Investigating the Impact of the Year 2000 Problem: Summary of the Committee's Work in the 105th Congress

The Committee has found that the most frustrating aspect of addressing the Year 2000 (Y2K) problem is sorting fact from fiction. Reports from even the most reputable news sources fall prey to polarizing forces either over emphasizing a handful of Y2K survivalists, or down-playing the event as a hoax designed to sell information technology equipment. The Internet surges with rumors of massive Y2K test failures that turn out to be gross misstatements, while image-sensitive corporations down- play real Y2K problems. The good news is that talk of the death of civilization, to borrow from Mark Twain, has been greatly exaggerated. The bad news is that Committee research has concluded that the Y2K problem is very real and that Y2K risk management efforts must be increased to avert serious disruptions.