WeHelpedBuildThat.com - More details on who invented the Internet

[Commentary] In his "You didn't build that" speech, President Barack Obama said: "The Internet didn't get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all companies could make money off the Internet."

There are three problems with this claim:

1. Government alone didn't create the Internet.
2. Government didn't help build the Internet in order to create commercial opportunities.
3. Companies that succeed on the Internet do not succeed because of government.

By crediting just one institution, the President ignored the contributions of private researchers, businesses and academics.

Supporters of big government don't want to hear about the private-sector contributions to the Internet, but today the Internet is defined by individuals using it for their own purposes—communicating, accessing social media—and critiquing opinion columns. Many innovations are via free, open-source software. Perhaps we can all at least agree that the Internet boom began in the mid-1990s when the government shut down its remaining role, leaving the Internet to the power of the people.