Verizon#Controversies

In 1983, the US Department of Justice came to a settlement with the original AT&T to breakup the Bell System. Bell Atlantic Corporation was created as one of the original "Baby Bell" Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) in 1984.{{cite news |title=From 'Baby Bells' to the big cheese |last1=Schofield |first1=Jack |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/mar/03/onlinesupplement.columnists |work=The Guardian |date=March 2, 2005 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142316/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2005/mar/03/onlinesupplement.columnists |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Bell Atlantic plans rapid growth after Jan. spinoff |last1=Mayer |first1=Caroline |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1983/10/24/bell-atlantic-plans-rapid-growth-after-jan-spinoff/43a6d759-a641-4c1c-9bb5-412979a0d716/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 24, 1983 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008175253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1983/10/24/bell-atlantic-plans-rapid-growth-after-jan-spinoff/43a6d759-a641-4c1c-9bb5-412979a0d716/ |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Bell Atlantic's original roster of operating companies included:

• The Bell Telephone Company of Pennsylvania{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/01/business/finance-new-issues-pennsylvania-bell-to-buy-back-debt.html|title=FINANCE/NEW ISSUES; Pennsylvania Bell To Buy Back Debt|date=June 1, 1984|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|agency=Reuters|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830145523/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/01/business/finance-new-issues-pennsylvania-bell-to-buy-back-debt.html|archive-date=August 30, 2018|url-status=live}}
• New Jersey Bell{{cite news |title=A crack in the bedrock |last1=Goodnough |first1=Abby |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/specials/downsize/resource-0114.html |work=The New York Times |date=January 14, 1996 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142317/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/specials/downsize/resource-0114.html |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}
• Diamond State Telephone{{cite news |title=CP Telephone workers strike after talks fail |last1=Vise |first1=David |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/08/07/cp-telephone-workers-strike-after-talks-fail/07d7088c-86b8-4e54-9bd5-c556f96be029/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 7, 1989 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008174834/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/08/07/cp-telephone-workers-strike-after-talks-fail/07d7088c-86b8-4e54-9bd5-c556f96be029/ |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}
• C&P Telephone (itself comprising four subsidiaries){{cite news |title=Bell Atlantic, CWA reach agreement in Washington |url=https://www.apnews.com/b6fa5517cb32f53a4acd72d57c2ef64b |work=The Associated Press |date=August 25, 1989 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142313/https://www.apnews.com/b6fa5517cb32f53a4acd72d57c2ef64b |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}

In 1996, CEO and Chairman Raymond W. Smith orchestrated Bell Atlantic's merger with fellow Baby Bell NYNEX, which had received New York Telephone and New England Telephone in the breakup.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/23/business/sticking-their-knitting-deal-nynex-bell-atlantic-decide-they-are-truly-made-for.html|title=A Sticking-to-Their-Knitting Deal; Nynex and Bell Atlantic Decide They Are Truly Made for Each Other|last=Landler|first=Mark|date=April 23, 1996|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830145518/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/23/business/sticking-their-knitting-deal-nynex-bell-atlantic-decide-they-are-truly-made-for.html|archive-date=August 30, 2018|url-status=live}} When it merged, it moved its corporate headquarters from Philadelphia to New York City. NYNEX was consolidated into the Bell Atlantic name by 1997.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/08/business/nynex-is-gone-but-its-name-has-yet-to-go.html|title=Nynex Is Gone, But Its Name Has Yet to Go|last=Landler|first=Mark|date=September 8, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142407/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/08/business/nynex-is-gone-but-its-name-has-yet-to-go.html|archive-date=August 30, 2018|url-status=live}}

File:Verizon Logo 2000 to 2015.svg

In April 2000, two months before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave final approval on the formation of Verizon Communications, Bell Atlantic formed Verizon Wireless in a joint venture with the British telecommunications company Vodafone, which owned the mobile operator AirTouch.{{cite news |last=Borland |first=John |date=April 3, 2000 |title=Wireless deals put pressure on competitors to grow |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1033-238747.html |newspaper=CNET |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318153808/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1033-238747.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author= |title=Bell Atlantic-Vodafone pact |url=https://money.cnn.com/1999/09/21/deals/vodafone/ |newspaper=CNN Money |date=September 21, 1999 |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318153218/http://money.cnn.com/1999/09/21/deals/vodafone/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Luening |first=Erich |date=July 17, 2000 |title=Verizon Wireless kicks off mobile Net access |url=http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-Wireless-kicks-off-mobile-Net-access/2100-1033_3-243213.html |newspaper=CNET |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318152001/http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-Wireless-kicks-off-mobile-Net-access/2100-1033_3-243213.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} The companies established Verizon Wireless as its own business operated by Bell Atlantic, which owned 55% of the venture. Vodafone retained 45% of the company. The deal was valued at approximately $70 billion and created a mobile carrier with 23 million customers. Verizon Wireless merged Bell Atlantic's wireless network, Vodafone's AirTouch and PrimeCo holdings, and the wireless division of GTE.{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Todd R. |date=June 19, 2000 |title=AT&T buys Verizon wireless licenses for $3.3 billion |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/46019/AT_T_buys_Verizon_wireless_licenses_for_3.3_billion |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140318114856/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/46019/AT_T_buys_Verizon_wireless_licenses_for_3.3_billion |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |newspaper=Computerworld |access-date=November 27, 2013 }}{{cite news |last=Tahmincioglu |first=Eve |date=September 22, 1999 |title=Bell Atlantic, Vodafone seal deal |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/auth/checkbrowser.do?t=1387461980280&bhcp=1 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318180836/http://w3.nexis.com/new/auth/checkbrowser.do?t=1387461980280&bhcp=1 |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} Due to its size, Verizon Wireless was able to offer national coverage at competitive rates, giving it an advantage over regional providers typical of the time.

Bell Atlantic changed its name to Verizon Communications in June 2000, when the FCC approved the US$64.7 billion merger with telephone company GTE, nearly two years after the deal was proposed in July 1998. The merger was announced on April 4.{{cite news |title=Bell, GTE merger approved |url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/06/16/deals/gte/ |newspaper=CNN Money |date=June 16, 2000 |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203143907/http://money.cnn.com/2000/06/16/deals/gte/ |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |url-status=live }} The name Verizon derives from the combination of the words {{lang|la|veritas}}, Latin for truth, and horizon.{{cite web |title=Verizon who? |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/verizon-who/ |website=CNET |access-date=March 1, 2023 |language=en |date=January 2, 2002}}{{cite news |last=Culp |first=Bryan |date=January 1, 2001 |title=Playing the Name Game Again |url=http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2000/205/playing-the-name-game-again |newspaper=marketingprofs.com |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318180530/http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2000/205/playing-the-name-game-again |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}

The approval came with 25 stipulations to preserve competition between local phone carriers, including investing in new markets and broadband technologies. The new entity was headed by co-CEOs Charles Lee, former CEO of GTE, and Bell Atlantic CEO Ivan Seidenberg.

Verizon became the largest local telephone company in the United States, operating 63 million telephone lines in 40 states.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/17/business/fcc-approves-bell-atlantic-gte-merger-creating-no-1-phone-company.html|title=F.C.C. Approves Bell Atlantic-GTE Merger, Creating No. 1 Phone Company|last=Labaton|first=Stephen|date=June 17, 2000|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505225115/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/17/business/fcc-approves-bell-atlantic-gte-merger-creating-no-1-phone-company.html|archive-date=May 5, 2017|url-status=live}} The company also inherited 25 million mobile phone customers. Additionally, Verizon offered internet services and long-distance calling in New York, before expanding long-distance operations to other states.

Approximately 85,000 Verizon workers went on an 18-day labor strike in August 2000 after their union contracts expired.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/31/business/business-digest-447820.html|title=Business Digest|date=July 31, 2000|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701104948/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/31/business/business-digest-447820.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Verizon, union reach deal |url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/08/24/news/verizon/ |newspaper=CNN Money |date=August 24, 2000 |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318151704/http://money.cnn.com/2000/08/24/news/verizon/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} The strike affected quarterly revenues,{{cite news |last=Barnes |first=Cecily |date=October 30, 2000 |title=Verizon profits flat, revenues up 7 percent |url=http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-profits-flat,-revenues-up-7-percent/2100-1033_3-247787.html |newspaper=CNET |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318153631/http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-profits-flat,-revenues-up-7-percent/2100-1033_3-247787.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} resulting in Verizon Wireless' postponement of the company's initial public offering (IPO) (the IPO was ultimately cancelled in 2003 because the company no longer needed to raise revenue for Verizon Wireless due to increased profits),TeleGeography. "[https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2003/01/30/verizon-posts-usd2-3-billion-profit-surge-cancels-wireless-ipo/ Verizon posts USD2.3 billion profit surge; cancels wireless IPO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222155459/https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2003/01/30/verizon-posts-usd2-3-billion-profit-surge-cancels-wireless-ipo/ |date=December 22, 2015 }}." January 30, 2003. Retrieved December 17, 2015. and created a backlog of repairs. This strike did not involve all company employees, as most line technicians and user technicians of the company are in a union.

Verizon launched 3G service in 2002, which doubled the Internet speed of the time to 144 kb per second.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/28/business/fast-hookup-with-cellphone-is-expected-from-verizon.html|title=Fast Hookup With Cellphone Is Expected From Verizon|last=Romero|first=Simon|date=January 28, 2002|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701101730/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/28/business/fast-hookup-with-cellphone-is-expected-from-verizon.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}} In August 2002, Verizon began offering local, long-distance, and mobile calling, as well as Internet service, in a bundle. It was initially only available to customers in New York and Massachusetts.{{cite news |last=Meyerson |first=Bruce |date=August 7, 2002 |title=Verizon, BellSouth bundling phone services |url=http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/08/07/fin_verizon_bellsouth.html |newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=November 27, 2013}}

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added Verizon Communications to its stock market index in April 2004.{{cite news |last=Isidore |first=Chris |date=April 1, 2004 |title=AT&T, Kodak, IP out of Dow AIG, Verizon, Pfizer are the newest additions to the world's most widely watched stock index |url=https://money.cnn.com/2004/04/01/markets/dow/ |newspaper=CNN Money |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318162511/http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/01/markets/dow/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} Verizon replaced telecom competitor AT&T, which had been a part of the index since the Great Depression.

Verizon launched its Fios Internet service, which transmits data over fiber optic cables, in Keller, Texas, in 2004.{{cite news |last=Svensson |first=Peter |date=June 20, 2007 |title=Verizon signs up millionth FiOS customer |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-06-20-1103379445_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318181117/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/products/2007-06-20-1103379445_x.htm |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Verizon's fiber race is on |last1=Charny |first1=Ben |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/verizons-fiber-race-is-on/ |newspaper=CNET |date=July 19, 2004 |access-date=June 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144258/https://www.cnet.com/news/verizons-fiber-race-is-on/ |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |url-status=live }} The company launched Fios TV in September 2005, also in Keller. Twenty percent of qualified homes had signed up by the end of 2004.{{cite news |last=Eckert |first=Barton |date=January 24, 2006 |title=Verizon FiOS TV service picks up Falls Church franchise |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/01/23/daily9.html |newspaper=Washington Business Journal |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510185536/http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/01/23/daily9.html |archive-date=May 10, 2014 |url-status=live }} By January 2006, Fios offered over 350 channels in seven states, including 20 high-definition television channels and video on demand.

Mail servers at Verizon.net were configured in December 2004 to not accept connections from Europe by default in an attempt to reduce spam email that was originating from the region. Individual domains would only be unblocked upon request.{{cite news |last=Leyden |first=John |date=January 14, 2005 |title=Verizon persists with European email blockade |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/14/verizon_email_block/ |newspaper=The Register |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023071030/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/14/verizon_email_block/ |archive-date=October 23, 2013 |url-status=live }} The move was criticized by its customers for disrupting their communications without notice,{{cite magazine |last=Gartner |first=John |date=January 10, 2015 |title=Verizon's E-Mail Embargo Enrages |url=https://www.wired.com/2005/01/verizons-e-mail-embargo-enrages/ |magazine=Wired |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006213834/https://www.wired.com/2005/01/verizons-e-mail-embargo-enrages/ |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |url-status=live}} causing them to initiate a class-action lawsuit.{{cite news |last=Leyden |first=John |date=January 21, 2005 |title=Verizon faces lawsuit over email blocking |url=https://www.theregister.com/2005/01/21/verizon_class_action/ |newspaper=The Register |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204014347/https://www.theregister.com/2005/01/21/verizon_class_action/ |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |url-status=live}} Verizon proposed a settlement in April 2006.{{cite web |date=April 4, 2006 |title=Verizon offers refunds over blocked e-mails |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12156737 |website=NBC News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003181817/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna12156737 |archive-date=October 3, 2022 |url-status=live}}

Beginning in 2005, Verizon reinforced its focus on its mobile phone, Internet, and TV businesses by selling a number of its U.S.-based wireline-focused businesses and international assets. It sold 700,000 lines in Hawaii in 2005,{{cite news |last=Sayer |first=Peter |date=July 27, 2005 |title=Verizon reports record revenue in second quarter |url=http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/136449/verizon_reports_record_revenue_second_quarter/ |newspaper=ARNnet |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318161257/http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/136449/verizon_reports_record_revenue_second_quarter/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} and spun off lines in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont in January 2007, which were then purchased by FairPoint Communications for $2.72 billion.{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Crayton |date=January 16, 2007 |title=Verizon Will Shed Phone Lines in Deal With FairPoint |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afKEqXgnzHAo&refer=home |newspaper=Bloomberg |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318161034/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=afKEqXgnzHAo&refer=home |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} Verizon also shed its telephone directory business in 2006.{{cite news |last=Fuhrmann |first=Ryan |date=July 11, 2006 |title=Verizon Hangs Up on Directory Assistance |url=http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2006/07/11/verizon-hangs-up-on-directory-assistance.aspx |newspaper=The Motley Fool |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318162114/http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2006/07/11/verizon-hangs-up-on-directory-assistance.aspx |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} In May 2009, the company spun off wirelines in Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin into a company that then merged with Frontier Communications in a deal valued at $8.6 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/companies/14phone.html|title=Frontier to Buy Verizon Lines for $8.5 Billion|last=Hansell|first=Saul|date=May 13, 2009|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701111000/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/technology/companies/14phone.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title = Verizon sells landlines in 14 states to Frontier in $8.6B deal|url = https://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7574975&page=1|website = ABC News|date = May 13, 2009|access-date = May 12, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150531033218/http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=7574975&page=1|archive-date = May 31, 2015|url-status = live}} It sold its interests in telecommunications providers in the Dominican Republic (Verizon Dominicana, previously CODETEL), Puerto Rico and Venezuela to América Móvil.{{cite news |title=3 Verizon Caribbean Units Sold to Mexican Magnate |last=Malkin |first=Elisabeth |date=April 4, 2006 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/business/worldbusiness/3-verizon-caribbean-units-sold-to-mexican-magnate.html |work=The New York Times}} A decade later, it would continue moves to invest in wireless. In 2015, American Tower Corp. acquired the exclusive right to lease, acquire or otherwise operate and manage many of Verizon's wireless towers for an upfront payment of $5.1 billion, which also included payment for the sale of approximately 165 towers. Verizon used the funds from this sale to support a $10.4 billion purchase of AWS-3 spectrum licenses at an FCC auction.{{cite news |title=Verizon offloads towers to American Tower for $5B |last=Marek |first=Sue |date=February 5, 2015 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-offloads-towers-to-american-tower-for-5b |work=FierceWireless}} In 2016, Verizon sold its wireline operations in Texas, Florida, and California to Frontier.{{cite web|title = Frontier Weighs Sale of Ex-Verizon Landline Assets|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-02/frontier-is-said-to-consider-sale-of-ex-verizon-landline-assets|website = Bloomberg|date = February 2, 2018|access-date = May 19, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180521055557/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-02/frontier-is-said-to-consider-sale-of-ex-verizon-landline-assets|archive-date = May 21, 2018|url-status = live}}

Verizon began negotiations in 2005 to purchase long-distance carrier MCI, who accepted the company's initial $6.75 billion offer in February but then received a higher offer from Qwest Communications. Verizon increased its bid to $7.6{{nbsp}}billion, which MCI accepted on March 29, 2005.{{cite news |last=La Monica |first=Paul |date=March 29, 2005 |title=MCI accepts new $7.6B Verizon bid franchise |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/03/29/technology/mci_verizon/?cnn=yes |newspaper=CNNMoney.com |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318153215/http://money.cnn.com/2005/03/29/technology/mci_verizon/?cnn=yes |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} The acquisition gave the company access to MCI's million corporate clients and international holdings, expanding Verizon's presence into global markets.{{cite news |last=Ewalt |first=David |date=February 14, 2005 |title=Verizon To Acquire MCI For $6.8B |url=https://www.forbes.com/2005/02/14/cx_de_0214verizon.html |newspaper=Forbes |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318154050/http://www.forbes.com/2005/02/14/cx_de_0214verizon.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} As a result, Verizon Business was established as a new division to serve the company's business and government customers.{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |date=January 6, 2006 |title=Verizon closes book on MCI merger franchise |url=http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-closes-book-on-MCI-merger/2100-1037_3-6003498.html |newspaper=CNET |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216164031/http://news.cnet.com/Verizon-closes-book-on-MCI-merger/2100-1037_3-6003498.html |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |url-status=live }} The FCC approved the deal on October 31, 2005, valuing it at $8.5 billion.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/technology/verizon-and-sbc-deals-clear-final-us-hurdle.html|title=Verizon and SBC deals clear final U.S. hurdle|date=November 1, 2005|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202224800/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/01/technology/verizon-and-sbc-deals-clear-final-us-hurdle.html|archive-date=February 2, 2019|url-status=live}} Verizon's 2006 revenues rose by as much as 20% following the purchase.

USA Today reported in May 2006 that Verizon, as well as AT&T and BellSouth, had given the National Security Agency landline phone records following the September 11 attacks.{{cite news |last=McNamara |first=Melissa |date=May 12, 2006 |title=Verizon Sued For Giving Records To NSA |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/verizon-sued-for-giving-records-to-nsa/ |newspaper=CBS |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318164826/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/verizon-sued-for-giving-records-to-nsa/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Verizon stock takes hit on $50 billion lawsuit |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/05/15/news/companies/verizon/ |newspaper=CNNMoney.com |date=May 15, 2006 |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318180121/http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/15/news/companies/verizon/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} That same month, a $50 billion lawsuit was filed by two lawyers on behalf of all Verizon subscribers for privacy violations and to prevent the company from releasing additional records without consent or warrant. Protesters staged the National Day of Out(R)age due in part to the controversy.{{cite news |last=McCullagh |first=Declan |date=May 24, 2006 |title=Protesters face off with Verizon, AT&T |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1036_3-6076575.html |newspaper=CNET |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318152448/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1036_3-6076575.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} In 2007, Verizon stated that it fulfilled only "lawful demands" for information,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/washington/16nsa.html|title=Phone Utilities Won't Give Details About Eavesdropping|last=Lichtblau|first=Eric|date=October 16, 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701100308/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/washington/16nsa.html|archive-date=July 1, 2017|url-status=live}} but also acknowledged surrendering customer information to government agencies without court orders or warrants 720 times between 2005 and 2007.{{cite news |last=Nakashima |first=Ellen |date=October 16, 2007 |title=Verizon Says It Turned Over Data Without Court Orders |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501857.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125141116/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501857.html |archive-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live }}

Verizon won a lawsuit against Vonage for patent infringement in March 2007. The three patents named were filed by Bell Atlantic in 1997, and relate to the conversion of IP addresses into phone numbers, a key technology of Vonage's business. The company was awarded US$58 million in damages and future royalties.{{cite news |last=Barrett |first=Larry |date=October 25, 2007 |title=Vonage Settles With Verizon, Stock Soars |url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3707401 |newspaper=Internetnews.com |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318152315/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3707401 |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} Vonage later lost an appeal and was ordered to pay Verizon $120 million.{{cite news |last=St.Onge |first=Jeff |date=November 15, 2007 |title=Vonage's Appeal Refused; Verizon Owed $120 Million |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ab3LRWLagfCw |newspaper=Bloomberg |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318160840/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ab3LRWLagfCw |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}

In May 2007, Verizon acquired CyberTrust, a privately held provider of global information security services.{{cite web|title = Verizon Business acquires Cybertrust|url = https://www.networkworld.com/article/832376/access-control-verizon-business-acquires-cybertrust.html|access-date = October 5, 2015|first = Jim|last = Duffy|date = May 14, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240325124815/https://www.networkworld.com/article/832376/access-control-verizon-business-acquires-cybertrust.html|archive-date = March 25, 2024|url-status = live}}

In September 2007, Verizon Wireless reversed a controversial decision to deny NARAL Pro-Choice America a short code through which the organization could text consumers who had signed up for messaging from the group. The company had initially refused the group access to a code by reserving the right to block "controversial or unsavory" messages.{{cite news |last=Liptak |first=Adam |date=September 27, 2007 |title=Verizon Reverses Itself on Abortion Messages |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/27cnd-verizon.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328101155/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/27/business/27cnd-verizon.html |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |url-status=live }}

Verizon opened its networks to third party apps and devices for the first time in 2007,{{cite news |last=Gardiner |first=Bryan |date=November 27, 2007 |title=Pigs Fly, Hell Freezes Over and Verizon Opens Up Its Network — No, Really |url=https://www.wired.com/business/2007/11/verizon-opens-u/ |newspaper=Gizmodo |access-date=November 27, 2013}} a decision that allowed it to participate in the FCC's 2008 700 MHz auction of "open access" spectrum. During that auction, the company bid $9.4 billion and won the bulk of national and local licenses for airwaves reaching approximately 469 million people.{{cite news |last=Gardiner |first=Bryan |date=March 20, 2008 |title=In Spectrum Auction, Winners Are AT&T, Verizon and Openness |url=https://www.wired.com/business/2008/03/fcc-releases-70/ |newspaper=Gizmodo |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128051549/http://www.wired.com/business/2008/03/fcc-releases-70/ |archive-date=November 28, 2013 |url-status=live }} Verizon utilized the increased spectrum for its 4G service.{{cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Peter |date=April 4, 2008 |title=Verizon to use new spectrum for advanced wireless |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/04/04/uk-verizon-spectrum-idUKN0415786820080404 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318155526/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/04/04/uk-verizon-spectrum-idUKN0415786820080404 |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Verizon acquired Rural Cellular Corp. for $2.7 billion in cash and assumed debt in 2008.{{cite news |title=Verizon Wireless to Acquire Rural Cellular |last=Ross |first=Grant |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=3427837 |work=ABC News |access-date=July 25, 2022}} That summer, Verizon announced it would purchase wireless carrier Alltel for $28.1 billion. The acquisition included 13 million customers, which allowed Verizon Wireless to surpass AT&T in number of customers and reach new markets in rural areas.{{cite news |last=Carew |first=Sinead |date=June 6, 2008 |title=Verizon Wireless to buy Alltel |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/06/06/uk-alltel-verizon-idUKWNAS723020080606 |newspaper=Reuters |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318160319/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/06/06/uk-alltel-verizon-idUKWNAS723020080606 |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

4chan began receiving reports on February 4, 2010, from Verizon Wireless customers that were having difficulties accessing the site's image boards. Administrators of the site found that only traffic on port 80 to the boards.4chan.org domain was affected, leading them to believe the block was intentional. On February 7, 2010, Verizon Wireless confirmed that 4chan.org was "explicitly blocked"Moot (February 7, 2010). [http://status.4chan.org/index.html#2310965532000217917 "Verizon Wireless confirms block". 4chan.org.] after Verizon's security and external experts detected sweep attacks coming from an IP address associated with the 4chan network. Traffic was restored several days later.[http://wirelessfederation.com/news/21888-verizon-wireless-restores-4chan-traffic-2/ Verizon Wireless restores 4Chan traffic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021082458/http://wirelessfederation.com/news/21888-verizon-wireless-restores-4chan-traffic-2/ |date=October 21, 2012 }}, Wireless Federation, United Kingdom, 2010-02-10, accessed 2010-02-12, "After the concerns were raised over network attacks, Verizon Wireless restored traffic affiliated with the 4chan online forum."

The chairmen of Verizon and Google agreed that network neutrality should be defined and limited in August 2010.{{cite news |last=Shields |first=Todd |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/google-verizon-pact-may-herald-end-of-equal-access-internet-as-fcc-stalls.html |title=Bloomberg.com |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=August 12, 2010 |access-date=June 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318155928/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-12/google-verizon-pact-may-herald-end-of-equal-access-internet-as-fcc-stalls.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite web

|author = Matt Schafer

|title = Five Sentences from Google/Verizon that Could Change the Net Forever

|quote = Despite Google and Verizon's claims to support an open Internet, the two-page policy proposal removes any hope of moving forward with the open Internet as we know it.

|publisher = Lippmannwouldroll.com

|date = August 9, 2010

|url = http://lippmannwouldroll.com/2010/08/09/five-sentences-from-googleverizon-that-could-change-the-net-forever/

|access-date = October 17, 2010

|archive-url = http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20101018070908/http%3A//lippmannwouldroll.com/2010/08/09/five%2Dsentences%2Dfrom%2Dgoogleverizon%2Dthat%2Dcould%2Dchange%2Dthe%2Dnet%2Dforever/

|archive-date = October 18, 2010

|url-status = dead

|df = mdy-all

}}

In October 2010, Verizon Wireless paid $77.8 million in refunds and FCC penalties for overcharging 15 million customers for data services. The company stated the overcharges were accidental and only amounted to a few dollars per customer.{{cite news |last=Woolley |first=Scott |date=October 4, 2010 |title=Verizon's refund is just the start of a shakeup in wireless |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/04/verizons-refund-is-just-the-start-of-a-shakeup-in-wireless/ |newspaper=Fortune |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318155636/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2010/10/04/verizons-refund-is-just-the-start-of-a-shakeup-in-wireless/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Kang |first=Cecilia |date=October 28, 2010 |title=Verizon Wireless pays FCC $25M for years of false data charges |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/10/the_federal_communications_com_5.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902211244/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/10/the_federal_communications_com_5.html |archive-date=September 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

Verizon introduced its 4G LTE network in 38 markets, as well as airports in seven additional cities in December 2010. The company planned on a three-year continuous expansion of the 4G service.{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Marguerite |date=December 1, 2010 |title=Verizon: 4G Wireless Service Debuts this Sunday |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/verizon-4g-wireless-service-debuts-this-sunday/ |newspaper=CBS |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318161814/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/verizon-4g-wireless-service-debuts-this-sunday/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}

File:Verizon 2015 logo -vector.svg

Verizon acquired Terremark, an information technology services company, for $1.4 billion in early 2011.{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/verizon-to-buy-terremark-for-1-4-billion/|title=Verizon to Buy Terremark for $1.4 Billion|last=Rusli|first=Evelyn M.|date=January 27, 2011|website=DealBook|publisher=The New York Times|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709113651/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/verizon-to-buy-terremark-for-1-4-billion/|archive-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live}}

Ivan Seidenberg retired as Verizon's CEO on August 1, 2011, and was succeeded by Lowell McAdam.{{cite news |last=Svensson |first=Peter |date=July 22, 2011 |title=Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg Steps Down; Lowell McAdam Takes Helm |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/22/verizon-ceo-ivan-seidenberg-lowell-mcadam_n_906537.html |newspaper=The Huffington Post |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318162027/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/22/verizon-ceo-ivan-seidenberg-lowell-mcadam_n_906537.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }}

In December 2011, the non-partisan organization Public Campaign criticized Verizon for its tax avoidance procedures after it spent $52.34 million on lobbying while collecting $951 million in tax rebates between 2008 and 2010 and making a profit of $32.5 billion. The same report also criticized Verizon for increasing executive pay by 167% in 2010 for its top five executives while laying off 21,308 workers between 2008 and 2010.{{cite web|last=Portero|first=Ashley|title=30 Major U.S. Corporations Paid More to Lobby Congress Than Income Taxes, 2008–2010|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/264481/20111209/30-major-u-s-corporations-paid-lobby.htm|work=International Business Times|access-date=December 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107173713/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/264481/20111209/30-major-u-s-corporations-paid-lobby.htm|archive-date=January 7, 2012|url-status=live|date=December 9, 2011}} However, in its Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 24, 2012, Verizon reported having paid more than $11.1 billion in taxes (including income, employment and property taxes) from 2009 to 2011. In addition, the company reported in the 10-K that most of the drop in employment since 2008 was due to a voluntary retirement offer.{{cite web|title=Verizon Form 10-K|url=http://eol.edgarexplorer.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1?SessionID=XukkiWhUFX_cXzg&ID=8435144|access-date=February 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609005313/http://eol.edgarexplorer.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingHTML1%3FSessionID=XukkiWhUFX_cXzg&ID=8435144|archive-date=June 9, 2012|url-status=dead}}

Verizon purchased Hughes Telematics, a producer of wireless features for automobiles, for $612 million in June 2012 as part of its strategy to expand into new growth areas in its wireless business.{{cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/verizon-to-buy-hughes-telematics-for-612-million/|title=Verizon to Buy Hughes Telematics for $612 Million|last=de la Merced|first=Michael J.|date=June 1, 2012|website=DealBook|publisher=The New York Times|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709115438/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/verizon-to-buy-hughes-telematics-for-612-million/|archive-date=July 9, 2017|url-status=live}} The same month, Verizon's E-911 service failed in the aftermath of the June 2012 derecho storm in several northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., with some problems lasting several days.{{cite news|last=Juvenal|first=Justin|title=911 System Restored|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/911-emergency-call-system-is-repaired-after-storm-officials-say/2012/07/03/gJQAreq6KW_story.html?hpid=z4|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 4, 2012|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722211522/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/911-emergency-call-system-is-repaired-after-storm-officials-say/2012/07/03/gJQAreq6KW_story.html?hpid=z4|archive-date=July 22, 2017|url-status=live}} The FCC conducted an investigation and released a report detailing the problems that led to the failure in January 2013. Verizon reported that it had already addressed or was addressing a number of the issues related to the FCC report, including the causes of generator failures, conducting audits of backup systems, and making its monitoring systems less centralized,{{cite news |title=F.C.C. Says Failure of 911 In Storm Was Preventable |author=Edward Wyatt |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=57GB-MX41-JBG3-627M&csi=6742&oc=00240&perma=true |work=The New York Times |date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318160714/http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=57GB-MX41-JBG3-627M&csi=6742&oc=00240&perma=true |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} although the FCC indicated that Verizon still needed to make additional improvements.{{cite news |title=Verizon 911 fixes are found lacking |author=Mary Pat Flaherty |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=57GC-43B1-JCDY-T12R&csi=265544&oc=00240&perma=true |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=September 23, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005012248/http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=57GC-43B1-JCDY-T12R&csi=265544&oc=00240&perma=true |archive-date=October 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}

The FCC ruled that Verizon must stop charging users an added fee for using 4G smartphones and tablets as Wi-Fi hotspots (known as "tethering"). Verizon had been charging its customers, even those with "unlimited" plans, $20 per month for tethering. As part of the 2012 settlement, Verizon made a voluntary payment of $1.25 million to the U.S. Treasury.{{cite news |title=FCC rules Verizon can't charge for Wi-Fi tethering |author=Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols |url=https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/networking/let-my-wi-fi-go-fcc-rules-verizon-cant-charge-for-wi-fi-tethering/ |work=ZDNet |date=July 31, 2012 |access-date=May 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514123819/http://www.zdnet.com/let-my-wi-fi-go-fcc-rules-verizon-cant-charge-for-wi-fi-tethering-7000001916/ |archive-date=May 14, 2014 |url-status=live }}

In August 2012, the Department of Justice approved Verizon's purchase of Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum from a consortium of cable companies, including Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, for $3.9 billion.{{cite news | url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/8/16/3246879/us-doj-verizon-cable-spectrum-deal-approved | title=US Justice Department approves spectrum deal between Verizon and cable companies | first=Chris | last=Welch | work=The Verge | date=August 16, 2012}} Verizon began expanding its LTE network utilizing these extra airwaves in October 2013.Phil Goldstein, FierceWireless. "[http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-starts-deploying-lte-its-aws-spectrum/2013-10-15#ixzz2niDsyjjA Verizon starts deploying LTE in its AWS spectrum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318152742/http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/verizon-starts-deploying-lte-its-aws-spectrum/2013-10-15#ixzz2niDsyjjA |date=March 18, 2014 }}." October 15, 2013. Retrieved December 17, 2015.

The Guardian reported it had obtained an order by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and approved by the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that required Verizon to provide the National Security Agency (NSA) with telephone metadata for all calls originating in the U.S.{{cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Ewen|title=NSA collecting phone records of millions of Verizon customers daily|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/nsa-phone-records-verizon-court-order|access-date=June 6, 2013|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 5, 2013|author2=Spencer Ackerman|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816045641/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/nsa-phone-records-verizon-court-order|archive-date=August 16, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=NSA collecting phone records for millions of Verizon customers, report says |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/06/nsa-collecting-phone-records-for-millions-verizon-customers-report-says/ |access-date=June 6, 2013 |newspaper=FoxNews |date=June 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606132631/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/06/06/nsa-collecting-phone-records-for-millions-verizon-customers-report-says/ |archive-date=June 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }} Verizon Wireless was not part of the NSA data collection for wireless accounts due to foreign ownership issues.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324049504578543800240266368|title=T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless Shielded from NSA Sweep|last1=Yadron|first1=Danny|date=June 14, 2013|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 27, 2019|last2=Perez|first2=Evan|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723191315/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324049504578543800240266368|archive-date=July 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon purchased Vodafone's 45% stake in Verizon in September 2013 for $130 billion.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23933955 |title=Vodafone confirms Verizon stake sale |work=BBC News |date=September 2, 2013 |access-date=September 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617180028/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23933955 |archive-date=June 17, 2018 |url-status=live }} The deal closed on February 21, 2014, and became the third largest corporate deal ever signed, giving Verizon Communications sole ownership of Verizon Wireless.{{cite news |title=Verizon, Vodafone agree $130 billion Wireless deal |author=Devindra Hardawar |url=https://venturebeat.com/2014/02/21/verizon-closes-130b-deal-to-buy-out-vodafones-stake-in-verizon-wireless-today/ |work=VentureBeat |date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221214127/http://venturebeat.com/2014/02/21/verizon-closes-130b-deal-to-buy-out-vodafones-stake-in-verizon-wireless-today/ |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |url-status=live }}

On January 14, 2014, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC's net neutrality rules after Verizon filed suit against them in January 2010.{{cite news |last=Miranda |first=Leticia |date=December 6, 2013 |title=Verizon, the FCC and What You Need to Know About Net Neutrality |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/177425/verizon-fcc-and-what-you-need-know-about-net-neutrality# |newspaper=The Nation |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210054025/http://www.thenation.com/article/177425/verizon-fcc-and-what-you-need-know-about-net-neutrality |archive-date=December 10, 2013 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Singel |first=Ryan |date=January 20, 2011 |title=Verizon Files Suit Against FCC Net Neutrality Rules |url=https://www.wired.com/business/2011/01/verizon-sues-fcc/ |newspaper=Wired |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607020527/http://www.wired.com/business/2011/01/verizon-sues-fcc/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |url-status=live }} In June 2016, in a 184-page ruling, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld, by a 2–1 vote, the FCC's net neutrality rules and the FCC's determination that broadband access is a public utility rather than a luxury. AT&T and the telecom industry said they would seek to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-appeals-court-ruling.html|title=Court Backs Rules Treating Internet as Utility, Not Luxury|last=Kang|first=Cecilia|date=June 14, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223185216/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/technology/net-neutrality-fcc-appeals-court-ruling.html|archive-date=February 23, 2017|url-status=live}}

The Wall Street Journal reported that Verizon received more than 1,000 requests for information about its subscribers on national security grounds via National Security Letters. In total, Verizon received 321,545 requests from federal, state and local law enforcement for U.S. customer information.{{cite news |title=Verizon Says It Received More Than 1,000 National Security Letters In 2013 |last1=Knutson |first1=Ryan |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140122-708331.html |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=February 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318163007/http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140122-708331.html |archive-date=March 18, 2014 |url-status=live }} In May 2015, Verizon agreed to pay $90 million "to settle federal and state investigations into allegations mobile customers were improperly billed for premium text messages."{{Cite news|title = Verizon and Sprint to pay $158 million to settle mobile cramming case|url = https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-verizon-sprint-cramming-settlement-20150512-story.html|access-date = May 12, 2015|first = Jim|last = Puzzanghera|work = Los Angeles Times|date = May 12, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150514174629/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-verizon-sprint-cramming-settlement-20150512-story.html|archive-date = May 14, 2015|url-status = live}}

Verizon Wireless launched the technology news website SugarString in October 2014. The publication attracted controversy after it was reported that its writers were forbidden from publishing articles related to net neutrality or domestic surveillance. Although Verizon denied that this was the case, the site (described as being a pilot project) was shuttered in December.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/28/7086791/verizon-is-scared-of-the-truth|title=Verizon is scared of the truth|work=The Verge|access-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114232724/https://www.theverge.com/2014/10/28/7086791/verizon-is-scared-of-the-truth|archive-date=November 14, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/2/7324063/verizon-kills-off-sugarstring|title=Verizon has shuttered Sugarstring, its bizarre tech news experiment|work=The Verge|access-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911002424/https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/2/7324063/verizon-kills-off-sugarstring|archive-date=September 11, 2018|url-status=live}}

In August 2015, Verizon launched Hum, a service and device offering vehicle diagnostic and monitoring tools for vehicles.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/verizon-hum/|title=Verizon's 'Hum' Turns Any Clunker Into a Connected Car|last=Golson|first=Jordan|date=August 26, 2015|magazine=Wired|access-date=February 27, 2019|issn=1059-1028|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427130624/https://www.wired.com/2015/08/verizon-hum/|archive-date=April 27, 2017|url-status=live}} On August 1, 2016, Verizon announced its acquisition of Fleetmatics, a fleet telematics system company in Dublin, Ireland, for $2.4 billion, to build products that it offers to enterprises for logistics and mobile workforces.{{Cite news|title = Verizon buys Fleetmatics for $2.4B in cash to step up in telematics|url = https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/01/verizon-buys-fleetmatics-for-2-4b-in-cash-to-step-up-in-telematics/|access-date = August 1, 2016|first = Ingrid|last = Lunden|work = TechCrunch|date = August 1, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160801125914/https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/01/verizon-buys-fleetmatics-for-2-4b-in-cash-to-step-up-in-telematics/|archive-date = August 1, 2016|url-status = live}} On September 12, 2016, Verizon announced its acquisition of Sensity, a startup for LED sensors, in an effort to bolster its IoT portfolio.By Aaron Pressman, Fortune. "[http://fortune.com/2016/09/12/verizon-sensity-internet-of-things/ How Verizon Is Moving From Telephone Poles to Light Poles for Smart Devices] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913152148/http://fortune.com/2016/09/12/verizon-sensity-internet-of-things/ |date=September 13, 2016 }}." September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016. A few months later, Verizon acquired mapping startup SocialRadar, whose technology would be integrated with MapQuest.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/16/verizon-acquires-socialradar-to-buff-up-mapquests-location-data/|title=Verizon acquires SocialRadar to buff up MapQuest's location data|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|website=TechCrunch|date=November 17, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824180158/https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/16/verizon-acquires-socialradar-to-buff-up-mapquests-location-data/|archive-date=August 24, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon was accused by Communications Workers of America of deliberately refusing to maintain its copper telephone service in 2016. The organization released internal memos and other documents stating that Verizon workers in Pennsylvania were being instructed to, in areas with network problems, migrate voice-only customers to VoiceLink, a system that delivers telephone service over the Verizon Wireless network, instead of repairing the copper lines. VoiceLink has limitations, including incompatibility with services or devices that require the transmission of data over the telephone line, and a dependency on battery backup in case of power failure. The memo warned that technicians who do not follow this procedure would be subject to "disciplinary action up to and including dismissal". A Verizon spokesperson responded to the allegations, stating that the company's top priority was to restore service to customers as quickly as possible, and that VoiceLink was a means of doing so in the event that larger repairs had to be done to the infrastructure. The spokesperson stated that it was "hard to argue with disciplining someone who intentionally leaves a customer without service".{{cite web|title=Verizon workers can now be fired if they fix copper phone lines|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/10/verizon-workers-can-now-be-fired-if-they-fix-copper-phone-lines/|website=Ars Technica|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=October 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101123900/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/10/verizon-workers-can-now-be-fired-if-they-fix-copper-phone-lines/|archive-date=November 1, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Verizon will fix your landline in a month—or give you wireless right now|url=https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/02/verizon-will-fix-your-landline-in-a-month-or-give-you-wireless-right-now/|website=Ars Technica|access-date=October 5, 2016|date=February 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225011505/https://arstechnica.com/business/2015/02/verizon-will-fix-your-landline-in-a-month-or-give-you-wireless-right-now/|archive-date=February 25, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon was reported to be in talks with Charter Communications in January 2017 to discuss a possible buyout.{{cite news|last=Fung|first=Brian|date=January 26, 2017|title=Verizon is reportedly in talks to merge with Charter, America's second-biggest cable company|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/26/verizon-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-merge-with-charter-americas-second-biggest-cable-company/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126230436/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/26/verizon-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-merge-with-charter-americas-second-biggest-cable-company/|archive-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Robehmed|first=Natalie|date=January 26, 2017|title=Why A Potential Verizon-Charter Tie-Up Makes Sense|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2017/01/26/why-a-potential-verizon-charter-tie-up-makes-sense/|magazine=Forbes|access-date=January 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126172414/http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2017/01/26/why-a-potential-verizon-charter-tie-up-makes-sense/|archive-date=January 26, 2017|url-status=live}} Charter reportedly rejected the deal around the end of May 2017, citing that the offer was too low for them to accept, and its largest shareholder Liberty Media stated that they were not ready to sell.{{cite web |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |date=June 1, 2017 |title=Verizon reportedly tried to buy #2 cable company Charter, was rejected |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/06/verizon-reportedly-tried-to-buy-2-cable-company-charter-was-rejected/ |website=Ars Technica}}

Verizon added to its fiber-optic network and 5G capabilities in February 2017 when it closed its $1.8 billion acquisition of XO Communications' fiber-optic network business.{{cite news |title=Verizon, Corning agree to $1.05 billion fiber deal |last=Athavaley |first=Anjali |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-corning-verizon-idUSKBN17K201 |work=Reuters}} Verizon and Corning Inc. announced a deal in April 2017 whereby Verizon would purchase 12.4{{nbsp}}million{{nbsp}}miles of optical fiber per year from Corning from 2018 through 2020. Months later, Verizon purchased WideOpenWest's fiber-optic assets in the Chicago market for $225{{nbsp}}million.{{cite news |title=Verizon wraps its acquisition of WideOpenWest's Chicago fiber assets |last=Buckley |first=Sean |date=December 14, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2022 |url=https://www.fiercetelecom.com/telecom/verizon-wraps-its-acquisition-chicago-s-wow-s-fiber-assets |work=FierceTelecom}}

Also in 2017, Verizon was sued by New York City for violating its cable franchise agreement, which required the provider to pass a fiberoptic network to all households in the city by June 30, 2014. Verizon disputed the claims, citing landlords not granting permission to install the equipment on their properties, and an understanding with the government that the fiber network would follow the same routes as its copper lines, and did not necessarily mean it would have to pass the lines in front of every property.{{cite web|title=1 million NYC homes can't get Verizon FiOS, so the city just sued Verizon|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/nyc-sues-verizon-alleges-failure-to-complete-citywide-fiber-rollout/|website=Ars Technica|access-date=March 14, 2017|date=March 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314052345/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/nyc-sues-verizon-alleges-failure-to-complete-citywide-fiber-rollout/|archive-date=March 14, 2017|url-status=live}}

{{visible anchor|Verizon Connect}} was created in 2018, combining the individual Telematics, Fleetmatics, and Telogis units.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-holds-its-ground-in-wireless-market-1524582013|title=Verizon Holds Its Ground in Wireless Market|last1=FitzGerald|first1=Drew|date=April 24, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=February 27, 2019|last2=Hufford|first2=Austen|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512142107/https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-holds-its-ground-in-wireless-market-1524582013|archive-date=May 12, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Telecom Giants Fear Missing the Money as Cars Go Online |last1=Moritz |first1=Scott |last2=Coppola |first2=Gabrielle |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-10/can-telecom-giants-find-ways-to-make-real-money-on-smarter-cars |newspaper=Bloomberg LP |date=April 10, 2018 |access-date=May 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513081128/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-10/can-telecom-giants-find-ways-to-make-real-money-on-smarter-cars |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2018/03/verizon-establishes-new-connected-vehicle-mobile-workforce-division |title=Verizon Establishes New Connected Vehicle, Mobile Workforce Division |author=Andy Szal |date=March 7, 2018 |publisher=Wireless Week |access-date=May 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513011505/https://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2018/03/verizon-establishes-new-connected-vehicle-mobile-workforce-division |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}

On December 10, 2018, Verizon announced that 10,400 managers had agreed to leave the company as part of a "voluntary separation program" offered to 44,000 employees, resulting in a cut of around 7% of its workforce. At the same time, the company announced a $4.6 billion write-off on its media division, citing "increased competitive and market pressures throughout 2018 that have resulted in lower-than-expected revenues and earning."{{cite web|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=December 13, 2018|title=Verizon cuts 10,000 jobs and admits its Yahoo/AOL division is a failure|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/12/verizon-cuts-10000-jobs-and-admits-its-yahooaol-division-is-a-failure/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212082410/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/12/verizon-cuts-10000-jobs-and-admits-its-yahooaol-division-is-a-failure/|archive-date=February 12, 2019|access-date=February 11, 2019|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}}

Verizon underwent structural and organizational changes from 2018 to 2019. Hans Vestberg succeeded Lowell McAdam as CEO on August 1, 2018.{{cite news |title=At Verizon, a Changing of the Guard as It Pursues 5G |last1=Rao |first1=Prashant S. |last2=de la Merced |first2=Michael J. |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/08/business/verizon-lowell-mcadam-hans-vestberg.html |date=June 8, 2018 |access-date=October 3, 2022}} Vestberg's strategy focused on Verizon's 5G technology. In early 2019, Verizon reorganized itself into three new divisions—Consumer, Business and Media.{{cite news |title=Verizon to Break Up Wireless Unit in Reorganization |last1=Krouse |first1=Sarah |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-to-break-up-wireless-unit-in-reorganization-1541420253 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 5, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108125130/https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-to-break-up-wireless-unit-in-reorganization-1541420253 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Verizon to reorganize business segments |last1=Dang |first1=Sheila |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-verizon-segments/verizon-to-reorganize-business-segments-idUSKCN1NA1DW |work=Reuters |date=November 5, 2018 |access-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108181237/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-verizon-segments/verizon-to-reorganize-business-segments-idUSKCN1NA1DW |url-status=live }}

Verizon began offering anti-spam and robocalling features free of charge to all customers beginning in March 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-robocallers-your-days-are-numbered-starting-march-verizons-spam-and-robocalling|title=Verizon to Robocallers|last=Van Dinter|first=Steve|date=January 17, 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121232638/https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-robocallers-your-days-are-numbered-starting-march-verizons-spam-and-robocalling|archive-date=January 21, 2019|access-date=January 21, 2019}}

Verizon began rolling out its 5G mobile network in April 2019; the network was active in 30 cities by the end of the year.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/03/verizon-begins-rolling-out-its-5g-wireless-network-for-smartphones.html|title=Verizon begins rolling out its 5G wireless network for smartphones|last=Haselton|first=Todd|date=April 3, 2019|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/verizon-5g-rollout/|title=Verizon 5G rollout: Everything you need to know|last=de Looper|first=Christian|date=January 28, 2020|website=Digital Trends|access-date=February 26, 2020}} Verizon uses millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum as part of its 5G network.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/09/what-is-5g-heres-what-verizon-att-sprint-and-t-mobile-offer.html|title=There are three types of 5G — most of what you'll get is not the super-fast kind|last1=Sherman|first1=Alex|last2=Haselton|first2=Todd|date=January 9, 2020|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}} While capable of very high speeds, mmWave has limited range and poor building penetration.{{Cite journal|last1=Al-Falahy|first1=Naser|last2=Alani|first2=Omar|date=November 2018|title=Millimetre wave frequency band as a candidate spectrum for 5G network architecture: A survey|journal=Physical Communication|language=en|volume=32|pages=120–144|doi=10.1016/j.phycom.2018.11.003|s2cid=67794058|url=http://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/49911/1/Millimetre%20wave%20frequency%20band%20as%20a%20candidate%20spectrum%20for%205G%20network%20architecture%20A%20survey.pdf}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/tech/verizon-ceo-defends-mmwave-strategy-for-5g|title=Verizon CEO defends mmWave strategy for 5G|last=Alleven|first=Monica|date=January 30, 2020|website=FierceWireless|language=en|access-date=February 26, 2020}}

On January 14, 2020, Verizon announced the launch of its privacy-focused search engine OneSearch.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=January 14, 2020|title=Verizon Media Launches Privacy-Focused Search Engine, OneSearch|url=https://www.verizonmedia.com/press/2020/01/14/verizon-media-launches-privacy-focused-search-engine-onesearch|access-date=January 10, 2021|website=Verizon Media}}{{Cite news|last=Lyons|first=Kim|date=January 14, 2020|title=Yahoo parent Verizon promises it won't track you with OneSearch, its new privacy-focused search engine|work=The Verge|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21065640/verizon-onesearch-privacy-tracking-yahoo-breach-hack|access-date=January 10, 2020}}

Verizon acquired videoconferencing service BlueJeans in May 2020 in order to expand its business portfolio offerings, particularly its unified communications offerings. While the price of the acquisition was not announced, it was believed to be in the sub $500 million range.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/16/verizon-is-buying-b2b-videoconferencing-firm-bluejeans/|title=Verizon is buying B2B videoconferencing firm BlueJeans}}

In September 2020, Verizon announced its plans to acquire TracFone Wireless (a business unit of Mexican telecom business, América Móvil) for $6.25 billion.[https://web.archive.org/web/20201019164622/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-tracfone-m-a-verizon/verizon-to-buy-wireless-services-provider-tracfone-in-6-25-billion-deal-idUKKBN2651X0 Reuters] The deal was approved by the FCC on November 22, 2021, and closed the following day.

In 2021, Verizon and AT&T delayed 5G network deployment because the service could interfere with airplane cockpit security systems.{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/wsj-verizon-and-att-delay-5g-rollout-amid-faa-concers/|title=

Verizon and AT&T delay 5G rollout amid FAA concerns|website=CBS News|access-date=February 7, 2024|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205185409/https://www.cbsnews.com/video/wsj-verizon-and-att-delay-5g-rollout-amid-faa-concers/}} In early January 2022, the companies announced 5G deployment but agreed to a two-week delay.{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://cbsnews.com/news/5g-att-verizon-rollout-delay-airline-safety/|title=AT&T and Verizon agree to two-week delay in rollout of new 5G service due to concerns over airline safety|website=CBS News|date=January 4, 2022 |access-date=February 7, 2024|archive-date=February 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220144432/https://cbsnews.com/news/5g-att-verizon-rollout-delay-airline-safety/}} In mid-January, Verizon said the high-speed wireless service would still launch, but with a temporary restriction around airports. In late January 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration agreed with AT&T and Verizon on a list of measures that would make it possible to activate 5G on more towers.{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-verizon-5g-airports-catastrophic-disruption-travel/|title=AT&T, Verizon delay 5G debut near some airports following warning of "catastrophic disruption" to travel|website=CBS News|date=January 18, 2022 |access-date=February 8, 2024|archive-date=December 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215030754/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/att-verizon-5g-airports-catastrophic-disruption-travel/}} As a result, carriers have been able to pinpoint areas around airports where the 5G signal should be attenuated, and the FAA reported that about 90% of US commercial aircraft are equipped with approved radio altimeters, allowing them to land in areas of poor visibility with a deployed 5G network. The agency also said work is continuing to ensure that all aircraft can operate within range of the service.{{Cite web|language=en|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faa-verizon-att-activate-5g-towers/|title=FAA clears Verizon and AT&T to activate more 5G towers|website=CBS News|date=January 28, 2022 |access-date=February 8, 2024|archive-date=February 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205055419/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/faa-verizon-att-activate-5g-towers/}}

Verizon more than doubled its existing mid-band spectrum holdings in early 2021 by adding an average of 161{{nbsp}}MHz of C-Band nationwide, purchased for $52.9{{nbsp}}billion at an FCC C-Band auction. The company won between 140 and 200{{nbsp}}MHz of C-Band spectrum in every available market.{{cite news |title=Verizon more than doubles mid-band spectrum for 5G |last=Condon |first=Stephanie |work=ZDNet |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/verizon-more-than-doubles-mid-band-spectrum-for-5g/ |date=March 10, 2021 |access-date=October 3, 2022}}

In December 2023, Verizon announced plans to open a new global center of excellence in Limerick, Ireland, in early 2024, aiming to create over 400 jobs in the next two years. This expansion, which adds to its existing workforce of 1,000 employees in Dublin, will offer various positions in technology and communications, including financial operations and network engineering.{{Cite web |last=Caden |first=Cáit |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Verizon to create 400 jobs in Limerick |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41287555.html |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}

In May 2024 Verizon announced a partnership to access direct-to-cell capabilities with satellite manufacturer AST SpaceMobile, which will improve cellular and broadband access in remote areas of the United States.{{Cite web |last=Jewett |first=Rachel |date=May 29, 2024 |title=Verizon Jumps Into Satellite-to-Cell Market With AST SpaceMobile |url=https://www.satellitetoday.com/connectivity/2024/05/29/verizon-jumps-into-satellite-to-cell-market-with-ast-spacemobile/ |access-date=June 13, 2024 |website=Via Satellite |language=en}}

On September 5, 2024, Verizon announced its intent to acquire Frontier in an all-stock deal for $38.50 per-share, valuing the company at $20 billion. Vestberg stated that the proposed acquisition was a "strategic fit" to expand its fiber network.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=Verizon to buy Frontier Communications in $20 billion deal to boost fiber network in U.S. |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/05/verizon-vz-to-acquire-frontier-communications.html |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

In May 2025, Verizon announced that they would end diversity, equity and inclusion programs after the Trump administration opened a probe into them.{{Cite web |last=Biddle |first=Sam |date=2025-05-16 |title=Verizon Ends Diversity Initiatives Under Pressure From FCC |url=https://theintercept.com/2025/05/15/trump-dei-verizon-fcc/ |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The Intercept |language=en-US}}

File:Dodge Ram Van Verizon.jpg

Verizon acquired AOL in 2015 at $50 per share, for a deal valued around $4.4 billion.[https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/verizon-said-to-approach-aol-about-possible-takeover-or-venture/ar-BBhyOgy Verizon Said to Approach AOL About Possible Takeover or Venture] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106021950/http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/verizon-said-to-approach-aol-about-possible-takeover-or-venture/ar-BBhyOgy |date=January 6, 2015 }}. MSN News. Retrieved: January 8, 2015.{{cite web|title = Verizon to buy AOL for $4.4B; AOL shares soar|url = https://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/12/verizon-to-buy-aol-for-44-billion.html|access-date = May 12, 2015|first = Fred|last = Imbert|website = CNBC|date = May 12, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150703103324/https://www.cnbc.com/id/102670331|archive-date = July 3, 2015|url-status = live}} The following year, Verizon announced it would acquire the core internet business of Yahoo! for $4.83{{nbsp}}billion.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-verizon-buys-yahoo-20160725-snap-story.html|title=Verizon buys Yahoo for $4.8 billion, and it's giving Yahoo's brand another chance|last1=Lien|first1=Tracey|date=July 25, 2016|access-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725150235/http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-verizon-buys-yahoo-20160725-snap-story.html|archive-date=July 25, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://qz.com/741056/the-stunning-collapse-of-yahoos-valuation/|title=The stunning collapse of Yahoo's valuation|first=Alison|last=Griswold|date=July 25, 2016 |access-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730012712/http://qz.com/741056/the-stunning-collapse-of-yahoos-valuation/|archive-date=July 30, 2016|url-status=live}} Following the completion of the acquisitions, Verizon created a new division called Oath, which includes the AOL and Yahoo brands. The sale did not include Yahoo's stakes in Alibaba Group and Yahoo! Japan.{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/yahoo-rename-altaba-2017-1|last=Weinberger|first=Matt|title=After the $4.8 billion Verizon deal, the husk of Yahoo will rename itself 'Altaba'|work=Business Insider|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110090719/http://www.businessinsider.com/yahoo-rename-altaba-2017-1|archive-date=January 10, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/09/how-yahoo-came-up-with-its-new-name-altaba/|last=Dwoskin|first=Elizabeth|title=How Yahoo came up with its new name: Altaba|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 9, 2017|access-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119025811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/01/09/how-yahoo-came-up-with-its-new-name-altaba/|archive-date=January 19, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam in 2017 confirmed the company plans to launch a streaming TV service.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/23/verizon-ceo-confirms-companys-plan-to-launch-a-streaming-tv-service/|title=Verizon CEO confirms company's plan to launch a streaming TV service|publisher=TechCrunch|author=Sarah Perez|date=May 23, 2017|access-date=May 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524080206/https://techcrunch.com/2017/05/23/verizon-ceo-confirms-companys-plan-to-launch-a-streaming-tv-service/|archive-date=May 24, 2017|url-status=live}} The integrated AOL-Yahoo operation, housed under the newly created Oath division, would be organized around key content-based pillars.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39779208|title=Verizon CEO: Combined Yahoo-AOL Will Be Platform to Test Over-the-Top Video Service|work=Variety|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=May 22, 2017|access-date=May 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608021951/http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39779208|archive-date=June 8, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon completed its acquisition of Yahoo for $4.48 billion on June 13, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/06/13/technology/business/yahoo-verizon-deal-closes/index.html|title=End of an era: Yahoo is no longer an independent company|last=Fiegerman|first=Seth|work=CNN Money|date=June 13, 2017|access-date=June 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613154803/http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/13/technology/business/yahoo-verizon-deal-closes/index.html|archive-date=June 13, 2017|url-status=live}}

Verizon sold its media group, including AOL and Yahoo, to Apollo Global Management for $5 billion in 2021,{{Cite news|date=May 3, 2021|title=Yahoo sold again in new bid to revive its fortunes|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56972205|access-date=May 7, 2021}} with Verizon retaining a 10% stake in the division.{{cite web|last=Kovach|first=Steve|date=May 3, 2021|title=Verizon sells media businesses including Yahoo and AOL to Apollo for $5 billion|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/03/verizon-sells-yahoo-and-aol-businesses-to-apollo-for-5-billion.html|access-date=May 7, 2021|website=CNBC|language=en}}

File:Verizon 2024 (symbol).svg

For the fiscal year 2024, Verizon reported earnings of US$17.95 billion, with an annual revenue of US$134.788 billion, an increase of 0.6% over the previous fiscal cycle. Verizon's shares traded at over $45 per share, and its market capitalization was valued at over US$163.96 billion in January 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/VZ/verizon/financial-statements|title=Verizon Financial Statements 2005-2024 {{!}} VZ|website=www.macrotrends.net|access-date=January 24, 2025}} Verizon is currently ranked #31 in the Fortune 500 for 2023 and #68 in the Fortune Global 500.

The company offers Internet, traditional landline phone or VoIP, Home Security, Premium Television, Web Hosting and wholesale data in nine states' footprint across the eastern United States.{{cite news |last1=Anders |first1=David |date=April 21, 2022 |title=Need Home Internet Service? Find the Internet Providers in Your Area |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/internet-providers-in-my-area/ |publisher=CNET |publication-date=April 21, 2022 |agency=Red Ventures |access-date=May 5, 2022 |url-access= }}{{cite news |last1=Paul |first1=Trey |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Verizon Fios Home Internet Review: Better Than All the Rest? |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/verizon-internet-review/ |publisher=CNET |publication-date=April 18, 2022 |agency=Red Ventures |access-date=May 5, 2022 |url-access= }}{{cite web|title=Verizon Fios Availability & Coverage Map|url=https://www.verizonspecials.com/availability|access-date=March 15, 2021|website=www.verizonspecials.com}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=300px|rules=yes|

; Key markets include:

• Delaware
• Maryland
• Baltimore
• Salisbury
• Massachusetts
• Boston
• New Jersey
• New York
• Albany
• Auburn
• Binghamton
• Buffalo
• Glens Falls
• Saratoga Springs
• Long Island
• New York City
• Plattsburgh
• Syracuse
• Pennsylvania
• Harrisburg
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Rhode Island
• Providence
• Virginia
• Norfolk
• Richmond
• Washington, DC

}}

{{clear}}

Since its inception, Verizon Communications has run several marketing campaigns, including:

The "Can you hear me now?" campaign, which was created for the newly formed Verizon Wireless, started running in 2001, and featured actor Paul Marcarelli in the role of "Test Man", a character based on a Verizon network tester, who travels the country asking "Can you hear me now?".{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-490543281.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011101147/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-490543281.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |title=Verizon Launches Nationwide Advertising Campaign to Introduce New Company Name |date=August 9, 2000 |work=Sentinel |access-date=April 9, 2014}}{{cite news |title=Can you hear me now? Verizon tester logs 25,000 miles a year |author=Martha Fulford |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-108789185.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011021346/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-108789185.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 11, 2014 |work=ColoradoBiz |date=September 1, 2003 |access-date=April 9, 2014}}{{cite news |title='Can you hear me now?' a hit |author=Theresa Howard |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/advertising/adtrack/2004-02-22-track-verizon_x.htm |work=USA Today |date=February 23, 2004 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404194616/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/advertising/adtrack/2004-02-22-track-verizon_x.htm |archive-date=April 4, 2014 |url-status=live }} The campaign, originally conceived by New York agency Bozell, ran from early 2001 to September 2010.{{cite news |title=Reports of Verizon Guy's Demise (Slightly) Exaggerated |author=Kunur Patel |url=http://adage.com/article/news/reports-verizon-guy-s-demise-slightly-exaggerated/227001/ |work=Advertising Age |date=April 14, 2011 |access-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226035949/http://adage.com/article/news/reports-verizon-guy-s-demise-slightly-exaggerated/227001/ |archive-date=December 26, 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Hear Me Now? |author=Spencer Morgranapr |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/05/hear-me-now/308449/ |work=The Atlantic |date=April 2, 2011 |access-date=April 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413015918/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/05/hear-me-now/308449/ |archive-date=April 13, 2014 |url-status=live }} Data from the technology tracking firm The Yankee Group showed that, in the early years of the campaign, net customers grew 10% to 32.5 million in 2002 and 15% more to 37.5 million in 2003. In addition, customer turnover dropped to 1.8% in 2001, down from 2.5% in 2000. In 2011, Marcarelli parted ways with Verizon, and became a spokesperson for Sprint.Maureen Morrison, Advertising Age. "[http://adage.com/article/digital/longtime-verizon-spokesman-switches-sprint/304318/ Sprint's New Pitchman Is Verizon's 'Can You Hear Me Now' Guy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105743/http://adage.com/article/digital/longtime-verizon-spokesman-switches-sprint/304318/ |date=March 28, 2017 }}." June 5, 2016. Retrieved March 27, 2017.

The "There's a map for that" campaign was launched in late 2009, designed as a parody of AT&T's "There's an app for that" campaign. The ads depicted a side-by-side comparison of Verizon and AT&T network coverage maps.{{cite news |title=There's an end to that: AT&T drops Verizon Suite |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna34241254 |work=NBCnews.com |date=December 2, 2009 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112101831/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/34241254#.UzXJ4_ldW_g |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live }} In early November 2009, AT&T filed a lawsuit in Atlanta federal court, claiming that the coverage maps being used in the ads were misleading.{{cite news |title=AT&T Sues Verizon Over 'There's a Map for That' Ads |author=Tom Bradley |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/181364/ATT_Sues_Verizon_Over_Theres_a_Map_for_That_Ads.html |work=PC World |date=November 3, 2009 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112090056/http://www.pcworld.com/article/181364/ATT_Sues_Verizon_Over_Theres_a_Map_for_That_Ads.html |archive-date=January 12, 2014 |url-status=live }} The suit was dropped later that month in conjunction with Verizon dropping a similar suit against AT&T.

{{As of|2024}}:{{cite news |last1=Feuer |first1=Will |title=Verizon Shakes Up Executive Team After Tough Year |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/verizon-shakes-up-executive-team-after-tough-year-f28cbbc3 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230303154035/https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/verizon-shakes-up-executive-team-after-tough-year-f28cbbc3 |archive-date=March 3, 2023 |url-status=live}}

• Hans Vestberg, chairman and CEO
• Sowmyanarayan Sampath, head of Verizon Consumer
• Kyle Malady, head of Verizon Business

Verizon grants money to organizations through its philanthropic arm, The Verizon Foundation.{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2017 |title=More Than a Name Change: A Foundation Goes Digital - The New York Times |website=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/20/giving/more-than-a-name-change-a-foundation-goes-digital.html |access-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314200627/https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/20/giving/more-than-a-name-change-a-foundation-goes-digital.html |archive-date=March 14, 2017 }} The company ran HopeLine, which had provided mobile phones to victims of domestic violence.{{Cite web |last=Reznick |first=Alisa |date=April 19, 2013 |title=Donate your old phone, support domestic violence aid with Verizon's HopeLine. |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2013/verizon-wirelesss-hopeline-project-asks-cell-phones-kick-years-earth-day/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Geekwire.com}}{{Cite web |date=October 7, 2014 |title=Verizon presents grant to "End Domestic Abuse WI," Packers collecting no-longer-used wireless phones |url=https://www.fox6now.com/news/verizon-presents-grant-to-end-domestic-abuse-wi-packers-collecting-no-longer-used-wireless-phones |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=FOX 6 Now Milwaukee |language=en-US}} Verizon's educational initiatives include the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program that provides children access to STEM education programs.{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Julia |last2=DeMatteo |first2=Megan |title=Prosperity: Companies foster sustainable communities when they take a long-term view and measure progress |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/prosperity-verizon-community-initiatives-sustainability-measure-progress-2022-3 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}

Between 2019 and 2023, Verizon issued five green bonds for a total of $5 billion. Proceeds from its 2023 issue were earmarked to transition to more environmentally friendly electrical grids.{{Cite news |title= Verizon Likes Investor Scrutiny on ESG Bonds as Green Sales Boom|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-05-16/verizon-likes-investor-scrutiny-on-esg-bonds-as-green-sales-boom |access-date=January 12, 2024 |newspaper=Bloomberg|date=May 16, 2023 }}{{Cite web |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Verizon Sees US Investors Ratcheting Up Demands on Green Bonds (NYSE:VZ) - Bloomberg |website=Bloomberg News |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/verizon-sees-us-investors-ratcheting-up-demands-on-green-bonds |access-date=January 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926064715/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-21/verizon-sees-us-investors-ratcheting-up-demands-on-green-bonds |archive-date=September 26, 2022 }}

In 2020, Verizon launched its "Citizen Verizon" plan with an outline of social and environmental goals.{{Cite web |last=Ward |first=Marguerite |title=Verizon unveils new business plan with the goal of going carbon neutral by 2035 and retraining 500,000 employees for emerging tech jobs |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-unveils-socially-conscious-business-plan-citizen-verizon-2020-7 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Among this plan is a pledge to be completely carbon neutral by 2035. The plan also includes digital-skills training for young people.

According to Google Project Zero researcher Tavis Ormandy, Verizon applies a simplistic certification methodology to give its "Excellence in Information Security Testing" award, e.g. to Comodo Group. It focuses on GUI functions instead of testing security relevant features. Not detected were Chromodo browser disabling of the same-origin policy, a VNC-delivered with a default of weak authentication, not enabling address space layout randomization (ASLR) when scanning, and using access control lists (ACLs) throughout its product.[https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-data-protection/cyber-security/why-antivirus-standards-of-certification-need-to-change/ Why Antivirus Standards of Certification Need to Chang] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805130513/https://www.tripwire.com/state-of-security/security-data-protection/cyber-security/why-antivirus-standards-of-certification-need-to-change/ |date=August 5, 2017 }}, tripwire, March 23, 2016.

Verizon was reported to have been affected by a 2024 attack from the Salt Typhoon advanced persistent threat linked to the Chinese government.{{Cite news |last=Krouse |first=Sarah |last2=Volz |first2=Dustin |last3=Viswanatha |first3=Aruna |last4=McMillan |first4=Robert |date=October 5, 2024 |title=U.S. Wiretap Systems Targeted in China-Linked Hack |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/cybersecurity/u-s-wiretap-systems-targeted-in-china-linked-hack-327fc63b |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}

Verizon and Comcast have been actively lobbying for current changes in the FCC's regulations that require internet service providers to offer all content at one internet speed regardless of the type of content since the early 2000s. In 2014, Verizon unsuccessfully sued the FCC for these powers.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/business/media/21fcc.html|title=Verizon Sues F.C.C. over Order on Blocking Web Sites|last=Wyatt|first=Edward|date=January 20, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 27, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227180509/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/business/media/21fcc.html|archive-date=December 27, 2017|url-status=live}}

In July 2017, it was reported that Verizon's mobile network had been limiting streaming services such as Netflix and YouTube to a speed of 10 Mbit/s; Verizon stated to Ars Technica that it had been testing a system to "optimize the performance of video applications on our network", and that it would not affect video quality.{{cite web |date=July 24, 2017 |title=Verizon admits to throttling data speeds from Netflix and other video content providers |url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-admits-to-throttling-data-speeds-from-netflix-and-other-video-content-providers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123228/https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-admits-to-throttling-data-speeds-from-netflix-and-other-video-content-providers |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |website=FierceWireless |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/07/verizon-wireless-apparently-throttles-streaming-video-to-10mbps/|title=Verizon accused of throttling Netflix and YouTube, admits to "video optimization"|last=Brodkin|first=Jon|date=July 21, 2017|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=February 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204174455/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/07/verizon-wireless-apparently-throttles-streaming-video-to-10mbps/|archive-date=February 4, 2019|url-status=live}}

In May 2020, the Better Business Bureau criticized Verizon for claiming it was "building the most powerful 5G experience for America" and recommended that the company make clear and conspicuous disclosures to consumers about the limited actual availability of its 5G network.{{cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/05/14/bbb-blasts-verizon-for-5g-ads-says-coverage-claims-mislead-customers/|title=BBB blasts Verizon for 5G ads, says coverage claims mislead customers|last=Horwitz|first=Jeremy|work=Venture Beat|language=en-US|access-date=May 21, 2020|date=May 14, 2020}} Verizon had been cited by the Better Business Bureau in March 2019 for ads that "convey the message that Verizon has achieved the important milestone of deploying the first mobile wireless 5G network" prior to 5G availability, falsely conveying that the technology was currently available.{{cite news|url=https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/333538/verizon-told-to-revise-first-to-5g-ads.html |title=Verizon Told To Revise 'First To 5G' Ads |last=Davis|first=Wendy|work=MediaPost|language=en-US|access-date=May 21, 2020|date=March 21, 2019}}

Verizon has a one-star privacy rating from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.{{cite web|url=https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2017|title=Who Has Your Back? Government Data Requests 2017|date=July 10, 2017|access-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915003333/https://www.eff.org/who-has-your-back-2017|archive-date=September 15, 2018|url-status=live}}

In April 2024, Verizon was fined nearly $47 million by the FCC for illegally sharing access to customers' real-time location data.{{Cite web |last=Shepardson |first=David |date=April 29, 2024 |title=FCC fines US wireless carriers over illegal location data sharing |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fcc-fines-us-wireless-carriers-nearly-200-million-over-illegal-location-data-2024-04-29/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240429180626/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fcc-fines-us-wireless-carriers-nearly-200-million-over-illegal-location-data-2024-04-29/ |archive-date=April 29, 2024 |access-date=May 7, 2024 |website=Reuters}}

Verizon is the title sponsor of several large performance and sports venues as well as a sponsor of many major sporting organizations.

In January 2007, Verizon secured exclusive marketing and promotional rights with the National Hockey League.{{cite news |title=Verizon Wireless reaches marketing deal with NHL |author=Kevin G. DeMarrais |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-133020904.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130830/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-133020904.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |work=The Record |date=January 4, 2007 |access-date=April 9, 2014}} The deal was extended for another three years in 2012 and included new provisions for the league to provide exclusive content through Verizon's GameCenter app.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/verizon_extends_as_nhl_wireless_provider/ |title=Verizon extends as NHL wireless provider |author=Michael Long |date=February 14, 2012 |work=SportsMedia |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403094307/http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/verizon_extends_as_nhl_wireless_provider |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}

In 2009 and 2010 Verizon sponsored Justin Allgaier in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, before they chose to opt out of a two-year-old NASCAR team sponsorship with Penske Racing in order to pursue an expanded presence with the IndyCar Series.{{cite news |title=Verizon becomes title sponsor of IndyCar racing series |author=Jim Peltz |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-indycar-verizon-title-sponsor-20140314,0,3739022.story#axzz2wRNWsrKV |work=Los Angeles Times |date=March 14, 2014 |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329003251/http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-indycar-verizon-title-sponsor-20140314,0,3739022.story#axzz2wRNWsrKV |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |url-status=live }} In March 2014 Verizon became title sponsor of the series through 2018.{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-211ab062572340f58ff899f624af4bbb.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010155455/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-211ab062572340f58ff899f624af4bbb.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 10, 2014 |title=Verizon becomes title sponsor of IndyCar Series |date=March 14, 2014 |work=AP Online |access-date=April 9, 2014}}

Verizon also sponsored a race in the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season, the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Nathan|title=Verizon named title sponsor of NASCAR Cup race on IMS road course in August|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2021/06/15/nascar-verizon-named-title-sponsor-cup-race-ims-road-course/7702266002/|access-date=November 16, 2021|website=The Indianapolis Star|language=en-US}}

In late 2010, Verizon Communications joined with Vodafone Group in a joint partnership to replace Sprint as the official wireless telecommunications partner of the National Football League.{{cite web |url=http://www.sponsorship.com/iegsr/2010/12/20/How-Verizon-Wireless-Views-Sponsorship,-Activation.aspx#.UynmEvldW_g |title=How Verizon Wireless Views Sponsorship, Activation and ROI |date=December 20, 2010 |publisher=IEG Sponsorship Report |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307043953/http://www.sponsorship.com/IEGSR/2010/12/20/How-Verizon-Wireless-Views-Sponsorship,-Activation.aspx#.UynmEvldW_g |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=live }} The four-year deal was estimated at $720 million. In June 2013, Verizon announced a four-year extension with the NFL in a deal reportedly valued at $1 billion. The new agreement gave Verizon the right to stream every NFL regular-season and playoff game.{{cite web |url=http://www.sponsorship.com/iegsr/2013/08/05/Wireless-Service-Providers-Dial-Up-New-Sponsorship.aspx#.UynouPldW_g |title=Wireless Service Providers Dial Up New Sponsorships |date=August 5, 2013 |publisher=Sponsorship.com |access-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214111054/http://www.sponsorship.com/IEGSR/2013/08/05/Wireless-Service-Providers-Dial-Up-New-Sponsorship.aspx#.UynouPldW_g |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |url-status=live }}

In January 2020, Verizon became a founding partner of USA Team Handball through the year 2020, with an option to extend the deal until 2024. They are the jersey sponsor for the men's and women's national handball team and the men's and women's national beach handball teams. They are presenter of the USA Team Handball College Nationals.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2020/January/19/USA-Team-Handball-Announces-Founding-Partner-Jersey-Partnership-With-Verizon|title=USA Team Handball Announces Founding Partner/Jersey Partnership With Verizon|date=January 20, 2020|website=USA Team Handball|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120135557/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Team-Handball/News/2020/January/19/USA-Team-Handball-Announces-Founding-Partner-Jersey-Partnership-With-Verizon|archive-date=January 20, 2020|access-date=January 20, 2020}}

In 2020 USA Team Handball CEO Barry Siff that they are planning to create an American professional team handball league sponsored by Verizon.{{cite web |url=https://www.handball-planet.com/professional-handball-league-in-usa-with-10-teams-to-start-in-2023/ |title=Professional handball League in USA with 10 teams to start in 2023? | Handball Planet |date=January 28, 2020 }} They are planning to have the owners until the end of 2020. They are planning to launch the league in 2023 with 10 teams with each team initially worth $3 million to $5 million and want to cooperate with NBA or NHL owners in one-tenant arena situations.{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2020/01/20/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Marketing-and-Sponsorship.aspx |title=Verizon steps into Rings, sponsors Team Handball |date=January 20, 2020 }} To create multisports clubs like FC Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/newyork/news/2020/01/22/verizon-steps-into-the-olympic-rings-sponsors-team.html|title=Verizon steps into the Olympic rings, sponsors Team Handball|last=Lefton|first=Terry|date=January 22, 2020|website=New York Business Journal|url-access=subscription|access-date=January 23, 2020}}

In September 2024, Verizon announced they would be a sponsor for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where they will provide access to their cellular network for visiting fans at stadiums, fan fests, and the metropolitan areas of the host cities.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-24 |title=Verizon signs on as global sponsor for 2026 World Cup |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2024/09/24/verizon-global-sponsor-fifa-world-cup |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.sportsbusinessjournal.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-24 |title=Verizon named Telecommunication Services Sponsor for FIFA World Cup 26™ and Tournament Supporter for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027™ |url=https://www.verizon.com/about/news/verizon-named-fifa-world-cup-26 |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=www.verizon.com |language=en}}

The main home concert hall of the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is named Verizon Hall.{{cite news |title=Philadelphia gets a new concert hall a century aborning |last1=Oestreich |first1=James |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/09/arts/music-philadelphia-gets-a-new-concert-hall-a-century-aborning.html |work=The New York Times |date=December 9, 2001 |access-date=August 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830142357/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/09/arts/music-philadelphia-gets-a-new-concert-hall-a-century-aborning.html |archive-date=August 30, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Verizon was the former sponsor for a number of sporting and entertainment arenas, including Simmons Bank Arena (formerly Verizon Arena) in North Little Rock, Arkansas,{{cite news |title=North Little Rock's Verizon Arena to change name to Simmons Bank Arena this week |last1=Kruse |first1=Nyssa |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/sep/30/verizon-arena-change-name-simmons-bank-arena/ |work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette |date=September 30, 2019 |access-date=January 24, 2022 }} the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center (formerly Verizon Center) in Mankato, Minnesota,{{cite web |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/mankato-council-oks-new-civic-center-name/article_ffe9a17a-364b-11ea-afd5-7f18af25d5d9.html |title=Mankato council OKs new civic center name |last1=Fischenich |first1=Marl |date=January 14, 2020 |work=Mankato Free Press |access-date=January 24, 2022}} and the SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire, which was originally known as the Verizon Wireless Arena until September 2016 when Southern New Hampshire University acquired the naming rights for a period of at least 10 years.{{cite web| url=http://www.snhu.edu/about-us/news-and-events/2016/02/partners-with-smg-to-provide-opportunities-for-students-and-connect-with-the-community| title=SNHU Partners with SMG to Provide Opportunities for Students and Connect with the Community| publisher=SNHU| author=Keane, Lauren| date=February 2, 2016| access-date=February 2, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206225103/http://www.snhu.edu/about-us/news-and-events/2016/02/partners-with-smg-to-provide-opportunities-for-students-and-connect-with-the-community| archive-date=February 6, 2016| url-status=live}} Verizon was also the title sponsor of entertainment amphitheaters in locations throughout the United States, including four individually referred to as the "Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre" in Irvine, California,{{cite news |title=Curtain to close on Irvine Meadows Amphitheater |last1=Morrison |first1=Matt |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0312-irvine-meadows-20160311-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=March 24, 2016 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113121943/http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0312-irvine-meadows-20160311-story.html |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |url-status=live }} Maryland Heights, Missouri,{{cite news |title=Verizon Wireless Amphitheater gets new name |last1=Feldt |first1=Brian |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2014/12/17/verizon-wireless-amphitheater-gets-new-name.html |newspaper=American City Business Journals |date=December 17, 2014 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723032420/http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2014/12/17/verizon-wireless-amphitheater-gets-new-name.html |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |url-status=live }} Selma, Texas,{{cite news |title=Church purchases Verizon amphitheater |last1=Levy |first1=Abe |last2=Tedesco |first2=John |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Church-purchases-Verizon-amphitheater-1387549.php |newspaper=San Antonio Express-News |date=May 20, 2011 |access-date=August 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831002550/https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Church-purchases-Verizon-amphitheater-1387549.php |archive-date=August 31, 2018 |url-status=live }} and Alpharetta, Georgia.{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/music/alpharetta-venue-will-become-ameris-bank-amphitheatre/kokDnGBaEueOYw0RgLgEYO/|title=Alpharetta venue will become Ameris Bank Amphitheatre|last1=Ruggieri|first1=Melissa|work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 28, 2018|accessdate=February 19, 2019}}

Verizon is a former sponsor of the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.{{cite news |title=Verizon Center Marks 10th Anniversary |author=David Nakamura |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/01/AR2007120101486.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 2, 2007 |access-date=April 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228195338/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/01/AR2007120101486.html |archive-date=February 28, 2014 |url-status=live |author-link=David Nakamura }}

• Verizon strike of 2016
• List of United States telephone companies

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