| LATA | Local Access Transport Areas (200 in the U.S.). A geographic service area defined in the AT&T Modified Final Judgement. The RBOCs (baby Bells) and GTE are restricted to operations within, but not between, LATAs. Long distance service within a LATA is provided by the LEC. Service between LATAs is provided by an IEC. LATAs are represented by a 3-character code, and there are 164 of them across the country. |
|
| LEC - See Local Exchange Carrier | |
|
| LEC BAN - Billing Account Number | 3-digit number appended to the billing phone number used as the LEC customer number. Groups all ANIs for a customer. |
|
| LEC Billing | Arrangement whereby the Local Exchange Carrier invoices the customer for some or all telecommunications services. |
|
| LEC Card | The billing arrangement which enables the caller to bill calls to an authorized calling card issued by a local exchange carrier. |
|
| LEC Charges | Charges that are the responsibility of the local exchange carrier. |
|
| Letter Of Agency - LOA | A document that authorizes changing the service provider. (See RespOrg, 800 Portability) |
|
| Local Access | Local Loop. The connection from a subscriber to the Central Office. The portion of a circuit connecting the LEC's CO with the customer's premise equipment across the local network. |
|
| Local Access Provider | Any organization that is authorized to provide local access. (May or may not be the LEC.) |
|
| Local Exchange Carrier - LEC | 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. |
|
| Long Distance Carrier | A company providing long-distance phone service between LECs and LATAs. |
|
