We understand the fear and frustration of people who were unable to reach 911 after the June 29 derecho. We’re disappointed with our performance, and we have spent the past several weeks investigating what happened, why it happened and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.
Our network is designed with multiple redundancies to be resilient in the face of power and other facility failures. Indeed, storm-related power failures affected more than 40 of our facilities, and our backup power kept the vast majority of them running. However, the derecho extensively damaged other facilities. This caused failures of critical network elements that route and complete 911 and other calls.
Our investigation has determined that the failure of one of two backup generators to start at each of our Arlington and Fairfax central offices was a primary contributor to the Northern Virginia disruptions. But these issues should not, in and of themselves, have caused the 911 problems. We’re inspecting other damaged equipment that may have contributed to the disruptions.
We immediately began correcting the issues we identified, and we’ve begun a region-wide review of the entire 911 design infrastructure to identify and protect against areas of vulnerability. We also understand the importance of communicating with 911 centers and the public during extraordinary events such as the derecho, and — while we did communicate with both — we can and will do better.
We have had productive meetings with several entities investigating the storm’s effects on 911 services. In the next week, we will begin to meet with public safety officials to share our findings about their specific 911 centers. We also will report our findings and corrective action plans to the investigating groups.
We failed to meet the expectations of the region’s residents and public safety community after the derecho. This is unacceptable. We know that the quality and reliability of all the services we deliver are paramount. We will improve.
Tony Lewis
Region Vice President of State Government Affairs
(Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.)
Virginia Nonprofits Help Residents Turn the Page to a Brighter Future With $188,000 in Verizon Grants.
Nonprofit organizations in Virginia are enabling area residents to take advantage of new opportunities that can improve their quality of life. With $188,000 in Verizon grants, these organizations that are devoted to technology, literacy and educational programs for children, adolescents and adults now can do even more – enhance efforts to bring the joy of reading to the community; support adult basic and English literacy programs; teach computer literacy skills; and provide tutoring services to children.
Some community programs that the Verizon grants support include:
Skyline Literacy, serving the Central Shenandoah Valley, received a grant from the Verizon Foundation (Verizon Reads Program) to help fund their "Learn English Now" project which provides weekly face-to-face tutoring sessions as well as a remote learning component through Skyline Literacy's Laptop Loaner program. This program gives learners the ability to begin improving their English skills at times most convenient for them, with the ultimate goal of finding better job opportunities.
Literacy Council of Northern Virginia's (LCNV) sixth annual celebration of family learning and literacy for the event, Reading: A Family Affair. This event brings books to life for local immigrant and at-risk families. The open-house style, multicultural experience features local artists that showcase the creative, sensory aspects of reading. This family event is free and is a crucial component to reach new immigrant and at-risk children and parents who have interest in educational activities but might not otherwise be aware of LCNV's services. On average, 500 children and parents attend this event annually. In previous years this event has been well-attended by state and local elected officials, and by Congressman Gerry Connolly.
Literacy for Life (LFL), Expanding Learning Options program is a web-based adult basic education software program for learners who need more than basic phonics, but are not yet ready for GED preparations. The program begins at a third grade level and includes reading, language, arts, and math. LFL tries to make its program as convenient for its learners as possible, to give them the best chance at success.
Henrico Education Foundation, Impacting Literacy Achievement of Challenged Students through Innovative Classroom will support classroom and school grants that target improving reading instruction and achievements in challenged Henrico County schools and will address the literacy achievement gap among ethnic students as well as students with disabilities.
"In today's global society, reading and comprehension skills are fundamental building blocks for a person's success in work and life, said Anthony A. Lewis, Verizon's Mid-Atlantic region vice president of state government affairs. "These Verizon Reads grants help strengthen the region's nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to provide both youth and adults with the tools and training they need to improve their education, achieve their goals and contribute to their communities."
Verizon Helps Families Stay Safe Online During Internet Safety Month
In recognition of Internet Safety Month in June, Verizon hosted two webinars to help raise awareness and educate families and senior citizens on how to stay safe online.
7 Tips to Help Your Children Stay Safe on the Internet:
THE INTERNET’S NOT WRITTEN IN PENCIL. IT’S WRITTEN IN PEN.What you share online can spread fast and last long. So, self-reflect before you self-reveal.
KINDNESS COUNTS. Online users may say and do things in the digital world that they wouldn’t in person. Remember to communicate kindly, stand up for others and build positive online relationships rooted in respect.
NOTHING IS AS PRIVATE AS YOU THINK. Customize your privacy settings on sites you use most. Protect your personal information (name, email, address, phone number and social security number to name a few).
MAINTAIN RESPONSIBLE ONLINE BEHAVIOR. The Internet offers incredible opportunities for users to connect and collaborate. Be clear about what you do, what you share and who you talk to.
ASK WHO, WHAT AND WHY QUESTIONS. Anyone can publish on the Internet, so not all sites are trustworthy. Verify that a site’s author or organization is credible by checking when the website was last updated, looking at the author’s title and expertise, and comparing information from multiple sources for better accuracy.
STAY BALANCED. Kids (and adults!) should balance screen time with other activities. Consider having a “screen-free” space like no cell phones at the dinner table.
EMBRACE THEIR WORLD. None of us want technology to isolate us from our kids. Do some homework, and ask them to share the sites they visit, the songs they download, the gadgets they love. It’s up to us to join the fun and help them seize the potential.
Verizon’s Recycling Rally Featured In Leesburg TODAY
The Leesburg TODAY newspaper featured Verizon’s Recycling Rally, which was held in May and gave the public an opportunity to bring unwanted electronics and other materials for recycling. Using the Ashburn campus parking lot, Verizon collected more than 15,000 pounds of electronics in its recycling efforts. Verizon’s motto is “Every Day is Earth Day at Verizon”. The Recycling Rally is part of the company’s commitment to protect and preserve the environment by enabling the public to be green at work and at home. The supplier disposing of the discarded items will adhere to our zero-landfill objective, meaning that the materials will be reused or recycled so that they do not end up in a landfill.
Recycled items included glass, plastics and aluminum cans; laptop and desktop computers; CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors and televisions; computer cables, mice and keyboards; gaming consoles; telephones and answering machines; stereo and audio equipment; paper shredders; alarm clocks; printers; cameras; conferencing equipment; remote controls; earphones; small electronic appliances (such as coffee makers, toasters, toaster ovens and can openers); microwave ovens; vacuum cleaners; and electronic toys without batteries. Hard drives will not be wiped, and all batteries should be removed prior to turning in any items.
Verizon sponsored the Fairfax CASA “Run For The Children,” a 10K Race and 3K Run/ Walk held on April 28 that attracted hundreds of runners, walkers, and volunteers from the community. The Verizon grant supports children who have been abused, neglected, or exposed to domestic violence by providing quality volunteer advocacy and training. The “Run for the Children” event increased education and awareness in the community about violence towards children by their parents and caregivers.
The mission of Fairfax CASA is to advocate for the best interests of each abused and neglected child referred by the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court through the promotion and support of quality volunteer representation. CASA seeks to ensure that each child’s needs are identified and addressed with the goal of living in a safe and permanent home.
The Reading Connection and Verizon Support Arlington Kids: Read!
Verizon was the Signature Sponsor of the Arlington Kids: Read! festival organized by the Reading Connection and held at the Quincy Library on May 12. The festival is part of a public awareness campaign to encourage Arlington kids and families to read together. Exposure to books and reading aloud with friends and family members has shown to have a strong and positive correlation to school readiness and success.
The Reading Connection promotes reading among children and families and works to improve the lives of at-risk children and families by helping them create and sustain literacy-rich environments and motivation for reading. Among the many activities and benefits to the community, this program engages volunteers who read aloud to children at shelters and community centers, collects donations that provide children with new, free books to keep, offers workshops that help parents encourage reading and literacy development, and provides training to family support workers who promote the importance of reading.
Verizon's Service Helps Extend "New Life" to Latinas in the D.C. Metro, Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA
Most people use cell phones to share news, make emergency calls or simply socialize and network. Nueva Vida, a regional organization that provides support and services for Latinas with cancer, uses cell phones to extend support services to women who may be in an emotional crisis; offer support to long-term trained survivors helping recently diagnosed women along the East Coast; and ensure that uninsured/underserved Latinas receive life-saving healthcare services on time. Each of Nueva Vida sites – Baltimore, Richmond and the Washington metropolitan area – is using Verizon Wireless cell phones to extend after hours and off-site services to their Latina clients. The useof cell phones allows Nueva Vida to provide access to bilingual, bicultural mental health specialists who can give participants the emotional support they need. Likewise, the bilingual counselors call Nueva Vida's emergency cell phone line to get guidance and support from a mental health program manager when faced with a tough case or the need to unload the emotional stress of helping a newly diagnose woman. Nueva Vida offers access to care and emotional support to over 1,500 Latinas and their families every year and has offered needed programs and services since 1996. Verizon is a supporter of the access and survivorship support programs at Nueva Vida.
Verizon Empowers People, Businesses and Communities with Superior Devices and Connected Solutions
As a globally connected solutions company, Verizon makes life better for people, businesses and communities by putting the awesome power of superior technology in their hands.
Verizon Wireless HomeFusion Broadband Service
In March, Verizon Wireless introduced a service that offers a new way to access the Internet at home. HomeFusion Broadband harnesses the power and speed of Verizon’s 4G LTE (long-term evolution) network to provide high-speed Internet access to consumers – offering those in areas with limited broadband options a reliable alternative for high-speed data connectivity in their homes.
How It Works
Our 4G LTE network is delivered to an antenna that transmits the signal to a broadband router inside the customer's home.
The cylinder-shaped antenna is professionally installed. Its design includes multiple internal antennae, which allows the device to pick up our 4G LTE signal.
The broadband router can connect up to four wired and at least 20 wireless devices inside the home using Wi-Fi, including everything from computers to gaming consoles.
FiOS Quantum Service: Verizon's New Era of Consumer Broadband Speeds
In June 2012, Verizon introduced the new ultra-high-performance "FiOS Quantum" service, which delivers up to 300 Mbps, to meet demand for maximum speed and reliability. Residential consumers now have access to new speeds, available in a range of double- and triple-play bundles, plus stand-alone service. This offers significant choices for consumers to meet their rapidly expanding needs for online entertainment, news, information communications and e-commerce. These needs have generated a rising demand for faster home broadband service.
The new FiOS Internet tiers containing the highest speeds feature download/upload speeds of 50/25, 75/35, 150/65 and 300/65 Mbps. Three of those speeds - 75/35, 150/65 and 300/65 - are twice as fast as those previously offered. In addition, Verizon will continue to offer its entry-level speed of 15/5 Mbps. The two highest downstream speed offers - 150 and 300 Mbps - and the new 65 Mbps upstream speed are by a wide margin the nation's fastest, mass scale residential Internet speeds available. To learn more about FiOS Quantum, go to http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2012/verizon-combines-insane.html.
Verizon's Service Helps Extend "New Life" to Latinas in the D.C. Metro, Baltimore, MD, and Richmond, VA
In June 2012, Verizon introduced the new ultra-high-performance "FiOS Quantum" service, which delivers up to 300 Mbps, to meet demand for maximum speed and reliability. Residential consumers now have access to new speeds, available in a range of 
