Verizon Enhanced Communities Receives ’Cornerstone Award’ From Broadband Properties Magazine for Speedy Deployment of All-Fiber Network and FiOS Services to New Residential Community

Business Unit Recognized for Completing Design and Installation of Network in Just 14 Days

September 12, 2006 - IRVING, Texas - Verizon Enhanced Communities, the Verizon business unit that markets and sells communications services to single- and multiple-home properties, today received a special award for deploying the company’s all-fiber-optic network and FiOS services at a new 300-unit, eight-building residential community in Dedham, Mass., in just 14 days.

The Cornerstone Award, for “nimble execution of mass fiber-to-the-premises deployment,” was presented by Broadband Properties magazine at a conference here held by the publication.

“We want to recognize Verizon Enhanced Communities’ skills and speed in deploying fiber directly to multiple-dwelling units,” said Steven Ross, editor-in-chief of Broadband Properties. “Historically this award is given to communities, but Verizon really stood out as the only provider to bring its fiber-optic network directly to communities and at an amazing speed.”

A total of six Cornerstone Awards were given to U.S. organizations. The awards, presented annually, recognize achievements in the deployment of fiber-to-the-premises networks in a variety of residential multifamily and single-family developments and planned communities. The award-recipients are selected by a committee of industry leaders, analysts and writers. This is the fifth consecutive year that Verizon has won the award.

The conference, which began yesterday and runs through tomorrow, brings developers and industry leaders together to discuss how to incorporate a fiber-optic infrastructure to improve the value of existing and future planned communities.

“This recognition reaffirms we are on track with our deployment of FiOS and have established our leadership position in the industry,” said Eric Cevis, vice president of Verizon Enhanced Communities, who accepted the award for the business unit. “Property owners and developers know that an all-fiber-optic network -- deployed directly to homes only by Verizon -- offers the bandwidth to give their residents the richest broadband and entertainment experience today as well as in the future.”

Verizon Enhanced Communities was recognized for bringing its all-fiber-optic network to Jefferson at Dedham, a new residential community in Massachusetts, developed by JPI Partners LLC. The day before the development was scheduled to be prewired with conventional copper wire, Verizon announced it was upgrading its central office that would serve the site and that FiOS voice and high-speed data services would be available. JPI and InfiniSys, a design firm of innovative technology amenities for multifamily communities, immediately contacted Verizon to see whether the company could provide FiOS and meet the construction timetable for the development. Within 11 days, Verizon Enhanced Communities, working with InfiniSys and JPI, was able to completely redesign, bid, negotiate and execute the transition from a traditional copper network to Verizon’s all-fiber-optic network. All the work was completed within 14 days.

To read more about this project, see Broadband Properties Magazine’s June issue at www.broadbandproperties.com.

For more information about the products and services available through Verizon Enhanced Communities, visit www.verizon.com/connected.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), a Dow 30 company, 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 55 million customers nationwide. Verizon Business operates one of the most expansive wholly-owned global IP networks. Verizon Telecom is deploying the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network to deliver the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services to customers. Based in New York, Verizon has a diverse workforce of more than 252,000 and generates annual consolidated operating revenues of approximately $90 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

Contact Information

Ellen Yu

Media contact

Verizon Communications Inc.

Contact via E-mail