Verizon Invests $600,000 To Better Serve Pennsylvania's Somerset County Customers

TAMPA - Verizon Communications has invested more than $325 million this year to modernize its telecommunications in Florida and provide additional broadband capabilities for its customers in both urban and rural areas, the company announced today. Since 1996, the company has made over $1.5 billion in network improvements in the state.

"There are few industries, if any, in our region investing nearly $1 million per day to keep west central Florida on the leading edge of technology," said John Ferrell, region president, operations, Verizon Florida. "This steady investment, coupled with our dedicated workforce, enables Verizon to provide the best phone service in Florida."

The technical trial involves Verizon employees in the metro Dallas area. Pending the success of this trial, Verizon expects to begin a market trial with selected small businesses in Texas later this summer.

"By integrating voice and data services over one copper line, we will be able to provide small businesses with the telecommunications solutions they want," said Lee Wright, director, marketing management for Verizon. "VoDSL positions Verizon to compete effectively in the small business market place by leveraging our investment in our advanced network. Our extensive experience with DSL allows us to offer small business customers lower cost advanced solutions with the reliability and true voice quality they demand."

Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, New Jersey and CopperCom of Santa Clara, Calif. are providing the infrastructure for the current trial. Lucent is providing its voice and data capable Stinger( DSLAM (digital subscriber line access multiplexer) and total systems integration for the project.. CopperCom is providing the integrated access devices which combine voice and data traffic into packets onto a single DSL line and is equipping central offices with CopperCom gateways.

"We are excited at the opportunity to work with Verizon on this strategically important project," said Stephen Marino, sales director for Lucent Technologies. "By utilizing the Lucent Stinger for its voice and data capabilities, Verizon will strengthen its position as a market leader in Voice over DSL packet services."

"As the first local exchange carrier to provide VoDSL technology, Verizon will be able to competitively offer its subscribers a new level of compelling voice services," said Cynthia Ringo, CopperCom CEO. "Verizon has an aggressive model for delivering robust voice services to small businesses and residences - complementing CopperCom's charter to improve broadband access and offer a new way for service providers to move beyond standardized calling features."
Verizon plans to offer VoDSL commercially later this year.

Verizon Communications

A Fortune 10 company, 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 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third-largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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