🚀 go-pugleaf

"NCF Mission Statement
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The National Capital FreeNet is a free, computer-based information
sharing network. It links the people and organizations of the 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 network."

Ok that's their mandate... but elsewhere on their website they say

"The FreeNet is a large group of people joining together to share
costs and do something good for themselves and their community.
FreeNet is almost free to run -- an average donation of only $2 per
month from each  member covers NCF's cash needs. All FreeNet members
are asked to share the costs of NCF's operation by  making a
contribution of volunteer time or a donation of at least $2 per month
($24 per year) or more, to help  NCF improve and to help those in our
community who are less able to contribute financially. "

What it boils down to is most of the NCF costs seem to be way out
of line. They amount to an small ISP with 10,000-11,000 (smaller than
Magma,Cyberus, IGS etc) users that requires a huge volunteer base to
run... WHY? The overhead of NCF is lower than the real ISP's as NCF
doesn't have to pay market prices for local loops, T-3 and other
connections through the good graces of Carleton University, they have
Mitel providing almost a complete PRI phonebank. But the simple fact
of the matter is Other ISP's can and do other better services for more
users with less man-power (person-power?) than NCF, why is that. IMHO
NCF seems to be modelled after a federal government agency, top-heavy
with management.

NCF as a business is a failure, they have succeeded in reducing (based
on their own figures) their user base from 65,000 down to about 11,000
There is some secret backroom dealings where board members are getting
paid as consultants (on contract I heard of was $80,000) but there was
no word whether this money went back into NCF. I have a real hard time
with a "community based, non-profit" group bidding on commercial
contracts,  while holding their hands out to local businesses for
support. Give us money so we can compete against you!