Dear VIPNet Customer:
You may have read or heard news articles concerning older computer software programs that on or after January 1, 2000 may not process or may incorrectly process information involving two digit year dates. This is called the "Year 2000" problem, and, nationwide, billions of dollars are going toward solutions for the Year 2000 problem.
Because more and more of you are coming to rely upon fast and easy access to state information through the Virginia Information Providers Network ("VIPNet"), we are receiving more and more questions about whether we are year 2000 compliant. This letter is intended to assure you that we are compliant.
Virginia Interactive, LLC, the developer of VIPNet, has used Year 2000 compliant hardware and software since the network began. The software that VIPNet uses in developing and maintaining its electronic services will properly process and use dates since all of our software uses a 4-digit year field.
In some cases, our software works with legacy systems used by Commonwealth government agencies, as well as with other operating and application software and equipment that are not within our control. However, the Commonwealth's Century Date Change Office is coordinating the effort to upgrade or replace any State hardware and software that is not Year 2000 compliant. Those systems currently in the inventory are being fixed and will be tested for compliance by mid-1999. The State believes this will provide ample time to identify oversights and repair problems before the deadline.
We value your business, and we will monitor any potential problems that might interrupt service to you. We are confident that the software and hardware that VIPNet uses will properly process and use dates before, during, and after the transition from December 31, 1999, to January 1, 2000. Also, we have every reason to believe that the State legacy computer systems will be year 2000 compliant in time to prevent interruption of service to you.
This is a Readiness Disclosure Statement as contemplated by the Information Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998. Statutory notice of the Act follows:
Information communicated to you either verbally, in writing, by audio, video or interactive media, or contained on the Virginia Information Providers Network ("VIPNet") Internet website ("www.vipnet.org") regarding services offered by VIPNet and its members or with respect to VIPNet's Year 2000 processing capabilities or readiness are considered to be "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosures" and to be in conformance with the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-271, 112 Stat. 2386) enacted on October 19, 1998 (the "IRDA"). This designation applies to information conveyed directly to you or derived from other communications and materials. This Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure Act applies to previously made communications as well as to current and future communications. In the event of a dispute or claim, the IRDA and this Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure may reduce your legal rights regarding the use of any statement relative to VIPNet's Year 2000 processing capabilities. VIPNet's Internet website will, in the future, serve as our primary mechanism for communicating Year 2000 information.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely yours,
Dan Houlihan
General Manager