As of early 1997, there are over 25 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with dial-up access in Hawai段, both locally owned and Mainland US owned (not including on-line services like America Online, CompuServe, GNN, MSN, etc.). Before the availability of local dial-up ISPs in Hawai段, most people without access through military, government or university main-frames accessed the Internet through "store-and-forward" UNIX systems. These systems send and receive Usenet newsgroup postings, electronic mail and data by routinely dialing into Internet sites on the Mainland late at night to take advantage of cheaper long-distance rates. The first commercial ISPs in Hawai段 (FlexNet and Hawaii Online) started business within months of each other in mid-1994. Several ISPs provide local dial-up access on more than one island. Besides O誕hu, there is a growth of local ISPs on the islands of Maui, Hawai段, and Kaua段 (see ISP list for complete listing by island). On O誕hu, there is also a sizable growth of new local ISPs (e.g., Internet@vantage and GTE). According to some estimates, the number of Hawai段 users accessing the Internet through local ISPs is in excess of 100,000 (projected from est. 90,000 in early 1996). Hawaii Online, acknowledged as being the largest local ISP has a user base of over 6,000. Hawai'i's computer technology is rapidly advancing each and every day, these new and advanced technologies in the information age will have enormous impact in our society. The impact of computer mediated communications are among the main concerns of CPSR Hawai'i.