SCN: URGENT! More on King County Open Access (fwd)

[Joel Ware IV]

As your WAISP rep, I am passing on this urgent call to action --
now is the time to call on your County Council members for 
Open Access.

THANKS.

Joel Ware, IV           jw4 at scn.org
Volunteer Coordinator, Member of Governance, HR, Ops, Board, ExComm

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 16:31:34 -0700
From: Gary Gardner--Executive Director <exec-director at waisp.org>
To: exec-director at waisp.org
Subject: URGENT!  More on King County Open Access

I met with our Pacific Northwest Open Access coalition partners today to
discuss the pending King County Ordinance on Open Access.  The council's
Utilities and Technology Committee chair, David Irons, held a press
conference and "hearing" today (no public testimony allowed) to talk about
and introduce the ordinance.  In a nut-shell, the ordinance is a sham and
we are urging council members to reject it.  It would clearly and
explicitly give ATT a monopoly over cable Internet Access in the county.

The ONLY party at the table with the council negotiators was ATT.  Not
surprisingly it's a pretty sweet deal for them.  The only thing new is that
ATT offered some money and expertise for technology programs (i.e. to sell
the County ATT products and services), and to paint a couple of schools and
give them some new computers.

What's worse is we were asked in a letter on April 3rd, signed by 10
members of the Council (not surprisingly the chair of the committee, Mr.
Irons, did NOT sign the request - as it appears he was "busy" negotiating
with ATT) to try and reach a compromise with ATT.  In good faith we asked
ATT to meet, and to date have not heard back!  Surprise!  Now we know why.

I'm hopeful that the Council will feel some pressure to rework the
ordinance, and we will be providing some specific suggestions to them.   If
you'd like a copy of the proposed ordinance, and copies of the letter sent
by ATT "accepting" the ordinance and the "conditions" please let me know
and I'll email it to you.

Meanwhile, we need to start pressuring the Council to reject the ordinance
as drafted, and to provide for meaningful and true open access.
Councilmember Irons specifically said he was worried about a "lawsuit" by
ATT.  This is clearly against long standing King County tradition NOT to
back down with the threat of a lawsuit, especially when the citizens of the
county would benefit by taking a strong stance.   We've also been meeting
and talking with reporters this afternoon, and there should be coverage in
tomorrow's Seattle and Tacoma papers -- watch for it.

Here's how you can help - ESPECIALLY if you are located in King County:

1)  Attend and testify at the next Utility and Technology Committee
hearing, this Friday, April 21st at 2pm in the Council Chambers in the King
County Courthouse - 5th and James downtown Seattle.

2)  E-mail the members of the Council with your concerns and urge them to
not cave in to ATT's threats of a lawsuit, and to mandate Open Access NOW.
E-mail addresses for the Council are below.

3)  To the extent you feel comfortable, ask your CUSTOMERS to do likewise
so that they too can choose to connect to you via Cable.

This battle is going to be won or lost in the next few weeks.  It is
imperative that you act today.

Email and web site for the King County Council Members:

http://www.metrokc.gov

Maggi Fimia
maggi.fimia at metrokc.gov

Cynthia Sullivan
cynthia.sullivan at metrokc.gov

Dwight Pelz
dwight.pelz at metrokc.gov

Louise Miller
louise.miller at metrokc.gov

Larry Phillips
larry.phillips at metrokc.gov

Rob McKenna
rob.mckenna at metrokc.gov

Pete von Reichbauer
pet.vonreichbauer at metrokc.gov

Greg Nickels
greg.nickels at metrokc.gov

Kent Pullen
kent.pullen at metrokc.gov

Larry Gossett
larry.gossett at metrokc.gov

Jane Hague
jane.hague at metrokc.gov

David Irons
david.irons at metrokc.gov

Chris Vance
chris.vance at metrokc.gov



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