Ala. Code § 41-23-279

The authority shall make it a priority to consider the need for a statewide research and education network and may engage a third party consultant to develop recommendations for such a network. Upon a majority vote of its members, the authority may create an entity that will assist the state in the development of a statewide research and education network and other cooperative ventures of innovative technological significance to advance higher education, research, health care, and economic development for the state’s universities, university health care systems, research institutions, and the Alabama Community College System. The authority shall prioritize a higher education research network and consult with all two-year and four-year institutions and the Alabama Community College System on the development of the network.