National Capital FreeNet

National Capital FreeNet
AbbreviationNCF
FormationSeptember 1992
TypeNGO
Legal statusNon-profit association
PurposeEducational
HeadquartersSuite 206 Richmond Square, 1305 Richmond Road, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 7Y4
Location
  • Ottawa, Ontario
Region served
Ottawa, Ontario Gatineau, Québec
Membership
Individuals
Official language
English & French
President
Chris Cope
Main organ
Board of Directors
Staff
13[1]
Websitewww.ncf.ca

National Capital FreeNet (NCF) (French: Libertel de la Capitale Nationale), is a non-profit community organization internet service provider, with the goal of linking people in Canada's capital of Ottawa[2][3] and ensuring no Ottawa citizens would be excluded from internet access.[4]

Founded in September 1992 with the active participation of volunteers, Carleton University, and private industry (which donated communications equipment),[5] NCF was one of the first free-nets set up worldwide and was patterned after the Cleveland Free-Net that had been established at Case Western Reserve University in 1984. Within a year of its establishment NCF had over 10,000 members.[3][6][7]

NCF offers broadband (DSL) and dial-up service to people in the national capital region; in early 2012, over 4,000 members used its dial-up service.[8]

The National Capital FreeNet is a free, computer-based information sharing network. It links the people and organizations of this region, provides useful information, and enables an open exchange of ideas with the world. Community involvement makes FreeNet an important and accessible meeting place, and prepares people for full participation in a rapidly changing communications environment."[2]

  1. ^ National Capital FreeNet. "Our Team". ncf.ca. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b National Capital Freenet (n.d.). "An Introduction to the National Capital FreeNet". Retrieved 23 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b Secretary of the NCF Board of Directors (January 2009). "NCF Board of Directors". Retrieved 22 January 2009.
  4. ^ CJOH Television (2003). "National Capital FreeNet Tenth Anniversary". Retrieved 16 December 2007.
  5. ^ Shade, Leslie Regan (1999). "Roughing it in the electronic bush: Community networking in Canada". Canadian Journal of Communication. 24 (2): 1. doi:10.22230/cjc.1999v24n2a1095.
  6. ^ Ouellette, André (2002). "The new National Capital FreeNet". @monitor.ca. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 23 February 2008.
  7. ^ Evans, Ken & Bonni: The National Capital FreeNet Navigator: a practical guide to the National Capital FreeNet, access to your community and the world, pages 1-3. Imagicians Artware Inc, Manotick, Ontario, 1995
  8. ^ CBC News Staff (28 January 2012). "Ottawa company provides dial-up internet to 4,000". CBC News. Retrieved 28 January 2012.