Yeah, I do. The first BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems) were on private lines; admittedly phone company wires, but they weren't subsidized, merely regulated.
And the seeds of USENET started up between two unis with mainframes, and two of the profs would exchange basketball scores over a leased line.
When the infrastructure was pretty much in place, then DARPAnet got started on the taxpayers' (i.e., your) dime, but the foundation was already there.
Hope This Helps! Rich