Privatizing the Internet: Competing Visions and Chaotic Events, 1987-1995

Abstract

The National Science Foundation played a key role in the history of the Internet by overseeing its transition from government to private operation. In the process, NSF was forced to balance the competing visions of scientists who wanted a purely academic network, politicians such as Al Gore who wanted a broader National Research and Education Network, and private industry, which wanted to offer commercial networking services. This article describes the conflicts, trade-offs, and unexpected events that led to a technical and social transformation of the Internet.