Commercialization of the Internet in the U.S.: NSFNet Closure to the Dot‑com Boom (1991–2001)

1. NSF permits more Internet commercial activity

   Jan 1, 1991Labels: National Science

   • Commercialization
   • CIX

2. Commercial Internet eXchange (CIX) forms

   Jun 1, 1991Labels: Commercial Internet, PSINet

   • CIX

3. Mosaic browser makes the Web mainstream

   Jan 23, 1993Labels: NCSA Mosaic

   • Mosaic
   • Wired

4. Amazon is founded as an online retailer

   Jul 5, 1994Labels: Amazon, Jeff Bezos

   • History
   • Amazon

5. Netscape Navigator accelerates web commercialization

   Dec 15, 1994Labels: Netscape Navigator

   • Netscape
   • Commercialization

6. NSFNET backbone is decommissioned

   Apr 30, 1995Labels: NSFNET Backbone

   • Merit
   • IBM

7. Amazon launches public sales website

   Jul 16, 1995Labels: Amazon

   • Amazon
   • BI

8. Netscape IPO signals dot‑com investment surge

   Aug 9, 1995Labels: Netscape IPO

   • Netscape
   • Commercialization

9. eBay begins as AuctionWeb

   Sep 3, 1995Labels: AuctionWeb, Pierre Omidyar

   • eBay
   • eBay

10. Telecommunications Act reshapes U.S. communications markets

    Feb 8, 1996Labels: Telecommunications Act

    • LOC
    • Clinton

11. Amazon goes public in a major IPO

    May 15, 1997Labels: Amazon IPO

    • WSJ
    • Nasdaq

12. eBay IPO boosts confidence in online marketplaces

    Sep 24, 1998Labels: eBay IPO

    • CNN
    • Wired

13. Internet Tax Freedom Act limits new taxes

    Oct 21, 1998Labels: Internet Tax

    • ITFA

14. AOL–Time Warner merger announced

    Jan 10, 2000Labels: AOL Time

    • CNN
    • History

15. NASDAQ peaks as dot‑com boom reaches high point

    Mar 10, 2000Labels: NASDAQ Composite

    • Fool
    • CWS

16. Dot‑com boom ends, triggering widespread failures

    Jan 1, 2001Labels: Dot com

    • Dotcom
    • Commercialization