Bell Atlantic Adds Michael Gonzalez Angel To Senior Team

Bell Atlantic Adds Michael Gonzalez Angel
To Senior Team

Former Vice President Messer/Hoechst AG Joins
Bell Atlantic Data Solutions Group

Feb. 22, 2000

NEW YORK -- Bell Atlantic has selected Michael Gonzalez Angel, of
Messer/Hoechst AG, to a new position designed to strengthen the
company's relationships with leading edge technology firms. Angel will
become vice president of Data Networking Technology for Bell Atlantic's
Data Solutions Group.

"Angel has the expertise to position Bell Atlantic on the forefront of
new technologies," said Bruce Gordon, Bell Atlantic group
president-Enterprise Business. "With our merger with GTE on the
horizon, he is uniquely qualified to help give Bell Atlantic a nationwide
and international presence in this dynamic marketplace."

Angel will be responsible for building critical relationships with
companies developing new technologies that could significantly impact
Bell Atlantic's business. He will establish the company's strategy for these
alliances with a goal of giving Bell Atlantic a competitive edge in the
marketplace. Angel will have offices in San Diego and New York City.

Angel previously was vice president of international business development
and sales for Messer/Hoechst AG, a German company that provides
technology solutions for the manufacturing industry. He also held sales
and marketing positions with Digital Sound Corp., Hyundai and Otto
Industries.

He earned a master's degree in business administration with honors from
Harvard Business School and is a three-year scholar and magna cum laude
graduate of Creighton University, where he received a bachelor's degree in
business administration.

Angel is a member of the faculty at both the University of Phoenix and
National University, where he specializes in corporate strategy, growth
and development, national and global marketing, and international
business courses. He is a member of the Harvard Clubs of Boston, New
York and San Diego.

Angel, and his wife, Leni, have one daughter and live in San Diego.

NOTE TO EDITOR: Color photograph is available.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 million wireless
customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced
wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the
world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are
also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.