Master agency World Telecom Group (WTG) has signed the new EarthLink Business agent agreement.  

WTG has been a long-time partner and the signing of our new nationwide consolidated agreement now enables them to sell the unified EarthLink Business portfolio across the country,” J.R. Cook, vice president of channel partners for EarthLink Business, said in a press release. We are gratified to forge a new agreement with WTG that clearly demonstrates our commitment and focus to the channel.”

Two months ago, EarthLink Business rolled out revised channel partner contracts; the documents put four legacy companies New Edge Networks, Deltacom, One Communications and STS Telecom into one unit and allow agents to sell all EarthLink Business services throughout the country. The individual companies contracts only allowed partners to sell specific products in specific areas. EarthLink bought the four companies over a six-year period that started in 2005.

Meantime, while the parties did not disclose commissions rates or conditions, WTG said it’s pleased with the terms EarthLink Business has laid out.

This mutually beneficial new contract is a win for both WTG and EarthLink, giving our subagents confidence in commission protection that will help us substantially grow our relationship,” said Vince Bradley, president and CEO of WTG, in a prepared statement.

In September, Cardi Prinzi, executive vice president of marketing for EarthLink Business, told Channel Partners that agents have indicated the terms are fair. For starters, EarthLink Business is not revamping the clauses affecting business sold under New Edge, Deltacom, One or STS. Only new sales are impacted by requirements such as annual sales commitments, which Prinzi said are typical. And, in the case of EarthLink Business, the quotas are not onerous,” he said. However, if a partner doesnt meet the agreed-upon number, EarthLink Business may reduce commission percentages.

At the end of the first year, if agents dont make the sales commitment, we have the option to bring the commission rate down for any new business from that point forward,” Prinzi said. Yet, if a partner turns around and meets quotas over the following year, EarthLink Business may increase percentages again. And for agents who exceed expectations each year, commissions are likely to continue climbing. The more they sell, the more they can move up and get a higher percentage,” said Prinzi.

EarthLink Business provides voice, data, mobile, equipment, managed and MPLS-based services over its 28,000-mile fiber network. WTG joins X4 Solutions and Telephony Partners in being among the first EarthLink Business partners to sign the new contract.