Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile Donates 250 Cellular Phones To Aid Philadelphia Crossing Guards In Emergencies

September 30, 1996

Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile Donates 250 Cellular Phones
To Aid Philadelphia Crossing Guards In
Emergencies

PHILADELPHIA -- Mayor Edward G. Rendell, City Councilman
James F.
Kenney (D - At Large), and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard
Neal joined Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile Regional Vice President Robert
F. Stott today in announcing that 250 Philadelphia crossing guards
will now be equipped with cellular phones for emergency use thanks to
the generosity of Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile.

In announcing the donation, Mayor Rendell pointed out that until
today, crossing guards had no way to call for help in the event of an
emergency without a quarter in their pocket and a pay phone nearby.
"This donation should bring peace of mind to many parents and their
children, as crossing guards now have a convenient, direct link to
emergency services," said Mayor Rendell. "Philadelphia
crossing
guards perform a tremendous service for our city's children, and we're
always grateful when local corporations are supportive of that
effort."

Stott added that "Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile is proud to put
cellular
phones in the hands of Philadelphia crossing guards so they will have
the access they, and the children they protect, need to our city's
emergency services. Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile has a long history of
assisting community groups in the areas where we operate, and we want
to thank Mayor Rendell and Councilman Kenney for bringing this
important issue to our attention."

Councilman Kenney, who headed the initiative to equip crossing guards
with cellular phones, said that he is committed to improving the
safety of Philadelphia school zones, and that this donation is an
important step towards that goal. "We've all heard stories where
having a cellular phone has helped to save a life. Today I'm glad to
say that 250 of our city's crossing guards are better equipped to
handle an emergency if one does arise."

On hand to accept the donation for the crossing guards was
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Neal, who said, "anyone who has
children, or drives through a school zone can see that providing
crossing guards with cellular telephones is a positive move towards
greater safety and security. This donation will definitely make our
school years safer for everyone."

The Crossing Guards is a division of the Philadelphia Police
Department.

Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile is the
largest wireless
service provider on the East Coast and the second largest in the
United States. The company offers a full range of wireless personal
communications services, including voice, data and paging. Based in
Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile has over four million
customers and 5,800 employees in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic,
Southeast and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. The
company was formed in July, 1995 by combining Bell Atlantic Mobile's
and NYNEX Mobile's cellular operations.

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Media contact:

Andra Davidson (215) 732-4100