Northern Virginia Year 2000 Community Action Group

NEWS RELEASE

Embargoed for release until 10:30 AM Thursday, November 4

Y2K Experts Issue Open Letter to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan

This morning, many of the nation's leading experts on the Y2K problem issued an open letter to Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan. The letter requests that he assist them in their efforts to inform the public about how Y2K could disrupt our lives, and how to prepare in order to minimize the consequences of any problems that do occur. The letter was signed by technology experts, emergency management experts, policy analysts, academicians, community organizers and ordinary citizens. Many of the signers have been participating for over a year in a group which assists the President's Council on Y2K's Sector on Civic Preparedness. The technology experts signing the letter include the Society for Information Management (SIM) Year 2000 Working Group. Several community based Y2K groups signed the letter, including Coalition 2000, a network for community preparedness.

Chairman Greenspan has recently given speeches about Y2K that were interpreted (perhaps misinterpreted) to imply that it is socially irresponsible to prepare for Y2K by stocking up on essential goods. "Unfortunately, evidence continues to mount that indicates that many remediation projects are not as complete as they should be so close to the end of the year," the letter states. "Given the uncertainties surrounding Y2K outcomes, the only reasonable action for businesses is to develop contingency plans for potential disruptions. A key element of many such plans is the stockpiling of essential components and raw materials. Implementing such plans will assure that, should disruptions in those areas occur, the consequences will be an inconvenience rather than a crisis. The same logic applies at the household and community level."

"With precious little time left before the end of the year, it is important to focus our energies on those areas that still pose the greatest risk", said Leon Kappelman, Co-Chair of the Society for Information Management's Y2K Working Group. "For example, by all measures, the financial sector moved early and aggressively to deal with its Y2K vulnerabilities. However, risks to the public still remain from small and medium sized businesses that handle hazardous materials. Also, not enough information is known about the readiness of municipal water and sewage facilities. As a nation, we should be directing our efforts towards dealing with these important issues, and preparing for the inevitable disruptions that will occur, rather than basking in the successes we've had so far."

On the issue of community preparedness, the letter states, "Clearly, the more prepared communities are, the less severe any emergency will be. Furthermore, to the extent that others have already provided for their own needs, greater attention can be placed on restoring services and providing goods to the most severely affected areas. In the remaining weeks of 1999, we want to build up sources of strength around the country so that, when the inevitable Y2K problems hit us, we have fewer sources of need to deal with, and greater ability to deal with them."

The letter closes by asking the Federal Reserve Board Chairman to "join us in our important mission of making our country aware, prepared and unified to deal with the coming challenges." The full text of the letter and the full list of signers is attached.

Chairman Greenspans recent speeches on Y2K are available on the Federal Reserve Boards Web site at: http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/boarddocs/speeches/1999/19991015.htm.

The Northern Virginia Year 2000 Community Action Group (NOVA Y2K) is a volunteer group of Northern Virginia residents who are concerned about the Year 2000 problem. NOVA Y2Ks goals are to: 1) Increase public awareness and understanding of Y2K; 2) Facilitate community-based Y2K contingency programs and; 3) Encourage individuals and families to prepare for possible Y2K disruptions. Jay Golter, the Acting President of NOVA Y2K can be reached at (703) 971-8641 or by email at Jgolter@aol.com.

The Society for Information Managements (SIM) Year 2000 Working Group has, since its creation in the Spring of 1996, had the following objectives: 1. To increase the focus and awareness of the year 2000 computer date problem throughout the information systems/information technology (IT) industry as well as in the business community in general. 2. To create a sense of urgency for organizations to start planning and implementing their year 2000 date conversions immediately. 3. To provide guidance to SIM member organizations (and other organizations who wish to participate) as they attempt to solve their year 2000 problems by offering insights into key issues, leading practices, service providers, and tools. 4. To create a forum for sharing approaches, practices, and issues for dealing with the year 2000 computer date problem. Leon Kappelman, Co-Chair of the SIM Year 2000 Working Group is an Associate Professor of Business Computer Information Systems in the College of Business Administration at the University of North Texas, Associate Director of the Center for Quality and Productivity. He may be reached by voice at (940) 565-4698, by Fax at (940) 369-7623 or by Email at kapp@unt.edu.

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November 4, 1999

Honorable Alan Greenspan Chairman of the Board of Governors Federal Reserve System Constitution Avenue Washington, DC

Dear Chairman Greenspan:

We are a group of information systems experts, emergency management professionals, public policy analysts, community activists and ordinary citizens who are concerned about potential disruptions caused by the Year 2000 computer problem. For over a year, many of us have worked with the President's Council for Year 2000 Conversion in the civic preparedness sector. Our goal has been to inform all people about the Y2K problem and to encourage individuals and communities to prepare for potential disruptions. This will minimize the consequences of any problems that occur. We hope that you will assist us in our important mission.

We believe that our goals are consistent with those of the banking industry which you regulate. Minimizing the consequences of Y2K problems will help local economies recover more quickly, putting less strain on the loan portfolios of local banks. In addition, if individuals enter the rollover period prepared to deal with a variety of disruptions, they will be less likely to panic. However, if large numbers of people choose to wait until the end of the year before focusing on Y2K risks, they may overburden supply and distribution systems. At such a time, consumers looking at bare shelves in their stores may decide that the only steps that they can take to be prepared is to withdraw large amounts of cash from the bank. Since all of us recognize that such actions would be unwise and unfortunate, we expect that you would be working with us to help make our communities aware and prepared in advance. Unfortunately, you have recently given speeches about Y2K which have made our task more difficult.

These speeches have implied that individuals who choose to prepare for Y2K disruptions are socially irresponsible, despite your acknowledgment that it is difficult to predict what the impact of Y2K will be. Indeed, you said, "No one really knows what will happen when the century rolls over." This view is consistent with the Senate Special Committee on Y2K which concluded, "The challenges posed by the Y2K problem are numerous and daunting. The Committee conducted extensive research and held numerous hearings in 1999, but still cannot conclusively determine how extensive Y2K disruptions will be. However, the Committee has no data to suggest that the US will experience nationwide social or economic collapse. Nonetheless, disruptions will occur and in some cases those disruptions will be significant. The international situation will certainly be more tumultuous."

Unfortunately, evidence continues to mount that indicates that many remediation projects are not as complete as they should be so close to the end of the year. For example, Cap Gemini, a major systems consulting group, has been conducting regular surveys of Fortune 1000 size organizations. Their most recent findings were published on September 22, when only one hundred days remained in the year. Forty-four percent of the respondents to the survey do not expect that all of their mission critical systems will be remediated before the end of the year. Twelve percent of these very large and important organizations believe that Y2K problems will pose a "significant business risk."

Another firm tracking part of the Y2K story, the Infoliant Corporation, maintains a database of Y2K compliance claims by manufacturers. Infoliant recently announced that 66% of the vendor claims that were changed in September represented movement away from claiming Y2K compliance. Even if we assume that all users of these products have become informed of the fact that they now have more Y2K problems to attend to than they originally believed, they do not have much time left to implement the necessary fixes, replacements or contingency plans.

The picture looks even more grim when one considers small and medium sized enterprises (SME's). John Koskinen, the Chair of President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion recently estimated that about 800,000 such enterprises in the United States are not adequately dealing with their Y2K problems. Should Y2K problems prevent many of these firms from producing and delivering goods and services, the adverse effects will be felt by their customers, and could create problems downstream. As you know, SME's are highly dependent on the banking industry for financing. If large numbers of SME's suffer from serious or prolonged Y2K problems, it will adversely affect the health of banks around the country.

Despite this clear evidence that Y2K is far from "solved," and that the United States still faces considerable Y2K risk, you assert that "the probability of a cascading of computer failures in mission-critical systems is now negligible." You further state, "It is the economic effects of businesses and households endeavoring to adjust to the CDC (Century Date Change) in the next few months that I see as replacing technical concerns as our major challenge." Your speeches have dealt with 'systemic' or 'cascading' failures rather than individual failures (which in some cases could be severe). Unfortunately, the media has not noticed that distinction and have interpreted your message as saying that the possibility of any failures is negligible. This discourages many businesses (especially SME's), communities, and individuals from preparing. Further, even though it may not be your intent, your concern about overreactions at the year end has been interpreted to mean that advocating Y2K civic preparedness is socially irresponsible.

We respectfully disagree. Given the uncertainties surrounding Y2K outcomes, the only responsible action for businesses is to develop contingency plans for potential disruptions. A key element of many such plans is the stockpiling of essential components and raw materials. Implementing such plans will assure that, should disruptions in those areas occur, the consequences will be an inconvenience rather than a crisis. Furthermore, your statements have discussed how the ability of enterprises to respond quickly to changes in the business environment will help bring about a quick recovery from those Y2K disruptions that do occur. By stockpiling goods now, while production and transportation systems are all running at maximum efficiency, organizations will have more resources (physical and human) available to deal with Y2K problems later.

The same logic applies at the household and community level. We do not know what problems will occur that will cause serious disruptions of essential good and services to individuals or communities. Nor do we know which communities are more likely to be impacted than others. Unfortunately, the ability of many communities to respond to these problems will be hampered by Y2K disruptions within some of the service organizations that provide crucial emergency services. This was referred to in the Senate Committee Report which stated, "The safety net that provides emergency support and services to needy families and individuals is made up of thousands of non-profits and church organizations, many of which may have Y2K problems [themselves]. A Y2K glitch could prevent someone calling a crisis line from getting the help they urgently need, or organizations from being able to mobilize quickly during a crisis."

Clearly, the more prepared communities are, the less severe any emergency will be. Furthermore, to the extent that others have already provided for their own needs, greater attention can be placed on restoring services and providing goods to the most severely affected areas. In the remaining weeks of 1999, we want to build up sources of strength around the country so that, when the inevitable Y2K problems hit us, we have fewer sources of need to deal with, and greater ability to deal with them.

In discussing the efforts of businesses to stockpile in advance, you state, "Because businesses are effectively buying insurance against an uncertainty, the less uncertainty, the smaller the perceived insurance need. Thus, accurate, credible, and timely information on the general state of readiness will be essential to reducing uncertainties in the months ahead. Businesses then can make more-informed decisions as to the type and magnitude of the precautions they need to take." We agree with this view. Unfortunately, to-date, little accurate, credible, timely (and, we will add verifiable) information has been made available. Therefore, when you assert that the technical issues of Y2K are largely solved, many members of the business community (especially SME's), whose respect you have earned over your long and distinguished career, are less likely to take time out of their hectic lives to determine if they should do more to protect themselves from Y2K risks. It is possible that the Federal Reserve System has developed information that would be of particular assistance to organizations and communities as they hone their Y2K plans. However, unless you are prepared to share that information with the public, broad generalizations about Y2K readiness, which in many cases may merely reflect the wishful thinking of organizations that have not done a good job of managing this complex challenge, may add more confusion than light to the final weeks of Y2K readiness efforts. Therefore, we ask that you now join us in our important mission of making our country aware, prepared and unified to deal with the coming challenges.

Sincerely,

Information Technology Professionals:

Society for Information Management (SIM) Year 2000 Working Group (http://www.year2000.unt.edu/) Leon A. Kappelman, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Business Computer Information Systems Associate Director, Center for Quality & Productivity College of Business Administration, Univ. of North Texas

Marsha Woodbury, Ph.D. Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Science University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

William Ulrich President and Founder Tactical Strategy Group, Inc Soquel, CA

Roleigh Martin, M.A. Technical Journalist Edina, Minnesota marti124@tc.umn.edu

Rick Barry Director, Mid-Atlantic Region Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility Arlington, VA

Kris Gandillon VP of Systems, CIO WorkNet Communications Inc. St. Louis, MO

Karl Vogel Analyst/Programmer, System Administrator BS, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University Sumaria Systems Inc. Onsite support at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio vogelke@c17mis.region2.wpafb.af.mil

Steven P. Elwart, P.E. Past Chairmen and Current Member, Computer Applications Committee Past Member, Issues Committee National Petrochemical and Refinery Association Washington, D.C.

Lane Core Jr. Programmer/analyst Roscoe, Pennsylvania

David Hall Hall Associates

Robert Roskind President and Founder 2K Solutions Group, Inc. Chapel Hill, NC

Scott P. Overmyer, Ph.D. Drexel University Director, PA Governor's School for Information Tech. Associate Professor, College of Information Science and Technology Philadelphia, PA

Mark LeBlanc, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Computer Science Wheaton College Norton, MA 02766

Leille Sussman Oregon Y2K Statewide Task Force

Celia A. Murray New York State Office of Real Property Systems

Dr. James Cappel Assistant Professor, Management Information Systems Central Michigan University Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

Norman Kurland, Ph.D. Co-moderator Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) Y2k Online Forum Delmar, NY

Alan Russell, Ph.D. CPSR Y2K Working Group

Dr. Ronald E. McGaughey Professor of MIS Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR

Clarence Bill Williams Y2K Technology Consultant C. Bill Williams & Associates San Diego California 92108

Michael T. McKibben CEO, LEADER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC Columbus, Ohio

Ray Strackbein, MBA Information Systems Consultant Reston, VA

Policy Analysts and Academicians:

Charles Perrow Professor of Sociology Yale University.

Paula D. Gordon, Ph.D. Public Administration Consultant, speaker and Y2K author (http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon) Washington, D.C. PGordon@erols.com

Bud Hamilton, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Management Robinson College of Business Georgia State University Atlanta Georgia

Reynolds Griffith Professor of Finance Dept. of Economics & Finance Stephen F. Austin State Univ. Nacogdoches, TX 75962 rgriffith@sfasu.edu

Stephen E. Krulin, Esq. Editor, Computer Law Journal of The Florida Bar. Vicechair, Computer Law Committee of The Florida Bar. Managing Director, Law and Technology Partners, Inc., Miami, Florida. Team leader, North Miami CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Miami, Florida Governmental and/or Bar title/affiliation listed for identification purposes only. editor@tropic-lawyer.com

Dr. Douglass Carmichael President Shakespeare and Tao Consulting

Debbie Trent Chairperson, Environmental Task Force Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, Maryland

Gary Allan Halonen Y2K Policy Analyst Co-founder: New Millennium Salons -a community preparedness resource site

Robert Althauser Professor of Sociology Indiana University Bloomington, IN

Emergency Management Professionals:

Alan Clegg System/Network Administrator, Volunteer Fire Fighter/Medical First Responder/HazMat Technician Apex, NC

Y2K Community Activists:

Steven C. Davis, M.P.P. National Coordinator, Coalition 2000 Y2K Risk Management Consultant President, DavisLogic, LLC Co-author, "Y2K Risk Management"

Shaunti Feldhahn President and Founder, Joseph Project 2000 Atlanta, GA (and 120 chapters nationwide)

Jay Golter Acting President Northern Virginia Year 2000 Community Action Group (NOVA Y2K) Springfield, VA (and 15 additional members) JGolter@aol.com

Michael Dowd, Portland-Metro Citizen Y2K Task Force (and 135 members) Portland, OR

Kathy Garcia Executive Director Boulder County Y2K Community Preparedness Boulder, CO

Kris Gandillon Executive Director Y2K Community Action Group of Wildwood Missouri

Bayard Stockton, Leader Santa Barbara Y2K (SBY2K)

David Goldberg Pennie Opal Plant Richmond (CA) Neighborhoods Y2K Resource Network

Ronnie Free Chairman Shreveport Bossier Y2K Preparedness Group (and 200 members) Rachel Windsong, Chairwoman, Humboldt County Y2K Preparedness Task Force, Eureka, Ca.

Tom Osher Founder non-commercial Website for Low-tech Sustainable Ideas/Methods http://bagelhole.org San Francisco

David Sunfellow Director, Sedona Y2K Task Force

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA Coordinator Western Nevada County (Calif) Y2k Preparedness Network

Joose Hadley, Chairman Citizens for a Stable Community Clearwater, FL (plus 200 members)

Jeanette Thomas Y2Kids Becket, MA

Bruce Kneuer Organizer Lakes Region Y2K Community Network Sanbornton, NH

Wayne Schumacher Community Activist, Creator: Cygnus Emergency Response Triangles Ashland, OR wschumac@jeffnet.org

Dr. Richard Murray on behalf of Pacific Grove's Y2K Task Force Pacific Grove, California

Halim Dunsky Executive Editor Y2K Community Project Langley, Washington

Sharon Joy Kleitsch Coordinator Tampa Bay Y2K and Suncoast Community Institute of Noetic Sciences

David LeBeau Monroe County (IN) Y2K Action Group Bloomington, IN

James Crawford Executive director Southern Maryland Millennium Action Committee Waldorf, Maryland

Andree Duggan Producer, Getting On Target With Y2K Home, Neighborhood and Community Preparedness PBS Online, http://www.pbs.org/y2kontarget Killingworth, CT

David Floyd,RN Jim Tull Coordinators Y2K Prepared Rhode Island (plus 100 members)

Chuck Elkins Co-Chair Northwest DC Year 2000 Group Washington, DC

Stephen Brown Public Member of State of Maine Year 2000 Task Force Freeport, Maine

Joy MacNulty Infoperson Paonia Citizens y2k Preparedness Group Paonia, CO

Lysa Leland, Coordinator Cape Ann Community Preparedness Project Gloucester, MA

Private Citizens:

Jan Nickerson, MBA, CPA (1974 - 1999), CFP (1990 - 1997) President, The Prosperity Collaborative, Inc., Founding member, Business for Social Responsibility Wayland, MA JaNickrson@aol.com

Michael S. Hyatt Author, "The Millennium Bug," and "The Y2K Personal Survival Guide" Nashville, TN

Nancy J. McKibben, Author, "The Chaos Protocol" Columbus, Ohio Nmckibben@worldnet.att.net

Sally Strackbein Programmer and Author, "Y2K Kitchen" Reston, VA

Dido Miranda Carson/Torrance, CA

Michael Redman Columnist The Independent Bloomington, IN

Michael S. Robbins Proprium Enterprises, Inc. President New York, NY

J. Douglas Stewart, Ed.D. CEO, TechTouch Systems Santa Fe, NM Outreach Coordinator, Eldorado Y2K Group

PJ Wylie Author, "Power Your Way through Y2K" Fullerton, California

William L. Seavey Author Santa Maria, CA.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 05, 1999

Answers

Link...

www.y2knews.com/openletter.htm

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 05, 1999.

All this effort directed at quasi-bureacrats...

Unfathomable

And what will Mr. Greenspan do or what CAN he do to fix this mess?

NOTHING.... SADLY NOTHING...FAR TOO LATE

We are taking on water...56 days.....

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), November 05, 1999.

Who's Who in the Y2K world, but some prominent names are missing.

-- notice (surprising@gap.list), November 05, 1999.

The letter could be sent to the White House -- only I don't know of any real men in the White House.

-- Rick (rick7@postmark.net), November 05, 1999.

God bless all for the effort, but too little, too late.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 05, 1999.

How come they didn't ask Ed Yourdon to sign it?

These people should not wait for Greenscum to decide whether he wants to bestow upon the world another dose of his almighty wisdom. They should get the news media to report the fact that this letter was sent and we are awaiting his response. Put the ball in his court. If he doesn't respond soon, everyone will know he is really trying to sweep it under the rug.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 05, 1999.

CPR has posted a rebut tal of sorts at the Milwaukee Y2k forum.

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 06, 1999.

Steve,

That rebuttal only makes it even more painfully obvious the kind of mentality we're dealing with from the pollys. Childish and disturbed.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 06, 1999.

Indeed. Didn't find it the least bit funny, though I'm sure they're rolling in the aisles at Biffy.

The letter to Greenspan is powerful and well-written, and the signers are an impressive group. While I can understand why Greenspan was chosen as the recipient, it seems to me that a similar letter needs to be sent to every politician in the land. The POTUS, all members of Congress and the House, the Governors and Mayors, etc. Every media outlet as well. It's time to get serious, take off the blinders and stop denying the potential for serious problems.

Not sure it would change much at this late date, but it's good to at least see effort being made to reach TPTB and to wake up a nation that is either blissfully unaware of the risks or has simply been lulled to sleep.

There needs to be national focus on this issue. I believe a March on Washington would be one of many possible ways to do so. Are there any other activists out there willing to take action in such ways?

The time has come, folks. Time to remove the stigma from preparing. Time to educate the masses on the real risks. Time to get the media to act responsibly. These are attainable and realistic goals.

This nation is full of great leaders. With Y2k, the leaders are not in traditional power roles, but rather at the grass roots level. Our voices need to be heard, however. This forum has tremendous power to create change if it chooses to exercise it. Who wants to make it happen?

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 06, 1999.

I read this and feel disapointed. Leon Kappelman was with Steve Davis developing civicprep

(SteveDavis) civicprep menu

and Leon wanted to tow the line with John K. and not to stress the folks. I was asked to be involved and looked at the restrictions and said no.

Alot of good folk put in good time and energy towards it to end in disappointment. Shitty deal.

Jay Golter was one of the true originals in community Y2K prep, I admired his vision 18 months ago, trying to get folks in a community to try and understand the problem. All for nothing it seems. The community effort was terminated last spring in all quarters by the press.

Now Leon and others figure it out and Email Alan G. to "save things" well it is to late now. Well Leon you should have thought about that last year. Business compliance took priority over personal compliance.

Doesn't seem right.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 06, 1999.

Good thinking Steve. Greenspun is one of my least favorite "leaders" if you can call him that. I think this group would be doing the world a big favor if they could manage to mail this letter to all politicians down to the level of Mayor. Although the response would be minimal, I think just by sheer numbers they would be able to at least stir up some contingency action, particularly at the local level in smaller cities and towns. No offense to the IT guys, but many of them are busy with the technical stuff, so the governing leaders at the next level up think everything is being taken care of, and some probably don't realize that there are some human concerns here to be prepared for. Wonder how much it would cost to do a mailing like that, and how many cities and towns there are in the U.S.? Perhaps they could start a donation website to rally up the funds to make this happen, sort of an "awareness campaign." I still find it amazing that the media doesn't seem interested in doing more than just brushing the surface, printing only the superficial predictions about a 3-day storm. That is really adding fuel to the fire IMO.

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), November 06, 1999.

We're all understandably burned out to some extent. Time is too short, however, to not make a last concerted effort at reaching the masses. I refuse to throw in the towel just yet.

Help educate the media by referring them to this site. It is imperative that the media focus on Y2k in a responsible way. This site is an invaluable resource for any enterprising reporter.

The defeatist attitude displayed by some here, while understandable to an extent, is, frankly, repulsive.

Now is not the time for paralysis or apathy or resignation. Your community needs you. I, for one, am willing to assume the risks of trying one final time to stir my community to action. So have all the signers of the above letter. Are you willing to do the same?

-- Steve (hartsman@ticon.net), November 06, 1999.

Steve worte;

"The letter to Greenspan is powerful and well-written, and the signers are an impressive group. While I can understand why Greenspan was chosen as the recipient, it seems to me that a similar letter needs to be sent to every politician in the land. The POTUS, all members of Congress and the House, the Governors and Mayors, etc. Every media outlet as well. It's time to get serious, take off the blinders and stop denying the potential for serious problems."

Steve

This would make more sence that alerting Alan Greenspan. He is not a rep. of the people but is appointed. But the political types are the ones that have their asses on the line.

If you want to instigate change at this late date though it is through the media and hollywood that could make the greatest change. Go after the rating leaders, the prime time personalities, the actors and preformers and get them on side. There are several famous people that get Y2K, they are the ones with a voice that the common folk will hear not Alan G.

I would Email Barbara Striesand (sp?), and Robert Redford to help get peoples attention. Get hollywood on side and you have a powerfull ally.

One thing that I have done is Email the head of my province Y2K action teem about things that consern me from the beginning of the year. It has helped, one of the problems with contacting folk is if they understand the problem in the first place. So Try Emailing the heads of your area's Y2K leaders. They may have the influence needed to get communications going in your town.

Good luck folks.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), November 06, 1999.