Verizon Upgrade Sets Stage for Expanded Broadband Service Availability in Sistersville, W.Va., Area

SISTERSVILLE, W.Va. - Residents along State Route 2, south of Sistersville, will have access to Verizon's High Speed Internet Service by the end of the year as the company invests $305,000 to improve service and provide additional broadband capability in the future.

Verizon is installing fiber-optic cables and new telephone equipment systems at two communications facilities along State Route 2, and high-speed Internet equipment at  the company's main switching station in Sistersville.  These upgrades will improve service reliability and extend the availability of Verizon High Speed Internet service to the majority of customers served by the two facilities.

"This project is another example of Verizon's commitment to deliver a state-of-the-art communications network to our customers throughout West Virginia," said H. Stan Cavendish, president of Verizon West Virginia.  "When this job is complete next year, more customers will have high-speed Internet access and will be able to take advantage of the network for things like work-at-home capabilities, as well as other innovative advanced services." 

Verizon, West Virginia's leading provider of broadband service, has upgraded all of its 142 central switching offices with high-speed DSL (digital subscriber line) technology.  In addition, the company expects to have equipped 270 facilities, predominantly in rural areas, with DSL technology by the end of 2007. 

In addition to deploying the latest technology, Verizon earlier this year introduced several packages that enable customers to bundle a Verizon Freedom calling plan with unlimited calling,  all-digital DIRECTV in-home video service and Verizon High Speed Internet service where available. This provides   additional savings - all on one bill from a name customers trust.

With Verizon Double Freedom, customers can choose Verizon's most popular unlimited calling plan, known as Verizon Freedom Essentials, and combine it with Verizon High Speed Internet service up to 3 Mbps (megabits per second) or with DIRECTV service billed through Verizon.*  Each two-service combination is priced from $74.99 to $79.99 a month, depending on the combination of services purchased. 

Verizon Triple Freedom links a combination of the Freedom Essentials calling plan and Verizon High Speed Internet (up to 3 Mbps) with DIRECTV service for only $104.99 a month.

* NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, 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 more than 62 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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