Final answer:
The first electronic networking technology widely used in the United States was the telegraph. It significantly shortened communication times and laid the foundation for the development of future communication technologies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first electronic networking technology widely used in the United States was the telegraph. This technology revolutionized the way information was shared, reducing communication time from weeks to hours. The transatlantic telegraph, completed in 1858, played a crucial role in advancing global communications. By the late 19th century, the world saw over 100,000 miles of cable lying on ocean floors. Domestically, the telegraph was also significant, with Western Union operating a vast network of telegraph routes across the nation. Although other communication technologies such as the telephone and radio emerged and gained popularity, the telegraph was the first widespread electronic networking technology in the U.S.