Ed network may help link legislators, citizens

The Utah Technology Commission wants more people to participate in state government activities without having to slog their way to Salt Lake City.

The group on Wednesday discussed options for using the Utah Education Network distance-learning system and perhaps other video-conferencing technology to allow people to watch, hear and speak to lawmakers during committee and other meetings, but without having to leave their home counties.

"It would dramatically reduce the amount of travel time that, particularly people who live in rural areas of the state, would be required to invest in participating in these meetings, and consequently it would significantly reduce costs to them and to the state or whoever is paying the costs of their travel," said Mike Petersen, director of the network, whose telecourses are offered under the name EDNet.

"Secondly, and I think it's just as important, it would significantly increase opportunities for participation. Think of the citizens from Moab, from San Juan, from Juab County who would have really enjoyed participating and listening in on the Tax Reform Commission, but felt that because the hearings were scheduled at a time when they were working, or for other reasons were not able to make the trip to Salt Lake City, they could have that opportunity to actually listen in and ask questions and make comments if the opportunity presented itself."

The commission's co-chairwoman, Sen. Beverly Evans, R-Altamont, said such a system could be useful to legislators living in far-flung parts of the state by allowing them to cut travel time and costs if they attended meetings remotely.

"So many of us travel such a long distance for meetings that are a half-hour, 45 minutes, an hour long. . . . I think that we need to look at this as a real opportunity and a major cost savings for time," she said. "You know, it takes me five hours — five-and-a-half hours, depending on road conditions — to get out here to attend meetings and then return home, and that's a lot of time that's consumed. . . . I think we need to start looking very seriously at trying to consolidate some of our efforts."

Commissioner Gary Wixom said remote access to meetings is used often in academics, saving both time and travel.

"There are times when face-to-face is better and necessary, but in many cases, business can be done very well this way," he said.

Wednesday's meeting included a demonstration of the EDNet video-conferencing capabilities, with people from Daggett County and Roosevelt interacting with commissioners.