Path: sys6626!bison!canopus.cc.umanitoba.ca!mona.muug.mb.ca!aeris!danl
From: danl@aeris.muug.mb.ca (Daniel J. Little)
Newsgroups: man.freenet
Subject: BlueSky Free-Net FAQ
Message-ID: <Co5DH0.83K@aeris.muug.mb.ca>
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 1994 13:00:34 GMT
Reply-To: freenet-info@mbnet.mb.ca
Organization: BlueSky Free-Net of Manitoba, Inc.
Lines: 694

                    Frequently Asked Questions About the
                     BLUE SKY FREE-NET OF MANITOBA INC.
                        Version 3.0  March 12, 1994


What is this document?

This document is a prototype FAQ for the BlueSky Free-Net of Manitoba, Inc.
It is intended to provide a starting point for people interested in finding
answers about BlueSky. It is an unofficial FAQ at this time, and has not
been updated to answer some of the questions posted in this group. If you
have any additions, post them to this group.


What is a Free-Net?

A Free-Net is a free, public-access community computer system. Free-Nets
can serve populations of any size, from large metropolitan centres to small
cities and towns.  They offer a wide spectrum of on-line information
services to the public, including community and government databases and
worldwide electronic messaging.  They don't charge for their services, so
everything on them is free.  While there are many Free-Nets around the
world, each Free-Net is tailored to meet the information needs of the local
community, so no two Free-Nets are identical.

Think of the Blue Sky Free-Net as a large on-line encyclopedia about
Manitoba.  We place information on a large, dedicated computer, hook it up
to the phone system, and make it available seven days a week, 24 hours a
day, to the general public, free-of-charge.  Free-Nets are capable of
supporting hundreds of users simultaneously, but the number of local users
who can simultaneously use the Free-Net depends on the number of phone
lines that we have running into the system.

Information providers are organizations that give us information to place
on the Free-Net.  Information providers and other volunteers are the
lifeblood of a Free-Net.  They work together to keep the information on the
Free-Net up-to-date, and they ensure that the information keeps pace with
the community's information needs.  Free-Nets invite information providers
from all sectors of the community to supply information for placement on
the system.  In cooperation with other Free-Net volunteers, they genero
usly donate their time and effort to maintain and update the information.
Using a computer and a modem, anyone in Manitoba can connect to the
Free-Net and view our databases, as well as communicate with the
participating organizations.  If you don't have a computer and a modem,
there's no need to worry.  We plan to have public access terminals located
throughout the Province.


Who Can Place Information on the Blue Sky Free-Net?

Information providers can be community and professional associations,
clubs, charitable organizations, the government, and educational or service
institutions - any entity that wants to communicate information to the
general public.  Every participating organization will be given a dedicated
space on the system to post its information.

What is the Blue Sky Free-Net Committee?

The Blue Sky Free-Net Committee is a group of volunteers who want to
establish a Free-Net in Manitoba.  The committee has representatives from
businesses, academic institutions, the government, and the community.

What is Our Goal?

The goal of the Blue Sky Free-Net Committee is to provide the residents of
Manitoba with free, electronic access to  community-related information,
while giving information providers a means to disseminate their information
as widely and as economically as possible.


The Public Library Analogy

Free-Nets are destined to become as important an institution as the public
library.  It is hard to imagine a community without a public library.  In
the near future, community computer systems will become just as
commonplace.  In fact, Free-Nets are modelled on the same principle as
public libraries.  They provide information to the community, at no charge
to the user.

Historically, libraries were privately owned and access was restricted to
special classes of society - the wealthy and elite, scholars, and
university students.  The last century has witnessed a shift in the role
that libraries play in our society.  They have become free, open-access
facilities, performing a vital service to the community, serving people in
all classes of society, and from all walks of life.

In the same way that libraries were once the domain of the rich and elite,
use of information technology has historically been confined to certain
groups in society.  The penetration of computers into the home and office
and increased computer literacy have provided an opportunity for community
computer systems to flourish.  Free-Nets bring information technology
within reach of all classes in society, and they don't charge for their
services.

How Many Free-Nets are There In Canada?....The Rest of The World?

At the time of this writing, there are over 50 other Free-Net type systems
in the world. most of these are in the United States, 3 are in Canada, 1 in
Germany, 1 in Finnland,  and 1 is in New Zealand.  The first community
computer system was launched in Cleveland, Ohio in 1986.  Three years after
its opening, the Cleveland Free-Net was handling between 500-600 calls
every day on ten incoming phone lines.  Today, it has over 120 phone lines,
serving more than 36,000 users and handling over 11,000 calls a day.

The first Canadian Free-Net was established in November, 1992 in Victoria,
B.C.  Shortly thereafter, the National Capital FreeNet opened in Ottawa.
Within three months of its official opening in February 1993, the National
Capital FreeNet had grown to 5,800 registered users and 40 incoming phone
lines.  Calls to the National Capital FreeNet top 16,000 a week, and
applications for membership are being received at a rate of 50-100 a day!
The newest Free-net in Canada is now operating in Trail, BC.

Are Other Free-Nets Being Planned?

Yes.  "Free-Net Fever" is sweeping North America.  There are presently over
45 other Free-Net organizing committees around the world. Manitoba is one
of eighteen Canadian communities planning a Free-Net for its residents.
(See Question #1)

U.S. cities planning Free-Nets include Anchorage, Alaska; Charlotte, North
Carolina; Dallas, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Providence, Rhode Island;
Seattle, Washington; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Detroit, Michigan; and
Washington, D.C. The nearest US Free-net to the Blue Sky is currently the
Milwaukee Free-net in Wisconsin.


What Will It Cost to Join/Use the Blue Sky Free-Net?

There is no membership fee, and there is no charge to access any of the
information on the Blue Sky Free-Net or to use any of its services. Use of
the Blue Sky Free-Net is completely and absolutely free.  A basic premise
of the Free-Net concept is that users not be charged to use the system.  We
expect to receive funding from businesses, the government, community
associations, and individuals.

What is Electronic Mail?

Electronic Mail is the capability of sending an electronic message to
another person.  It is one of the most popular and fastest growing uses of
computers today.  Not only will Blue Sky Free-Net users be able to send
electronic messages locally to other Blue Sky members, they will also be
able to send electronic messages across Canada and around to world - to
their friends, relatives, or business associates who also have access to
electronic mail.  All registered users will receive a unique electronic
mail address on the Blue Sky Free-Net. With this electronic mail address,
Free-Net users will be able to receive messages from anyone who is
connected to the Internet, the largest computer network in the world.

The concept of electronic mail is simple to understand.  Rather than
handwrite a message to someone, you key in a message on the Free-Net, and
the computer will deliver it for you, providing that your correspondent has
an electronic mail address that you can send the message to.

Once the message is typed and ready to be delivered, you select the "send"
option from a menu on the screen, and the computer will dispatch the
message.  The delivery process takes place in the background, and is
invisible to the user.  The transparent operation of the Internet is why
this technology is often referred to as "seamless".  On the Blue Sky
Free-Net, you'll be able to communicate with people all over the world as
if they were right next door.  Of course, you'll also be able to send
electronic me ssages to local organizations and Manitoba residents who are
using the Blue Sky Free-Net.

If the recipient is a member of Blue Sky Free-Net, the message will be
deposited in the addressee's electronic mailbox, where it will remain until
the recipient connects to the Blue Sky Free-Net to read it.  All registered
users of the Blue Sky Free-Net will be notified by the system when they
have new mail waiting.

If the recipient is at another location, the message will be routed through
one or more computer networks to the destination computer.

Electronic mail offers many advantages over traditional communication
mediums, such as the telephone and postal system, and newer technologies,
such as the facsimile.  Because electronic mail will be free to all
registered users of the Blue Sky Free-Net, it will be cheaper than fax or a
long distance phone call.  Providing the delivery route is clear,
electronic messages can travel around the world in minutes or hours,
depending on the location of the recipient.  It is not unusual for messages
to travel bet ween Canadian cities in seconds, or between continents in
under a minute.

Electronic mail has many other benefits.  It overcomes differences in time
zones, eliminates telephone tag, and improves information flow.

Note that while there are many advantages to electronic mail, because
messages may travel through several sites en route to their destination,
privacy cannot be guaranteed.

What is the Internet?

The Blue Sky Free-Net will be linked to the Internet, an international
computer network which connects an estimated 10 to 15 million people in
over 40 countries, and on all five continents.  Linking over 1.5 million
computers worldwide, the Internet is the largest and fastest growing
computer network in the world.  It more than doubled in the size over the
past year.  The Internet is often described as a single network, but it is
actually a network of networks, encompassing over 11,000 computer networks
whi ch span the globe.  Scientists, researchers, journalists, politicians,
librarians, business executives, educators, politicians, hobbyists, and
activists are just some of the people who use the Internet's high-speed
data networks to communicate with distant colleagues and friends.

Are There Any Restrictions on Commercial Use of the Internet?

Yes.  Correspondence for commercial purposes (i.e. marketing, advertising,
invoicing, etc.) is subject to Acceptable Use Policies within, and once it
leaves the Blue Sky Free-Net.  Acceptable Use Policies are rules that
govern the content of electronic mail on computer networks. Electronic mail
leaving the Blue Sky Free-Net may pass through several other computer
networks on its way to the destination site.  Each of these intermediate
networks may have its own Acceptable Use Policy, which may prohibit
commercial traffic.  The Blue Sky Free-Net will have Acceptable Use
Policies of its own, but these have not yet been decided.

What are Electronic Discussion Groups?

The Blue Sky Free-Net will probably carry hundreds of electronic discussion
groups. These are on-going topical discussions on hundreds of subjects
ranging from popular topics like electronics, cooking, fishing, and music
to more obscure ones like locksmithing, pyrotechnics, and kite-flying.
Discussions take place in designated areas on the Free-Net called
conferences or "newsgroups".  From their home or office computer, Free-Net
users will have access to experts on almost every imaginable topic.

Here's How It Works:

Just as you read your favourite columns in the newspaper, each time you
connect to the Blue Sky Free-Net, you'll want to read your favourite
discussion groups.  For example, if you collect stamps, you'll probably
want to follow that discussion regularly.  Discussions consist of
electronic messages from contributors around the world. Discussions are
organized into topics, like cooking, or music.  When you see a message you
wish to respond to,you can send the person a private message using the
Free-net electr onic mail (e-mail) service When that person receives your
message, they can write back to you using your Internet address (which you
will receive upon joining the Blue Sky Free-Net). The wonderful thing about
the Internet is that your correspondent may be anywhere in the world.

When you want to join a discussion, you type a message, and leave it in the
appropriate conference or newsgroup for others to to see.  The message may
be a question, a reply to another message, a comment, or an opinion.
Anyone who wants to reply to your message can either respond to your
private electronic mailbox on the Blue Sky Free-Net, or type a public reply
in the conference, where it can be viewed by everyone. Depending on where
you want to leave the message, it may remain on the Free-Net computer, w
here it will receive only local distribution, or it may be circulated to
hundreds of participating computer sites around the world, where hundreds
of people will see it.

Electronic discussion groups allow lively, informative dialogues to take
place on-line, while permitting users to exchange information and ideas
with other people who share their interests. Discussion groups are also a
great place to seek the advice of others, since they provide an opportunity
to tap the collective expertise of dozens of people. Because discussions
will be grouped by subject, it will be easy for Free-Net users to find
people with specific interests.

The Blue Sky Free-Net may feature three types of electronic discussion
groups: community-oriented Special Interest Groups, Usenet, and Internet
mailing lists.  Each of these is described below.

Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups are on-line discussion groups where the subject
matter is of local interest.  Special Interest Groups have many uses:

*  Community associations and clubs in Manitoba could 
   establish their own Special Interest Groups to promote their
   services and activities and respond to questions from the public

*  Individuals could set up Special Interest Groups to discuss topics
   of personal interest with other Free-Net users

*  Experts in the community could offer their knowledge to the
   public by hosting "Ask An Expert" conferences.  These conferences
   would provide an open forum where Free-Net users could submit
   questions and have them answered by experts.  Possible "Ask An
   Expert" conferences include:
            * Ask a Veterinarian
            * Ask an Auto Mechanic
            * Ask a Home Repair Expert
            * Ask a Legal Expert
            * Ask a Garden Expert
            * Ask a Travel Agent
            * Ask a Librarian

The Blue Sky Free-Net Organizing Committee is interested in hearing from
anyone who would be willing to volunteer their time to host an "Ask An
Expert" conference.

Usenet

It is possible that the Blue Sky Free-Net will also provide its users with
access to Usenet, an international computer conferencing system which
carries thousands of electronic discussion groups on hundreds of topics.
Free-Net users will be able to participate in thousands of electronic
discussions with over 2.5 million other people around the world.  Imagine
being able to submit a question to an electronic discussion group and have
answers from all around the world waiting in your electronic mailbox the
very next day!

Internet Mailing Lists

In addition to Usenet, Blue Sky Free-Net users will be able to join any of
the thousands of scientific, academic, and hobbyist discussion groups that
exist on the Internet.

What Type of Information Will I See on the Blue Sky Free-Net?

The Free-Net will be an information resource for our residents.  It will
feature information on a wide array of topics, including medical and health
care, education, law, science and technology, social services, government,
entertainment, and recreation. The possibilities are endless.

Here are examples of the type of information that the Blue Sky Free-Net
could provide to the public.  This list is only a start - your imagination
is the limit.

Community Events

Announcements of.....

public meetings, lectures, workshops, fairs, ethnic events, church and
religious activities, fund-raising activities, conferences, seminars,
speakers, club meetings, special events....

Entertainment/Leisure

movie listings, movie reviews, restaurant reviews and listings, concert
listings, theatre listings, club listings, new video releases, local
television listings, book reviews, Jets/Blue Bombers/Fury/etc, game
schedules, sports scores, winning lottery numbers, parks and recreation
information, high school sports events, city cycling information.....

Government

garbage collection schedules, snow removal information, newspaper pick-up
information, recycling information, municipal/provincial/federal government
telephone directories, information on Federal and Provincial Government
ministries/agencies/departments, information on
municipal/provincial/federal government services and programs, directory of
Members of Parliament, elections information (polling stations, lists of
candidates), disaster preparedness information, services for seniors,
energy and hydro inform ation, government databases, government documents
and publications, tax information, postal codes and rates....

Health and Safety

first aid instructions, Crimestoppers, crime prevention tips, fire
prevention information, drug abuse information, AIDS prevention
information, medical and health databases.....

News/Weather

local, provincial, national, and international news headlines, weather
forecasts....

Transportation

road and highway conditions, provincial bus route and fare information, VIA
schedules and ticket prices, city transit route and fare information,
airline schedules....

Travel and Tourism

convention and visitor information, travel and tourist information,
hotel/motel directories, sightseeing information, information on tourist
attractions in Manitoba, information from foreign embassies and consulates,
travel advisories...

Education

directory of school trustees, public and private school directories,
college and university program information, alternative education
information, information on continuing education programs....

Employment

job listings, union activities, employment standards information, job
training information....

Legal

legal aid services, general legal information

Library Information

We expect that the Blue Sky Free-Net will provide on-line access to public,
college, and University library catalogues across  the Province.  Our goal
is to make it possible for Free-Net users to  search the library holdings
of all municipal library systems from  the Blue Sky Free-Net. Library
representatives are involved in  the Free-Net Organizing Committee.  We
also hope to link the Blue Sky Free-Net to other library catalogues around
the world.

The Media

Ottawa's daily newspaper, the Ottawa Citizen, uses the National Capital
FreeNet to post guides to community events, the Arts, sports, dining, and
entertainment.  The Ottawa Citizen also has a mailbox on the National
Capital FreeNet so that users can electronically submit a letter to the
Editor.  We hope that the Winnipeg, provincial, and local ethnic media will
participate on the Blue Sky Free-Net in a similar fashion. The Winnipeg
Free Press is already involved in our organizing committee, and press
covera ge in that newspaper, as well as the 'Computer Post' has been very
encouraging. The media could use the Free-Net to receive suggestions and
comments, letters to columnists/broadcasters, and other items for
publication/broadcast. In addition, radio and television stations could
place their broadcast schedules on the Blue Sky Free-Net

Who Will Pay For the Operation of the Blue Sky Free-Net?

Free-Nets depend on the generosity of the community.  It is expected that
the operating costs of the Blue Sky Free-Net will be covered by corporate,
government, and private grants and donations. 

By far, our greatest expense will be the phone bill.  To help us offset
this cost, businesses and organizations will have the opportunity to
sponsor phone lines.  Callers who receive a sponsored line will see the
name of the sponsor on the screen.

How Do You Become a Member of the Blue Sky Free-Net ?

In order to have full use of the facilities on the Blue Sky Free-Net, users
will be required to complete an on-line registration form.  There is no fee
to register.  Anyone could access the Blue Sky Free-Net as a guest, and
look around, but only registered users will be given an account, and be
allowed to use all of the services on the Free-Net.  When you register with
the Blue Sky Free-Net, you'll be assigned a personal account name and a
password.  An account is necessary in order to send and receive elec tronic
mail.

Will There Be a Time Limit on my Free-Net Session?

Probably, Yes.  To give everyone an opportunity to use the system, all users
will be subject to a limit of, say, one hour, on their Free-Net session.
However, there is no limit on the number of sessions that a Free-Net user
can have on any given day.

How Will You Access the Blue Sky Free-Net?

Anyone with a computer or terminal, a modem, and a telephone line will be
able to access the Blue Sky Free-Net by dialing a central telephone number
in your region of Manitoba.  Once connected, users move around the system
by selecting options from a series of menus on the screen.

Is Computer Literacy a Prerequisite to Use the Blue Sky Free-Net?

No.  Our committees will be working hard to develop a system that is easy
to use, regardless of the user's level of computer experience.  When
resources permit, we intend to develop manuals and run training sessions to
ensure that our users are able to make optimal use of the system. Ease of
use will be one of our most important priorities. Frequency of use will
help with your computer literacy.

Where Will the Blue Sky Free-Net be Located?

The Blue Sky Free-Net's administrative offices and its physical facilities
(i.e. the Free-Net computers) will be located in Winnipeg; precise
locations have not yet been determined.

Will the Blue Sky Free-Net Require Any Paid Personnel?

Perhaps.  While the Free-Net will be largely run by volunteers, the size
and scope of the system may make it necessary for us to hire some staff.

What If You Don't Have a Computer?

Public access terminals could be established at libraries throughout
Manitoba for those people who don't have the capability of calling  the
Blue Sky Free-Net from their home or office.  We expect that  community
centers, schools, and hotels will want to provide public  access terminals
as well.  Public access terminals can be  established virtually anywhere in
the region, and at relatively low cost

Are Free-Nets Interconnected?

Yes. The Blue Sky Free-Net will be connected to other Free-Nets across
Canada, and around the world.  This means that users of the Blue Sky
Free-Net will be able to access the information on other community computer
systems across the United States and around the world.  On the Blue Sky
Free-Net, there will be a list of all the participating Free-Nets in the
world.  To go to another Free-Net, you select that Free-Net from the menu,
and the connection is made automatically.  As more and more Free-Nets come
o n-line, the list of cities that you can "travel" to will grow. In order
to have full use of the services on another Free-Net, you'll have to
register with them first, just as you have to register with us to have
unrestricted access to our facility.  But most Free-Nets will accept guests
from outside their local calling area, so you don't have to be a local
resident to use the system.  Bear in mind that registration isn't necessary
if all you want to do is read the information on another Free-Net.

Naturally, the Blue Sky Free-Net will be accepting connections from users
on other Free-Nets, just as other Free-Nets will accept connections from
our users.  We will also be accepting registrations from anywhere in the
world.  You don't have to be a Manitoba resident to use the system, but the
information on the Blue Sky Free-Net will be local in nature.  You will be
able to connect to the Blue Sky Free-Net via the Internet, or by dialing a
local telephone number.

How Will the Blue Sky Free-Net Impact Tourism?

While the Blue Sky Free-Net's primary focus is to serve the local
community, it will have an international audience.  It will be possible for
anyone on the global Internet to tap into the Blue Sky Free-Net and browse
through our databases.

Since the information on the Blue Sky Free-Net will be available to
 millions of people around the globe, participating organizations will be
 able to display their information to the world.  The Blue Sky Free-Net's
 link to the Internet will give Manitoba a unique form of exposure.  This
 could help Manitoba's tourism industry, as people from around the world
 connect to the Blue Sky Free-Net to learn about Manitoba, and plan their
 vacations.  We expect that Free-Net terminals will eventually be placed in
 hotel lobbies throughout the region, so that tourists and other visitors
 can use the system to get information about the Province. Tourists could
 use the Blue Sky Free-Net to:

                   * find a taxicab
                   * get public transit information
                   * get a list of tourist attractions, their hours
                     and entrance fees
                   * obtain a list of restaurants and clubs
                   * get the addresses of consulates and embassies
                     in Manitoba
                   * get general facts about  Manitoba and its communities
                     (population, history, etc.)

Are Free-Nets Independent?

Each Free-Net is run autonomously, most as not-for-profit incorporated
organisations, but all Free-Nets are affiliates of the National Public
Telecomputing Network (NPTN), based in Cleveland, Ohio.  The NPTN
distributes the software needed to run a Free-Net, provides support to
existing Free-Nets, and promotes the development of community computer
systems.  The NPTN also organizes an annual meeting, which brings together
representatives from all its affiliates.  The term "Free-Net" is a
registered servicemark of the NPTN, so only affiliates of the NPTN are
allowed to call themselves a Free-Net.

Who benefits?

Residents

Residents are given free access to a wealth of community-related
information.  By removing economic and social barriers to information, the
Blue Sky Free-Net will make information more accessible to the public. It
will also introduce an important new skill-set and technology to the
general public, that of computer literacy and telecomputing,  important
skills for employment potential in the next decade.

Because the Blue Sky Free-Net will be connected to the Internet, Blue Sky
Free-Net users will be able to correspond electronically with municipal,
provincial, and federal government offices that use the Internet.  In this
way, the Free-Net will make it easier for elected officials at all levels
of government to communicate with their constituents.  It is projected that
by the end of 1995, all Federal Government officials will have e-mail.  

The Community

Because the Blue Sky Free-Net is a volunteer effort, it provides new and
exciting opportunities for individuals to become more involved in their
community - by providing information to the Free-Net, starting a Special
Interest Group(SIG), serving on a Free-Net committee, or simply by
interacting with other Blue Sky Free-Net users.

Clubs and community groups will benefit from the Blue Sky Free-Net's
electronic messaging facilities, which will expedite communications and
make it easier for groups to share information, coordinate their
activities, and liaise with the public.  The Blue Sky Free-Net will have
tremendous potential to draw the community closer together.


Community / Professional Associations and Government

Clubs and community groups will enhance their public relations by
participating on the Blue Sky Free-Net as an information provider.
Community organizations that establish an electronic mailbox on the
Free-Net will increase their accessibility and visibility to the general
public.  At any time of the day or night, Free-Net users can leave messages
for participating organizations and access information on government and
community services.  The Blue Sky Free-Net can provide an innovative and
powerful way for community organizations to communicate with the public.

The government will find that the Blue Sky Free-Net provides a fast,
effective, and efficient way to distribute important information to the
community.

Seniors and People With Disabilities

Senior citizens and people with disabilities will be able to access and
exchange information easily and at no charge, without leaving their home.

Teachers and Educators

The Free-Net will provide a cost-effective means for public and secondary
schools to teach telecomputing to their students.  Teachers and students
will be able to communicate with their counterparts around the world, using
the Free-Net's electronic mail system.  Many public and secondary schools
in the U.S. and Canada already have some connection to the Internet.

Another Benefit:  Increased Computer Literacy

Computer literacy will increase in the community as people learn how to use
the Blue Sky Free-Net to gain quick and easy access to information
resources electronically.  Because the Free-Net will give its members
access to modern telecommunications facilities, users will develop an
understanding and an appreciation of the role and importance of electronic
communications and information technology.

How Will the Blue Sky Free-Net Affect Employment?

The Blue Sky Free-Net has the potential to create new employment
opportunities in community organizations that actively participate on the
system. Once organizations realize the benefits of being involved with the
Free-Net, they may assign personnel to serve as the organization's liaison
with the Free-Net.  These people would update the organization's
information on the Free-Net, manage the organization's Free-Net mailbox,
and otherwise look for new ways that the organization can use the Blue Sky
Free-Net to enhance their relations with the public.

How Will the Free-Net be Different from Bulletin Board Systems and
Commercial Services?

* The Blue Sky Free-Net will be free to the user, unlike commercial
  systems which charge for their services.

* The Blue Sky Free-Net will not be suitable for heavy commercial traffic

* The Blue Sky Free-Net has a mandate that is community-oriented, unlike
  many large commercial systems and small bulletin board systems
  which have a much narrower focus, and appeal to users with specific
  interests.  The Blue Sky Free-Net will carry dozens of community
  databases.  We'll have something for everyone.

* Many bulletin board systems are chat or message-oriented, and are
  designed for the computer hobbyist.  The Blue Sky Free-Net will
  be information-oriented, and will have a very broad appeal, and will 
  compliment these exsisting services.

* The Blue Sky Free-Net will be funded by government, corporate
  and private donations

* The Blue Sky Free-Net will be very easy to navigate and use

It is not the intention of Free-nets to compete with commercial and
smaller, private systems.  The Blue Sky Free-Net will actually expand the
market for commercial services and bulletin board systems by increasing
computer literacy in the community.  We want to work with operators of
bulletin board systems and the larger commercial systems to promote their
use and make the general public aware of their existence.

When Will the Blue Sky Free-Net Be Operational?

The first meeting held by a small group of interested people took place in
early December, 1993.  Assuming there is enough interest to form an
organising committee, the first real step, then a typical time span to
launch a Free-net, based on experiences elsewhere, is at least six months.
Our rate of progress depends on the amount of support we receive from the
community.

Who Can Participate?

Everyone in Manitoba is invited to participate.  This is a community
effort, and there is an opportunity for everyone to get  involved.

Does the Blue Sky Free-Net Committee Need My Help?

Yes!

We will be actively seeking volunteers to help with public relations,
fund-raising, hardware and software issues, organizational matters, and
information collection.

We will need clubs, community and professional associations, and the
government to contribute information to the Free-Net.  How can your
organization participate?

We will be looking for institutions that are interested in being a public
access site for the Blue Sky Free-Net.

We will need financial support to cover the costs of phone lines,
hardware/software, and perhaps to hire staff.

How Can I or my Business or Association Get Involved?

Please contact anyone on the committee to find how you or your organization
can contribute to the development of the Blue Sky Free-Net.  We need
volunteers from the commmunity, as well as the involvement of businesses
and community associations to help the Blue Sky Free-Net achieve its true
potential.
-- 
Daniel J. Little                                          Email: danl@muug.mb.ca
