Do server owners run the network? No, they don .
Server owners may be tapped for a staff role, but the roles of staffer and facilities host are as separate as we can make them. On most IRC networks, the roles are combined, which often results in heavy IRC politics and uneven service. We can’t eliminate politics, but we do our best to minimize the effect of such activity on the network. • What privileges do staff members get? It varies from staff member to staff member. No minimum level of access is guaranteed to any staff member, including those who host servers. • Who administers the servers? Staff members update server configurations and install new releases of the software. They’re responsible for routing changes and server problem resolution. Facilities hosts are asked to provide technical contacts who can perform administrative functions in areas where freenode staffers have no access. • How do I link my server? Servers are hosted, not linked. For information on how to host a server, please take a look here.
