Several Internet networks in Central Asia, specifically, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are financed[citation needed] by USAID and other United States governmental authorities and are called Freenet.
These freenets were started in 1996 as part of a United States Information Agency (USIA) project known as the Internet Access and Training Program IATP.
This included the development of infrastructure such as satellite connectivity, local area networks, dial up access, and computer labs.
Further the project trained staff and students in the use of email and the web to support research and communication with peers outside of Central Asia.
The Uzbekistan freenet was started by the IATP Regional Coordinator Christopher Parker along with Alexei Vostrikov and Boris Miller.