Preparedness of Telecommunications Systems . Outside Verification Efforts . The evaluation of high impact programs was not as good. The high impact programs have, as program partners, other federal agencies, state and local governments, private contractors, schools, banks, and other organizations and groups. At the June evaluation, only the Social Security Benefits and National Weather Service were graded Y2K ready.
Agencies now report that seven programs are ready.
These programs deal with disease monitoring, crime information, passport application rans ' benefits, and veterans ' health care. As reported in the Wa shington Post, the OMB report identifies 15 of 24 large cabinet departments and agencies as having finished Y2K repairs and tests. Nine agencies have a combined total of 217 critical systems that still require repair or replacement - including 161 system s at the Department of Defense. Out There The Y2K Act was signed into law on July 20th, giving businesses less than 6 months to assess and understand its consequences. With so little time, there is a tool available designed to help managers in the Y2K arena handle pre-litigation Y2K customer co ntact.