============================================== Candidate: Sandeep E. Mukerji ============================================== Biography ---------------------------- BIOGRAPHY: Sandeep E. Mukerji is a 19-year old student currently enrolled at Gloucester HS. He has lived in the Ottawa area for the past 11 years. Sandeep E. Mukerji has been a FreeNet user almost since FreeNet's creation in January, 1993. He has taken an active part in FreeNet ever since, concentrating mainly on youth boards in Ottawa and across North America. Sandeep E. Mukerji also helped organize the FreeNet Picnic '94 and is currently helping to organize the FreeNet Picnic '95, scheduled for Sunday, July 16th, 1995. Sandeep E. Mukerji was also a candidate in last November's Municipal Elections, running for CBE trustee in Gloucester wards 4 & 5. He is currently involved with the Junior Achievement of Ottawa-Carleton, a program designed to give high-school students a hands-on opportunity to learn the intricacies of a small business. Sandeep E. Mukerji currently lives with his parents, Amitabh and Michele and his younger brother, Jaideep. He has one cat, Simon, who turns 18 in May. What FreeNet Means to Sandeep E. Mukerji ---------------------------- WHAT FREENET MEANS TO SANDEEP E. MUKERJI: I have been active with FreeNet for almost as long as there has been a FreeNet here in Ottawa. During that time, I have watched FreeNet grow from a couple of thousand users and 15 (!) phone lines to the second largest FreeNet in the world. This growth has never been easy; a busy signal is synonymous with FreeNet as are high load averages, which lead to long delays trying to get on FreeNet and trying to use FreeNet. Despite these obstacles, our National Capital FreeNet has continued to thrive, with hundreds of new accounts being created every week. To some people, it seems that FreeNet's success has reached the breaking point. They have a legitimate fear that FreeNet is in danger of becoming a victim of its own success, and this concern must be addressed. However, the current solutions offered are merely temporary stop-gap measures which do nothing to solve the root problems, namely a phenomenal growth rate which far outstrips current funding. FreeNet is, for many, the gateway to the Internet. The awesome power of the Internet is offered to thousands of people in the National Capital area absolutely FREE of charge. This is one of the principal reasons for FreeNet's astounding growth rate, yet is also the principal source of FreeNet's funding crunch. The lack of any sustainable income has left FreeNet in dire financial straits. The mandate of the next Board of Directors is to find a viable and sustainable funding source to ensure the future prospects of our FreeNet. Despite our best efforts, however, the ultimate responsibility of FreeNet's survival lies with you, the user. FreeNet relies on private donations above all else, from people like you and me. It doesn't take much, maybe a couple of dollars every now and then. Or you can donate your time to FreeNet, as an information provider. There are many opportunities to return some of what FreeNet has given you. As a member of the FreeNet BOD, I will work for FreeNet's benefit and the benefit of all users, however I cannot do it alone. I, and FreeNet, need your continued support, financial or otherwise. FreeNet is a precious resource which we cannot afford to lose. In order to ensure FreeNet's survival, we will need leaders with vision, innovation and imagination. I, Sandeep E. Mukerji, can offer those qualities and many more. Platform ---------------------------- ON TWO-HOUR DAILY LIMITS: The exponential growth in the the number of users of FreeNet coupled with a static number of modems has led frustration of all dial-up users of FreeNet. Faced with longer and longer delays in connection times and a financial squeeze, the current Board of Directors passed a motion in early February restricting users to a two-hour daily limit during peak periods of usage. This motion was intended to get the small percentage of "heavy" users off the modem pool, thus allowing the larger percentage of "casual" users more opportunities to sign on. The hope of this motion was that with more casual users signing-on and realizing how valuable FreeNet, there would be more donations coming in as well. Ultimately, this measure will fail because it does not address the root cause of the perpetual busy signal, which is the lack of modems. With the continued growth of FreeNet, we will be back at square one in a matter of months, which could lead to an expansion of the two-hour limit to ALL users or a one-hour limit imposed on heavy users. ---> *I am against the two-hour limit because it will not solve the problem of our strained-ressources. The only noticeable result of this motion is anger and resentment felt by heave users, many of whom are volunteers. So how do we solve the problem of strained ressources? The only viable and long-term option is, obviously, to increase the number of modems available. The only reason we can't get those new modems is because FreeNet lacks the financial ressources to purchase new modems (each new modem represents an expenditure of approximately $1000). ON WAYS TO IMPROVE FUNDING: Since FreeNet's creation over two years ago, it has always been the position of the Board of Directors that FreeNet, like Public Broadcasting, should be free from any form of corporate sponsorship relying instead on private donations and government funding. While FreeNet has managed to survive adequately with this funding format, it is no longer enough to keep up with the growth rate in FreeNet's usage. The first step away from FreeNet's original funding mandate occurred last year when FreeNet allowed NTS Information Services to offer FreeNet training courses and charge a fee. In this agreement, FreeNet garnered a commission and used that money towards upgrading the system. While not an important source of revenue, this agreement has proven to be quite beneficial to both FreeNet and NTS. Freenet has raised revenue through various other methods, the most notable of which was the Great FreeNet On-Line Auction last October. FreeNet has also raised money through various social events, such as the FreeNet Boutique and the FreeNet Picnic. While these are valuable sources of revenue, they are not enough anymore. It is understandable that corporate advertising is severely, if not completely, restricted on FreeNet; we do not want our Freenet to be another billboard on the Information HighWay. However, I believe that we can allow certain forms of corporate advertising on the FreeNet, which will be beneficial to FreeNet and the National Capital Region. ---> *If elected to the FreeNet Board of Directors, I will seek to set up a tourist information area on FreeNet. This area would be a menu consisting of the major tourist attractions in the Ottawa area (of which there are many) and would serve to promote Ottawa as a tourist destination on the Internet. We would allow corporate advertising in this area ONLY to businesses directly related to the tourist industry, such as hotels, restaurants and tour bus operators. The money raised from this area, which would be the only area with corporate advertising would be poured directly into upgrading FreeNet's ressources. The advantage of this idea is that it will provide FreeNet with a reliable and significant source of revenue, as well as promote Ottawa's image to millions of Internet users. We would strictly regulate what ads are placed in the Tourist Information Area, ensuring that we don't damage FreeNet's image at the expense of promoting Ottawa's. Like the NTS arrangement, this one would also be mutually beneficial. Of course this idea alone will not solve our funding problems in a single shot, however added to the existing donations and government subsidies, it will give us time to explore other funding ideas. If you have any ideas on how FreeNet can raise money, PLEASE, post them to the funding menu (go $) or drop me a note. The money is there, we just need to get it.