Need some fresh air

Wide Area Wi-Fi

Absent this standard and the products that grow from it, how are campus-wide wi-fi networks designed and built?Wi-Fi Alliance

There is such a strong frustration level with DSL providers as well as cable companies offering ISP services via cable modem that I have to believe a wide-area Wi-Fi cloud would be something people would get excited about. I'm not talking about the cloud in the airport lounge, or the cloud at Starbucks and Borders.

I'm talking about a wi-fi cloud that can be economically built over a metropolitan area. What is the bill of materials that is required to build and staff a dependable, affordable WISP?

I'm open to any and all advice that doesn't involve used Pringles cans for antennae.