If you are lucky, you live in an area that has a FreeNet. You will be able to get fairly extensive Internet access for free. Most FreeNets are menu driven and very easy to use. Most offer Newsgroups, Telnet, File Transfer, and tons of local area information. Many are run by local government, libraries or universities.
The FreeNet list below is by no means complete since FreeNets are being created more frequently, with the increasing popularity of the Internet.
PARTIAL LIST OF FREENETS
Big Sky Telegraph
Dillon, Montana, 406-683-7680
Buffalo FREE-NET
Buffalo, New York, 716-645-6128 Modem
Cleveland FREE-NET
Cleveland, Ohio, 216-368-3888 Modem
Columbia Online Info. Network (COIN),
Columbia, Missouri, (314)-443-3161, ext. # 302 Voice
Denver FREE-NET
Denver, Colorado, 303-270-4865 Modem
Heartland FREE-NET
Peoria, Illinois, 309-674-1100 Modem
Lorain County FREE-NET
Elyria, Ohio, 216-366-9721 Modem
Milwaukee FREE-NET
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 229-OMNI (6664) Modem
National Capital FREE-NET
Ottawa Canada, 613-780-3733 Modem
SEFLIN
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 305-765-4332 Modem
Tri-State Online
Cincinnati, Ohio, 513-579-1990 Modem
Victoria FREE-NET
Victoria, British Columbia, 604-595-2300 Modem
Youngstown FREE-NET
Youngstown, Ohio, 216-742-3072 Modem