House of Reps: We want broadband-enabled schools, hospitals - FierceTelecom

Legislators have posed a mission to the FCC and the National Telecommunications & Information Association: Bring more broadband to hospitals, libraries and schools. This call for broadband service for anchor institutions came last week when House Communications Subcommittee chairman Rick Boucher (D-Va.) told newly appointed chairman Julius Genachowski that any broadband plan needs to get "extraordinarily high bandwidth" to libraries that can serve as local free Internet hubs.

This sentiment was shared by fellow Democratic subcommittee members, Reps. Doris Matsui and Ann Eshoo, both of California, and former subcommittee chairman Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.). This group of legislators made their feeling collectively heard in a letter sent to the NTIA, which will be doling out part of the first portion of the broadband stimulus funding this fall, to make sure "anchor institutions, including libraries and health facilities" get extra attention...