email Campaign to Save Free Basics)

Trai Tuesday said that though Facebook had responded on January 6 stating that it had reached out to the s who responded through Facebook, but also expressed its inability to reach out to the people who responded via a missed call, as they do not have their email ids.

"Since there was no clarity on 'whether Facebook has conveyed Trai's message to their s, Trai has again requested Facebook vide letter dated January 7, 2016 to confirm whether Facebook has communicated Trai's message to the s and the manner in which the same was conveyed," Trai said.

The Authority said Facebook has not responded to the January 7 letter till date.

Keen to tap the world's largest offline population, Facebook is offering Free Basics to provide net connectivity.

But critics says it violates the principal of net neutrality by offering some services for free, giving them an advantage over competitors. Also, Facebook acts as a gatekeeper for Free Basics, permitting some services, while rejecting others.

(Also see: 81 Percent Citizens Against Facebook's Free Basics: Survey)

In the January 7 letter regarding the s, who responded through missed calls, Trai said, "As those responses had come through Facebook's platform, it is expected that you would find ways to communicate Trai's message to such s as well. Even if you did not have their emails, you could certainly communicate the message through SMS text or other means."

Trai further said it has not received even a single revised response from any sending responses for free basics till January 7.

"It appears that you have not been able to convey the message to your s (whose mail ids were with you) in time," Trai said in the letter.

Trai is holding consultation before framing up of recommendations for net neutrality rules. The telecom operators too have favoured differential pricing for data services.

Facebook's Free Basics, a zero rating platform, allows access to content or application hosted on it for free in partnership with telecom operator.

A debate on Airtel Zero and later Facebook also launched its Internet.Org platform, renamed as Free Basics.

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