US LEC Acquisition S-4 Registration of securities issued in business combination transactions

Exhibit 12.1

US LEC CORP.

STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)

	FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,															SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
	1999			2000			2001			2002			2003			2003			2004
EARNINGS:
Income (loss) before minority interest and income taxes	$	39,426		$	(141,119	)	$	(63,354	)	$	(45,892	)	$	(14,540	)	$	(8,940	)	$	(4,475	)
Equity method investment earnings (losses)		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
		39,426			(141,119	)		(63,354	)		(45,892	)		(14,540	)		(8,940	)		(4,475	)
Add:
Fixed charges		4,739			10,421			15,310			12,093			12,408			6,041			6,578
Amortization of capitalized interest		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Distributed income of equity investees		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Less:
Capitalized interest		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Minority interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Earnings as adjusted		44,165			(130,698	)		(48,044	)		(33,799	)		(2,132	)		(2,899	)		2,103
FIXED CHARGES:
Third party interest expense		3,096			7,839			11,870			8,553			8,577			4,180			4,638
Capitalized interest		—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Amortization of loan acquisition costs		259			690			816			854			1,062			539			523
Estimate of the interest within rental expense		1,384			1,892			2,624			2,686			2,769			1,322			1,417
Total fixed charges	$	4,739		$	10,421		$	15,310		$	12,093		$	12,408		$	6,041		$	6,578
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges/(excess of fixed charges over earnings)		9.3	x	$	(141,119	)	$	(63,354	)	$	(45,892	)	$	(14,540	)	$	(8,940	)	$	(4,475	)