Verizon's Broadband Internet Service Ranks Highest in South Region in J.D. Power and Associates Customer Satisfaction Study

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon's consumer broadband services – Verizon FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet – outperform all their competitors when it comes to overall customer satisfaction in the South, according to the J.D. Power and Associates "2010 Internet Service Provider Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM)^" released Thursday (Oct. 28).

Verizon's advanced FiOS Internet and its digital-subscriber-line (DSL)-based HSI service outscored 12 other providers measured in the South region of the ISP study in overall satisfaction and two factors: performance and reliability, and offerings and promotions.  The region covers Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

"Our customers clearly appreciate the Verizon difference," said Shawne Angelle, Verizon operations president for Texas.  "From 1- to 50-megabit connections, Verizon broadband service offers consistently fast, reliable Internet speeds – for downloading and uploading – to match every lifestyle and need."

In addition to Verizon FiOS' blazing-fast downloads, the all-fiber-optic service offers unprecedented upstream speeds of up to 35 megabits per second (Mbps).  Verizon recently raised the downstream speed for HSI service with a 10 Mbps to 15 Mbps offer that is available to a customer base of more than 4 million households, and growing.  Verizon's broadband Internet services also provide a gateway to other valuable Verizon services, including Verizon Internet Security Suite, Verizon Online Backup & Sharing and Premium Technical Support.

"The great news is that, with our new quad-play bundles, many customers can now combine VerizonFiOS Internet, FiOS TV and Verizon Wireless phone service on one bill for additional convenience and savings," said Angelle.

A basic bundle of 15/5 Mbps FiOS Internet, FiOS TV Prime HD package and FiOS Digital Voice home phone service is now available for $99.99 a month with a guaranteed rate for 24 months for new FiOS customers.  When a customer adds a Verizon Wireless plan to the triple play and signs up online, total annual savings add up to $299.  New FiOS Internet, FiOS TV or new HSI and DIRECTV® bundles customers will also receive a Verizon Visa® prepaid card issued by Meta Bank™ valued at up to $200, and can be used toward the purchase of a new DROID smartphone of the customers' choice.

Verizon also offers quad-play bundles that combine Verizon's HSI service with DIRECTV, home phone and Verizon Wireless service.

Consumers who want to obtain more information about Verizon bundles or to place an order can visit www.verizon.com/bundles or call 1-800-VERIZON (1-800-837-4966).

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 mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon