Taken from the Comp 2000 newsgroup--Posted by Jo Anne Slaven

http://www.globetechnology.com/gam/Y2K/19990305/UCELLN.html

Feds buy satellite phones for use in Y2K emergency

Friday, March 5, 1999 Canadian Press

Here are a few paragraphs from the story:

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Ottawa -- The federal government is stocking up on satellite-based telephones as part of a backup plan against Year 2000-related disruptions in the public telephone system.

Officials at Public Works Canada say they have purchased at least 200 of the phones for various government departments planning for Y2K, such as National Defence and the RCMP.

Iridium or MSAT phones sell for about $5,000 apiece, excluding air time.

Dozens of other phones have also been bought directly by the departments themselves. Foreign Affairs has reserved channels on the INMARSAT system starting Dec. 20, at a cost of $1.1-million.

"It will provide an insurance policy to virtually all Canadian missions and consuls abroad and Canadians travelling abroad," said spokeswoman Valerie Noftle.

Al Kingan, director of mobile satellite services at Public Works, says the purchases shouldn't be seen as an indication the government expects the phone system to fail.

"The consensus right now is that, having done a very exhaustive evaluation of the telecom facilities, that there will probably be only minor interruptions," he said. "It may be in a critical point, you don't know where it's going to happen. You can't afford to take a chance."

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Please note the use of the phrases "insurance policy" and "you can't afford to take a chance".

Jo Anne

-- Scarlett (ohara@tara.net), March 06, 1999

Answers

Right on Scarlet! You caught the right phrases.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), March 06, 1999.

This contingency plan assumes the satellites will be functional. The Navy says the GPS satellites are compliant. What is known as to the comsats?

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), March 06, 1999.