Report: Only three states cleared for Y2K troubles

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Report: Only three states cleared for Y2K troubles

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Only Iowa, Nebraska and North Dakota have completely tested their computer systems and are ready to face the new year without fear of potentially dangerous Year 2000 glitches, according to a federal report released Saturday.

The rest of the states have only 139 days to guarantee reliability of their systems that run everything from law enforcement agencies to utilities.

``No one can predict what might, or might not, happen once the clock ticks past midnight this New Year's Eve,'' said Rep. Stephen Horn, R-Calif. ``The only certainty is that this Jan. 1 deadline cannot be extended.''

The report by the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, was released at a congressional subcommittee hearing held in Silicon Valley.

While all 50 states have some type of plan in place, most said they won't be fully ready until next month and 14 states said their deadline to have all systems tested isn't until October or later.

``States are facing an extremely busy next few months to get themselves ready,'' said Joel Willemssen, director of the U.S. Civil Agencies Information Systems. ``Important progress has been made, but much work remains to avoid disruption of critical services.''

The Y2K problem involves older computers that recognize only the last two digits of a year and could read the digits ``00'' as 1900 rather than 2000. In some cases, that confusion could cause computers to malfunction or break down, potentially causing power outages, air transportation delays, delayed tax refunds, failed medical devices and other disruptions.

While most states lag in preparedness, the Silicon Valley companies that are greatly responsible for the computer chips used in so many systems told the committee they are ready.

``We feel we have one of the best Y2K programs in our industry,'' said Hewlett-Packard Co. marketing manager Brad Whitworth.

Intel Corp. government affairs manager Richard Hall said that company's internal review, completed just 10 days ago, showed that 100 percent of its critical applications are Year 2000 capable.

Hall said Intel's biggest concern is that public power, water, telecommunications and transportation could halt at some of its overseas facilities.

Intel also has been working with local and state agencies to make sure utilities and other services will be working at its Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters.

The company has reason to worry, according to the GAO report.

Although California's periodic earthquakes already test many emergency systems, key computer systems that would be used in catastrophes have not been tested for Y2K problems, said the report.

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Polly want a cracker?? And Intel's CEO had the audacity to say y2k was just a bunch of media hype.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 14, 1999

Answers

And who knows if those 3 are even telling the truth? Or even know? Like "Dallas and Boston are ready" NOT. Or "Monkey County is the prime example of Y2K ready!" NOT. Or SS is compliant: NOT. Etc.
"Year 2000 capable" hhmmm.

-- h (h@h.h), August 14, 1999.

Yea know it just does not make any sense. Are we all just living in a fantasy world, drawing erroneous conclusions that y2k remediation just is not that important? At this point I would rather accept that I am deluded about the importance of compliance and the majority is accurate in their complacency. That must be the case. How else can one explain the profound public ignoring of information like this.

In my humble opinion if y2k is that immportant--- when a report like this becomes available-- Dan rather, Peter jennings, and Tom brokaw should interrupt T.V. with special reports about the state of y2k remediation. The fact that they do not must mean that it is not that significant. RIGHT!!!!!!!???

-- David Butts (dciinc@aol.com), August 14, 1999.


My great-great grandmother got by without electricity, so how hard could it be? The day after Christmas I'll go pick up a couple candles and cans of Chef Boyardee. No big deal. Besides, Christmas is a long time off.

-- typical idiot (change@channels.sitdumb), August 14, 1999.

David Butts commented:

"In my humble opinion if y2k is that immportant--- when a report like this becomes available-- Dan rather, Peter jennings, and Tom brokaw should interrupt T.V. with special reports about the state of y2k remediation. The fact that they do not must mean that it is not that significant. RIGHT!!!!!!!??? "

David, I'm sorry, this story did not involve a school shooting or any discussion of a distant relative of the Montana Milita getting a speeding ticket.

Dan Blather, Tom Broken-Paw, Peter Generous, and the entire CNN stuff cannot waste their time on this kind of trivial stuff. That is, not until their spinners instruct them to do so!.

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 14, 1999.


typical idiot--Xmas is a long time off? Hell, just got back from the mall and there's Xmas decorations up already! No sacredness in any holiday is there?

-- santaclause (santaclause@santaaaclause.com), August 14, 1999.


Santa Claus -- in August ??!!

-- gotta get out (once@ina.while), August 14, 1999.

"Hall said Intel's biggest concern is that public power, water, telecommunications and transportation could halt at some of its overseas facilities."

I'm real concerned that U.S. taxdollars will go to pay for these overseas problems because big U.S. companies can't compete without these provided. Shareholders must be protected. Another form of foreign aid and corporat welfare.

-- Johnny (JLJTM@BELLSOUTH.NET), August 14, 1999.


August 15, 1999. Only 3 states ready (maybe). 47 will complete in the next 4 months? Do you really believe that?

Anybody else notice this may be cutting it a little short? Cripes. We're not going to make it, are we.

-- death knell (tolls@for.us), August 15, 1999.


Iowa, population 2,857,000 Nebraska ------- 1,664,200 Nort Dakota ---- 664,900

My city alone has over twice the population of Iowa. If these states only now can claim to be Y2K Ready, it is disheartening.

-- Chris (%$^&^@pond.com), August 15, 1999.


Link to an article very similar to the one that started this thread:

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/19990814/tc/y2k_states_1.html

"Report: Only 3 States Y2K Ready"

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), August 15, 1999.



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