In 2003, the Net is effectively complete in the U.S.
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With the government's explicit help and implicit support, Information Carriers have "reclaimed" many of the private (telecommunications and cable) networks built throughout the late 80s and early 90s; they have rationalized them, inserted switching capability, and extended them to unserved areas and homes.
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High-bandwidth "pipe" (a hybrid of fiber and coax, used digitally and with compression) reaches 70% of the nation geographically, and provides a two-way connection to over 50% of all households (and over 85% of all large companies).
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A hybrid cellular/Personal Communication Network (PCN) system has been constructed (switched and carried over the same cable backbone), so that "phone cords" have nearly disappeared, and voice and low-density data are carried on whatever combination of air waves and cable makes most sense in the circumstance making continuous service from office to campus to car to home possible.
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