State looks at ways to patch Y2K failures

 

Last updated 08/20/1998, 08:32 a.m. MT

 

 By Steve Fidel

Deseret News staff writer

 

      Finding and fixing vulnerable computer problems is the state's top Y2K computer bug priority. But finding patches for systems that fail runs a close second.

      State technology officials told the Legislature's Public Utilities and Technology Interim Committee Wednesday that some computer-driven systems will surely fail when the clock ticks into the first minutes of 2000.

      Whether failures interrupt utility service, telecommunications or federal payments from Social Security or other programs or private businesses is hard to predict. A prime question that will be asked when such failures occur is: "Who's going to be responsible?" speculated Rep. Blake Chard, R-Layton, co-chairman of the state's Information Technology Commission.

      With the year 2000 still 18 months away, about 300 law firms around the country have already established Y2K litigation teams, Chard said. Their preparation is telling of the problems that are expected.

      Half of the state's computers have been tested and determined "compliant," and the goal is to have all of the state's computers Y2K compliant by July 1999, said David Fletcher, the state's Year 2000 Program Coordinator.

      Chief information officer Dave Moon told the committee each state agency is being required to have a Y2K contingency plan in place by the end of this year.

      Chard said there is great concern that local governments aren't on top of Y2K testing. Upstream, the state has no control over federal programs and Y2K problems they may encounter, but people affected by glitches will likely look to the state for help.

      The business sector is saying even less about its status for fear that an admission of problems could adversely affect stock prices or that a declaration of compliance followed by a failure could attract attention from some of those 300 law firms.

      "If we have a failure that would run days or maybe weeks, do we have the computer power to dig out of the hole?" asked committee member Rep. J. Brent Haymond, R-Springville.

      "We're in pretty good shape. We've got a good team," said Richard North, Information Technology Commission executive director.