Advocacy statements

IT for Change made a submission to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI) in response to the call for comments on the Consultation Paper on Proliferation of Broadband through Public Wi-Fi Networks. The submission pointed out the need for adopting last mile connectivity approaches that encourage community based networks, including those owned and run by self government institutions.

ITfC has made submissions to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in response to the two consultation papers it released, one on free data and another a more general pre-consultation on net neutrality.

The article discusses how the digital has triggered a transformation where digital companies are taking over traditional sectors and have established a monopoly in those sectors, becoming powerful enough to challenge traditional state controls.

Read the article here.

The Telecom Regulating Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper to gauge public sentiment over differential pricing of data services. The paper evoked intense reactions in the media especially on Facebook's 'Free Basics' initiative with Reliance, which was widely publicised. You can read our submission to TRAI here.

Parminder Jeet Singh, IT for Change, India, presented a draft proposal at the Russian Internet Governance Forum's panel on BRICS, for instituting a formal framework of cooperation on digital economy, and also setting up a research centre in this area.

The Telecom Regulating Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper to test waters and the public sentiment over regulating the at-present loosely defined OTT (over-the-top) services. One of the most important issues in the paper was of net neutrality and its various pros and cons. The paper saw intense public engagement with media and politicians pitching in with pro net neutrality views, and telcos putting out defensive views on their side of the story.

IT for Change provided its comments to the Committee on Net Neutrality of the Government of India's Department of Telecommunication. There are below and also enclosed. The submission highlights 'equality of opportunity' more than consumer's freedom of choice as the key principle underlying a net neutral Internet. It also goes into the problem of 'zero rating'. Further is explains how net neutrality is not a technical principle requiring an absolute technically equal treatment of all bytes.

The Post 2015 Women’s Coalition is an international network of feminist, women’s rights, women’s development, grassroots and social justice organizations working, through advocacy and movement building, to challenge and re-frame the global development agenda.

Anita Gurumurthy, Executive Director, IT for Change, has been closely in dialogue with the Women's Major Group for the UN Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals , urging for the inclusion of information society concerns in the SDG discussions.

In June 2014, the High Power Committee examining amendments to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993 invited IT for Change to provide inputs on the strategic use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), for strengthening Panchayat Raj Institutions. IT for Change, in its submission to the Committee, outlined key recommendations for shaping policy and programmatic directions in this area, building upon insights from the work of the Prakriye field centre.