HUD DISTRIBUTES 18,000 VIDEOS ON Y2K PREPARATION TO PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITIES AND MANAGERS OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING

WASHINGTON - The Department of Housing and Urban Development will send housing authorities and managers of HUD-subsidized housing 18,000 copies of a video designed to help them update their computer systems and embedded microchip devices to avoid problems when the Year 2000 arrives.

The video, called Six Steps to Year 2000 Readiness, will be accompanied by a workbook that includes business function checklists, sample assessment documents, resource lists, and other practical information to further assist housing organizations in the development of their plans for Year 2000 conversion. The workbook can be downloaded from HUD's web site at http://www.hud.gov/cio/year2000

Computer systems around the world are being updated to prepare for the arrival of the Year 2000 (Y2K), because some computers, software and devices with embedded microchips recognize only two-digit years. If these systems aren't fixed, they won't work properly in 2000, when they will assume the "00" at the end of the year means it is 1900.

HUD has already prepared all of its own computer systems for Y2K.

HUD is releasing the video as part of Small Business Y2K Action Week, which will take place March 29-April 2. The Action Week is a nationwide program of Year 2000 seminars, discussions and traveling events produced by federal agencies and associations. It is sponsored by the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and the Small Business Administration.

HUD will broadcast the video via satellite on March 30 at 2 p.m. EST. The broadcast will be followed by a live phone-in question and answer session with a panel of Y2K and public housing experts. Coordinates for the satellite broadcast are: Telstar 4 (C-Band), Transponder 11, 3920 Mhz., Vertical, 89 Degrees West.

In addition to the satellite broadcast, HUD will also "webcast" the video on its Internet site at http://www.hud.gov/webcasts.

The 30-minute video explains step-by-step ways that housing organizations can adapt their technology to Y2K by: 1) Identifying core business functions. 2) Assessing Y2K vulnerabilities. 3) Determining a temporary contingency plan for critical functions in the event of a computer shutdown. 4) Finding solutions for non-compliant computer functions.