Broadwing Communications provides telecommunication services to enterprises, carriers, and government entities. Broadwing Communications was founded in 1962 as Tower Communications Systems, Inc, originally a microwave communication provider. That company became IXC Communications in 1994. When Cincinnati Bell acquired IXC Communications in 1999, the merged company was renamed Broadwing. Broadwing Corporation operates two divisions that serve different segments of the telecommunications industry. The communications division, managed by the Broadwing Communications, LLC subsidiary, is a provider of data, internet, voice, and broadband transport services to carrier and enterprise customers delivered over a nationwide network connecting 137 cities.

The communications equipment division, operating under Corvis Equipment Corporation, designs, manufactures, and sells high performance all-optical and electrical/optical communications systems. In response to the severe downturn in the telecommunications industry, the company shifted its focus to become primarily a provider of communications services, which comprises about 99 percent of its revenue. In 2003, Cincinnati Bell reclaimed its former name, selling its competitive carrier operations—Broadwing—to equipment manufacturer Corvis. In 2004, Corvis acquired Focal Communications, folded Focal into Broadwing Communications’ operations, and used that opportunity to change the name of Broadwing Communications’ parent company from Corvis Corporation to Broadwing Corporation. On October 16, 2006, Broadwing Corporation announced an agreement to be acquired by Level 3 Communications, and the deal to close in the first quarter of 2007.