CNN :
The company urged its users to express their support for the stripped-down “Free Basics” web service by contacting the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Nearly two million people have done just that. But the regulator, which is considering whether the service is legal, says the messages of support are not helpful.
It says the vast majority are identical responses that “do not address the specific questions” raised by the agency about net neutrality.
The regulator has asked Facebook and its users to submit more substantive messages.
The Facebook (FB, Tech30) campaign comes after TRAI asked Reliance Communications, a large telecoms firm, to stop providing “Free Basics” pending its ruling.
“Free Basics,” formerly known as Internet.org, offers limited Internet access to consumers who cannot afford a broadband connection or smartphone data plan.
The service provides information on health, travel, jobs and local government. By offering a limited number of websites and services, and transmitting as little data as possible, costs are minimized. Facebook is one of the apps included in the service. Others include AccuWeather, Ask.com, Baby Center, Bing, Dictionary.com and Wikipedia, among a handful of others.
The company urged its users to express their support for the stripped-down “Free Basics” web service by contacting the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India.
Nearly two million people have done just that. But the regulator, which is considering whether the service is legal, says the messages of support are not helpful.
It says the vast majority are identical responses that “do not address the specific questions” raised by the agency about net neutrality.
The regulator has asked Facebook and its users to submit more substantive messages.
The Facebook (FB, Tech30) campaign comes after TRAI asked Reliance Communications, a large telecoms firm, to stop providing “Free Basics” pending its ruling.
“Free Basics,” formerly known as Internet.org, offers limited Internet access to consumers who cannot afford a broadband connection or smartphone data plan.
The service provides information on health, travel, jobs and local government. By offering a limited number of websites and services, and transmitting as little data as possible, costs are minimized. Facebook is one of the apps included in the service. Others include AccuWeather, Ask.com, Baby Center, Bing, Dictionary.com and Wikipedia, among a handful of others.
