Verizon Is Top Telecommunications Company in Fortune Magazine’s 2010 List of World’s Most Admired Companies

NEW YORK - Fortune magazine has ranked Verizon No. 1 in the telecommunications sector of the publication’s 2010 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.

Verizon received the top ranking in six out of nine reputation attributes: innovation, people management, use of corporate assets, quality of management, long-term investment and quality of products and services. Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list is based on surveys of executives, directors and analysts who were asked to rate companies in their own industry.

“It’s an honor to have the dedication and innovative drive of our employees recognized by our peers and competitors,” said Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president of public affairs, policy and communications. “Every day, more than 100 million people around the globe communicate via Verizon’s advanced networks. It’s a responsibility we take seriously, and it’s what drives us to find brand new ways for people to communicate.”

The complete list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, and related stories, will appear in Fortune’s March 22 issue, which is available now on newsstands. Verizon’s ranking can be found at http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2010/snapshots/2773.html.

Recently, the company was named to the Corporate Responsibility Magazine (formerly CRO Magazine) list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens, for the third consecutive year. Verizon was the only telecommunications company on the list. For more information about Verizon’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit www.verizon.com/responsibility.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving more than 91 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of approximately 222,900 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.