Information Freeway?; Open Data Path Is Urged (1999)

The Buffalo Free-Net, a volunteer group of students, librarians and residents, is part of a small but growing grass-roots movement loosely known as community networks. Its mission: to provide computer users with local services like regional news and forums on community issues. But while some community networks have fees, free-nets are championing access without charge to the global computer web Internet.

The free-access groups have opened an electronic portal that allows local residents to connect home computers, for the cost of a local phone call, to the Internet, which is now shared by an estimated 20 million people worldwide. Many free-access networks have set up computers in schools and libraries so that even those without their own equipment can reach the Internet for free.

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/04/nyregion/information-freeway-open-data-path-is-urged.html

A bit of early 'Net lore I've just stumbled across. Notably the NPTN (National Public Telecommunications Network), which existed from about 1986, though few traces remain online. This article being among those few.

Possible lessons (and cautions) for those looking to expand the noncommercial Fediverse.

#FreeNets #NationalPublicTelecommunicationsNetwork #internet #PublicGoods #history #fediverse