Who Pays for It?

The old rule for when things are confusing is "follow the money." Well, this won't help you to understand the Internet. No one pays for "it"; there is no Internet, Inc. that collects fees from all Internet networks or users. Instead, everyone pays for their part. The NSF pays for NSFNET. NASA pays for the NASA Science Internet. Networks get together and decide how to connect themselves together and fund these interconnections. A college or corporation pays for their connection to some regional network, which in turn pays a national provider for its access.

• No one pays for ``it'' i.e. as a whole.
• Everybody pays for their part
  • Government pays for JANET and SUPERJANET.
  • NSF pays for NSFNET.
  • NASA pays for NASA Science Internet.
• Business's pay for connection to some regional network, which in turn pays a national provider for its access.
• Individuals pay for connection to internet providers.

Internet Providers

• Universities...
  • JISC
  • Set up LAN (EtherNet)
  • Set up local DNS host
  • Attach via router to JANET/SuperJANET
• Large User
  • large-scale Internet Provider
  • Set up local net
  • Set up local DNS host (or use Provider's)
  • Attach via router or gateway to Provider's network
    • leased line
    • PSS

Examples of Internet Providers

Demon Internet Ltd

Welcome to UUNET UK

CompuServe UK

Network Wales

Public Internet Access

• Cardiff CyberCafe