Why isn't broadband stimulus document public?

by: Joe Bodell

Mon Oct 19, 2009 at 21:55:14 PM CDT

The Administration of Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) informed StimulatingBroadband.com this morning that the communication issued by a state agency to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) relative to the Administration's funding priorities for federal broadband stimulus projects in Minnesota is not considered a "public document."

In an e-mail of 10/19, Ms. Diane Wells, the Manager of the Telecommunications Division of the Minnesota Department of Commerce stated:

"Minnesota has undertaken its BTOP evaluation process following guidelines the state has for reviewing RFPs. Under that process, the results of our evaluation would not be made publicly available until the completion of the full process, which for purposes of the BTOP broadband grants, we have defined as when the NTIA issues the awards. Thus the recommendation from Minnesota to the NTIA is not a public document at this time."

It is the only instance we have seen of a state governor holding a state document about federal broadband stimulus funds as "not a public document".

Interesting stuff, too: read on after the break.