Verizon Communications Applauds Federal Court Ruling Upholding FCC New York Long Distance Approval

BACKGROUND -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today unanimously rejected an appeal by AT&T to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) approval of Bell Atlantic's (now part of Verizon Communications) application to sell long distance to New Yorkers. The following statement can be attributed to Michael Glover, Verizon senior vice president and deputy general counsel. Glover argued the case for Verizon.

STATEMENT: "Today's federal court decision once again rejects AT&T's ceaseless efforts to seek government protection for its long distance market and keep customers from receiving the benefits of competition. Hundreds of thousands of New York consumers and businesses are already benefiting from the lower prices and easier-to understand long distance services that came with our entry into long distance.

"This decision reaffirms that local competition is strong in New York, and it lays the foundation to obtain long distance relief in other states. It is long past time for consumers and businesses in states like Massachusetts, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to also have the opportunity to start saving money and understanding their long distance calling plans with Verizon long distance."

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ), formed by the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, 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 95 million access lines and 25 million wireless customers. A Fortune 10 company with more than 260,000 employees and approximately $60 billion in 1999 revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.