This was taken originally from http://www.scfn.net/scfn/risefall.html
(and
later updated with what is now on their main page at
http://www.scfn.net)
In 1991, a coalition of groups and individuals in the Tampa Bay area
created the SunCoast Free-Net, an online service offering free Email, a
text based web browser, and frequently updated information on events and
services of interest to the Tampa Bay community. Its members were the
cutting edge of the online community of that time. Donated hardware and
data circuits held it together. Volunteers did the work.
Over the years, things changed. The World Wide Web caught up with, then
passed, the Free-Net. Web based local information and free email services
proliferated. The Free-Net's hardware aged. Its volunteers dried up.
The community spirit that had kept it alive did not disappear, but it left
the Free-Net in pursuit of newer and more powerful technology.
By 2000, the part of the Sun Coast Free-Net that remained had become two
aging Sun servers at the HQ branch of the Tampa Hillsborough Public
Library. Most of the modems and one of the terminal servers had died.
The link to Pinellas County no longer functioned. Software maintenance
work was done part time by one of the Library's software specialists. The
Free-Net had been adopted by the Hillsborough County Library System, but
there was no longer much there to adopt.
In 2003, the Library faced the fact that the dynamic Free-Net of 1991 was
gone, but that portions of it could live on and serve the Library's
patrons. We acquired a smaller, but much more powerful server and an up
to date Email package called SCFN WebMail. As one of the benefits of
membership, we will offer SCFN WebMail service to all Library Card holders
residing in Hillsborough County.
SCFN WebMail works like Hotmail or YahooMail. Users can choose their own
login, retrieve their mail from anywhere, attach files, and apply spam
filters. It will even allow dial-up access as the old SCFN eMail did.
On September 30, 2003, we will shut the old SCFN server down for the last
time, and all eMail services will be provided by SCFN WebMail.
Because this service is supported by Hillsborough County tax money, we are
unable to offer support to residents of neighboring Counties. If you are
a resident of Pinellas, Pasco, Polk or any other neighboring County, we
apologize for the termination of this service, and we encourage you to
work with your local government to create a similar service in your area.
Over the years, things changed. The World Wide Web has caught up with and
the Free-Net.
On January 30, 2005, the Suncoast Free-Net server shut down.
