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New Forms of
Communication That Will Transform Teaching and Learning
Who
Owns The Internet?
Although we're sure your answer was Bill Gates, the true answer is: no
one. The main lines that carry the bulk of the Internet traffic are owned
by Internet Service Providers (ISP) such as America Online (AOL), AT&T,
Earthlink, JUNO, MSN, and Sprint. These companies inter connect their
networks with other companies worldwide creating an Internet pipeline
that extends from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, or any other continents and
back again.
In the U.S., there are five major locations (hubs) where all of this
traffic intersects: Chicago (IL), Pennsauken (NJ), San Jose (CA), San
Francisco (CA), and Washington (DC). ISP's, in turn, connect to these
points based on their geographic location. This allows them to provide
their customers Internet service. Educational institutions and Government
Agencies also link into these areas.
As the Internet evolves and more and more people log on, these hubs become
flooded with traffic; thus, the speed of the network slows down. In response
to this, the U.S. Government is planning what is called the "Internet
II."
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