CLECs have been identified under several different names such as:

• Alternate Exchange Carrier (AEC)
• Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)
• Co-Provider

AEC is an old term, which you may not often see, CLEC is the industry standard term for Co-Providers other than a region’s incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC). CLEC is the preferred CenturyLink term for other Co-Providers.