Steven Gardner of the Bremerton, WA  Sun reports that Boeing scraps telework plan at OC-Poulsbo (Nov 12, 2003) - a project to investigate the use of telework centers in Kitsap Washington, blogged here back in August. According to the article, "The company says there is not enough financial benefit or local employee interest to proceed." Sad news for Kitsap County? Not really according to Ed Stern, Poulsbo city councilman and member of the board of the Kitsap Regional Economic Development Council:

"Stern said the company's decision reflects the business community's attitudes about infrastructure, that it's largely the responsibility of government. Since Stern has long pitched fiber as a way to save on roads, he has no problem in seeing government jump ahead in implementing fiber before businesses are willing."

2:40:33 PM    
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Toni Kistner, who has reported on the Telework Consortium several times in the past, has a new Network World column called A closer look at the Telework Consortium's efforts (11/10/93). And as she puts it, "The Telework Consortium is busy these days, compiling research reports, testing products and conducting pilots."

The article includes a nice overview of our latest research report, The Public Cost of Increased Commuting in Northern Virginia, and a glance at the work we're doing in partnership with the NetTech Center of Winchester. We'll be posting more information about this partnership on our website in the coming days.

I could tell you more about Toni's article, but instead I'll encourage you to read the article yourself, then read the related article, Big ideas for advancing telework, also by Toni. This one is an interview with John Starke, President of the Telework Consortium,

"Telework has come a long way, with many professionals routinely working away from the office. But can technology take it to the next level - get it to places that today can't support it? The Telework Consortium , a nonprofit organization charged with addressing the question, says it believes ubiquitous 100M bit/sec broadband and videoconferencing is the key. With its research, lab tests and technology trials, the group wants to profoundly change the way we work. John Starke, its president, recently spoke with Network World's Net.Worker Managing Editor Toni Kistner about the group's strategy."

My favorite quote: "This report isn't intended to just sit on a shelf. We're going to hit people over the head with it." John Starke isn't just overflowing with "big ideas," he's also the drive and spirit to make them a reality. ...Um, yes, I'm sure he only meant this figuratively. The printed report just isn't that heavy ;-)  .

Toni mentions a telework-related term you don't hear too often: "proximate commuting". Google of course, knows all about it - the following is from today's top-ranked search result from the Center for Urban Transportation Research study, Proximate Commuting - Potential Benefits and Obstacles:

"A proximate commuting program is an alternate [traffic demand management] strategy that enables commuters to retain use of their private automobile, while still reducing the demand on the transportation system.  An employer-sponsored proximate commuting program seeks to match eligible employees with the job-site location closest to their home, thereby reducing the time and distance spent commuting to work."

9:03:48 AM    
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