Verizon Widens Availability of Its Fastest DSL-Enabled High Speed Internet Service in the Nation's Capital

To satisfy the growing broadband needs of consumers in the District of Columbia, Verizon continues to expand the availability of its fastest High Speed Internet (HSI) service, which delivers Internet download speeds of up to 7.1 megabits per second (Mbps).

Verizon's 7.1 Mbps HSI service - delivered over digital subscriber line (DSL) technology - is available to nearly 13,000 additional households in the downtown and midtown areas, bringing the number of homes in the city that now can order the service to more than 216,000.

"Our competitively priced consumer broadband service delivers tremendous value," said William R. Roberts, Verizon's regional president for Maryland and Washington, D.C.  "The expansion of our fastest Verizon High Speed Internet service, either stand-alone or bundled with Verizon Freedom unlimited local and long-distance calling and DIRECTV, will help consumers keep a handle on their household budgets by providing greater value than what cable companies offer."

New Verizon voice customers can order a triple-play bundle with up to 3 Mbps or 7.1 Mbps* High Speed Internet, DIRECTV® PLUS DVR package and Freedom Essentials (unlimited local and long-distance calling) for just $75 per month for the first three months.**  HSI is free for three months, providing a value-packed bundle at a rate unmatched in the market.  Included in that price are 200 all-digital channels, a free DVR upgrade, Showtime for one year, and thousands of free Verizon Wi-Fi hot spots. 

Pricing in months four through 12 is only $99.99 per month for those selecting the 3 Mbps HSI service and $109.99 per month for 7.1 Mbps.  Double-play bundles with new 3 Mbps or 7.1 Mbps High Speed Internet download speeds are also eligible for the special three-months-free HSI offer.  New Verizon voice customers who order a one-year bundle that includes either the up to 3Mbps/768 Kbps (kilobits per second) service or up to 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps Internet service will receive HSI free for the first three months.  This promotional offer continues through Dec. 31.

"We're helping consumers keep a handle on their household budgets by providing greater value than what cable companies offer," Roberts said.  "Our bundles give consumers High Speed Internet connections perfect for file sharing and sending and receiving large amounts of data; unlimited local and long-distance phone service; plus the all-digital-quality of DIRECTV service."

In addition to the value-priced bundles, Verizon will continue to offer its non-bundled HSI service with a lifetime price guarantee of $19.99 per month for speeds up to 1 Mbps/384 Kbps, $29.99 per month for up to 3 Mbps/768 Kbps, and $39.99 per month for 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps** when consumers sign a one-year agreement.

Verizon High Speed Internet service is the company's most popular and most widely available broadband data service, available to more than 25 million households in parts of 24 states and the District of Columbia.  In D.C., Verizon customers can get High speed Internet service as long as their homes or businesses are located within approximately three miles of the nearest Verizon switching office.

According to PC Magazine's 2008 readers' survey, Verizon High Speed Internet beat the average cable provider's score in reliability, the likelihood of a customer choosing an Internet service provider, as well as the associated costs and fees for the service.

Verizon HSI customers also receive access to an extensive portfolio of value-added services, including 250 MB (megabytes) of free Verizon Online Backup and Sharing, which provides useful disaster-recovery support.

The company's popular Verizon Internet Security Suite (VISS) provides comprehensive online protection from spyware and viruses for as little as $5.99 a month or $9.99 a month for one year and includes a firewall, parental control, pop-up blocker and privacy manager software to help keep customers safe from hackers and phishing attacks.

Customers also can obtain a combination offer of Verizon Online Backup and Sharing and Verizon Internet Security Suite for $8.99 per month.

VISS is the winner of the Info Security Products Guide's 2009 Global Product Excellence in Internet Security Solutions Customer Trust Award, which recognizes VISS as one of the best products for Internet security worldwide.

Verizon also offers its broadband customers free parental controls through VISS and has launched a Parental Control Center offering tips and tools for parents on how to protect their children when they're online.  The center features simple downloading of the parental-control software and tutorials on subjects such as social networking and safe surfing for kids.  Links are available to Web sites for organizations like WiredSafety, the largest cybersafety organization, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Cyber Tipline.  The center is available at www.verizon.net/parentalcontrol.

In addition, customers can protect their home-entertainment and communications investments by subscribing to a comprehensive suite of device protection plans such as Protection Pak Enhanced, which, in cases of a malfunction, cover the repair or replacement of all eligible computers, telephones and TVs in a customer's home, regardless of the device's place of purchase or age.  Coverage is less than $1 a day.

Customers can obtain more information about Verizon's High Speed Internet service by visiting http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/HighspeedInternet/ or by calling 1-800-VERIZON. 

For information about Verizon Small Business HSI service and bundles, visit smallbusiness.verizon.com or call 1-888-481-0387.

* Internet speeds refer to the connection speed between the user's location and Verizon's central office.  Actual Web surfing speeds will vary based on many factors and may be lower than connection speed.

** Plus applicable taxes and fees.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 87 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations provide converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network.  Wireline also includes Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 235,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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