Drafter
Clerk 06/24/2002
title
AN ORDINANCE denying the transfer of control of the parent corporations of TCI Cablevision of Washington, Inc., with TCI West, Inc., as guarantor under Franchise 121332 and Tele-Vue Systems, Inc., with TCI Pacific Communications, Inc., as guarantor under Franchise 11680 from AT&T Corp. to AT&T Comcast Corporation; and declaring an emergency.
body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. King County is granted authority under federal, state and county law and the terms of existing cable television franchises to deny or approve a transfer of Franchises 12132 and 11680.
SECTION 2. For the reasons set forth in this ordinance the proposed transfer is not in the public interest and is denied.
SECTION 3. Findings of fact. The council hereby finds the following facts:
A. TCI Cablevison of Washington, Inc., and Tele-Vue Systems, Inc. and TCI Pacific, Inc. (together, for the purposes of this ordinance, "franchisees"), subsidiary corporations of Tele-Communications, Inc. (for the purposes of this ordinance, "TCI"), provide cable television service in unincorporated King County pursuant to cable television franchises 12132 and 11680, as amended (for the purposes of this ordinance, "franchise agreements").
B. TCI entered into a merger agreement with AT&T Corp. (for the purposes of this ordinance, "AT&T"), that resulted in a change of control of TCI and, indirectly, of franchisees.
C. The TCI and AT&T change of control was conditionally approved by the council under Ordinance 13409 on February 16, 1999, and Ordinance 13855 on May 15, 2000.
D. On February 18, 2000, Tele-Communications, Inc. changed its name and corporate structure to AT&T Broadband, LLC (for the purposes of this ordinance "ATTB"). This action was taken without notice to King County.
E. AT&T, AT&T Broadband Corp. (for purposes of this ordinance "AT&T Broadband") and certain of their respective affiliates have entered into an Agreem...

Click here for full text