Local Morristown, New Jersey, Resident Wins Honors From Verizon Wireless

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Hunterdon County resident Mark Taylor, a switch technician for Verizon Wireless, has received the company's President's Award for Excellence which recognizes employees for exceptional teamwork, leadership and outstanding customer service.

Taylor was honored for his role in activating more than 60 new cell sites and a new switching office in metropolitan New York to offer Verizon Wireless customers the most reliable service in the area. The build-out was part of a multi-billion dollar investment by the company over the past two years to improve and extend the reach of the Verizon Wireless nationwide network and to stay ahead of the strong demand for the company's voice and data services. Verizon Wireless added a record 1.4 million net new customers during the first three months of 2004, more than any other wireless carrier. Last year, the company added 5 million new customers, also a Verizon Wireless milestone.

Taylor was one of a seven-member team in the company's Network department to receive the President's Award for Excellence.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation's leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 39 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.

####