Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Freenet
     
        Community-based bulletin board system with e-mail, information
        services, interactive communications, and conferencing.
        Freenets are funded and operated by individuals and volunteers
        - in one sense, like public television.  They are part of the
        National Public Telecomputing Network (NPTN), an organisation
        based in Cleveland, Ohio, devoted to making computer
        telecommunication and networking services as freely available
        as public libraries.