communications activity, or traffic, on the Internet. In 1995, NSFnet terminated its network on the Internet and resumed its status as a research network. Today, the Internet consists of many local, regional, national, and international networks.
Numerous corporations, commercial firms, and other companies such as IBM provide networks to handle Internet traffic. Both public and private organizations own networks on the Internet. These networks, along with telephone companies such as Verizon and AT&T, cable and satellite companies, and the government, all contribute toward the internal
structure of the Internet. Each organization on the Internet is responsible only for maintaining its own network. No single
person, company, institution, or government agency controls or owns the Internet. The World Wide
Web Consortium (W3C), however, oversees research
and sets standards and guidelines for many areas of
the Internet. The mission of the W3C is to contribute
to the growth of the Web. More than 350 organizations
from around the world are members of the
W3C, advising, defining standards, and addressing
other issues.