Bell Atlantic Federal Systems Offers Full-Service Continuity Planning And Disaster Recovery

Bell Atlantic Federal Systems Offers Full-Service Continuity Planning And Disaster Recovery

Government Agencies Can Now Use Bell Atlantic CommGuard as "One-Stop-Shop"

June 3, 1997

WASHINGTON - Federal agencies can now protect their mission-critical
data and communications networks through one experienced source: Bell
Atlantic Federal Systems.

Bell Atlantic can analyze agencies' operations, develop a customized
plan, and provide the expertise to implement the plan. The company's
one-stop-shopping approach to continuity planning and disaster
recovery services is known as "CommGuard®." Government agencies no
longer have to deal with multiple vendors to develop a detailed plan
that meets Federal mandates for disaster recovery.

"For the first time, we can offer a comprehensive continuity planning
solution to our government customers," said Barbara Connor, president,
Bell Atlantic Federal Systems. "As our environment becomes more
network-centric, protecting communications networks takes on increased
importance. Bell Atlantic is an expert in continuity planning for our
own networks and customer databases. Our customers count on the
availability of Bell Atlantic's voice and data services - and we
deliver. We provide our customers with network services like SONET
(Synchronous Optical Network) and Switched Redirect, which are crucial
in disaster recovery applications. Customers are now asking for
assistance with disaster recovery planning for voice, data, and video
applications, including local area networks, distributed processing
systems, and workstation solutions. CommGuard is our response to meet
these customers' needs."

"We created CommGuard to meet the growing need of our federal
customers for improved disaster recovery plans that stay abreast of
changing communications technologies," said Mike Braham, director,
CommGuard Services, Bell Atlantic Federal Systems. "We are committed
to providing 'best in class' solutions in four key areas: disaster
recovery planning, survivability, redundancy, and security."

Bell Atlantic Federal Systems has formed alliances with leading
companies to provide government agencies with a dedicated team
offering a single point of contact for all their needs. These needs
include risk analysis of their current systems, as well as acquisition
of integrated recovery solutions. These alliance companies and their
areas of expertise include: APC - uninterruptable power supplies;
Comdisco - hot and alternate sites, as well as consulting and software
planning tools; Octel - voice messaging and backup systems;
RiskWatch, Inc. - security risk analysis; SEI - power engineering;
SpectraLink - campus/building wireless systems; and Teloquent -
distributed call center solutions.

CommGuard products and services can be obtained through these existing
government contracts: TEMPO, WITS, CIO/SP and Bell Atlantic's GSA
Schedule. Information on CommGuard is available on its web site at:
http://www.bell-atl.com/commguard.

"Bell Atlantic has extensive experience in maintaining reliable
communications services,responding to service disruptions caused by
natural and manmade disasters, and in implementing the
National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NSEP) Plan," said
Braham. As communications networks grow increasingly complex and
crucial to agencies' mission completion, this expertise becomes more
valuable to our customers."

Bell Atlantic has also long been the largest single provider of local
telecommunications services to the Federal Government. The company
provides advanced voice, data, and videoconferencing services over
highly-survivable networks. Bell Atlantic has also implemented, and
currently maintains, several major federal government
telecommunications systems. The two largest are: the Defense
Telecommunication Service -Washington's TEMPO contract - the largest
Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) system in the world - and
the General Services Administration's WITS contract, which serves
Washington, D.C.-area civilian agencies.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, Bell Atlantic's local telephone companies are the
premier providers 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.