Dive Brief:

• Districts in Idaho are struggling to keep an uninterrupted connection in the wake of a drawn-out legal battle over a contract with Century Link that promised to provide broadband to all of the state's schools.
• In November, Idaho District Judge Patrick Owen ruled that a $60 million contract to create the Idaho Education Network (IEN) and bring broadband to the state's public schools was made illegally.
• Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announced last week that the contract would be re-bid immediately, citing the IEN as "an asset that must be maintained."

Dive Insight:

Judge Owen's ruling was in response to a 2009 lawsuit in which Syringa Networks sued the state, alleging that a contract was unfairly given to Century Link, which was known at the time as Quest. In November, when Owen announced his verdict, there was speculation that the decision would create uncertainty for Idaho schools. Additionally, Owen's ruling could mean the state will be responsible for repaying the federal government any money it used for the illegal contract.

While it's not a huge amount of time, by February, the state should have gotten something in place. 

Idaho's desire to provide broadband for all is very much in line with President Barack Obama's ConnectED initiative, which is focused on providing WiFi access to 99% of K-12 schools by 2017 and getting software and devices into classrooms, as well.