CARRIERS INTERCONNECT WITH DSET

McLeodUSA, an integrated communications provider, purchased the DSET ezConnect family of electronic bonding gateways to interconnect with trading partners that include Ameritech, U S WEST and SBC. The gateways to be deployed include ezLocal, ezNumberPort, ez911, ezCallingCard and ezCallerID. McLeodUSA will also deploy a new trouble-administration gateway, currently being developed to interconnect with incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs). The electronic trouble-administration gateway is designed to expedite the flow of trouble ticket data between McLeod and the interconnected ILECs. McLeodUSA anticipates using the ezLocal gateway for sending order forms to Ameritech, U S WEST and SBC to order local loops that will be disconnected from the incumbents’ switches and cut over to the company’s central office switch.