Earlier quoted context omitted.
You can run just about anything over AX.25 since it's just the data link layer in the OSI model. You could run HTTP on top of IP on top of AX.25 with TLS/SSL message encryption turned off so you don't run afoul of FCC rules. The authentication would still be there but everything would be in the clear. You could also run IPsec with just the authentication field in the header, no encryption. Even if you didn't want to…
Wouldn't they need to significantly decrease the transmission power in order to use the ISM bands, making that application more LAN than WAN? And if the result is both legal and technologically superior to existing WiFi hardware then why hasn't the IEEE picked up on it?
Oh, it's not better than normal wifi. It's just better than 1200 baud over VHF or even 300 baud over HF. It's just typical wifi hardware hooked up to high power amps and high gain antennas to get greater distance. People are adjust the frequencies to the ham band and then running mesh networks. Part 97 allows you to modify part 15 (normal wifi hardware) to put up to 10W out. 10W frequency hopping spread spectrum links can go pretty far at GHz frequencies.