Verizon Wireless Supports Firefighters And Emergency Crews Battling Wildfires Near Foresthill, California

FORESTHILL, CA — WHO:

Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network

WHERE:

Verizon Wireless' mobile cell site was activated at the Ralston fire in Foresthill, California, and twenty cellphones have been provided to enhance the communication system at the Incident Command Center in Foresthill, California. Firefighters have been battling the 8,300-acre blaze in the Tahoe and El Dorado National Forests since September 5. The mobile cell site will remain operational as needed. For more information on the fire visit: http://yubanet.com/ralston.shtml.

WHAT:

Verizon Wireless owns, maintains and deploys a fleet of Cells on Light Trucks (COLTS) and Cells on Wheels (COWS) that can be mobilized quickly to provide wireless coverage and capacity in the event of a natural disaster or other unplanned emergency affecting voice and data service.

RELIABILITY:

In addition to its fleet of mobile equipment, Verizon Wireless' nationwide network reliability is supported by industry-leading redundancy and maintenance measures, which have proven particularly valuable during natural disasters and other emergencies. Standard Verizon Wireless network reliability features include battery back-up power at all facilities as well as generators installed at all switching facilities and many cell site locations.

INVESTMENT:

Nationwide, Verizon Wireless has invested $30 billion during the last six years. On average, that amount represents $5 billion per year since the company's inception, with an actual investment of $6 billion in 2005 alone. In California, Verizon Wireless invested nearly $4 billion in network enhancements since the company's inception in 2000.

B-ROLL:

B-Roll and high-quality still photographs of Verizon Wireless' mobile cell sites used for disaster response can be found at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at 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 www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

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