In this issue, we look at the Bill in detail and explain how it will make its way through Parliament.

Both consumers and the industry will benefit from the new approach that the Government has outlined.

By minimising regulatory burdens and providing consistency across all communications networks, the new regime will allow for greater flexibility in a changing world.

OFCOM will be critical to the success of the new framework. It needs to be a world class regulator informed by the successes of all five existing regulators.

OFCOM must be ready to start work as soon as powers and responsibilities are transferred to the new organisation. The post of Chairman has now been advertised and the search for a Chief Executive will begin when the Board is announced later in the year.

The five regulators are already working together to prepare the ground for the incoming board. Working with a team of consultants appointed by the DTI and DCMS, the five organisations are looking at their processes and cultures to feed into the structure of OFCOM.

Oftel recently began the first project to implement the policies in the Bill with its consultation on the new authorisation regime that will replace the current licences.

There now needs to be a wide-ranging debate on OFCOM's duties, governance and priorities involving industry, consumers and Government.

As part of the debate, we feature a guest article from the Consumers' Association, looking at what the Bill will mean for consumers.