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<TITLE>US LEC Corp.</TITLE>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April&nbsp;7, 2006
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 1pt">Registration No.&nbsp;333-_________
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</B>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B></DIV>


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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>US LEC CORP.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)</DIV>


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    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B><BR>
(State or other Jurisdiction of<BR>
Incorporation or Organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>56-2065535</B><BR>
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
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    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Morrocroft III</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>6801 Morrison Boulevard</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Charlotte, North Carolina</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>28211</B></TD>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Address of principal executive offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Zip Code)</TD>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>US LEC Corp.<BR>
1998 Omnibus Stock Plan<BR>
Employee Stock Purchase Plan</B><BR>
(Full title of the Plans)</DIV>

<DIV align="center"><DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 12pt; width: 20%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>Michael L. Shor, Esq.<BR>
Chief Litigation Officer and Secretary<BR>
Morrocroft III<BR>
6801 Morrison Boulevard<BR>
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211</B><BR>
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>(704)&nbsp;319-1000</B><BR>
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt">Copy to:<BR>
<B>Barney Stewart III, Esq.<BR>
Moore &#038; Van Allen PLLC<BR>
100 North Tryon Street, Suite&nbsp;4700<BR>
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202<BR>
(704)&nbsp;331-1000</B></DIV>

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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B>
</DIV>

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    <TD nowrap align="center">Title of Securities</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Amount to be</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per</TD>
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    <TD nowrap align="center">Proposed Maximum</TD>
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    <TD nowrap align="center">to be Registered</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Registered</TD>
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    <TD nowrap align="center">Share(1)</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Aggregate Offering Price</TD>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">Amount of Registration Fee</TD>
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                    <TD align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px">Class&nbsp;A Common Stock</DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><FONT style="white-space: nowrap">3,000,000 shares</FONT></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$2.60</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$7,800,000</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">$835</TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
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    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated in accordance with Rule&nbsp;457(h)(1) and 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;), solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
based upon the average of the high and low prices reported by Nasdaq on March&nbsp;31, 2006, which
prices were $2.70 and $2.50, respectively.</TD>
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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXPLANATORY NOTE</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This Registration Statement covers (i)&nbsp;2,000,000 shares of Class&nbsp;A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), of US LEC Corp. (the &#147;Company&#148; or the &#147;Registrant&#148;) reserved
for issuance under the Company&#146;s 1998 Omnibus Stock Plan, as
amended (the &#147;1998 Plan&#148;) and (ii)&nbsp;1,000,000
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company&#146;s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
&#147;Purchase Plan&#148;). Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;428 promulgated under the Securities Act, the Company will
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8 to all participants in the 1998
Plan and the Purchase Plan.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;1. Plan Information.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents containing the information specified in Item&nbsp;1 will be sent or given to
employees, directors or others as specified by Rule&nbsp;428(b). In accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) and the instructions to
Registration Statement on Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either
as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The documents containing the information specified in Item&nbsp;2 will be sent or given to
employees, directors or others as specified by Rule&nbsp;428(b). In accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Registration Statement on Form S-8, such
documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or
as a prospectus pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>

</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Except as indicated below, the following documents filed by the Company with the Commission
(File No.&nbsp;000-24061) are incorporated herein by reference:
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Registration Statements on Form S-8, Commission File Numbers 333-61617,
333-78075, 333-42890, 333-42976 and 333-88048, including exhibits thereto, except as the same may
be modified by the information set forth herein.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2005;
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February&nbsp;23, 2006;*
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d)&nbsp;The
Company&#146;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 2006;</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e)&nbsp;The Company&#146;s Schedule&nbsp;TO filed on February&nbsp;23, 2006, as amended; and
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f)&nbsp;The section entitled &#147;Description of Registrant&#146;s Securities to be Registered&#148; contained
in the Registrant&#146;s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as amended, filed on April&nbsp;21, 1998
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;),
including all amendments and reports updating such description.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 18%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

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    <TD nowrap align="left">*</TD>

    <TD>The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Items 2.02, 7.01 and
9.01 is not incorporated by reference herein.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto which
indicates that all securities offered
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">hereby have been sold or which deregisters all the securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Registration
Statement and information that we file later with the Commission will automatically update and
supersede this information, as applicable. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or
a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;VIII of the Company&#146;s Certificate of Incorporation (the &#147;Certificate&#148;) provides that
the Company shall indemnify all directors and officers to the full extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the &#147;Delaware Law&#148;), or any other applicable laws as now
or hereafter in effect. In addition, the Certificate authorizes the Company to enter into one or
more agreements with any person which provide for indemnification greater or different than that
provided in its Certificate.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware Law permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and
officers against expenses (including attorney&#146;s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding, whether criminal or civil, brought by a third party if such directors or officers acted
in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason
to believe their conduct was unlawful.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, Section&nbsp;102 of the Delaware Law provides that a corporation may include in
its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of
directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, provided that such provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director: (i)&nbsp;for any breach of the director&#146;s duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith that
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (iii)&nbsp;for conduct leading to
unlawful distributions by the corporation; or (iv)&nbsp;for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. The Certificate includes such a provision. The effect of this
provision is to eliminate the rights of the Company and its stockholders (through stockholder&#146;s
derivative suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for
breach of fiduciary duty of care as a director (including breaches resulting from negligent or
grossly negligent behavior) except in situations described in clauses (i)&nbsp;through (iv)&nbsp;above. This
provision does not limit or eliminate the rights of the Company or any stockholder to seek
nonmonetary relief (such as an injunction or rescission) in the event of a breach of a director&#146;s
duty of care.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company has entered into registration rights agreements in certain transactions involving
sales of their securities, which provide indemnification for the Company&#146;s directors, officers and
controlling persons (as defined in the Securities Act) by the holders of those securities for any
loss, claim, damage or liability that the director, officer or controlling person incurs for
material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement, prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto caused by information provided to the Company by a holder of the securities
being registered.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant maintains insurance against liabilities under the Securities Act for the
benefit of its officers and directors.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">2
</DIV>

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<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No</B><B>.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description of Document</B></TD>
</TR>

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    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Moore &#038; Van Allen PLLC</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Moore &#038; Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit&nbsp;No.&nbsp;5)</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)</TD>
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</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt; margin-left: 3%">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">3
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, State of North Carolina, on April&nbsp;7, 2006.
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left"><B>US LEC CORP.</B><BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="left">/s/ J. Lyle Patrick
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">J. Lyle Patrick&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" align="left">Executive Vice President, Finance and<BR>
Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>



<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each of the undersigned directors and officers of the Registrant, by his execution hereof,
hereby constitutes and appoints Aaron D. Cowell, Jr. and J. Lyle Patrick, and each of them with
full power of substitution, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, to do any and all
acts and things for him, and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, to execute and
sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and all other documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission and with such state securities authorities as may be
appropriate, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or any of them, may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registrant Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
</DIV>
<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR>
        <TD>&nbsp;<BR></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Aaron D. Cowell, Jr.
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
Aaron D. Cowell, Jr.
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chief Executive Officer, President
and Director<BR>
(principal executive officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ J. Lyle Patrick
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
J. Lyle Patrick
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Executive Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer<BR>
(principal financial and accounting officer)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Richard T. Aab
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Chairman of the Board, Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Richard T. Aab</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Tansukh V. Ganatra
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Tansukh V. Ganatra</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ David M. Flaum
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">David M. Flaum</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"></DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>Michael C. Mac Donald
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>Steven L. Schoonover
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"></TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">4
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="32%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="23%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Date</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Anthony J. DiNovi
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">April&nbsp;7, 2006</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Anthony J. DiNovi</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Director&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">

<TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Michael A. Krupka</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">5
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>INDEX TO EXHIBITS</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="95%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Exhibit No</B><B>.</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>

<TD nowrap align="left" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Description of Document</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Moore &#038; Van Allen PLLC</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Deloitte &#038; Touche LLP</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Moore &#038; Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit&nbsp;No.&nbsp;5)</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 10pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">6
</DIV>

</BODY>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "US LEC CORP", "cik": "0001054290", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "562065535", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-133081", "film-number": "06747925"}, "business-address": {"street1": "6801 MORRISON BOULEVARD", "street2": "MORROCROFT III", "city": "CHARLOTTE", "state": "NC", "zip": "28211", "phone": "704-319-1000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "6801 MORRISON BOULEVARD", "street2": "MORROCROFT III", "city": "CHARLOTTE", "state": "NC", "zip": "28211"}}
US LEC Corp.
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 7, 2006
Registration No. 333-_________
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
US LEC CORP.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Delaware
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
56-2065535
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Morrocroft III
6801 Morrison Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina
28211
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
US LEC Corp.
1998 Omnibus Stock Plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the Plans)
Michael L. Shor, Esq.
Chief Litigation Officer and Secretary
Morrocroft III
6801 Morrison Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
(704) 319-1000
(Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
Barney Stewart III, Esq.
Moore & Van Allen PLLC
100 North Tryon Street, Suite 4700
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(704) 331-1000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
Amount to be
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per
Proposed Maximum
to be Registered
Registered
Share(1)
Aggregate Offering Price
Amount of Registration Fee
Class A Common Stock
3,000,000 shares
$2.60
$7,800,000
$835
(1)
Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h)(1) and 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee,
based upon the average of the high and low prices reported by Nasdaq on March 31, 2006, which
prices were $2.70 and $2.50, respectively.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Registration Statement covers (i) 2,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of US LEC Corp. (the "Company" or the "Registrant") reserved
for issuance under the Company's 1998 Omnibus Stock Plan, as
amended (the "1998 Plan") and (ii) 1,000,000
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Purchase Plan"). Pursuant to Rule 428 promulgated under the Securities Act, the Company will
deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of Part I of Form S-8 to all participants in the 1998
Plan and the Purchase Plan.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item 1. Plan Information.
The documents containing the information specified in Item 1 will be sent or given to
employees, directors or others as specified by Rule 428(b). In accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and the instructions to
Registration Statement on Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either
as part of this Registration Statement or as a prospectus pursuant to Rule 424.
Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.
The documents containing the information specified in Item 2 will be sent or given to
employees, directors or others as specified by Rule 428(b). In accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Registration Statement on Form S-8, such
documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or
as a prospectus pursuant to Rule 424.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Except as indicated below, the following documents filed by the Company with the Commission
(File No. 000-24061) are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Registration Statements on Form S-8, Commission File Numbers 333-61617,
333-78075, 333-42890, 333-42976 and 333-88048, including exhibits thereto, except as the same may
be modified by the information set forth herein.
(b) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005;
(c) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 23, 2006;*
(d) The
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 4, 2006;
(e) The Company's Schedule TO filed on February 23, 2006, as amended; and
(f) The section entitled "Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered" contained
in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as amended, filed on April 21, 1998
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
including all amendments and reports updating such description.
*
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K furnished pursuant to Items 2.02, 7.01 and
9.01 is not incorporated by reference herein.
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment hereto which
indicates that all securities offered
hereby have been sold or which deregisters all the securities then remaining unsold, shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.
The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Registration
Statement and information that we file later with the Commission will automatically update and
supersede this information, as applicable. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or
a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that
a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document modifies or supersedes
such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or amended, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article VIII of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate") provides that
the Company shall indemnify all directors and officers to the full extent permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Law"), or any other applicable laws as now
or hereafter in effect. In addition, the Certificate authorizes the Company to enter into one or
more agreements with any person which provide for indemnification greater or different than that
provided in its Certificate.
Section 145 of the Delaware Law permits a corporation to indemnify its directors and
officers against expenses (including attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding, whether criminal or civil, brought by a third party if such directors or officers acted
in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason
to believe their conduct was unlawful.
In addition, Section 102 of the Delaware Law provides that a corporation may include in
its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of
directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty, provided that such provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director: (i) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith that
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (iii) for conduct leading to
unlawful distributions by the corporation; or (iv) for any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit. The Certificate includes such a provision. The effect of this
provision is to eliminate the rights of the Company and its stockholders (through stockholder's
derivative suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for
breach of fiduciary duty of care as a director (including breaches resulting from negligent or
grossly negligent behavior) except in situations described in clauses (i) through (iv) above. This
provision does not limit or eliminate the rights of the Company or any stockholder to seek
nonmonetary relief (such as an injunction or rescission) in the event of a breach of a director's
duty of care.
The Company has entered into registration rights agreements in certain transactions involving
sales of their securities, which provide indemnification for the Company's directors, officers and
controlling persons (as defined in the Securities Act) by the holders of those securities for any
loss, claim, damage or liability that the director, officer or controlling person incurs for
material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement, prospectus or amendment or
supplement thereto caused by information provided to the Company by a holder of the securities
being registered.
The Registrant maintains insurance against liabilities under the Securities Act for the
benefit of its officers and directors.
2
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Exhibit No
.
Description of Document
5
Opinion of Moore & Van Allen PLLC
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2
Consent of Moore & Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit No. 5)
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant
to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by
a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
3
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Charlotte, State of North Carolina, on April 7, 2006.
US LEC CORP.
By:
/s/ J. Lyle Patrick
J. Lyle Patrick
Executive Vice President, Finance and
Chief Financial Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned directors and officers of the Registrant, by his execution hereof,
hereby constitutes and appoints Aaron D. Cowell, Jr. and J. Lyle Patrick, and each of them with
full power of substitution, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, to do any and all
acts and things for him, and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacity, to execute and
sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, together with all exhibits and schedules thereto, and all other documents in
connection therewith, with the Commission and with such state securities authorities as may be
appropriate, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do
in person, and hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or any of them, may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registrant Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Aaron D. Cowell, Jr.
Aaron D. Cowell, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, President
and Director
(principal executive officer)
April 7, 2006
/s/ J. Lyle Patrick
J. Lyle Patrick
Executive Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
April 7, 2006
/s/ Richard T. Aab
Chairman of the Board, Director
April 7, 2006
Richard T. Aab
/s/ Tansukh V. Ganatra
Director
April 7, 2006
Tansukh V. Ganatra
/s/ David M. Flaum
Director
April 7, 2006
David M. Flaum
Director
Michael C. Mac Donald
Director
Steven L. Schoonover
4
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Anthony J. DiNovi
Director
April 7, 2006
Anthony J. DiNovi
Director
Michael A. Krupka
5
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit No
.
Description of Document
5
Opinion of Moore & Van Allen PLLC
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2
Consent of Moore & Van Allen PLLC (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit No. 5)
24
Power of Attorney (included on the signature page)
6