Verizon Wireless and Governor Perdue Celebrate Company's 4G LTE Network in Georgia

/PRNewswire/ -- Verizon Wireless and Governor Sonny Perdue teamed up at December 7 at the state Capitol to demonstrate the impressive speeds and "wow factor" of Georgia's first large-scale 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless network. Verizon Wireless officially launched the LTE network in Atlanta and Athens on Sunday, December 5. The initial availability of 4G LTE in Atlanta, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Athens is part of the company's national rollout in 38 major metropolitan areas, immediately reaching one-third of all Americans.

"The inclusion of Atlanta and Athens on the list of the first cities nationwide to get this next generation technology makes perfect sense," said Jeff Mango, president – Georgia/Alabama Region, Verizon Wireless. "Atlanta is one of the leading technology hubs in the United States and Athens is the home of the University of Georgia, an internationally recognized educational and research institution. We are thrilled to introduce the fastest, most advanced 4G mobile network in America to Georgians in these two cities and look forward to a statewide 4G network in the near future."

"Verizon Wireless has long been recognized in the wireless industry as tirelessly committed to its network. Georgia's 4G LTE network in Atlanta and Athens is further evidence of that constant commitment to performance and reliability," said Governor Sonny Perdue.

The 4G LTE network in Atlanta covers 4.1 million people and over 2,500 square miles. All of downtown Atlanta is covered including the facilities at the Georgia Aquarium, Georgia Dome, Philip's Arena and Turner Field. Coverage extends as far west as Lithia Springs and Austell, south of Fayetteville, east past Lithonia and north to Alpharetta. Atlanta-area universities impacted by the 4G LTE network footprint are Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Georgia State University, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman, Morehouse, Mercer and Oglethorpe. Atlanta's 10 major shopping malls are also covered including North Point, Perimeter, Lenox, Southlake, Cobb Galleria, Gwinnett Place, Towne Center, Discovery Mills, and Stonebriar.

The Athens 4G LTE coverage area includes over 180,000 residents and over 550 square miles, including downtown Athens and the University of Georgia's 33,000 students. The network covers the 78 Loop, four miles north of the Loop, west to Coggins Industrial Park, south to Watkinsville and east to Winterville.

"We are extremely excited about the possibilities this technology brings to enterprise and government users, businesses and individual laptop users in Athens and eventually throughout Georgia. What we witnessed today is just one example of what this new technology allows us to do," said Kathy Hoard, Mayor Pro Tem, Athens-Clarke County.

Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network provides higher data rates, better coverage, improved mobility and performance, end-to-end Quality of Service, security and simplified roaming. While Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network promises much more than speed, this first rollout gives Georgia's mobile workforce the ability to work significantly faster and with improved latency, increasing productivity and the opportunity to get work done wherever business takes them.

Initially, Verizon Wireless 4G LTE services can be accessed on laptop computers equipped with either the LG VL600 or Pantech UML290 wireless modems. Both USB modems provide backward-compatibility with the Verizon Wireless 3G network. If laptop users travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage area, they will automatically stay connected on the company's 3G network, the nation's largest and most reliable.

Additional 4G devices will be launched in coming months, and the company expects consumer-oriented LTE handsets will be available by mid-2011.

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Georgia Home Care Costs Among the Nation's Lowest

/PRNewswire/ -- According to Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey, home care costs, as well as the costs of other long term care services, are lower in Georgia than they are nationally. The median annual rate for home care costs in Georgia is $38,896 statewide, about 11 percent below the median annual rate of $43,472 nationally.(1) Georgia is the 7th most affordable state for home care services, along with Idaho and Kentucky.

This is important to note given that a majority of Americans prefer to receive care in the home. According to another Genworth survey conducted earlier this year, when asked to identify the setting most preferred to receive long term care, 78 percent chose the home; 18 percent chose assisted living, and only 2 percent selected a nursing home.(2)

"Long term care is not just about nursing homes anymore," said Buck Stinson, President, U.S. Life Insurance Products at Genworth. "For many Georgia residents, the ability to live independently is critical to maintaining quality of life. Preparing for the expenses associated with one's preferred care setting is a key factor in retirement planning," he added.

Now in its 35th year of providing long term care insurance to American families, Genworth's annual Cost of Care Survey helps raise public awareness of the costs associated with various care options across the U.S. In Georgia, the survey includes information on long term care costs in 15 regions.

Georgia Cost of Care Survey Findings

  Home Health Aide Services (Licensed)

Statewide, costs are rising at a rate of 1 percent annually over the past five years. This compares to an annual increase of 2 percent nationally over the same period.(3) Costs in Columbus are 17 percent lower than nationally.

Select Regions                       Median Hourly Rate
  Georgia-Statewide                                   $17
  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta                      $19
  Augusta-Richmond County                             $16
  Columbus                                            $16
  --------                                            ---
  US National                                         $19
  -----------                                         ---


  Assisted Living (One Bedroom/Single Occupancy)

Annual cost increases across the state are lower than they are nationally over the past five years (costs in Georgia have remained relatively flat compared to 7 percent across the U.S.) (3) Costs in the Augusta area are 44 percent lower than nationally.

Select Regions                    Median Annual Rate(4)
  Georgia-Statewide                               $28,200
  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta                  $33,000
  Augusta-Richmond County                         $21,300
  Columbus                                        $24,450
  --------                                        -------
  US National                                     $38,220
  -----------                                     -------


  Nursing Home (Private Room)

Statewide, nursing home costs are significantly lower than national levels. The annual increase in the cost for this type of care in Georgia is 5 percent over the past five years, in line with the national increase.(3)

Select Regions                    Median Annual Rate(5)
  Georgia-Statewide                               $61,926
  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta                  $62,134
  Augusta-Richmond County                         $63,875
  Columbus                                        $56,747
  --------                                        -------
  US National                                     $75,190
  -----------                                     -------


  Adult Day Health Care

  Costs for this type of care are lower statewide than they are nationally.




  Select Regions                    Median Annual Rate(6)
  Georgia-Statewide                               $14,300
  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta                  $14,300
  Augusta-Richmond County                         $13,879
  Columbus                                            N/A
  --------                                            ---
  US National                                     $15,600
  -----------                                     -------

Let's Talk

To help families plan more effectively for potential long term care needs, Genworth Financial launched its national "Let's Talk" campaign in 2009.

"The first step in developing a comprehensive long term care plan is to speak with loved ones about the impact that a long term illness would have on them, emotionally and financially," added Mr. Stinson. "Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey, when used in conjunction with the resources available at caringtalk.com, provides families with a complete tool kit for mapping out a comprehensive long term care plan that addresses these concerns."

About Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey

Genworth's Cost of Care Survey is the most comprehensive of its kind, covering nearly 13,000 long term care providers in 436 regions nationwide. It surveys the cost of long term care across the U.S. to help Americans plan for the potential costs associated with the various types of care available in their preferred location and setting.

CareScout, acquired by Genworth in June 2008, has conducted the survey since 2004.

Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey was conducted during January, February and March 2010.

Full results of Genworth's 2010 Cost of Care Survey, including an interactive map of the cost of care in all 50 states and 436 regions, and other useful tools and information is available online at Genworth.com/CostofCare2010.

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