Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

National Science Foundation Network
     
        (NSFNET) A high speed hierarchical "network of networks" in
        the US, funded by the {National Science Foundation}.  At the
        highest level, it is a {backbone} network comprising 16 nodes
        connected to a 45Mb/s facility which spans the continental
        United States.  Attached to that are mid-level networks and
        attached to the mid-levels are campus and local networks.
        NSFNET also has connections out of the US to Canada, Mexico,
        Europe, and the Pacific Rim.  The NSFNET is part of the
        {Internet}.
     
        (1993-01-01)