Earlier this month the Office of Broadband Development announced the projects that would be receiving state funding for their broadband projects. Almost $11 million was awarded but almost $30 million was requested. Simple math allows that some projects weren’t funded. (Perhaps that’s an indicator that most funding it needed.)

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, not everyone was happy with the selection of communities that received funding…

Afton, other well-heeled exurbs denied state broadband money

Like last year, the state funding will be going to rural areas well away from the metro. …

Once again, affluent exurban areas came up empty.

Afton is the classic rural metro fringe community that has fought to retain an olden-days charm, battling subdivision proposals and modern additions such as cellphone towers. But other areas, such as Scandia, which are more receptive to growth, were also frustrated to have been left off the list once again.

“This was a surprise to everyone,” said Neil Soltis, city administrator in Scandia, at the northern edge of Washington County. “We felt we would get a grant. It’s disappointing to see that no one in the metro got anything.

The comments are almost as interesting as the story – as is most often the case.