[cr0sh]

> We need choice, but also connection.

The "distributed web/internet" is probably going to be part of the answer, but that ultimately hits up against the ISP and data transport layer.

Part of that can be (in theory) worked around via free "mesh networking" - but that too runs into the ISP (well, backbone) for long-haul traffic.

That could be (in theory) worked around at a country level; I could imagine very wealthy people supporting such open and free mesh networking, and providing free long haul transport networking in some manner. That's probably all a fantasy though - the reality is that there aren't any good solutions for mesh networking between distant points at the moment (hmm - with enough nodes, vehicle-to-vehicle mesh could be a possibility).

Not sure what the real solution is...

[hopelessgoat]

The implementation of Multicasting (it's in GNUnet roadmap) can quickly make the mesh more efficient. In cities, wifi devices can start working together and manage bandwidth in a better way. Then a program can signal that, for example, 4 different wifis with GNUnet cover the same physical location. Somebody (network analyst hobbyist) could write to them and offer them to get a communal wifi that uses GNUnet superior performance while saving a lot on ISP services.

[zzzcpan]

ISPs in many countries by law don't have the power to exclude things they don't like and competition prevents other abuses. If there are no laws like that in your country and not enough competition, you can zoom out to the problem of capitalism with incentives to gain monopoly and capture regulatory agencies. With such problem mesh networks are going to be monopolized in exactly the same way, because somebody has to maintain them to make it work well and with enough usefulness people would rather pay a subscription fee for a working service than rely on unreliable volunteers, and capitalists would rather buy everyone who offers the service early on than let competitive market happen and we are back to square one.

What I'm trying to say is that if mesh network is a solution, you have a much bigger problem than you realize.