This is the true face of the mobile revolution. This picture has been clicked from inside the care; the guy is using his mobile to stay in touch with his distant family. We need more success stories like these.
Opening up another salvo, I am planning to file another application against BSNL this time.
The objective is the ask them the following:
1) The cost of providing access to Broadband to a customer’s premises. The idea is to know as to why we are stuck with 256 kbps speeds and what needs to be done about it. So the question that is going to be framed is :
What is the cost of Home Unlimited 256 kbps plan? How has the price been arrived at using what methodology of calculation? Kindly provide the break up of the costs.
2) I have been facing frequent disconnections on my DSL link and it is frustrating to have sustained download speeds. I wish to know the telephone line parameters of the provided connection.
3) I am also not happy with the type of modem provided. I want to know from them as to why I can’t have the choice of my own modem since they seem to actively discourage from installing another modem. This smacks of anti competitive tactics and restricts the choice to the customer.
4) They provide no end to end solution to those on Unix platform. Why has Microsoft Windows been chosen as the “default” operating system? As a Public Service Provider, they are not supposed to invest in a platform that is closed source but rather open source systems.
It is definitely going to be a long drawn affair but then it’s worth it.
The best part is that it can be interacted through letters and I am going to file it today itself. I am very keen to know about the break up of the costs incurred because TRAI has not been able to answer it. Those shit heads call themselves as “regulators” without realizing that their actions are actually thwarting the spread of broadband.
As per the previous post, it is clear that they have sought to “play down” my response and call it as “hypothetical question”. If it doesn’t smack of playing favorites, then what else does? It’s the folks from the same department who are trying to cover each others ass!
I am terribly disappointed by their response. Hypothetical? My foot. I had asked pointed questions and everything here is in public domain. Even the response received from them which I got scanned and put it up here. To say that TRAI is full of assholes, is truly an understatement.
I was not even called for the appeal which is unfair. This case was decided “ex parte” which is not called for. Indeed, it is my privilege to attend the hearing; it is my call (as per the law) whether or not I need to go their dung infested shit holes.
I am not even surprised that they have not even bothered to go in the nature of the appeal but rather dismiss it as “fucking hypothetical”. What was the b**** even thinking about? Is it possible to quell the public opinion just because these motherfuckers are bedfellows with the vested corporate interests? What the FUCK is the Government of India doing as we all get raped for the public convenience that truly belongs to us?
I am sorry to say but we have juvenile delinquents hired as “regulators” who are not even fit to stand tall on their two feet but then it’s too much to ask for these creepy crawly lowly beings. They ought not forget that EVERYTHING about them is out in the public domain; although it is not a “personal fight” but based on their responses, I might even be compelled to ask them for their qualification, the reason they have been appointed for this job and their merits.
The second appeal, of course, is now the CIC, New Delhi and thats where I am headed. In order to maintain the transparency, each of the exchange of the email, the response received and the action taken would all be in pubic domain, that is, here on this blog.
May I also hasten to add that the frequency of posts has dwindled down in recent times because I am very busy with the academic pursuits and it is difficult to move ahead full steam with the present case as well as do justice to this blog. Nevertheless, I am expecting some response from CIC and since the courthouses are open for all, in the event that this case lands up there, I invite you all to present your side of the story.
I shall keep you informed via this blog or through the forums. Stay in touch and I am even more determined to take the fight to the finish.
This is the first and second page of the response received from CIC, New Delhi today. There is more to it; my reactions are in the following post.
This has been an interesting decade for sure. If we were to keep this in retrospect, I would stared in wide eye wonder had I known that I would someday work on 1Mbps unlimited broadband. This has definitely come after a big fight but for sure, there has been a lot of resistance from entrenched lobbies to change.
The asshole of the year undoubtedly goes to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. For their persistence in making inane rules, for sleeping on with the telecom lobbies, being roughshod by the Department of Telecom and I should question it’s very existence. Given the framework within which it operates, it could have easily questioned the authority of the “minister” in charge for bypassing and challenging it’s authority for everything. The imminent launch of mobile number portability was delayed; for very obvious reasons because the entrenched players have a greater say in the lobby or it must have been a part of the deal to allow new players while the mobile number portability could be delayed based on whims and fancies of established operators. We would never know the real reason but TRAI has been found wanting for lack of action.
As a regulator, it is naive to assume that it has “unprecedented powers”; on the contrary, it has not been able to exercise it’s own powers the way it should act on customers behalf. I remember the time when I had dragged Vodafone to the regulator and made it work. But the compliance reports were never made public. At the same time, it has given me valuable lessons in case I need to drag TRAI to act. The best way is to send them a notice while you complain to your telecom operator. Since most of the operators never respond even to repeated emails, it’s best to file a RTI application and know the status of the compliance reports filed by the operators- the nature of the complaint received from the customer, action taken report on the same and how the case was closed. It is a mandatory requirement but so far TRAI has not made anything public.
The wheels of justice churn slowly in this country. So does the thinking of the populace as well as the elected representatives. The idea is simple. To keep the population under duress, to ignore the idea for reforms and let the status quo remain unchanged. Or else, the Government which seems to “act” cannot really resort to extra judicial or extra constitutional ways and means.
In any case, this is the end of the calendar year 2009 and I do sign off with a heavy heart. The efforts in 2010 would be directed towards a bit of activism given the fact that there are untold academic pressures to “be up to it” 
As per the media reports, the mobile number portability is delayed because BSNL and MTNL were not ready for it.
In any case, I am toying with the idea of filing a second RTI application but my attention is fixated on academics and it would be impossible to keep a track of the same. In case anyone among the readers feels motivated enough, please let me know through feedback on drapuri (at) gmail (dot) com and I would happily guide the way out including help with drafting of the application.
Trust me, you’d feel very happy with the process to move the sarkari machinery in motion to respond to you. The idea is to inundate these idiots with RTI applications and make them realize that their own regulations are being flouted.
The context of the RTI application should include pointed questions towards mobile number portability, relevant orders to the same, procedure outlined, whether the telecom operators are filing compliance reports, copies of those reports, penalties to be imposed on operators who delay, cause of delays and what action has TRAI taken to ensure compliance with the erring operators.
This is important because TRAI’s own rules are being flouted, mobile number portability would have benefited the incumbent operators and the biggest losers would have been the Government Operators. With delays in capacity expansion, BSNL is already loosing market share. But then, who cares?
The entry of private operators hasn’t really shaken up the market. With perhaps per second billing as the highlight of the year, there is nothing else to speak of. In any case, it would not result in “drastic savings” because of the complex interconnect and termination charges. We don’t really know how we are being scammed.
A further highlight of the proposed RTI application can be the break up of the call rates and the scope for reduction of the same. The operators are dependent on voice revenues to a large extent; data and VAS accounts for a growing percentage of revenues, but as per media reports, not good enough to impact the bottomline in any significant manner. Therefore, the scramble is on to protect the cash cow; at any cost because the customers can be MILKED.
The big question really is: How much profit is really profitable?
After receiving no reply from the morons, I have filed a second appeal with CIC, New Delhi. The best part is that it’s free, it’s as easy as it can get by typing in the required information in the drop down boxes and all you have to upload is the copy of the letters sent to the earlier PIO.
This is my first experience with Right to Information Act and has been a learning one too. The excitement is palpable because I can feel that there is some delivery of justice at the ground level. If required, I would be going down personally for the hearing, press upon them the need for a better broadband, force TRAI to eat crow and for once listen to the consumers to act proactively.
For long, huge amount of public funds have been spent on supporting these morons in office. Where is the bloody accountability?
I am awaiting response from CIC regarding the pendancy of my application and it’s status. Once it is accepted, subject to the approval, I guess the next step would be to screw the PIO and his boss regarding the denial of information. Let’s see what happens!
I shall duly update the whole thing here.
