How did the NSF get involved?



To expand access to the Internet, the NSF supported the development of regional networks, which were then connected to the NSFNET backbone. In addition, the NSF supported institutions, such as universities, in their efforts to connect to the regional networks.

Any research or educational institution that made a connection to one of the regional networks had free access to the entire NSFNET. The following diagram illustrates the structure of the NSFNET backbone.

[Diagram of NSFNET backbone structure, showing 3 levels connecting to backbone: supercomputing centers, regional networks and campus networks]



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