Show Bennett Speaks on Bug By r Eric Bresee Horizon With only 15 months left until the turn of the millennium computer er users need to find a way to combat combat combat com com- bat the Year 2000 Bug said US U.S. Sen Robert K F. Bennett R Bennett spoke to business leaders and college officials at about how to comply with the bug Everyone must find their own solution to dealing with the year 2000 in the 15 months remaining Bennett said There wont won't be a aBill aBill aBill Bill Gates finding the answer one Saturday afternoon and allowing everyone to 0 purchase it II r t f 2000 Du gor ai i it itis N it-N is commonly called occurs when a computer tries to read the thc last two digits of the common six digit date format formal For example instead of reading 01 00 as Jan 1 2000 computers may read it as Jan 1 I 1900 The result could lead to a malfunction malfunction malfunction mal mal- function with utilities and lost bank hank accounts Bennett cited a Utah community that simulated the year 2000 with their water purification system The system failed to separate chemicals and dumped them into the water which would have poisoned the entire community Along with effecting water plants could effect could effect power plants causing major power out ages Bennett also informed small business owners to check with their financial institution to see if it they are compliant While the Federa Fed Fed- era r i Reserve Reserve- lJ j gu a i I banks and cr credit dit unions Bennett Bennett fears many smaller institutions could go bankrupt Bennett added the country's telecommunication industry to the list of those in desperate need to Everyone must find their own solution to dealing with the year 2000 U.S. Sen Robert Bennett comply with the bug Even Kven if the country's telecommunications telecommunications telecom telecom- are 98 percent compliant ant it means were we're non-complaint non since two percent will shut down downour downour downour our entire system Bennett said aid small smaIl h businesses hus also need a plan to conform with the problem We need to lo help small smaIl business business business busi busi- ness far too loo many are behind in their comprehension of the year 2000 said Bennett two Eighty Y M MId Id L y 4 a- a 1 x M r g y Utah Sen Robert F. F Bennett u speaks ks to percent of small business owners say they have no plan to deal with it when it happens which will he be too loo toolate toolate late and may put many of them out out- of I |