County cancels vote on Comcast extension

The Metropolitan King County Council has again postponed a vote on extending Comcast's cable-TV franchise — this time because of questions about the company's compliance with a requirement that it connect with other local Internet providers to improve efficiency for Internet users.

The council had been scheduled to act on the five-year franchise extension tomorrow, but County Councilman Dow Constantine said he would delay action to study the new concerns raised by the Internet service providers.

At a meeting with county officials Friday, operators of the nonprofit Seattle Internet Exchange said Comcast had failed to link up with members of the exchange.

When Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband in November 2002, it assumed AT&T's cable-TV contract with King County — including a provision requiring that it swap data directly with other Internet providers, called "peering."

That requirement was intended to provide better and less costly Internet service for Comcast's cable-modem customers, and for other Internet users who exchange data with Comcast customers.

Without a so-called "peering point" like the one the Seattle Internet Exchange hosts in downtown Seattle's Westin Building, an e-mail message from Redmond to Queen Anne Hill might be routed through an Internet hub in New York or San Francisco.

Exchange members include Microsoft, Amazon.com and other corporations, Internet providers, governments and educational institutions.

But representatives of the Seattle Internet Exchange said that while Comcast joined the exchange in December 2002, and connected with King County government's network, it has not connected with any other exchange members despite dozens of requests.

The Internet Exchange representatives said it was "surprising and appalling" Comcast had delayed some requests or failed to respond to others. Because Comcast already is connected to the exchange, it would be simple and inexpensive to connect with other members, said exchange representative Troy Davis.

For example, Isomedia.com President Bruce Straughan reported his company had been frustrated in its attempt to connect with Comcast. "They won't do business with us. They say we're not big enough," Straughan said.

Comcast spokesman Steve Kipp said the company still intends to connect with other members of the Seattle Exchange Network. But Comcast has been unable to do so because it has been so busy with work associated with its takeover of the AT&T cable network.

"We're working through this process, but it's just a lengthy process," Kipp said. "We want to do the peering, but it's just taking time to lay the groundwork and make sure it's done correctly."

Kipp said Comcast had received peering requests from four to six companies around the time of its AT&T takeover. Seattle Internet Exchange representatives said more than half of the exchange's 60 members had asked to peer with Comcast.

Still, county officials at Friday's meeting expressed surprise that Comcast and its predecessor had not completed the peering that was first required in February 2000.

County Councilman Constantine said the new information raises questions about whether Comcast has "met the requirements of the franchise." He said another meeting will be held to explore the issue further.

Negotiations to extend Comcast's franchise to 2010 have come under fire from critics who say King County would give up too many public-use cable channels for too little in return. Under the agreement, Comcast would make a one-time payment of $1.2 million and the county would give up potential control of 17 channels.

Critics urged Constantine and fellow County Council member Dwight Pelz, both Seattle Democrats, to renegotiate the agreement. "I think it's important that you not sell off the future by making a quick buck now," said Doug Cullen of get Sound Access, a group organized to produce public-access programming for South King County cities.

The franchise gives Comcast the right to deliver cable service to 80,000 customers in unincorporated King County.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com