New, Unprecedented Internet Speeds Now Available From Verizon for Customers in Tampa, Fla., Region

TAMPA, Fla. - Customers in parts of Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota, Manatee and Pinellas counties can access even more Internet speed with the introduction of two new Verizon FiOS Internet packages.  Though available speeds increase, Verizon is not changing the price.

Verizon, providing FiOS services on the nation's most advanced digital all-fiber-optic network, is raising the maximum connection speed of its fastest FiOS Internet service for consumers from up to 30 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream/5 Mbps upstream to up to 50 Mbps/5 Mbps, while reducing the price for this super-fast service level.  In addition, customers choosing Verizon's mid-level FiOS Internet Service will get speeds pumped from up to 15 Mbps downstream/2 Mbps upstream to up to 20 Mbps/5 Mbps - with no price change.  The company's up to 5 Mbps/2 Mbps service is also available to consumers.

"These new speeds offer connection speeds that are more than three times faster than currently available top-speed cable offerings, and are the fastest consumer Internet offerings in the state," said Alan Ciamporcero, Verizon's Southeast region president. "Verizon is the only major Internet service provider that delivers the speed and power of fiber optics directly to homes.  This allows customers to confidently download full-screen standard or high-def movies in minutes and MP3 files in seconds.  They can play networked games with low to virtually no latency, share broadband service among multiple users, and send and receive e-mails in an instant.

"Verizon FiOS Internet service provides consumers the choices in speed and price that allow them to make the high-speed connections that are important to them," said Ciamporcero.  "Our customers have the security of knowing that FiOS services are backed by Verizon's world-class network and 24/7 customer service."

Speeds for small businesses have been increased as follows: up to 15 Mbps/2 Mbps is now up to 20 Mbps/5 Mbps; up to 5 Mbps/5 Mbps is now up to 35 Mbps/10 Mbps; and up to 30 Mbps/5 Mbps is now up to 50 Mbps/10 Mbps, all with no price increase.  The high-end 10 Mbps upstream connection speed for small businesses is unprecedented in the market.  This speed will boost the flow of information among multiple users and facilitate streaming video for product demonstrations or workforce training.  Verizon's Static IP service is an ideal business solution for videoconferencing, Web hosting and running Web cameras for surveillance.  With a broadband maximum downstream connection speed of 50 Mbps, small-business customers, such as an architectural firm or a physician's office, can e-mail a set of blueprints or download large medical images in just seconds instead of minutes.  Additionally, barriers for sharing video clips are greatly reduced - for example, a one-hour video file can be downloaded in less than ten seconds.

For Consumers, Paramount Service and Speeds

In the Tampa Bay area, Verizon now offers more than 400,000 households three Verizon FiOS Internet service options, all of which include a free wireless broadband router, 2 GB (gigabytes) e-mail folder storage, anti-virus and spam protection, 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 live technical support.

• Up to 5 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream - Suited for Internet surfing and basic computer functions. $39.99 a month. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.

• Up to 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2) - Appealing for families that have multiple computers and various needs such as multi-media and accessing and sending large files. $49.99 a month. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.
• Up to 50 Mbps downstream and 5Mbps upstream (increased from 30/5) - Designed for communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth needs and multiple users, such as telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $139.95 with a one-year agreement - reduced from $179.95; or $159.95 month to month, reduced from $199.95. One-year agreement includes free professional installation and configuration of primary PC or laptop.

Residential customers who want to determine whether they can order FiOS Internet Service can call 888-GET FIOS (888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.com/fios.

Small Businesses Can Get Big-Biz Speeds

FiOS Internet Service for small businesses is available as part of a bundle of local and long-distance calling services from Verizon, in some areas with DIRECTV, or as a stand-alone Internet access service.  Small-business customers can receive free professional installation for their primary computer, plus a 10 percent to 20 percent discount off their standard monthly rate with a qualifying local-calling service package, if the one-bill option is selected.

Small-business owners can choose from new increased speeds with either a dynamic Internet protocol (IP) address or static IP address:

• Up to 20 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream (increased from 15/2), for $59.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $99.95 a month with up to five static IP addresses.

• Up to 35 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream (increased from 5/5), for $169.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $209.95 with up to five static IP addresses.
• Up to 50 Mbps downstream and 10 Mbps upstream (increased from 30/5), for $349.95 a month with a dynamic IP address and $389.95 a month with up to five static IP addresses.

FiOS Internet services for business now offer free Internet Security Suite for 1 PC ($4.95/month value) and free annual Domain Name Registration for one domain name (a $35 value) on qualifying packages.  Companies also receive 24x7 business-grade technical support. Plus, qualifying packages include up to 15 domain name e-mail addresses (yourname@yourbusiness.com), 20 MB (megabytes) of Web space and unlimited remote dial-up access that keeps employees connected when they're on the road.  A one-year contract is required for all FiOS business packages. More static IP addresses are available for an additional fee.

Small businesses can call 877-FIOS BIZ (877-346-7249) to determine if they qualify for FiOS Internet Service for Business or visit www.verizon.com/fiosinternet/ for more information and current promotions.

In some areas, Verizon offers FiOS TV services to consumers over its advanced, fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network - the only network that currently brings fiber-optic technology directly to homes and businesses on a widespread scale.  The company is currently building its FTTP network in areas served by more than 28 switching centers in Florida where the company offers landline communications services.  Verizon will expand its construction efforts in 2007 to areas served by 11 additional switching centers in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee and Sarasota counties to extend the FTTP network to more homes and businesses in those counties.  Verizon's 50 Mbps service will be available to virtually the entire fiber network as currently installed and with future fiber deployments.  A small number of calling areas, primarily new construction deployments, will have the 50 Mbps service available to them by mid-year.

All speeds reflect initial connections between a computer and Verizon's switching centers.  Actual throughput speeds will vary based on numerous factors, including network and Internet congestion and the speed of Web sites visited on the Internet.

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 59 million customers nationwide.  Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which operates one of the most expansive wholly owned global IP networks, and Verizon Telecom, which is deploying the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 242,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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