Exhibit 23.1
                                                                    ------------



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT


         We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of US LEC Corp. and subsidiaries (the "Company") of our
report dated February 29, 2000, which report includes an emphasis of a matter
paragraph as to a significant portion of the Company's accounts receivable and
revenues relating to reciprocal compensation currently in dispute, appearing in
and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by
the Form 10-K/A, of US LEC Corp. and subsidiaries for the year ended December
31, 1999.


Deloitte & Touche LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
August 3, 2000