Beth,
 
You asked:
 
>How do museums gain access to the Internet?  Are the terms of access
>different for those who are "non-profit" as opposed to "for profit"
 
For a long time individuals at the our museum shared a modem and connected to
UNM as students or adjunct faculty. When we decided to get our internet
connection, we did a piggy-back on an existing contract the state has with the
local internet provider. Had we not done the piggy back, we would have been
able to connect at a slight discount.
 
I do not know how all the providers work, but New Mexico Technet, the NSFnet
provider for New Mexico gives a good discount to non-profits and educational
institutions. "For profit" operations subsidize educational and non-profits.
 
We have been lucky, with a location that allows us to hold down the cost of the
phone line, and good support the state and from the local internet provider.
Also, Albuquerque Public Schools was a big help to us.
 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
John Chadwick                New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
 
             Now here -- [log in to unmask]
 
phone: (505) 841-8837                                      FAX (505) 841-8866
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=