Verizon to Expand Broadband Service in Vermont

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. - To meet the growing demand for high-speed broadband services in the state, Verizon will double the number of Vermont communities where Verizon Online DSL (digital subscriber line) service is available.

Verizon in August introduced its DSL service in Brandon and Vergennes. The company plans to add 26 more communities by next spring, bringing to 56 the number of Verizon local switching centers in the state that are equipped to provide broadband using DSL.

Gov. Jim Douglas said the deployment of advanced telecommunications services, specifically high-speed broadband and quality wireless services, is critical to Vermont's economic future and a central component of his job creation agenda. "Verizon's announcement of DSL expansion is an encouraging step and will aid tremendously in achieving my goal of affordable access to broadband for 90 percent of Vermonters by 2007," he said.

Polly Brown, Northern New England regional president for Verizon, said, "Verizon's goal is to bring DSL service to our customers as quickly as possible. We listened to the governor's objectives and incorporated them into our investment plans where economically and technically feasible."

Verizon Online DSL will become available to additional Vermont communities in Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham and Windsor counties.

"This expansion will bring DSL service to rural areas like the Northeast Kingdom as well as many communities that currently lack affordable broadband options," said Pamela Porell, vice president for Verizon Vermont. "Verizon Online DSL has created one of the best overall values in broadband today, with content, speed and great service at a very affordable price."

Verizon Online DSL service is available for as low as $29.95 per month.

Since introducing Verizon Online DSL in Vermont in 2000, the company has expanded the service's availability and capabilities while lowering the price.

Recent enhancements to Verizon Online DSL include:
• A new, higher-speed option for consumer DSL service, with a maximum connection speed of 3Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 768Kbps (kilobits per second) upstream for qualifying customers

• Tripling to 384Kbps the upstream speed, and doubling to 1.5 Mbps the downstream speed, of the entry-level DSL offering for qualifying customers

• Lowering the entry-level DSL price to $34.95 a month for stand-alone service or $29.95 a month when purchased as part of a package of local and long-distance calling services

• Offering to Verizon DSL customers -- at no additional charge -- MSN Premium, which includes critical tools like firewalls, virus protection and parental controls.

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 interfere with the ability of individual telephone lines to get DSL, even when the lines are within three miles 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 may vary from the maximum speeds and may be lower than the advertised line rate. Throughput (download and upload) speeds will be lower than connection speeds and vary based on the telephone line's condition and distance from Verizon's central office, home or office wiring and the server or router speed of sites visited on the Internet, among other factors.

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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