(1) See in-system programmable.|
(2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL, T1/T3 lines or fiber. Customers are generally billed a fixed rate per month, but other charges may apply.
Your Own Web Site
ISPs often host a small Web site for their customers, allowing them to have a presence on the Web. However, the Web site may be limited to a maximum number of pages, and the domain name of the ISP becomes part of the customer's URL address. For a fee, an ISP may host a Web site that uses its customer's proprietary domain name (see Web hosting). See IXP and backbone.
Small ISPs hook into regional ISPs or directly into major backbone providers. This diagram shows a local ISP confined to a single county, and a regional ISP confined to a state. In practice, ISP networks often have irregular boundaries that span jurisdictions.
This diagram shows how a typical, small ISP might be connected to the Internet.