Resumen
Freenets are non-profit community online systems providing such services as email, discussion groups and information exchanges. They are often organized around a donation model, much like public television, in which funding comes from individual donations, corporate sponsorship, and government grants. FreeNet users either do not have to pay any fees or are charged minimal fees. The National Capital FreeNet (NCF) in Ottawa, Canada (http://www.ncf.carleton.ca) is one of the largest examples of such systems. The mission statement of the NCF describes the project and its goals as a "free, computer based information sharing network, linking the people and organizations of the region, providing useful information, and enabling an open exchange of ideas with the world. Community involvement makes NCF an important and accessible meeting place and prepares people for full participation in a rapidly changing communications environment." Analyzing the users and uses of the NCF reveals that such systems can have significant local participation, attracting people from a broad range of backgrounds.