Net Neutrality: Making Children Aware
I was sitting in the park after a vigorous jog, cooling my heels, literally. It was a balmy evening , unusually pleasant for March which otherwise is hot as Hades. The park was the scene of hectic activity. Kids were running around, shouting with glee. A clutch of old men were huddled together around a game of cards. Fat women were huffing and puffing with all their might on the jogging track determined to lose weight faster and more than Mrs. Jones. Normal everyday life.
I was sitting in the park after a vigorous jog, cooling my heels, literally. It was a balmy evening , unusually pleasant for March which otherwise is hot as Hades. The park was the scene of hectic activity. Kids were running around, shouting with glee. A clutch of old men were huddled together around a game of cards. Fat women were huffing and puffing with all their might on the jogging track determined to lose weight faster and more than Mrs. Jones. Normal everyday life.
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<strong>Net</strong> <strong>Neutrality</strong>: <strong>Making</strong> <strong>Children</strong> <strong>Aware</strong><br />
I was sitting in the park after a vigorous jog, cooling my heels, literally. It was a balmy evening , unusually<br />
pleasant for March which otherwise is hot as Hades. The park was the scene of hectic activity. Kids were running<br />
around, shouting with glee. A clutch of old men were huddled together around a game of cards. Fat women were<br />
huffing and puffing with all their might on the jogging track determined to lose weight faster and more than Mrs.<br />
Jones. Normal everyday life.<br />
On the bench next to me were two teenage girls sitting cozily chatting. One of them had an earnest look on her<br />
face, her hair askew and wore frumpy clothes. The other was wearing short and smart clothes, hair tinted at the<br />
edge. In good old days when we were not all that bothered by politically correct references, I’d have called them<br />
the Bimbo and the Blue stocking. Of course now we cannot stereotype people like that, it being unfair and all that.<br />
But we are amongst friends. Who is telling?<br />
Anyways their voices floated towards me. Not that I meant to eavesdrop. They were not whispering either.<br />
“Have you mailed TRAI in support of <strong>Net</strong> <strong>Neutrality</strong>?” Piped a girl. This must be the Blue Stocking.<br />
“<strong>Net</strong> What?” asked the Other. Typical Bimbo response, I thought sagely.<br />
Although I had been reading about it cursorily, I immediately googled net neutrality on my smart phone. It was<br />
defined as the principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications<br />
regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.<br />
Fair enough. Was there any other way?<br />
Apparently not. A cursory search on Wikipedia shows a history of struggle between the Internet Service Providers<br />
(ISP) and the rule enforcement authorities in Europe and America.<br />
Many ISPs tried a concept of zero-rating, wherein companies will reimburse data use from certain addresses,<br />
favoring use of those services. So the Fat Cows that pay the ISP handsomely rule the roost. Those who don’t, die<br />
an online death as people prefer not to access them.<br />
In India there are no laws enforcing net neutrality. Taking advantage many companies have started flouting the net<br />
neutrality for more revenue. Now what they are doing was unethical but not illegal. Reacting on this, Telecom<br />
Regulatory Authority of India published a paper on OTT services and sought public opinion. So far more than<br />
1,000,000 e-mails and online petitions have been received by TRAI.<br />
This must be what the girls were talking about.<br />
Vindicating my thought, I heard the girl speak, “We have to make ourselves heard. The government is asking our<br />
opinion on net neutrality and we must give it. People like you who do not think of the future and are just wrapped<br />
up in petty advantages, do so much harm…”<br />
That is so true. We cannot shrug this or any such issue saying its none of our concern. It is going to affect us and<br />
our children tremendously. Our actions today will chart the shape of the days to come. These young girls are
thinking of the future and we adults remain indifferent. We should be firmly resolving to actively participate in<br />
this and other important issues concerning our environment and societal status.<br />
The girl’s rant was still going on. “Look it’s not always about the money. ..” how profound. Amused, I turned to<br />
observe the girls. I froze in utter shock.<br />
The well turned out girl, whom I had labelled the Bimbo was standing all agitated on an imaginary soap box, and<br />
speaking with great fervor about the need of the hour to protect and preserve the <strong>Net</strong> for generations to come.<br />
While the other frumpy girl, whose indifferent looks had made me label her the Blue Stocking crediting her with<br />
more brains than she had was listening open-mouthed.<br />
So a walk in the park taught me two lessons.<br />
We have the world, as it is, just for safekeeping for the generations to come. It is our duty to make it a better place<br />
when we leave it. So protecting the environment, the tigers, and the <strong>Net</strong> is essential for our own children. It would<br />
be better if we leave a legacy of a less depleted ozone layer, more flora and fauna and a neutral internet than<br />
crores of rupees and property.<br />
The second lesson is that you must never judge a book by its cover. A person’s looks or way of dressing doesn’t<br />
speak about their ideas and thoughts. It is time to ditch the stereotypes. Also see more info @<br />
http://www.parentedge.in
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