Verizon Business Helps Federal, State and Local Agencies Prepare to Maintain Government Operations in Mock Disaster Demonstration

CHARLESTON, W.Va., and ARLINGTON, Va. - Verizon Business is demonstrating its ability to provide security and communications assistance to federal, state and local emergency response officials in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas, in the event of a disaster.

A Verizon Business mobile communication vehicle is participating in the Spring Ahead 2009 emergency response demonstrations to be held on May 19 in Charleston, W.Va., and on May 21 at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.  Numerous federal, state and local agencies and private-sector organizations are participating in the demonstrations, which help prepare government agencies and private organizations to maintain continuity of government operations in the event of an actual disaster. 

The Spring Ahead 2009 demonstration includes a series of eight disaster scenarios staged across the nation that involve planning for the relocation of essential government personnel from city centers to secure locations, via air, water and land transport. Included in the planning are: mobile communications, issuing just-in-time credentials, routine and emergency access to seaports, and evacuation of citizens.

From its mobile communications vehicle, Verizon Business will provide identity credentialing service, as well as state-of-the art voice, satellite and Internet connections.

"A disaster - natural or manmade - can strike any time, any place," said Blair Crump, group president of worldwide sales for Verizon Business. "In the event of a disaster, making sure that the government and emergency response officials remain up and running is essential.  With our advanced communications and security services, delivered from our state-of-the-art mobile command centers, Verizon Business can respond immediately to help provide on-site support for the identification and relocation of key government employees."

Verizon Business, working with other industry partners, will issue smart credentials to allow emergency response officials to electronically confirm, quickly and easily, the identities of essential government personnel.  In an actual disaster, it is vital that the identification of key personnel is quickly and accurately verified so they can be directed to the appropriate areas for relocation. 

The identity credentials issued by Verizon Business are interoperable with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201.  FIPS 201 was developed to support Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), the presidential mandate establishing common identification requirements for federal executive branch employees and contractors.  FIPS 201-interoperable smart credentials enable federal employees and contractors to gain access to the appropriate physical and information systems.  

Emergency Response Mobile Communications

The credentialing will be handled by one of Verizon Business' state-of-the-art mobile communications vehicles, which are equipped with individual telephone stations using wired voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) telephones, and wired and wireless high-speed access for laptops. When the vehicles are deployed, users can make local, long-distance and international phone calls or access the Internet, via satellite technology, connecting to the Verizon Business global Internet Protocol network. 

The command centers are available for use by Verizon customers - including government entities and large and small businesses - for mobile communications in both emergency and nonemergency situations. (Note: For more information on Verizon Business' Emergency Response Mobile Communications Service, see companion news release here.)

Among many other deployments, the vehicles have been used to support relief efforts along the Gulf Coast in 2005 following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; in New York City following the September 11, 2001, attacks; in Southern California during the 2003 and 2007 wildfires; and in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the federal building there in 1995.  The vehicles have also been deployed to provide enhanced communications services to thousands of U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq. 

Earlier this month, Verizon Business announced that a new 51-foot mobile command center joined the company's emergency response fleet. The state-of-the-art command center features the latest and most sophisticated communications equipment, with ample space for company employees, public officials and other emergency responders during events that affect Verizon's communications network in the U.S. (See Verizon Business recent announcements on its emergency communications capabilities and business continuity solutions.)

Security Solutions Help Government Agencies, Enterprises Tackle Most-Pressing Security Challenges

Verizon Business, the largest provider of communications services to the U.S. federal government, serves virtually every federal agency.  Government agencies and businesses rely on Verizon Business to help them manage security risk and protect critical assets. The company's robust portfolio includes governance risk and compliance solutions, data loss and prevention solutions, identity management solutions, and managed security services. The company's more than 1,100 security professionals around the globe deliver these offerings through a range of managed services, professional services and technologies, based on what best suits the customer. More information is available by visiting: http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/products/security.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a global leader in communications and IT solutions. We combine professional expertise with the world's most connected IP network to deliver award-winning communications, IT, information security and network solutions. We securely connect today's extended enterprises of widespread and mobile customers, partners, suppliers and employees - enabling them to increase productivity and efficiency and help preserve the environment. Many of the world's largest businesses and governments - including 96 percent of the Fortune 1000 and thousands of government agencies and educational institutions - rely on our professional and managed services and network technologies to accelerate their business. Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

####