online information service:

... OIS; having a dedication to providing free access informational resources within a share network (definition of share network below); a resource of the Internet that is not so dedicated to e-commerce or propaganda it is to providing and exchanging information in the spirit of the invention of the Web. Using the term spirit of, meaning intent of use, implies open access (see below) to information as suggested by the following quote:

The Internet exists as a result of visionary thinkers seeing ... 'great potential value in allowing computers to share information.' Sharing implies freely given. (source).

The question of whether an OIS should operate free access or as an information broker is subject to debate; however, the application of technologies and development seems to argue strongly in favor of the latter. The rise of e-commerce certainly reinforces the latter view. Nevertheless, there's a need for balance. It's something like having the main public library near the central business district in days gone by in order to help build and keep traffic flowing to the retail area of a community. Likewise it should be pointed out that the Internet is conversation. The best environments for conversation are free and open.

Beyond the meaning of open access as provided here using The Network as example, Wikipedia defines the term within the context of publishing and exposing digital scientific and scholarly material online. Several links are provided in the .network resource archive to writings about the history of the Internet ... for access, CLICK HERE. The exchange of scientific and scholarly information played a key role in the development of the Internet.

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FYI: what is an online information service; definition of open access; definition of share network; what is a share network; what is an open access share network