This paper argues that instability, characterized by constant and unpredictable change, has become the central issue in telecommunications and internet policy, replacing convergence. It examines how the early internet designers (1969-1979), who also acted as policymakers, developed techniques for managing this instability—techniques that remain relevant for today’s network designers and large-scale sociotechnical infrastructures. Through analysis of technical documents from the era, the paper identifies key strategies, including problem definition, conceptual work, social practices, and technical solutions.