Washington, DC -- "The proposed sale of Verizon's local exchange assets could have far-reaching implications.  Most directly affected would be hundreds of hardworking, skilled and seasoned Verizon employees and their families. Thousands more Vermonters who depend upon Verizon to connect them to the information superhighway - and the thousands of Vermonters waiting for high-speed internet access to arrive at their homes - have a direct stake in a new company's plans to invest in broadband expansion.

"Broadband networks are the information superhighways of the future.  Every Vermonter, every Vermont business and every Vermont community deserves broadband access.

"As state agencies proceed with the process of evaluating these issues, we in the Vermont Congressional Delegation are committed to working with all involved to help ensure that hardworking Vermonters are treated fairly and that there is a long-term commitment to invest in the existing Verizon network so that broadband access continues to become more available to Vermonters."