PNB Meeting - Jan 2007 - Pacifica Operations Report

Appendix A - Pacifica Needs Assessment

A cooperative process between the national technical staff and the technical managers of the local unit to determine the stage of technology at each unit, explore what aspects need to be improved or re-evaluated and plan for future needs.

This will be part of the first step in a network-wide collaborative process, on how to handle the growing needs of the stations (and PRA) within the network, and to help Pacifica keep pace in the broadcast world.

(a)Local station needs assessments.:

• Resource and process management
• Budgetary impacts of short and long-term technical needs
• Volunteer and staff training
• Documentation
• Increased quality of service
• Emergency backup systems and plans
• Security standards

(b)National network needs assessments:

• Budgetary impacts of short and long term network technical needs
• Digital broadcast upgrade –feasibility and desirability study (see separate report)
• Upgrade to the KU system. (as mentioned above)
• Pacifica Radio Archives needs assessment

The two major elements of such a plan would be:

1.Documentation – Training – Support - Standardization
Pacifica would suggest various hardware/software systems, provide links to getting such items, quick startup guides, simple video training films, and phone support for these systems. A good place to start would be with the equipment recently purchased by Pacifica.

2.National Operations Group –Tech Forums –Databases of Resources
(People, Information and Answers – www.Techport.org).
Pacifica has many people in the network with huge amounts of technical knowledge.

Pacifica needs to:
Identify the people with specific fields of expertise in the network.
Involve them as an expert contact or in the implementation of ongoing projects.
Make sure that adequate credit, resources and support are provided to sustain their involvement.