To join the Internet you must sign up with a private company unless you are a
government agency or university.   You can connect via lease-line, dial-up or
access through messaging systems like CompuServe or MCI Mail.  The following is
a list of companies who offer fee-based connections in the United States to the
Internet:
 
A21 COMMUNICATIONS                      SPRINTLINK
1211 Park Ave. #202                     Sprint International
San Jose, CA 95126-2924                 13221 Woodland Park Rd.
(408) 293-8078                          Herndon, VA 22071
                                        (703) 904-2680
INTERCON SYSTEMS CORP.                  fax (703) 904-2680
950 Herndon Pkwy, Ste. 420
Herndon, VA 22020                       THE WORLD SOFTWARE TOOL AND DIE
(703) 709-9890                          1330 Beacon St. Ste. 215
fax (703) 709-5555                      Brookline, MA 02146
                                        (617) 739-0202
PERFORMANCE SYSTEMS                     fax (617) 739-0914
118000 Sunrise Valley Dr. Ste. 1100
Reston, VA 22091                        UUNET COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (UCS)
(703) 620-6651                          3110 Fairview Park Dr.
fax (703) 620-4586                      Falls Church, VA 22042
                                        (800) 488-6384 (703) 204-8000
PORTAL COMMUNICATIONS                   fax (703) 204-8001
20863 Stevens Creek Blve. Ste. 95014
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 725-9111
fax (408) 725-1580
 
There are also many regional providers. For a listing, refer to THE WHOLE WORLD
INTERNET USER'S GUIDE & CATALOG. 