Hacker News Reader

Wireless in a neighborhood doesn't really address the problem, as you still have to backhaul from there. (And most people would be fine investing in wire from house to pole if they could switch it between providers without digging).

I'm all for community networks, but top-down "federal" policy will never prescribe them.

View on HN

I was just pushing a specific technological solution for the last mile that is a little cheaper. Yes, a wired connection to every location would be great, but 80% of my neighbors don't need that.

In Seattle we just rolled out an LED streetlight replacement project, it would have been an excellent time to have installed the hardware for city wide mesh network. Power, placement and line-of-site are there at the top of a street light.

They did roll out a mesh network here in Seattle. The problem was that it was police only, and scared everyone. I think they mothballed it till we all forget. I found the controversy mildly funny as the public got up to speed on how WIFI works. I am personally more concerned about private businesses tracking my MAC around the store, which is already pervasive - but not eough to bother turning off WIFI... http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-deactivating-contr...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com