Y2K@UB

Can I get information from the federal government on potential Y2K problems affecting consumers and organizations ?

The President's Council on Year 2000 has a toll-free telephone number (888-USA-4Y2K) that has information specialists available who can answer questions about Y2K from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. There also is a fax-on-demand service that will allow callers to receive printed material on Y2K issues.

In addition, pre-recorded messages that answer frequently asked questions about Year 2000 are available to callers with touch-tone phones seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The messages pertain to how computer systems, telephones and other products and services will be affected by the approaching millennium. Information on the messages is obtained from government agencies, companies or industry groups that are reporting on measures taken to prepare for the Year 2000.

The line is supported by the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Information Center of the General Services Administration.

Information also is available at the council's Web site at http://www.y2k.gov.

If you have Y2K questions that you would like answered in this column, email them to y2k-questions@acsu.buffalo.edu.

For more Y2K information, visit the Web site http://wings.buffalo.edu/year2000/.