Happy Birthday Dear Internet

Tuesday, October 30th. A technological breakthrough that has led to remarkable changes in American and global society occurred 49 years ago today … or yesterday, depending on your point of reference. While Americans in the Eastern and Central time zones entered October 30, 1969, it was around 10:30 p.m. Pacific time on October 29 that the first connection was made on what would become the internet. The first two computers linked were at UCLA and the Stanford Research Institute — part of a Defense Department program called ARPANET. Within a year, 10 sites were connected. Today, over 89 percent of American households have computers, and more than 81 percent have internet access at home. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.

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