The internet de-mystified

[Ed Vielmetti]

In article <758 at faatcrl.UUCP> warb at faatcrl.UUCP (Dan Warburton) writes:

   Unlike Usenet connection to the Internet is going to cost you. 

Yes, money will change hands.  It need not be a huge sum, but
depending where you are the amount can vary substantially.

   You do not
   "get a site to feed you" , you get a leased line to the nearest internet
   site, 

Not necessarily a leased line; it's possible to run TCP/IP over
microwave ethernet, dial-up phone lines, privately pulled cables, or
whatever makes good economic sense.  
   
   get internet address from the NIC, 

This is free (for now).

   and find an alternative nameserver.

Also free.

   Least cost is about 20kl to get started with a 19.2 connection(plus line costs).

I assume this is $20K ?  Again not necessarily.  In some parts of the
world there is competition among network access providers; depending
on where you are located, what equipment you are able to provide, and
local tarriffs, the cost can be lower.  Low-speed intermittent dial-up
IP as provided by (e.g.) CERFnet is $250/organization + $25/id/month +
$5/hour; other providers like PSI, Alternet, various NSF regionals all
may have their own stuff.

   Internet connections are reserved for Research and Dev. , commercial use is
   forbidden.   

Not true. There are restrictions on packets which traverse the NSFnet
backbone.  Some network access providers have their own cross-country
links on which you are free to send any sort of traffic you might want
to send (e.g. invoices) as long as it does not transit a restricted
network.  

   +  Dan Warburton   Nas Simulation Support Facility (NSSF)                  
   +  warb at faatcrl.uucp  ...rutgers!faatcrl!warb   

--Ed
emv at ox.com