LATA (local access and transport area)
A geographic area served by a local telephone company. Originally, LATAs had the same boundaries as area codes, and were used to help differentiate between local exchange carriers and interexchange carriers for rate setting and for the purposes of defining which companies could provide which services under the terms of the 1983 breakup of AT&T. However, the rapid proliferation of phone numbers means that many LATAs are now split into multiple area codes (in some cases, two area codes are overlaid on the same area).
Also see North American Numbering Plan.
Additional resources
What is a LATA, anyway?
Network World on Frame Relay, 10/12/98.
Topic: Carriers
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