Verizon Online Expands Availability of Broadband in Bennington, Orange and Rutland Counties

Verizon Online Expands Availability of Broadband in Bennington, Orange and Rutland Counties

High-Speed DSL Service Provides Dedicated, Not Shared, Internet Access at a Competitive Price

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- More consumers and businesses in Vermont can enjoy the benefits of high-speed Internet access now that Verizon Online has expanded its availability in Bennington, Orange and Rutland counties. Verizon Online DSL is now available in Castleton, Dorset, Fair Haven, Pittsfield, Pittsford, Poultney, Randolph, Rochester, West Rutland and Williamstown.

"If you've wanted DSL service for your home or business from us in the past, but it wasn't in your neighborhood, now's the time to check with us on current availability," said Pamela Porell, vice president for Verizon Vermont.

Verizon in October announced its plans to double the number of Vermont communities where super-fast DSL service is available and will introduce additional DSL service in Caledonia, Essex, Orleans, Windham and Windsor counties by the spring.

DSL subscribers can have news in an instant, share digital photos, quickly send e-mail attachments, download movies and play interactive multi-player games in real time. DSL-powered businesses can increase productivity by spending less time doing research, paying bills online and e-mailing orders to suppliers.

Not only is Verizon DSL available to more people than ever before, but Verizon can help customers make the most of high-speed access to the Internet or other broadband services. Customers who subscribe to an annual DSL plan from Verizon Online also receive a free combination modem and "home gateway" router with the service. The home gateway enables DSL customers to share their DSL connection among multiple computers in their home. The gateway costs $49.95 for qualifying customers who purchase DSL as part of a Verizon calling package and $99.95 for customers who do not purchase DSL with a calling package or do not select an annual service plan.

With a home network, customers can add additional security and connect several computers to one DSL connection to access the Internet at high speeds. A home network also lets subscribers share files and printers among several computers, and, unlike other broadband providers, Verizon Online does not charge customers to network multiple computers.

To order Verizon Online DSL or to check whether it is available to a specific home or business, local telephone customers should check online at http://www.verizon.net/ or call Verizon at 1-800-585-4466.

Currently, Verizon Online is offering its basic consumer DSL service for $29.95 a month when purchased as an annual plan, or in combination with Verizon Freedom or another Verizon local and long-distance bundle, and $34.95 per month for stand-alone DSL. Verizon Online also offers a new, higher-speed DSL service of up to 3 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) upstream for as low as $39.95 a month for qualifying consumers who add DSL service to a package of Verizon services or who sign up for an annual plan. The first month of DSL is free when ordered online.

Variety of DSL Packages Available for Businesses

Verizon's broadband business services earned top scores in the J. D. Power and Associates 2004 Major Provider Business Telecommunications Services Study sm. In the broadband data segment, Verizon's business broadband services ranked highest overall, with highest scores in three areas: performance and reliability, billing, and sales team performance.

Verizon's business customers can choose from a variety of DSL speeds and services tailored specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. DSL packages start at $39.95 per month for speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps. Businesses can choose from a range of packages that provide Internet access at speeds up to 7.1 Mbps.

The business packages include all the tools needed for business-grade access to the Web, including domain name e-mail boxes (username@yourcompany.com), round-the-clock business-grade technical support, 20 MB (megabytes) of Web space, unlimited remote dial-up service, 30-day money-back guarantee and an on-time guarantee.

Additionally, Verizon offers businesses a choice of dynamic or static IP (Internet protocol) routing. Unlike dynamic DSL, a static IP address gives businesses a permanent IP address for hosting a Web site and an e-mail server, as well as providing virtual private network (VPN) applications for employees who work remotely.

Verizon offers business-grade DSL service in packages with a discount of up to 20 percent on monthly DSL service to businesses that subscribe to a qualifying bundle. Businesses that place their orders online get the first month of service free and may be eligible for rebates from $75 to $225 depending on which package they select.

Verizon recently introduced a small but powerful DSL Gateway device that integrates the DSL modem with a four-port router and offers both Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity to the Internet. Perfect for small businesses with multiple computers, it simplifies configuration (there is only one device to configure and maintain) and, at $149.95, it is cost effective (about a third of the cost of buying the modem and the router separately).

Business customers interested in revving up their DSL service can visit http://www.verizon.com/businessdsl or contact their Verizon sales representative at 1-888-649-9500.

According to J. D. Power and Associates, the 2004 Major Provider Business Telecommunications Services Study is based on responses from more than 4,700 U.S. businesses of all sizes (from two to more than 500 employees) and evaluates their data and voice service providers. For more information on the study, visit jdpower.com or the J.D. Power and Associates press release at: http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2004141.

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 Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. With a diverse work force of approximately 208,000, Verizon has four business units: Domestic Telecom serves customers based in 29 states with wireline telecommunications services, including broadband, nationwide long-distance and other services. Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 42.1 million voice and data customers across the United States. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. International includes wireline and wireless operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit http://www.verizon.com/

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at http://www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

Web sites: http://www.verizon.com
http://www.verizon.net
http://www.verizon.com/businessdsl
http://www.jdpower.com/news/releases/pressrelease.asp?ID=2004141


Source: Verizon

CONTACT: Beth Fastiggi of Verizon, +1-802-863-0797,
m.b.fastiggi@verizon.com

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html


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