Verizon: Investing in Florida

Verizon provides voice, data and video services in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Sarasota and Manatee counties - in  west central Florida. Verizon Florida serves a 5,879 square mile area consisting of three Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg to the west, Bradenton-Sarasota to the south, and Lakeland- Winter Haven to the east. Our communications infrastructure is a high-speed, high capacity fiber-optic network coupled with leading edge digital switching and transmission technology.

• We have more than 5 million lines in service.

• We invested $836.9 million in plant and equipment in 2006, including investments in our industry-leading fiber-to-the-premises initiative.

• We operate a fleet with 3,065 vehicles.

• We own or manage 653 buildings or locations in Florida.

• We partner with nearly 9,358 Florida vendors and suppliers.

• 11,570 employees work in Florida. 11,611 live here.

• Our employee payroll is approximately $673.1 million annually.

• We pay roughly $115.2 million annually in state taxes.

• We pay approximately $258.2 million annually in healthcare costs for employees and retirees.

• We pay $273.5 million annually to more than 19,134 retirees in FL.

• 54,533 Verizon shareowners live here.

• We made $2.2 million in charitable and civic contributions in Florida in 2006.