Bell Atlantic Hosts Second Annual Internet Learning Day for Northern Virginia Community

Bell Atlantic Hosts Second Annual Internet Learning Day
for Northern Virginia Community

New Cover Design and Revised Internet Guide Introduced in
Bell Atlantic Northern Virginia Directories

January 22, 1999

VIENNA, Va. -- In response to the growing demand for Internet education,
Bell Atlantic will sponsor its second annual free Internet Learning Day in
Northern Virginia tomorrow at the Vienna CompUSA.

The event coincides with the roll out of the new 1999-2000 Northern
Virginia Yellow and White Pages, which features a revised Internet Guide.
The 8-page guide, bound inside the Yellow Pages, is a step-by-step primer
designed to help educate novice Internet users. The Internet Guide will
appear in more than 806,000 directories, which are currently in distribution.

The 1999-2000 Northern Virginia Yellow and White Pages are the first in
Virginia to feature the new "Points of Pride" cover design. The new cover
highlights where people live and work with a unique montage of icons in the
shape of Virginia. The icons symbolize general points of interests for
Virginians.

The Internet Learning Day initiative is offered to residents and small
businesses that may not have access to Internet training. The Northern
Virginia event is the tenth in an ongoing series of Internet Learning Days
across the Bell Atlantic region. The program also includes a Web-marketing
session, which is customized for small businesses exploring cost-effective
ways to promote their company, products or services on the World Wide
Web.

"As a leader in the community, Bell Atlantic strides to provide
comprehensive and accurate information for residents and businesses," said
Mary Jo Howe, vice president of marketing and customer care at Bell
Atlantic Directory Group. "The Internet Learning Day series and the
Internet Guide address our community's changing needs as we approach the
new millennium."

Saturday's Internet Learning Day event -- expected to attract some 150
Participants -- is co-sponsored by CompUSA, WJLA Channel 7 and a number of
community-based organizations, which are participating in the day as well
as promoting membership attendance.

Returning co-sponsors from last year include: the Career Transition Center,
Facets, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and the Hispanic
Committee of Virginia. This year, these organizations are joined by the
Center for Multicultural Services and Fairfax Opportunities Unlimited.
According to representatives of these community organizations, there is a
lack of available Internet education for adults of all ages and socio-economic
levels, as well as for businesses seeking to market on the Internet.

"As a participant in last year's Internet Learning Day, our clients know the
value of Internet education," said Drew Schuler, development officer,
Hispanic Committee of Virginia. "Becoming more knowledgeable about the
Internet also means becoming more integrated into the community.
Activities such as this Internet Learning Day and the availability of the
Internet Guide make it easier to get started."

The advertiser-supported Internet Guide is a 8-page tabbed insert that
contains information on hardware and software requirements, a step-by-step
approach for connecting to the World Wide Web, tips on choosing an
Internet service provider, Frequently Asked Questions, and a list of
recommended regional and national Web sites.

Participants in the beginner sessions receive information on places they can
access the Internet for free and ways to acquire a personal computer at a
reduced cost. Small business attendees participating in the Web-marketing
session receive information about online marketing techniques. Attendees
from both sessions participate in a drawing for a personal computer donated
by Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages.

The new Northern Virginia Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages includes recycling
information designed to educate consumers on what, where and how to
recycle in their area.

Bell Atlantic is the world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping
directories. Its affiliate, Bell Atlantic Electronic Commerce Services, is the
creator of BigYellow^SM, a leading national online shopping service.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight million wireless
customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of
advanced wireline voice and data services, and market leaders in wireless
services. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.