re: Obama's plan to save the internet draws bold reactions

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There is a wifi spec in the pipeline (802.22) that covers ~60 mile radius.

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That relies on a core network of expensive base stations, right? Who do you think is going to be operating those? And this:

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IEEE 802.22 defines a X.509v3 certificate profile which uses extensions for authenticating and authorization of devices based on information such as device manufacturer, MAC address, and FCC ID (the Manufacturer/ServiceProvider certificate, the CPE certificate, and the BS certificate, respectively).[8]

This could allow for a type of customer lock-in where the network providers refuse network access to devices that have not been vetted by manufacturers of the network providers' choice (i.e. the device must possess a private key of a X.509 certificate with a chain of trust to a manufacturer certificate authority (CA) that the network provider will accept), not unlike the SIM lock in modern cellular networks and DOCSIS "certification testers" in cable networks.

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It's great tech and a great idea, but unless the base stations are community-owned (and there will be much opposition to this from ISPs and wireless carriers), then I'm not sure it's going to do much for mesh networks unless the base stations can be downsized tremendously and made affordable. I'm still thinking decades.


edit: Also, after a bit of reading, the tech seems to be intended for rural areas, and the bandwidth is awfully slow. The design speeds will be excruciatingly slow by the time equipment is actually deployed, and it looks to be a slight upgrade for people whose only current option is satellite.