I was searching for a particular piece of content and found that my list of regular providers all went 'red' and not searchable.  Is this new?  Have problems developed along the line in FOPNU?

Maybe you just lost connection for a bit. I have had NO problems searching the network or users.

There must be a setting that allows users to show a red icon and a green icon in the 'add contact group.'   The red icon appears to be a choice, not a problem with FOPNU. In other words the browse function of a user's shares as an added contact is simply turned off and no longer accessible where formerly I would seek out some particular user for something hosted.  here the browse function for the user has simply been turned off.   It will show an infinite attempt to connect if selected.

Those people could be offline, and probably are. People come and go on the network all the time. If they are in your contact list when/if they come back you will know, their name will turn green, or you could set a notification to let you know when they do. You could also try searching the network for what you are looking for, someone else may have a copy.

Yes I expected that was the case, I just saw it as unusual for 'regulars' to be off for long periods.  And I use the standard search as well.