as the underlying protocol. The amount of available bandwidth for data "expands" by 64k for each voice line not in use. When a voice line goes off-hook, the bandwidth reserved for that voice line becomes solely available for use with that line until the call ends, when it becomes usable for data again. Using this concept, a T1 that would normally provide 768k of data and 12 voice lines can provide a full 1.536 Mbit/s connection when no voice lines are in use. Conversent Communications Conversent Communications was a Marlboro, Massachusetts-based CLEC and was founded in 1999 as New England Voice and Data. The company name was changed to Conversent in 2000. Conversent acquired REON broadband corporation, Fibernet of West Virginia and Northeast Data Vault before the One Communications merger. CTC and Choice One announced the acquisition of Conversent on March 28, 2006. The acquisition was completed in July 2006. Notes References Mass High Tech. "CTC, Choice One merges, buys Conversant, becomes One Communications", July 3, 2006 Earthlink. "EARTHLINK TO ACQUIRE ONE COMMUNICATIONS CORP.", Press Release December 20, 2010 Earthlink. "EARTHLINK COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF ONE COMMUNICATIONS", Press Release April 1, 2011 Boston Business Journal. "CTC Communications files Ch. 11", October 3, 2002 All Business. "CTC Communications Emerges from Chapter 11 and is Acquired by Columbia Ventures Corporation.", December 17, 2003 Columbia Ventures Corporation. "CTC Communications Completes Purchase of Lightship Telecom", Press Release May 24, 2005 Network World "CTC and Choice One together aim to be the largest CLEC in the U.S. ", February 16, 2006 PR Newswire "Choice One Communications and CTC Communications Acquire Conversent Communications", Press Release March 20, 2006 External links Company homepage Telecommunications companies of the United States Companies based in Middlesex County, Massachusetts EarthLink