Washington, D.C., June 29, 1999 – In the wake of their coming to terms on Year 2000 liability legislation, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) today praised both House, Senate, and White House negotiators for their hard work and for their forbearance in producing legislation that will prevent a outbreak of Y2K-related litigation early next year.
Early this afternoon, the Senator John McCain, sponsor of S. 96, the “Y2K Act,” and Chairman of the House-Senate conference on S. 96 and H.R. 775, companion House legislation, announced that the conferees and representatives of the Administration had reached an agreement on a conference report. The breakthrough in negotiations follows passage of bills in both houses that the Administration viewed as unsatisfactory.
“CCIA is extremely pleased by this result,” said CCIA President and CEO Edward J. Black. “From the outset of this debate, we were concerned that this legislation would become bogged down in partisan wrangling and fall victim to political brinksmanship designed to curry favor with the technology. Industry,” Black said. “But while there were some bumps along the way, in the end all sides did what is right for the country and came through with a balanced, measured approach to the threat of frivolous Y2K litigation. Leaders on the Hill, including Senators McCain and Dodd and Congressman Davis, are to be commended for this outcome, as is the President.”
CCIA is an international, nonprofit alliance of computer and communications firms. Its membership includes CEOs and senior executives representing a wide range of businesses, including computer equipment manufacturers, software providers, communications and networking equipment manufacturers, Internet companies, and telecommunications and online service providers.
“Early this year, CCIA outlined several principles for Y2K liability legislation, including protection of innocent parties, proportionate liability, and focusing on solutions to problems rather than blame,” Black said. “Each of our principles has been addressed in the conference report, and now the country is one step closer to readiness for the Year 2000.”
The conference report will now be voted on by both the House and Senate, and will likely be sent to the President for signature early next month.