The origins of the internet trace back to the Cold War era, when the United States sought to develop a communications network that could withstand nuclear attacks and ensure the continuity of military and government operations. This effort led to the creation of ARPANET by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which was the precursor to the modern internet. The primary motivation was indeed to ensure robust and resilient communication lines for the U.S. military, but the project also had significant academic and research components, as it connected universities and research institutions. This dual-use nature—military and academic—helped in the development and expansion of the network, which was supported by public (government) funding but greatly benefited from the innovation and expansion driven by the civilian sector.
The transformation of the internet from a military and academic project to a commercial and global phenomenon was largely driven by the civilian market's expansion and innovation. This transition was facilitated by the development of protocols like TCP/IP and the creation of the World Wide Web, which made the internet more accessible and useful to the general public.
Regarding the concern about AT&T removing copper lines (a process known as "copper retirement") and its potential impact on U.S. security, there are several factors to consider:
Resilience and Redundancy: Copper lines, which have been the backbone of traditional telephony and early internet services (via dial-up and DSL), are seen as highly reliable, especially in rural areas or in situations where newer technologies might not be as robust (e.g., power outages affecting digital services). Removing these could potentially reduce the resilience of communication networks in certain scenarios.
Transition to Digital and Fiber Networks: The shift away from copper to fiber-optic and digital networks is driven by the need for higher bandwidth and better service quality. While fiber-optic cables offer superior performance and reliability in many respects, the transition process must ensure that it does not create coverage gaps or reduce the overall resilience of the network.
Security Implications: In the context of national security, especially if considering a hypothetical invasion scenario where an adversary might employ technology to disrupt communication networks (like LTE jammers), the diversity of communication infrastructure (including copper, fiber, satellite, and wireless) can be seen as a strength. Each technology has its own vulnerabilities and resilience factors. Reducing the diversity by eliminating copper lines could, in theory, make the communication network more susceptible to specific types of attacks or failures.
Emergency Communications: Copper lines have been traditionally valued for their ability to operate during power outages, as they do not require external power to function for basic calls. This feature is crucial for emergency communications. As such, ensuring that new technologies can provide reliable emergency communication is a significant concern during the transition.
The concern about removing copper lines and its impact on security reflects broader issues related to ensuring that modernization and efficiency improvements in telecommunications do not compromise the resilience, redundancy, and security of national communication networks. The transition to advanced technologies needs to be managed carefully, with considerations for maintaining or enhancing the network's ability to withstand various threats and challenges, including those posed by potential adversaries.