Massive wireless networks

In the words of Homer Simpson: Mmmmmmmmmmm......wireless.

According to this article from CNN.com, a massive tract of land in Oregon, mostly farmland, has a privately-financed wireless network. While there aren't any major cities in the area, the network has proved very useful to farmers and emergency management teams. The reason why similar efforts for public wireless internet have been stymied in more densely populated areas is conflict between massive communication companies and the municipal governments.

Will there be a similar battle in Rome over the proposal to make the whole city wireless? Worth watching. Will wireless eventually become a public utility of sorts? I think it's inevitable, although it may end up being provided by private companies (kinda like Georgia Power's monopoly). Interesting for all those laptop-users (which I'm not) who would love to be able to connect to the net anywhere.

By the way, I hope to move to Oregon someday (no joke).