BOISE (AP) - Some Idaho lawmakers are upset by State Schools Superintendent Tom Luna's announcement that a $2.1 million annual statewide Wi-Fi network contract awarded Wednesday afternoon will run for up to 15 years - without prior legislative budget approval.

Luna's office said Education Networks of America won the contract to equip as many as 340 Idaho high schools with the wireless Internet access. Nine companies submitted bids; ENA's came in less than the $2.25 million set aside by the 2013 Legislature for next year.

The contract calls for an initial term of five years, with options to renew for up to 15 years.

But Idaho Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, a Republican from Rupert, insists the 2013 bill allocated $2.25 million only during the next fiscal year and included nothing about a long-term contract. Cameron said the budget committee wouldn't have agreed to a multi-year contract and Luna's move shows a lack of judgment.

To contend that the Legislature backed funding for a multiple-year contract is "certainly a stretch, and perhaps borderline on a lack of honesty," Cameron said. "We did not agree and probably would not have agreed to a multiyear contract during last session, particularly given the financial straits that we believed we were under."

So far, 83 high schools from 48 districts, including the state's largest in Boise and Meridian, have opted into the Wi-Fi service to be provided by ENA, according to Luna spokeswoman Melissa McGrath in Boise.

At that rate, the cost would run more than $25,000 per school annually, on average, though that would drop if more high schools sign on.

"We do not have a count of schools that already have high-speed wireless," McGrath said, adding those with service won't be forced to switch, but many may, since the contracted service is expected to be faster than what existing providers offer.

Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, a vice chair of the budget committee, expressed concern about the Department of Education's uncertainty over how many high schools would avail themselves of the wireless service.

"That seems like that ought to be homework we need to be doing ahead of awarding a contract like this," Keough said.

McGrath said the state's effort to find potential bidders on a statewide contract began June 3 and was publicized in news release that was distributed to media and posted on the department's website.

She said the department already has other multiple-year contracts, including a $950,000 annual pact that allows high school juniors to take a college entrance test, and those haven't been subjected to similar criticism like was levied by Cameron.

What's more, McGrath said, the Wi-Fi contract has an exit clause should the Legislature not approve funding in subsequent years, for instance, in the event of another fiscal crisis like one that followed the recession that started in late 2007, or if lawmakers decide that it's too expensive, based on the number of schools that are using it.

"There's always a clause in any contract that we have where it's renewed every year based on the money we receive from the Legislature," she said.

The state Department of Education's request for proposals issued earlier this year specified that the successful bidder for the work would own all the equipment it installs in roughly 340 Idaho high schools. And if the contract is canceled for any reason, the winning bidder would be required to remove the wireless networks from schools.

Some lawmakers said such provisions make it unclear what Idaho will get for its money.

"It sounds to me like we could get into it five years and have many millions of dollars invested, but you're still going to forfeit it if you don't go the full length of the contract," said Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg. "That just doesn't seem like a prudent way to do it."