CLEC

(Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) An organization offering local telephone service that is not one of the traditional telephone companies. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 allowed competition to the incumbent telcos (ILECs), enabling new companies (CLECs) to offer voice and data services via both landline and wireless delivery. Many specialize in one type such as fixed wireless or DSL, while others offer a range of services. Although the ILECs were required to offer their facilities and last-mile transport to the CLECs at a fair cost, many did not make the process simple or expedient.

Although most CLECs are established as a telecommunications service organization, any large company, university or city government has the option of becoming a CLEC and supplying its own employees with telephone service at reduced cost. It must have a telephone switch, satisfy state regulations, pay significant filing fees and also make its services available to outside customers. See ILEC, BLEC, ELEC and TELRIC.

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References in periodicals archive

Paul Bunyan used it as an unusual tool in its pursuit of customers for its CLEC. Bissonette explained that rather than having a prefix similar to existing numbers in the area, it chose "444," and that made a big impact on the company's success.

How to succeed at CLECing

delivered both the CLEC's originating traffic to other carriers and

An evaluation of the proposals in the FCC's Intercarrier Compensation Reform Docket related to tandem transit services

According to a recent study by Atlantic-ACM, the firm predicts that between 2002 and 2007, CLECs will increase at a compound annual growth rate of 15%, propelling the CLEC market to reach $58.2 billion by 2007.

CLECs on the rise

The CLECs, however, appear to be no long-term threat to the RBOCs.

CLECs winning DSL battles; RBOC's winning war

Chris Sigler, vice president of sales and marketing for American Discount Telecom (ADT), a CLEC consultant in Waxahachie, Texas, agreed that this is a common tactic.

Strategies & successes: an update on the CLEC market

Multapplied licenses its SD-WAN platform to drive business growth for ISP, MSP and CLEC across the globe.

Multapplied Networks Announces Johan Arnet as Chairman, Board of Directors

Hammer subsidiaries possess CLEC licenses in several states including New York, New Jersey and Florida as well as a nationwide CMRS license and have access to a number of other states via its joint venture agreements with partner CLECs.

Hammer Fiber Optics to Acquire New York-Based American Network

(3) In 2014, AT&T filed a formal complaint with the FCC alleging that Great Lakes was charging access fees that are greater than the benchmark rates imposed on CLECs. (4) The FCC determined that Great Lakes qualified as a CLEC for rate benchmarks and that it did not qualify under the rural exemption to those benchmarks.

Great Lakes Comnet v. FCC

We asked telcos how they have changed operations, marketing or sales in their competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) territory.

Given the competitive environment, how have you changed operations, marketing or sales in your CLEC territory?