Verizon Online Introduces High-Speed Internet Access in Beckley

BECKLEY, W.Va. - Verizon Online is raising the speed limit in Beckley with the introduction of super-fast digital subscriber line (DSL) service for consumers and businesses.

Verizon is offering the high-speed Internet access service to customers whose telephone numbers begin with the following prefixes: 250, 252, 253, 254, 255 and 256. Local Verizon telephone customers can order the service online at www.verizon.net or by calling Verizon at 1-877-483-6006.

"DSL provides customers with the speed they need to take full advantage of the Internet, whether they use it for their small business, telecommuting or for online shopping or downloading video clips," said Gale Given, president of Verizon West Virginia. "The demand for Verizon Online DSL service has been tremendous. Now, our Beckley customers also can enjoy the benefits of turbo-charged Internet access."

Verizon Online's DSL service is already available in a number of West Virginia communities, including Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Huntington, Morgantown and Parkersburg.

Verizon Online DSL Offers Choice of DSL Speeds and Prices

Verizon Online offers consumers three DSL plans with increasing speeds and bandwidth. New customers can choose from a month-to-month plan or pay a lower monthly fee with a one-year commitment. The entry-level package is the most popular offering, providing maximum speeds of up to 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) downstream and 128 Kbps upstream. The price is $39.95 a month for consumers who sign a one-year contract. Without a contract, DSL is available for $29.95 for the first three months and then $49.95 a month thereafter. The first month of service is free for new customers who order the entry-level package online at www.verizon.net.

Consumers who send and receive large attachments, telecommute or maintain a personal Web site can get additional bandwidth and speed by choosing the mid-level package, with 1.5 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 128 Kbps upstream, for $59.95 monthly.

Verizon's premium DSL package offers a lightning-fast 1.5 Mbps maximum downstream connection speed and 384 Kbps upstream for $79.95 a month.

All Verizon Online DSL packages for consumers include a free do-it-yourself installation kit with a DSL modem, 10 MB (megabytes) of Web storage, 10 MB of e-mail storage and four e-mail boxes. Customers can be billed for the service via their monthly telephone bill or on a credit card. All packages come with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

Home Networking

Consumers with more than one computer at home can buy a wireless or wired router to link their computers. A router enables customers to share one DSL connection anywhere in the house and provides a built-in firewall for added security.

Verizon Online DSL for Business Customers

Verizon Online offers seven DSL packages to meet the broadband needs of small and medium-size businesses. The packages range from speeds of 768Kbps downstream and 128Kbps upstream up to 7.1Mbps downstream and 768Kbps upstream. Prices range from $59.95 to $204.95 a month.

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

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." Technical limitations could block DSL from individual telephone lines, 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 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 27 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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