@ndarkness: Did you ask yourself the question "why do I need to create my own Lora network"?. If that is about keeping the generated data to yourself you might want to consider registering your own application within the (new) TTN infrastructure: You will have your "own" (virtual) network with your own nodes and your own application that no one (but your customers) have access to, but in the mean time get a much wider "worldwide" LoRaWAN coverage provided by all the TTN gateways.
Just place your own gateway(s) where there is no coverage and use the TTN gateways where there is coverage already. This way others might also benefit from your gateways (win-win 
, no strings attached).
Although quite old I think this document is still the best introduction to the infrastructure. If there is a better document now please correct me.