A neighborhood internet service provider (NISP) is a small scale broadband internet service provider targeted at a single subdivision or neighborhood. They are built in a neighborhood to provide internet access to residents in the community, often using rooftop antennas in a hub-and-spoke arrangement to bridge the last few hundred feet to the residences (or possibly businesses).
With the right number of subscribers a NISP can easily cost less than the traditional DSL and cable lines. Such a network requires a local network engineer (often a volunteer) to maintain network integrity and monitor the quality of service.
There are firms that will install and maintain such a network, but there are other options. For instance, a loosely knit community might use WiFi mesh to connect collectively owned access points.