communications (LEC) A company allowed to handle local calls
following the break-up of the Bell system in the US by
anti-trust regulators. These vary from Regional Bell
Operating Companies (RBOC) through to small independents such
as Farmers Cooperative.
Local exchange carriers are not allowed to handle
long-distance traffic. This is handled by inter-exchange
carriers (IXC) who are not allowed to handle local calls.
(2002-08-28)