GAO

United States General Accounting Office

Report to the Special Committee on the 

Year 2000 Technology Problem, U.S. 

Senate

September 1999 YEAR 2000 

COMPUTING CRISIS

Readiness of the 

Telecommunications 

Industry

GAO/AIMD-99-293

Page 1 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

United States General Accounting Office

Washington, D.C. 20548

Accounting and Information

Management Division

B-283621 Letr

September 30, 1999

The Honorable Robert F. Bennett

Chairman, Special Committee on the

Year 2000 Technology Problem

United States Senate

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The continuity of telecommunication services into the Year 2000 is critical 

to government, individuals, and major economic sectors both domestically 

and internationally. On August 3, 1999, we briefed your office on the results 

of our review of the reported Year 2000 readiness of the 

telecommunications industry. To identify the reported readiness, we 

analyzed reports issued by the Federal Communications Commission 

(FCC), individual carriers, and industry organizations. We did not 

independently assess whether individual telecommunications 

organizations are, in fact, Year 2000 ready. We conducted this work from 

February through July 1999 in accordance with generally accepted 

government auditing standards. This letter provides a high-level summary 

of our briefing. Our briefing slides are presented in appendix I.

Basic network services are unlikely to be immediately disrupted by Year 

2000-related problems if networks are left unremediated according to 

experts who have been tracking and studying the telecommunications 

industry's Year 2000 risks, such as the Network Reliability and 

Interoperability Council (NRIC) and the International Telecommunication 

Union (ITU). However, telecommunications carriers could still experience 

problems with network maintenance, service billing, or operator 

interfaces, such as incorrect date or day-of-week displays.

Major U.S. public telecommunications carriers have reported making good 

progress in remediating their networks and supporting systems in order to 

prevent these types of Year 2000-related problems. However, the status of 

international carrier renovation efforts is less certain. According to NRIC, 

large domestic carriers expect to achieve Year 2000 compliance by the end 

of the third quarter of 1999, while medium and small carriers are projecting 

that they will achieve compliance through the fourth quarter of 1999. 

Domestic wireless providers report similar progress, with large providers 
Page 2 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

estimating compliance by mid-1999 and medium and small carriers 

projecting compliance through the third quarter of 1999. 

While information is available to NRIC on major carrier readiness, there is 

less information on the status of medium and small carriers. As a result, 

efforts are ongoing to collect more data on the readiness of these carriers. 

The FCC is completing a survey, the U.S. Telephone Association is polling 

its members, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility 

Commissioners is developing a state-by-state assessment. 

The testing efforts that have been undertaken over the past year by 

domestic carriers further indicate that remediated networks will not 

experience major disruptions as a result of the Year 2000. Specifically, tests 

of local exchange carrier voice and data networking services as well as 

tests on the interoperability between local exchange carriers and 

interexchange carrier networks, reported by the Telco Forum and the 

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) respectively, 

resulted in few anomalies. None of the anomalies affected call processing 

within the network. Further, all Year 2000 anomalies were corrected and 

successfully retested before tests were concluded. 

Internationally, NRIC reported in July 1999 that, while countries around the 

globe continue to make progress, with some exceptions, their efforts have 

not matched the pace of efforts in the United States and Canada. NRIC 

cautioned, however, that the information available for its assessment was 

limited and varied in its view from source to source. Also, the results of the 

assessment varied widely within each region. For example, while Asia 

Pacific is considered to be a region at high risk, some nations within that 

region, such as Australia, are considered to be at low risk. The 

interoperability testing of international gateway switches is still under way. 

However, the ITU reported as of July 1999 that testing was successfully 

completed on eight international gateway switches.1

In addition to renovating and testing telecommunications systems and 

networks, it is also vital that carriers and the industry plan for unexpected 

1

It should be noted, however, that international testing is more limited in its minimum 

defined scope than testing conducted in North America. For example, only voice call 

processing is included in the minimum testing requirement defined by ITU; the testing of 

other network services such as data services is optional, as is stress testing. Also, 

information that is being made available on test results is much less detailed than the 

documentation on the results of North American test efforts.
Page 3 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

failures, such as power losses. According to Telco Year 2000 Forum 

representatives and information posted by carriers on their web sites, 

telecommunications carriers are updating their existing contingency plans 

to reflect Year 2000-related contingencies. Details on these plans, such as 

when they will be completed, are not yet available. For example, out of 

nine major carriers' SEC filings we reviewed in May 1999, five did not list 

dates by which their Year 2000 contingency plans would be complete. NRIC 

is assessing the progress of business continuity and contingency planning 

efforts.

We are sending copies of this report to the Honorable Christopher Dodd, 

Vice Chairman, Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology 

Problem, and the Honorable Stephen Horn, Chairman, and Representative 

Jim Turner, Ranking Minority Member, Subcommittee on Government 

Management, Information and Technology, House Committee on 

Government Reform. We are also sending copies to the Honorable Jacob J. 

Lew, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Copies will be 

made available to others upon request.

If you have any questions, please contact me or Kevin Conway, Assistant 

Director, at 202-512-6240 or by e-mail at brockj.aimd@gao.gov or 

conwayk.aimd@gao.gov . Other major contributors to this work were Mary 

Marshall, Sanford Reigle, Philip Rutar, and James Weidner.

Sincerely yours,

Jack L. Brock, Jr.

Director, Governmentwide and 

 Defense Information Systems
Page 4 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on Apendxies

the Year 2000 Technology Problem ApendxiI

1

Accounting and Information

Management Division

Year 2000 Readiness of the

Telecommunications Industry

Presented to

U.S. Senate Special Committee on the

Year 2000 Technology Problem

August 3, 1999
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 5 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

2

Agenda

• Objectives, scope, and methodology

• Background

• Reported Year 2000 readiness status

• Wireline services

• Wireless services

• International services

• Industry test activities and results

• Contingency planning activities

• Observations
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 6 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

3

Objectives, Scope, and

Methodology

Our objectives were to determine the reported Year 2000

readiness status of major carriers; to evaluate results of

industry testing; and to identify contingency planning

actions and strategies underway.

To meet our objectives, we reviewed

• The Federal Communications Commission’s Year 2000 Report on

the Communications Sector;

• Reports and working papers of the Network Reliability and

Interoperability Council (NRIC);

• Reports on industry Year 2000 testing activities;

• Planning, status and other documentation obtained from carrier web

sites; and

• Year 2000 disclosures contained within the quarterly 10-Q and

annual 10-K statements of major carriers to the Securities and

Exchange Commission (SEC).
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 7 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

4

Objectives, Scope, and

Methodology (cont’d)

We also contacted officials at the

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC);

• National Communications System (NCS); and

• Telecommunications associations, including

• Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions

(ATIS),

• Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association

(CTIA), and

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

We conducted our work between February 1999 and

July 1999 in accordance with generally accepted government

auditing standards.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 8 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

5

Background

Telecommunications services are critically important to

• the economy

• infrastructure operations, including power

• government operations

• safety and well-being of citizens
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 9 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

6

Background (cont’d)

Year 2000 poses a range of risks to

telecommunications services if left unremediated.

While basic call processing may be unaffected, the risks

posed include:

• Limited or blocked service due to degraded network operations,

• Problems with service billing,

• Problems with network maintenance capabilities because maintenance

activities do not start, or

• Problems with network operator interfaces, such as incorrect date or dayof-week displays.

Also, features available on some customer premises

equipment, such as date-related call routing, may fail.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 10 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

7

Background (cont’d)

There have been significant efforts undertaken to raise

Year 2000 awareness.

• Federal efforts

• President’s Council on Year 2000 Conversion

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

• Network Reliability and Interoperability Council

(NRIC)

• Industry efforts

• Carrier remediation efforts

• Carrier outreach
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 11 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

8

Wireline, Wireless, and International Carrier Readiness
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 12 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

9

Readiness of Wireline

Services

• Significant carrier remediation is underway. Major carriers

estimate they will spend more than $2.8B to upgrade

networks and supporting systems.

• According to NRIC, most US carriers report that they

expect to complete critical remediation actions soon.

• Large carriers projecting September 1999 compliance

• Medium and small carriers projecting completion

through the 4th quarter, 1999

• Carriers have completed extensive interoperability testing

which disclose no service-affecting problems.

• Limited information is available on small carrier readiness.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 13 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

10

Readiness of Wireless

Services

• Large wireless carriers plan to be compliant by mid-1999;

medium and small wireless carriers projecting dates through

the 3rd quarter.

• Wireless-wireline interoperability testing completed in

February 1999; no service-affecting problems disclosed.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 14 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

11

Readiness of International

Services

International Y2K status is uncertain

• Limited information is available on status of

telecommunications carriers outside of the U.S.

In their assessment of International readiness

assessment to date, experts caution that disruptions

could occur, but the impact will likely be limited in both

scope and effect.

• ITU, July 1999

• NRIC, July 1999
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 15 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

12

Readiness of International

Services (cont’d)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), July 1999

• Material disruption to network call connectivity is

unlikely; there is little date sensitive information passed

across network interfaces in real time.

• There may be difficulties in connecting to some

telecommunications providers, and there may be some

effects due to re-routing of network traffic.

• Major telecommunications companies and their

partners are unlikely to experience significant Y2Krelated service disruption.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 16 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

13

Readiness of International

Services (cont’d)

NRIC Assessment of International Readiness

 July 1999

• Risk of call failure between North America and

other regions is low.

• Potential impacts include call setup delay due

to congestion in some foreign networks, and

service quality degradation over time due to

non-compliant network components.

• Unpredictable infrastructure failures (e.g.,

power) could adversely impact networks.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 17 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

14

Readiness of International

Services (cont’d)

• NRIC Assessment of International Readiness

 July 1999 (219 Countries)

• Used six sources of global risk data that furnished

information to NRIC on an anonymous reporting

basis

• Defined three levels of risk -- low, medium, and

high -- based on perception of risk

• NRIC recognized limitations of data; information is

inconsistent from report to report and country to

country
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 18 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

15

Readiness of International

Services (cont’d)

NRIC Assessment of International Readiness

 Result by Region

• High Risk Regions:

• Central and South America (including Mexico)

• Indian sub-continent

• Sub-Sahara Africa

• Eastern Europe

• Middle East and North Africa (excluding Israel)

• Asia Pacific
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 19 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

16

Value, Limitations, and Status of Industry Year 2000 Testing
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 20 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

17

Industry Year 2000 Testing

Value

• Interoperability testing provides some confidence in

the network’s ability to operate properly and

accurately exchange information in the Year 2000.

• Inter-carrier testing generates information enabling

potentially affected parties to better understand risks

posed by the Year 2000 problem. 
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 21 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

18

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Limitations

• Inherent complexities and network

interdependencies preclude industry’s ability to do

100% testing for Year 2000 readiness.

• Not possible to fully recreate the operational public

network in an “off-line” lab environment for testing

purposes.

• As a result, Year 2000 interoperability can only be

tested in pieces within a lab environment, and can

be fully assured compliant only if all pieces

interoperate on January 1, 2000.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 22 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

19

Levels of Year 2000 Testing in

Telecommunications

• Industry is using a complementary tiered

approach to Year 2000 testing.

• Telco Year 2000 Forum testing of local

exchange carrier (LEC) network services

• Alliance for Telecommunications Industry

Solutions (ATIS) testing of interoperability

between LEC and interexchange carrier

(IXC) networks

• Testing of international gateway switches

coordinated by the International

Telecommunication Union (ITU)

This inter-carrier testing is in addition to vendor

product testing, and independent carrier testing.

SOURCE: Telco Forum
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 23 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

20

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Telco Year 2000 Forum Testing Scope

• Local exchange carrier’s portion of network

• Services and features tested

• Basic, enhanced, and intelligent network

services

• Data transport

• Management systems

• Emergency services

• Interoperability of elements supporting these

services and features 
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 24 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

21

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Telco Year 2000 Forum Testing Results

• Testing conducted from July 1998 to December 1998;

1,914 test cases executed

• Reportedly less than 2% of tests generated

findings or anomalies

• Only six Y2K-related anomalies encountered

• All six fixed by vendors, successfully re-tested

• None of the anomalies were service-affecting
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 25 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

22

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

ATIS Network Signaling System Year 2000

Interoperability Testing Scope

• Testing checked inter-network interoperability of

different local and long-distance service providers’

equipment in a Y2K environment

• Tests focused on voice call processing events

• Mass calling events and potential congestion

• Cross-network services call completion (e.g.,

calling card validation, toll-free service)

• Government Emergency Telecommunications

Service (GETS)
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 26 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

23

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

ATIS Network Signaling System Year 2000

Interoperability Testing Results

• Testing conducted on remediated infrastructure

from January 1999 to February 1999

• There were reportedly no Y2K-related anomalies

encountered during testing
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 27 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

24

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

ATIS Financial Network Service Year 2000 Testing

Scope

• Testing to verify functioning of interconnected data

communications services (frame relay networks) in a

Y2K environment

• Tests focused on network services supporting

financial industry transaction processing

• Credit card authorization

• Clearing and settlement process
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 28 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

25

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

ATIS Financial Network Service Year 2000 Testing

Results

• Testing conducted on remediated infrastructure

during April 1999

• There were reportedly no Y2K-related anomalies

encountered during testing
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 29 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

26

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Cellular Industry Year 2000 Interoperability Testing Scope

• The Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association

(CTIA), major cellular carriers, and equipment suppliers

participated with ATIS network testing.

• Testing addressed

• wireless to wireline testing,

• wireline to wireless testing,

• wireless to wireless testing, and

• emergency 911 calling.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 30 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

27

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Cellular Industry Year 2000 Interoperability Testing Results

• Of more than 825 tests executed, there were 75 test

anomalies (e.g., facility unavailable, or an improper

Enhanced 911 services translation, etc.).

• There were reportedly no Y2K-related anomalies

encountered during testing.

• All anomalies encountered were addressed, re-tested,

and the test event was subsequently successfully

completed.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 31 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

28

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

International testing scope

• ITU has been coordinating interoperability and

testing activities between major international

carriers.

• ITU trying to assure all international gateway

switch types are tested through bilateral agreements

between participating network operators.

• Minimum test requirement covers International

Direct Dialed (IDD) voice call set-up, processing,

and termination over the course of critical rollover

dates.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 32 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

29

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

International testing (cont’d)

• ITU’s minimum testing is limited in scope

• Applies to voice call processing only; other

network services or conditions (e.g., data

services or network stress testing) may be tested

at discretion of parties.

• As a result, there will be no assurance of

uniform testing of a full range of services during

all bilateral testing efforts.

• Test results are not readily available

• Only limited results are publicly available.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 33 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

30

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

International testing (cont’d)

• There are 19 uniquely configured switches sold by

seven manufacturers used as international gateway

switches.

• The ITU has expressed concern about the ability to

test all 19 gateway switch types.

• International testing is continuing.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 34 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

31

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Reported International testing results to date are

encouraging

• The ITU is reporting that as of July 1999, testing

was successfully completed on eight International

Gateway Switches available from six vendors:

VENDOR SWITCH

Alcatel E10, S12

Ericsson AXE10

Lucent 4ESS, 5ESS

NEC Neax 61E

NORTEL DMS 300

Siemens EWSD
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 35 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

32

Industry Year 2000 Testing

(cont’d)

Although limited test results are available to the public

from the ITU, some carriers are making reports

available. For example, AT&T posted five reports of

successful international testing:

TEST PARTNER SERVICES TESTED DATE COMPLETED

Hong Kong Telecom Voice Services February 1999

Telkom South Africa Voice Services April 1999

Singapore Telecom Frame Relay Data Services April 1999

Joint Interoperability Testing

 Cross-Border Team1 Voice Services February 1999

Canadian Telecommunications

 Industry Forum (CTIF)2 Voice Services, Wireline, February 1999

 Wireless, Toll Free, and

 Inbound/Outbound International

NOTE: 1. Included AT&T, AT&T Canada, and Stentor.

 2. Included AT&T, Sprint, and Canadian telecommunications providers.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 36 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

33

Contingency Planning
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 37 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

34

Contingency Planning

FCC: “There is no assurance against random Year

2000 disruptions, despite the thorough and deliberate

remediation efforts any entity may undertake.”

Contingency planning should be undertaken by:

• Providers of telecommunications services, and

• Users of telecommunications services.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 38 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

35

Contingency Planning

(cont’d)

Limited information available on status of contingency

planning.

• FCC reported both wireline and wireless carriers

vague about when Y2K contingency plans would be

completed.

• FCC concerns echoed in GAO’s analysis of SEC

10-Q and 10-K public disclosures; of nine filings

reviewed, five did not give completion dates for

contingency plans.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 39 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

36

Contingency Planning

(cont’d)

• Carriers are updating existing plans to reflect

Year 2000-related contingencies.

• Telco Year 2000 Forum is addressing contingency

planning issue with members through information

exchange.

• NRIC is actively encouraging contingency planning:

• Co-sponsored April 1999 workshop with US

Telephone Association (USTA)

• Furnished detailed information on how to perform

contingency planning at its web site for users and

carriers (www.nric.org)
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 40 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

37

Contingency Planning

(cont’d)

Cross-industry plans are now taking shape, nationally

and internationally. For example,

• Cooperative Industry/Government information

exchanges are being planned and implemented

under NCS auspices (National Coordination Center)

in the U.S.

• Status and trouble reporting on carrier networks and

major network elements.

• Monitoring major date event horizons.

• Using of both positive reporting and exception reporting.

• Sharing network status information with President’s

Council’s Information Coordination Center.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 41 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

38

Contingency Planning

(cont’d)

Cross-industry plans are taking shape (cont’d).

• International “follow-the-sun” strategy being

pursued under ITU auspices.

• Y2K anomaly and outage tracking during key date

transitions.

• Beginning with the date change in Asia-Pacific region,

which contains over 90% of switching and transmission

systems commonly used around the world.

• Follow a web-based reporting process, with positive

reports submitted at prescribed intervals, and exception

reports as they arise.
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 42 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

39

Observations

• Extensive efforts taken in the U.S. to remediate and

test network infrastructure minimize likelihood of

widespread service outages

• Test results support conclusion that remediated

infrastructure will encounter few, if any, Year 2000-

related disruptions

• Contingency planning actions remain important to

respond in timely manner to unforeseen circumstances
Appendix I

Briefing to the Senate Special Committee on 

the Year 2000 Technology Problem

Page 43 GAO/AIMD-99-293 Telecommunications Y2K Readiness

40

Observations (cont’d)

• Two areas of concern remain

• Limited information available on status of small and

medium domestic carriers, wireline and wireless

• Limited information available on status of

international telecommunications carrier efforts and

test results

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