If you've never considered getting your telecom services from a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC), the recent mergers of SBC+AT&T and MCI+Verizon might warrant giving them a look.

There are two ways CLECs provide telecommunication services: they have built their own network and switch or they purchase the services from established carriers and resell it to their customers.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 removed the antiquated regulations that stymied competition between telecommunication carriers by allowing companies to build their own regional area networks and switches. This portion of the Act also forced established carriers to allow access to their national and global telecommunications loops. The Act also mandated that established carriers had to sell telecommunication services at wholesale prices to CLECs. (Don't feel sorry for the established carriers; we consumers paid for their equipment during the decades of regulated rates.)

By their very nature, CLECs confine their customer base to regional areas but they provide the same services as the established carriers: long distance and local calling (including VoIP), Internet, and cable services. Many offer packages with features for which established carriers charge extra.

If you're rethinking your telecommunication costs, give your "neighborhood" CLEC a chance to show you what they have to offer. Regardless of the type of CLEC(s) in your area, using one can have a positive impact on your bottom line.