1. A system for bandwidth management in a communications network, the communication network having a plurality of network conditions and including connections with a plurality of service-specific bandwidth managers, the system comprising: a high-level bandwidth manager including at least a control system, and an interface for providing at least one of policy information and goal information to the control system; a control interface to each of the service-specific bandwidth managers, each control interface providing an ability for the high-level bandwidth manager to control at least one aspect of the associated service-specific bandwidth managers, each service-specific bandwidth managers affecting at least one associated network condition; at least one observation reporting element associated with each of the service-specific bandwidth managers, each observation reporting element providing associated ongoing observation information to the high-level bandwidth manager, associated ongoing observation information responsive to at least one network condition affected by the associated service-specific bandwidth manager; wherein the control system is provided with a plurality of feedback inputs that are responsive to associated ongoing observation information from each of the associated observation reporting elements; wherein the control system uses said plurality of feedback inputs, together with the at least one policy information and goal information, to produce at least one element of outgoing control information, wherein the at least one element of outgoing control information is conveyed to at least one of the service-specific bandwidth managers using the associated control interface.