We have been advocating the use of Category 5 UTP (unshielded twisted pair) for wiring because of its low cost ($.17 per foot plus installation labor) and its ability to support data transfer rates of up to 100 Mbps. Nevertheless, we continue to be asked if this type of installation will be sufficiently popular to assure ongoing support. A recent study by Sage Research, an independent consulting firm, should dispel any doubts. Responses from 126 corporations - with 1,000+ employees revealed that 81.3 percent plan to use Category 5 UTP for data cabling. While 18 percent also plan to use fiber optic cable, they plan to use fiber mainly for LAN backbones. Coax and shielded twisted pair have dropped from favor.