Government yesterday began reaching out to all companies providing electronic communications in Bermuda — and the general public — to take part in a pre-consultation process on industry reform that will finally pave the way for bundling of TV, internet and phone services in Bermuda.Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean said yesterday the new Electronic Communications Act sets up a framework that will “promote increased competition, stimulate product and service innovations and widen consumer choices in this critical sector”.He said the pre-consultation process was “designed to move the electronic communications industry closer to full alignment with 21st century best practices and strengthen Bermuda’s reputation as a customer friendly international business jurisdiction”.Under reform, current public telecommunications licences will be converted to Individual Communications Operating Licences (ICOLs). Completion of this process will be a critical step towards implementing the Electronic Communications Act in January 2013, Mr Bean said.“Every firm in Bermuda that provides ‘electronic communications’ — a term that covers a broad range of telecommunications, internet and subscription audio-visual networks and services — needs to take this opportunity to learn, raise questions and seek a full understanding of the potential impact of the new regulatory framework on their business,” he added.“This includes not only current licence holders but also, for example, hotels, guest houses, hospitals, alarm companies, and internet cafes, as well as ‘closed user groups’, companies with private networks and private pay telephone providers. “A public forum on this subject to discuss the preliminary recommendations contained in the pre-consultation documents will be held on Friday, October 19 from 9.00am to 12.30pm at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.Participation by industry stakeholders as well as the general public is welcome, Mr Bean said. There will be three separate pre-consultations covering the following issues:— ICOLS: The scope and form of Individual Communications Operating Licences that will be converted from the existing Public Telecommunications Services and subscription radio and television licensees.— Class Licences and Exemptions: The scope and form of electronic communications services that will be authorised under a class licence framework or be granted licence exemptions— Market Definition and Significant Market Power: Economic analysis of the relevant markets and assessment of the need for regulation.Copies of these three documents will be available on the Department of Telecommunications website at www.mtec.bm. The deadline for the submission of public and industry responses to the two licensing pre-consultations is November 14. And the deadline is November 21 for the Market Review pre-consultation.