Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) - The equipment, including lines, that is used for digital multiplexing of telephone circuits, and that is provided by the network as part of the subscriber access. DLC system uses digital transmission to extend the range of the local loop farther than would be possible using only twisted pair copper wires. A DLC digitizes and multiplexes the individual signals carried by the local loops onto a single datastream on the DLC segment.Also referred to as Integrated Digital Loop Carrier.