Telecommunications Service Providers

ALSO CALLED: Local Exchange Carriers, Communications Service Providers, Carriers, Competitive Access Providers, CLEC, Telephone Carriers, Wired Telecommunications Carriers, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers, CSP, RBOC, Regional Bell Operating Companies, Telco, Carrier Service Providers, Communication Service Providers, Telecommunications Carriers Industry
DEFINITION: LEC (local exchange carrier) is the term for a public telephone company in the U.S. that provides local service. Some of the largest LECs are the Bell operating companies (BOCs) which were grouped into holding companies known collectively as the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs) when the Bell System was broken up by a 1983 consent decree. In addition to the Bell companies, there are a number  … 
Definition continues below.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS DEFINITION (continued): … LEC (local exchange carrier) is the term for a public telephone company in the U.S. that provides local service. Some of the largest LECs are the Bell operating companies (BOCs) which were grouped into holding companies known collectively as the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCs) when the Bell System was broken up by a 1983 consent decree. In addition to the Bell companies, there are a number of independent LECs, such as GTE. LEC companies are also sometimes referred to as "telcos." A "local exchange" is the local "central office" of an LEC. Lines from homes and businesses terminate at a local exchange. Local exchanges connect to other local exchanges within a local access and transport area (LATA) or to interexchange carriers (IXCs) such as long-distance carriers AT&T, MCI, and Sprint.
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