Idaho Having Trouble Recovering Federal Education Broadband Funds

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State education officials say they've made minimal progress in restoring $14 million of expected federal funds to pay for Idaho's education broadband contract. Lawmakers first heard of the lapse in federal payments earlier this year. The federal government was supposed to pay for most of the state's broadband project but stopped payment in light of a lawsuit challenging the state-approved contract. State education officials say they've made contact with the federal government about the issue but that's all they've been able to do so far. State Schools Superintendent Tom Luna said he mentioned the missing funds to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission close to two months ago. Within an hour, Luna said, the agency overseeing the federal e-rate funds was in contact with Luna and other officials.