Sure it will work, we're already doing it....

1.) Quit thinking WiFi and realize there are GPS time synced solutions out there for existing 900, 2.4, 3.65, 4.8, 5.2 bands etc... also read about OFDM (orthogonal radio's). Currently there are several of us using the same bands competing with each other already and successfully, but a little more spectrum wouldn't hurt ;) .

2.) Currently with 1watt TX power I'm able w/high gain antennas shoot 800Mb links 50+ miles, LOS, NLOS or nLOS. Again quit thinking of this as WiFi, it's Point To Point/Multi-Point technology with an AP and a SM (subscriber module). The size of the antenna on the customer side will (according to Motorola and the likes) still be a yagi (3ft) or reflector based (size of modern small satellite dish). Our backhaul radios use anywhere from a 3ft-10ft microwave raydome antennas, which *gasp* is what the cell companies use for their backhauls ;) . AP's will be similar size our current antenna's are anywhere from 10ft-15ft tall on 300+ft towers.

3.) We cover 5000sq miles with about ~$10m invested in infrastructure. I can push 12Mb to my customers, 20 miles from the AP with up to 50 ppl on said AP and no service degradation with the current bands. Again, quit thinking WiFi...

It pains me to see this modded Informative when looking at it from a hobbyist sure, but we WISP's are capable of a lot more commercially and this is what our industry is petitioning for. This could be a great thing for people wanting to severe ties with their current telco/cableco internet, using wireless for the last mile which is by far much cheaper than copper/fiber. Lets just hope that the major telco/cableco's don't lobby it to death, or FUD it to the consumer which seems to be already the case.

Insightful, more like troll... Do you have any idea how hard it is to run an ISP/Data Center? Do you work in one? I do, and let me tell you what we always say "If it was easy, everyone would do it".

TV Network going dark... yes satellite stations in markets do go down for hours when their towers are hit.

Emergency Rooms... how many times have you heard of them having to be evacuated due to power loss in severe weather. It happens.

Self Important Blue Shirts?... come on man... WTF does that even mean... you just had to add that extra bit of holier than thou...

I get so tired of all these arm chair IT experts getting modded insightful etc... when it's nothing more than a rant about something they really have no clue about. Running an ISP isn't like plugging your SOHO router in at home. ( it aint like dusting crops back home kid, tit for tat on the pun )

Granted this company obviously doesn't run proper disaster recovery drills monthly like we do, or maybe they do and simply had a coincidental switchover fail.

However, to make a lump statement then add "I'm sure there are exceptions" in a holier than thou statement and be modded insightful, just goes all over me, and if you haven't noticed the Internet IS a 'critical system' in todays world. Not everyone uses it for just gaming and torrents like so many on here think the Internet is solely built for. Most people use it to run their business, pay their bills, use their phone, go to school, check their bank/credit card accounts, etc... To me that is a VERY "critical system" and your comment to me is nothing more than arrogant and ignorant.

That figures, my WISP I prioritize gaming traffic. Seems I'm always doing the opposite of the big telco/cable/sattelite outfits. I advertise honestly, don't take government bailout money, actually support my customers & do the exact opposite on my traffic shaping. Silly me... no wonder I'm still small time.. oh no wait I have over 2000 subscribers.

Hang in there, there are alternatives slowly seeping in http://wispa.org/, lets just hope the FCC handouts don't give all the money to companies that have no intention of offering more than just hotspot connectivity.

Alpha Kenny 1

/kick +b Anonymous Coward@*.*

...when i get those annoying Facebook invites. Maybe a few of them will realize I'm not being anti-social for the sake of being, well anti-social.

I agree & would say that with the combination of Netflix and Hulu I hardly ever find myself lacking something to watch (e.g. '200 channels and nothing on'). I haven't missed using torrent one bit, and don't have to worry about the MAFIAA anymore :)

I cut the 'cable' 2 years ago & get 12 local digital channels, that with Netflix and Hulu = I'm set. However, I do realize that a lot of sports fans are left in the cold with the current options online.

having read the story and seeing that one target hit the site 29 times without it dropping its payload due to a 'compatibility issue'.