PREVIOUS:Apple Valley NEXT:Highland UP:Table of Contents
Davis
The two Davis sites, Birch Lane Telecenter and Davis Telebusiness Center, continue to be operated by a private developer, Databases & Algorithms, Inc. The sites are located within one block of each other in the northeastern section of Davis. Within walking distance are fast food restaurants, a health club, child-care facilities, and a drug store.
The largest recent promotional effort was the distribution of telework door hangers throughout East Davis. Administrators tried to increase community awareness of both telecenters by circulating more than 1,000 door hangers; however, the response rate was very low, with only three inquiries resulting from the effort. Administrators are currently developing a World Wide Web page for the centers.
Marketing efforts, funding sources, and the site description all remain unchanged since the December report.
The Birch Lane Telecenter has been in operation since February 1994. It is located in the computer lab of Birch Lane Elementary School and is used as a teaching facility during school hours. The site serves as a telecenter from 3:30 p.m. until midnight. The lab is a single room, 1,300 square feet in size, and offers 16 80486 personal computers with CD ROM, multi-media capabilities, and fax/modems. All computers are linked by a token-ring local area network providing access to approximately 300 different software packages. The center also offers the use of a color ink jet printer; a CD ROM library with more than 500 disks; and a color scanner.
Because this site is available to outside users only after school hours, it currently has no telecommuters. The center is utilized predominantly by drop-in computer users. An average of 15 to 20 drop-in users visit the center each day. Availability of Internet has led to a substantial increase in traffic during the first half of this year. Specifically, administrators report that the number of intracity telecommuters to the University of California-Davis campus via Internet has increased. In addition, several Internet classes have been conducted for a non-profit agency at the center.
Charges at the center are $5.00 per hour for students and $6.00 per hour for non-students. Administrators also offer an unlimited-use monthly pass for $42.00 for a single person or $69.00 for a family. Revenue from user fees is supplemented by support from the Davis Joint Unified School District, which is underwriting rent and utilities for the center.
This center began operations in November 1994 under the name Davis Telework Center. The name has recently been changed to Davis Telebusiness Center because the operator learned that trademark protection is claimed for the word "Telework." He decided to make a proactive name change and avoid any possible dispute.
The center is located at 1784 Picasso, Suite E in Davis, California, and has had no physical changes since the last report. It continues to offer a total of ten workstations in 932 square feet of space. Three of the workstations are located in a large room that also contains the reception area, two workstations are in each of two smaller offices, and a third office holds the final three workstations. The center is currently equipped with three 486 personal computers, two dial-out modems, two laser printers, and a fax/copier. Developers acquire computers as needed; additional machines will be made available as occupancy increases.
Equipment and service modifications are being explored to improve the services offered to telecommuters at this site. Administrators recently introduced voice mail service and are now researching the various options for making Internet access available. A current customer at the Davis Telebusiness Center has requested the service to improve communication and efficiency. Administrators tentatively plan to link the Davis telecenters together. They are also considering shifting the Internet connection from Birch Lane to the Davis Telebusiness Center using Frame Relay Technology.
Funding for the Telebusiness Center comes from the Yolo/Solano Air Quality Management District. Developers are currently outlining a fee schedule for telecommuters. To generate additional revenue, other services that complement telecommuting may be offered in the future. Available options include mobile offices, office hoteling, or renting space to visitors of other companies at Green Meadows Office Park.
Two telecommuters from two different employers currently use the Davis Telebusiness Center. On average, one person uses the telecenter each day.
PREVIOUS:Apple Valley NEXT:Highland UP:Table of Contents