Idaho has paid $762,952 to the law firm Hawley Troxell since 2010 for legal defense in the Syringa Networks lawsuit over the contract award for the Idaho Education Network, Idaho Statesman reporter Cynthia Sewell reports today. The lawsuit over the award of the $60 million, 20-year contract has prompted federal authorities to stop federal e-rate payments to the state that were supposed to cover three-quarters of the IEN’s costs; as a result, lawmakers this year approved an extra $11.4 million in state funds, and are looking at more when their next session starts in January.

Sewell reports that mediation in the case has failed, after Syringa requested up to $17 million to settle the case, and rejected alternatives including a “six-figure” settlement, some additional work for the state, and “a very strong confidentiality agreement to keep things secret,” according to a letter Syringa’s lawyers sent to several Idaho lawmakers. Sewell’s full report is online here.