Communications Bill at a glance

Channel 5 could be bought by Rupert Murdoch

When it was first published, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell promised the draft Communications Bill would create a regulatory regime which is "light in touch yet effective".

Here are the main points:

Rules preventing ownership of a single ITV will be scrapped

Large newspaper groups will now be able to buy a stake in Channel 5

Newspaper groups controlling more than 20% of the UK market will not be allowed "significant stakes" in ITV

Rules preventing non-European broadcaster ownership will be reformed

'Public interest'

The new Office for Communications (Ofcom) will replace five current regulators - the Independent Television Commission, Radio Authority, Oftel, Broadcasting Standards Commission and Radiocommunications Agency

It will set up a "content board" to ensure the "public interest" is represented in television and radio programmes

The BBC's governors will retain most of their regulatory role, although Ofcom will deal with basic standards as well as public service broadcasting quotas - and can fine the BBC for breaking standards

A "consumer panel" will advise Ofcom

Joint ownership

Radio groups will now be able to own more than one national commercial radio licence

Rule changes will also allow the consolidation of local commercial radio - there must be at least two operators and the BBC in areas with three or more stations

Restrictions on joint ownership of TV and radio interests would also end

Firms with a local newspaper monopoly - such as Trinity Mirror - will not also be able to hold the local ITV licence

Each local area must have "three voices" - radio, television and newspapers in different hands competing with the BBC

Powers will be held in reserve to ensure public service channels are broadcast on all platforms

'Spectrum trading'

Criminal penalties would no longer apply to newspaper mergers

The bill removes the requirement for licensing of telecommunications systems (removing about 400 licences) and replaces it with a new regulatory regime for electronic communications networks

Introduces dealing of radio frequencies, known as "spectrum trading"

Public service broadcasters will have greater freedom to regulate themselves in certain areas