BELL ATLANTIC-DELAWARE SEEKS COURT OK FOR RESIDENTIAL ISDN RATE REDUCTIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 16, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC-DELAWARE SEEKS COURT OK FOR
RESIDENTIAL ISDN RATE REDUCTIONS

Company Proposes Lower Rates Pending Court Appeal of Rate
Decision

WILMINGTON, DE - Bell Atlantic-Delaware today sought
permission to
reduce rates for Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN) telephone
service to the home while the Kent County Superior Court reviews the
company's appeal of a July 2 rate order by the Delaware Public Service
Commission (PSC).

Bell Atlantic asked Superior Court Judge N. Maxson Terry to allow the
company to charge the rates it proposed April 17 to the PSC. The
company's proposal would reduce current rates by 15 to 86 percent for
residential ISDN, a service that provides high-speed access to the
Internet, on-line services and corporate computer networks.

"Bell Atlantic-Delaware continues to believe that it is in
everyone's
interest, especially Delaware consumers, to implement the lower April
rates during the appeal. Since all parties want the current rates to
be lowered, this would allow our residential customers to enjoy the
benefits of ISDN today at affordable rates," said Gil Smith, Bell
Atlantic-Delaware vice president-external affairs.

On Aug. 9, the court stayed the commission's order which rejected the
Bell Atlantic proposal and set a flat rate of $28.02 for residential
ISDN service. As a result of that stay, introductory ISDN rates which
were implemented in November 1995 have remained in effect while the
court reviews Bell Atlantic's appeal of the PSC decision.

If the court allows Bell Atlantic to implement its proposed rates
pending the appeal, consumers would pay the following charges for ISDN
to the home:

20 hours - $31
60 hours - $45
140 hours - $60
300 hours - $90
500 hours - $120
Unlimited - $248

Installation would be $125, a 25 percent reduction off previous
installation charges for most customers. This does not include inside
wiring, which may be required, and equipment installation. Both can
be purchased from Bell Atlantic or other companies.

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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Media contact:

Joan Rasmussen (703-974-8815)
joan.m.rasmussen@bell-atl.com