Design and Implementation of DSL-Based Access Solutions

CLECs and ILECs

Without going into many regulatory details, the ILEC owns the last mile of copper to the end subscriber (in the simplest terms). Some of the examples of ILECs in the U.S. include companies like SBC, Qwest, and Bell South. These ILECs, or Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), due to the regulatory aspects, have structured their models to be both in the regulatory arms and out of the regulatory arms. In essence, the regulatory arm is responsible for providing the transport; whereas, the unregulated arm provides the actual services. For example, Qwest (regulated arm) acting as an ILEC is responsible for providing equal access to different ISPs, while Qwest.net (the unregulated arm) acts as an ISP. CLECs, however, lease the ...