Verizon Offers Expanded Local Calling Plans To Customers in 21 Additional Ohio Communities

MARION, Ohio --Verizon customers in 21 additional Ohio communities can now take advantage of three new optional calling plans that increase the number of communities they can call without paying long-distance charges. Depending upon which option a customer selects, calls that were once considered long-distance would be priced at a flat rate or at a low rate of 5 cents per minute.

The new calling plans are available to Verizon customers in Baltic, Beach City, Berlin, Bolivar, Brewster, Carrollton, Dellroy, East Rochester, Hanoverton, Harlem Springs, Malvern, Mechanicstown, Mineral City, Minerva, New Philadelphia, North Georgetown, Paris, Strasburg, Sugarcreek, Wilmot and Winona.

"These new options give customers more flexibility to save money on calls they place to nearby communities," said Jack Kennedy, president, Verizon Ohio.

Customers interested in the benefits of these new offerings may choose from three different plans to fit their particular needs. Charges for the plans are in addition to customers' current monthly local service rates.

Verizon Select Access: For an additional $1 per month, customers can continue to place calls within their current local calling area at current flat rates and can call additional regional communities for 5 cents a minute, 24 hours a day, every day.

Verizon Favorite Access: Customers can make unlimited calls to an expanded number of communities (roughly within a 20-mile radius) for a flat monthly rate and can call other nearby communities for 5 cents a minute. Residential customers will pay an additional $12 monthly for this plan, and single-line business customers will pay an additional $30 monthly.

Verizon Best Access: Customers can make unlimited calls to an expanded number of communities included in a customer's local calling area and receive 60 hours of calling each month for calls to additional communities. If customers exceed their 60 hours, calls are priced at 5 cents per minute. Residential customers will pay an additional $20 per month for this plan; single-line business customers will pay an additional $50 per month.

Verizon is now mailing complete details about the new calling plans. To subscribe to one of the new plans, customers should complete and return the form included with the mailing. Customers who do not select a plan will retain their current local service plan and pricing.

Residential customers also can call Verizon toll-free at 1-800-483-4000. Business customers should call 1-800-483-5000.

Verizon is offering these expanded local calling plans in phases to customers in all of its 244 Ohio exchanges over the next two years. The plans will be available to all Ohio customers by May 2004.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 132.1 million access line equivalents and 29.4 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 247,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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