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

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

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

Facebook's 'Free Basics' gives access to sites such as Wikipedia or AccuWeather, in addition to the social network's own app but does not allow access to many services such as YouTube, Gmail, Google or Twitter.

Trai also has expressed its disappointment for Facebook's inability to reach out to the users who responded via missed calls to support 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 users 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 users, Trai has again requested Facebook vide letter dated January 7, 2016 to confirm whether Facebook has communicated Trai's message to the users 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 users, 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 users 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 user sending responses for free basics till January 7.

"It appears that you have not been able to convey the message to your users (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 net neutrality stirred across the country after Airtel decided to charge separately for Internet-based calls in December 2014 but withdrew it later after people protested. The debate heated up after Airtel launched free Internet platform Airtel Zero and later Facebook also launched its Internet.Org platform, renamed as Free Basics.