Verizon Names Allan Thoms to New Public Policy Position for Company's Northwest Region

IRVING, Texas - Verizon has named Allan Thoms, chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) for the past six years, to the newly created position of vice president - Public Policy and External Affairs for Verizon's Northwest Region.

Thoms, 63, will be responsible for regulatory, governmental and external affairs matters for Verizon in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. He will join the company Oct. 29 and will be based in the Northwest.

"Allan brings a wealth of leadership and telecommunications experience to Verizon," said Steve Banta, group president - Southwest and Northwest Regions for Verizon. "Allan has been a leader on telecommunications issues at the state and federal level for years and is uniquely positioned to represent the public policy needs that are important to Verizon and its customers. We couldn't be more pleased that an individual with Allan's experience will be joining our team."

Thoms currently holds several key posts with the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), including membership on the board of directors, executive committee and board of trustees, treasurer, and co-vice chair of the Committee on Telecommunications. He also represents NARUC as vice chair of the board of directors of the Federal Communications Commission Universal Service Administrative Company. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities.

Thoms was director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development from 1986 to 1994. He was appointed chairman of the IUB in April 1995 and held that post until last week when resigned to accept the Verizon appointment.

He also has held various executive-level positions with Dubuque Packing Company, Rowley Interstate Transportation Company and the Dubuque Bank and Trust Company.

An Iowa native, Thoms is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law and the Wisconsin School of Banking. He and his wife Mary will relocate to the Northwest soon.

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 125 million access line equivalents and approximately 28 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with about 260,000 employees and more than $65 billion in annual 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.