National Guard tests radio backup for Y2K

The Iowa National Guard plans to test out an old, but reliable, means ofcommunication next month in preparation for possible Y-2-K problems.Guard spokesman Colonel Robert King says the high-frequency radio systemwill be tested May 1 and 2 to ensure the Pentagon can communicate with theGuard base in Des Moines and in the other 49 states. Radio tests will alsobe done within Iowa between the headquarters at the Starc Armory and otherguard outposts across the Hawkeye State.Colonel King says this is just a test of the Guard’s backup radio system incase computer problems on New Year’s Eve shut down regular communications.Some computer systems may malfunction when the year 2000 arrives as theirinternal clocks may only click over the last two digits to read 1900.