National Exchange Carrier Association

The National Exchange Carrier Association is a not-for-profit association created in 1984 by telecommunications companies to administer the fees that long distance companies pay to access local telephone networks in the United States. After the Telecommunications Act of 1996, NECA became indirectly responsible for the Universal Service Fund (USF) programs through its subsidiary corporation, the Universal Service Administrative Company.

The NECA represents rural telecommunications companies, as the vast majority of rural and small telecommunications companies are members of the NECA.