SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, Vermont consumers and businesses in Jacksonville, Norwich, Readsboro, South Hero and Wells have access to Verizon High Speed Internet, allowing them to quickly download movies, share photos or video with friends and family, and create their own Internet content. Over the past month, Verizon has also expanded high-speed Internet service, based on DSL technology, in Brandon, Essex Junction and St. Johnsbury. Verizon is the first broadband provider to offer service in Jacksonville and Readsboro.

"If you're interested in an excellent value in broadband service, now's the time to check out Verizon High Speed Internet," said Pamela Porell, vice president of Verizon Vermont. "With connection speeds up to 53 times faster than 56K dial-up, and delivered to the home over a dedicated line from our central office, Verizon High Speed Internet service makes a real difference in people's online lives. Our service is backed by the quality of the Verizon network and our skilled, knowledgeable Vermont employees who stand ready to serve our customers."

Porell added that today's announcement is part of Verizon's major broadband expansion in the state, under which the company in the future will make high-speed Internet service available to 80 percent of its Vermont customers. Achieving its 2007 broadband expansion goal, the company is now able to provide high-speed Internet service to over 65 percent of its Vermont customers.

Last year the company also expanded high-speed Internet service to more customers in Bakersfield, Barnet, Bennington, Bradford, Cambridge, Castleton, Clarendon, Colchester, Derby, Essex, Fairlee, Ferrisburg, Greensboro, Hartford, Jericho, Londonderry, Middlebury, Milton, Morrisville, Newbury, Newfane, Rupert, Rochester, Rockingham, Royalton, Rutland, St. Albans, Salisbury, Shelburne, Stowe, Sunderland, Townshend, Wardsboro, West Hartford, Westford, Weston and Wilmington.

Qualified customers who order Verizon High Speed Internet service online with a connection speed of up to 768 Kbps (kilobits per second) and a one-year commitment will pay $12.99 a month for the first six months, with the first month free, and $17.99 a month for the remaining six months of the one-year plan. Verizon's 3 Mbps (megabits per second) service also is available for $27.99 a month, with the first month free, to qualified customers who sign up online for a one-year commitment.

No matter what speed or plan customers choose, Verizon High Speed Internet includes 24 x 7 live customer support, a 30-day money-back guarantee, nine e-mail accounts and 10 MB (megabytes) of personal Web space. For additional information about Verizon high-speed Internet plans, residential consumers can call 1-800-742-5375 or visit www.verizon.net/highspeed to see if the service is available to their homes and to place orders.

Verizon also has a number of high-speed Internet service plans that offer excellent value for business customers, with maximum connection speeds ranging from up to 768 Kbps/128 Kbps to up to 7.1 Mbps/768 Kbps. For more information on business offerings, visit www.verizon.com.

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 63.7 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 has a diverse workforce of nearly 238,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $88 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Source: Verizon