The Computer Science Network (CSNET) was a computer network developed in the early 1980s that linked Computer Science departments at academic institutions. It was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation by an initial contract for the three year period 1981-1984. It was instituted with leadership by Peter Denning (Purdue University), David Farber (University of Delaware), Anthony Hearn (RAND Corporation) and Larry Landweber (University of Wisconsin).