Network Communications History
Samuel Adam's Network of Liberty is First American Internet
The founder of this "Information SuperHorseway" was a man who had failed miserably at several business ventures (including a microbrewery and a stint as a tax collector) but he was one of the greatest behind-the-scenes networking giants ever known to man. Samuel Adams began his improbable rise to prominence early in that turbulent decade of the 60s … the 1760s.
The artisans and “mechanics” who teamed with this recalcitrant brewery technician were eager to find a way to acquire and disseminate information in a very revolutionary way! They had good reason. They were being threatened by a massive build up of arms and by economic terrorism that threatened their very way of life. The only way they could hope to overcome this juggernaut was to use the power of information.
The 7 Layer Openly Strategic InterColonial British Insurrection Model (OSI BI Model)
It began slowly at first between just two or three switching stations. Here small bits of
1) Physical communication could be forwarded through a
2) Data Link to it’s intended recipients faster than ever. They were able to find a way to send these bits of data in a framework that was routed efficiently in small packets on a
3) Network connected by a swift
4) Transport mechanism called a horse. This horse was able to carry a very intelligent delivery apparatus know as a rider who was able to safely set up a delivery
5) Session by which news was efficiently delivered end to end between two or more stations. Many times these riders and horses were robust enough to be able to carry the news even if they were accosted. They had the ability to recover packets that had been dropped, lost, or even pirated. Even when physical recovery was not possible they were able to accomplish the
6) Presentation of their vital information stream through using different
7) Applications powered by extensive memory capability.
The Committee of Correspondence
As these networking protocols grew there was no end to the innovation that went into improving this great communication medium. In no time they were trying to come up with a new name for this unique service that they could use to open up new markets. Because the backbone of this service was performed by groups of people who met in many small meeting houses to decide how and where to route this information, they decided to call this network the “The Committees of Correspondence”.
Innovation Brings Freedom
The rapid growth of this news flash portal was so remarkable that in no time at all these colonists were wondering how they ever survived without it. Indeed, it is very possible that without this tool they would not have been able to strike the tremendous blow for freedom that was their destiny. This grass roots infrastructure for the exchange of news and ideas was to play a huge part in disseminating important intelligence that enabled success against the increasingly dangerous and tyrannical abuses of the Empire of Great Britain. In turn it was to play a magnificent role in broadcasting a heretofore unknown and glorious freedom to every corner of the wide world!
Sources
A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic by John Ferling, 2003, Oxford University Press
CCNA Self-Study: Introduction to Cisco Networking Technologies by Stephen McQuerry, Cisco Systems, Inc., 2004, Cisco Press
