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The Cleveland Freenet Goes Offline

JohnPolka
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Event details

This event began 09/30/2019 and repeats every year forever

The Cleveland (Ohio) Freenet (CFN), which started in July 1986, ceased operations on this day, September 30th, in 1999. CFN was a a free public community computer system, the first of its kind in the world. The success of CFN lead to the creation of other Freenet systems located throughout the world. However, dwindling usage due to the growing World Wide Web and Y2K concerns in its software, lead to the decisision by its operator, Case Western Reserve University, to turn off the system.

 

CFN hosted several Special Interest Groups (SIGs) including an Atari SIG which went online in December 1986. For 14 years, CFN's Atari SIG was the largest free online system dedicated to Atari computers and game consoles. The Atari SIG ceased operations when CFN went offline.  Although an active Atari SIG is no longer online, a web based archive is available here. You can also read more about the Cleveland Freenet here

 


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Correction: The Cleveland Freenet lasted 13 years, not 14. So, the Atari SIG lasted just 3 months shy of 13 years.

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