The plan to establish an Internet access center called The Zone on Prospect Road was approved unanimously by the Saratoga Planning Commission at its April 23 meeting. It is the second of two locations for The Zone set to open at the end of May. The other business is located on Story Road in San Jose and is scheduled to open in two weeks.

The family-operated center will provide customers a place to log onto the Internet using high-speed wired and wireless connections. It will also feature audio and video conferencing equipment and facilities where professionals and businesses can hold meetings and conference calls. In addition, The Zone will accommodate individual and group training on personal computers for various types of professional certifications, including real estate and information technology.

Commissioners approved the plan under the condition that the center would reduce the number of its computer stations from the proposed 35 to 20 to correlate with the number of parking spaces in the lot.

Business owner Myha Trieu said she anticipates that The Zone will be successful, based on her experiences with her other business, Mobile Fusion on Saratoga Avenue in San Jose. While Mobile Fusion provides cellular services not related to The Zone, it also provides personal computer access.

Trieu said she first came up with the concept of opening a media access center two years ago while working as both a real estate agent and in pharmaceutical sales. She said she was always in need of finding a proper place to use her laptop during her breaks.

"It's hard to work on a laptop in a car," said Trieu.

The 28-year-old entrepreneur said she had a few specifics in mind when formulating the business.

"Almost everybody uses the Internet, and setting up a DSL line can be expensive. In addition, not having Internet access can be frustrating," she said. "I think the business would be a good return to the community."

Trieu said the facility would be a safe place where residents of all ages, including children, could learn and become more computer-savvy. She indicates that all 20 computers will be safeguarded against pornography and gambling sites. Filters will be installed, blocking access to certain websites. In addition, employees will have the ability to monitor what is viewed on other computers.

"I set up the business with ethics in mind," she said. "I am confident that it will do well in the community."

Commissioner Mike Uhl said The Zone would be a great solution for those who do not have Internet access in their homes, as well as for those who do have the capability to connect but do so at a slower speed.

"We don't have anything like this in the community," said Uhl. "Wireless is the direction of the future."