Verizon Earns FCC Approval To Offer Long-Distance Service to Consumers in Delaware, New Hampshire

WASHINGTON -- Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) today received approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to offer long-distance service in Delaware and New Hampshire.

They are the ninth and tenth states in the Northeast where Verizon has the approval required by the federal Telecommunications Act to offer long-distance service. Verizon can now offer long-distance in 46 states, which have approximately 83 percent of the phone lines served by the company nationwide.

"Consumers throughout the Northeast are reaping the full benefits of competition because Verizon has been allowed to offer our competitive long-distance plans," said Tom Tauke, Verizon senior vice president of public policy and external affairs. "Competitors answer Verizon's entry into the long-distance market with their own long-distance offerings and accelerate their entry in the local markets as well. Soon, those benefits also will be available to consumers in Delaware and New Hampshire."

"Verizon will offer a surprise-free menu of long-distance services that provide great value -- particularly for consumers not currently subscribing to a long-distance plan," said Maura Breen, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Retail Markets. "We plan to help our customers harness the power of telecommunications with one supplier, one bill and easy-to-understand service packages designed to meet their unique calling needs."

Verizon has nine million long-distance customers and is the country's fourth largest long-distance company.

Verizon also has a pending long-distance application for Virginia that the FCC must rule on by Oct. 30. Later this year, the company plans to ask the FCC for approval to offer long-distance in Maryland, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. -- the three remaining jurisdictions of the former Bell Atlantic service area where the company is not yet authorized to provide long-distance.

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 135.1 million access line equivalents and 30.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 241,000 employees, 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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