Verizon Comments on Rulings by Venezuela's National Securities Commission on CANTV Proposed Repurchase Offer

NEW YORK -- Verizon Communications today commented on last Friday's rulings by the Venezuelan National Securities

Commission (CNV) approving CANTV's proposed 15 percent share repurchase. CANTV's shareholders will vote on the program

and on a proposed special dividend at a special meeting in Caracas on Wednesday.

"We applaud the CNV for approving CANTV's proposed repurchase program," said Michael T. Masin, vice chairman

and president of Verizon. "The CNV ruling will result in shareholders having a clear choice between the AES offer --

which the CANTV Board of Directors has unanimously rejected -- and CANTV's own share repurchase and special dividend

proposals."

The CNV also issued a ruling concerning VenWorld Telecom C.A.'s participation in CANTV's proposed share repurchase plan.

Verizon intends to comply with the ruling and will discuss its implementation with the CNV. Verizon owns approximately

75 percent of VenWorld.

Investors and security holders are urged to read the solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed with

the Securities Exchange Commission by Verizon Communications Inc. on October 10, 2001 and subsequent filings amending and

supplementing the solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9, because they contain important information.

Verizon filed this statement in accordance with SEC requirements that any shareholder of a company subject to a tender

offer who makes a solicitation or recommendation regarding that offer file the solicitation and recommendation with the

SEC. Verizon beneficially owns, directly and through its affiliates, including through VenWorld Telecom, C.A., shares of

CANTV, employees of Verizon and its subsidiaries serve as executive officers and directors of CANTV and Verizon and its

subsidiaries are parties with CANTV to a services agreement and similar agreements and arrangements, all as discussed on

Verizon's solicitation/recommendation statement on 14D-9. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the

solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 and other documents filed by Verizon (when they are available) at

www.sec.gov.

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 125 million access line

equivalents and more than 28 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world.

A Fortune 10 company with about 260,000 employees and approximately $65 billion in annual revenues, 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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