Verizon Boosts Broadband Availability in California, Giving More Consumers Access to High-Speed DSL Service

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Verizon has boosted access to its fast, affordable DSL broadband service in California with technology upgrades to more than 180 of the company's network switching centers.

By extending the reach of its DSL service within more than 100 communities it serves in California, Verizon is bringing about 100,000 more consumers a new, competitive choice in broadband. (A complete list of communities is included at the end of this release.)

"The introduction of upgraded technology to the Verizon networks in California allows thousands of our customers who have not had access to DSL in the past to now join the millions of Americans who have already chosen it as their high-speed connection to the Internet," said Tim McCallion, West region president for Verizon.  "We are excited about offering more people a new choice for fast Internet access at an affordable price, with a multitude of services that will help them get the most from their broadband connection."

Verizon has upgraded its DSL technology in more than 1,300 switching centers in 14 states: California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

Consumers in California can visit www.verizon.net/dsl to see if Verizon Online DSL is available to their homes and to order service.  New customers who go online to order consumer DSL 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 $29.99 per month, or a maximum connection speed of up to 768 Kbps downstream and 128 Kbps upstream for just $19.99 per month.

Both plans include 24/7 technical support, a 30-day money-back guarantee, a choice of free Verizon Yahoo! or MSN Premium services,  nine e-mail accounts and 10 MB (megabytes) of personal Web space.  For information about additional DSL plans, consumers can call 1-800-PICK-DSL.

Verizon Online DSL members can make the most of their high-speed connections through access to a variety of great online experiences, including the most extensive collection of online content anywhere from Disney and ESPN Networks. This programming includes live breaking news from ABC News Now, family games and entertainment with Disney Connection, sports action and exclusive game broadcasts from ESPN360, full-screen film trailers and movie news from Movies.com MAX, and original soap opera programming and soap news from SOAPNETIC.

Verizon Online DSL customers also have access to a variety of NFL Network programs, including weekly previews of NFL Network games and off-season programming.

Verizon also has a number of DSL plans that offer excellent value for business customers, with maximum connection speeds ranging from up to 768 Kbps/128 Kbps to up to 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps.   For more information on business DSL offerings, visit www.verizon.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a New York-based Dow 30 company, 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 nearly 57 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.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon's DSL is now available to additional residents of the following communities:

Adelanto, Antelope Valley, Apple Valley, Artesia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Barstow, Beaumont, Bel Air, Bellflower, Big Bear Lake, Bishop, Blossom Hill, Blythe, Bradley, Calimesa, Camarillo, Carpinteria, Claremont, Coachella, Covina, Crestline, Cucamonga, Del Rey, Desert Hot Springs, Diamond Bar, Downey, El Nido, Etiwanda, Farmington, Gilroy, Glendora, Goleta, Granada Hills, Guadalupe, Hemet, Hesperia, Indio, Inyokern, Joshua Tree, La Puente, La Quinta, La Verne, Laguna Beach, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Elsinore, Lake Hughes, Lakeview Terrace, Lancaster, Lathrop, Lenwood, Lindsay, Loma Linda, Lompoc, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Alamos, Los Serranos, Malibu, Manteca, Mar Vista, Marshall, Mecca, Mentone, Monrovia, Morgan Hill, Morongo Valley, Muscoy, Newbury Park, Norwalk, Novato, Ontario, Oxnard, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palos Verdes, Perris, Phelan, Point Mugu, Pomona, Quartz Hill, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Mirage, Reedley, Ridgecrest, Ripon, Rolling Hills, Rowland, San Bernardino, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Jacinto, Sanger, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Paula, Sierra Madre, Somis, Strathmore, Sun City, Sunland, Sylmar, Thousand Oaks, Thousand Palms, Tujunga, Twentynine Palms, Upland, Victorville, Walnut, West Los Angeles, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Wrightwood, Yucaipa, Yucca Valley