The ornate JFAC hearing room is packed this morning for the debate on how to fund broadband services for schools for the rest of this school year. A proposal has been placed before budget writers for a supplemental appropriation for $3,640,500 to pay for school broadband connectivity for the rest of fiscal year 2015 and one month into the next fiscal year, through July 31, 2015. The money would be appropriated to the state Superintendent of Public Instruction, for connectivity “sufficient for a transition from the broadband service provided by the Idaho Education Network.”

The superintendent would have the authority to make advanced payments to school districts to maintain service; the money couldn’t go for payments for services previously received under the voided IEN contract. School districts who got advances would later "true up" the amounts with their actual expenses; other districts would just be reimbursed for actual expenses.

In response to questions from committee members, legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee said, “The current vendors could bid on that service. … And conversely, they could be paid less, as well.” School districts would have to solicit bids from at least three vendors.