COEUR d'ALENE - Idaho's newly renovated capitol building offers more opportunities for the public to witness the political process from anywhere in the state, and makes it possible for citizens to interact with legislators without traveling to Boise.

Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, and Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, had a chance to give the new interactive communication capabilities a spin last week during a joint Education Committee meeting.

"We could all see each other - truly amazing technology," Goedde said.

High school students, teachers and administrators from the Weiser School District in southwestern Idaho and the West Side District in eastern Idaho attended the meeting by video conference.

The discussion was about the Idaho Education Network, a statewide effort to provide broadband Internet access and virtual education capabilities to every public school and community across Idaho.

Goedde said the system would allow a teacher to instruct students outside the district by way of a virtual feed.

Beyond the technology's usefulness as an educational tool, Goedde said they benefit the general public also.

"I can foresee at some point in time that we would have capabilities of taking testimony from people in Coeur d'Alene at a committee meeting Boise."

The video conference capabilities are just being explored, and there are no plans yet for how they will be used.

"I guess, as with any tool, you have to walk before you can run, but there is tremendous opportunity," Goedde said.

Gary Daniels, spokesman for the Idaho Capitol Commission, said every facet of the renovation construction project was planned and completed with increased public participation in mind.

Through a partnership with Idaho Public Television, there is also increased audio and video coverage from the building.

New this year, there is live audio streaming of every standing committee, said Pete Morrill, Idaho Public Television general manager.

That's in addition to the existing session coverage that can be accessed online or viewed on the statewide public television system.

"This has been a great partnership between the Legislature and Idaho Public Television that benefits every citizen from Bonners Ferry to Montpelier," Morrill said.

The links can be found on the Idaho Legislature's home page, http://legislature.idaho.gov/, or by going directly to the Web site for "Idaho Legislature Live," http://idahoptv.org/leglive/.