Verizon Opens Additional Internet Express Lanes in Virginia's Danville Area

DANVILLE, Va. - More consumers and businesses in portions of the Danville area can enjoy the benefits of high-speed Internet access now that Verizon Online has expanded its availability in the community.

Verizon Online digital subscriber line (DSL) service is now available to approximately 4,300 additional lines in the Danville area as the result of the company's most recent upgrade of its local telecommunications network. The locations in which additional DSL-capable lines are available include the South Main Street, South Boston Road, Old Greensboro Highway, West Radio Lane and Locust Lane areas.

Recently, Verizon Online enhanced its DSL service by tripling its upstream speed to 384Kbps (kilobits per second), lowering the cost of its entry-level business service and adding a consumer baseball package (MLB.com) with more than 250 streaming games a month through Verizon's alliance with MSN Premium. Also, Verizon will expand DSL availability with 7 million more DSL lines nationwide in 2004.

"If you've wanted DSL service from us in the past, but it wasn't in your neighborhood, now's the time to check with us on current availability," said Jim Griffith, Verizon's area manager for western Virginia.

Verizon Online DSL with MSN Premium Consumer Offer

Verizon Online offers DSL connection speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 384Kbps (kilobits per second) upstream for consumers. The first month of DSL is free when ordered online. Consumers have a choice of payment plans for their DSL service:

• $29.95 a month as part of a qualifying Verizon package of services
• $34.95 a month for DSL service without a bundle

Verizon Online DSL with MSN Premium service includes:

• A free do-it-yourself installation kit with a DSL modem
• Round-the-clock technical support
• MSN Premium software ($99 annual value) that provides
  • A firewall, virus protection, and pop-up ad guards
  • MLB.com all-access pass to streaming baseball games and other inside baseball information ($99 annual value)
• 9 e-mail accounts
• 10 MB (megabytes) of Web space
• 30-day, money-back guarantee

Customers can be billed for DSL on their monthly Verizon telephone bill or a credit card. Local Verizon telephone customers who want to order DSL service or get more information can go online at www.verizon.net or call Verizon at 1-800-PICK-DSL.

Variety of DSL Packages Available for Businesses

Businesses can choose from a variety of DSL speeds and services tailored specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. In June, Verizon reduced the monthly price of its 1.5Mbps/384Kbps dynamic IP (Internet protocol) DSL for businesses to $59.95 from $89.95 and its static IP DSL to $79.95 from $119.95. Verizon Online DSL for businesses includes:

• 20 MB (megabytes) of Web space that can be used to create an online storefront
• Unlimited dial-up access
• Business-grade e-mail for employees (name@yourbusinessname.com)
• Business-grade technical support available round-the-clock
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• On-time guarantee

Business customers can receive a 20 percent discount on their DSL service if they combine high-speed Internet access with other Verizon services. Additional plans and pricing information are available at http://biz.verizon.net/pands/dsl/. Customers who sign up online receive one month of free service.

Networking Computers with Verizon Online DSL

Verizon Online DSL customers can link multiple computers with a router and create a local area network (LAN) using one DSL connection. A DSL-powered computer LAN would enable multiple employees in a business or family members to share printers, scanners and files. There's no monthly charge for networking two or more computers on the same DSL line.

Verizon Online is a full-service Internet service provider, offering a complete selection of dial-up, DSL and dedicated Internet access services for residential consumers and businesses. Verizon Online DSL service is available in 23 states and the District of Columbia.

Technical Definitions

DSL service generally is available to homes and offices located within approximately three miles of Verizon's local switching center or "central office." Some technical limitations may interfere with the ability of individual telephone lines to get DSL, even when the lines are within three miles of a DSL-equipped central office.

Downstream and upstream speeds describing Verizon Online's DSL services are maximum connection speeds between the customer's computer and Verizon's DSL equipment. Actual connection speeds may vary from the maximum speeds and may be lower than the advertised line rate. Throughput (download and upload) speeds will be lower than connection speeds and vary based on the telephone line's condition and distance from Verizon's central office, home or office wiring and the server or router speed of sites visited on the Internet, among other factors.

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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