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Intranet/Extranet

reduced budget. The Republicans, who had wanted to to the Internet and go about doing their daily tasks on the
eliminate the ICC for a number of years, took control of computer. At a workplace, access to the different channels
Congress in 1995. As a first step, the fiscal 1996 spending or systems is granted by a background script when users
bill gave the ICC no budget. Then the House Transporta- log on and supply a password.
tion and Infrastructure Committee approved a bill to dis-
mantle the ICC, and the debate began. The major
DEFINITIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
objection from the Democratic side was centered on pro- To aid in understanding the different network classifica-
tection for railroad workers who might lose their jobs tions, here is an example: Maria, who is an administrative
because of mergers. After ironing out their differences,
assistant in a local Ford automobile dealership, uses the
Congress sent President Bill Clinton legislation to termi-
Internet to access expedia.com to make travel arrange-
nate the ICC. On December 29, 1995, the 108-year-old
ments for the dealership’s owner to attend an upcoming
ICC was disbanded.
sales meeting in Detroit. On the computer screen, Maria
SEE ALSO Interstate Commerce can also see the dealer’s vehicle inventory and number of
tires on hand. This would be classified as using the
intranet. When Maria checks with a Firestone tire distrib-
BIBLIOGRAPHY
End of the line for ICC. (1996). Nation’s Business, 84(3), 32. utor for availability and pricing, however, a source clearly
outside of the dealership, she would be using an extranet
ICC elimination. (1995–1996). Congress and the Nation, 9,
381–383. type of connection. Thus, Maria makes daily and seamless
use of all three electronic networks without necessarily
President signs bill terminating ICC. (1996, January 6). Congres-
sional Quarterly Weekly Report, 54(1), 58. being conscious of the structural differences. It should be
noted that many connections are not both ways. That is,
R.I.P., ICC. (1996, May/June). American Heritage, 47(3), 22.
the Firestone distributor cannot see how many cars are on
Stone, R. D. (1991). Interstate Commerce Commission and the
railroad industry: A history of regulatory policy. New York: hand at the Ford dealership, and the dealer cannot see the
Praeger. distributor’s price on tires. Further, within an organiza-
tion, not everybody would have access to the same infor-
mation. Typically, access is granted on an as-needed basis,
Mary Jean Lush with appropriate authorization.
Val Hinton
Internet. Although the Internet was initiated in the
1960s, its use in business has increased enormously since
the 1990s. The CMP Media TechEncyclopedia defined
INTRANET/EXTRANET Internet as:
The first global electronic network was the Internet,
which is actually not one network, but a collection of (1) (Lower case “i”nternet) A large network made up
smaller networks. This collection of networks is available of a number of smaller networks.
to everyone who is connected to the Internet. The term (2) (Upper case “I”nternet) The largest network in
intranet, however, refers to the type of private connections the world. It is made up of more than 100 mil-
that are authorized only to persons who work within a lion computers in more than 100 countries cov-
particular organization. An extranet refers to connections ering commercial, academic and government
that combine an organization’s private network with part- endeavors. Originally developed for the U.S. mil-
ners, suppliers, or other outside agencies. What the itary, the Internet became widely used for aca-
intranet and extranet have in common with the Internet demic and commercial research. Users had access
is that they all use Internet protocols. This means that to unpublished data and journals on a variety of
user-friendly browser software—such as Internet subjects. Today, the Internet (also known as the
Explorer—is the front end which links to all of the Net) has become commercialized into a world-
resources and requires little specialized training to use. wide information highway, providing data and
Intranet and extranet are classifications of networks and commentary on every subject and product on
few end users would know these terms. The distinctions, earth.
however, may be important to organizations.
While the typical computer user at home would have Intranet. The same work defines intranet as “An inhouse
access only to the Internet, at work that same person Web site that serves the employees of the enterprise.
could be using all three types of networks. The structure Although intranet pages may link to the Internet, an
is invisible to users who know just that they are connected intranet is not a site accessed by the general public.” The

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