US LEC, the regional telecommunications provider based in Charlotte, has turned increased collections and other efforts into a means of generating $3.6 million.

The company said Thursday that an emphasis on collections and cost controls added that amount to results posted earlier for the fourth quarter.

Aaron Cowell, president and chief executive officer of US LEC, said “significant collections efforts” had “exceeded our expectations.”

US LEC (Nasdaq: CLEC) stock dropped below $2 in January but has rallied and was trading at $3.53 at midday Thursday.

US LEC: www.uslec.com