Check out the best of #GlobalCitizenLive featuring Jennifer Lopez, BTS, Ed Sheeran, 5 Seconds of Summer, Davido & more! Tune into @YouTube starting at 1 PM EST to watch all of the stages across the 🌎 during @GlblCtzn https://glblctzn.me/globalcitizenlive...

From our iPhone launch to tomorrow's Global Citizen concert and more. Plus, see how we're charging toward the 4th quarter.

By: Diana Alvear

Happy Friday! And what a special Friday it is! Up To Speed Live host Diana Alvear explained why today’s special and shared the following updates:

Weekly recap

Monday: Andy and Celebrity Intern Adi Wineland quizzed us on all of the great entertainment content we offer our wireless customers on select plans. Talk about value!

Tuesday: We gave you a good look at the Verizon 5G Multiview Experience and how it’s changing the way fans in the stadium will experience football games.

Thursday: Hut hut! With a special episode of ‘Up To Speed Center’ we got everyone hyped up for the all employee 4Q Huddle taking place October 1. We’ll gather together virtually to kick off the always critical fourth quarter with an all-star lineup, including CEO Hans Vestberg!

iPhone 13 launch day

The moment so many of us have been waiting for has finally arrived: iPhone 13 is here! And because our new customers, existing customers, and business customers deserve nothing but the best, Verizon is making it easier than ever to upgrade to a new iPhone 13. Current and new Verizon customers can get a 128-gigabit iPhone 13 Pro on us when with a select trade-in — damaged phones included — on qualified Unlimited plans. Plus, customers who move their phone number to Verizon can get up to $500 to help make that switch.

We heard from excited customers waiting in line for our stores to open this morning. We also heard our retail V Teamers from across the country talk about this incredible deal.

“Every year everybody is excited about the new iPhone and this year is no exception,” reported Solutions Specialist A.J. Nocera from Cleveland, OH.

“I’m excited for the fourth quarter,” said Zac Harrell of Brandon, FL. “That includes the iPhone launch, the holidays, getting the phones and putting the newest technology under the tree.”

Watch the video above to hear from customers and Solutions Specialist Jennifer Johnson of Cleveland, OH, and Retail Manager Rene Toiric of Miami, FL. And don’t miss our V Teamers from across the country who pitched in to create a TikTok Chop dance to help promote this great deal! Thanks to all for their help.

For more details or to get your hands on the new iPhone 13, head to the My Verizon app, Verizon.com, or come hang out with our retail V Teamers at a nearby Verizon store.

Global Citizen Live

Are you ready to rock for a good cause? Top music acts will perform this weekend at the Global Citizen concerts in cities around the globe with a mission to connect the world, defend the planet and defeat poverty. Global Citizen aligns with our Citizen Verizon responsible business plan — which centers on Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection and Human Prosperity — and through which we continue to support initiatives dedicated to economic, environmental and social advancement..

To celebrate, 20 lucky V Teamers were awarded tickets to attend the event in Los Angeles or New York City. “I’m excited to have been selected to attend the Global Citizen concert,” said Consumer Sales District Manager Neisha Darlington of New York, NY. “I absolutely love the commitment by Global Citizen to eliminating poverty around the world and it directly aligns with our commitment as a company to social responsibility and improving human prosperity. Thank you so much!”

Our thanks to Neisha, Eric Hall, Bernadette Carrillo and Michael Perez for their fantastic videos.

As a reminder: You don’t need a concert ticket to join the fun. Check out the 24-hour Global Citizen livestream on YouTube starting at 1 PM ET, and tune into ABC this Sunday night at 7 PM ET for an hour-long special that includes behind the scenes footage. There is even a Snap lens you can use to post and share with friends. For more information, visit GlobalCitizen.org.

Serving U.S. Air Force bases

We have great news to celebrate this week from our public sector team. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has selected Verizon Public Sector to deliver its 5G Ultra Wideband mobility service to seven Air Force Reserve Command installations. The bases are located in California, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The deployment will include C-band radios installed outdoors at each AFRC facility, bringing higher speeds, increased bandwidth and lower latency for the base personnel and the surrounding community.

So far, Verizon is delivering 5G and other enhanced wireless network services across 17 Air Force bases throughout the United States. Verizon’s 5G network is helping U.S. military leadership fulfill its most strategic digital transformation priorities. These innovations include supporting flight line test equipment, animated simulation and training, full-motion, high-definition video to support telemedicine for its airmen, and ultra-fast artificial intelligence for biometric identification.

Serving a hard hit Texas County

Verizon Frontline will deliver connectivity and smartphones for the Harris County, Texas Emergency Services District No. 11 for use in trucks and ambulances to help achieve their mission and better serve the County’s residents. Great work there earning their business!

Celebrating kindness

V Teamer Jodi Hanke, a client services manager from the Business Group, shared her Kindness selfie at the Phoenix Kindness mural. We may have a mural in your city - head to our Call for Kindness page to find out more.

Next Monday

We’ll have another Up To Speed Live at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT with host Andy Choi and a special someone so make sure to tune in.

George Talks Tech’s four-letter word and the Stream TV

By George Koroneos

Let me set the scene for you…

You've got a million dongles cluttering up the back of your TV. Half of them don't even work anymore and they’re crisscrossed in this awkward way that makes you want to turn the TV back around and never look back there again.

Tell me the truth: Do you really think you need another dongle? No. What you need is Stream TV — the ultimate content delivery platform in a sexy black box.

Stream TV has a slim body that easily fits next to your TV or hidden behind your TV with the included wall mount bracket. It features an easy-to-navigate hub that spotlights the best content from top streaming apps like Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and more and puts the mighty TV front and center with support for 4K Ultra HD, HDR10 and HDR 10+.

Now let’s talk about the remote. This comes with one-touch access to Google Assistant voice control, so you can search for a specific show by just pushing the button and asking it nicely.

And if you’re like me and constantly lose your remote control, you can locate it by tapping the Stream TV power button twice. It will continue to beep until you find it.

I’ve saved the best part for our Verizon customers for last, Stream TV is optimized for Fios Home Internet or 5G Home, so you can save favorites and settings to your account.

The new Stream TV is available right now for $69.99 at verizon.com/streamtv. What's more? New Verizon Fios and 5G Home customers can get a Stream TV on us.

Reinforcing our commitment to social justice with the NAACP

Hear from Hilary Shelton, SVP for Advocacy and Policy at the NAACP, on the importance of criminal legal system reform. #Verizon​ #CitizenVerizon

George offers last-minute Valentine's Day advice.

By: Andrew Testa

On today’s Up To Speed, host Andrew Testa got some Valentine’s Day help from our resident gadget guru George Koroneos.

V for V-Day tips

To set the mood, George suggests using Apple Music, which comes included with one of our premium unlimited plans. Make the perfect playlist ahead of time and enjoy the evening stress-free.

You’ll also want to experience that music via a good speaker. George likes the JBL Flip 5, which connects to your phone via Bluetooth for excellent audio quality no matter where you are.

Looking for a special gift for that special someone? Consider an upgrade to the new Galaxy S21+ and you can buy one and get one on Verizon. The camera is great for capturing low-light shots, including beautiful Valentine’s Day photos in candlelight.

For the parents who will be celebrating from home, remember that you get Discovery+, Disney+, Hulu, and more included with your premium unlimited plan. Try an innovative rom-com like WandaVision from Marvel and Disney on Disney+.

Are you curious about how others will be celebrating during this very unique year? Verizon recently commissioned a survey in partnership with Kelton Global.and discovered some interesting Valentine’s Day facts.

• 19 million Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day in their pajamas
• 46 million Americans will mark the occasion by calling, texting or video chatting with loved ones
• 7 million will go on a virtual date

Kind cards

The survey also found that one in four will send gifts or cards to those they can’t be with in person. If you’re one of those folks, Verizon’s Call for Kindness campaign has you covered. Check out the new Valentine’s Day-themed Kind cards that you can share with your family and friends at verizon.com/kindness.

And don’t forget to use #ACallforKindness to spread the love.

Verizon helps volunteers answer kids’ questions related to the most important sleigh ride of the year.

By: Dave Boerger

“Where is Santa right now?”

“Are my presents getting wet?”

“Do Santa and his reindeer have to wear masks?”

This Christmas Eve, kids can have these and other urgent questions answered thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and the support they’ll receive from Verizon for the 18th straight year.

You won’t believe how it all started

Back in 1955, Santa placed a fun message in a Sears Roebuck advertisement in Colorado Springs, CO. The problem was the phone number to Santa was one digit off, so instead of reaching Santa’s elves at Sears Toyland, boys and girls dialed into a number that went to a top secret military line answered by a very confused U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup.

As he was looking for a way to fix the mix-up, Colonel Shoup, a father of four himself, decided to preserve the spirit of Christmas and respond to the Santa-related calls. Colonel Shoup’s troops were on board with the mission as well and the rest is history. Our servicemen and women at NORAD have been tracking Santa’s sleigh ever since. Sixty-five years later, those calls continue to come in from boys and girls everywhere.

This year, to help expand support for volunteers who want to help in a COVID-19 environment, Verizon will share Apple iPhones preloaded with One Talk Service, creating a virtual hotline allowing NTS volunteers to operate as if they were inside the NORAD call center.

Offsite volunteers utilizing the One Talk technology will begin taking calls at 6 AM ET/3 AM PT on Christmas Eve.

Use the Verizon Visa Card for all your holiday needs.

By: Andy Choi

Verizon Visa Card

Don’t forget to let your friends and family know about our Verizon Visa Card. Use it this holiday season to earn Verizon Dollars – rewards you can redeem for the best things at Verizon.

As a cardholder, you’ll earn Verizon Dollars on purchases* including 4% on gas and grocery store purchases, 3% on dining (including delivery), 2% on Verizon purchases and Verizon bill payments, and 1% on all other purchases everywhere Verizon Visa Card is accepted. Verizon Dollars can be used toward things like devices, accessories or to pay your wireless monthly bill.

If you don’t have the card yet, it only takes a few minutes to apply online.

Forget Eminem. Are you a great wrapper?

When it comes to wrapping presents, are you far better or much worse than Andy? Share an example of your work for all of us to enjoy at good@verizon.com. And, if you really have an awkwardly shaped gift that is beyond your abilities, follow Andy’s lead and toss it in a Verizon bag. Presto, you’re done!

Our Verizon vs. Verizon Awards spot celebrates our undisputed network superiority and reliability.

By: Dave Boerger

When you’re the best at what you do, and you’ve been the best for a long time, you no longer compete with other competitors. You enter your own league.

A league of one.

Perhaps NBA legend Michael Jordan said it best: “Every day I demand more from myself than anybody else could humanly expect. I’m not competing with somebody else. I’m competing with what I’m capable of.”

Here at Verizon, we can relate.

In our latest spot “Verizon vs. Verizon Awards,” which will premiere during a high-profile moment of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, we show how our hard work, commitment and passion continually set the standards for network superiority and reliability.

The evidence is clear. In August, we were named ‘America’s most awarded network,’ receiving ‘Most awarded for network quality’ for the 25th time in a row by J.D. Power and ‘Best network in America’ for the 14th time in a row by RootMetrics. And, for the first time from Opensignal, the incredible performance of our 5G Ultra Wideband network was named ‘The fastest 5G in the world.’

Our high standards drive everything we do. They are part of our past and a critical part of our future network leadership as we expand 5G.

Stay tuned. Much will change in the coming months and years, but you can count on us to continue to listen, innovate, test and push ourselves to improve our best-in-class service.

As the new ad states so elegantly, “we have a network built right, not to win awards, but a network that wins awards because it’s built right.”

About this Author: Dave Boerger is a part of the Verizon Corporate Communications team and a regular contributor to Up To Speed. He's a recovering marketer and sitcom writer.

On today's Up To Speed, breaking down the latest Verizon Business Group news.

By: Andy Choi

On today’s Up To Speed, Andy shared updates on some of the exciting things happening with the Verizon Business Group.

Private 5G MEC

Verizon is teaming up with Microsoft Corp. to create new ways for enterprises to accelerate the delivery of fast and secure 5G applications, benefiting from reliable and low latency connections. Verizon’s on-site 5G Edge network integrated with Azure edge services can enable ultra-low latency, many times faster than the blink of an eye, which can help businesses tap into real-time data analysis and delivery. You can read more here.

Taking Private 5G Global

Verizon Business today announced the launch of its international Private 5G platform for global enterprises located in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. Delivered in partnership with Nokia, the offering will enable businesses to deploy a private dedicated 5G network within their premises. In addition to ultra-low latency and high speed, a key benefit of a private 5G network is the ability for businesses, particularly those with manufacturing, distribution and logistics facilities, to deploy a customized on-site mobile network, eliminating the need to transmit data through public networks. Learn more here.

Tami Erwin honored

Let’s raise our virtual glasses and toast our own Tami Erwin who was named by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful women in business. Since 1998, Fortune has ranked the Most Powerful Women in Business using four criteria: the size and importance of each woman’s business in the global economy; the health and direction of the business; the arc of her career; and her social and cultural influence.

In 2020, Fortune added a new dimension: how is the executive wielding her power in this moment of crisis and uncertainty and is she using her influence to shape her company and the wider world for the better? We all know the answer. Tami, congratulations, and thanks for all that you do to move the world forward.

Earnings Watch and Win.

Join us tomorrow at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT for the 3Q20 Earnings Webcast on Up To Speed Live, when we will be live with Hans and our leadership team. Tune in to find out how you can win a new Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G phone. Here’s a hint: if you don’t watch, you’re not going to win.

Verizon Response teams help residents and first responders in Louisiana get back up and running.

By: Jeremy Godwin

The ferocious winds of Hurricane Laura not only knocked out power in the Lake Charles, LA, area, they also knocked out fiber connections. That fiber is what carries calls and internet connections from cell site to cell site and back to our switches.

Jeremy caught up with Jeff Plowman, Network Assurance Director, who explained that engineers have deployed satellite connections to provide temporary connection to cell sites as well as to support local first responders in the area.

This weekend our teams will support the efforts of Operation BBQ Relief in Lake Charles, where residents can get a meal, charge their devices and connect to the internet.

Yesterday, the Verizon Foundation announced a $1 million donation to support immediate relief efforts across communities in Louisiana and Texas impacted by the hurricane.

For our consumer and small business customers, unlimited calling, texting and data has been expanded in eight additional parishes in Louisiana beginning Friday, August 28, through September 1. For full details and to see how you can verify eligibility, go here.

Please also consider donating to the VtoV employee relief fund to assist V Teamers impacted by this storm and other natural disasters.

Visit the Emergency Resource Center for the latest details or follow us on social @VZUpToSpeed.

New RTK technology provides centimeter-level location accuracy. Nicki Palmer explains what it is and why it matters.

By: Katie Regner

Real Time Kinematics (RTK) produced at scale

If you haven’t heard of Hyper Precise Location with Real Time Kinematics (RTK), you’re not alone.

Nicki explained how this technology represents the next evolution in mass market GPS solutions. It provides centimeter-level location accuracy -- in comparison to an accuracy level of three to nine meters with GPS alone -- and ultimately can help reduce the costs and risks associated with inaccurate location data.

Nicki shared how we’re deploying and building RTK technology and reference stations to our network across the United States. Along with the rollout of 5G and Mobile Edge Compute (MEC), the expanded bandwidth and speed, low latency and cloud processing powe will help support emerging technologies like unmanned vehicles, future railways, precision ag-tech, high-value shipping, next-gen mapping, infrastructure monitoring, critical rapid response and more.

Meet a Build The Future challenge winner - Kaitlynn Davis

We had over 1,400 great submissions in our Build The Future challenge. The three winners have presented to senior leadership and are moving on to the prototype stage.

We caught up with Kaitlynn Davis, Enterprise Solutions Professional Services Integration Consultant, to learn about the inspiration behind her team’s submission. “Imagine you’re in charge of a business or emergency service getting flooded with robocalls and you need to respond quickly,” she said. “I work in voice protection and analytics where we see these problems every day. My team came up with a network solution: Voice Defense+. This will ensure that critical channels for communication are safer on our networks than anywhere else.”

Inside Verizon on LinkedIn

To read more about Kaitlynn’s story on how her winning idea came to life, check out this interview on LinkedIn. And while you’re there, be sure to follow our Inside Verizon page to stay up on all the news, helpful career tips and stories that make you go, “Hmmmm.” Share an opinion and be part of the conversation with your fellow V Teamers.

Virtual hackathon

Nicki gave a shout out to the V Teamers who recently spent their weekend participating in a virtual hackathon. The solution they came up with deals with how we detect and analyze devices in the IoT space, allowing us to provide better tools to customers. As this great idea moves forward to prototyping, it proves once again that innovation is alive and well here at Verizon.

Verizon's 5G Edge and AWS Wavelength will change the game - from smart manufacturing to augmented reality.

Learn more about our new responsible business plan to drive economic, environmental and social advancement.

 By: Rebecca Nicole Laming

When the world thrives, we all win.

In the early weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, Verizon stepped forward to offer support to organizations on the front lines and communities hit hardest by the pandemic. This was not the first time we saw a signal for help and sprang into action. Running toward a crisis is simply something we do as V Teamers.

Doing well by doing good is a guiding force behind how we operate and show up for society. So, it should come as no surprise that Verizon announced today a new responsible business plan, Citizen Verizon, reinforcing our deep-rooted commitment to address pressing societal issues through action and accountability.

Citizen Verizon will serve as a framework to assess how we leverage our resources, technology, and employees to drive progress in three key areas where we have an existing legacy and the opportunity to expand our impact.

Digital Inclusion

Our commitment: Provide 10 million youths with digital skills training and one million small businesses with resources to help them thrive in the digital economy by 2030.

Using next-gen technology, Verizon is developing an education platform for grades K-12 that will support the hybrid learning models emerging from COVID-19. The platform will support district leaders, teachers, parents and students by enhancing resources with a focus on remote education and leveraging technology for learning. Parents will also receive digital literacy training to help the entire family prosper.

Championing digital inclusion and education is not new to Verizon. These commitments and actions expand upon our Verizon Innovative Learning program which provides 350,000 underserved middle school students across the country with technology, connectivity and immersive curriculum to help close the digital divide. Since 2012, the Verizon Innovative Learning program has provided more than $535 million in market value towards STEM education.

Additionally, we will continue our support of small businesses to help them be digitally ready today and into the future. By 2030, Verizon will provide 1 million small businesses with resources to thrive in the digital economy.   

Climate Protection

Our commitment: Verizon pledges to be carbon neutral in our operations by 2035, reducing emissions, investing in renewable energy and purchasing carbon offsets.

Just last year, we reduced 8.8 million metric tons of emissions, equivalent to taking 1.9 million cars off the road for one year. Verizon was also the first U.S. telecom company to issue a Green Bond, with nearly $1 billion in net proceeds for renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, sustainable water management, biodiversity and conservation. By deploying 24 megawatts of additional on-site renewable energy by 2025 to planting 10 million trees by 2030, we are continuing to demonstrate our commitment to protecting the planet.

Human Prosperity

Our commitment: By 2030, Verizon will prepare 500,000 individuals for the jobs of the future through skills training and mentorship.

We know the rapid advancement of technology requires new skills to succeed in an increasingly digital workforce. Verizon is providing tools and services to help prepare the most vulnerable and under-resourced communities for the jobs of the future.

Citizen Verizon Assembly

On July 28, Verizon will bring together activists, social entrepreneurs and both nonprofit and business leaders for the inaugural Citizen Verizon Assembly: Charging Social Change Forward. The hour-long virtual event will focus on the importance of corporate responsibility in addressing the most pressing economic, environmental and social issues.

Citizen Verizon Assembly will be live-streamed on Yahoo Finance on July 28 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM ET. Stay tuned for more information on participants!

Calling all V Team volunteers

Now, more than ever, the world needs all the good we can offer. While Verizon has a strong scorecard and rich legacy when it comes to doing right for the greater good, Citizen Verizon is how we intend to double-down our efforts, lead the way and deepen our impact.

You can help by offering your time and service as a V Team volunteer and contribute to our company-wide goal of 2.5 million volunteer hours by 2025. While no one person can change the world on their own, your actions will be matched by the strength of over 135,000 Verizon employees.

We have the power to make a difference and use our shared ingenuity to build a brighter future with Citizen Verizon guiding us #ForwardTogether.

It's been an amazing journey. Just imagine the places we'll go next.

By: Jeremy Godwin

20 Years of Verizon

Verizon Communications was created on June 30, 2000, by Bell Atlantic and GTE in one of the largest mergers in U.S. business history. Since it’s outset, Verizon has connected people in countless new ways in order to move the world forward. (Read the entire history of how Verizon was created.)

Ringing in the future

Speaking of moving forward, we spoke to V Teamers Nigel Leuwaisee and Raquel Wilson who rang the New York Stock Exchange bell in celebration of Verizon’s 20th anniversary.

As we celebrate the past 20 years that made Verizon into the industry leader it is today, we also look toward the future to inspire change and growth. We don’t know what the future will look like, but we can listen and learn from the next generation laying the groundwork for change.

To celebrate the next 20 years of Verizon, we are introducing a new series, Next 20, featuring young advocates alongside seasoned trailblazers to discuss the inspiration behind their activism and the promise of technology to shape a more inclusive future.

Stay tuned for the first episode of Next 20 dropping next week.

Introducing My Why

It takes more than the best technology to move the world forward, it takes the best people -- our V Team.

Check out our latest weekly series, My Why, which celebrates our employees and highlights their experiences with Verizon. From sharing hidden talents to favorite memories, My Why will feature 20 V Teamers and what makes them proud to be part of Verizon.

Today, we kicked things off with Caroline Ancheta, a call center senior manager based in Hampton, Virginia. A 13-year V Teamer, Caroline shared how Verizon has shaped both her personal and professional journey and what excites her for the future.

Calling all V Teamers: We want to hear from you and explore your experiences at Verizon. Stay tuned on how to share your My Why story.

20th Anniversary video

Watch our 20th Anniversary video.

Christy and Rose share social justice news, new virtual volunteer opportunities and upcoming events.

By: Jeremy Godwin

On today’s Up To Speed, Jeremy was joined by Christy Pambianchi and Rose Kirk who shared the following updates.

• We join in celebrating today’s U.S. Supreme Court decision, which ruled that civil rights law also protects LGBTQ workers.
• New virtual volunteer opportunities are now available, including helping people to exercise their right to vote, getting the word out regarding the census and preserving history by transcribing letters from African-American slaves and Civil War soldiers.
• BOLD Verizon Virtual Walk - today through July 4. You can sign up through the Employee Volunteer Portal. Get your walk on!
• As part of our $10 million commitment to social justice, we continue to work with our seven partners including the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund.
• Verizon Innovative Learning (VIL) - As in years past, we continue to support at-risk students. One example: It is projected that 70% of US students will be behind in their math skills when they return to school in the fall. We’re giving students access to online tools that will help them catch up.
• BOLD Census Day is June 19
• Dispelling Census Myths talk at 1 PM ET
• Census Day Celebration at 6 PM ET

Willie Jackson, a Diversity & Inclusion expert, joins us for Wellness Friday to discuss how to have difficult conversations during this time.

If you are looking to start a discussion on race with a colleague or friend, here’s a toolkit with resources to help get the conversation going.

If the events of the last two weeks have you asking, “What can I do to help?”, you’re not alone. Broaching these topics in the workplace is not easy and requires some preparation. For today’s Wellness Friday, Diana Alvear spoke with Willie Jackson, a consultant and facilitator with Ready Set about why it’s not enough to be an ally, it’s more effective to embrace being an accomplice for change.

Accomplices put allyship into action.

First, let’s define allyship: An ally is someone who isn’t part of a marginalized group but who supports that group actively. That’s a good start, but Jackson said what matters is putting that allyship into action, aiding efforts to support marginalized groups..

“What we’re inviting people to do is re-imagine how they’re activating their allyship, to make it less of an identity and more of an active partnership with someone that might need your support, that might benefit from your privilege or that might need your support in that moment.”

It could mean speaking up when you hear someone say something inflammatory, or when you witness a colleague get talked over or passed over in a meeting. Maybe you’re the person who said something that upset someone, so instead of getting defensive, you listen to and learn from the other party, thereby opening up space for dialogue.

Even better is taking action to create more opportunities or a more equitable environment for everyone, especially marginalized groups. Jackson often cites the story of actress Octavia Jackson partnering with her colleague Jessica Chastain that resulted in a bigger paycheck for them both. It’s an example of putting allyship into action that creates a net positive impact for everyone.

It starts at the top. In order for this to happen, Jackson said it’s crucial for the support and space to come from the top. “It’s one thing to put out a statement saying, we stand with protestors. It is yet another thing to take a look inward and say what am I doing to measurably and appreciably address the concerns these folks are saying. How am I addressing this in how I am hiring, how am I looking at the demographic composition of my team and bringing it into parity with the US population?”

Accomplices don’t have all the answers. It’s important to note, said Jackson, that this is tough work and you’re not going to get it right every time. “The unfortunate reality is that when people have tried to broach the topic and it has gone poorly, they shut down and say, ‘I’m never doing that again.’ We have to give each other and ourselves grace and compassion to mess it up. What we really need is the grace to say, ‘I see your effort, I acknowledge your effort, I acknowledge your harm.’ We all can do that.”

Do your homework.

It helps to do your homework prior to having these conversations. We’ve assembled a comprehensive toolkit for you to listen, learn and prepare to engage in this type of dialogue. It’s hard work, but it’s the work that will create a more just and equitable world and workplace for everyone. It’s as simple as reading books and watching movies. “Just Mercy” is one of many films that help us understand our nation’s past and some of the injustices that led us to where we are today. The film is available to watch on Fios at no cost for the rest of the month, so we encourage you to watch that film as well as a collection of other similar movies that shed light on this subject and help everyone gain a better understanding.

For more on Willie Jackson and his work, please visit him on LinkedIn.

Making a difference is a way of life for this military veteran and V Team recruiter.

By: Rebecca Nicole Laming

Dedicating time and service to improve the world takes on a new meaning for Jorge Hernandez, who is celebrating his first anniversary with Verizon tomorrow as a recruiter.

Jorge served in the military and was attracted to Verizon based on the company's commitment to giving back and a strong track record for supporting the military community. In his short tenure with Verizon, Jorge has built an impressive volunteer resume: Writing letters to veterans through Operation Gratitude, walking in support of mental health with NAMI, and showing his gratitude to first responders.

Like Jorge, you can make a difference across our social responsibility pillars: Digital Inclusion, Climate Protection, and Human Prosperity.

Check out our Volunteer Portal and select from over 150 virtual activities that contribute to our company-wide goal of 2.5 million volunteer hours by 2025. Read on to learn more about Jorge and let’s wish him a happy V Team anniversary.

Q: What inspired you to sign up for the Volunteer Platform?

A: Volunteering is simply a way of life for me, but COVID-19 has been a devastating force for so many people and communities. I signed up for the Volunteer Platform after learning about the isolation many older adults are experiencing while separated from their loved ones in quarantine. At that point in your life, you should be able to enjoy every moment and be around the people you love. It saddened me that older adults, especially veterans, felt alone during this challenging time. I got my entire family involved and we created letters for older adults and veterans to brighten their day. I was also excited to support first responders who are heroes on the front line and deserve to be celebrated.

Q: What causes have you volunteered for?

A: I understand sacrifice, being part of the military during 9/11, so I gravitate towards volunteer opportunities like writing letters to older veterans or providing meals to troops overseas. Leveraging my experience in recruitment and talent acquisition, I mentor young students and military members by helping them prepare for interviews and develop their resumes. I also walked 30 miles in a week for NAMI to raise awareness for mental health.

Q: Why is it important to give back during COVID-19?

A: I have a soft spot for first responders and work directly with them when enlisted. Here in Chicago, I have family members who are nurses, and I would do anything to show my support for their heroic efforts. I pray they stay healthy as they continue their noble battle.

Q: How important is it to work for a company that encourages volunteer activities?

A: Other than serving in the military, I have never worked for a company that promotes volunteerism and emphasizes the importance of service like Verizon. I am proud to be a part of a company that encourages its employees to take action and give back. It's good to know when the gears need to be shifted to serve a larger purpose, the V Team comes together to support each other and those in need.

Q: How do your volunteer efforts make a difference?

A: I have not seen my grandmother since this crisis started, and I don't want her to forget her great-grandchildren. While sending flowers are lovely, they don't last. That inspired me to create as many origami as possible to include in letters to older adults and veterans. Our entire family sat down to write messages, and we made memories together with each fold of the origami. The smallest things mean the most and I believe that our messages and origami made people smile. That’s just awesome.

David Turner’s 16 years as a volunteer police officer continues a calling to serve his community.

David Turner has three full-time jobs: Dad, project manager within Verizon Business and a volunteer police officer with the Wiltshire Police Force in the United Kingdom.

After briefly serving in the British Army, David felt compelled to continue service to country, so he volunteered to protect and serve his greater community as a Special Constable — a role that’s more important than ever during COVID.

One of more than 200 volunteers fulfilling this vital role, which carries nearly equal responsibility of paid officers, David shines as he dedicates more than 50 hours per month — well above the 16-hour minimum — across nights, weekends and holidays.

With 16 years under his belt, David has no plans to stop. Especially because during COVID, he believes his service has become increasingly important, providing invaluable community reassurance and answering domestic violence calls, among other duties.

Thank you David for being on the frontlines when you’re needed most. We’re proud to call you a V Teamer.

Skyward supports companies finding new uses for drones during the pandemic.

Historically, humans have used every tool at their disposal to fight viruses.

Fortunately, in the current battle against COVID-19, we have a new high tech weapon: Drones. Skyward, a Verizon company, is a key part of that effort, providing drone software, training and services to commercial businesses.

“Skyward customers are using drones in so many unique ways,” said Jessica Moody, Director of Marketing and Communications for Skyward. “But now, during the pandemic, they’re finding even more ways to use them and get more value out of drones.”

One of those companies is SkySkopes, a professional drone service operator. “Probably the most important and potentially effective use of unmanned aircraft systems in response to COVID-19 is the ability to fly drones and spray disinfectant in target locations,” said Matt Dunlevy, the President and CEO of SkySkopes. “We were able to get this research going and we now feel that drones spraying disinfectant will be effective once the efficacy is approved.”

Matt’s teams are also looking at using unmanned aircraft systems to test different airframes -- the basic structure of the aircraft -- and different flight profiles for delivery. “This wouldn’t be just delivery of food and basic necessities for people who might be sheltering in place,” explained Matt. “We can also use unmanned aircraft to deliver medical supplies to health personnel from distribution points, even hospitals. We feel we’re making progress to demonstrate that this works, in no small part due to our partnerships with Skyward.”

Another company that has turned to drones to help weather the current crisis is Brasfield & Gorrie of Birmingham, AL.

“The construction industry has been affected by COVID because many of the job site activities that were previously allowed, including job site walkthroughs with the owners or stakeholders, have been postponed,” said Ryan Hittie, Innovation Specialist for Brasfield & Gorrie. “With drones, we’ve been able to keep our job sites documented and keep the stakeholders involved with 2D maps, 3D models and even a job walkthrough with a drone tracking us, so that the client could be right there with us.”

Ryan believes his clients see the value of using drones. “A lot of them get excited about the thought of seeing a livestream drone walkthrough, said Ryan. “They've seen the potential to keep the job going regardless of who is on-site or who is not.”

It’s clients like these finding new uses for drones to help their communities that gets Jessica excited to work at Skyward. “Just the fact that we’re able to be a small part of helping them deploy drones and take advantage of this technology is really inspiring to us.”

Christine Rudkin brings masks to those working on the front lines in Long Island.

Christine Rudkin, a Marketing Manager from Garden City, NY, had been seeing the number of COVID-19 cases in her Long Island community skyrocketing.

“I have a daughter who is a PA (physician’s assistant) who has been reassigned to COVID emergency room care,” said Christine. “I wanted to help people on the front lines like my daughter, but I didn’t know how.”

One day Christine saw a group on Facegroup called Stitched Together Long Island. “All of these women across the country were sewing these masks and I thought that was so cool,” said Christine. “So I reached out and asked what can I do? How can I help? And they said, ‘We really need runners.’ I was all in.”

With the support of her leadership team, Christine began picking up donations and delivering masks to those on the front lines. The feedback she received showed the impact she and her group were making.

“I just dropped off some masks at a halfway house and as I was walking away a guy came out and said ‘Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to us!’” recalled Christine. “It just made me feel like this is making a difference to people.”

To date 40,000 masks have been created and delivered.

“It feels amazing,” said Christine. “It’s really nice to go out into your community and be a help.”

Our COVID-19 Leave program allows select medically trained and certified employees to volunteer full time.

Fred Ackerly, a network technician of 21 years from Wanaque, NJ, loves helping others.

“Volunteering has always been a big part of me,” said Fred. “At one point I had said to myself, ‘what would be better than joining the First Aid squad?’ Then, once I joined, my goal was to become an EMT, which I achieved last year.”

By making it possible for highly skilled volunteers like Fred to take a leave of absence to help, Verizon is finding new ways to support those impacted by the coronavirus.

“As part of our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re offering our medically trained and certified employees a fully paid leave of absence to go out on the front lines and assist those communities hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Tre Holder, Senior Analyst, Talent Acquisition.

This was welcome news to Fred. “As soon as I heard about the leave program I was on it. I knew my squad was hurting. We’re shorthanded, especially now. I couldn’t get the application in fast enough.”

For the next eight weeks, Fred will be on leave from his regular job at Verizon so that he work full time on the front lines with his town’s first aid squad - a daunting challenge during a pandemic. “I’m a little nervous being on the forefront of the virus,” said Fred. “But I’m excited. I look forward to being able to serve my community and be there for them.”

The community is more than happy to have him. “People like Fred don’t come along very often, so when you find someone like him, you’re very grateful,” said Wanaque First Aid Captain Patty Norton. “He’ll be scheduled for duty not only nights, but day shifts and weekends.”

In the fight against a deadly virus, Fred is a hero, yet he is the one who appears the most thankful.

“This opportunity has me speechless,” he said. “So many people are getting laid off, going on unemployment, and here my company is paying me to be a full-time EMT for my volunteer organization. Words can’t describe that. It’s overwhelming.”

The V Team supports a basic training graduation livestream from Fort Jackson.

“You only graduate from basic training in the Army once, so it’s pretty cool that we’re doing this.”

That’s Larry Bair, a Field Network Assurance Engineer, speaking from Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC. The fort is the largest and most active initial entry training center in the U.S. Army, training 50 percent of all soldiers and 60 percent of the women soldiers entering the Army each year.

“Usually, every week there is a graduation ceremony and family members would come in from all over the country,” said Larry. With the new COVID-19 restrictions not allowing large gatherings, there was going to be no way for family and friends to experience this spring’s graduations - so the Army reached out to Verizon for potential solutions.

“We brought in the SPOT (“Satellite Picocell on Trailer”) to allow the Army to livestream the ceremony so that family members can view it remotely,” explained Larry. “The SPOT was designed for first responders to communicate with each other in a crisis, but COVID-19 has showed us that we can use these in a different capacity.”

Often focused on the technical aspects of his job, Larry doesn’t always get to experience customers enjoying the fruits of his labor.

“On a normal day, you don’t get to see the gratitude and that you’re making an impact,” said Larry. “But when I saw the livestream and all the happy people, it really affected me. I’m very proud to be involved.”

V teamers bring their 3D printers to the fight against COVID-19.

3D printers have the power to create amazing things like prototypes, tools, even prosthetics. Now, these printers are producing face shields to help our healthcare heroes stay safe and healthy on the front lines. V Teamers from all over stepped up to do their part in producing this important protective gear for those who need it most.

Face visors

Driven by their personal drive to protect family and friends on the front lines, DMTS Derek Ohlarik teamed up with Technology Manager Sanjeev Gupta to print visors used in face masks. Sanjeev enlisted the help of K-12 students in the Livingston Robotics Club. The robotics club is keeping the printer online 24/7 in an effort to make 12 visors per day with 350 masks assembled and distributed throughout the New York-New Jersey metro area.

Associate Technology Fellow Tim Bennington-Davis, who works with the systems and maintenance engineering team in Ashburn, VA, is getting his robotics club involved. “A dozen high school students working with 3D printers in the safety of their home can produce about 100 masks in a week. Adult mentors like myself do the final assembly and distribution,” explains Tim. “It shows how the volunteer duties of V-Teamers can quickly transform into an alliance of high school students ready to help those in our community at risk.”

Cris Pierry, who works in project management for Verizon Media, has been running his personal 3D printer in his Sunnyvale home for 24 hours a day producing face shields and face masks. His local group recently delivered 475 face shields to medical facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The printing instructions for the face shield can be found here.

Headband part

Field Engineer Tony Bruno printed a small piece for face masks worn by hospital staff that holds the elastic off the back of the ears for a more comfortable fit.

“I received a call from my brother Al Bruno who works at the Vassar Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY,” remembered Tony. “He was wondering if I could help. I set my printer to work. The first small batch was delivered the next morning to everyone’s delight.”

Will Kalman, who works in client services management out of Irvine, CA, rallied his community to raise funds for materials and for an increasing number of volunteers using their home 3D printers to make the headband part.

“I’ve gotten together with a couple other makers and some local businesses to make face shields for local hospitals who have none and are in desperate need,” reports Will. “In fact, these hospitals have told us they were planning on taping overhead projector film to their faces in lieu of proper shields. Yikes!”

The design for the headband piece is available here.

Thank you for everyone contributing to this incredible grassroots effort. To find ways how you can get involved, check out the volunteer site.

The Verizon Response team connects a temporary hospital in Louisville’s Expo Hall.

With more than 1.2 million square feet of indoor space, the Kentucky Exposition Center hosted numerous conventions, trade shows and fairs, including the annual Kentucky State Fair and the National Farm Machinery Show.

But it is likely serving its most important function right now.

As the Bluegrass State deals with the impact of COVID-19, Exposition Hall is being transformed into a temporary hospital that will hold hundreds of patients. The Verizon Response team was called in to provide critical communication infrastructure.

“Currently we have deployed a mobile command center (MCC), which will allow the first responders to use One Talk,” reported Enterprise Sales Operations Manager Jason Mitchell of the Verizon Response team. The team is providing other equipment as well, including fax capabilities and phones for patients.

Jason and his team are proud to be supporting fellow first responders on a project which may ultimately save numerous lives. “This is a collaboration between the International Guard and the Kentucky National Guard, so it’s a lot of heroic folks doing great work out here on the front lines.”

Our sincere thanks to Jason and the Verizon Response team for once again running to the crisis and moving the world forward.

Staying close from far away 

It’s not easy to mail hugs, but a lot of you did the next best thing by sharing some great ways to stay close to family far away this past holiday weekend.

Retail General Manager Nicole Van Dyke’s family traced themselves with open arms, decorated their life-size cutouts, and mailed their artistic hugs to grandma and grandpa.

Virtual Passover Seders took place all over the world and V Teamers Lauren Delaney and Gary Isaac from Human Resources say it was one one of the most memorable celebrations they’ve had.

The Easter Bunny got some serious help from Consumer Systems Senior Analyst Kristal Myers Nimmons’ family, who made some very special deliveries for aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. They all received homemade Easter cards and candy.

Many of you reached out to grandparents over the holiday. That’s why we’re making our next “Good Mailbox” challenge all about our seniors.

How are your older loved ones doing? Are they thriving like Nick’s grandma, using Facetime to read to the grandkids? How are you helping them manage right now?

Share your pics, videos and stories at good@verizon.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Thanks again for sending all your good stories to us.

V Teamers connect Fort Totten, a new base for New York City’s first responders.

On a typical spring day, New Yorkers flock to Fort Totten Park in Queens to birdwatch or paddle a canoe around the preserved Civil War fortress.

But not this spring.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the New York metro area, government officials developed a plan to use the park as a base of operations for the military, fire department, up to 300 ambulances, and as a potential site for a field hospital. But before any of that could happen, Fort Totten’s infrastructure needed some critical 21st century updates.

“There was nothing in the park,” said Billy Iacovetta, Construction Manager. “The communications needed to be set up so the first responders could be reached at a moment’s notice.”

Part of the challenge of setting up a COW (cell on wheels) in the park was the compressed timeline. “It typically takes days and days to get this going,” explained Brian Casserly, Construction Manager. “However, we were able to use a new asset that had only come ten days earlier and have it out here fully constructed in less than four hours.”

At the same time, a landline crew got a jump on installing new fiber in the street. Field Technician Christopher Alessi helped get the job done. “It was non-stop. We’re running from one manhole to the next, fibers weren’t making it. It was tough.”

“They worked really hard physically and mentally,“ said Billy. ”That’s a tricky area. They’ve changed the roads. We would look for one road that was no longer there anymore.”

“We worked through several issues and were able to deliver the fibers and turn on the circuit at the end of the same day,” said Construction Manager Gerhard Roethel.

“What’s special about it is how quickly it all came together,” commented Christopher. “It took a lot of communication and coordination.”

Billy can’t say enough about the quick work the team accomplished together. “We did something that is going to save some lives.”

Brain Casserly agrees. “We should all be proud that we’re all out here helping all of our other first responders.”

Special thanks to Brian, Billy, Gerhard, Christopher and all of the following V Teamers who played key roles in getting Fort Totten connected and ready for their fellow first responders.

Jarett Slavens
Thomas Callaghan
Miguel Bobe
Chris Alessi
Rob Jarzynka
Steve Mullen
Simon Cheng
Dave Roberts
Anthony Cillo
Ahmad Roshdy Abderrassoul
Dale Delauney
Khondoker Kudrati Khoda
Reginald Valmores
Joel Antoine
Derick Jolliffe
Jonelle Byron

Verizon is prepared to serve customers during COVID-19 crisis

Media contact(s)

Steve Van Dinter                                              Rich Young

224.374.3864                                                  973.943.7209

steven.vandinter@verizon.com                     richard.j.young@verizon.com      

• Our networks are engineered to manage anticipated increases in traffic
• Due to economic circumstances related to the coronavirus and to keep customers connected during this economic and global crisis; Verizon waives late fees for those impacted by COVID-19
• We are Investing in our economy by increasing our capital guidance range from $17 - $18 billion to $17.5 - $18.5 billion in 2020
• Expanding work from home policy to include reduction of some retail locations across the country
• We are tripling our data allowance for Verizon Innovative Learning schools; $10 million to nonprofits directed at supporting students and first responders.

For more information, see our COVID-19 FAQs.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – During this unprecedented period challenging the world’s health and economy, Verizon stands ready to serve our customers.

Verizon’s networks have been engineered to perform during moments of crisis and disaster such as hurricanes, snow storms and flooding. During this time of heightened worry and concern, our primary goal is to keep our customers, employees and society connected to the things that matter most to them: their family, friends and business customers.

Verizon is closely monitoring network usage in the most impacted areas. We will work with and prioritize network demand in assisting many U.S. hospitals, first responders and government agencies, as needed. We will provide updates to our consumer and business customers on our network performance, offering help and support for their connectivity needs, tips on how to work in this new environment and more.

We encourage you to check here daily for updates.

A letter from Hans Vestberg on Verizon's response to COVID-19

Media contact(s)

Steve Van Dinter                                              Rich Young

224.374.3864                                                  973.943.7209

steven.vandinter@verizon.com                    richard.j.young@verizon.com

The world’s coronavirus (COVID-19) response is evolving swiftly. Our customers - whether they’re first responders, teachers, students, families, hospitals, government agencies or society at-large - rely on us to keep them connected. Therefore balancing our employees’ safety against the need to continue to support critical services and infrastructure is paramount.

During this pandemic we are all being encouraged to practice social distancing to slow down the spread and flatten the curve. Last week, we implemented a work-from-home strategy and are now rapidly expanding it to include more members of our team.

As part of our next phase, we are reducing the number of Verizon stores that remain open. However, our customers can still get the support and services they need 24/7 by visiting verizonwireless.com/support/, calling 800.922.0204 or using the MyVerizon app.

We know this is a difficult time and to alleviate the impact that some of our customers may experience, earlier this week we announced that for the next 60 days, we will waive late fees our residential or small business customers may incur because of the economic circumstances related to the coronavirus. And we will not terminate service to any of our residential or small business customers because of their inability to pay their bills due to hardships caused by the coronavirus.

We will continue to address these and other critical pandemic issues impacting our employees, customers and society. You should also know that our networks and our people stand ready to serve our customers at work, at home and remotely—including first responders and those protecting the public—when critical connectivity is needed most.

Hans Vestberg

Investing in our network for when it’s needed most.

Boosting investment in our network.

Hans Vestberg was on CNBC yesterday to discuss how our networks stand ready to serve customers. He also announced we’ll be investing even more into our networks, increasing our overall capital investment to as much as $18.5 billion in 2020. This effort will accelerate our transition to 5G and help support the economy during this period of disruption.

“We will do everything to see that all of this critical infrastructure is up and running and giving the right support for all of the customers we have: consumers, government, small and medium enterprises,” said Hans. “In these times it’s important to show the market and the country that there are people investing because it’s needed in the country right now. Verizon feels a responsibility and we’re doing that.”

Hearing from our leaders

Let’s find out from some of our leaders exactly how we’re serving our customers as their world continues to change every day.

Sampath Sowmyanarayan, President of Enterprise:

“It’s important that we remain versatile. We do some very complicated work for large enterprises; some of the largest airlines in the world, some of the largest banks. They rely on us to run their core infrastructure. We’re going to see a lot of remote workers, so how do you change the ways of working to help them get things done in a remote environment?”

Krista Bourne, President of Consumer Sales & Operations:

“I often tell people in the field we are lifestyle managers. This is what we do. Our job is to help enable the lifestyle choices of our customers and the communities we serve. And, we do that best with connections; we do that best by knowing what their needs are and connecting that to a solution; making sure we’re there for them in their moment.”.

Julie Slattery, VP, Network & Field Operations:

"For the network team this is really what we do. We prepare regularly. You know, preparedness and reliability, it's in our DNA. We put in the hard work every day. We’re here. We’re ready to serve our customers with the best network."

Thank you to all of our engineers who provide the reliability our customers have come to expect. We create the networks that move the world forward -- and right now our Purpose is more meaningful than ever because when the world moves in unpredictable ways, being the best network matters. Period.

The Samsung Galaxy S20 series launches tomorrow; George gives us his top 5 features.

The wait is almost over.

Samsung’s next-generation 5G smartphones, including the Galaxy S20+ 5G and Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G, will be available from Verizon tomorrow. carrying Here are the key features:

Ready for 5G Built Right.

The Galaxy S20 5G series taps into Verizon’s lightning-fast 5G Ultra Wideband network, as well as our low-band 5G network going live later this year. With our 5G Ultra Wideband network, you’ll be able to game with near-zero lag time and upload photos and videos to your favorite content-sharing platform as fast as you can shoot.

A revolutionary new camera system.

These devices offer not one, not two, not three, but four cameras! The Galaxy S20+ 5G includes a 64-megapixel camera with 30x Space Zoom, while the Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G offers a massive 108-megapixel camera with a jaw-dropping 100x Space Zoom.

The devices can also shoot in 8K with Super Steady anti-rolling stabilization and AI motion analysis, smoothing out even the bumpiest videos. What’s more? You can upload your 8K videos directly to YouTube using Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband.

Striking design.

The Galaxy S20 features Samsung’s gorgeous Infinity-O Display that gives you a cinematic viewing experience now with a 120Hz refresh rate display for lightning-fast touch response and super-smooth graphics.

Down to business.

Beyond the ability to connect to Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network to help run your business, the Galaxy S20 also offers great security features. The Galaxy S20 series is protected by Knox, the military-grade mobile security platform that protects the device from the chip level through the software level. You also get access to Samsung’s DeX, which turns your phone into a personal computer.

Powered by a big, intelligent battery, the S20+ comes with a 25W fast charger and the Ultra supports 45W super-fast charging to get you up and running in minutes

Get more info here or order your new phone at verizonwireless.com.