Access to the information society takes place at various levels and encompasses not only users’ technical access to the internet, but also people’s ability to use this medium and integrate it into their daily media consumption and everyday routines. The access of information and content providers to the internet or to specific internet platforms is also relevant in this context. This report deals, in the broadest sense, with the relationship between media innovation and media regulation. The central questions are: What role do government regulations and measures play in a media landscape that is increasingly characterised by convergence and in which the internet is becoming ever more significant? What fundamental policy-shaping potential and options are available to policymakers? How can the theoretical and practical potential of the new media for innovation be realised? With regard to the overarching theme of access, three topics were identified as particularly relevant, which consequently run through the entire report: these are broadband, convergence and leading media. For the topic of ‘broadband’, a comparison of six countries was carried out to illustrate the range of government strategies for supporting network expansion and the spread of the internet among the population. The topics of ‘convergence’ and ‘key media’ were each addressed in the analysis of development dynamics within the media sectors of the press, broadcasting and the internet.