To Support Emergency Efforts, Verizon Wireless Launches Broadband Network in Iowa City

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless announced the rollout of its high-speed wireless network in Iowa City to support communications services for the University of Iowa and other emergency personnel during the severe flooding in the area.

"Our network team has worked around the clock to upgrade this service ahead of schedule because of the need for mobile communications services in Iowa City," said Nancy B. Clark, president-Great Plains Region, Verizon Wireless. "In addition, we were able to activate a new cell site near Kinnick Stadium, also ahead of schedule, to further support wireless communications."

Verizon Wireless has donated phones and USB modems to emergency personnel and relief organizations in Iowa. The company's BroadbandAccess service is being utilized with laptop computers and USB modems to access the Internet -- the high-speed network was already deployed in Cedar Rapids and other areas of Iowa.

The company is monitoring network performance and has added capacity to cell sites throughout the flood damaged areas of Iowa. All Verizon Wireless Communications Stores are open to assist customers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 67.2 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 69,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: http://www.verizonwireless.com/. To preview and request broadcast- quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

CONTACT: Karen Smith of Verizon Wireless, +1-612-590-3511, Karen.Smith@VerizonWireless.com, or Debbie Hilt, for Verizon Wireless +1-402-350-5222, Debbie@AlbersCommunications.com

Web site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/

COPYRIGHT 2008 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning