1. Communications Bill Neil Buckley

2. What is happening?  Joint DTI/DCMS Bill team  Instructions to Counsel are being drafted  Government said in the House of Lords that a draft Bill would be published next Spring

3. What is Oftel seeking?  Single sectoral regulatory framework that will deliver the best deal for the consumer  Maintenance of ex ante rules to complement the Competition Act  Rules to promote competition by enabling access to the networks and gateways of operators with market power  Rules to ensure universal service and protection of consumers

4. What should stakeholders be thinking about?  Stakeholder input into the Bill  The legal framework for the regulation of networks/services by Ofcom  The consumer panel  Co-regulatory initiatives including codes of practice

5. An example of an initiative being taken forward in conjunction with the Bill  “We challenge the industry to come forward, even before legislation, with an effective code or codes of practice for service delivery, and with effective means of redress where service standards are not met.”  “There is no need for the industry to wait for legislation: existing initiatives could be developed towards an effective code or codes covering all aspects of service delivery (connections, installations, prices, contracts etc).”

6. Stakeholder input to Ofcom  Will Ofcom need a panel like this one?  How will industry players interact with Ofcom?  What form should the consumer panel take?  Should the consumer panel include businesses - all of them or just some of them?  How should the devolved nations and regions be represented?  What about elderly and disabled people?  How can stakeholders contribute to the development of Ofcom?