ACE Friends:  Please help others in your commuity learn about the
4/1/99 Videoconference on Y2K Readiness for Smaill businesses and
local governements.  The following web sites has a list of "local
downlink sites"  that have agreed to host to 90 minute program starting
at  1 pm Eastern time.   www.usda.gov/aphis/FSWG/locations.html

Thanks, Tom Tate


Videoconference To Target Small Businessesm & Local Government
=================================

On Thursday, April 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., (test & tone, 12:30-1
p.m.), Eastern Standard Time, USDA/CSREES will sponsor an interactive
videoconference for owners of small businesses, including farms and
other agribusinesses.  As part of Small Business Y2K Action Week
(March 29-April 2), the videoconference will focus on how the Y2K
problem threatens small businesses--even those without computers; what
business owners should and can do in the 8 remaining months; and where
small business owners can get resources and technical assistance.  The
Food Supply Working Group, President's Council on Year 2000
Conversion; the Rural Development (RD) Mission Area, CSREES, Farm
Services Agency (FSA), and Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization, USDA; the Small Business Administration (SBA); and the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce, are
participating to bring this information to partners and others in
local communities.

We urge you to encourage your state and local offices to work with SBA
district offices; local and state Small Business Development Centers;
NIST/MEP centers; and local FSA and RD offices to provide downlink
sites and promotion that will make the small business community aware
of the broadcast and its content.

Satellite coordinates for the event are:

KU-Band -      SB-6
Transponder:        9
Polarity:         Horizontal
DownFrq:      11921 MHz
Audio Frq:      6.2 & 6.8 MHz
Location:        74 degrees west

C-Band -           Galaxy 9
Transponder:               6
Polarity:             Horizontal
DownFrq:          3820 MHz
Audio Frq.          6.2 & 6.8 MHz
Location:            123 degrees west

Trouble Number: 202-720-8559.  Please call this number on the day of
the broadcast for help.  For best service, please be at your satellite
receiver.  More information and posted satellite coordinates may be
accessed from the USDA website (www.usda.gov) by clicking on the Y2K
icon.

For additional information, contact JUDY RUDE at 202-720-4242;
[log in to unmask] or TED MAHER at 202-720-4564; [log in to unmask]

http://www.usda.gov/aphis/FSWG/locations.html


Anyone interested in view the videoconference, can come to Room 1605,
USDA South Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC

===================================================

Please refer questions to the above team members.


-------------------------------
Tom Tate
Economics and Community Systems
Room 3901 South Bldg.,U.S.D.A
Washington, DC 20250-0900
[log in to unmask]
202-720-2727
www.sba.gov/ace
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