Verizon to Make Broadband Available to 80 Percent of Its Vermont Customers

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Vermont Public Service Board today approved a Verizon plan to expand the availability of broadband services to 80 percent of the company's customers in the state by 2010.

The plan, developed by Verizon and the Vermont Department of Public Service, amends Verizon's Incentive Regulation Plan ordered by the board in September. Under the amended plan, Verizon may meet the broadband commitments using DSL technology or other wireline or wireless technologies.

"I'm delighted we were able to work closely and intensively with the department to come up with a comprehensive plan that the board could approve," said Pamela Porell, vice president of Verizon Vermont. "This commitment to broadband builds on our aggressive investment last year, when the company doubled the number of communities where DSL was available in the state. Now, many more Vermont residence and business customers will have an affordable broadband option from Verizon."

Verizon plans to make Verizon Online DSL available in all of its Vermont local switching centers or central offices, bringing the number of offices where DSL is available to 88. DSL service generally is available to homes and offices located within approximately three miles of Verizon's local central office. Verizon will also make DSL available in more neighborhoods beyond the traditional limits of the central office by using fiber cable and electronic technology.

Verizon Online DSL service features a variety of prices and speeds, including a consumer DSL service that's priced lower than many dial-up plans. For $17.99 per month, subscribers who sign up for a year can access the Web at connection speeds up to 768 kilobits per second (Kbps) downstream and 128 Kbps upstream.*

Verizon Online DSL customers can also get blazing-fast Internet connections at a maximum speed of 3 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 768 Kbps upstream for $21.95 per month for the first three months and $29.95 per month thereafter. In addition, Verizon has a number of DSL plans for business customers.

Verizon Online DSL customers also have a choice of Web portals featuring a wide array of content, such as online security, entertainment and multiple mail accounts at no additional charge. To order Verizon Online DSL, or to check whether it's available at a specific home or business, customers should check online at www.verizon.net or call Verizon at 1-800-PICK-DSL.

* Note: actual throughput speeds may vary.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, is a leader in delivering broadband and other communication innovations to wireline and wireless customers. Verizon operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million customers nationwide; one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks; and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of approximately 250,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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