Probably first step is joining http://www.wispa.org/ Then track down articles such as this one (that I wrote). http://www.pcworld.com/article/245094/when_your_isp_is_one_o... Keep in mind that Google's Project Loon might undercut whatever you're working on. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Loon I recommend doing research on wireless community networks, too. Some fascinating stuff happening in that arena -- in locations all over the world. For follow up questions, contact me at @philshapiro (Twitter). I work as a public librarian and answer questions for a living.

AFAIK project loon has been scraped.