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    BUSINESS
    General | Wall Street | Y2K Liability | Aviation

    General
    Banking Industry Ready
    Morning Edition - November 16, 1999
    NPR's Jack Speer reports on preparations by American banking institutions for Y2K readiness in banks and savings and loans. The industry says the safest place for most people's money is in the bank, not under the mattress or stuffed in between books on a shelf. The Federal Reserve is making sure adequate cash is available just in case some people choose to hoard money. (5:07)

    Y2K Patent Pain
    All Things Considered - November 15, 1999
    Some companies who have used a certain method to fix their computers' Y2K glitch may now be facing big licensing fees. That's because the method they used was patented by a man named Bruce Dickens, who is now demanding payment. Linda speaks with Chet Kerr, an attorney with Morrison and Forrester's New York branch office, who runs the firm's Y2K program. (3:30)

    CEOs and Y2K
    All Things Considered - November 10, 1999
    Commentator Gary Beech says while the government and corporations are telling the public the Y2K computer bug is nothing to worry about, CEOs' personal feelings about the impending calendar change may tell a different story. (3:00)

    Y2K and Women
    All Things Considered - August 18, 1999
    When people first got an inkling that computers might hiccup on December 31, 1999, information technology experts figured the repair job would be a low-status job. At least that's one theory on why so many women are now the Y2K experts in corporate America. NPR's Margot Adler reports that with Y2K now a high-profile problem, the high number of women in charge of fixing it has made a dent in the glass ceiling. (7:00)

    Bennett Report
    All Things Considered - March 2, 1999
    NPR's Dan Charles reports on the first major report out of Congress's Y2K special subcommittee. Senators running the committee say they're concerned about the pace of preparations, but they don't expect Armageddon. They're not so sure about the situation overseas, however. (3:00)

    Millennium Bug Costs
    Morning Edition - March 24, 1998
    NPR'S Jim Zarroli reports that some companies are profiting from the "millennium bug." Many other companies will have to spend millions to ensure their computers show the correct dates in the next century. Entrepreneurs are jockeying to earn those dollars. (4:51)

    Fixing the Y2K Bug
    Morning Edition - September 21, 1998
    NPR's Madeleine Brand reports that many companies are reluctant to share information about how they're fixing the problem of the year 2000 computer bug. Congress is considering a bill that would give immunity from lawsuits to corporations that disclose their preparations. (3:27)

    2000 Glitch and Profits
    Morning Edition - January 21, 1998
    NPR's Melinda Penkava reports that the Year 2000 computer bug is a gold mine for computer programmers. Companies need to hire a lot of new people to make sure that computers can properly read dates after 2000. One large insurance provider needs to change over a million lines of code. (4:00)

    2000 Glitch and Profits
    Morning Edition - January 20, 1998
    In the first of two parts, NPR's Melinda Penkava reports that profits may be affected as businesses take steps to ensure that their computers will keep up once the calendar changes to the year 2000. (3:43)

    Wall Street
    Y2K and Wall Street
    All Things Considered - April 29, 1999
    NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on Wall Street's prediction that the millennium weekend will pass without significant bugs for stock exchanges or major brokerages. A securities trade group conducted hundreds of thousands of simulated trades with only four millennium problems. (2:30)

    Y2K and Wall Street
    Morning Edition - March 5, 1999
    NPR's Jim Zarroli reports from New York that tomorrow securities firms will begin six weekends of testing to determine whether their computer software will be able to deal with the changeover to the year 2000. Federal regulators say that Wall Street is quite prepared for the transition, compared to other industries. The testing involves simulating transactions such as stock trades, from trade date to settlement date. (3:30)

    Liability
    Y2K Liability Insurance
    All Things Considered - July 2, 1999
    NPR's David Kestenbaum reports on the first of what could be a raft of lawsuits over Y2K insurance. There's hardly any Y2K insurance and that has companies worried. GTE has just sued its insurers, arguing that existing business loss policies should cover their current repair costs. The insurance industry says they can't cover existing costs; as for post-December 31 computer crashes, there's no way they can calculate the risk. (3:30)

    Y2K Liability
    Morning Edition - June 30, 1999
    NPR's Larry Abramson reports on a compromise reached between the White House and Congress over a bill that would minimize liability suits related to the Y2K computer problem. The compromise legislation allows companies 90 days to fix a Y2K-related bug once its been discovered. Plaintiffs involved in any suit will have to prove in court that they did suffer actual losses due to the bug. (3:58)

    Y2K Liability
    All Things Considered - June 29, 1999
    Noah talks with NPR's Larry Abramson about successful negotiations between the White House and Congress to fashion legislation intended to curb lawsuits arising from the Y2K computer problem. The bill would give companies 90 days to fix computers before lawsuits could be filed. A final sticking point in the negotiations, apparently resolved today, was the monetary threshold for class action suits. It was raised from $1 million to $10 million. Supporters say they hope the compromise bill will clear both houses of Congress this week. (4:00)

    Y2K Liability
    All Things Considered - May 18, 1999
    High-tech companies have been worrying that computer problems associated with the Y2K bug will have them drowning in lawsuits. But their fight for protective legislation have been stalled in the Senate so far. Today, the Senate again failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to cut off debate on a bill to limit Y2K suits. NPR's Larry Abramson reports the chance to enact a law before the witching hour on January 1 may be waning. (4:00)

    Y2K Liability
    Weekend Edition Sunday - March 7, 1999
    NPR's Larry Abramson reports on efforts by Congress to limit liability for losses resulting from the year 2000 computer bug. (6:25)

    Y2K Liability
    Morning Edition - March 4, 1999
    NPR's Larry Abramson reports on attempts by some members of Congress to prevent a flood of litigation stemming from Y2K computer glitches. Many companies are worried about the possibility of costly court judgments against them. But consumer advocates argue that the public has the right to sue for damages. (4:05)

    Y2K Liability
    All Things Considered - February 23, 1999
    Members of Congress introduce legislation today to help sort out who can and can't be sued when and if computers go haywire on December 31, 1999. NPR's Larry Abramson talks with critics who say software companies need to be protected, as well as one citizen who sued because the software he bought has already succumbed to the so-called millennium bug. (4:00)

    Year 2000 Computer Bug Lawsuits
    Morning Edition - February 5, 1999
    NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on the panic pervading the business world as the millennium draws near. Some companies already are facing lawsuits related to the "Year 2000" computer bug. Business leaders are banding together to ask for government protection from more costly litigation. (3:27)

    Aviation
    Aviation and Y2K
    Morning Edition - April 12, 1999
    NPR's Mark Roberts reports that the FAA conducted a simulated test at Denver International Airport over the weekend to test its readiness for the Y2K changeover. (2:59)

    Aviation and Y2K
    Morning Edition - August 6, 1998
    NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that Congressional auditors doubt that the Federal Aviation Administration can meet deadlines for dealing with the year 2000 computer problem. Instead of refitting existing computers, the FAA plans to purchase replacements, and it has a history of delays when buying new equipment. FAA officials deny that the public safety will be jeopardized. Air traffic controllers rely heavily on computers. (2:33)

    Aviation and Y2K
    Morning Edition - February 5, 1998
    NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on the efforts by the Federal Aviation Administration to update their computers in order to avoid the Y2K bug. Federal auditors say the FAA isn't moving fast enough in making the necessary changes, which could be disastrous when the new millennium is reached. (3:40)

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