GeoCities Founder to Take Seat on NetZero Board

NetZero Inc., an advertising-driven free Internet access provider in Westlake Village, said GeoCities founder and chairman David Bohnett will take a seat on its board of directors.

GeoCities, which ranks as the third most-heavily trafficked site on the Internet, is the world’s largest community of personal Web sites, with more than 3.5 million members and 19 million visitors every month.

NetZero, which uses a model similar to television and radio, offers subscribers free Internet access and e-mail, underwritten by on-screen advertising. Since its launch in mid-October, more than 400,000 users nationwide have signed on to the service.

“In adding David to our management team, we’re benefiting from the counsel of one of the Internet’s most astute entrepreneurs, a true visionary,” NetZero CEO Ronald T. Burr said. “In a practical sense, David will help us build on our model of free access as we offer creative new ways to add value to our subscribers’ Internet experience.”

Bohnett launched GeoCities in 1994, creating online communities based on themes and enabling individuals to set up personal Web pages and interact with others in areas of similar interest.