National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA)

The National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA) is an organization that helps ensure fair and consistent pricing for telephone companies, particularly those serving rural and smaller communities. NECA collects and manages the universal service fees that fund affordable phone service in less-populated areas. It acts as a common administrator, coordinating tariffs, distributing payments, and maintaining standards across member companies. This helps keep phone service reliable and reasonably priced for communities that might otherwise struggle to access modern telecommunications infrastructure. NECA plays a vital role in supporting equitable connectivity throughout the U.S. telecommunications network.