embarq corporation (stylized as embarq) was the largest independent local exchange carrier in the united states (below the baby bells), serving customers in 18 states and providing local, long-distance, high-speed data and wireless services to residential and business customers. it had been formerly the local telephone division (ltd) of sprint nextel until 2006, when it was spun off as an independent company. embarq produced more than $6 billion in revenues annually, and had approximately 18,000 employees.