Bell Atlantic Hosts Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness Day at Manhattan Headquarters

Bell Atlantic Hosts Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing
Awareness Day at Manhattan Headquarters

Company's Foundation Provides Grants for New York Area
Schools for the Deaf

May 11, 1999

NEW YORK -- The voice of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community
will be heard this Thursday (5/13) when Bell Atlantic hosts an all-day
seminar focusing on telecommunications issues affecting this group of
customers.

The seventh annual Bell Atlantic Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Awareness
Day will be held at the company's headquarters, 1095 Avenue of the
Americas (at 42nd St.), Manhattan, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

"This Awareness Day brings to light issues that are important to
both deaf and hearing people," said John Rollo, Bell Atlantic
executive director for Community Affairs. "For the deaf
community, the day highlights services that enable easier
communications. Others will learn about issues and solutions to
roadblocks for the deaf community."

In addition to learning about Bell Atlantic services and initiatives for deaf
customers, attendees will receive an update on the Federal
Communications Commission's efforts to meet the needs of people who
are deaf.

"This is a great forum to bring about a greater understanding of
issues affecting people who are deaf or hard of hearing," said
Michael Lione, president of Disabilities Issues Awareness Leaders
(DIAL), a support and networking group for Bell Atlantic employees
interested in disability issues.

Special guests will include a group of students from the Lexington School
for the Deaf, who will sign the Star Spangled Banner; students from The
Cleary School for the Deaf, who will present a compilation of poetry and
sign language; and Thomas Samuels, media specialist with LaGuardia
Community College's Program for Deaf Adults, who will talk about the
history of deafness in the African-American community.

Bell Atlantic Foundation Awards Grants to New York Metro Area
Schools

The Awareness Day is another expression of Bell Atlantic's commitment
to serve the communications needs of all customers. The company also
has provided financial support to several schools for the deaf through the
Bell Atlantic Foundation. Recent grant recipients include the St. Francis
de Sales School for the Deaf in Brooklyn, the Lexington School for the
Deaf in Queens, and the Cleary School for the Deaf in Nesconset, Long
Island.

Each of the schools is establishing or enhancing technology and computer
programs to help deaf children and others communicate and have greater
access to learning tools.

The Bell Atlantic Foundation supports a variety of projects domestically
and internationally, with an emphasis on new technology applications in
education, health and human services, the arts and humanities, and civic development in the
communities served by Bell Atlantic. For more information, visit
www.bellatlanticfoundation.com on the Internet.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 43 million telephone access lines and nine
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.