The Billings Gazette from Billings, Montana • 17

The Billings Gazette Business Tuesday, December 7, 1999 3C Touch America gets contract pledges to share lines WOMtnttr Ave, 1 sIFLlFKn SusE Mings I seee. 245-8480 Open M-F, Sat 10-2 thru December Hft kits aartint aslowui215! vi Telecommunications giant announced plans Monday to spend $1 billion to build 16,500 miles of high-speed fiber optic connections to 30 cities. said these cities represent 80 percent of the future domestic demand for high-speed services. Three companies received the construction contracts: Touch America, a subsidiary of Montana Power CapRock Communications and PF.Net. Touch America will build 4,320 miles of fiber optics for which represents a 36 percent expansion in the company's existing network.

The company's contract is estimated at more than $500 million. Touch America will install three fiber-optic cable routes for from Minnesota to Missouri, from west Illinois to Northern California and from Montana to Washington state. expects to finish the project by late 2001. Rivals may gain access to high-speed Internet cables WASHINGTON (AP) outlined plans Monday to give rivals access to its cable TV lines to deliver high-speed Internet services. The move could quell fears about the telecommunications giant gaining too much control over what information reaches consumers' homes.

In a letter to the Federal Communications 2002 contract is up. The nonbinding agreement does lay out pledge to charge Internet providers reasonably comparable prices and set similar conditions for their deals, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The nation's top Internet service provider, America Online, was not a party to the discussions. already has started discussions with a number of Internet providers who are interested in offering their services over the company's cable sys Afler-Mk support Huge Selection. HeliProz Check us out at V'' 4 Commission, pledged to give its cable customers a choice of Internet service providers in June 2002, the expiration date for an exclusivity agreement with ExciteAtHome, a cable Internet company partly owned by Among those signed on to the terms outlined in the letter is MindSpring Enterprises, one of the nation's biggest Internet service providers.

Although the letter does not amount to a contractual agreement, it sets the stage for to reach a deal with MindSpring and other Internet companies. also confirmed that it will be spinning off its wireless operations as a separate affiliated company through the creation of a tems, said Chairman C. Michael Armstrong. "We're open to discussions with others' as well," he added. promise comes amid growing debate on the national and local level about whether the company should be forced to share its newly acquired high-speed cable lines with rivals.

Broadband access over cable lines provides connection speeds dozens of times faster than today's dial-up telephone modems. has positioned itself to become a major player in the broadband market through its purchase of cable company Tele-Communications Inc. last summer and its pro ARMSTRONG chairman posed merger with MediaOne. But exclusive arrangement with Internet provider ExciteAtHome has drawn the ire of other companies such as America Online that now reach consumers through the slow dial-up phone connections. They want to deliver their service over cable lines into customers' homes.

Consumer groups also have called for to share its lines with rivals, fearing that the company will otherwise exert too much influence over the diversity of information reaching the public. stock tracking the performance of that business. will sell some of the new wireless shares through an initial public offering to raise money for the unit's rapid expansion, then distribute the remaining wireless shares to stockholders. officials said earlier that they would consider agreements with other companies once their exclusivity contract with ExciteAtHome expires. The letter is aimed at shoring up that commitment, although any deals still could not take effect until the IF YOU ARE AGE 65 OR OLDER AND ARE HEALTHY OR HAVE: Chronic respiratory disease (i.e., asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Cardiovascular disease Chronic renal failure Diabetes Consider participating in a research study of a new drug compared to placebo (inactive substance) for the treatment KULR-TV appoints new news director of the flu.

Qualified participants will receive clinic visits, lab work and study medication at no cost. Compensation for time and travel expenses may be provided. By JAN FALSTAD Of The Gazette Staff KULR-TV management in Billings named another news director to take over from long-term anchor and news director Dave Rye. Blaire Martin, who started working for KULR 8 last January, took over Monday as the station's news and public affairs director. Martin will continue to co-anchor the 5:30 p.m.

and 10 p.m. local newscasts. "Dave is still employed with the station and we have plans to change his role at the station," KULR Station Manager Bruce Cummings said. "We'll certainly look for a long-lasting relationship between Dave Rye and Color 8." Cummings said he hadn't finalized Rye's new role with the NBC-affiliate yet, except as the station's noon anchor, instead of the morning news anchor. He said Rye will play a significant role in news operations, but the details haven't been worked out yet.

Rye has worked for KULR for two decades, starting as anchor and news director in 1980. He came to KULR after working as press secretary for then-Rep. Ron Marlenee, R-Mont. Cummings did not give a reason for the change, which took place at a meeting Friday. He said he would discuss the reorganization in-depth another day.

Rye could not be reached for comment Monday. "I want everyone to know that Dave has indeed contributed unselfishly to our news department, specifically, and our station in general," Cummings said. "No one has given more of his time and energy in providing the viewers with the news and information of the day." Ratings have fallen But in recent years, the ratings have not been kind to KULR-TV. In the mid-1980s, KULR was king and its newscasts loomed two-to-one over CBS rival KTVQ-TV. Now the roles are reversed.

July's Nielsen rating book pegged KTVQ's 5:30 p.m. weekly newscast as first among the 30 top-rated programs. This ratings system compares the popularity of newscasts and entertainment shows such as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. KULR's 5:30 p.m. news effort came in near the bottom, 28 out of 30.

KTVQ's 10 p.m. weekly newscast was fourth, attracting 24,700 viewers. KULR's 10 p.m. newscast was 18th, with 11,900 viewers. The November ratings or "sweeps" are completed, but the data hasn't been released yet.

Cummings said Martin has worked for KULR's parent company, Dix Communications, for five years and came to Billings from Great Falls. She earned a degree from Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Micah Ohlman took over from Rye as the station's main anchor 18 months ago. Ohlman and Martin have" co-anchored the newscasts since January. Campaign trail Rye worked at KULR 8 from 1980 until 1990, when he resigned to run for the Montana Senate as a Republican.

He won a narrow victory by 89 votes after outspending his incumbent opponent, Sen. Pat Regan, D-Billings, three-to-one. In 1993, Rye announced he would not seek a second legislative term and was hired back by KULR. In the fall of 1997, Billings broadcaster Dan DuBray worked as KULR's news director for three months. When DuBray quit to work as Washington, D.C., press secretary for Rep.

Rick Hill, Rye took over again as the station's news director in January 1998. At that time, Rye relinquished the 10 p.m. anchor role, but continued to anchor the 5:30 p.m. newscast. CALL Montana Health Research Institute 652-6630 in Billings or 1-888-802-6080 toll free to find out who in your area is conducting this research study.

Minni 50,000 cents per lb. Jan 00 85.15 65.65 64.32 64.47 Mar 00 85.00 85.60 84.35 64.55 Apr 00 84.95 85.50 84.40 84.65 May 00 84.95 85.40 84.40 84.65 Aug 00 85.85 86.40 85.50 85.62 Sep 00 86.00 86.50 85.70 B5.85 Frirs sales 2,164 Fri's open Int 24,464, up 97 HOGS-Lean (CME) The ultimate power trip. cents per id. Dec 52.20 52.90 57.90 57.95 64.15 52.90 57.20 57.30 63.65 62.00 59.70 55.50 52.45 57.30 57.85 64.02 62.20 60.12 55.75 .05 .50 .27 .20 .42 .33 Feb 00 Apr 00 JunOO Jul 00 Aug 00 56.90 57.10 63.55 62.00 59.70 55.50 CHICAGO POTATOES CHICAGO (AP) USDA Major potato markets FOB shipping point US 1 Friday. Russets 100 lb ackt non aiza Wisconsin 6.50-7.00: Colorado 7.00-7.50: Idaho 6.50-7.00.

Rusaats 50 lb cartons per cwt 70 count: Washington and Oregon 6.50: Wisconsin 11.00-12.00: Colorado 11.00-12.00: Idaho 15.00. Russets 50 lb cartons par cwt 80 count: Washington and Oregon 5.50-6.00: Wiaconsin 11.00-12.00: Colorado 10.00-11.00: Idaho 13.00. Russets SO lb cartons 100 count: Waahington and Oregon 4.50-5.00: Wisconsin 10.00-11.00: Colorado 10.00-11.00: Idaho 10.00-11.00. Round reds 100 lb sacks size Wisconsin 8.50-9.50: Minnesota-North Dakota 10.50-11.00. Round whites 100 lb sacks size Wisconsin 6.50-7.00.

Open High Low Settle Chg. WHEAT (CBOT) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 99 228V2 2331 227V 233 5 Mar 00 2421 248' 2 2473 5 May 00 253 252V1 257 5V4 Jul 00 264 268Va 263 268 5 Sep 00 277 277 277 277 5 Dec 00 286VJ 291 "a 286 2911 5V Jul 01 306 306 306 306 Fri'e sales 36,484 Fri's open Int 130,723, up 231 62.45 60.20 55.75 uctoo Fri's sale 9,754 Frl' open Int 57,290, off 166 PORK BELLIES (CME) 40,000 cents per lb. Feb 00 77.10 77.47 75.50 75.70 Mar 00 76.25 76.40 74.50 74.50 May 00 75.75 76.00 74.20 74.20 Jul 00 75.90 75.90 75.40 75.40 Aug 00 71.50 .50 Fri tales 1,403 Frl open Int 4,519, off 39 WINTER WHEAT (KCBT) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 99 260 262 259 262 614 Mar 00 270 277 270 514 May 00 28111 287 281 286 4 Jul 00 291 296V1 291 296V 5 Dec 00 315 315 315 315 511 Fri's ssles 8,112 Fri's open Int 64,71 4, up 527 SPRING WHEAT (MGE) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel CORN hi ii 5,000 bu minimum- Tj-ir-rV cents per bushel 188 192 3Va Dec 99 189 193VJ or.1 1 205VJ 201 3 3 3 Mar 00 May 00 Jul 00 Sep 00 Nov 00 200V4 204V1 207V 211V4 214V4 218 221 Vj 224Va 231 230 234 207 212 218V1 221 225 231 234VJ Protein prices: 11 percent, no quote: 12 percent, no quote: 13 percent, 3.33V4 bid up 1 to down 9 14 percent. 3.53V4 bid up 1 to down 14 14.5 percent, 3.63' to 3.78V4 up 1 to 6 15 percent, 3.78 V4 to 4.I6V4 down 19 to up 3 16 percent, no quote: 17 percent, no quote. Hard red winter wheat: 12 percent protein no quote: 1 3 percent no quote.

H-A-D choice milling: no quote balance milling: 4.00 bid no comparison terminal Minneapolie no quote: Duluth: no quote Number traded: milling 0 cara: top traded milling 0 cars. Off grads as low as no quote Minneapolis, no quote. Discounts, amber 5 to 10 cents: durum 10 to 40 cents. Corn No. 2 yellow Minneapolis: 1.69' 2 bid up 3 Milling Oats No.

1 2: no quote Non-milling oats: no quots Barley cars a yeer ego Malting 70 PI no quote MorexRobust: no quote Excel: no quote No. 2 feed barley Duluth: no bid Minneapolis: 1.40 bid Rye No. 1 PI: no quote: No. 2: no quote Soybeans No. 1 yellow Minneapolis: 4.39V! bid up 4 MONTANA GRAIN Closing elevator bids: Compared to Friday, winter wheat 3 to 5 cents higher: spring wheat ateady to 3 higher; soft white wheat eteedy; durum wheat to 25 lower; malting barley, feed barley, and oats steedy.

Wheat pricee are in dollars per bushel. "Montana cash pricee: winter wheel 12 pet, Billings area 240, Greet Fells area 244-246, Ne Mt 220-226, Spring wheat 14 pet, Billings area 292, Great Falls area 292-301, Ne Mt 272-277; feed barley, Billings area 300-313; Great Falls 305-320, Ne Mt 260-271 durum wheel 340-370; malting barley 475-575; oats 272-350 'Pricee not necessarily representative of all terminals within Mt. BILLINGS SHEEP Billings, MT Monday Dec. 06, 1999 SHEEP 2,960 Compered to two weeks ago: Slaughter lambs not tested. Slaughter ewee eteedy to 2.00 higher.

Feeder lambs fully 3.00 higher, Instances up to 6.00 higher on lembe under 80 Ibe. Demand very good on active tred- Ing. Slaughter ewes: Utility end Good 1-2 30.00 35.00. Cull 1-2 28.00-30.00. Feeder lambs: Medium and Large 1-2 few 55-97 lbs 87.0041.00; 60-70 lbs 91.00-84.00; 70-80 lbs 90.00-95.25; 80-90 IbS 90.00-94.00; 90-100 Ibs 87.00-92.75; 100-115 Ibs 81.00 87.00; 116-135 lbs 77.50-84.00.

SIOUX FALLS LIVESTOCK SIOUX FALLS, S.O. (AP) (USDA) Monday cattle: 100. Not enough any on class to establish trade. Hogs: 900. Barrows and Gilts 1.60 higher 49-51 percent lean 220-270 IbS 36.60.

Sows: steedy to 1.00 higher. U.S. 1-3 300450 Ibs 25.50-26.00: 450-600 Ibs 27.00: 500-700 Ibs. 30.00-32.00. Boars: 300-700 Iba.

10.00. Sheep: 700. Shorn slaughter lambt told 1.00-6.00 lower, mostly 4.00-5.00 lower on thoss over 145 wooled slaughter lambs 1.00-2.00 lower. Shorn Slaughter Lamba: Choice, end Prime 2-3, No. 1-2 pelta 136-164 Iba.

75.100-78.40. Wooled Slaughter Lambs: Choice, end Prim 2-3, 122-151 lbs. 73.75-76.50. 2 22 2Va Dec 00 Fri's sales 48,011 UeCW 314 314' a 31Z-W 31'4 2 320Vi 324 Mar 00 31911 323V4 330 327 330V1 Vt -afc May 00 327 Jul 00 337 337 336 337 2V4 211 2 3 311 -1 34211 3431, 3421, 3431,, Sep 00 Dec 00 353 361 Mar 01 Fri's sales 7,449 Fri's open Int 20.924, up 82 WHITE WHEAT (MGE) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 99 Mar 00 296 297 296 1 290 297 302 307 312 May 00 1 1 Jul 00 Sep 00 Frlrssale4 Fri's open kit 366, off 2 Fri's open Int 391 ,900, oft 3,1 1 1 OATS (CBOT) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Dec 99 103V4 104i 103V4 10411 Mar 00 113V1 114Vi 113Vi 114 VH May 00 118V1 119V4 II8V4 118V! 1V Jul 00 117 117V2 117 117V4 114 Sep 00 122 122 121VJ 12111 1V4 Dec 00 12611 127 126Vi 127 Vi Fri's sales 882 Fri's open Int 11,782, off 306 SOYBEANS (CBOT) 5,000 bu minimum- cents per bushel Jen 00 473 478l 471 4761 Mar 00 479 485' 478 3 May 00 486 49111 489'1 Jul 00 490 496V 490 495V4 3" Aug 00 493 497 493 495V4 2 "4 Sep 00 494 496 494 495 IV Nov 00 498 502 497 501 V4 3 Fri's sales 32.441 Fri's open Int 161,652, up 623 CATTLE (CME) 40,000 cents per lb. Dec 99 69.42 69.70 68.22 69.37 .15 Feb 00 69.50 69.77 69.12 69.27 Apr 00 70.87 71.25 70.78 70.92 .05 JunOO 69.20 69.40 69.90 69.05 Aug 00 69.00 69.40 68.89 69.00 Oct 00 70.75 71.20 70.75 70.77 .05 Dec 00 71.90 72.37 71.90 71.97 .05 Fri's sals 15,213 Fri's open Int 127,986, off 731 FEEDER CATTLE (CME) '99 Lincoln Navigator MINNEAPOLIS GRAIN MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Wheat receipt Monday 291, a year ago 254.

Spring wheat cash trsding basis: switched to the March future. (Prices rsflect No. 1 milling quality only. Milling quality Is defined aa: 275 or better falling numbers: 58 lbs or better: 13.5 percent or less moisture: 1.S percent or lest damage, 1,6 percent or leat dockage and 2.0 ppm or less vomltonln.) No, 1 dsrk 13-15 percent protein: Prices: mixed, 19 cents lower to 6 cents higher from 3.23V4 bid to 4.18V Test wslght premiums: 0 to 1 oent tach 12 pound 58 to 60 Ibt: 1 to 2 cent dltcount lor each 12 pound 68 to 66 Ibt. Non-mllllng dltcountt: .85 to 1.75 cents.

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