History of the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration

The Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (formerly Corporation for Educational Communications) was established in July, 1994 as the result of a regulatory reform initiative between Ameritech (now AT&T) and Indiana’s Office of Utility Consumer Council of Residential Customers.

The organization was responsible for the distribution of the approved funds to schools in Ameritech Indiana service territory to enhance the availability of educational opportunities through the use of two-way interactive videoconferencing (IVC). The funding provided schools with grants for project planning, equipment, implementation and the development of programs. The network deployed was a high-speed digital fiber optic network designed and built by Ameritech.

The original intent was for CEC to close down 2001. However, funding was extended through 2003, providing additional dollars to service heath care and libraries.

A national scan of the environment during this period provided an understanding that CILC had developed an identity beyond Indiana. Indiana Content Providers were “exporting” as many, if not more, of their programs to schools outside Indiana as they were providing programming within Indiana. And, cultural organizations in other states were beginning to use videoconferencing as an outreach tool and were asking to promote their programs through CILC. The organization became a provider of videoconferencing services – nationwide.

In the fall of 2004, CILC launched a new website www.cilc.org. This site featured the ability for schools and providers from anywhere in the world to post, search and request content, and built into the website is an automated evaluation system and program time zone conversion.

CILC went through a strategic planning process to help identify products, services, and marketing plans that, ultimately, would convert CILC from a grant making to a fee-for-service not for profit. Over time, four service areas were defined and are in operation today:

1. K-12 Services
1. Consulting
2. Technical Assistance
3. Project Management
4. Event Management
2. Content Services
1. Content Dollar Bank
2. PD Marketplace
3. Provider Consulting
4. Project Management
3. Enterprise Services (for vendors and sponsors)
1. Website Homepage Banner Ad
2. Product Resource Center
3. Vendor-branded Search Page Portal
4. Event Management (e.g. legal depositions)
5. CILC Communications and Spotlight Sponsorships
4. Member Services
5. Premium Service Plans

Using www.cilc.org as the nucleus, the website was revised in 2006 to better market CILC’s services. In 2008, www.cilc.org is an established global videoconferencing content hub accessed by thousands, including all 50 states and 166 countries/territories.