Verizon Investing $1.4 Million To Better Serve Pennsylvania's Eastern Montgomery County Customers

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - Verizon customers in eastern Montgomery County will soon have improved communications as the result of a $1.4 million investment the company is making in its Jenkintown and Fort Washington call-switching centers.

Verizon is expanding computer data banks at the two facilities to increase reliability and capacity in the Verizon network. These systems will triple the current storage capacity for telephone numbers and other data and will provide redundancy in the Verizon telecommunications network to avoid service disruptions. The systems also will support Pennsylvania's competitive local telecommunications market by enabling customers who switch telephone companies to keep their current phone numbers. The company plans to complete the project by the end of the third quarter.

In addition to this investment, Verizon continues to install fiber-optic cable throughout the commonwealth. Fiber-optic systems use hair-thin glass fibers and digital technology to deliver high-quality telephone service along with sophisticated data communications services. Verizon Pennsylvania ranks fourth among the nation's local telephone companies in fiber-optic cable installed in its network, according to reports compiled by the Federal Communications Commission.

"The Montgomery County project underlines Verizon's commitment to build and maintain a state-of-the-art telecommunications network throughout Pennsylvania," said James V. O'Rourke, president of Verizon Pennsylvania. "We continue to upgrade our infrastructure to provide rural, suburban and urban customers with better quality service, as well as the platform for high-speed access to the Internet, work-at-home capabilities and a host of other innovative services."

Verizon has invested approximately $7.6 billion in its telecommunications network across the commonwealth over the last nine years.

"We are building an advanced telecommunications network that will stimulate job and income growth and will make Pennsylvania one of the most attractive locations for corporations and individuals," O'Rourke said.

In addition to deploying the latest technology, Verizon Pennsylvania offers a complete range of telecommunications services, including local, regional and long-distance calling, as well as high-speed data and Internet and wireless services. The Verizon Freedom^sm bundle of services offers the convenience of one bill and very attractive discounts for customers who subscribe to several Verizon services.

"The level of telecom competition in Pennsylvania today is unprecedented," said O'Rourke. "Competition and Verizon's entry into the long-distance market have benefited consumers, who now can choose from many providers for all their communications needs."

Verizon Communications

A Fortune 10 company, 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 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third-largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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