Bell Atlantic Announces Opportunity New Jersey Grant Winners

January 25, 1996

OPPORTUNITY NEW JERSEY GRANT WINNERS HONORED
TONIGHT

Schools to Continue New Jersey Tradition of Technical
Excellence

Newark -- Seven schools and consortia from across the state will
receive cash awards tonight at the Ocean Place Hilton in West Long
Branch for projects that encourage students to learn with the latest
technology.

The grants, which together total nearly $100,000, are part of Bell
Atlantic-New Jersey's Opportunity New Jersey (ONJ) School Grant
Project, a competitive, statewide program that encourages schools to
use telecommunications technology as a hands-on learning tool.

Bell Atlantic-New Jersey President Len Lauer lauded the winners for
adhering to New Jersey's long tradition of technological innovation
and intellectual excellence.

"This, after all, is where Edison illuminated the world, and
Einstein
pondered the universe," Lauer said. "Together, Bell Atlantic
and
these outstanding schools are encouraging New Jersey's next generation
of pioneering inventors and dazzling thinkers."

More than 300 public and private elementary and high schools submitted
proposals to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators
(NJASA) before Dec. 15, 1996.

In their proposals, competing schools explained how they would expose
students to telecommunications technologies, introduce innovative
teaching methods and use technology to bridge diverse student
cultures.

Winners were announced on Jan. 12.

Tonight's awards banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. Presentations
will take place at 8 p.m.

THE WINNERS

Salem County Vo Tech, Salem County -- Countywide training
to
accelerate the introduction of videoconferencing to the five
school-district partners involved in the Salem 2000 project.

Kearny High School, Hudson County -- Expansion of the
existing
Japanese-language program through the use of compressed video
linkages to Japanese business and cultural institutions. The
program also will include Bayonne and Harrison high schools.

Warren Point School (Fairlawn), Bergen, Monmouth and Sussex
counties
-- In collaboration with elementary schools in Morganville
(Monmouth County) and Layton (Sussex County) this project will
use Intel Pro Share to allow students to conduct comparative
environmental studies.

Westfield/Plainfield Public Schools, Union County -- This project
will
use compressed video and Internet-based resources to expand an
existing Latin Academy that brings together high-achieving
students from both districts.

Cape May Alternative High School, Cape May County -- This project
will
use ISDN video and data services to bring challenged students
(ages 14 through 21) a curriculum that will instill an
understanding of the arts.

Canfield Ave. School (Mine Hill), Morris County -- This project
will
offer ISDN-based services to students, faculty and parents
during evening sessions held at the school.

Katzenbach School for the Deaf, Mercer County -- This project will
use
compressed video to link Katzenbach and the Invention Factory, a
Trenton-based science museum, to allow students to share
curriculum.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

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for more information, contact:

Tim Ireland, 201-649-2279
timothy.ireland@bell-atl.com