The Internet is a global network of inter-connected computers that U.S. vice president Al Gore promoted as the Information Super-Highway a decade ago. It allows public users to use two facilities it hosts: Electronic Mail and the World Wide Web. (The Internet also hosts other facilities, but they do not concern us.)

Most users rent access to the Internet from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) such a kwic.com, flarenet.com, sympatico.ca, shaw.ca, aol.com, msn.com, or other local supplier. For a few dollars a month (more if you want really fast throughput) you get a "user name" (user identification nickname) and password, and server (hard disk) space to store incoming mail and web pages.

(A few users -- the more techie among us -- choose another option:  becoming their own ISP. This costs more, and frequently doesn't work as well, but does offer a few advantages that don't matter to most of us.)

Did you notice I said Internet accounts typically come with free space for the user's web pages? That means if you had web pages, you could send them to your ISP and presto, have your own web site for free. (You are currently on such a site.) This is a big deal if you hope to eventually dodge the high cost of publishing your genealogy on paper by posting it on the Internet.)

Tip. Do yourself a favor: avoid FreeNets! FreeNets are community ISPs that provide low-cost Internet access. Because they don't charge enough, FreeNets cannot afford to update their servers (hard disks), modems, and other equipment fast enough to provide the same level of service that commercial ISPs provide. FreeNets are socialist's good intentions offered by non-technie, non-business types, like libraries. Good idea, lousy execution.