Method and apparatus for communications management in a neighborhood network

A method comprising:

• obtaining, by a first waveguide system, data of an external network device positioned outside of a neighborhood network, wherein the first waveguide system is a first network node of the neighborhood network;
• and
• transmitting, by the first waveguide system, electromagnetic waves that propagate along a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are directed to a second waveguide system,
• wherein the electromagnetic waves convey the data, wherein the second waveguide system is identified according to a neighborhood routing scheme that limits delivery of the data to a group of recipient devices within a service area of the neighborhood network, and wherein the second waveguide system is a second network node of the neighborhood network.

A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processing system, including a processor, of a first waveguide system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

• receiving data from an external network device positioned outside of a neighborhood network, wherein the first waveguide system is a first network node of the neighborhood network;
• and
• initiating a transmission of electromagnetic waves via a transmission medium, wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided by the transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path, wherein the electromagnetic waves are directed to a second waveguide system,
• wherein the electromagnetic waves convey the data, wherein the second waveguide system is determined according to a neighborhood routing scheme that limits delivery of the data to a group of recipient devices within a service area of the neighborhood network, and wherein the second waveguide system is a second network node of the neighborhood network.