March 4, 2009 –

NEW YORK - The Board of Directors of Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) today declared a quarterly dividend of 46 cents per outstanding share, unchanged from the previous quarter.  The dividend is payable on May 1, to Verizon Communications shareowners of record at the close of business on April 9.

In 2008, the company paid dividends totaling $5.0 billion.  In September 2008, Verizon's Board increased the dividend 7 percent to its current level.  Verizon has approximately 2.4 million shareowners and approximately 2.8 billion shares of common stock outstanding.

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 more than 80 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 nearly 224,000 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of more than $97 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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