This story was originally published in the May1995 issue of
Classroom Connect magazine. Copyright 1995 Wentworth Worldwide Media.
Contact connect@wentworth.com or http://www.wentworth.com for more
information.

-- Cover Story
-- Dial a Free-Net and access the world

As the old saying goes, ÒThereÕs no such thing as a free lunch!Ó But when it
comes to getting near-free access to the Internet, the worldÕs Free-Nets
come pretty close.
Since the mid-1980Õs, Free-Net computer bulletin board systems have
been popping up in communities large and small, primarily in the U.S. and
Canada. Most are members of the National Public Telecomputing Network
(NPTN), a non-profit organization which operates just like the United
StateÕs Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. Simply
substitute community computer systems for television and radio stations. 
Anyone living in the more than 30 communities worldwide with a Free-Net
can access the system anytime, 24 hours a day, with a computer and
modem. They simply dial a central phone number, make a connection, and a
series of menus appears on the screen which allows them to select the
information or communication services they would like to use--including
the Internet! All of it is free, and navigating its resources can easily be
accomplished by a first-time user.
What better way to get yourself or your school acquainted with the
educational treasure-trove that is the worldwide Internet!
Subhead: WhatÕs the catch? 
If you or your school is located outside the local calling area of the
nearest Free-Net, you will have to pay long distance charges. Other than
that, however, your Internet access is free. 
To get online immediately, consult our extensive listing of Free-Nets
found on pages 4 and 5. Use your computer and modem, dial into the system
closest to you, fill out an online form, and you can begin surfing the Net
immediately.
SIDEBAR: Free-Net offerings
HereÕs what youÕll find on your local Free-Net system:
¥ Internet access, assistance, and guides
¥ Community event and entertainment information
¥ Online links to state and local government databases
¥ Weather forecasts
¥ Links to local schools tied into the network, and national educational
projects via Academy One
¥ Employment and job opportunities
¥ Library information
¥ Community organizations and support services
¥ Business information
Subhead: Free-Net objectives
Free-Nets are in existence to fill several needs of the comminities in
which theyÕre located:
¥ Assist cities throughout the U.S. and the world in establishing free, open
access, community computer systems. This assures equal and open access
to the Information Superhighway (Internet), leveling the playing field and
helping reduce the prospect of having a world of information haves, and
have-nots.
¥ Serve as a local link to all other Free-Nets around the world, which have
now become a common network similar to Public Television and National
Public Radio. If youÕre a member of any Free-Net, you can access
information stored on all of the other Free-Nets around the world,
including U.S. Supreme Court decisions, USA Today online newspapers, the
Daily Report Card educational news service, and much more.
¥ Encourage local residents to participate in special Free-Net-wide
projects and programs which take advantage of the unique strengths of
telecomputing as a medium of communication. Most of these on-going
programs are K-12 related, from International email/keypal clubs, to
student author and artist bulletin boards.
The key to the economics of operating a ÒfreeÓ community computer
system is the fact that the system is literally run by the community
itself. Everything that appears on one of these Free-Nets is there because
of individuals or organizations in the local community who contribute
their time, effort, and expertise to place it there and update it over time.
This, of course, is in contrast to the commercial online services (America
Online, Prodigy) which have very high personnel and information-
acquisition costs and must pass those costs on to the consumer.
Subhead: Internet access
Currently, most Free-Nets offer only text-based access to Internet
resources for free. This means users must type commands to navigate the
system. 
By the end of 1996, many of the systems will offer graphical (SLIP and
PPP) access to the Net, meaning users can begin surfing the NetÕs World
Wide Web with Mosaic or NetScape, and use graphical email, gopher, and
ftp software to transfer information. Typically, there is a small monthly
fee (about $15-$20) for using a graphical Internet account on a Free-Net.
Even if you or your school already has use of another Internet account, dial
into a nearby Free-Net and establish an account. YouÕll find lots of great
uses for it!
Subhead: Free-Net netiquette
¥ Even though Free-Net accounts are free, be considerate when dialing into
the system. Try to limit your access to only what you need so that your
neighbors can also make us of its resources, since the number of modem
lines is limited.
¥ Be sure to read any and all online registration information closely. Many
Free-Nets suggest optimum times to access the system to help keep
stress on the system to a minimum. Also, there is usually an opportunity
to retrieve instructions on using using the system during the  signup
process. Be sure to printout this document and keep it as a handy
reference.
¥ Donate to your local Free-Net when possible. After all, without public
support, chances are the system may not survive. If youÕre in a position to
do so, think about becoming a corporate sponsor.

PULL QUOTE FOR SOMEWHERE IN THE PIECE:
ÒUsing Free-Net computers, school systems finally have a cost-effective
way to teach telecomputing to their students, thereby sending a new
generation of information-literate citizens into the work force. In
addition, these systems allow students, teachers, parents, and
administrators to communicate with each other and have access to
information bases of mutual interest and importance.Ó
T.M. Grundner, EdD
Director and President, NPTN
Email to:  tmg@nptn.org

SIDEBAR: Contacting NPTN
[CAPTURE = NPTN Logo]
HereÕs more information about contacting the National Public
Telecomputing Network (NPTN), the creator of the Free-Net network.
NPTN
30680 Bainbridge Road
Solon, Ohio  44139-2268
Phone:  (216) 498-4050
Fax:  (216) 498-4051
Email:  info@nptn.org

SIDEBAR: Free-Net information
Here are several places on the Internet where you can access more
information about Free-Nets.
¥ Free-Net Headquarters
URL:  http://herald.usask.ca/~scottp/free.html
¥ Web Gateway to Free-Nets and Community Computer Networks
URL:  http://Free-Net.victoria.bc.ca/Free-Nets.html
¥ Guide to Community Networking and setting up a Free-Net in your
community
URL:  http://http2.sils.umich.edu/~ckummer/community.html

Subhead: Free-Net affiliate systems listing
Subhead: Find a Free-Net near you to get online right now!
The following is a list of Free-Nets that have modem numbers so
community members can dial directly into the systems. For those who
already have Internet access, telnet addresses for the systems are also
listed. There are several (about 10) Free-Nets systems that do not have
modem or telnet numbers. They are not included in this list.

SUBHEAD: Canada
Blue Sky Free-Net
Manitoba
Telnet to: winnie.freenet.mb.ca
Login:  guest
Password:  guest
Modem:  (204) 987-1234

Chebucto Free-Net
Nova Scotia
Telnet to:  cfn.cs.dal.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (902) 494-8006

CIAO! Free-Net
British Columbia
Telnet to:  freenet.victoria.bc.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (604) 368-5764

National Capital Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.carleton.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (613) 564-3600
Modem:  (613) 564-0808

Prince George Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.unbc.edu 
Login:  guest
Modem:  (604) 563-3977

Sea to Sky Free-Net
British Columbia
Telnet to:  sea-to-sky-freenet.bc.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (604) 892-3500

Toronto Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.toronto.on.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (416) 780-2010

Vancouver Regional Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.vancouver.bc.ca
Login:  guest
Modem: (604) 257-8778

Victoria Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.victoria.bc.ca
Login:  guest
Modem:  (604) 595-2300

Subhead: Germany
Free-Net Erlangen-Nuernberg
Telnet to:  freenet-a.fim.uni-erlangen.de 
Login:  gast
Modem:  +49 9131 21916

Subhead: New Zealand
Wellington CityNet
Wellington
Telnet to:  kosmos.wcc.govt.nz
Modem:  +64 4801 3060

Subhead: United States
Alachua Free-Net
Florida
Telnet to:  freenet.ufl.edu 
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (904) 334-0200

Almont Expression Free-Net
Michigan
Modem:  (810) 798-8290

Arizona Telecommunication Company
Telnet to:  aztec.asu.edu
Login:  guest 
Password:  visitor
Modem:  (602) 965-6699
Modem:  (602) 965-4151

Big Sky Telegraph
Montana
Telnet to:  bigsky.bigsky.dillon.mt.us 
Login:  bbs
Modem: (406) 683-7680

Buffalo Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.buffalo.edu
Login:  freeport
Modem: (716) 645-3085

CapAccess
National Capital Area Public Access Network
Washington, DC
Telnet to:  capaccess.org
Login:  guest
Password:  visitor
Modem:  (202) 785-1523

Central Virginia's Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.vcu.edu
Login:  guest 
Password:  visitor
Modem:  (804) 828-8694

Chesapeake Free-Net 
Rhode Island
Telnet to:  cfn.bluecrab.org
Modem:  (410) 819-6860

Cleveland Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet-in-a.cwru.edu
Telnet to:  freenet-in-b.cwru.edu
Telnet to:  freenet-in-c.cwru.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (216) 368-3888

Columbia Online Information Network (COIN) 
Missouri
Telnet to:  bigcat.missouri.edu 
Login:  guest
Modem:  (314) 884-7000 (Main)
Modem:  (816) 248-1670 (Fayette)
Modem:  (314) 642-2398 (Fulton)

Subhead: Dayton Free-Net
Ohio
Telnet to:  130.108.128.174
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (513) 229-4373

Denver Free-Net
Colorado
Telnet to:  freenet.hsc.colorado.edu
Login:  guest
Modem:  (303) 270-4865

Educational Central Free-Net
Michigan
Telnet to:  edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (517) 774-3790

Fort Collins Community Computer Network Colorado
Telnet to:  www.fortnet.org
Login:  guest
Modem:  (303) 416-1446

Genesee Free-Net
Michigan
Telnet to:  genessee.freenet.org
Login:  guest
Modem:  (810) 232-9905

Grand Rapids Free-Net
Telnet to:  grfn.org
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (616) 949-2111

Greater Detroit Free-Net
Telnet to:  detroit.freenet.org
Login:  visitor
There are dozens of modem numbers for this system. Write to the address
below and request dial-in numbers by region.
Greater Detroit Free-Net
User Registration
P.O. Box 5068
Warren, MI 48090-5068

Greater Columbus Free-Net
Ohio
Telnet to:  Free-Net.columbus.oh.us
Login:  guest 
Modem:  (614) 292-7501


Great Lakes Free-Net
Michigan
Modem:  (616) 969-4536

Heartland Regional Network 
Illinois
Telnet to:  heartland.bradley.edu 
Login:  bbguest
Password:  Hit RETURN
Modem:  (309) 674-1100

Jackson Area Free-Net 
Tennessee
Telnet to:  jackson.freenet.org
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (901) 427-4435

Kitsap Free-Net
Washington
Telnet to:  198.187.135.22
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (360) 698-4737

Learning Village Cleveland
Ohio
Telnet to:  nptn.org
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (216) 247-6196

Lorain County Free-Net
Telnet to:  freenet.lorain.oberlin.edu
Login: guest
Modem:  (216) 277-2359
Modem:  (216) 366-9753 (Elyria)

Los Angeles Free-Net
Telnet to:  lafn.org
Login:  2
Modem:  (818) 776-5000

Medina Area Free-Net
Ohio
Modem:  (216) 723-6732

Mobile Area Free-Net
Alabama
Telnet to:  ns1.maf.mobile.al.us
Modem:  (334) 405-4636

Ocean State Free-Net
Rhode Island
Telnet to:  192.207.24.10
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (401) 831-4640

Ozarks Regional Information Online Network  (ORION)
Montana
Telnet to:  ozarks.sgcl.lib.mo.us
Login:  guest
Modem:  (417) 864-6100

PrarieNet 
Illinois
Telnet to:  prairienet.org 
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (217) 255-9033 
Modem:  (217) 255-9000

RAIN - Rural Area Information Network 
Missouri
Telnet to:  rain.gen.mo.us
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (816) 834-2555

Rio Grande Free-Net
Telnet to:  rgfn.epcc.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (915) 775-5600

Seattle Community Network
Telnet to:  scn.org 
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (206) 386-4140
Email to:  randy@cpsr.org

SENDIT
North Dakota
Telnet to:  sendit.nodak.edu
Login:  bbs
Modem:  (701) 237-3283

SLONet
San Luis Obispo, California
Telnet to:  199.74.141.2
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (805) 781-3666

Southeast Florida Library Information Network
Email to:  infodesk@bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
Telnet to:  bcfreenet.seflin.lib.fl.us
Login:  visitor
Modem: (305) 735-4332

SouthEastern Ohio Regional Free-Net
Telnet to:  seorf.ohiou.edu
Login:  guest
Modem:  (614) 593-1439

Talawanda Learning Community Network 
Ohio
Telnet to:  tlcnet.muohio.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (513) 529-4999

Tallahassee Free-Net
Florida
Telnet to:  freenet.fsu.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (904) 488-5056
Modem:  (904) 488-6313

Tristate Online Free-Net
Ohio
Telnet to:  tso.uc.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (513) 579-1990

UMassK12 Free-Net
Massachusetts
Telnet to:  k12.oit.umass.edu
Login:  guest
Modem:  (413) 572-5583
Modem:  (413) 572-5268

Worth County Free-Net
Georgia
Modem:  (912) 776-1255

Youngstown Free-Net
Telnet to:  yfn2.ysu.edu
Login:  visitor
Modem:  (216) 742-3072