diff --git a/channels/__init__.py b/channels/__init__.py
index dde140b..f37e0ef 100644
--- a/channels/__init__.py
+++ b/channels/__init__.py
@@ -1,21 +1,7 @@
 __version__ = "0.8"
 
-# Load backends, using settings if available (else falling back to a default)
-DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND = "default"
-
-from .backends import BackendManager  # isort:skip
-from django.conf import settings  # isort:skip
-
-channel_backends = BackendManager(
-    getattr(settings, "CHANNEL_BACKENDS", {
-        DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND: {
-            "BACKEND": "channels.backends.memory.InMemoryChannelBackend",
-            "ROUTING": {},
-        }
-    })
-)
-
 default_app_config = 'channels.apps.ChannelsConfig'
+DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER = 'default'
 
-# Promote channel to top-level (down here to avoid circular import errs)
+from .asgi import channel_layers  # NOQA isort:skip
 from .channel import Channel, Group  # NOQA isort:skip
diff --git a/channels/adapters.py b/channels/adapters.py
index add1339..5e5f020 100644
--- a/channels/adapters.py
+++ b/channels/adapters.py
@@ -1,29 +1,9 @@
 import functools
 
-from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
 from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
-
 from channels import Channel
 
 
-class UrlConsumer(object):
-    """
-    Dispatches channel HTTP requests into django's URL system.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self):
-        self.handler = BaseHandler()
-        self.handler.load_middleware()
-
-    def __call__(self, message):
-        request = HttpRequest.channel_decode(message.content)
-        try:
-            response = self.handler.get_response(request)
-        except HttpResponse.ResponseLater:
-            return
-        message.reply_channel.send(response.channel_encode())
-
-
 def view_producer(channel_name):
     """
     Returns a new view function that actually writes the request to a channel
diff --git a/channels/asgi.py b/channels/asgi.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3bb7ac3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/channels/asgi.py
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import django
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.utils.module_loading import import_string
+
+from .consumer_registry import ConsumerRegistry
+
+
+class InvalidChannelLayerError(ValueError):
+    pass
+
+
+class ChannelLayerManager(object):
+    """
+    Takes a settings dictionary of backends and initialises them on request.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.backends = {}
+
+    @property
+    def configs(self):
+        # Lazy load settings so we can be imported
+        return getattr(settings, "CHANNEL_LAYERS", {})
+
+    def make_backend(self, name):
+        # Load the backend class
+        try:
+            backend_class = import_string(self.configs[name]['BACKEND'])
+        except KeyError:
+            raise InvalidChannelLayerError("No BACKEND specified for %s" % name)
+        except ImportError:
+            raise InvalidChannelLayerError(
+                "Cannot import BACKEND %r specified for %s" % (self.configs[name]['BACKEND'], name)
+            )
+        # Get routing
+        try:
+            routing = self.configs[name]['ROUTING']
+        except KeyError:
+            raise InvalidChannelLayerError("No ROUTING specified for %s" % name)
+        # Initialise and pass config
+        asgi_layer = backend_class(**self.configs[name].get("CONFIG", {}))
+        return ChannelLayerWrapper(
+            channel_layer=asgi_layer,
+            alias=name,
+            routing=routing,
+        )
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        if key not in self.backends:
+            self.backends[key] = self.make_backend(key)
+        return self.backends[key]
+
+
+class ChannelLayerWrapper(object):
+    """
+    Top level channel layer wrapper, which contains both the ASGI channel
+    layer object as well as alias and routing information specific to Django.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, channel_layer, alias, routing):
+        self.channel_layer = channel_layer
+        self.alias = alias
+        self.routing = routing
+        self.registry = ConsumerRegistry(self.routing)
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name):
+        return getattr(self.channel_layer, name)
+
+
+def get_channel_layer(alias="default"):
+    """
+    Returns the raw ASGI channel layer for this project.
+    """
+    django.setup(set_prefix=False)
+    return channel_layers[alias].channel_layer
+
+
+# Default global instance of the channel layer manager
+channel_layers = ChannelLayerManager()
diff --git a/channels/channel.py b/channels/channel.py
index 33112d8..3d28a92 100644
--- a/channels/channel.py
+++ b/channels/channel.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import random
-import string
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-from channels import DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND, channel_backends
+from django.utils import six
+from channels import DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER, channel_layers
 
 
 class Channel(object):
@@ -16,15 +16,17 @@ class Channel(object):
     "default" one by default.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, name, alias=DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND, channel_backend=None):
+    def __init__(self, name, alias=DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER, channel_layer=None):
         """
         Create an instance for the channel named "name"
         """
+        if isinstance(name, six.binary_type):
+            name = name.decode("ascii")
         self.name = name
-        if channel_backend:
-            self.channel_backend = channel_backend
+        if channel_layer:
+            self.channel_layer = channel_layer
         else:
-            self.channel_backend = channel_backends[alias]
+            self.channel_layer = channel_layers[alias]
 
     def send(self, content):
         """
@@ -32,17 +34,7 @@ class Channel(object):
         """
         if not isinstance(content, dict):
             raise ValueError("You can only send dicts as content on channels.")
-        self.channel_backend.send(self.name, content)
-
-    @classmethod
-    def new_name(self, prefix):
-        """
-        Returns a new channel name that's unique and not closed
-        with the given prefix. Does not need to be called before sending
-        on a channel name - just provides a way to avoid clashing for
-        response channels.
-        """
-        return "%s.%s" % (prefix, "".join(random.choice(string.ascii_letters) for i in range(32)))
+        self.channel_layer.send(self.name, content)
 
     def as_view(self):
         """
@@ -63,27 +55,29 @@ class Group(object):
     of the group after an expiry time (keep re-adding to keep them in).
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, name, alias=DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND, channel_backend=None):
+    def __init__(self, name, alias=DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER, channel_layer=None):
+        if isinstance(name, six.binary_type):
+            name = name.decode("ascii")
         self.name = name
-        if channel_backend:
-            self.channel_backend = channel_backend
+        if channel_layer:
+            self.channel_layer = channel_layer
         else:
-            self.channel_backend = channel_backends[alias]
+            self.channel_layer = channel_layers[alias]
 
     def add(self, channel):
         if isinstance(channel, Channel):
             channel = channel.name
-        self.channel_backend.group_add(self.name, channel)
+        self.channel_layer.group_add(self.name, channel)
 
     def discard(self, channel):
         if isinstance(channel, Channel):
             channel = channel.name
-        self.channel_backend.group_discard(self.name, channel)
+        self.channel_layer.group_discard(self.name, channel)
 
     def channels(self):
-        return self.channel_backend.group_channels(self.name)
+        return self.channel_layer.group_channels(self.name)
 
     def send(self, content):
         if not isinstance(content, dict):
             raise ValueError("You can only send dicts as content on channels.")
-        self.channel_backend.send_group(self.name, content)
+        self.channel_layer.send_group(self.name, content)
diff --git a/channels/consumer_registry.py b/channels/consumer_registry.py
index 5102e7a..0b7f8d2 100644
--- a/channels/consumer_registry.py
+++ b/channels/consumer_registry.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 import importlib
 
 from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
@@ -35,6 +37,11 @@ class ConsumerRegistry(object):
         # Upconvert if you just pass in a string for channels
         if isinstance(channels, six.string_types):
             channels = [channels]
+        # Make sure all channels are byte strings
+        channels = [
+            channel.decode("ascii") if isinstance(channel, six.binary_type) else channel
+            for channel in channels
+        ]
         # Import any consumer referenced as string
         if isinstance(consumer, six.string_types):
             module_name, variable_name = consumer.rsplit(".", 1)
diff --git a/channels/hacks.py b/channels/hacks.py
index b8050cb..d6303d5 100644
--- a/channels/hacks.py
+++ b/channels/hacks.py
@@ -1,33 +1,11 @@
-from django.core.handlers.base import BaseHandler
-from django.http.request import HttpRequest
-from django.http.response import HttpResponseBase
-
-from .request import decode_request, encode_request
-from .response import ResponseLater, decode_response, encode_response
 
 
 def monkeypatch_django():
     """
     Monkeypatches support for us into parts of Django.
     """
-    # Request encode/decode
-    HttpRequest.channel_encode = encode_request
-    HttpRequest.channel_decode = staticmethod(decode_request)
-    # Response encode/decode
-    HttpResponseBase.channel_encode = encode_response
-    HttpResponseBase.channel_decode = staticmethod(decode_response)
-    HttpResponseBase.ResponseLater = ResponseLater
-    # Allow ResponseLater to propagate above handler
-    BaseHandler.old_handle_uncaught_exception = BaseHandler.handle_uncaught_exception
-    BaseHandler.handle_uncaught_exception = new_handle_uncaught_exception
     # Ensure that the staticfiles version of runserver bows down to us
     # This one is particularly horrible
     from django.contrib.staticfiles.management.commands.runserver import Command as StaticRunserverCommand
     from .management.commands.runserver import Command as RunserverCommand
     StaticRunserverCommand.__bases__ = (RunserverCommand, )
-
-
-def new_handle_uncaught_exception(self, request, resolver, exc_info):
-    if exc_info[0] is ResponseLater:
-        raise
-    return BaseHandler.old_handle_uncaught_exception(self, request, resolver, exc_info)
diff --git a/channels/handler.py b/channels/handler.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a88e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/channels/handler.py
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
+import sys
+import logging
+from threading import Lock
+
+from django import http
+from django.core.handlers import base
+from django.core import signals
+from django.core.urlresolvers import set_script_prefix
+from django.utils.functional import cached_property
+
+logger = logging.getLogger('django.request')
+
+
+class AsgiRequest(http.HttpRequest):
+    """
+    Custom request subclass that decodes from an ASGI-standard request
+    dict, and wraps request body handling.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, message):
+        self.message = message
+        self.reply_channel = self.message['reply_channel']
+        self._content_length = 0
+        # Path info
+        self.path = self.message['path']
+        self.script_name = self.message.get('root_path', '')
+        if self.script_name:
+            # TODO: Better is-prefix checking, slash handling?
+            self.path_info = self.path[len(self.script_name):]
+        else:
+            self.path_info = self.path
+        # HTTP basics
+        self.method = self.message['method'].upper()
+        self.META = {
+            "REQUEST_METHOD": self.method,
+            "QUERY_STRING": self.message.get('query_string', ''),
+        }
+        if self.message.get('client', None):
+            self.META['REMOTE_ADDR'] = self.message['client'][0]
+            self.META['REMOTE_HOST'] = self.META['REMOTE_ADDR']
+            self.META['REMOTE_PORT'] = self.message['client'][1]
+        if self.message.get('server', None):
+            self.META['SERVER_NAME'] = self.message['server'][0]
+            self.META['SERVER_PORT'] = self.message['server'][1]
+        # Headers go into META
+        for name, value in self.message.get('headers', {}).items():
+            if name == "content_length":
+                corrected_name = "CONTENT_LENGTH"
+            elif name == "content_type":
+                corrected_name = "CONTENT_TYPE"
+            else:
+                corrected_name = 'HTTP_%s' % name.upper().replace("-", "_")
+            self.META[corrected_name] = value
+        # Pull out content length info
+        if self.META.get('CONTENT_LENGTH', None):
+            try:
+                self._content_length = int(self.META['CONTENT_LENGTH'])
+            except (ValueError, TypeError):
+                pass
+        # TODO: body handling
+        self._body = ""
+        # Other bits
+        self.resolver_match = None
+
+    @cached_property
+    def GET(self):
+        return http.QueryDict(
+            self.message.get('query_string', ''),
+            encoding=self._encoding,
+        )
+
+    def _get_post(self):
+        if not hasattr(self, '_post'):
+            self._load_post_and_files()
+        return self._post
+
+    def _set_post(self, post):
+        self._post = post
+
+    POST = property(_get_post, _set_post)
+
+    @cached_property
+    def COOKIES(self):
+        return http.parse_cookie(self.META.get('HTTP_COOKIE', ''))
+
+
+class AsgiHandler(base.BaseHandler):
+    """
+    Handler for ASGI requests for the view system only (it will have got here
+    after traversing the dispatch-by-channel-name system, which decides it's
+    a HTTP request)
+    """
+
+    initLock = Lock()
+    request_class = AsgiRequest
+
+    def __call__(self, message):
+        # Set up middleware if needed. We couldn't do this earlier, because
+        # settings weren't available.
+        if self._request_middleware is None:
+            with self.initLock:
+                # Check that middleware is still uninitialized.
+                if self._request_middleware is None:
+                    self.load_middleware()
+        # Set script prefix from message root_path
+        set_script_prefix(message.get('root_path', ''))
+        signals.request_started.send(sender=self.__class__, message=message)
+        # Run request through view system
+        try:
+            request = self.request_class(message)
+        except UnicodeDecodeError:
+            logger.warning(
+                'Bad Request (UnicodeDecodeError)',
+                exc_info=sys.exc_info(),
+                extra={
+                    'status_code': 400,
+                }
+            )
+            response = http.HttpResponseBadRequest()
+        else:
+            response = self.get_response(request)
+        # Transform response into messages, which we yield back to caller
+        for message in self.encode_response(response):
+            # TODO: file_to_stream
+            yield message
+
+    def encode_response(self, response):
+        """
+        Encodes a Django HTTP response into an ASGI http.response message(s).
+        """
+        # Collect cookies into headers
+        response_headers = [(str(k), str(v)) for k, v in response.items()]
+        for c in response.cookies.values():
+            response_headers.append((str('Set-Cookie'), str(c.output(header=''))))
+        # Make initial response message
+        message = {
+            "status": response.status_code,
+            "status_text": response.reason_phrase,
+            "headers": response_headers,
+        }
+        # Streaming responses need to be pinned to their iterator
+        if response.streaming:
+            for part in response.streaming_content:
+                for chunk in self.chunk_bytes(part):
+                    message['content'] = chunk
+                    message['more_content'] = True
+                    yield message
+                    message = {}
+            # Final closing message
+            yield {
+                "more_content": False,
+            }
+        # Other responses just need chunking
+        else:
+            # Yield chunks of response
+            for chunk, last in self.chunk_bytes(response.content):
+                message['content'] = chunk
+                message['more_content'] = not last
+                yield message
+                message = {}
+
+    def chunk_bytes(self, data):
+        """
+        Chunks some data into chunks based on the current ASGI channel layer's
+        message size and reasonable defaults.
+
+        Yields (chunk, last_chunk) tuples.
+        """
+        CHUNK_SIZE = 512 * 1024
+        position = 0
+        while position < len(data):
+            yield (
+                data[position:position+CHUNK_SIZE],
+                (position + CHUNK_SIZE) >= len(data),
+            )
+            position += CHUNK_SIZE
+
+
+class ViewConsumer(object):
+    """
+    Dispatches channel HTTP requests into django's URL/View system.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.handler = AsgiHandler()
+
+    def __call__(self, message):
+        for reply_message in self.handler(message.content):
+            message.reply_channel.send(reply_message)
diff --git a/channels/management/commands/runserver.py b/channels/management/commands/runserver.py
index 6fa54d6..89c016a 100644
--- a/channels/management/commands/runserver.py
+++ b/channels/management/commands/runserver.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ import threading
 from django.core.management.commands.runserver import \
     Command as RunserverCommand
 
-from channels import DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND, channel_backends
-from channels.adapters import UrlConsumer
+from channels import DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER, channel_layers
+from channels.handler import ViewConsumer
 from channels.interfaces.wsgi import WSGIInterface
 from channels.log import setup_logger
 from channels.worker import Worker
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Command(RunserverCommand):
         """
         Returns the default WSGI handler for the runner.
         """
-        return WSGIInterface(self.channel_backend)
+        return WSGIInterface(self.channel_layer)
 
     def run(self, *args, **options):
         # Run the rest
@@ -29,16 +29,16 @@ class Command(RunserverCommand):
 
     def inner_run(self, *args, **options):
         # Check a handler is registered for http reqs
-        self.channel_backend = channel_backends[DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND]
-        if not self.channel_backend.registry.consumer_for_channel("http.request"):
+        self.channel_layer = channel_layers[DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER]
+        if not self.channel_layer.registry.consumer_for_channel("http.request"):
             # Register the default one
-            self.channel_backend.registry.add_consumer(UrlConsumer(), ["http.request"])
+            self.channel_layer.registry.add_consumer(ViewConsumer(), ["http.request"])
         # Note that this is the right one on the console
         self.logger.info("Worker thread running, channels enabled")
-        if self.channel_backend.local_only:
+        if self.channel_layer.local_only:
             self.logger.info("Local channel backend detected, no remote channels support")
         # Launch a worker thread
-        worker = WorkerThread(self.channel_backend)
+        worker = WorkerThread(self.channel_layer)
         worker.daemon = True
         worker.start()
         # Run rest of inner run
@@ -50,9 +50,9 @@ class WorkerThread(threading.Thread):
     Class that runs a worker
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, channel_backend):
+    def __init__(self, channel_layer):
         super(WorkerThread, self).__init__()
-        self.channel_backend = channel_backend
+        self.channel_layer = channel_layer
 
     def run(self):
-        Worker(channel_backend=self.channel_backend).run()
+        Worker(channel_layer=self.channel_layer).run()
diff --git a/channels/management/commands/runworker.py b/channels/management/commands/runworker.py
index 32692e9..294741b 100644
--- a/channels/management/commands/runworker.py
+++ b/channels/management/commands/runworker.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 from django.core.management import BaseCommand, CommandError
-from channels import channel_backends, DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND
+from channels import channel_layers, DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER
 from channels.log import setup_logger
-from channels.adapters import UrlConsumer
+from channels.handler import ViewConsumer
 from channels.worker import Worker
 
 
@@ -12,25 +13,20 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         # Get the backend to use
         self.verbosity = options.get("verbosity", 1)
         self.logger = setup_logger('django.channels', self.verbosity)
-        channel_backend = channel_backends[DEFAULT_CHANNEL_BACKEND]
-        if channel_backend.local_only:
-            raise CommandError(
-                "You have a process-local channel backend configured, and so cannot run separate workers.\n"
-                "Configure a network-based backend in CHANNEL_BACKENDS to use this command."
-            )
+        channel_layer = channel_layers[DEFAULT_CHANNEL_LAYER]
         # Check a handler is registered for http reqs
-        if not channel_backend.registry.consumer_for_channel("http.request"):
+        if not channel_layer.registry.consumer_for_channel("http.request"):
             # Register the default one
-            channel_backend.registry.add_consumer(UrlConsumer(), ["http.request"])
+            channel_layer.registry.add_consumer(ViewConsumer(), ["http.request"])
         # Launch a worker
-        self.logger.info("Running worker against backend %s", channel_backend)
+        self.logger.info("Running worker against backend %s", channel_layer.alias)
         # Optionally provide an output callback
         callback = None
         if self.verbosity > 1:
             callback = self.consumer_called
         # Run the worker
         try:
-            Worker(channel_backend=channel_backend, callback=callback).run()
+            Worker(channel_layer=channel_layer, callback=callback).run()
         except KeyboardInterrupt:
             pass
 
diff --git a/channels/message.py b/channels/message.py
index c9a80bd..93b19fd 100644
--- a/channels/message.py
+++ b/channels/message.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from .channel import Channel
 
 
@@ -17,9 +19,9 @@ class Message(object):
         """
         pass
 
-    def __init__(self, content, channel, channel_backend, reply_channel=None):
+    def __init__(self, content, channel, channel_layer, reply_channel=None):
         self.content = content
         self.channel = channel
-        self.channel_backend = channel_backend
+        self.channel_layer = channel_layer
         if reply_channel:
-            self.reply_channel = Channel(reply_channel, channel_backend=self.channel_backend)
+            self.reply_channel = Channel(reply_channel, channel_layer=self.channel_layer)
diff --git a/channels/request.py b/channels/request.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 528a8b8..0000000
--- a/channels/request.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,73 +0,0 @@
-from django.http import HttpRequest
-from django.http.request import QueryDict
-from django.utils.datastructures import MultiValueDict
-
-
-def encode_request(request):
-    """
-    Encodes a request to JSON-compatible datastructures
-    """
-    # TODO: More stuff
-    value = {
-        "get": dict(request.GET.lists()),
-        "post": dict(request.POST.lists()),
-        "cookies": request.COOKIES,
-        "headers": {
-            k[5:].lower(): v
-            for k, v in request.META.items()
-            if k.lower().startswith("http_")
-        },
-        "path": request.path,
-        "root_path": request.META.get("SCRIPT_NAME", ""),
-        "method": request.method,
-        "reply_channel": request.reply_channel,
-        "server": [
-            request.META.get("SERVER_NAME", None),
-            request.META.get("SERVER_PORT", None),
-        ],
-        "client": [
-            request.META.get("REMOTE_ADDR", None),
-            request.META.get("REMOTE_PORT", None),
-        ],
-    }
-    return value
-
-
-def decode_request(value):
-    """
-    Decodes a request JSONish value to a HttpRequest object.
-    """
-    request = HttpRequest()
-    request.GET = CustomQueryDict(value['get'])
-    request.POST = CustomQueryDict(value['post'])
-    request.COOKIES = value['cookies']
-    request.path = value['path']
-    request.method = value['method']
-    request.reply_channel = value['reply_channel']
-    # Channels requests are more high-level than the dumping ground that is
-    # META; re-combine back into it
-    request.META = {
-        "REQUEST_METHOD": value["method"],
-        "SERVER_NAME": value["server"][0],
-        "SERVER_PORT": value["server"][1],
-        "REMOTE_ADDR": value["client"][0],
-        "REMOTE_HOST": value["client"][0],  # Not the DNS name, hopefully fine.
-        "SCRIPT_NAME": value["root_path"],
-    }
-    for header, header_value in value.get("headers", {}).items():
-        request.META["HTTP_%s" % header.upper()] = header_value
-    # Derive path_info from script root
-    request.path_info = request.path
-    if request.META.get("SCRIPT_NAME", ""):
-        request.path_info = request.path_info[len(request.META["SCRIPT_NAME"]):]
-    return request
-
-
-class CustomQueryDict(QueryDict):
-    """
-    Custom override of QueryDict that sets things directly.
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, values, mutable=False, encoding=None):
-        """ mutable and encoding are ignored :( """
-        MultiValueDict.__init__(self, values)
diff --git a/channels/response.py b/channels/response.py
deleted file mode 100644
index f484da7..0000000
--- a/channels/response.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,43 +0,0 @@
-from django.http import HttpResponse
-from django.utils.six import PY3
-
-
-def encode_response(response):
-    """
-    Encodes a response to JSON-compatible datastructures
-    """
-    value = {
-        "content_type": getattr(response, "content_type", None),
-        "content": response.content,
-        "status": response.status_code,
-        "headers": list(response._headers.values()),
-        "cookies": [v.output(header="") for _, v in response.cookies.items()]
-    }
-    if PY3:
-        value["content"] = value["content"].decode('utf8')
-    response.close()
-    return value
-
-
-def decode_response(value):
-    """
-    Decodes a response JSONish value to a HttpResponse object.
-    """
-    response = HttpResponse(
-        content=value['content'],
-        content_type=value['content_type'],
-        status=value['status'],
-    )
-    for cookie in value['cookies']:
-        response.cookies.load(cookie)
-    response._headers = {k.lower(): (k, v) for k, v in value['headers']}
-    return response
-
-
-class ResponseLater(Exception):
-    """
-    Class that represents a response which will be sent down the response
-    channel later. Used to move a django view-based segment onto the next
-    task, as otherwise we'd need to write some kind of fake response.
-    """
-    pass
diff --git a/channels/worker.py b/channels/worker.py
index e4012c6..73fc5c6 100644
--- a/channels/worker.py
+++ b/channels/worker.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 import logging
+import time
 
 from .message import Message
 from .utils import name_that_thing
@@ -12,30 +15,35 @@ class Worker(object):
     and runs their consumers.
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, channel_backend, callback=None):
-        self.channel_backend = channel_backend
+    def __init__(self, channel_layer, callback=None):
+        self.channel_layer = channel_layer
         self.callback = callback
 
     def run(self):
         """
         Tries to continually dispatch messages to consumers.
         """
-        channels = self.channel_backend.registry.all_channel_names()
+        channels = self.channel_layer.registry.all_channel_names()
         while True:
-            channel, content = self.channel_backend.receive_many_blocking(channels)
+            channel, content = self.channel_layer.receive_many(channels, block=True)
+            # If no message, stall a little to avoid busy-looping then continue
+            if channel is None:
+                time.sleep(0.01)
+                continue
+            # Create message wrapper
             message = Message(
                 content=content,
                 channel=channel,
-                channel_backend=self.channel_backend,
+                channel_layer=self.channel_layer,
                 reply_channel=content.get("reply_channel", None),
             )
             # Handle the message
-            consumer = self.channel_backend.registry.consumer_for_channel(channel)
+            consumer = self.channel_layer.registry.consumer_for_channel(channel)
             if self.callback:
                 self.callback(channel, message)
             try:
                 consumer(message)
             except Message.Requeue:
-                self.channel_backend.send(channel, content)
+                self.channel_layer.send(channel, content)
             except:
                 logger.exception("Error processing message with consumer %s:", name_that_thing(consumer))
diff --git a/docs/asgi.rst b/docs/asgi.rst
index c740edb..b709582 100644
--- a/docs/asgi.rst
+++ b/docs/asgi.rst
@@ -101,12 +101,18 @@ Channels and Messages
 ---------------------
 
 All communication in an ASGI stack uses *messages* sent over *channels*.
-All messages must be a ``dict`` at the top level of the object, and be
-serializable by the built-in ``json`` serializer module (though the
-actual serialization a channel layer uses is up to the implementation;
-we use ``json`` as the lowest common denominator).
+All messages must be a ``dict`` at the top level of the object, and
+contain only the following types to ensure serializability:
 
-Channels are identified by a byte string name consisting only of ASCII
+* Byte strings
+* Unicode strings
+* Integers (no longs)
+* Lists (tuples should be treated as lists)
+* Dicts (keys must be unicode strings)
+* Booleans
+* None
+
+Channels are identified by a unicode string name consisting only of ASCII
 letters, numbers, numerical digits, periods (``.``), dashes (``-``)
 and underscores (``_``), plus an optional prefix character (see below).
 
@@ -270,20 +276,20 @@ A *channel layer* should provide an object with these attributes
 (all function arguments are positional):
 
 * ``send(channel, message)``, a callable that takes two arguments; the
-  channel to send on, as a byte string, and the message
+  channel to send on, as a unicode string, and the message
   to send, as a serializable ``dict``.
 
 * ``receive_many(channels, block=False)``, a callable that takes a list of channel
-  names as byte strings, and returns with either ``(None, None)``
+  names as unicode strings, and returns with either ``(None, None)``
   or ``(channel, message)`` if a message is available. If ``block`` is True, then
   it will not return until after a built-in timeout or a message arrives; if
   ``block`` is false, it will always return immediately. It is perfectly
   valid to ignore ``block`` and always return immediately.
 
-* ``new_channel(pattern)``, a callable that takes a byte string pattern,
+* ``new_channel(pattern)``, a callable that takes a unicode string pattern,
   and returns a new valid channel name that does not already exist, by
   substituting any occurrences of the question mark character ``?`` in
-  ``pattern`` with a single random byte string and checking for
+  ``pattern`` with a single random unicode string and checking for
   existence of that name in the channel layer. This is NOT called prior to
   a message being sent on a channel, and should not be used for channel
   initialization.
@@ -298,14 +304,14 @@ A *channel layer* should provide an object with these attributes
 A channel layer implementing the ``groups`` extension must also provide:
 
 * ``group_add(group, channel)``, a callable that takes a ``channel`` and adds
-  it to the group given by ``group``. Both are byte strings. If the channel
+  it to the group given by ``group``. Both are unicode strings. If the channel
   is already in the group, the function should return normally.
 
 * ``group_discard(group, channel)``, a callable that removes the ``channel``
   from the ``group`` if it is in it, and does nothing otherwise.
 
 * ``send_group(group, message)``, a callable that takes two positional
-  arguments; the group to send to, as a byte string, and the message
+  arguments; the group to send to, as a unicode string, and the message
   to send, as a serializable ``dict``.
 
 A channel layer implementing the ``statistics`` extension must also provide:
@@ -423,11 +429,11 @@ Keys:
 * ``reply_channel``: Channel name for responses and server pushes, in
   format ``http.response.?``
 
-* ``http_version``: Byte string, one of ``1.0``, ``1.1`` or ``2``.
+* ``http_version``: Unicode string, one of ``1.0``, ``1.1`` or ``2``.
 
-* ``method``: Byte string HTTP method name, uppercased.
+* ``method``: Unicode string HTTP method name, uppercased.
 
-* ``scheme``: Byte string URL scheme portion (likely ``http`` or ``https``).
+* ``scheme``: Unicode string URL scheme portion (likely ``http`` or ``https``).
   Optional (but must not be empty), default is ``http``.
 
 * ``path``: Byte string HTTP path from URL.
@@ -442,20 +448,46 @@ Keys:
 * ``headers``: Dict of ``{name: value}``, where ``name`` is the lowercased
   HTTP header name as byte string and ``value`` is the header value as a byte
   string. If multiple headers with the same name are received, they should
-  be concatenated into a single header as per .
+  be concatenated into a single header as per RFC 2616.
 
 * ``body``: Body of the request, as a byte string. Optional, defaults to empty
-  string.
+  string. If ``body_channel`` is set, treat as start of body and concatenate
+  on further chunks.
 
-* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a byte string of the
+* ``body_channel``: Single-reader unicode string channel name that contains
+  Request Body Chunk messages representing a large request body.
+  Optional, defaults to None. Chunks append to ``body`` if set. Presence of
+  a channel indicates at least one Request Body Chunk message needs to be read,
+  and then further consumption keyed off of the ``more_content`` key in those
+  messages.
+
+* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a unicode string of the
   remote host's IPv4 or IPv6 address, and ``port`` is the remote port as an
   integer. Optional, defaults to ``None``.
 
 * ``server``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is the listening address
-  for this server as a byte string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
+  for this server as a unicode string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
   Optional, defaults to ``None``.
 
 
+Request Body Chunk
+''''''''''''''''''
+
+Must be sent after an initial Response.
+
+Channel: ``http.request.body.?``
+
+Keys:
+
+* ``content``: Byte string of HTTP body content, will be concatenated onto
+  previously received ``content`` values and ``body`` key in Request.
+
+* ``more_content``: Boolean value signifying if there is additional content
+  to come (as part of a Request Body Chunk message). If ``False``, request will
+  be taken as complete, and any further messages on the channel
+  will be ignored. Optional, defaults to ``False``.
+
+
 Response
 ''''''''
 
@@ -475,7 +507,8 @@ Keys:
   string header name, and ``value`` is the byte string header value. Order
   should be preserved in the HTTP response.
 
-* ``content``: Byte string of HTTP body content
+* ``content``: Byte string of HTTP body content.
+  Optional, defaults to empty string.
 
 * ``more_content``: Boolean value signifying if there is additional content
   to come (as part of a Response Chunk message). If ``False``, response will
@@ -534,7 +567,7 @@ Keys:
 * ``reply_channel``: Channel name for sending data, in
   format ``websocket.send.?``
 
-* ``scheme``: Byte string URL scheme portion (likely ``ws`` or ``wss``).
+* ``scheme``: Unicode string URL scheme portion (likely ``ws`` or ``wss``).
   Optional (but must not be empty), default is ``ws``.
 
 * ``path``: Byte string HTTP path from URL.
@@ -551,12 +584,12 @@ Keys:
   string. If multiple headers with the same name are received, they should
   be concatenated into a single header as per .
 
-* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a byte string of the
+* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a unicode string of the
   remote host's IPv4 or IPv6 address, and ``port`` is the remote port as an
   integer. Optional, defaults to ``None``.
 
 * ``server``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is the listening address
-  for this server as a byte string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
+  for this server as a unicode string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
   Optional, defaults to ``None``.
 
 
@@ -644,12 +677,12 @@ Keys:
 
 * ``data``: Byte string of UDP datagram payload.
 
-* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a byte string of the
+* ``client``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is a unicode string of the
   remote host's IPv4 or IPv6 address, and ``port`` is the remote port as an
   integer.
 
 * ``server``: List of ``[host, port]`` where ``host`` is the listening address
-  for this server as a byte string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
+  for this server as a unicode string, and ``port`` is the integer listening port.
   Optional, defaults to ``None``.
 
 
@@ -700,8 +733,13 @@ underlying implementation, then any values should be kept within the lower
 This document will never specify just *string* - all strings are one of the
 two types.
 
-Channel and group names are always byte strings, with the additional limitation
-that they only use the following characters:
+Some serializers, such as ``json``, cannot differentiate between byte
+strings and unicode strings; these should include logic to box one type as
+the other (for example, encoding byte strings as base64 unicode strings with
+a preceding special character, e.g. U+FFFF).
+
+Channel and group names are always unicode strings, with the additional
+limitation that they only use the following characters:
 
 * ASCII letters
 * The digits ``0`` through ``9``
@@ -747,7 +785,7 @@ WSGI's ``environ`` variable to the Request message:
 * ``CONTENT_TYPE`` can be extracted from ``headers``
 * ``CONTENT_LENGTH`` can be extracted from ``headers``
 * ``SERVER_NAME`` and ``SERVER_PORT`` are in ``server``
-* ``REMOTE_HOST`` and ``REMOTE_PORT`` are in ``client``
+* ``REMOTE_HOST``/``REMOTE_ADDR`` and ``REMOTE_PORT`` are in ``client``
 * ``SERVER_PROTOCOL`` is encoded in ``http_version``
 * ``wsgi.url_scheme`` is ``scheme``
 * ``wsgi.input`` is a StringIO around ``body``