Conclusion

Verizon communications invests millions of dollars not only in competitive advertising, but also on hardware, software, and network component technologies in order to maintain their IT Philosophy of “Early Adopters”.  In the beginning of our project we thought that Verizon was mainly about internet services and wireless providers, but Verizon started by focusing on domestic land lines and evolved to services from wireless providers, to vast networks (3G & 4G), high-speed internet, Fiber-optic communications, undersea cable technology (connecting countries globally), high-definition channels, back-up and recovery services, and telephone and TV services and products. 

Verizon has even expanded to government, business/enterprise, and global segments. Its goal is to create newer and better technologies that will cover all areas of communication; areas that will channel and connect all media and information to their customers.  What is more capturing is their new LTE Innovation Center that works through collaboration to create new technologies.  We believe that Verizon is becoming the “Apple” of telecommunications due to their differentiation strategies; the only difference is that Verizon forms hundreds of partnerships to collect more ideas. 

One of the strongest traits of Verizon is their structure; they divide their company services strategically providing enough attention to each branch, but still working towards one goal.  Furthermore, one would think that a company would be very private with their technologies; however Verizon provides web pages that describe their services, innovations, philosophy, strategies, and more. 

Our group rarely had trouble finding information on any area of Verizon; on the contrary, there were so many Verizon pages which sometimes became overwhelming and could be confusing for customers trying to find information on one page and then are guided to five other pages with all different information on the same topic. 

Although we picked Verizon because it is a popular company, we did not imagine the extent of their advancement and upcoming new technologies that will become part of our commodity and needed devices in our daily lives.  After all the research and reporting on Verizon, we believe that it is at the top of the communications industry and the best choice.

Technology

Verizon Networks

Verizon the most known wireless provider constantly expands its technology in order to provide a more reliable and advanced service.  Verizon’s network is known to be one of the best although it competes with AT&T.  The Verizon Wireless network consists of WAN (wide area network) which is powered by EV-DO (Evolution Data Optimized) 3G network. A network is defined as two or more information devices connected in order to communicate with each other and share information.    Although EV-DO is not mentioned in “The Best Network” commercials it is a wireless transmission medium.  Its purpose is to transmit data wirelessly through radio signals which is essential for broadband internet access and ultimately offers a faster mobile wireless data exchange experience with wide coverage (it is a type of Wireless Access Point WAP). 

Verizon offers commonly used interfaces for broadband internet access.  Interface is an important component of a network.  Verizon provides a “3G Wireless WAN High Speed Interface Card” (HWIC), which is sold by Cisco (the WAN can cover the whole world).  The HWIC is compatible with the Cisco and Verizon routers.

When Verizon launched its 2G network (2^nd generation of wireless communication) it brought to us digital voice and text messaging, the 3G network introduced smartphones, web browsing and applications.  Although Verizon is famous for its 3G network and many other telecommunication companies offer this service; that is soon becoming old news for Verizon customers as the company launched its 4G network (high speed internet for mobile devices) on February 2010.  The software that will support its new communication and messaging services is Erico’s Software.  Erico’s is embedded on a wide range of devices across Verizon Wireless that serve for powerful networks and streamline, to IP services, messaging and calling. The 4G network offers faster wireless connections in any spot for Smartphones, laptops, and ipads.

FiOS

Verizon has become famous for its wired transmission medium known as FiOS.  Verizon's FiOS- Fiber Optic Service-uses fiber optic cables to give high speed internet access.  Data is passed at the speed of light allowing downloads and browsing to be at higher speeds. "Even though some broadband Internet service providers use fiber optics in addition to coaxial cable, Verizon FiOS is the only majr network that delivers ultra-fast Internet on 100% fiber optics straight to your home"- Verizon FiOS Website

Verizon offers WiFi with its FiOS package.  WiFi stands for omnidirectional microwave for short distances.  It is a type of radio transmission and it is a wireless communications medium that has become very popular in wireless communication.

The comparison of FiOS in speed versus regular cable is outstanding:



                    FiOS                                      Cable

Photo upload-50 photos       20 Mbps      3 Mbps-    15 photos
Gaming-.03 second lag         20 Mbps      3 Mbps-  6 second lag
Movie Download- 6 GB       50 Mbps       6 GB-        16 Mbps
Music Download- 10 songs  50 Mbps      3 songs-     16 Mbps
File Sharing- 10 1MB files    20 Mbps      6 1MB Files-3 Mbps

Websites Visited:
http://www22.verizon.com/residential/fiosinternet/Overview.htm#
http://www.fiberexperts.com/faq.html
Verizon Network Facts

Hardware

Verizon Communications offers customers hardware that is necessary to work with their broadband, domestic line, wireless, 3G/4G network, Internet and cloud computing services.  Every device offered must be certified by Verizon.  Why is certification necessary? Verizon wants to ensure that the devices work together with their services to serve a company’s business needs.  Each manufacture’s device will be approved for service plans, and verified to be harmless to Verizon network and system.

Some hardware categories offered and used by Verizon Communications are:

 -Storage Devices- Chipsets, Data cards

 -Telecommunication Devices- Modems, Routers, Mobile Broadband Modems/Adapters

Modems and  Mobile Broadband Adapters

Routers

- Connecting Devices-

Wired Connections: Ports available on modems, routers, handheld computers, PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistant), Tablet PC’s, among other devices and computers offered by Verizon.

Wireless Connections: Bluetooth and WiFi

Ports

Some Categories of computers offered by Verizon are:

-Tablet/Notebook computers  (Getac Inc., Data LTD, Motion Computing)

-Netbook (Getac In.c)

-Handheld computer (Motorola)



Notebook Computers

-Laptops (Samsung)

-PDA/Mobile Computers (Itron, Ruggedcom, Intermec Techonologies)

Mobile Computers

Verizon is known for its diversity in suppliers and manufacturers.  For its hardware devices and computers it deals with Amblent Corporation, Axesstel Incorporated, BI Incorporated, CalAmp, CradlePoint, Ctek, Getac Inc., Intermec Technologies, Itron Inc., Motion Computing, Motorola, Multi-Tech Systems Inc., RuggedCom, Sierra Wireless, Ventus, Samsung, and Waxess USA Inc.

The Verizon Premium Technical Support is responsible for hardware and software problems and solutions.  This center is for more complex problems or inquiries that are not usually tended to by regular technical support. This service is run by IT certified technicians 24/7. 

They assist in these and more services:

-Computer crashes

-Network issues

-3^rd Party email configuration

-Computer Viruses

-Set up for products (gaming consoles) and application software

-Hooking up new equipment

-Troubleshooting operating system

-Wireless networking for hardware devices

-Computer tune up

-Port Forwarding

Software

System Software:

Verizon Communications is completely based on Linux open-source operating system for its wireless branch. In May of 2008, Verizon Wireless declared Linux as its mobile operating system of choice.  Verizon Wireless’ vice president of networks, Kyle Malady says:

 “The decision to support Linux, however, doesn’t preclude Verizon from selling phones based on a range of operating systems, including an evolving Linux-based Android operating system, offered by the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) backed by Google Inc.; Windows Mobile; BlackBerry by Research in Motion Ltd; and others.”- Kyle Malady (Computerworld Mobile and Wireless Topic Center)

Application Software:

 “Verizon IT’s telecom software applications have helped telecommunications providers throughout the world achieve improved efficiencies, cost reductions, capital avoidance, and improved workforce productivity.” –Verizon Products and Services

Verizon offers and uses Telecom Software Applications for back-office systems that support:

-Billing and processing transactions (Usage Management System Application)

-Provisioning and Activation (Assignment, Activation and Inventory System Application)

-Workforce management (Automated Workforce Administration System Application)

-Network Security (Access Guardian Application)

Additionally, Verizon offers other software applications like Verizon Website powered by Intuit (to create websites), Verizon Collaboration Center (Group projects), Data Protection Premium (encrypted data, email services, online backup and sharing, and security suite combined),  Verizon Encrypted Docs (for sensitive information on computer media, disk drives, USB keys, and network), and WebEx PC Now ( to access PC from anywhere.)

Websites Visited:

Computerworld

Verizon Open Network Devices Showcase

Open Development

Verizon IT/ Telecom Software

Verizon Technical Support

Verizon Applications



Files and Databases

Some files used by Verizon are customer files, service files, billing files, product files, sales files, distributor files, among others.  An example of a database system used by Verizon is in the customer database.  Customer call information goes to databases.  A customer database used by Verizon communications is (Microsoft) SQL Server 2000 Production database.  The system functions on a Hewlett Packard ProLiant server along with EMC Symmetrix DMX storage devices.  Along with that there is a Microsoft SQL Server RDBMS (Relational Database Management System) with Transact-SQL as the principle query language.

Verizon has other databases for billing, and sales transactions as well.  These two databases are connected to update CUstomer Service Record (CSR) and inventory of items used or purchased by each customer.  All of these records are obtained from a Carrier Access Billing System, supported by Microsoft's Access software.  This system also allows each field to have a key field such as billing account numbers for each customer.

Database Management, Reports, and Storage

The employees responsible for databases are part of the call centre staff which is led by DBAs (Database Administrators).  For example, for customer databases, they are responsible for customer data changes, operations, and updates.  HOw the call centre staff views or puts in changes, is by retrieving customer records through account numbers, telephone numbers, social numbers, or other personal information that will open the account to view.  There are some automatic changes that also are also part of customer records such as with billing, the balances change automatically.

Online analytical processing (OLAP) is using collective information from multiple databases to make important business decisions.  Customer activity, sales, and marketing information can be manipulated to obtain online analytical processing.  Verizon has their own data warehouse that supports their OLAP, which they also offer to their corporate and wholesale customers.  The importance of the data warehouse, unlike an Online Transaction Processing (OLTP), is that it is not information from just one database, but from all databases available in the company, which better organize the company's information resources.

Verizon uses Microsoft Access support software, as a database management system and to obtain reports.  Verizon reports include customer records, service changes, billing service, calling activity, product service, and more.  Also, data marts are used to focus on certain areas ofo the company's operations.  Verizon uses data marts to focus on specific areas instead of a whole database to create a report.  For example, Verizon Businesss may want a report only on the relation between sales and service in order to see which services produce the most revenue; they will have to only retrieve information from the sales and service data marts rather than from the extensive data warehouse.

Data Mining

For Verizon’s division, Verizon Wireless, data mining is a very crucial part of their daily operations.  Data mining can also be useful to other companies, not only communication companies, because it helps collect useful information that can be used to increase revenue and even cut company costs.  Data mining can help detect trends in customer purchases, which if pegged right, can be a revenue booster.  An example of this for Verizon Wireless can be as detailed as figuring out what day of the week or month over a certain amount of time has the highest recorded profit after expenses.  Seeing what that day is, a sale should be put in place for the most common product which will make customers or potential customers want to buy more. Data mining can be as simple for Verizon Wireless as figuring out which gender likes the color of a phone better; because according to Verizon Wireless, they lose sales many times due to the fact that the customer will sometimes not like the color on the phone they want to purchase.  The company that Verizon has used in the past and still uses for data mining is StatSoft- the creators of Statistica, widely used software used in many major corporations, government agencies, and Universities worldwide.  They provide the most comprehensive data analysis, visualization, management, and mining procedures.

Websties Visited:

Verizon Database Services
Verizon Billing processflow
Verizon Database Solutions

Business Strategies

Verizon's Use of E-Commerce

Verizon is recognized not only for its information technology, but also for effectively using electronic commerce to offer their products and services.  The advantage of using E-commerce is the availability of services and partnerships at any time, to consumers and companies all over the world.  Through E-commerce communication barriers come down, allowing faster access for business/customer operations.  Verizon has an efficient path-to-profitability (P2P) which is applied to E-commerce in order to target specific customers (residential, business, corporate, and government segments), marketing (affiliates, ads, and search engines), operations (supply chain, finance, etc.) and projects (innovations).

Internet Business Models

Business to Business (B2B) E-Commerce  Verizon has partnerships with suppliers, manufacturers, IT system  and hardware companies,  among other businesses.  The connection with other businesses creates more choices to reduce inventory cost and supplier power; but also to increase customer service and products.  This is so because of better and faster communication with the businesses that work with Verizon to satisfy customers.

Business to Consumer (B2B) E-Commerce Verizon provides communication services and products to individuals:  FiOs TV and Internet, 3-G networks, wireless services, landlines, global communications, entertainment accessibility (movies and games on demand), internet security systems, among more.  Verizon aims to stay on top of demand but also to introduce new services and products to gain competitive advantage. 

Business to Government (B2G) E-Commerce Verizon provides risk management, backup systems, and internet security that help transform and improve government operations.   Verizon also offers its communication services to help with national security by helping to secure networks from espionage and terrorism attempts.

Verizon's Marketing Mix

Verizon invests millions of dollars in advertisement not only through TV commercials and billboards, but a large part of its marketing strategy uses the Web to attract customers.  Verizon’s website is filled with information on every aspect of the company.  Customers, can easily access the website to see the services and products offered as well as future projects, social responsibility, infrastructure, and working innovations.  The way Verizon exposes their website which ultimately markets their products and services is by being on search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc), paying for online ads (advertisement on the sides of websites), and having affiliate programs (www.pcworld.com) that draw in customers (B2C).  It is more challenging to attract other businesses using the same marketing tools used for individuals.  Therefore, Verizon approaches businesses and the government by presenting their advanced IT, that reflects in their products/services, through negotiation that ensures that they are the top communication providers. 

Verizon's Payment Systems

Payment systems used by Verizon include (B2C payment systems), financial cybermediaries, electronic checks, electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP), and Electronic data interchange (B2B payment system).  Verizon provides an exclusive link to its Billing Center that explains and guides customers to their convenient choice of payment.  There is also customer service offered through chat and by telephone.

An example of a financial cybermediary is BilltoMobile.  Verizon’s wireless branch hit their competition with this new mobile payment service.  Verizon formed a partnership with Danal to allow customers to charge online purchases directly to their monthly cellular bill.

The electronic check mechanism works by partnerships with banks.  You can pay any of your Verizon bills through personal online banking accounts.  Additionally, Verizon offers customized accounts for their customers with billing and user information (EBPP).  E-mails and virtual notifications are sent to customers with balances and easy access to pay.

The payment systems mentioned work for business to customer services; however, for business to business payment transactions Verizon partnered with Global eXchange Service (GXS) to process operations such as supply-chain management.  Such partnerships allow organizations to share and control transactions easily.

Verizon and Porter's Five Forces Model

The five forces model helps companies understand the relative attractiveness and competitive pressures of an industry.  Every company especially one with leading competition in its industry, like Verizon, takes into consideration balancing the five forces: buyer power, supplier power, threat of substitutes, new entrants, and rivalry between existing competitors.

Buyer Power

Buyer Power is high, especially in this technological area because there are many choices in products and services when it comes to communications.  For Verizon's wireless industry, there are many competitors such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Spring, Nextel, among others, that offer similar services.  Therefore, in order for Verizon Wireless to attract and maintain customers they must offer top of the line wireless devices, networks, and affordable prices.  The best way to reduce buyer power is by gaining competitive advantage , which Verizon thrives in doing.  Verizon gains markets due to its philosophical approach to be the first to try new technologies.  Customers perceive this confidence and quality in their products and services and choose Verizon.

Supplier Power

Supplier power is high when companies do not have many supplier choices to buy from.  Verizon puts a great importance on their suppliers; therefore, they have their own organization, The Strategic Sourcing Organization, to handle the negotiation and purchase of products and services from suppliers.  In this way, Verizon lowers supplier power and has many diverse supplier options that will provide quality products at an affordable price.

Threat of Substitute Products or Services

For Verizon, the threat of substitute products or services is not as high as other communication companies, because they are working to go beyond traditional technologies.  Especially with their new LTE Innovation Center (Refer to IT Culture below), Verizon is taking the lead in creating new technologies.  A way Verizon reduces substitute threats is in using switching costs--discouraging customers to go anywhere else--offering bundle packages, introducing new products and services, making contracts, and showing customers that their technology is teh best choice.

Threat of New Entrants

Verizon became the new entrant for other communication companies, when it targeted all areas in the telephone, landline, wireless, internet, broadband,  and cable segments of communication.  Due to Verizon's first-mover advantage, the threats of new entrants are higher, because companies will try to imitate or provide similar services in order to gain competitive advantage.    Nonetheless, Verizon's most powerful entry barrier is its custom IT systems through their strong partnerships and technology, keep competition out.

Rivalry Among Existing Competitors

Communication companies ranging from cable, land and wireless services that compete with Verizon

Verizon has many competitors in all its areas of communication; however, in the wireless industry one stands out.  Competition and rivalry are at an all time high between wireless providers.  The most popular providers are Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.  However, the strongest rival for Verizon is AT&T.  Both companies spend millions of dollars battling in commercials against each other.  Verizon has more customers and revenue than AT&T.  Both companies are going for the same goals: to expand their networks, to work with 3G and 4G networks, to introduce new phone applications and devices.  Regardless of their close competition, Verizon continues to be the top provider and competitor due to its outstanding prices, network, products and services.

Verizon's 3G coverage greater than AT&T

IT Culture

IT Control Center

Verizon's Matrix Approach

IT is an important part in Verizon's structure and organization as a communications company.  The right IT structure will allow cost reduction and effective control of inventory, marketing, finance, and the company's management overall.  Verizon assigns an IT department that connects all operations that have to do with technology.  Verizon's structure closely resembles the matrix approach, because every department operation that deals with IT must go through the IT department for processing and consent.  However, there is collaboration across units in a project type of set-up.  Everything from budgeting, capacity, to processing new projects must go through the IT department central station.  but IT personnel are temporarily assigned to different projects when necessary.  In return, this approach makes it easier to control cost, duplication, and communication, but still keeps Verizon's operations agile.

Verizon's "Early Adopter" Philosophy

The LTE Innovation Center and Verizon Experience Center designed to collaborate on new technologies

Verizon's philosophical approach to IT is technology innovation failure or "Early Adopter" approach.  Verizon is always willing to try new technologies.  It makes all the necessary research and analysis and then bring forward their innovation.  Although they are willing to take risks, they make sure that their new product or service has a high chance of success.  We can see their boldness with innovation in their new LTE Innovation Center which aims to provide non-traditional products and services through 4G-related technologies.  Verizon has moved on from their 3G-network and is going for bigger technologies that will change electronics, automobile industries, appliances, and mobile devices.

 The LTE Innovation Center Video

Business Initiatives

Verizon not only uses IT systems to control costs, inventory, infrastructure, collaboration and integration, but they also offer their custom IT systems to their customers in the business and corporate branches.  Verizon is known to partner with companies that offer IT management systems such as vmware, Accenture, McAfee, Cisco, EMC 2, Juniper Networks, Polycom, Tandberg and Akamai (Akamai provides fast access to all applications for all types of IT systems below).

The business initiatives IT systems used and offered are:

For Supply-chain Management:

Verizon has custom supply chain managed software to control supply, costs, inventory, daily sales functions and administration and provide backup and networking between suppliers and buyers.  Verizon recently partnered with GXS to add to its IT system’s efficiency.  GXS is considered, “One of the world’s largest high-performance integration services platforms that allow you to integrate with trading partners around the world, no matter their size, location, language, or technical capabilities.”(Verizon.com). In other words, the GXS system enables clear communication and tracking of a product or service from the originator to the end customer.

For Customer Relations Management:

Juniper Networks and Verizon partnered to provide a fast networking system that allows faster access to provide solutions for customer service.  Verizon also partnered with McAfee security software to protect the company’s and the customer’s information from going out and any harmful applications from going into their systems.  Verizon is able to securely store customer information and activities for marketing, analysis, and sales.

For E-Collaboration:

Verizon partnered with Cisco and Polycom to improve communication and collaboration systems.  This allows the company to share information easily between departments and even with their customers anytime and anywhere. Also for  E-collaboration management, Tandberg was incorporated to provide video and mobile conference products and services.

For Enterprise Resource Management:

Verizon partnered with Accenture’s SAP application management service to bring software for supply chain, customer, and e-collaboration management together.  "This new service is about one thing - easing our customers' IT management load so they can get the best bang for their SAP application buck," commented Joe Crawford, executive director - IT solutions, Verizon. "Our decade-plus track record managing and hosting Web-based applications and delivering IT and security consulting services to multinationals makes this a natural evolution for us."  VMWare also partnered with Verizon to provide management systems that control resources, costs, and savings for the company.

Top-Line Initiative

Verizon's focus goes in hand with the top-line iniative because of constant revenue increase by creating new products (FiOs packages, Webex PC Now, internet and back up security), targeting new customer segments (multicultural channels, and customer support diversity), and offering more services in the areas of communication for residential, business, corporate, and government (homeland security).  Verizon is taking hold of all areas of communication and creating products and services that will attract customers and increase profits.

Visited Websites:

Verizon Partners

Verizon WebEx

Verizon Supply Chain Management

Verizon SAP Solutions

Verizon New Products and Services

Focus and Differentiation

Rule The Air Campaign- replaces slogans "Can you hear me now?" and wireless logo reflecting Verizon's goal for new technologies, gadgets, and domestic and global expansion.

There are different methods that company's can apply to stay on top of competition and continue to make or increase profits.  According to Michael Porter's three generic strategies, Verizon follows mainly two of the strategies--focus and differentiation--to have competitive advantage over other communication companies.

"We'd like to own the rights to distribute any piece of content, an example of that would be, we will pay for the rights to distribute it, then package it, and bundle it and market it to people...we do not want to be gatekeepers."- Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg on Charlie Rose interview.

Verizon focuses on communication segments from domestic lines, wireless, business, and global lines.  Verizon does not want to focus in creating their own shows, writing their own games, or making movies.  It does not create media and claim it; instead their focus is in how to deliver such information/media to people and also to create the right applications to make this information easily accessible. 

Verizon is unlike companies like T-Mobile, Nextel, Sprint, cable and internet companies, who focus on a certain segment of communication.  Instead, Verizon follows the differentiation strategy as it stands out from all other communication companies providing diverse products and services in all areas of communication ranging from vast networks, 3G-networks, high-speed internet, undersea cable technology (connecting countries globally), wireless providers, fiber-optic communications, high-definition channels, and telphone and TV services and products.  Verizon even differentiates itself in customer service by tending to multi-cultural communities and several languages.  There are employees in multiple departments that are able to provide customer support in six different languages which allows Verizon to reach more customers and mainter customer relationships.

Another factor that also adds to Verizon's competitive edge is that their products and services are known for better quality and efficiency; therefore, their prices do not have to be based on the lowest cost possible, instead prices are set relative to their value but competition prices are also considered.

Introduction

HISTORY

Verizon Communications

“Verizon today is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers”-Verizon

Verizon was formed as a result of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp. joining forces in the year 2000.  Verizon Communications Inc., was incorporated in Delaware with the purpose of creating a powerful company that would compete in the wireline and wireless telecommunications industry and go beyond traditional communications and IT.  Although Verizon is a relatively new corporation, it was formed by two of the largest telecommunications companies.  Bell Atlantic engineers were the creators of the fax, the first all-cable telephone system, and were involved in the launching of the first telecommunication satellite.  GTE served the United States and even internationally through affiliates and subsidiaries providing wireless connections, and telecommunications information services and systems.  Bell Atlantic was even more successful in telecommunications than GTE, due to its domestic and global wireless unit that served internationally. 

The results of the merge were more than what was imagined,

 “With well more than 100 million Americans connecting to a Verizon network daily….Verizon is also the leading provider of advanced communications and information technology solutions to large-business and government customers worldwide.”-Investor Relations/Corporate History 2010. 

Verizon has invested in other communications companies (like Rural Cellular Corp., Alltell Corp., and MCI) in order to expand its network to nearly all of the 50 states.  Verizon targets two segments, wireline and wireless. Fiber optic internet and TV, FIOS, has been one of the most recent innovations and one more successful service for this top competitor.

CEO

Ivan G. Seidenberg

“At Verizon, we…look forward to using our investment, innovation and imagination to create lasting value for our world.”- Chairman & CEO Ivan Seidenberg. 

Ivan G. Seidenberg is the CEO and Chairman that has led Verizon since its development in 2000. Seidenberg was involved in the merging of Bell Atlantic and GTE; he was the chairman and CEO for Bell Atlantic at the time of the merger.   He was responsible for introducing the wireless network and FiOS fiber-optic technology.  Seidenberg is known for his social responsibility and concern to solve world issues through technology and has not only created innovations for the success of Verizon; he has also founded programs to enhance education like Thinkfinity.org, and HopeLine to aid domestic violence victims.  In addition, he is a member of the Business Roundtable, which is an association of CEOs and was also assigned to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee.  Ivan G. Seidenberg’s administration has guided Verizon successfully into the number one telecommunications company.