Opinion ID: 1263901
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Sprint's Business Model

Text: Sprint has developed a business model in which it partners with local cable companies to provide local telephone services. Sprint provides the facility to interconnect calls to and from other carriers, the switch that gathers and distributes the telephone traffic, and various back-office functions. The local cable company provides the system of wires and cables which takes a phone call from the user's premises to the connection point. This system is known as last-mile or loop services, and it carries calls to and from the switch and the end user. In Iowa, Sprint has partnered with MCC Telephony of Iowa, L.L.C. (MCC), the local cable company and an affiliate of Mediacom. Under their arrangement, Sprint provides the wholesale telecommunications services described above, which MCC retails. MCC provides last-mile facilities and is in charge of all sales, billing, and customer service. Sprint has no direct relationship with the customers and does not provide any retail services. Sprint believes this model is advantageous to both companies, allowing them to enter the market quickly, efficiently, and without duplicating resources. The terms, conditions, and prices of Sprint's contract with MCC are considered confidential, and its rates are not available to the public.