ARPAnet commissioned by DoD for research into networking. First nodes were UCLA, Stanford Research Institute, UCSB, and University of Utah. Use of Interface Message Processors (IMP) [Honeywell 516 mini computer with 12K of memory] developed by Bolt Beranek and Newman, Inc. (BBN)

First node-to-node message sent between UCLA and SRI - which was also the first ARPAnet crash

First Request for Comments (RFC): "Host Software" by Steve Crocker, written overnight in a bathroom so he wouldn't wake-up anyone.

ALOHAnet developed by Norm Abramson.

ARPANET hosts start using Network Control Protocol (NCP).

International Conference on Computer Communications with demonstration of ARPANET between 40 machines and the Terminal Interface Processor (TIP) organized by Bob Kahn. (October) more of the story...

InterNetworking Working Group (INWG) created to address need for establishing agreed upon protocols. Chairman: Vinton Cerf.

Telnet specification.

First international connections to the ARPANET: University College of London (England) and Royal Radar Establishment (Norway)

Bob Metcalfe's Harvard PhD Thesis outlines idea for Ethernet.

Bob Kahn poses Internet problem, starts internetting research program at ARPA. Vinton Cerf sketches gateway architecture in March on back of envelope in hotel lobby in San Francisco.

Cerf and Kahn present basic Internet ideas at INWG in September at Univ of Sussex, Brighton, UK.

File Transfer Protocol specification (RFC 454)

Network Voice Protocol (NVP) specification (RFC 741) and implementation enabling conference calls over ARPAnet.

Vint Cerf and Bob Kahn publish "A Protocol for Packet Network Intercommunication" which specified in detail the design of a Transmission Control Program (TCP). [IEEE Trans Comm]

Larry Roberts founds Telenet, the first commercial packet-switched data service

Operational management of Internet transferred to DCA (now DISA)

Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom sends out an e-mail

UUCP (Unix-to-Unix CoPy) developed at AT&T Bell Labs and distributed with UNIX one year later.

THEORYNET created by Larry Landweber at Univ of Wisconsin providing electronic mail to over 100 researchers in computer science (using a locally developed email system and TELENET for access to server).

Mail specification (RFC 733)

Tymshare launches Tymnet, competition for Telenet.

First demonstration of ARPANET/Packet Radio Net/SATNET operation of Internet protocols with BBN-supplied gateways in July

Meeting between Univ of Wisconsin, DARPA, NSF, and computer scientists from many universities to establish a Computer Science Department research computer network (organized by Larry Landweber).

USENET established using UUCP between Duke and UNC by Tom Truscott, Jim Ellis, and Steve Bellovin. All original groups were under net.* hierarchy.

ARPA establishes the Internet Configuration Control Board (ICCB)

Packet Radio Network (PRNET) experiment starts with DARPA funding. Most communications take place between mobile vans. ARPANET connection via SRI.