There have been some projects to make amateur internet networks on our 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz allocations, for example http://www.broadband-hamnet.org/

However, no matter whether it's APRS or actual internet protocols, it will be dependent on the real internet unless amateurs make an independent backbone to support the long-distance traffic. This could be a good way to use our microwave bands. There are a lot of repeater systems linked over large regions via microwave, so I'm sure it could be done to support internet traffic too, although the bandwidth might be somewhat limited. A geostationary satellite could work too. The problem is getting enough people interested and finding the right hardware.

-Stephen N8URE