James Earl Jones -- Voice of Verizon Coming to Palisades Mall on Saturday

NEW YORK -- James Earl Jones, legendary actor and the voice of Verizon, will read ''The Lion King'' and sign
autographs Saturday afternoon, March 24, at the Palisades Mall in West Nyack.

Jones was the voice of King Mufasa in Walt Disney Pictures' ''The Lion King.'' He will be reading at the Lifetime
main stage at 2 p.m.

Jones is appearing on behalf of Verizon Long Distance. Verizon Long Distance is a co-sponsor with Lifetime
Television of the ''Experience of a Lifetime'' mall tour in 12 major cities, beginning with the Palisades Mall.

''Our sponsorship with Lifetime enables us to reach a fast-growing segment of women who are actively involved in
making technology or communications purchases on line,'' said Maura Breen, president, Verizon Long Distance.

Visitors to the Verizon Long Distance booth will be able to make a free five-minute long-distance call anywhere in
the United States. Verizon representatives will demonstrate the company's SmartTouch^sm service, which allows
customers to purchase their long-distance calls in advance.

According to Jupiter Communications, by the year 2002 more than 65 million women will make purchases on line. Many
Lifetime viewers are heavy long distance and calling card users. ''We are excited about the new possibilities that
working with Lifetime will bring in reaching today's technology decision-makers,'' said Breen.

Verizon is the fourth-largest long distance company, offering service in 37 states to more than five million customers.
The Telecommunications Research and Action Center, a consumer watchdog agency, reported last fall that New York consumers
are saving about $220 million annually on their phone bills because of telecommunications competition here. Approximately
half the savings, $120 million, comes from the lower long-distance rates enjoyed by Verizon Long Distance customers -
savings of up to $10 a month per customer.

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 nearly 109 million access
line equivalents and more than 27.5 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the world's largest provider of print
and online directory information. A Fortune 10 company with approximately 260,000 employees and more than $63 billion
in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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