The state auditor says the Vermont State Colleges should have put out to bid three broadcast licenses it leased in Rutland County this year.
Auditor Tom Salmon says that the failure to do so may have cost the colleges as much as $620,000 over the 30-year length of the lease. But he says no laws were broken.
The frequencies can be used for wireless communication like mobile phones, wireless Internet and data transmission.
State Colleges officials say the deal with should have been put out to bid, but little can be done now.
The colleges expect to receive $483,000 in revenue during the life of the lease.