Do libraries use privately or publically owned ISPs?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the internet service providers (ISPs) used by public libraries in the United States. Participants explore whether libraries connect to privately owned ISPs like Comcast or AT&T, or if they utilize any government-owned ISPs. The conversation touches on aspects of contracts, pricing processes, and the relationship between libraries and ISPs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that public libraries likely connect to local providers, though this is not definitively confirmed.
  • One participant states that, to their knowledge, there are no government-owned ISPs in the US.
  • Another participant mentions Internet2, which is somewhat sponsored by the government, but questions its relevance to the original inquiry about libraries.
  • There is a discussion about the email domain @westlib.org used by local libraries, with some participants questioning whether it indicates that westlib.org is an ISP.
  • A later reply clarifies that having an email account does not equate to being an ISP, emphasizing that an ISP is the entity providing the internet connection.
  • One participant notes that libraries can choose any ISP but typically go with county contracts and mentions a special pricing process called e-rate for educational institutions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the specific ISPs used by libraries, and multiple competing views remain regarding the nature of library internet connections and the role of government sponsorship.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about the availability of government-owned ISPs and the specifics of library contracts with ISPs, which remain unresolved.

Lebombo
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Do public libraries connect to the internet with Comcast, ATT, Verizon..etc, or is there a government owned ISP that libraries use?
 
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Good question, i don't know, but I bet they just use a local provider.
 
As far as I know, there aren't any government-owned ISP's in the US.
 
In the USA, internet 2, is somewhat sponsored by government. I don't know how much govenment sponsorship is indirectly related to funding that goes through educational or research institutions. Some educational institutions have their own libraries, but I'm not sure if this is part of the answer the original post was asking for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet2
 
I am not sure it is the same thing. However local libraries (Westchester County, NY) have @westlib.org for their email. Does this mean westlib.org is ISP?
 
mathman said:
Does this mean westlib.org is ISP?

Is physicsforums.com an ISP? :smile:
 
mathman said:
I am not sure it is the same thing. However local libraries (Westchester County, NY) have @westlib.org for their email. Does this mean westlib.org is ISP?
No, it doesn't. Your ISP is what gives you your Internet connection. This has nothing to do with whether you have a website, what your website is, whether you have an email account, and who provides your email account.
 
I know this is a year old, but I just saw it and the question might come up again, so here is the answer.

Libraries can use any ISP they want, BUT they generally go with county contracts. There is a special pricing process for them called e-rate. They usually only deal with the larger carriers which are equipped to handle these special bids. I used to handle GEM accounts (Government, Education, and Medical). An absolute PITA.

http://www.usac.org/sl/

http://transition.fcc.gov/learnnet/
 

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