Who are Covad, New Edge, Allegiance, etc. and what do they do?
In virtually all cases, local companies actually install the DSL service and handle the local connection. Your ISP will still be MegaPath, Speakeasy, or ANET, and they handle all billing. The local companies wholesale their service to national ISPs, but do not work directly with consumers. You will find that virtually all DSL ISPs use at least one of these providers.
