Rules restricting media ownership are set to be ditched in a bid to increase competition, parliament has been told.

As expected, the department of culture, media and sport's long-awaited communications bill will end limits on media giants' ownership of some channels.

Forum Response: Consumers' Association

Allan Williams, senior policy advisor with Consumers' Association, told ePolitix.com: "At long last MPs will have the opportunity to deliberate the government's plans for fundamental communications reform.

"Within this legislation, it is essential that the interests of consumers are protected and safeguarding the role of the Consumer Panel within Ofcom will be one of the best ways of achieving this."Of course the devil will be in the detail and we await the publication of the actual bill to see if it lives up to the pro-consumers rhetoric of the earlier white paper and draft bill."

Forum Response: Royal National Institute for the Blind

A spokesman for the RNIB told ePolitix.com: "Our main focus will be on the Communications Bill which, in draft form, failed to tackle the exclusion of blind and partially sighted people from digital broadcasting.

"We will be campaigning for higher audio description targets for digital TV, regulation to ensure blind and partially sighted people can actually receive audio-described programmes on all platforms and future proofed provisions to deliver access to electronic programme guides and digital teletext services for blind, partially sighted and deafblind people."

National Consumer Council

A spokesman for the NCC told ePolitix.com:"The National Consumer Council (NCC) welcomes the parliamentary programme announced in the Queen's Speech, which we hope will further improve the rights of consumers. We particularly welcome the inclusion of Communications and Water Bills and look forward to their publication. W"We will be closely following their progress through Parliament. It is essential to ensure that the consumer perspective is integrated within all relevant legislation and that the consumer voice is heard during the progress of legislation through Parliament - we will be working to ensure that this happens."