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USA Internet Structure
The Internet in the USA has always used a backbone
topology, with the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET)
providing the original backbone network.
In 1995, this structure was privatised, with a variety of
commercial organisations (National Service Providers
(NSPs) taking over the backbone functionality.
Interconnections between these organisations occur at a number of
Network Access Points (NAPs). NSPs are said to
peer with other NSPs at the NAPs, with complex
arrangments in place to "carry each other's packets".
These NSPs then, in turn, peer with Regional Internet
Service Providers. Retail, or local, ISPs generally
connect to a Regional ISP and offer dial-in (and possibly
permanent) services to the public.
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