Centralized Access Control System and Methods for Distributed Broadband Access Points

An access point comprising:

• a processor;
• a wide area network interface coupled to the processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the processor at power-up of the access point to enable the access point to:
• automatically send a request to a configuration server, wherein the request includes an identification of the access point;
• receive virtual private network tunnel parameters from the configuration server;
• and
• establish, via the wide area network interface, a virtual private network tunnel between the access point and an access control gateway based on the virtual private network tunnel parameters received from the configuration server, wherein the virtual private network tunnel provides access to destinations outside of a local area wireless network associated with the access point for a wireless device in communication with the access point.