The reason why I'm negative about it is that it gives people incorrect perception. The perception is that my neighbor does not need to pay Optimum or Time Warner or Verizon for internet and he or she can watch Netflix. And that's simply not the case because as soon as five of my neighbors get this WiFi chokes because in a regular Brooklyn block it is going to add another 40-50 wifi access points. Negative perception from folks who own their houses is a death to community ISPs.
This kind of wireless is not a solution. A solution is to wire as much as possible, including wiring between the buildings of my neighbors who own their houses and if needed terminating a single high bandwidth wireless or fiber link into a node that carries entire block.
P.S. I reached out to these guys about a year ago offering to help them when I read another piece written about them. Maybe it even was on HN. I did not get any response.
I had at&t in one of SF's typically old buildings and I can tell you, the internet there barely worked - i had to reset the router about once a week, plus hour long downtimes not uncommon. Even now, when I'm in a brand new 3 year new townhouse, I still have a reset the router once or twice a year and I get half the speed I'm paying for on a DSL broadband plan, not to mention that I get stuck in a 12 month contract anytime i want to switch plans.
Considering that there are currently no other options than the att/comcast douopoly, I would think people would give a little more credit for providing alternatives, even if it's not perfect yet.