What is "covad"

Covad Communications Group was an American provider of broadband voice and data communications. By 2006, the company had 530,000 subscribers, and ranked 16th largest ISP in the United States. Covad was acquired by U.S. Venture Partners, who in 2010 announced a 3-way merger of MegaPath, Covad, and Speakeasy, creating a single Managed Services Local Exchange Carrier (MSLEC), providing voice and internet services; the new company was named MegaPath Corporation.

The name Covad is derived from acronyms which have varied over time, including COmbined Voice And Data, Copper Over Voice And Data, and in its earliest form, COpper Value ADded.