| A | B |
|---|
| access provider | Business that provides individuals and organizations access to the Internet free or for a fee. |
| Internet | Worldwide collection of networks that connects millions of businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and individuals. |
| ARPA | Advanced Research Projects Agency; agency of the U.S. Department of Defense that built an early computer network called ARPANET. |
| broadband | High-speed Internet connection provided through cable, DSL, fiber, radio signals, or satellite. |
| ARPANET | Network developed by the Pentagon’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) that linked scientific and academic researchers across the United States. |
| Internet backbone | Major carriers of network traffic on the Internet. |
| IP address | A number that uniquely identifies each computer or device connected to the Internet. |
| cable Internet service | High-speed Internet access provided through the cable television network via a cable modem. |
| DNS server | Internet server that usually is associated with an Internet access provider. |
| DSL | Acronym for digital subscriber line; type of digital technology that provides high-speed Internet connections using regular copper telephone lines. |
| Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) | Technology that uses fiber-optic cables to provide high-speed Internet access to home and business users. |
| Wi-Fi | Type of broadband Internet connection that uses radio signals to provide high-speed Internet connections. |
| fixed wireless | High-speed Internet connection that uses an antenna on a house or business to communicate with a tower location via radio signals. |
| national ISP | Internet service provider that provides Internet access in cities and towns nationwide. |
| online service provider (OSP) | Company that provides Internet access as well as many members-only features. |
| regional ISP | Internet service provider that usually provides Internet access to a specific geographic area. |
| satellite Internet service | Provides high-speed Internet connections via satellite to a satellite dish that communicates with a satellite modem. |
| wireless Internet service provider | Company that provides wireless Internet access to desktop and notebook computers and mobile devices, such as smart phones and portable media players, with built-in wireless capability (such as Wi-Fi) or to computers using wireless modems or wireless access devices. |
| domain name | Text version of an IP address. |
| domain name system (DNS) | Method that the Internet uses to store domain names and their corresponding IP addresses. |
| IPv6 | New IP addressing scheme that may increase the number of available IP addresses. |
| ICANN | Acronym for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers; group that assigns and controls top-level domains. |
| ccTLD | Country code TLD (top-level domain). |
| gTLD | Generic TLD (top-level domain). |
