NYC Mesh is a cool community mesh network providing affordable internet

CNET has an inspiring story about NYC Mesh, a not for profit group that built a city-wide mesh wi-fi network using Ubiquiti's AirMAX and some Mikrotik products to give people cheap internet that doesn't suck. They get a fast fibre line hooked up to a tall building and spread that internet around to other buildings wirelessly, then using ethernet from the building down to the apartments inside. Their documentation on typical installs is pretty good. While reading it I couldn't help but think of the NBN and how the cheapest 50mbit plan is $65/m. I wonder if something similar would be useful and sustainable in Australian cities? Offer economically vulnerable people free, reliable, speedy and private internet access, subsided by donations from wealthy patrons, supported and installed by bleeding heart nerds.