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A neighborhood internet service provider (NISP) is a small scale broadband internet service provider targeted at a single subdivision or neighborhood. They are built in a neighborhood to provide internet to residents in the community, often using rooftop antennas in a hub-and-spoke arrangement to bridge the last few hundred feet to the residences (or possibly businesses).

With the right number of subscribers a NISP can easily cost less the traditional DSL and cable lines. Such a network requires a local network engineer (often a volunteer) to maintain network integrity and monitor the quality of service.

There are firms that will install and maintain such a network, but there are other options. For instance, a loosely knit community might use WiFi mesh to connect collectively owned access points.

[edit] See also

• Wireless community network
• Wireless mesh network

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