[miql]

Are there past, current, or future projects for launching networks w/in low earth orbit? I think it'd be effective to create an LEO, raspberry pi network for instances such as these. Remember when Libya turned off phones and the internet to stop unrest? People thought it was ridiculous and would never happen here. We're on that trajectory.

[sigstoat]

you either comply with amateur radio restrictions (probably not what you have in mind; no encryption, licensing, etc), or you comply with FCC rules & regs. or just break a bunch of laws.

from a technical standpoint, the amateur radio folks have tossed up repeater satellites in the past. see AMSAT.