Verizon Wireless Enhances Coverage Inside The Texas Capitol

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Verizon Wireless Enhances Coverage Inside The Texas Capitol
In-building antenna system addresses Texas Legislature’s plan for open and accessible government



Media Contact Info


Lora Friedrichsen
GolinHarris for Verizon Wireless
lfriedrichsen@golinharris.com
972-308-9138



02/18/2005

AUSTIN, TX — Verizon Wireless, the nation’s leading wireless provider, has enhanced wireless coverage inside the Texas Capitol. Now, Texas legislators, staff, media and all Verizon Wireless customers can rely on the nation’s best wireless network to stay in constant communication via cell phone, e-mail and even wireless Internet access at broadband speeds while inside the Texas Capitol.

Working closely with the Texas State Preservation Board, Verizon Wireless has installed an in-building distributed antenna system to expand CDMA and EV-DO coverage to the two-level underground extension of the Texas Capitol and two levels of garage parking below the extension, which hosts an average of 500 to 1,000 employees and visitors daily.

The new Verizon Wireless antenna system directly supports Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst’s 8-point plan for open and accessible government. The plan calls for improved wireless access inside the Texas Capitol to make it easier to keep the lines of communication open between the Capitol and the outside world.

Austin was the first city in Texas to launch Verizon Wireless’ BroadbandAccess, one of the fastest, fully mobile wireless Internet data solutions available. With BroadbandAccess, users have the ability to quickly download complex files and view email attachments at typical speeds of 300-500 kbps, capable of reaching speeds up to 2 Mbps. Users can access critical data and applications behind corporate firewalls, working more efficiently and productively from anywhere within the network coverage area. For example, with BroadbandAccess, reporters can quickly and easily file news stories directly from the Texas Capitol to the computer network at their offices. The service is now available across Texas in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston, with more expansion scheduled for 2005.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, 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 receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.