HOW ARE THE EXISTING CANADIAN FREENETS STRUCTURED?

The NCF and Victoria Freenet are both established as not for profit
Corporations and have applied for charity status.  The Victoria
Freenet has already had its application for the charity status
rejected by Revenue Canada.  The affects of whether charity status is
granted to a Freenet should not be all that critical to the success of
a system.  Most donations will be given by individuals using the
system because they like the services that it provides and not because
it is a tax write off.

The NCF has four main committees:
Community Relations -- dealing with both users and information
providing organizations.
Systems Design -- hardware and software installation, maintenance and
issues (such as developing bilingual capability, interfaces, etc.)
Public Access -- arranging for public terminals, other access
questions
Ways and Means -- funding, coordinating volunteers, registration, help
line, etc.

NCF has recently hired an office manager, and that will help reduce
the extensive pressures on the Board, leaving it free to deal with
policy issues such as how much internet access to allow, dealing with
problem postings (and problem Usenet news groups), commercialization,
paying for services, etc.