Verizon Wireless announced on Aug. 7, 2008, that it completed its purchase of Rural Cellular Corporation (RCC). In 2008, the purchase increased Verizon Wireless’ licensed coverage area by 4.7 million people, adding licenses to cover markets in 15 states including Alabama.

Since August, the company has been working to integrate more than 200 cell sites across Alabama, which included technology conversion and overlay as well as building multiple news cell sites. Most of that work is now complete making America’s largest and most reliable 3G network available to new and existing residents, businesses and visitors across Alabama.

In addition to the coverage expansion, this brings the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) third generation (3G) wide-area network Revision A (Rev. A) technology to several new markets in Alabama including: Troy, Enterprise, Daleville, Slocomb, Hartford, Brundidge and Elba.

Also included in the conversion efforts, coverage and capacity enhancements to the legacy Verizon Wireless voice, NationalAccess and Mobile Broadband data network were completed in Sylacauga, Talladega, Clanton, Alexander City, Selma, Demopolis, Dothan, Ozark, Ft. Rucker, Andalusia and Greenville.

Since August of 2008, the following regional areas benefited from the network build out and conversion efforts:

Central Alabama

The towns of Selma, Marion, Uniontown, Lowndesboro, Fort Deposit, Camden, Hayneville, and along US HWY 80- west of Montgomery.

Along SR 155 including the cities of Jemison, Thorsby, Double Bridges, Clanton, Falakto, Verbena, Pyron and along I-65 throughout Chilton County.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit 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.verizonwirel