The American TelEdCommunications Alliance

SREB is a founding member of the American TeleEdCommunications Alliance (ATAlliance). Its goal is to provide leadership and affordable access to top-quality technology and telecommunications services for schools, colleges, government agencies and other nonprofit organizations. The primary emphasis is on establishing contracts for basic and advanced products and services at affordable costs, widening access and improving quality through the leverage of volume, expertise and market organization. The ATAlliance focuses on technology standards and policies, information exchange, technical support and technology contracts.

The other founding members of the ATAlliance are: MHEC, the Midwestern Higher Education Commission; WICHE, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; and MiCTA, a telecommunications association of nonprofit organizations.

Schools, colleges, state agencies, libraries and other nonprofit organizations may join the ATAlliance and take advantage of its programs. Annual membership dues are $75. Find more information about the ATAlliance, its programs and services and how to join on the ATAlliance Web site, or e-mail SREB-ATAlliance@sreb.org.

ATAlliance programs include contracts for long-distance voice telecommunications, calling-card services, video delivery, wireless communications, network and Internet delivery services, computer hardware and service, and online learning software and services. Because ATAlliance vendors have gone through an extensive RFP and evaluation process, members have access to high-quality products and services at economical prices, often without having to conduct their own complex and expensive competitive procurement actions. Find a list of current programs and services here. (Link to ATAlliance programs and services.)

Following the SREB tradition of sharing resources among its 16 member states, the SREB-ATAlliance Initiative helps schools, colleges, state agencies, libraries and other nonprofit organizations participate in ATAlliance programs and services by:

• providing written descriptions of ATAlliance programs and services, references and a contact for discussion and answers to questions;
• inviting representatives from SREB states to participate on committees in the development and evaluation of ATAlliance Request for Proposals (RFPs);
• inviting representatives from SREB states to participate on panels of experts to identify needed technology and services;
• preparing reports, using feedback from SREB region participants on the quality and reliability of services and programs provided through ATAlliance telecommunications contracts; and
• when invited by state representatives, helping to identify ways to overcome, modify, or accommodate local or state laws or regulations governing procurement that might otherwise be barriers.

For more information contact (404) 962-9640 or e-mail SREB-ATAlliance@sreb.org.