MiCTA -- Group-Purchasing Organization for Government-Education Markets -- Renews Agreement With Verizon

NEW YORK and SAGINAW, Mich., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- State and local government agencies, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries and nonprofit organizations across the U.S. will continue to have access to a broad array of advanced communications and information technology solutions under a renewed agreement between Verizon and MiCTA, a nationwide group-purchasing organization.

Under the agreement with MiCTA (previously known as Michigan Collegiate Telecommunications Association), Verizon is expanding its scope of solutions by adding services such as international availability of the company's Private IP networking service; interoperable video conferencing; mobility and managed mobility services; and a cloud-based unified communications and collaboration platform.  In addition, certain purchases made by schools and libraries may qualify for Universal Service Fund e-rate funding.

These new offerings join the options already offered by Verizon: advanced networking (broadband and satellite); voice (local, long-distance and Internet protocol); managed and professional services; security services; data center colocation; business continuity consulting services; and a full suite of audio, video and Web conferencing solutions.

MiCTA offers its thousands of member organizations a common master services agreement for the purchase of a wide array of communications and information technology solutions to help reduce the costs, complexity and risks of traditional contracting.

"The expanded and extended master service agreement with Verizon will deliver significant benefits to our members," said Tim von Hoff, chief operating officer, MiCTA. "Verizon delivers an exceptional range of communications and information technology services that enables our members to improve service levels and meet mandates despite the challenging budgetary environment many organizations continue to face."

The original agreement between MiCTA and Verizon was signed in October 2010, and the renewed one runs through August 2015.  More than 600 customers across the U.S. have used the agreement to purchase advanced communications and information technology solutions.

"The agreement forged with MiCTA is delivering tangible value to government and education customers across the country," said Troy Cromwell, group vice president – state and local government, Verizon Enterprise Solutions.  "MiCTA members already have access to an efficient and flexible procurement process, and now they have access to a more comprehensive portfolio of advanced communications and IT solutions from Verizon to enable the delivery of essential services to constituents."

Verizon is a leading provider of advanced IT and communications services to governments around the world.  Visit the Verizon Public Sector website for more information.

About MiCTA
MiCTA, located at 515 North Washington Avenue, Suite 405 in Saginaw, MI, represents thousands of higher education, K-12, healthcare, library, governmental and charitable entities. Nationally, MiCTA seeks to resolve common voice, video and data issues, provide helpful information, participate in legislative and regulatory telecommunications advocacy, and negotiate discounted purchase contracts for telecommunications and technology services for its members. For more information, please visit the MiCTA Web site, http://www.mictatech.org.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 94 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 188,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news.  To receive news releases by email, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon