Verizon Landline Network Weathering Historic Floods, Severe Storms in Midwest

Many Landline Phones Function During Power Outages

FORT WAYNE, Ind., June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon technicians have made
significant progress in restoring telephone service to customers affected by
the historic flooding and severe storms that have wracked the Midwest over the
last two weeks.
Overall, Verizon's landline telecommunications network in Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin has held up well throughout the storms,
and many of the company's customers whose homes and businesses have not been
flooded and who have corded, landline phones have been able to use those
phones even as power failed in many areas.
In addition to the restoration efforts, Verizon and its employees have
been participating in efforts to provide aid to affected consumers, such as
giving out bottled water in some areas and assisting in storm damage cleanup.
The Verizon Foundation also has begun a 1-to-1 match for every dollar donated
by Verizon employees in support of relief efforts under way across the
Midwest.
"Every spring and summer, severe weather poses a threat to how people
communicate and can affect how Verizon provides communications services -- and
this spring has been particularly nasty," said Michael P. O'Keefe, vice
president of customer operations for Verizon's Central region. "However, the
dependability of our landline network and phone service gives customers the
peace of mind that, even during power outages, they can stay connected to
friends, family, associates and, most important, 911."
Customer repair reports to Verizon have been running from two to six times
normal as customers in the five-state region return to their homes and
businesses and assess the damage. The company has mobilized its workforce and
extended technicians' hours to restore service as quickly as possible. In
addition, Verizon technicians shifted from Texas are helping in the
hardest-hit areas. Access to flooded areas and downed telephone poles are two
of the biggest challenges facing the technicians as they work to restore
service.
The Verizon landline network, which nationally processes more than
1 billion calls a day, with 99.9 percent reliability, is self-powered, with
backup power in place, so customers can still make phone calls on a corded
phone during a power outage, said O'Keefe.
People who use a cordless home phone, cable phone or
voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) connection over broadband will most likely
lose service when the power fails.
"Corded phones remain the most reliable way to maintain communications
during severe weather because Verizon has always worked to ensure our landline
network continues to provide unparalleled reliability," said O'Keefe.
Customers can purchase an inexpensive phone with a cord that plugs
directly into a wall jack at many retail outlets that sell electronic
equipment.
Customers should avoid talking on a landline phone when thunder and
lightning are present.
Residential and small-business customers with five lines or fewer should
call 800-483-1000 to request a repair. Businesses with more than five lines
should call 800-483-2000. Verizon will offer to forward calls from the
non-working number to another phone number that is working, at no charge.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication
innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.
Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving
more than 67 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations
include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business
solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings
customers the benefits of converged communications, information and
entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A
Dow 30 company, Verizon employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000
as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated
operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit
www.verizon.com.
VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches
and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other
information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at
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.
SOURCE Verizon

Lee Gierczynski of Verizon, +1-412-633-5574, lee.j.gierczynski@verizon.com