Abbreviation for "Advanced Television Enhancement Forum"] A consortium of computer, cable and television companies that are developing an HTML-like standard for the delivery of computer data via TV signals. Right now, services like IBM's Intercast use the "Vertical Blanking Interval" on an analog TV signal. This is the part of the signal that's used to transmit closed captioning and emergency data. VBI has proven too limited for all but the most basic Internet content delivery. ATVEF hopes to develop a more high-bandwidth solution.