Bypassing own task force, Pawlenty to hand broadband stimulus funds to telecoms

As Minnesota develops a plan to increase high-speed broadband to rural areas, advocates complain that the organization chosen to map the state's broadband access — and the process Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration used to make the selection — lack sufficient transparency. Commissioners of the Minnesota Departments of Commerce and Employment and Economic Development have recommended Connected Nation as the state's vendor for broadband mapping. The commissioners arrived at their decision in July, but without seeking the input of the Ultra High Speed Broadband Task Force, whose members Pawlenty appointed. "The Governor signed off and [Connected Nation] is off to the races," wrote task force member Mike O'Connor. "I'm pretty cranky about this process. Nice n' cozy. Nice n' closed. Nice bypass of the Task Force. No public input at all as far as I can see," he said.