<s>
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
Inc.	O
,	O
commonly	O
known	O
as	O
Verizon	B-Application
(	O
)	O
,	O
is	O
an	O
American	O
multinational	O
telecommunications	O
conglomerate	O
and	O
a	O
corporate	O
component	O
of	O
the	O
Dow	O
Jones	O
Industrial	O
Average	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bell	O
Atlantic	O
,	O
the	O
surviving	O
entity	O
,	O
changed	O
its	O
name	O
to	O
Verizon	B-Application
,	O
a	O
portmanteau	O
of	O
(	O
Latin	O
for	O
"	O
truth	O
"	O
)	O
and	O
horizon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
expanded	O
into	O
content	O
ownership	O
by	O
acquiring	O
AOL	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
years	O
later	O
,	O
it	O
acquired	O
Yahoo	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Inc	O
.	O
AOL	O
and	O
Yahoo	B-Application
were	O
amalgamated	O
into	O
a	O
new	O
division	O
named	O
Oath	O
Inc.	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
rebranded	O
as	O
Verizon	B-Application
Media	O
in	O
January	O
2019	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
spun	O
off	O
and	O
rebranded	O
to	O
Yahoo	B-Application
after	O
its	O
sale	O
to	O
Apollo	O
Global	O
Management	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
is	O
one	O
of	O
three	O
remaining	O
companies	O
with	O
roots	O
in	O
the	O
former	O
Baby	O
Bells	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
other	O
two	O
,	O
like	O
Verizon	B-Application
,	O
exist	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
of	O
mergers	O
among	O
fellow	O
former	O
Baby	O
Bell	O
members	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
SBC	O
Communications	O
bought	O
the	O
Bells	O
 '	O
former	O
parent	O
AT&T	O
Corporation	O
and	O
took	O
on	O
the	O
AT&T	O
name	O
,	O
and	O
CenturyLink	B-Application
acquired	O
Qwest	O
(	O
formerly	O
US	O
West	O
)	O
in	O
2011	O
and	O
later	O
became	O
Lumen	B-Application
Technologies	I-Application
in	O
2020	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
's	I-Application
mobile	I-Application
network	I-Application
is	O
the	O
largest	O
wireless	O
carrier	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
with	O
143.3	O
million	O
subscribers	O
as	O
of	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Q4	O
2022	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
months	O
before	O
the	O
Federal	O
Communications	O
Commission	O
(	O
FCC	O
)	O
gave	O
final	O
approval	O
on	O
the	O
formation	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
,	O
Bell	O
Atlantic	O
formed	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
in	O
a	O
joint	O
venture	O
with	O
the	O
British	O
telecommunications	O
company	O
Vodafone	O
in	O
April	O
2000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
companies	O
established	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
as	O
its	O
own	O
business	O
operated	O
by	O
Bell	O
Atlantic	O
,	O
which	O
owned	O
55%	O
of	O
the	O
venture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
merged	O
Bell	O
Atlantic	O
's	O
wireless	O
network	O
,	O
Vodafone	O
's	O
AirTouch	O
and	O
PrimeCo	O
holdings	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
wireless	O
division	O
of	O
GTE	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
its	O
size	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
was	O
able	O
to	O
offer	O
national	O
coverage	O
at	O
competitive	O
rates	O
,	O
giving	O
it	O
an	O
advantage	O
over	O
regional	O
providers	O
typical	O
of	O
the	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bell	O
Atlantic	O
changed	O
its	O
name	O
to	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
in	O
June	O
2000	O
,	O
when	O
the	O
FCC	O
approved	O
the	O
US	O
$64.7	O
billion	O
merger	O
with	O
telephone	O
company	O
GTE	O
,	O
nearly	O
two	O
years	O
after	O
the	O
deal	O
was	O
proposed	O
in	O
July	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
name	O
Verizon	B-Application
derives	O
from	O
the	O
combination	O
of	O
the	O
words	O
,	O
Latin	O
for	O
truth	O
,	O
and	O
horizon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
approval	O
came	O
with	O
25	O
stipulations	O
to	O
preserve	O
competition	O
between	O
local	O
phone	O
carriers	O
,	O
including	O
investing	O
in	O
new	O
markets	O
and	O
broadband	B-General_Concept
technologies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
became	O
the	O
largest	O
local	O
telephone	O
company	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
operating	O
63	O
million	O
telephone	O
lines	O
in	O
40	O
states	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
offered	O
internet	B-Operating_System
services	O
and	O
long-distance	O
calling	O
in	O
New	O
York	O
,	O
before	O
expanding	O
long-distance	O
operations	O
to	O
other	O
states	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Approximately	O
85,000	O
Verizon	B-Application
workers	O
went	O
on	O
an	O
18-day	O
labor	O
strike	O
in	O
August	O
2000	O
after	O
their	O
union	O
contracts	O
expired	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
strike	O
affected	O
quarterly	O
revenues	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
 '	O
postponement	O
of	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
initial	O
public	O
offering	O
(	O
IPO	O
)	O
(	O
the	O
IPO	O
was	O
ultimately	O
cancelled	O
in	O
2003	O
because	O
the	O
company	O
no	O
longer	O
needed	O
to	O
raise	O
revenue	O
for	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
due	O
to	O
increased	O
profits	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
created	O
a	O
backlog	O
of	O
repairs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
3G	B-Architecture
service	O
in	O
2002	O
,	O
which	O
doubled	O
the	O
Internet	B-Operating_System
speed	O
of	O
the	O
time	O
to	O
144kb	O
per	O
second	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2002	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
began	O
offering	O
local	O
,	O
long-distance	O
and	O
mobile	O
calling	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Internet	B-Operating_System
service	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
bundle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Dow	O
Jones	O
Industrial	O
Average	O
added	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
to	O
its	O
stock	O
market	O
index	O
in	O
April	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
replaced	O
telecom	O
competitor	O
AT&T	O
,	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
a	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
index	O
since	O
the	O
Great	O
Depression	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
its	O
Fios	B-Protocol
Internet	B-Operating_System
service	O
,	O
which	O
transmits	O
data	O
over	O
fiber	B-Architecture
optic	I-Architecture
cables	O
,	O
in	O
Keller	O
,	O
Texas	O
,	O
in	O
2004	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
launched	O
Fios	B-Protocol
TV	O
in	O
September	O
2005	O
,	O
also	O
in	O
Keller	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
January	O
2006	O
,	O
Fios	B-Protocol
offered	O
over	O
350	O
channels	O
in	O
eight	O
states	O
,	O
including	O
20	O
high-definition	B-Device
television	I-Device
channels	O
and	O
video	B-Application
on	I-Application
demand	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Mail	B-Protocol
servers	I-Protocol
at	O
Verizon.net	O
were	O
configured	O
in	O
December	O
2014	O
to	O
not	O
accept	O
connections	O
from	O
Europe	O
by	O
default	O
in	O
an	O
attempt	O
to	O
reduce	O
spam	O
email	O
that	O
was	O
originating	O
from	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
proposed	O
a	O
settlement	O
in	O
April	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Beginning	O
in	O
2005	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
reinforced	O
its	O
focus	O
on	O
its	O
mobile	O
phone	O
,	O
Internet	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
TV	O
businesses	O
by	O
selling	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
its	O
U.S.-based	O
wireline-focused	O
businesses	O
and	O
international	O
assets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
also	O
shed	O
its	O
telephone	O
directory	O
business	O
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2009	O
,	O
the	O
company	O
spun	O
off	O
wirelines	O
in	O
Arizona	O
,	O
Idaho	O
,	O
Illinois	O
,	O
Indiana	O
,	O
Michigan	B-Device
,	O
Nevada	O
,	O
North	O
Carolina	O
,	O
Ohio	O
,	O
Oregon	O
,	O
South	O
Carolina	O
,	O
Washington	O
,	O
West	O
Virginia	O
,	O
and	O
Wisconsin	O
into	O
a	O
company	O
that	O
then	O
merged	O
with	O
Frontier	O
Communications	O
in	O
a	O
deal	O
valued	O
at	O
$8.6	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
American	O
Tower	O
Corp	O
.	O
acquired	O
the	O
exclusive	O
right	O
to	O
lease	O
,	O
acquire	O
or	O
otherwise	O
operate	O
and	O
manage	O
many	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
’s	O
wireless	O
towers	O
for	O
an	O
upfront	O
payment	O
of	O
$5.1	O
billion	O
,	O
which	O
also	O
included	O
payment	O
for	O
the	O
sale	O
of	O
approximately	O
165	O
towers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
used	O
the	O
funds	O
from	O
this	O
sale	O
to	O
support	O
a	O
$10.4	O
billion	O
purchase	O
of	O
AWS-3	O
spectrum	O
licenses	O
at	O
an	O
FCC	O
auction	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
sold	O
its	O
wireline	O
operations	O
in	O
Texas	O
,	O
Florida	O
,	O
and	O
California	O
to	O
Frontier	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
began	O
negotiations	O
in	O
2005	O
to	O
purchase	O
long-distance	O
carrier	O
MCI	O
,	O
who	O
accepted	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
initial	O
$6.75	O
billion	O
offer	O
in	O
February	O
but	O
then	O
received	O
a	O
higher	O
offer	O
from	O
Qwest	O
Communications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
increased	O
its	O
bid	O
to	O
$7.6	O
billion	O
(	O
or	O
$23.50	O
a	O
share	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
MCI	O
accepted	O
on	O
March	O
29	O
,	O
2005	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
acquisition	O
gave	O
the	O
company	O
access	O
to	O
MCI	O
's	O
million	O
corporate	O
clients	O
and	O
international	O
holdings	O
,	O
expanding	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
presence	O
into	O
global	O
markets	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Business	I-Application
was	O
established	O
as	O
a	O
new	O
division	O
to	O
serve	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
business	O
and	O
government	O
customers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
2006	O
revenues	O
rose	O
by	O
as	O
much	O
as	O
20%	O
following	O
the	O
purchase	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
USA	O
Today	O
reported	O
in	O
May	O
2006	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
AT&T	O
and	O
BellSouth	O
,	O
had	O
given	O
the	O
National	O
Security	O
Agency	O
landline	B-Application
phone	I-Application
records	O
following	O
the	O
September	O
11	O
attacks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
That	O
same	O
month	O
,	O
a	O
$50	O
billion	O
lawsuit	O
was	O
filed	O
by	O
two	O
lawyers	O
on	O
behalf	O
of	O
all	O
Verizon	B-Application
subscribers	O
for	O
privacy	O
violations	O
and	O
to	O
prevent	O
the	O
company	O
from	O
releasing	O
additional	O
records	O
without	O
consent	O
or	O
warrant	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2007	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
stated	O
that	O
it	O
fulfilled	O
only	O
"	O
lawful	O
demands	O
"	O
for	O
information	O
,	O
but	O
also	O
acknowledged	O
surrendering	O
customer	O
information	O
to	O
government	O
agencies	O
without	O
court	O
orders	O
or	O
warrants	O
720	O
times	O
between	O
2005	O
and	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
won	O
a	O
lawsuit	O
against	O
Vonage	O
for	O
patent	O
infringement	O
in	O
March	O
2007	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Vonage	O
later	O
lost	O
an	O
appeal	O
and	O
was	O
ordered	O
to	O
pay	O
Verizon	B-Application
$120	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2007	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
acquired	O
Cybertrust	O
,	O
a	O
privately	O
held	O
provider	O
of	O
global	O
information	O
security	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2007	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
reversed	O
a	O
controversial	O
decision	O
to	O
deny	O
NARAL	O
Pro-Choice	O
America	O
a	O
short	O
code	O
through	O
which	O
the	O
organization	O
could	O
text	O
consumers	O
who	O
had	O
signed	O
up	O
for	O
messaging	O
from	O
the	O
group	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
opened	O
its	O
networks	O
to	O
third	O
party	O
apps	B-Application
and	O
devices	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
in	O
2007	O
,	O
a	O
decision	O
that	O
allowed	O
it	O
to	O
participate	O
in	O
the	O
FCC	O
's	O
2008	O
700	O
MHz	O
auction	O
of	O
"	O
open	O
access	O
"	O
spectrum	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
utilized	O
the	O
increased	O
spectrum	O
for	O
its	O
4G	B-Architecture
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
acquired	O
Rural	O
Cellular	O
Corp	O
.	O
for	O
$2.7	O
billion	O
in	O
cash	O
and	O
assumed	O
debt	O
in	O
2008	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
That	O
summer	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
it	O
would	O
purchase	O
wireless	O
carrier	O
Alltel	O
for	O
$28.1	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
acquisition	O
included	O
13	O
million	O
customers	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
to	O
surpass	O
AT&T	O
in	O
number	O
of	O
customers	O
and	O
reach	O
new	O
markets	O
in	O
rural	O
areas	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
4chan	O
began	O
receiving	O
reports	O
on	O
February	O
4	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
from	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
customers	O
that	O
were	O
having	O
difficulties	O
accessing	O
the	O
site	O
's	O
image	O
boards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
7	O
,	O
2010	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
confirmed	O
that	O
4chan.org	O
was	O
"	O
explicitly	O
blocked	O
"	O
after	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
security	O
and	O
external	O
experts	O
detected	O
sweep	O
attacks	O
coming	O
from	O
an	O
IP	O
address	O
associated	O
with	O
the	O
4chan	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
chairmen	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
and	O
Google	O
agreed	O
that	O
network	O
neutrality	O
should	O
be	O
defined	O
and	O
limited	O
in	O
August	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2010	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
paid	O
$77.8	O
million	O
in	O
refunds	O
and	O
FCC	O
penalties	O
for	O
overcharging	O
15	O
million	O
customers	O
for	O
data	O
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
introduced	O
its	O
4G	B-Architecture
LTE	O
network	O
in	O
38	O
markets	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
airports	O
in	O
seven	O
additional	O
cities	O
in	O
December	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
planned	O
on	O
a	O
three-year	O
continuous	O
expansion	O
of	O
the	O
4G	B-Architecture
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
27	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
acquired	O
Terremark	B-Application
,	O
an	O
information	O
technology	O
services	O
company	O
,	O
for	O
$1.4	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ivan	O
Seidenberg	O
retired	O
as	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
CEO	O
on	O
August	O
1	O
,	O
2011	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
succeeded	O
by	O
Lowell	O
McAdam	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2011	O
,	O
the	O
non-partisan	O
organization	O
Public	O
Campaign	O
criticized	O
Verizon	B-Application
for	O
its	O
tax	O
avoidance	O
procedures	O
after	O
it	O
spent	O
$52.34	O
million	O
on	O
lobbying	O
while	O
collecting	O
$951	O
million	O
in	O
tax	O
rebates	O
between	O
2008	O
and	O
2010	O
and	O
making	O
a	O
profit	O
of	O
$32.5	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
report	O
also	O
criticized	O
Verizon	B-Application
for	O
increasing	O
executive	O
pay	O
by	O
167%	O
in	O
2010	O
for	O
its	O
top	O
five	O
executives	O
while	O
laying	O
off	O
21,308	O
workers	O
between	O
2008	O
and	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
in	O
its	O
Form	O
10-K	O
filed	O
with	O
the	O
SEC	O
on	O
February	O
24	O
,	O
2012	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
reported	O
having	O
paid	O
more	O
than	O
$11.1	O
billion	O
in	O
taxes	O
(	O
including	O
income	O
,	O
employment	O
and	O
property	O
taxes	O
)	O
from	O
2009	O
to	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2012	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
purchased	O
Hughes	O
Telematics	O
,	O
a	O
producer	O
of	O
wireless	O
features	O
for	O
automobiles	O
,	O
for	O
$612	O
million	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
its	O
strategy	O
to	O
expand	O
into	O
new	O
growth	O
areas	O
in	O
its	O
wireless	O
business	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
same	O
month	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
E-911	O
service	O
failed	O
in	O
the	O
aftermath	O
of	O
the	O
June	O
2012	O
derecho	O
storm	O
in	O
several	O
northern	O
Virginia	O
suburbs	O
of	O
Washington	O
,	O
D.C.	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
problems	O
lasting	O
several	O
days	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
reported	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
already	O
addressed	O
or	O
was	O
addressing	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
the	O
issues	O
related	O
to	O
the	O
FCC	O
report	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
causes	O
of	O
generator	O
failures	O
,	O
conducting	O
audits	O
of	O
backup	O
systems	O
,	O
and	O
making	O
its	O
monitoring	O
systems	O
less	O
centralized	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
FCC	O
indicated	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
still	O
needed	O
to	O
make	O
additional	O
improvements	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
FCC	O
ruled	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
must	O
stop	O
charging	O
users	O
an	O
added	O
fee	O
for	O
using	O
4G	B-Architecture
smartphones	O
and	O
tablets	O
as	O
Wi-Fi	B-Application
hotspots	I-Application
(	O
known	O
as	O
"	O
tethering	O
"	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
had	O
been	O
charging	O
its	O
customers	O
,	O
even	O
those	O
with	O
"	O
unlimited	O
"	O
plans	O
,	O
$20	O
per	O
month	O
for	O
tethering	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
settlement	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
made	O
a	O
voluntary	O
payment	O
of	O
$1.25	O
million	O
to	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Treasury	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2012	O
,	O
the	O
Department	O
of	O
Justice	O
approved	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
purchase	O
of	O
Advanced	O
Wireless	O
Services	O
(	O
AWS	O
)	O
spectrum	O
from	O
a	O
consortium	O
of	O
cable	O
companies	O
,	O
including	O
Comcast	O
,	O
Time	O
Warner	O
Cable	O
and	O
Bright	O
House	O
Networks	O
,	O
for	O
$3.9	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
began	O
expanding	O
its	O
LTE	O
network	O
utilizing	O
these	O
extra	O
airwaves	O
in	O
October	O
2013	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
2012	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
officially	O
shut	O
down	O
V	O
Cast	O
and	O
all	O
of	O
its	O
components	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
this	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
introduced	O
Viewdini	O
,	O
a	O
TV	O
and	O
movie	B-Application
streaming	I-Application
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
5	O
,	O
2013	O
,	O
The	O
Guardian	O
reported	O
it	O
had	O
obtained	O
an	O
order	O
by	O
the	O
Federal	O
Bureau	O
of	O
Investigation	O
(	O
FBI	O
)	O
and	O
approved	O
by	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
Foreign	O
Intelligence	O
Surveillance	O
Court	O
that	O
required	O
Verizon	B-Application
to	O
provide	O
the	O
NSA	O
with	O
telephone	O
metadata	O
for	O
all	O
calls	O
originating	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
was	O
not	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
NSA	O
data	O
collection	O
for	O
wireless	O
accounts	O
due	O
to	O
foreign	O
ownership	O
issues	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2013	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
purchased	O
the	O
45%	O
stake	O
in	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
,	O
previously	O
owned	O
by	O
Vodafone	O
,	O
for	O
$130	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
deal	O
closed	O
on	O
February	O
21	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
and	O
became	O
the	O
third	O
largest	O
corporate	O
deal	O
ever	O
signed	O
,	O
giving	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
sole	O
ownership	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
14	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
the	O
DC	O
Circuit	O
Court	O
of	O
Appeals	O
struck	O
down	O
the	O
FCC	O
's	O
net	O
neutrality	O
rules	O
after	O
Verizon	B-Application
filed	O
suit	O
against	O
them	O
in	O
January	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2016	O
,	O
in	O
a	O
184-page	O
ruling	O
,	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
Court	O
of	O
Appeals	O
for	O
the	O
District	O
of	O
Columbia	O
Circuit	O
upheld	O
,	O
by	O
a	O
2	O
–	O
1	O
vote	O
,	O
the	O
FCC	O
's	O
net	O
neutrality	O
rules	O
and	O
the	O
FCC	O
's	O
determination	O
that	O
broadband	B-General_Concept
access	O
is	O
a	O
public	O
utility	O
rather	O
than	O
a	O
luxury	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
22	O
,	O
2014	O
,	O
the	O
Wall	O
Street	O
Journal	O
reported	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
received	O
more	O
than	O
1,000	O
requests	O
for	O
information	O
about	O
its	O
subscribers	O
on	O
national	O
security	O
grounds	O
via	O
National	O
Security	O
Letters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
total	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
received	O
321,545	O
requests	O
from	O
federal	O
,	O
state	O
and	O
local	O
law	O
enforcement	O
for	O
U.S.	O
customer	O
information	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2015	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
agreed	O
to	O
pay	O
$90	O
million	O
"	O
to	O
settle	O
federal	O
and	O
state	O
investigations	O
into	O
allegations	O
mobile	O
customers	O
were	O
improperly	O
billed	O
for	O
premium	O
text	O
messages.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
October	O
2014	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
launched	O
the	O
technology	O
news	O
website	O
SugarString	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Verizon	B-Application
denied	O
that	O
this	O
was	O
the	O
case	O
,	O
the	O
site	O
(	O
described	O
as	O
being	O
a	O
pilot	O
project	O
)	O
was	O
shuttered	O
in	O
December	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2015	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
Hum	O
,	O
a	O
service	O
and	O
device	O
offering	O
vehicle	O
diagnostic	O
and	O
monitoring	O
tools	O
for	O
vehicles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
August	O
1	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
its	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Fleetmatics	O
,	O
a	O
fleet	O
telematics	O
system	O
company	O
in	O
Dublin	O
,	O
Ireland	O
,	O
for	O
$2.4	O
billion	O
,	O
to	O
build	O
products	O
that	O
it	O
offers	O
to	O
enterprises	O
for	O
logistics	O
and	O
mobile	O
workforces	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
September	O
12	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
its	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Sensity	O
,	O
a	O
startup	O
for	O
LED	O
sensors	O
,	O
in	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
bolster	O
its	O
IoT	B-Operating_System
portfolio	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
was	O
accused	O
by	O
Communications	O
Workers	O
of	O
America	O
of	O
deliberately	O
refusing	O
to	O
maintain	O
its	O
copper	O
telephone	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
organization	O
released	O
internal	O
memos	O
and	O
other	O
documents	O
stating	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
workers	O
in	O
Pennsylvania	O
were	O
being	O
instructed	O
to	O
,	O
in	O
areas	O
with	O
network	O
problems	O
,	O
migrate	O
voice-only	O
customers	O
to	O
VoiceLink	O
,	O
a	O
system	O
that	O
delivers	O
telephone	O
service	O
over	O
the	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
network	O
,	O
instead	O
of	O
repairing	O
the	O
copper	O
lines	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Verizon	B-Application
spokesperson	O
responded	O
to	O
the	O
allegations	O
,	O
stating	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
top	O
priority	O
was	O
to	O
restore	O
service	O
to	O
customers	O
as	O
quickly	O
as	O
possible	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
VoiceLink	O
was	O
a	O
means	O
of	O
doing	O
so	O
in	O
the	O
event	O
that	O
larger	O
repairs	O
had	O
to	O
be	O
done	O
to	O
the	O
infrastructure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
November	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
acquired	O
mapping	O
startup	O
SocialRadar	O
,	O
whose	O
technology	O
would	O
be	O
integrated	O
with	O
MapQuest	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
26	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
the	O
Washington	O
Post	O
reported	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
was	O
in	O
talks	O
to	O
merge	O
with	O
Charter	O
Communications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
partnered	O
with	O
Alley	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
coworking	O
spaces	O
under	O
the	O
name	O
"	O
Alley	O
powered	O
by	O
Verizon	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
13	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
was	O
sued	O
by	O
New	O
York	O
City	O
for	O
violating	O
its	O
cable	O
franchise	O
agreement	O
,	O
which	O
required	O
the	O
provider	O
to	O
pass	O
a	O
fiberoptic	B-Architecture
network	O
to	O
all	O
households	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
by	O
June	O
30	O
,	O
2014	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
disputed	O
the	O
claims	O
,	O
citing	O
landlords	O
not	O
granting	O
permission	O
to	O
install	O
the	O
equipment	O
on	O
their	O
properties	O
,	O
and	O
an	O
understanding	O
with	O
the	O
government	O
that	O
the	O
fiber	O
network	O
would	O
follow	O
the	O
same	O
routes	O
as	O
its	O
copper	O
lines	O
,	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
necessarily	O
mean	O
it	O
would	O
have	O
to	O
pass	O
the	O
lines	O
in	O
front	O
of	O
every	O
property	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
April	O
27	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
invested	O
$10	O
million	O
in	O
Renovo	O
Auto	O
,	O
an	O
autonomous	O
vehicle	O
company	O
based	O
in	O
Campbell	O
,	O
California	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
December	O
10	O
,	O
2018	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
that	O
10,400	O
managers	O
had	O
agreed	O
to	O
leave	O
the	O
company	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
"	O
voluntary	O
separation	O
program	O
"	O
offered	O
to	O
44,000	O
employees	O
,	O
resulting	O
in	O
a	O
cut	O
of	O
around	O
7%	O
of	O
its	O
workforce	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
17	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
offer	O
anti-spam	O
and	O
robocalling	O
features	O
free	O
of	O
charge	O
to	O
all	O
customers	O
beginning	O
in	O
March	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
April	O
2019	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
began	O
rolling	O
out	O
its	O
5G	O
mobile	O
network	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
active	O
in	O
30	O
cities	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Unlike	O
other	O
U.S.	O
carriers	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
only	O
uses	O
millimeter-wave	O
(	O
mmWave	O
)	O
spectrum	O
for	O
its	O
5G	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
January	O
14	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
its	O
privacy-focused	O
search	B-Application
engine	I-Application
OneSearch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
15	O
,	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
acquired	O
videoconferencing	O
service	O
BlueJeans	B-Application
in	O
order	O
to	O
expand	O
its	O
business	O
portfolio	O
offerings	O
,	O
particularly	O
its	O
unified	O
communications	O
offerings	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
September	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
its	O
plans	O
to	O
acquire	O
TracFone	O
Wireless	O
(	O
a	O
business	O
unit	O
of	O
Mexican	O
telecom	O
business	O
America	O
Movil	O
)	O
for	O
$6.25	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
October	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
collaborated	O
with	O
Apple	O
to	O
bring	O
5G	O
connectivity	O
to	O
Apple	O
's	O
iPhone	B-Operating_System
12	I-Operating_System
lineup	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
12	O
,	O
2015	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
it	O
would	O
acquire	O
AOL	O
at	O
$50	O
per	O
share	O
,	O
for	O
a	O
deal	O
valued	O
around	O
$4.4	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
following	O
year	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
it	O
would	O
acquire	O
the	O
core	O
internet	B-Operating_System
business	O
of	O
Yahoo	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
Following	O
the	O
completion	O
of	O
the	O
acquisitions	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
created	O
a	O
new	O
division	O
called	O
Oath	O
,	O
which	O
includes	O
the	O
AOL	O
and	O
Yahoo	B-Application
brands	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sale	O
did	O
not	O
include	O
Yahoo	B-Application
's	O
stakes	O
in	O
Alibaba	O
Group	O
and	O
Yahoo	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
On	O
March	O
16	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
it	O
would	O
discontinue	O
the	O
e-mail	B-Protocol
services	I-Protocol
provided	O
for	O
its	O
internet	B-Operating_System
subscribers	O
and	O
migrate	O
them	O
to	O
AOL	B-Application
Mail	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
May	O
23	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
CEO	O
Lowell	O
McAdam	O
confirmed	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
plan	O
to	O
launch	O
a	O
streaming	O
TV	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
integrated	O
AOL-Yahoo	O
operation	O
,	O
housed	O
under	O
the	O
newly	O
created	O
Oath	O
division	O
,	O
would	O
be	O
organized	O
around	O
key	O
content-based	O
pillars	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
June	O
13	O
,	O
2017	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
completed	O
its	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Yahoo	B-Application
for	O
$4.48	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2021	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
that	O
its	O
media	O
group	O
,	O
including	O
AOL	O
and	O
Yahoo	B-Application
,	O
would	O
be	O
sold	O
to	O
Apollo	O
Global	O
Management	O
for	O
$5	O
billion	O
,	O
with	O
Verizon	B-Application
retaining	O
a	O
10%	O
stake	O
in	O
the	O
division	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
fiscal	O
year	O
2019	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
reported	O
earnings	O
of	O
US	O
$19.265	O
billion	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
annual	O
revenue	O
of	O
US	O
$131.868	O
billion	O
,	O
an	O
increase	O
of	O
0.77	O
%	O
over	O
the	O
previous	O
fiscal	O
cycle	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
shares	O
traded	O
at	O
over	O
$45	O
per	O
share	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
market	O
capitalization	O
was	O
valued	O
at	O
over	O
US	O
$229.1	O
billion	O
in	O
October	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
more	O
than	O
20	O
years	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
has	O
been	O
in	O
the	O
top	O
20	O
in	O
the	O
Fortune	O
500	O
listings	O
of	O
corporations	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
by	O
total	O
revenue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
company	O
offers	O
Internet	B-Operating_System
,	O
traditional	O
landline	B-Application
phone	I-Application
or	O
VoIP	O
,	O
Home	O
Security	O
,	O
Premium	O
Television	O
,	O
Web	O
Hosting	O
and	O
wholesale	O
data	O
in	O
nine	O
states	O
footprint	O
across	O
the	O
eastern	O
United	O
States	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Since	O
its	O
inception	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
has	O
run	O
several	O
marketing	O
campaigns	O
,	O
including	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
campaign	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
created	O
for	O
the	O
newly	O
formed	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
,	O
started	O
running	O
in	O
2001	O
,	O
and	O
featured	O
actor	O
Paul	O
Marcarelli	O
in	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
"	O
Test	O
Man	O
"	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
based	O
on	O
a	O
Verizon	B-Application
network	O
tester	O
,	O
who	O
travels	O
the	O
country	O
asking	O
"	O
Can	O
you	O
hear	O
me	O
now	O
?	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2011	O
,	O
Marcarelli	O
parted	O
ways	O
with	O
Verizon	B-Application
,	O
and	O
is	O
now	O
a	O
spokesperson	O
for	O
Sprint	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ads	O
depicted	O
a	O
side-by-side	O
comparison	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
and	O
AT&T	O
network	O
coverage	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
suit	O
was	O
dropped	O
later	O
that	O
month	O
in	O
conjunction	O
with	O
Verizon	B-Application
dropping	O
a	O
similar	O
suit	O
against	O
AT&T	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
joined	O
with	O
the	O
Ad	O
Council	O
,	O
in	O
partnership	O
with	O
the	O
Family	O
Violence	O
Prevention	O
Fund	O
and	O
the	O
Office	O
on	O
Violence	O
Against	O
Women	O
,	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
"	O
That	O
's	O
not	O
cool	O
"	O
public	O
service	O
advertising	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designed	O
to	O
help	O
teens	O
recognize	O
and	O
prevent	O
digital	O
dating	O
abuse	O
,	O
the	O
ads	O
were	O
run	O
on	O
its	O
Wireless	O
 '	O
Mobile	O
Web	O
service	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Protocol
FiOS	I-Protocol
internet	B-Operating_System
and	O
TV	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2013	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
the	O
"	O
Powerful	O
Answers	O
"	O
campaign	O
,	O
designed	O
by	O
agency	O
McGarryBowen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
campaign	O
centered	O
around	O
a	O
contest	O
in	O
which	O
$10	O
million	O
in	O
prizes	O
was	O
offered	O
to	O
individuals	O
for	O
finding	O
solutions	O
to	O
"	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
biggest	O
challenges	O
"	O
by	O
making	O
use	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
cloud	O
,	O
broadband	B-General_Concept
and	O
wireless	O
networks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2014	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
the	O
"	O
Inspire	O
Her	O
Mind	O
"	O
campaign	O
,	O
created	O
by	O
agency	O
AKQA	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
February	O
2015	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
its	O
Flipside	O
Stories	O
ad	O
campaign	O
,	O
featuring	O
the	O
#NeverSettle	O
hashtag	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
ads	O
showed	O
dramatized	O
"	O
testimonials	O
"	O
of	O
people	O
with	O
and	O
without	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
or	O
Verizon	B-Protocol
Fios	I-Protocol
services	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2016	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
started	O
using	O
the	O
slogan	O
"	O
Better	O
Matters	O
"	O
in	O
reference	O
to	O
its	O
networks	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
launched	O
its	O
Humanability	O
campaign	O
in	O
2017	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
include	O
online	O
advertising	O
,	O
data	O
collection	O
,	O
Internet	B-Operating_System
of	I-Operating_System
Things	I-Operating_System
,	O
smart	B-Device
cities	I-Device
,	O
telematics	O
,	O
and	O
media	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Verizon	B-Application
Foundation	O
is	O
the	O
philanthropic	O
arm	O
of	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
,	O
which	O
donates	O
about	O
$70	O
million	O
per	O
year	O
to	O
nonprofit	O
organizations	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
focus	O
on	O
education	O
,	O
domestic	O
violence	O
prevention	O
,	O
and	O
energy	O
management	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
educational	O
initiatives	O
have	O
focused	O
on	O
STEM	O
fields	O
,	O
including	O
:	O
a	O
national	O
competition	O
for	O
students	O
to	O
develop	O
mobile	B-Application
application	I-Application
concepts	O
;	O
the	O
Verizon	B-Application
Innovative	O
Learning	O
Schools	O
program	O
,	O
providing	O
professional	O
development	O
for	O
teachers	O
in	O
underserved	O
areas	O
;	O
and	O
providing	O
students	O
with	O
wireless	O
hardware	O
and	O
services	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
President	O
Obama	O
's	O
ConnectED	O
program	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
part	O
of	O
an	O
initiative	O
to	O
reduce	O
the	O
company	O
's	O
carbon	O
intensity	O
metrics	O
by	O
50	O
percent	O
by	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
planned	O
investment	O
in	O
solar	O
panels	O
and	O
natural	O
gas	O
fuel	O
cells	O
at	O
its	O
facilities	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
increased	O
capacity	O
would	O
make	O
Verizon	B-Application
the	O
leading	O
solar	O
power	O
producer	O
among	O
U.S.	O
communications	O
companies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
February	O
5	O
,	O
2019	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
first	O
entered	O
the	O
green	O
bond	O
market	O
with	O
an	O
issue	O
of	O
$1	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
plans	O
to	O
invest	O
money	O
on	O
renewable	O
energy	O
,	O
for	O
instance	O
,	O
by	O
developing	O
solar	O
and	O
wind	O
energy	O
energy-efficient	O
projects	O
involving	O
technology	O
and	O
equipment	O
replacement	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
deployment	O
of	O
5G	O
wireless	O
technologies	O
,	O
allowing	O
for	O
real-time	O
response	O
for	O
energy	O
demand	O
(	O
smart	O
building	O
management	O
and	O
city	O
systems	O
)	O
,	O
green	O
buildings	O
,	O
sustainable	O
water	O
management	O
,	O
and	O
also	O
biodiversity	O
and	O
conservation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Google	O
Project	O
Zero	O
researcher	O
Tavis	O
Ormandy	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
applies	O
a	O
simplistic	O
certification	O
methodology	O
to	O
give	O
its	O
"	O
Excellence	O
in	O
Information	O
Security	O
Testing	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
e.g.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
focuses	O
on	O
GUI	B-Application
functions	O
instead	O
of	O
testing	O
security	O
relevant	O
features	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Not	O
detected	O
were	O
Chromodo	O
browser	O
disabling	O
of	O
the	O
same-origin	B-Protocol
policy	I-Protocol
,	O
a	O
VNC-delivered	O
with	O
a	O
default	O
of	O
weak	O
authentication	O
,	O
not	O
enabling	O
address	O
space	O
layout	O
randomization	O
(	O
ASLR	O
)	O
when	O
scanning	O
,	O
and	O
using	O
access	O
control	O
lists	O
(	O
ACLs	O
)	O
throughout	O
its	O
product	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
and	O
Comcast	O
have	O
been	O
actively	O
lobbying	O
for	O
current	O
changes	O
in	O
the	O
FCC	O
's	O
regulations	O
that	O
require	O
internet	B-Operating_System
service	O
providers	O
to	O
offer	O
all	O
content	O
at	O
one	O
internet	B-Operating_System
speed	O
regardless	O
of	O
the	O
type	O
of	O
content	O
since	O
the	O
early	O
2000s	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2014	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
unsuccessfully	O
sued	O
the	O
FCC	O
for	O
these	O
powers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
July	O
2017	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
reported	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	I-Application
mobile	I-Application
network	I-Application
had	O
been	O
limiting	O
streaming	O
services	O
such	O
as	O
Netflix	O
and	O
YouTube	B-General_Concept
to	O
a	O
speed	O
of	O
10	O
Mbps	O
;	O
Verizon	B-Application
stated	O
to	O
Ars	O
Technica	O
that	O
it	O
had	O
been	O
testing	O
a	O
system	O
to	O
"	O
optimize	O
the	O
performance	O
of	O
video	O
applications	O
on	O
our	O
network	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
not	O
affect	O
video	O
quality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
May	O
2020	O
,	O
the	O
Better	O
Business	O
Bureau	O
criticized	O
Verizon	B-Application
for	O
claiming	O
it	O
was	O
"	O
building	O
the	O
most	O
powerful	O
5G	O
experience	O
for	O
America	O
"	O
and	O
recommended	O
that	O
the	O
company	O
make	O
clear	O
and	O
conspicuous	O
disclosures	O
to	O
consumers	O
about	O
the	O
limited	O
actual	O
availability	O
of	O
its	O
5G	O
network	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
had	O
been	O
cited	O
by	O
the	O
Better	O
Business	O
Bureau	O
in	O
March	O
2019	O
for	O
ads	O
that	O
"	O
convey	O
the	O
message	O
that	O
Verizon	B-Application
has	O
achieved	O
the	O
important	O
milestone	O
of	O
deploying	O
the	O
first	O
mobile	O
wireless	O
5G	O
network	O
"	O
prior	O
to	O
5G	O
availability	O
,	O
falsely	O
conveying	O
that	O
the	O
technology	O
was	O
currently	O
available	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
has	O
a	O
one-star	O
privacy	O
rating	O
from	O
the	O
Electronic	O
Frontier	O
Foundation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
is	O
the	O
title	O
sponsor	O
of	O
several	O
large	O
performance	O
and	O
sports	O
venues	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
a	O
sponsor	O
of	O
many	O
major	O
sporting	O
organizations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2007	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
secured	O
exclusive	O
marketing	O
and	O
promotional	O
rights	O
with	O
the	O
National	O
Hockey	O
League	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
deal	O
was	O
extended	O
for	O
another	O
three	O
years	O
in	O
2012	O
and	O
included	O
new	O
provisions	O
for	O
the	O
league	O
to	O
provide	O
exclusive	O
content	O
through	O
Verizon	B-Application
's	O
GameCenter	O
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
and	O
2010	O
Verizon	B-Application
sponsored	O
Justin	O
Allgaier	O
in	O
the	O
NASCAR	O
Nationwide	O
Series	O
,	O
before	O
they	O
chose	O
to	O
opt	O
out	O
of	O
a	O
two-year-old	O
NASCAR	O
team	O
sponsorship	O
with	O
Penske	O
Racing	O
in	O
order	O
to	O
pursue	O
an	O
expanded	O
presence	O
with	O
the	O
IndyCar	B-Application
Series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
2014	O
Verizon	B-Application
became	O
title	O
sponsor	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
through	O
2018	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
also	O
sponsored	O
a	O
race	O
in	O
the	O
2021	O
NASCAR	O
Cup	O
Series	O
season	O
,	O
the	O
Verizon	B-Application
200	O
at	O
the	O
Brickyard	O
at	O
Indianapolis	O
Motor	O
Speedway	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
late	O
2010	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
Communications	O
joined	O
with	O
Vodafone	O
Group	O
in	O
a	O
joint	O
partnership	O
to	O
replace	O
Sprint	O
as	O
the	O
official	O
wireless	O
telecommunications	O
partner	O
of	O
the	O
National	O
Football	O
League	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2013	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
announced	O
a	O
four-year	O
extension	O
with	O
the	O
NFL	O
in	O
a	O
deal	O
reportedly	O
valued	O
at	O
$1	O
billion	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
new	O
agreement	O
gave	O
Verizon	B-Application
the	O
right	O
to	O
stream	O
every	O
NFL	O
regular-season	O
and	O
playoff	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
2020	O
,	O
Verizon	B-Application
became	O
a	O
founding	O
partner	O
of	O
USA	O
Team	O
Handball	O
through	O
the	O
year	O
2020	O
,	O
with	O
an	O
option	O
to	O
extend	O
the	O
deal	O
until	O
2024	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2020	O
USA	O
Team	O
Handball	O
CEO	O
Barry	O
Siff	O
that	O
they	O
are	O
planning	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
American	O
professional	O
team	O
handball	O
league	O
sponsored	O
by	O
Verizon	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
are	O
planning	O
to	O
launch	O
the	O
league	O
in	O
2023	O
with	O
10	O
teams	O
with	O
each	O
team	O
initially	O
worth	O
$3	O
million	O
to	O
$5	O
million	O
and	O
want	O
to	O
cooperate	O
with	O
NBA	B-Application
or	O
NHL	O
owners	O
in	O
one-tenant	O
arena	O
situations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
main	O
home	O
concert	O
hall	O
of	O
the	O
Philadelphia	O
Orchestra	O
at	O
the	O
Kimmel	O
Center	O
for	O
the	O
Performing	O
Arts	O
is	O
named	O
Verizon	B-Application
Hall	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
was	O
the	O
former	O
sponsor	O
for	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
sporting	O
and	O
entertainment	O
arenas	O
,	O
including	O
Simmons	O
Bank	O
Arena	O
(	O
formerly	O
Verizon	B-Application
Arena	O
)	O
in	O
North	O
Little	O
Rock	O
,	O
Arkansas	O
,	O
the	O
Mayo	O
Clinic	O
Health	O
System	O
Event	O
Center	O
(	O
formerly	O
Verizon	B-Application
Center	O
)	O
in	O
Mankato	O
,	O
Minnesota	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
SNHU	O
Arena	O
in	O
Manchester	O
,	O
New	O
Hampshire	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
originally	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
Arena	O
until	O
September	O
2016	O
when	O
Southern	O
New	O
Hampshire	O
University	O
acquired	O
the	O
naming	O
rights	O
for	O
a	O
period	O
of	O
at	O
least	O
10	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
was	O
also	O
the	O
title	O
sponsor	O
of	O
entertainment	O
amphitheaters	O
in	O
locations	O
throughout	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
including	O
four	O
individually	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
the	O
"	O
Verizon	B-Application
Wireless	I-Application
Amphitheatre	O
"	O
in	O
Irvine	O
,	O
California	O
,	O
Maryland	O
Heights	O
,	O
Missouri	O
,	O
Selma	O
,	O
Texas	O
,	O
and	O
Alpharetta	O
,	O
Georgia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Verizon	B-Application
is	O
a	O
former	O
sponsor	O
of	O
the	O
Capital	O
One	O
Arena	O
in	O
Washington	O
,	O
DC	O
.	O
</s>
