Verizon Earns FCC Approval To Offer Long-Distance Service to New Jersey

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

New Jersey becomes the eighth state in the Northeast where Verizon has received the approval required by the federal Telecommunications Act to offer long-distance service. The company said it expects to roll out its long-distance offering in the state within the next several weeks.

"Garden State consumers are already beginning to see an increased level of competition as we have drawn closer to the approval for Verizon to begin offering long distance," said Dennis M. Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey. "Consumers here are seeing new packages being offered in the telecommunications marketplace, just as it has happened in state after state, when we are allowed to offer our competitive long-distance plans. Competitors not only answer Verizon's entry into the long-distance market with their own long-distance offerings, but renew their attack on the local markets as well. And, consumers are the big winners."

"With this ruling, New Jersey consumers and businesses will be able to get a complete complement of telecommunications services from Verizon, a company they know and trust," Bone said. "Until now, only our competitors could offer the whole range of their telecommunications services - from local to regional calling, long-distance and data services. With this approval the competitive landscape changes dramatically."

"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."

New Jersey will bring to 44 the number of states in which Verizon offers long-distance service. Verizon recently announced that it had 8.2 million long-distance customers and is the country's fourth largest long-distance company.

With the New Jersey approval, Verizon is now able to offer long distance to nearly three-fourths of the former Bell Atlantic telephone lines, more than any other of the Bell companies. Verizon this year plans to ask the FCC for approval to offer long-distance in the remaining former Bell Atlantic states of New Hampshire, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Verizon Communications

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 133.8 million access line equivalents and approximately 29.6 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and nearly 248,000 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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