The radio problem, with the help of TAPR and others, is about to fix itself. The second item really comes down now to jumping to a new network all together. We leave the existing TexNet network in place and build a new one on top of it using new technology. In this manner, the older users are still supported, but a newer, faster network can be put in place. We have to eliminate the need to transit the entire state to get one bit of information.
Speed is everything, unfortunately, for the survival of our existing networks.
Amateurs are leaving our current systems because they perceive Internet as a better service, even if we consider that our phone modems operate at around 1200 baud. We might as well leave amateur radio and go to the Internet or Part 15 devices for communications. Some might say that I have just made a pact with the 'Dark Side of the Force' by saying we should use wirelines and the Internet to connect regions in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma and the U.S. at high-speed. Soon, many commercial systems will not be affected by earthquakes and other such natural disasters. But when they are, we will need RF systems like the TexNet backbone which exists today to provide information flow.