CLEC stands for competitive local exchange carrier, a telecommunications company that competes with the incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) in a specific market. They often lease copper lines or fiber from the ILEC at wholesale rates to sell voice and data services to end users. The designation dictates specific regulatory rules for interconnection and tariff pricing.
We need to escalate the loop provisioning delay with the CLEC before the customer drops the order.
When troubleshooting a circuit, knowing whether you are dealing with the CLEC or the ILEC tells you who actually owns the physical copper wire.
Do not mix it up with
- ILEC: The ILEC is the original monopoly provider that owns most of the physical infrastructure, while the CLEC is the competitor.
Related terms
ILEC
The established regional telephone company that owned the original copper wire monopoly before market deregulation.
LEC
A regulatory term for a local telephone company that provides service within a specific geographic area.
Local loop
The physical wiring connecting a customer premises to the nearest telephone exchange.