Q: Will the year 2000 problem affect the average American?
A: Yes, but we won't know exactly how until January 1, 2000. Here's what we do know: Businesses and government agencies are working hard to ensure that critical systems supporting key services like power and telecommunications will continue to work without interruption on January 1, 2000. Although it's unlikely disruptions will occur in every computer or microchip-dependent activity, many of them could be affected.
Q: Can the year 2000 problem be fixed?
A: Yes. But while the "fix" is straightforward, many systems and their connections with each other are complex, which makes repair and replacement work time consuming. Thus, Y2K is primarily a management problem. The question is: In the time remaining, how can organizations best marshal the resources to deal with it?
Q: What is the Federal Government doing about the year 2000 problem?
A: Federal agencies have been working on the year 2000 problem for several years, some as early as 1989. Agencies are not only working to fix their critical systems, but are making inventories of their data exchanges with outside business partners -- for example, State and local governments that help to operate Federal programs -- to minimize service disruptions. For high-risk areas, agencies are developing plans to ensure that they will be able to conduct business even if their systems or outside services on which they depend are not available. Finally, the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion (see "Description of the Council" for more information) is coordinating agency efforts to reach out to companies, industry groups, State and local governments, and international entities to increase awareness of the problem and to offer support while emphasizing that those organizations are still responsible for fixing their systems.
Q: What can individuals and private sector firms do?
A: Start asking the right questions about their situations and get the facts -- Do I have a problem? If so, what is the extent of it? What am I doing about it? How are the organizations whom I depend upon -- suppliers, service providers, financial institutions -- doing? And for major risks to my operations, what contingency plans are appropriate?
Last Updated on: 10/16/98