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Show C7 __ TheSalt LakeTribuneUTAHSunday, January 31, 1999 InformationTech Technology Grabs a Place on Agenda cus meeting, House Republicans rejected a plan to use digital In ternet technology to broadcast their floor debate as it happens. Concerned that some would Industry leaders eager to hear governor's plans for high-speed communication BY JUDYFAHYS THE SALT LAKETRIBUNE Last week’s headlines, still dominated by the Olympic brib- ery scandal, said nothing about an issue that has been under discus- sion behind the scenes and that could prove oneof the most important in the 1999 Legislature. Telecommunications — cable, wireless and plain old telephones — elbowed their waya few times past the Olympics and onto Gov Mike Leavitt's agenda. Leavitt held court Tuesday with lobbyists and consumer activists to share his ideas about the futureoftele- communications and the state’s rolein it The subject hadclearly been on his mind awhile. He commented about it in his State of the State address two weeks ago. Eager to make Utaha leader in informa- tion technology, hesaid the state must nurture a high-speed net- rk for communications and the discussion. Leavitt asked them to share their thoughts about his ideas next week. “I don't know whether that [meeting] will producea legislative result,” the Republican governor said in a press conference Friday. Lawmakers have opened a “boxcar,” or empty bill file, that can be filled with proposed legislation to make the concepts a real- ity. There’s nothinginit yet, but many observers would not be surprised if it soon contains moreindustry deregulation. Utah lawmakers opened the door for telecommunications competition in 1995, but few are happywithit. US West still has all but roughly 20,000 of thestate’s 1 million telephone lines, even though morethan two dozen companies have been authorized to compete for US West's customers. Meanwhile, US West says that regula- sentatives and consumeractivists he foresees a time soon whentelecommunications services can be delivered through cable lines, telephone wires or wireless net works. And competition between these technologies will lower prices for customers and increase the quality of services available to them, he said. “It's my belief [achieving those goals] won’t come through one technology,” he told reporters at a press conferenceFriday. “It will come from all three and maybe passeda bill that requires teenagers to spend at least 30 hours behind the wheel before getting their driver licenses. ™On Tuesday, a Senate panel compromise ing executive branch employees, have been gripped for months ina On Friday, a hard-fought imposed a yearlong “cooling off” period between their state service and their return to the Capitol as paid persuaders. The following day, however, they did approve a bill limiting Senators, meanwhile, re- mained undecided about updat@On Wednesday, citizens gave hearty support to a cut in the state's food tax, which ranges from 6.25 percent to more than 7 percent, depending on the com- munity. Their testimony before the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee made that message clear. dissolved between banks and credit unions. They which also applied to high-rank- bitter and expensive battle over the credit unions’ tax-free status Now lawmakers must decide how to doit, if they can. On the table is a bipartisan proposalthat would grant a $40 income-tax credit thefirst year and onefor $80 the second. It would abolish the tax in 2002 I don’t think it would be good public policy to have a delay in implementation,” said House Speaker Marty Stephens of Farr and membership li: The breakdown leaves legislators to find a solution. The lawmakers must consider the issue because credit unions succeeded in obtaining thousands of voter signatures which now force the matter ontothelegislative calen dar. Their work begins with a hear ing 2 p.m. Tuesday in the State West Office Building behind the Capi- lawmakers shied away from putting their proceedings onthe Internet. By a tol. That will be followed by Senate Business, Labor and Eco: On Thursday slim majorityin their party cau- nomic Development review Wednesday morning passed a bill that would make reckless endangerment a class A Seeking details about that plan tioneraprice controls makeit im- the state’s Internet providers and possible to branch out into new — an¢ more lucrative — product lines while the competitors pur- would give authorities an addi- consumer activists from United We Stand — all of whomattended Leavitt told the industry repre- people who commit potentially harmful crimes, such as pulling sue the most valuable customers. wiched in a bunch of drystuff. 'd sooner go out and shovel snow becoming lobbyists immediately after leaving office. The measure, gifts. liked the idea. House members seph Murray. “But they're sand have prevented lawmakers from ing lobbyist standards. graduated driver license, and by week's end lawmakerssaid they “play to the bers defeated a bill that would Hereare someother highlights from Capitol Hill last week: West, AT&T, Electric Lightwave, were representatives from US downstop signsor firing weapons indiscriminately Also on Tuesday, House mem- more.” The weekbeganwith talk of a “grandstand” or polls,” the House GOP worried about appearing toodull. “There are a fewinteresting things that come up,” said Ogden Rep. Jo misdemeanor. If passed, the law tional weapon for prosecuting ADJUSTA-MAGIC: Can the internet ate ar loss? 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