More Rural Pennsylvanians Have Access to Fast, Affordable Verizon High Speed Internet Service

PHILADELPHIA - More consumers and businesses in rural and suburban communities across Pennsylvania now have access to Verizon High Speed Internet, allowing them to quickly download movies, share photos or video with friends and family, and create their own Internet content.

In the last seven months alone, Verizon has upgraded nearly 46,000 customer phone lines for high-speed Internet service, based on DSL technology.  The company has installed Verizon High Speed Internet equipment at more than 181 telephone switching centers and remotely located facilities situated in 29 predominantly rural counties and serving as few as 20 phone lines and as many as 1,090 lines.

"Verizon is enabling more rural residents across Pennsylvania to make the high-speed connections that are important to them," said William B. Petersen, president of Verizon Pennsylvania.  "We're signing up record numbers of new customers because we're offering them a choice of fast speeds, affordable pricing and a multitude of services, backed by the Verizon network and thousands of skilled, knowledgeable Verizon employees.

"Verizon's ongoing, significant investment in Pennsylvania means that many more rural communities have access to affordable and reliable high-speed Internet service," Petersen added.

Verizon has invested nearly $10 billion in its Pennsylvania network over the last decade.  Verizon High Speed Internet service now is available in 89 percent of the company's call-switching centers across the commonwealth.

Consumers who go online to order Verizon broadband service with an annual service plan can choose from a maximum connection speed of up to 3.0 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) upstream for $19.99 for the first six months and then $29.99 per month for the remaining six months.  Consumers can also chose a maximum connection speed of up to 768 Kbps downstream and 128 Kbps upstream for just $9.99 for the first three months and then $19.99 per month for the remaining nine months, when they sign up online for an annual service plan.

Consumers also can bundle broadband service with a Verizon Freedom calling plan, wireless service from Verizon Wireless and all-digital DIRECTV service, giving them unlimited calling, high-speed Internet access, wireless service and in-home video service for additional savings - all on one bill from a name they trust.

With Verizon Double Freedom, customers can choose from three combinations of services: Verizon's most popular unlimited calling plan known as Verizon Freedom Essentials coupled with Verizon High Speed Internet service (up to 3.0 Mbps), with DIRECTV® service billed through Verizon, or with an existing Verizon Wireless plan.  Verizon Wireless customers must participate in Verizon's no-cost ONE-BILL® program, which combines wireline and wireless charges on a single bill.  Each two-service combination is priced from $69.99 to $74.99 a month, depending on the combination of services purchased.

Verizon Triple Freedom links a combination of the Freedom Essentials calling plan and Verizon High Speed Internet (up to 3.0 Mbps) with either an existing Verizon Wireless calling plan or DIRECTV service for $99.99 a month, and Verizon Ultimate Freedom combines all four services for $139.99 a month.

To order high-speed Internet service or a Verizon bundle, consumers can call 800-660-2215 or visit the Web at www.verizon.com.

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 59 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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