Still, the Democratic representative from Price, like dozens of lawmakers, mastered his jitters and appeared in a 3 1/2 -minute "Capitol Journal" segment on CNN, pitching his legislation to honor Waldo Wilcox's efforts to preserve Range Creek.

Every Wednesday during the 2005 Legislature, lawmakers like him have signed up for a friendly interview with public-relations executive Dale Zabriskie to promote everything from a ban on lobbyist gifts to the state's budget. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Attorney General Mark Shurtleff also starred in segments.

The free TV time is worth about $265,000. But while dozens of rubber-chicken dinners and Jazz basketball tickets are listed as lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, the cost of Comcast's air time is not reported.

Comcast Government Affairs Director Steve Proper says the cable provider considers the televised interviews a public service, not a lobbying tool.

"It's an opportunity for us to offer some programming to the public that they couldn't get otherwise," Proper said. "It's a news program more than anything."

Open-government advocates say the influence of the free air time on state legislation may be subtle, but is very real. Low-income advocate Linda Hilton calls it "free advertising in the guise of public service."

"Anytime someone gives you a free product or service, it gets you access. And TV air time is a valuable product," Hilton said.

Capitol Journal airs at 54 minutes past the hour every hour before CNN's Headline News for the 45-day session and is available in a new feature called "On Demand."

Comcast has provided the staff and equipment and the air time - through an agreement with CNN - for six years. Comcast and the Utah Cable TV Association split the cost. The cable providers will not disclose their costs, but Comcast spokesman Ray Child says the expense is nominal.

During the six years Capitol Journal has aired, lawmakers have considered several pieces of legislation impacting the cable industry. Two years ago, legislators balanced the budget by raising a $14 million tax on cable television subscribers. Last year, they cut part of that tax. And this year, another cable-tax bill that would generate another $5.6 million in revenue was assigned to a task force.

Proper says Comcast gets no financial benefit from Capitol Journal.

Still, open-government advocates like Hilton believe the value of the air time should be reported as a gift - just like the meals and favors given by other lobbying organizations.

Lawmakers say that's excessive.

"It's an opportunity to take a few minutes to explain in a little more depth than you would be able to in a sound bite," said Provo Republican Sen. Curt Bramble, who didn't tape a Capitol Journal segment this year, but has in the past. Bramble says he wouldn't pay for the time on TV, so Comcast isn't giving him any gift that would influence him.

Even House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, the most vocal advocate of cutting gifts to lawmakers, is not sure the air time is a lobbyist handout.

"It's a little bit of a stretch. I've never thought of it as a gift," he said. "If I did, I wouldn't do it."