A "telephone company" is a business that provides telephone services to people, allowing them to make calls and communicate with others using a telephone. Full definition
A local telephone company is clearly a provider of electronic communication service: it literally provides users the ability to send or receive telephone calls. (legalblogwatch.typepad.com)
I have worked directly for and contracted to Telephone companies for many years. (members.climber.com)
Some regulated entities, such as telephone companies, are restricted by regulations as to the information they may report. (ovationcredit.com)