User:Yn1v/Media Production

Objective
Have resources to produce and distribute media in Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama)

Context
Central America is a small strip of land that connects North and South America. Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua have a Custom treaty where there is free transit of goods after Customs have been cleared on one country. There a plenty of cheap parcels services for Costa Rica and Panama. Currently there are Active Ambassadors in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Panama. We have a good relationship with Linux User Groups on all Central American countries. As example Ubuntu-Honduras asked for fedora media for FLISOL (a Free Software Latin American Installation Festival) so they can provide installation in any major Linux flavor. Ambassadors From El Salvador and Nicaragua have showed up in Guatemalan Free Software Congress to gave presentations and distribute media.

Current Media Production
Nicaragua is producing disk using regular DVD burners, using printable media and labeling on a inkjet printer. Printable DVD media is cheaper than any other media, so adhesive labels is a extra expense. Printable CD are almost as expensive as DVD, so it will be needed to secure a way to got hold on a source for that media, or use adhesive labels. Part of the problem with labels is that there is not a reliable source, as they business don't keep the same brands. Adjust are required for each new batch. Another issue is paper envelopes, there are times that it is impossible to get them. It is possible to negotiate with suppliers when there is a bigger order at hand. El Salvador and Panama have not engaged on media production for distribution.

Historic Media Production in 2009
Quantity in parenthesis are blank media (with blank envelopes) that was given by Fedora LATAM at FISL to Neville A. Cross. The rest has been paid by the local ambassadors. The labelling for Panama was obtained as sponsorship. The media distributed in Guatemala was produced (burned/labelled) in Nicaragua.

Proposed Solution
It will be desirable to have means to produce media locally. That will provide bulk request to negotiate with suppliers and also the ability to fast response to regional requests.

Media Center
This is high volume production unit. A quotation from a local vendor have been obtained. The proposed solution is a Epson PP-100. You can see the quotation here

Disc Duplicator
This is a low volume production unit.

Labeling can be accoplishing by buying a inkjet printer with a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply System) with allows to use bulk ink tanks. This is not locally avaliable (equipment nor ink). The cost can be near $350

Locally hire disk production
Have some one produce the media.

Selected
Ideally the media production center will produce media with higer quality, lower cost and less user involvement. This is not beyond of Fedora scope as will result cheaper buying cost than Brazil's equipment as there are no further taxes to add. It will also has the benefit of lower ink cost due the multiple cartridge characteristic.

Continuity Plan
This is a investment and Fedora should be assured that it will accomplish its intended ends. The primarily responsible for keeping the unit working and distributing the media will be Neville A. Cross. Nicaragua also has two other Fedora contributors that can ensure continuity: Yader Velasquez and Joel Davila. Yader has already accepted to keep up this duty or make sure that Jose Lopez receive the equipment to continue the media production and distribution. Jose has agreed to take care upon this if Yader is not able to do so. Joel can be reached at any time to check that the equipment is used for its intended use and kept in a environment that will ensure its life.