Dear Verizon Retiree:

This communication is to let you know about a new group formed by the United States Telecom Association known as the Future...Faster Coalition. Verizon is a member of this important alliance, which is uniting Americans from all walks of life in an important battle for the future of our information economy.

The coalition has sent a clear signal to Congress -- that a modern, market-driven U.S. telecom policy is essential to unleashing new innovations, more jobs and a stronger information economy.

Washington heard our message to move telecom high on the domestic agenda. Now Congress has begun the debate and your support is more critical than ever!

If you're not already a member of the Future...Faster Coalition, I urge you to join today by visiting http://www.thefuturefaster.com/verizon. Many employees have already registered and involved in this vital public policy debate. We are now asking our retirees for their support and inviting them to make their voices heard in Washington.

As Congress engages in a series of telecommunications debates that will decide the future of U.S. telecom policy, it is critical that you make your voice heard. By visiting the coalition's Web site, you can get involved by signing a petition to Congress calling for new telecom policy and by registering for e-mail updates and timely issue alerts that give you the opportunity to take immediate action.

At Verizon, we have a proud employee tradition of coming together on issues that have a major impact on the future success of our business and communities. We want our retirees to become a part of this tradition, too. Modernizing our nation's telecom laws is one of these critical issues that calls for our company's unified support.

Together, we will urge Congress to help speed the great promise of our telecommunications information age by allowing businesses like ours to compete head-to-head and continue our tradition of investment and innovation.

I urge you to participate in this vital effort by joining now. We need your support more than ever! Please visit the Web site and consider registering to be a member.

Sincerely,