INTERNET MAINTENANCE ANNOUNCEMENT

IT IS URGENT THAT YOU DO NOT CONNECT TO THE INTERNET FROM MARCH 31st
23:59 GMT (11:59 PM) UNTIL 00:01 GMT (12:01 AM) APRIL 2nd.


It's that time again. As many of you know, each year the Internet must
be closed down for a 24 hour period of time in order to receive
maintenance, or a "Tune Up" if you will.


Many dead links on the World Wide Web will be removed, as well as ftp
links that are no longer used. Lost email will also be removed from the
system at this time. The White House is very interested in this part of
the project.


In addition to the normal maintenance to be completed this year, we will
also be using new high pressure information jets to clear out the
bottlenecks that have plagued the internet so greatly this past year.


Although the down time for maintenance will be an inconvenience for many
people, you will find this will allow for a much more efficient and
faster responding internet.


This year, the "Tune Up" will occur from 23:59 GMT (11:59 PM) on March
31st until 00:01 GMT (12:01 AM) on April 2nd. During that 24 hour
period, dozens of powerful Internet bots at key locations around the
globe will simultaneously scan the Internet and complete the desired
maintenance jobs wherever they may be required.


To help protect any valuable data you may have on the Internet from
possible corruption, we highly recommend you take the following steps
before this 24 hour maintenance period begins:


1. Disconnect all terminals and LANs from the Internet.


2. Disconnect all Internet servers from the Internet.


3. Refrain from connecting any computer, or any other Internet
connection device, to the Internet in any way.


Note: The term "other Internet connection device" includes such devices
as WebTV.


Again, we understand the inconvenience this will cause many people. And
for that, we apologize. However, the great increase in Internet
performance you will experience after this short period of maintenance
will far outweigh any problems it will cause.


This message comes to you from the Internet via your Internet Service
Provider.