I got curious today, and ran vrms to check which non-free packages I had.
To my great surprise, no kernel packages appeared.
It used to be the case that the kernel contained some small non-free bits (like firmware) that made the package unfree.
I am wondering, now, if vrms is lying, or if all the non-free bits are out of the package?
Best Answer
No, ubuntu kernel is not 100% free, It includes some non free kernel blobs.
source: http://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html (just look for ubuntu)
There is an another distro called gNewsense which is based on ubuntu but removed all traces of non free components. For a list of 100% free distributions, look at http://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html