Electronic Community Networks

Organizations that develop and maintain as a public service, computer systems that people can utilize via modem for menu-driven access to a variety of information and services including electronic mail, listservs, newsgroups/forums, frequently asked questions (FAQs), chat groups, computer file archives and other local resources and the Internet. Much of the information available on these networks is provided by local agencies and organizations and is local or regional in scope. Many of these networks use the Free-Net software marketed by the National Public Telecomputing Network and are often referred to as "freenets".