Verizon Wireless customers can make a $10 donation by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to support the American Red Cross.  Text messaging fees will be waived and 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the Red Cross.  Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills will see their donations on their next regular monthly bill.  For customers using the company’s prepaid services, donations will be taken from their prepaid balances.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of these horrific storms,” said Dean Taylor, Verizon Wireless president-Oklahoma.  “Verizon employees work and live in these communities, and we’re committed to supporting our neighbors in Moore, Shawnee and other communities in the Oklahoma City area.”

(NOTE: Click here for more on Verizon’s response to the Oklahoma tornadoes.)

The Verizon Foundation helps people to live healthy, safe and independent lives by addressing disparities in education, healthcare and sustainability.  Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.8 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities. For more information, visit www.verizonfoundation.org. 

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com. 

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The need for disaster relief is great, and Verizon is stepping up in response.  The company has committed $100,000 to disaster relief in the area, and the Verizon Foundation will provide a 1-to-1 match of employee online donations (from $25 up to $1,000 per employee) to the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

Verizon Wireless customers also can help by making a $10 donation to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to 90999.  Text messaging fees will be waived and 100 percent of each donation goes directly to the Red Cross.  Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills will see their donations on their next regular monthly bill.  For customers using the company’s prepaid services, donations will be taken from their prepaid balances.

Click here to learn more about Verizon’s disaster relief efforts in Oklahoma.

The redemption price for the Securities will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date, and will be payable on the Redemption Date.  Interest will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date with respect to the Securities. 

The name and address of the paying agent for the redemption is:

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500. A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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WASHINGTON – Verizon’s new head of public policy outlined the framework policymakers in Washington should consider in modernizing the nation’s outdated telecom rules and regulations.   Verizon believes that obsolete and unnecessary rules – some of which date back to the late 1800s, and were written for the railroads and to create the Interstate  Commerce Commission – work against innovation and investment in the Internet ecosystem.

Speaking at the Media Institute on Thursday (May 16), Craig Silliman, Verizon’s senior vice president of public policy and government relations, said in prepared remarks: “A highly innovative 21^st century communications marketplace requires a 21^st century policy framework to match the Internet ecosystem that broadband and mobile innovations have helped create.  We need a framework to address today’s issues: not local wireline voice competition, but privacy, cybersecurity, network management, spectrum policy and more, many of which have a global component.”

In his speech, Silliman outlined four principles that he believes policymakers should focus on: protecting consumers, encouraging innovation, incenting investment, and, with rapid changes in the industry, technology-agnostic rules that focus on the needs of consumers and ensure flexibility as new innovations and business models emerge.

“Technology changes too quickly to build legislative or regulatory frameworks on specific technologies,” said Silliman.  “The best approach is to protect consumers and to ensure that the rules aren’t obsolete as soon as the ink is dry.”

It has been almost 20 years since Congress overhauled telecom rules – the 1996 Telecommunications Act – when many of today’s technologies were closer to science fiction than fact. 

“The act could not have anticipated the policy challenges that we would face 20 years later, particularly given the extraordinary rate of innovation,” Silliman said.  “It has been only six years since the first smartphone was released, so 20 years is an eternity.  What guidance does the 1996 act provide in a world where everyone is carrying a broadband cloud-access device with them? Where video content can be accessed anytime, from anywhere?  Where these technologies are beginning to be applied to broader societal challenges like healthcare, energy management, education and more?  Not much. Nor should we expect it to.”

Silliman called for a proactive, flexible policy approach – one that would remain current and effective now and into the future. “The 1996 Telecom Act succeeded in what it was designed to achieve, but almost two decades later it is leaving the FCC to struggle to shoehorn Internet-era technologies into phone-era regulations,” Silliman said. “I am not suggesting that the answer is to abolish all regulation.  But I am suggesting that we need a 21^st century policy framework that is designed for 21^st century technologies and marketplaces, not 19^th century ones.”

Silliman added that broadband platforms provide extraordinary opportunities to transform healthcare, energy management, education and more.  “By eliminating antiquated rules, focusing on meeting consumer needs, and encouraging investment and innovation, we will create the right environment for delivering the amazing promise of broadband and wireless technologies,” he said.  “And in place of optimistic uncertainty, such policies will create a spirit of innovation and a sense of limitless opportunities.”

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com. 

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Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc., which owns 55 percent of the partnership, and Vodafone Group Plc, which owns 45 percent of the partnership.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 98.9 million retail customers, including 93.2 million retail postpaid customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 73,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com.  For the latest news and updates about Verizon Wireless, visit our News Center at http://news.verizonwireless.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VZWNews.

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"I have a CFO and a CEO who are telling me quite often, 'We are not going green for green's sake.'  So we absolutely have a positive return on investment based on a 10-year net present value," Gowen said in an interview with Reuters.

That positive return assessment on Verizon’s green energy investment is bolstered by a story, The Next 10 Years in Energy, that aired on the APM radio show, Marketplace Morning Report.  In it, Joshua Freed, at the think tank Third Way explains that the price of natural gas is dropping because it's cheaper and easier than ever to extract natural gas.  Because of that efficiency, he believes that natural gas – which Verizon will use to power its fuel cell systems – will remain a popular energy source into the next decade.  "Natural gas is the equivalent to U2, or the Jay-Z of energy.  Everybody wants it right now," Freed said.

Freed says the next big thing in renewable energy will be photo-voltaic solar panels, the type of solar systems that Verizon will be deploying in the coming months.  "Solar has actually grown by 130 percent from 2011 to 2012," Freed told Marketplace.  "That's because the price of solar panels has dropped precipitously and solar panels are starting to increase significantly in efficiency."

According to Gowen, corporate sustainability programs are more than just the right thing to do – they are an example of how companies can provide powerful answers to the big questions confronting society.  In Verizon’s case, our sustainability programs demonstrate how we are taking action to strengthen and transform individuals, communities, businesses, and society through the application of technology solutions that have real and lasting impact.

This week, the company is inviting several real estate investors to assess the value of the West Street building’s space and submit plans for possible use.  As the city moves forward with major enhancements to the World Trade Center complex, it is anticipated that possible uses could include residential and hotel space.

While Verizon intends to keep its headquarters in Manhattan, the company plans to market 18 of the upper floors of its 31-story West Street building, while retaining floors one through 10 for employees and associated communications facilities.  The company is also exploring the possibility of marketing the ground-floor space in the building for potential retail, restaurant and other storefront opportunities.

Any changes to the building would involve the approval of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, since the building’s lobby and exterior are designated as New York City landmarks. 

“Lower Manhattan – especially the World Trade Center neighborhood – is destined to be an important tourist and commercial center for the world, and the plan that Verizon is proposing is in concert with that grand vision for the area,” said John Vazquez, Verizon vice president of global real estate. “Our long-term vision for our building preserves its historic character while complementing the thriving economy and community in lower Manhattan.”

In connection with the marketing of the space and any future real estate deal, the company is moving approximately 1,100 employees -- most of them customer service representatives -- to a Verizon-occupied building at 395 Flatbush Ave. Extension in Brooklyn.  Some 300 employees are currently located there.  The company is making enhancements to the building, including a fitness center, centralized training facilities and other improvements.

“This is a real shot in the arm to the Brooklyn economy and the New York City economy in general,” said Carlo A. Scissura, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.  “Verizon and its employees will find Brooklyn a thriving, inviting and enjoyable experience for a major part of their operation.  By creating a regional call center in our borough, and at the same time developing its grand vision for its iconic building in lower Manhattan, Verizon has exhibited its commitment to New York City and these great centers of commerce and growth.  We look forward to welcoming these employees to Brooklyn.”  

Verizon has conducted sales of parts of its buildings in New York City and elsewhere.  Notably, the company has sold parts of its buildings at 1095 Avenue of the Americas and at 375 Pearl St., while maintaining its communications equipment and related facilities at both locations.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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The series, entitled A Call To Coaches: Your Voice Counts, has engaged more than 1,000 coaches in Charlotte, N.C., Baltimore and Seattle to help them and community leaders build youths’ character in an effort to help prevent relationship and domestic violence.

Hosted by the Verizon Foundation and A CALL TO MEN, the effort has garnered support from key members of the athletic community, including CBS sportscaster James Brown, Seattle Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung, former Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay, Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Chris Canty, Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and NFL Players Association representative Willis Whalen. These advocates – including Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson – have stressed the importance of coaches and community leaders using their unique position to cultivate men who value women as equals and treat women and men with respect on and off the field.

“For many athletes, especially young men, their coach is someone they deeply respect and admire,” said Brown. “Coaches are role models, and they have a tremendous opportunity to teach youths not only about teamwork and game strategies, but also important life lessons of what healthy manhood looks like. It’s wonderful to see how many coaches and community leaders across the country are taking that responsibility seriously.”

The half-day, interactive seminars were designed to equip coaches and community leaders with ways to prevent abusive behaviors by promoting respect, non-violence, healthy relationships and healthy manhood.  Participants were given free resources to help them talk with athletes and youths about these sensitive topics and specific action steps they could apply among their own teams.

Ted Bunch, co-founder of A CALL TO MEN, said: “Healthy relationships begin with respect. Breaking down traditional stereotypes about manhood is essential, and that begins in the locker room or in the classroom. Coaches and community leaders need to take the lead, set the right examples and call youths out when they are in the wrong.  For instance, it’s not cool to demean a teammate by saying he throws like a girl. When a coach or community leader stops that kind of language, young men listen.”

Participants are now bringing the resources from the training to their teams and communities, using their authority and leadership to encourage boys and young men to have a healthy and respectful manhood.

Susan Sullivan, Verizon Foundation program director, said: “It’s heartening to see how coaches and community leaders are tackling the issue of domestic violence and its prevention. For many years, domestic violence has been sidelined as a women’s issue, but in reality, it’s everyone’s issue. It’s critical that we have men, particularly those who serve as role models and mentors, talking to young people and their peers about what behaviors are and aren’t acceptable in relationships.”

The Verizon Foundation recently launched a domestic violence awareness campaign called Your Voice Counts to help men start conversations about domestic violence. The campaign includes a series of public service announcements; a get-involved action guide; and a range of resources developed by A CALL TO MEN and the Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organization focused on healing and empowering survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

For more than a decade, Verizon has been a champion of ending domestic violence through its various business units and its philanthropic foundation.  Verizon supports a broad range of programs that include:

• Training healthcare practitioners and first responders about screening for signs of abuse.
• Engaging men as role models and advocates for prevention.
• Educating teens about preventing dating violence.
• Collecting no-longer-used wireless phones and accessories, with proceeds supporting and furthering domestic violence prevention programs.
• Allowing all Verizon Wireless customers to easily connect with a domestic violence counselor by dialing #4673 (#HOPE).

The Verizon Foundation is focused on accelerating social change by using the company’s innovative technology to help solve pressing problems in education, healthcare and energy management.  Since 2000, the Verizon Foundation has invested more than half a billion dollars to improve the communities where Verizon employees work and live.  Verizon’s employees are generous with their donations and their time, having logged more than 6.65 million hours of service to make a positive difference in their communities.  For more information about Verizon’s philanthropic work, visit www.verizonfoundation.org; or for regular updates, visit the Foundation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/verizonfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/verizongiving).

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About A CALL TO MEN
A CALL TO MEN works to create a world where all men and boys are loving and respectful and all women and girls are valued and safe.  A CALL TO MEN (ACTMen) works nationally and internationally to galvanize a movement of men committed to ending violence and discrimination against women and girls.  Previously, ACTMen partnered with the Verizon Foundation and the NFL Players Association on the Training Camps for Life initiative, teaching teens about healthy and respectful relationships.  ACTMen is a founding partner of the Engaging Men Campaign and is contributing to the development and launch of the campaign, outreach efforts and educational resources.  For more information about ACTMen visit www.acalltomen.org.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com. 

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TULSA, Okla. – Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) has announced preliminary results of the shareholder vote at its annual meeting here today.  The company reported that a substantial majority of the shareholders approved the following management proposals:

• Election of each of Verizon’s 13 directors standing for election to a one-year term.
• Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm.
• Approval of the compensation of the company’s executive officers as described in the 2013 proxy statement.
• Approval of Verizon’s amended Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Of the six shareholder proposals, five were defeated: network neutrality, lobbying activities, severance approval policy, shareholder right to call a special meeting and shareholder right to act by written consent.  

Shareholders approved a resolution that asks Verizon’s Board to adopt a proxy access bylaw, which would allow shareholders to nominate Board candidates under certain conditions. Verizon’s Board said that it will consider the outcome of the vote in its ongoing review of the company’s corporate governance practices.

Vote tallies are considered preliminary until the final results are tabulated and certified by independent election inspectors.  The final results will be posted on Verizon’s website at www.verizon.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com. 

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“Verizon congratulates Commissioner Clyburn on her historic appointment as acting chair of the Federal Communications Commission. We look forward to continuing to work with her.

“Verizon also congratulates Mr. Wheeler on his nomination; his experience and leadership will serve the commission well as it addresses policies involving the rapidly changing broadband and wireless industries.  Verizon looks forward to working with him and the commission to shape pro-consumer and pro-innovation policies in the communications marketplace.”

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with nearly 99 million retail connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 181,900.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com. 

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