O'Reilly Networks's Rob Flickenger and Dave Sims discuss the parasitic grid: nice discussion between two clued-in folks.
A trip to Maine this last week demonstrated how 802.11b is a great alternative to wired access: Midcoast Internet Solutions, a long-established and well-run ISP in Penobscot Bay is using 802.11 and 802.11b to run point-to-point high speed links to businesses and individuals using a variety of relaying points and repeaters. They have space on a bluff towards the south (near Owl's Head) that can reach many customers through direct line-of-site.
IEEE may approve standards that would allow 802.11a, b, and g in the same chipsets: nothing particularly new here, but it's a well-researched and written article that shows how a, b, and g may converge, supercede, and complement each other. The general conclusion is that 11g may take long enough to market and 11a may cost little enough that industry will focus on the 5 GHz band instead of retooling in the crowded 2.4 GHz band used by 802.11a, g, HomeRF, Bluetooth, cordless phones, and microwave oven emissions.