Collins, Eshoo introduce resolution celebrating 50th anniversary of the internet

Statement

Congressional Internet Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Ca.) introduced a resolution to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Internet and commemorate the first digital data transmission on the ARPANET from UCLA to the Stanford Research Institute.

"The invention of the Internet has completely transformed every aspect of our lives, opening the door to countless opportunities for growth and innovation," said Collins. "As co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus, I'm proud to join Rep. Eshoo in commemorating the first message sent on the ARPANET and recognizing the many individuals who contributed to this revolutionary invention. As we look ahead to the future of the Internet, I'm committed to ensuring more and more communities gain access to this critical resource, which has quickly become a pre-requisite for economic growth here in America."

"For the past 50 years, the Internet has continually revolutionized how Americans live, learn, work, and connect with one another," said Eshoo. "Our resolution commemorates the American ingenuity that led to the Internet, and the key role the federal government played in its development. I'm especially proud of the pivotal role that the Stanford Research Institute, which is in my District, played in the Internet's foundation, receiving the first digital data transmission on the ARPANET, a pioneering predecessor to the modern Internet. I look forward to the next 50 years of Internet innovation and the bold inventions yet unimagined."

The resolution recognizes the first message sent from one computer to another using the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), a predecessor to the modern Internet funded by the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency. It honors the contributions of researchers, universities, government agencies, nonprofits, and private companies in the development of the Internet.

Reps. Collins and Eshoo co-chair the Congressional Internet Caucus, a bipartisan group of over 100 members of the House and Senate working to educate their colleagues about the promise and potential of the Internet.

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