Verizon's New High-Fiber 'Diet' for Newport News: Blazing-Fast Data, Crystal-Clear Voice and Video Capability

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Verizon is bringing to Newport News one of the most significant advancements in telecommunications

technology in the past 100 years.

The company today announced it is building a fiber-optic network that will deliver faster data speeds, crystal-clear voice --

and also has the capability to offer a full suite of video services in the future - to residence and small business

customers. The new network initially will be located in parts of the Alpine, Bayberry Harpersville, Bernard Village, Bethel

Industrial Park, Concord Lake, Deer Park Grove, Indigo Lake, Lake Queen Anne, Pine Grove Village, Sierra Park and Tabb Lakes

areas.

The company will seek a franchise agreement from the local authority before offering video service in a selected community.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of the communications network serving these communities," said Robert

W. Woltz Jr., president of Verizon Virginia.

Known as fiber-to-the-premises, or FTTP, the fiber-optic network uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to

directly link homes and businesses to Verizon's network. The new network will unleash a range of advanced communications

services.

"We are building the communications network of the future to provide customers unmatched network reliability, incredible

speed and exciting new options for voice, data and video connections," said Woltz. "Our FTTP project will help

stimulate economic development and enhance these communities as great places to live and do business."

Although the use of fiber optics is common for long-distance and inter-city communications throughout the telecommunications

industry, Verizon is one of the first major telecom companies to begin using it to directly connect homes and businesses to

the network on a widespread scale.

Verizon currently is constructing FTTP networks in more than half the states where it offers landline communications service,

including Virginia.

To help build the network across the country, Verizon has hired between 3,000 and 5,000 new employees this year, including

nearly 200 at its Fiber Solutions Center in Hampton and hundreds more across the state.

"Verizon's fully fiber-optic network is technically superior to other communication platforms because it offers faster

data speeds than currently available, as well as voice and video capability," said David R. Magnant, Verizon vice

president for FTTP deployment in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Customer reaction to Verizon's new fiber-based Internet access service, called FiOS (FYE'-ose), has been very positive, with

broadband subscribers more than doubling in the company's inaugural FiOS market of Keller, Texas, just outside Dallas/Fort

Worth.

FiOS Internet Access services are already available in many Virginia communities. Verizon will notify additional customers

when FiOS is available locally. Customers who want more information on FiOS services can call 888-GET FIOS

(888-438-3467) or visit Verizon's FiOS Web site at www.verizon.net/Fios.

"FiOS has been an extraordinary hit with our first customers. People are literally lining up to get what they know is a

fantastic service at an excellent price," said Magnant. "This is the most significant transformation of the network

that I have witnessed during my career at Verizon."

There are three tiers of Verizon FiOS Internet Service for consumers, with downstream (download) speeds of up to 5, 15 and 30

Mbps (megabits per second).*

• 5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Suited for Internet surfing and basic computer

  functions. $34.95 a month as part of a calling package, or $39.95 a month stand-alone.

• 15 Mbps downstream and 2 Mbps upstream. Appealing to families that have multiple computers and various needs such as

  media downloads and the ability to access or share large files. $44.95 a month as part of a calling package, or $49.95 a

  month stand-alone.

• 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream. Designed for communications-intensive power users with significant bandwidth

  needs, such as telecommuters or work-at-home households and avid online gamers. $179.95 a month as part of a calling package,

  or $199.95 a month stand-alone.

The FTTP initiative represents a natural extension of the more than 10 million miles of fiber-optic cable Verizon already has

in place and extends the high capacity, speed and quality of fiber directly to the customer's doorstep. With FTTP

technology, Verizon can easily add more capacity, higher speeds or video services in the future.

Verizon's digital subscriber line (DSL) service will remain the company's most widely available form of high-speed Internet

access for the foreseeable future while the company ramps up FTTP deployment. The company offers DSL on a widespread basis

throughout Virginia.

*NOTE: Actual (throughput) speeds will 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 49.3

million customers nationwide, and one of the nation's premier wireline networks, serving home, business and wholesale

customers in 28 states. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of nearly 215,000 and generates annual revenues

of more than $71 billion from four business segments: Domestic Telecom, Domestic Wireless, Information Services and

International. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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