An exemplary router performs actions including: receiving at least one certificate from an end device, the at least one certificate issued by another router; ascertaining if the other router is a member of a predetermined neighborhood; determining if the at least one certificate is valid; and if the other router is ascertained to be a member of the predetermined neighborhood and the at least one certificate is determined to be valid, recognizing the end device as privileged. An exemplary mesh router is capable of establishing a wireless mesh network with other mesh routers, the mesh router is further capable of designating a neighborhood administrator mesh router; and the mesh router is adapted to grant privileged status to a particular end device associated with a particular certificate issued by a particular mesh router when the particular mesh router is a member of a neighborhood of the designated neighborhood administrator mesh router.