Verizon Business Takes Aim on Texas Hunting and Fishing Licenses

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has extended its contract with Verizon Business under which the company provides a state-of the art, automated system for processing hunting and fishing licenses in the Lone Star State. 

The five-year extension runs through the end of August 2013 and is valued at about $15 million.  The initial contract was signed in September 2000 and was extended in 2003 to run through August 2008.

Verizon Business provides the network architecture, data hosting and customized database applications for the system, which allows licenses to be sold across Texas.  This wide area network serves more than 1,900 retail license sales agents and generates some $87 million annually in revenue for the state. 

"Through the use of Verizon Business' system, millions of  hunters and anglers can buy resident and non-resident hunting and fishing licenses 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Alex Coleman, group president for Verizon Business' government and education organization.  "This is another way that Verizon Business is helping the state of Texas and others across the country use technology for everyday needs and making it easier for residents to do business with those states."

Through the Texas License Connection (TLC) System, hunting and fishing licenses can be sold through sales agents, over the phone or via the Internet. Verizon Business' customized Web-enabled application allows applicants to electronically purchase hunting and fishing licenses and access license information via the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

This system quickly updates the central database with the latest information on hunters and anglers, including all point-of-sale, Internet and telephone license sales. Each point-of-sale terminal captures, edits and forwards information about customers, license purchases and related data.

In addition, Verizon Business provides help desk support for license sales agents across the state. The system has proven to be extremely reliable, managing the peak license sales period with a high degree of efficiency.  The system generates more than 3 million transactions per year, including the sale of 164 distinct license types.

For its effort developing this turnkey service for the Parks and Wildlife Department, the company won a Best of Solutions award at the 2004 Southwest Government Technology Conference.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department manages and protects wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as parklands and historic areas in the state.

In addition to Texas, Verizon Business supports wildlife data management systems in Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New York, and Virginia. Verizon Business is one of the largest providers of advanced data, Internet and voice communications services in the United States and around the world.  Verizon Business offers local-to-global-to-local network capabilities coupled with a broad range of telecommunications products and services, including managed network services and systems integration, to all levels of government. Verizon Business' Government and Education organization offers state and local agencies and institutions of primary and higher education one-stop shopping for their communications or connectivity needs. The company has built the next-generation services that are helping to transform the way state and federal government customers -- and their constituents -- do business.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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