The local or regional telephone company that owns
and operates lines to customer locations and Class 5
Central Office Switches. LECs have connections to other
COs, Tandem (Class 4 Toll) offices and may connect directly
to IECs like WorldCom, AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc.
Local Exchange Service
Local phone calls.
Local Loop
Communications lines and services between the telephone
subscriber and the phone company switching center.
Long Distance Carrier
A company providing long-distance phone service between
LECs and LATAs.