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I would gladly pay a substantial premium for an ISP that was a co-op (i.e., subscribers are also 'owners') or run as a not for profit. Not for profit is probably easier.

Hell, I would donate my time as a lawyer to helping out.

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How serious are you about this? I've built networks for small to medium sized ISPs using wireless and some wired technology and the Internet co-op idea is something I've thought about a lot. Happy to chat more email in my profile.

Are there inexpensive technologies that allow line of site communication across 5-8 miles? Something that could be erected on the top of a barn or windmill, that would mesh and route among adjacent nodes?

Something like that would allow communication across the countryside and allow communities to interconnect irrespective of the existing monopoly infrastructure.

Yes, what you're describing is a WISP* and they're fairly common in suburban and rural communities in the US (and other places I just know the US best). Some of the companies that make equipment for this are Ubiquiti, Mimosa, BaiCells and Cambium.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_Internet_service_prov...

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