1997, by then I had helped start two ISPs, one of them used to be a huge BBS. Building a website was not really the problem, tools were up and coming, it seemed

1997, by then I had helped start two ISPs, one of them used to be a huge BBS. Building a website was not really the problem, tools were up and coming, it seemed like everyone could build a website with a plain text editor, and a lot of people knew HTML. The biggest challenge (if you did not work at the ISP) was keeping it on 24x7, and registering your DNS. It sure seems like DNS is a lot easier now than before. You had to call NetSol, and there was a multi-step fax-back and forth process to prove who you were to register your DNS. Sometimes it took days. You needed an act of congress to change things afterwards too, and be sure you did not mess up your NS server information. As for keeping it on 24x7, I think our pipes now are better than ever. T1 down? Yes, why yes it is, there is something wrong with the frame relay again. Or someone at the telco changed my dlci. Or the crazy person with the backhoe cut it. Or the router decided to freak for no reason. Or our custom X.25 connector went bad or lost a solder connection. Good times... :)