Summary: Basic network services are unlikely to be immediately disrupted by the Year 2000 problem even if networks are left unremediated, according to experts. 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 head off these types of Year 2000 problems. The status of international carriers' renovation efforts is less certain. In response to the lack of information on the status of medium and small carriers, the Federal Communications Commission is doing a survey, the U.S. Telephone Association is polling its members, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is doing state-by-state assessments. The testing efforts undertaken during the last year by domestic carriers further indicate that remediated networks will not experience major disruptions as a result of the Year 2000 computer problem. Internationally, the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council reported this year that, although countries around the world continue to make progress, with some exceptions, their efforts have not matched the pace of efforts in the United States and Canada. In addition to renovating and testing telecommunications systems and networks, carriers and the industry must also plan for unexpected failures, such as power losses. Telecommunications carriers are updating their existing contingency plans to reflect Year 2000-related contingencies, but details on these plans, such as when they will be completed, are not yet available.
