Sat Jan 04 07:31:17 UTC 2025: ## US Court Rejects Net Neutrality, Underscoring India’s Different Approach
**New Delhi, January 4, 2025** – A US appeals court ruling against net neutrality has highlighted the contrasting approaches taken by the US and India on this crucial internet issue. The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Federal Communications Commission’s attempt to enforce net neutrality, the principle of equal treatment for all internet traffic.
This decision contrasts sharply with India’s stance. While the US debate centered on tech companies’ concerns about telecom providers charging them for increased bandwidth, India’s net neutrality battle stemmed from concerns about discriminatory data pricing by telecom companies. In 2014, before Reliance Jio’s market entry, Bharti Airtel attempted to charge more for calls on apps like Viber, sparking a public outcry. This led to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) banning discriminatory data pricing and incorporating net neutrality into licensing regulations.
R.S. Sharma, former TRAI chairperson, emphasized the importance of an “unbundled” internet, preventing telecom operators from acting as gatekeepers. He dismissed recent attempts by Indian telcos to charge large internet companies for network usage as a “useless” debate, arguing that such fees are essentially disguised bandwidth charges.
While India has made strides in net neutrality, challenges remain. A 2022 proposal for a multi-stakeholder advisory body was rejected by the DoT. Meanwhile, the US, after reversing Obama-era net neutrality rules under the Trump administration, saw them reinstated under President Biden. The ongoing US legal battle and the contrasting Indian experience underscore the complex and evolving nature of net neutrality globally.
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