How definitions of "rural" impact grant eligibility

Jonathan Ahl of Missouri Public Radio reported today on how varying federal definitions of "rural" impact which communities are eligible for federal funds for improvements like broadband.  Ahl reports from two contiguous counties in Missouri, Texas and Phelps.  Texas County's population is just 24.487, while Phelps County's population is nearly double that, at 45,000.  Bottom line: Phelps County is more populous and has a stronger tax base, but it gets greater benefits from federal broadband programs because it is farther--as the crow flies--from a metro area than is Texas County.  But since the counties sit right next to each other, it's only farther by a matter of degree.  And by other measures, Phelps County is less rural.  It's got a greater population and a higher population density.   The story doesn't talk about this, but it's also presumably got more human capital for chasing grant funding.    

Here are some excerpts from the story, starting with this one about Houston, the county seat of Texas County:  

Houston struggles with infrastructure, and city administrator Scott Avery was looking for ways to bring high-speed internet to town.

SCOTT AVERY: There's a federal grant that I was looking at with the broadband. There's a ton of federal grants. One of them defines rural as more than 100 miles from a metro area. Well, I'm less than 100 air miles from Springfield, so I don't qualify.

AHL: Springfield is a metro area of about a half a million, and it's an hour and 40 minute drive away on two-lane roads, but only 90 miles as the crow flies. So for that grant, this small town that prides itself on country life wasn't rural enough. About an hour north in Rolla, Mo., it's a different story.

Then there is this about Rolla, the county seat of Phelps County to the north: 

I'm on the pedestrian overpass above Interstate 44 at one of the four exits into Rolla. Right ahead of me is Phelps Health. It's a big hospital with its own cancer center. Off to the left, Missouri S&T - it's a high-tech research institution with 6,000 students. But this town of 20,000 - it's more than 100 miles away from Springfield and St. Louis. So according to that broadband grant, this is rural.

LOU MAGDITS: When I look at the city of Rolla, I don't think it meets the definition - any of the definitions - of rural.

AHL: Lou Magdits is the mayor of Rolla. He spends a lot of time telling people about Rolla's amenities, its airport, numerous manufacturing plants and high tech sector. And while his city didn't apply for that particular broadband grant Houston was shut out of, Magdits doesn't shy away from grants intended to help small towns.

MAGDITS: If a grant come down that was tied to rural, I would probably self-justify it by saying, you know, look; the Rolla and its periphery probably could meet that definition.

Bottom line:  Tiny Houston doesn't qualify for funding because it is marginally closer to metropolitan Springfield while larger Rolla and Phelps County do.   Let's face it:  doesn't make a lot of sense.  

But, then, I see this is the 190th post using the label "defining rural," which suggests just what a quagmire this matter is.