WASHINGTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Verizon Communications, the largest U.S. local telephone company, plans to offer high-speed Internet service without also requiring customers to subscribe to its telephone service, company officials said on Friday.

The New York-based company, which serves much of the northeast United States, would be only the second of the four major U.S. local telephone carriers to offer the service, known as digital subscriber line or DSL, by itself.

Verizon expects "that in the not-too-distant future that you will be able to get Verizon DSL without getting Verizon phone service," said Tom Tauke, Verizon executive vice president for public affairs and communications. "It's a technological issue, it's not a marketing issue." Story Continues ...