Covad Teams with Verizon for DSL Line

Covad Communications Group, Inc. (www.covad.com), a provider of integrated voice and data communications, and Verizon (VZ) have signed a commercial agreement enabling Covad to continue to provide line-sharing services to digital subscriber line (DSL) subscribers throughout Verizon territory for a four-year period.

"We applaud Verizon for its leadership in striking a long-term commercial agreement," said Charles Hoffman, president and chief executive officer of Covad.

Line-sharing allows communications providers like Covad to deploy high-speed DSL broadband on the same line customers use for their voice phone services.

While the specific terms of the agreement are confidential, the economic terms of the agreement are comparable to those of Covad's other commercial line-sharing agreements. The agreement is effective Jan. 1, 2005. Until that time, line-sharing pricing will continue under an interim agreement that was reached in September.

The agreement allows Covad to continue offering high-speed DSL services to thousands of small and medium businesses, and home users in the 19 states within the Verizon territory where Covad offers service. Earlier this year Covad entered into agreements with Qwest and SBC to continue providing line-sharing in their respective regions.