[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11505-11506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5785]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Proposed Data Collection: Public's Views and Comments

    Title of Proposed Collection: Public Attitudes About Technology
    The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, is 
interested in obtaining the public's views and attitudes toward year 
2000 computer readiness.
    Specifically, we are seeking input and comments from all interested 
persons on their views of the value of computer technology in their 
lives, and their familiarity with and level of comfort when using 
computers and their familiarity with problems that may result from year 
2000 computer conversion issues.
    In an effort to obtain the public's input and useful information, 
the National Science Foundation has developed the questions that 
follow. Responses from the public will be used only in the aggregate, 
and only to help NSF in its efforts to better explain itself and its 
activities to the American public.
    We hope you will provide us with your thoughts on the following 
questions. Detailed comments are also welcome and greatly appreciated.
    Responses and comments can be mailed to Public Attitudes about Year 
2000 Conversion, c/o Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Room 1245, Arlington, VA 22230. 
Comments can also be sent via email to [email protected], or faxed to (703) 
306-1057.
    All comments should be received by Tuesday, March 9, 1999.

    Dated: March 3, 1999.
Julia Moore,
Director, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs.

Y2K Millennium Readiness Poll

March 6-7, 1999

    1. As you may know, most computer systems around the world have to 
be reprogrammed so that they can accurately recognize the date once we

[[Page 11506]]

reach the Year 2000. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the 
Year-2000 issue will cause major problems, minor problems, or no 
problems at all?

1 Major problems
2 Minor problems
3 No problems at all
4 No opinion

    2. Do you think that computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue 
will cause major problems, minor problems or no problems at all for you 
personally?

1 Major problems
2 Minor problems
3 No problems at all
4 No opinion

    3. How much have you seen or heard about the Year 2000 computer bug 
problem, sometimes called the Millennium Bug or the Y-2-K bug, before 
now--a great deal, some, not much, or nothing at all?
1 A great deal
2 Some
3 Not much
4 Nothing at all
5 No opinion

    The rest of the questions on this survey will deal with Year 2000 
computer issue. For convenience we will refer to it throughout the 
survey as the ``Y2K'' computer bug.
    4. To the extent Y2K computer problems occur, how long do you think 
they will last--[FORM A: READ 1-4; FORM B: READ 4-1]?

1 For only a few days around January 1, 2000
2 For several weeks (or)
3 For several months to a year (or)
4 For more than a year
5 No opinion

    6. For each of the following, please say whether that is something 
you probably will or will not do in order to protect yourself against 
problems associated with the Y2K computer bug. How about... [RANDOM 
ORDER]

1 Yes
2 No
3 No opinion
a. Obtain special confirmation or documentation of your bank account 
balances, retirement funds, or other financial records
b. Stockpile food and water
c. Buy a generator or wood stove
d. Withdraw all your money from the bank
e. Withdraw and set aside a large amount of cash
f. Avoid travelling on airplanes on or around January 1, 2000
    9. Next I'm going to read some specific problems. As I read each 
one, please say whether you think it likely or unlikely to occur as a 
result of Y2K. First, . . . Next, . . .:
1 Likely
2 Unlikely
3 No opinion

a. Air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in 
jeopardy
b. Banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors in 
employee paychecks, government payments, and other automated financial 
transactions
c. Food and retail distribution systems will fail, possibly causing 
grocery and other store shortages
e. Hospital equipment and services will fail, putting patients at risk
h. Nuclear power or defense systems could fail, causing a major 
accident
    10. As you may know, efforts are currently underway throughout the 
country to upgrade computer systems in order to correct the Y2K 
computer problem. We'd like to know whether you are generally confident 
or NOT confident that each of the following levels of government and 
business will have upgraded their computer systems before any Y2K 
problems can occur. How about... [RANDOM ORDER]

1 Yes, confident they will have upgraded
2 No, not confident
3 No opinion
a. The U.S. government, including all federal offices and agencies
b. Your state government
c. Your local government
d. U.S. corporations and large businesses
e. Small U.S. businesses
f. Foreign governments of other developed and industrialized countries
g. Foreign governments of Third World and other less developed 
countries
[FR Doc. 99-5785 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P