Verizon Online Introduces High-Speed Internet Access in Parkersburg

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Verizon Online soon will raise the online speed limit in much of Parkersburg with the introduction of super-fast digital subscriber line (DSL) Internet access service for consumers and businesses. Gale Given, president of Verizon West Virginia, announced the new offering today in a speech before the Parkersburg Rotary Club.

"DSL provides customers with the speed they need to take full advantage of the Internet, whether they use it for their small business and telecommuting or for online shopping and downloading videos," Given said. "The demand for Verizon Online DSL service has been tremendous. Our customers in Parkersburg will enjoy the benefits of a lightning-fast Internet connection."

Verizon has already introduced DSL in Charleston, Clarksburg, Huntington and Morgantown.

"Our customers in those communities are very enthusiastic about the service," Given said.

Verizon customers will need to check availability on their individual line before placing an order. They can do that online at www.verizon.net or by calling Verizon toll-free at 1-800-567-6789.

Two Internet DSL Packages Give Consumers Great Choice

Verizon Online offers two DSL packages for consumers. One, priced at $49.95 a month, provides a maximum speed of 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) downstream. The other package, costing $59.95 a month, provides speeds up to 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second). Verizon Online's DSL packages for consumers include 10 MB (megabytes) of Web storage, 10 MB of e-mail storage and four e-mail boxes. Charges for the service appear on a customer's monthly Verizon telephone bill.

Verizon periodically offers special promotions for DSL. Under a current promotion, residential customers who sign up for Verizon Online DSL's $49.95 package before Dec.19, 2002, get their first three months of service for $29.95, with no annual commitment required, a free installation kit with modem and a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Consumers with more than one PC or laptop can buy a Verizon home networking gateway to connect those computers. The gateway enables computers to share one DSL line anywhere in the house and provides a built-in firewall for added security.

Verizon Online DSL for Business Customers

Verizon Online also offers a wide selection of DSL products and services to meet the broadband needs of small and medium-size businesses. There are seven packages ranging from maximum connections speeds of 768 Kbps downstream/128 Kbps upstream to 7.1 Mbps downstream/768 Kbps upstream. Prices range from $49.95 to $204.95 a month.

The business packages include six domain name e-mailboxes, domain name registration or transfer, and DNS (Domain Name System). Verizon Online also offers routers that allow small and medium-size businesses to connect multiple computers to a single DSL line.

For a limited time, Verizon Online is offering new business DSL customers a choice of two rebates on the $180 Linksys wireless router (model BEFW11S4). New DSL business customers who order the basic DSL service with 768Kbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream will get a $100 rebate. Businesses ordering any DSL plans with connection speeds of up to 1.5Mbps or above will receive a full $180 rebate for the wireless router.

Technical Definitions

DSL service generally is available to homes and offices located within approximately three miles of Verizon's local switching center or "central office." Some technical limitations may block DSL from individual telephone lines, even when located within the three-mile radius of a DSL-equipped central office.

Downstream and upstream speeds describing Verizon Online's DSL services are maximum connection speeds between the customer's computer and Verizon's DSL equipment. Actual connection speeds will vary from the maximum speeds and often will be lower. Throughput or download speeds will be lower than connection speed and vary based on telephone line condition and distance from Verizon's central office, PC configuration, home or office wiring and the server or router speed of sites visited on the Internet, among other factors.

Verizon Online is a full-service Internet service provider, offering dial-up, DSL and dedicated Internet access services for residential consumers and small and medium-size businesses. Dial-up and dedicated Internet access from Verizon Online is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. DSL Internet access services are available in 28 states and the District. Verizon Online also offers businesses a selection of Web hosting and business e-mail services across the country.

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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