Verizon provides aid to victims of tornados in Virginia state

Telecomworldwire, May 2, 2008

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-2 May 2008-Verizon provides aid to victims of tornados in Virginia state(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE: VZ), a provider of broadband and other wireline and wireless communications, announced on Thursday (1 May) that the company is providing USD20,000 in grants to assist victims of tornados in South east Virginia, USA.

In addition Verizon has also provided 100 phones to the American Red Cross in Suffolk for emergency communications volunteers who are handling requests for assistance as well as accepting donations from concerned citizens.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon, plans to donate USD20,000 to the American Red Cross for tornado victims, with USD15,000 going to the Suffolk county chapter and USD5,000 to the Southside chapter.

In addition Verizon has lent 10 wireless modems to the Red Cross to add high-speed Internet and e-mail connections for the agency's laptop computers. The company also added capacity to its wireless network, after the tornados passed, to handle additional calling volume in the Suffolk area.

Verizon said that company is also taking steps to augment wirelessservice inside the American Red Cross office on Main Street in downtown Suffolk, and the company's technicians are restoring landline phone service after power company employees completed work to make affected areas safe from downed power lines.

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