Consumers in 9 More Western Mass. Towns Now Have High-Speed Access to the Internet

Consumers in 9 More Western Mass. Towns Now Have High-Speed Access to the
Internet
Verizon Launches Broadband Service in More New Communities

BLANDFORD, Mass., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers and businesses in nine
more western Massachusetts communities now have access to the Internet -- at
rocket speeds powered by Verizon.
Starting Wednesday (Aug. 27), Verizon High Speed Internet service is being
offered throughout Blandford, Becket, Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, New
Marlborough, Sandisfield, Tolland and Washington.
Earlier this month, Verizon introduced the service in Florida, Mass. These
are among 24 western Massachusetts communities where Verizon is making
broadband Internet service available for the first time.
The service will give Internet users the ability to download at speeds of
768 Kbps (kilobits per second), 21 times faster than the current dial-up
capability.
"We are proud to be able to bring the benefits of broadband Internet
service to consumers in these seven new communities today and soon to
thousands more consumers in western Massachusetts," said Donna C. Cupelo,
Verizon region president for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "Verizon's
investments in Massachusetts have and will continue to be a major contributor
to growing the state's economy."
Earlier this year, Verizon announced it is investing $200 million to
expand its network in Massachusetts, including bringing its High Speed
Internet service to the 24 western Massachusetts communities.
By year's end, Cupelo said, Verizon expects to also make the service
available in Colrain, Hancock, Heath, Leverett, Leyden, Monroe, Montgomery,
New Ashford, Pelham, Plainfield, Rowe, Westhampton, Windsor and Worthington,
and to make the service more widely available in Shutesbury.
The company will notify potential customers of the availability of the
service in a number of ways, including direct mail, media advertising and
contact with local officials in each community. Consumers can also visit
www.verizon.com/ma for additional information.
When the work is completed, Verizon expects High Speed Internet service
will be available to 70 percent of the company's customer lines, on average,
in the 24 towns. The new broadband deployment of Verizon's High Speed Internet
network will reach three-fourths of the western Massachusetts communities
identified by the state as having no high speed broadband services.
Prices for Verizon High Speed Internet service start at $19.99 per month.
The service is delivered on a dedicated line from Verizon's central office
to the customer's home and is backed by live, 24 x 7 customer service and
technical support. High Speed Internet subscribers have access to an extensive
collection of features and services, including online protection with Verizon
Internet Security Suite; Verizon Enhanced E-mail; Verizon Premium Tech
Support; Online gaming, free news from ABC News Now; free sports from ESPN360;
and more.
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
nearly 69 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
employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,600 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

Ellen Cummings, +1-508-624-2219, ellen.m.cummings@verizon.com; or Phil
Santoro, +1-617-743-4760, philip.g.santoro@verizon.com