Are Minnesota cities shut out by broadband rules?

Federal grantmakers for broadband projects will meet in St. Paul today, but Minnesota cities hoping for a chunk of the $7.2 billion in broadband stimulus money fear that the rules are written to shut them out.

The U.S. departments of commerce and agriculture, which have the authority to grant or lend $7.2 billion in federal stimulus money between now and September 2010, are holding a broadband workshop at the Crowne Plaza hotel in St. Paul. It's one of more than a half-dozen meetings around the country and is likely to focus on the details of how to apply for the federal stimulus money...