NPRG’s Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC) sector encompasses telecom service providers serving designated "exchanges" that are assigned, approved and regulated by the state(s) in which the carrier operates. The collection of these designated exchanges constitute the incumbent, or franchise, territory of an ILEC. Companies in this sector range from the remnants of the Bell Regional Holding Companies (RHCs) to single-market, rural local exchange carriers (RLECs).