telcos

Cringely, Robert (2007). When Elephants Dance: Get ready (finally) for faster Internet speeds at lower prices. Pulpit, PBS. July 20, 2007.
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2007/pulpit_20070720_002525.html

Definition: What is an ILEC?
http://searchvoip.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid66_gci214021,00.html

An ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) is a telephone company in the U.S. that was providing local service when the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was enacted. ILECs include the former 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. ILECs are in contradistinction to CLEC (competitive local exchange carriers).

A "LEC" or Local Exchange Carrier is a traditional telecommunicaions provider.

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier = ILEC

Competitve Local Exchange Carrier = CLEC