January 23, 2004 - Washington DC, USA.- The GDLN LAC Videoconferencing Technicians came together for a regional meeting through MSN Messenger to discuss the current technical situation of GDLN LAC, identify areas of needs, and to prepare an action plan for the year ahead.

The meeting was organized as an initiative of Juan Carlos Franco, GDLN LAC Videoconferencing Coordinator and counted with the participation of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador - Globatel, El Salvador, Honduras, México IPN, Perú, Venezuela, and Washington DC. The meeting took place through instant messenger which allowed each participating GDLN Center's videoconferencing coordinator to have "just-in-time" communication with their colleagues.

The key items which emerged as priority action items included:

• Learn of new transmission technologies for videoconferences for cost savings and quality improvement
• Correct present technical errors in videoconferences in order to provide the best possible quality in the connections.
• Plan a videoconference which will serve to improve the audio and video quality of all the GDLN LAC sites.
• Standardize the pre-connection process for videoconferences which will help avoid inconveniences during sessions.
• Obtain a certification course in videoconference management for all GDLN LAC videoconferencing technicians with the objective of expanding knowledge, techniques, and technical terminology that will help facilitate access to videoconferencing technologies.
• Create a web page in which technical information relating to GDLN LAC is included (online forum, msn screen names, e-mails, cellular phones, office phones, technical FAQs, etc.)
• Create a e-News for all members of GDLN LAC which will contain technical reports developed after each videoconference, news, commentaries, and technical experiences.
• Need for punctuality during connections in order to provide timely problem-solving which will be re-inforced through a "Letter of Commitment on Punctuality" to be signed by all GDLN LAC sites.

With barely one month of operation in the new year, this dynamic group of GDLN technicians in the Latin America and Caribbean region will take the network to new levels through their sense of teamwork and cooperation.

For additional information regarding technical issues or developments in the GDLN Latin American and Caribbean region, please contact Juan Carlos Franco (jfranco1@worldbank.org).