Ok, so there is a HotZone 4010 in the strat. The strat is 13 miles high. In the good presentation that rattlewatch so kindly provided, we see that the maximum "point to point" link is 35 miles. That means the 4010 on the strat can't send the broadband signal any farther than 35 miles away. Other signals, yes, but not broadband. Interestingly, the "point to multi point" is 3 miles.
Maybe the 5000 has different specs?
I think that yes, the strats could link into any already installed networks on the ground like the Verizon one you mentioned. I think there are a lot of possibilies.
The Strat can absolutely serve broadband to an area larger than a 35 mile radius with the help of ground units. It's still a very powerful delivery mechanism and much better than trenching between cities and home to home.
