This text explains how telecommunications regulation works on the inside. It provides an insight into the dynamic process of regulation in the United Kingdom - a pioneer in the development of regulatory institutions and practices and includes a re-evaluation of key regulatory issues.

Part I: Introduction1. Ducts, poles and holes in the ground: the inner world of telecommunications regulation 2. The archaeology of a regulatory regime Part II: Culture and regulation3. Peculiar place, peculiar culture: organising and structuring the regulatory office Part III: The absolutist myth in regulation4. 'Oftel c'est moi': the role of the individual DGT 5. Oftel in space: interdependence and accountability Part IV: Decision-making6. Regulatory decision styles 7. Price controls and numbering administration: Cartesian-bureaucratic issue-processing episodes 8. Regulating anti-competitive conduct and not regulating hotel phone pricing: adhocratic-chaotic issue-processing episodes 9. Complaint-handling, licence enforcement and anti-competitive conduct II: bargaining-diplomatic issue-processing episodes Part V: Lessons learnt10. Regulatory science, regulatory policy and possible regulatory futures Epilogue - OFTEL's fourth life-stage? New director general, New Labour, new rules of the game Glossary Bibliography