Bell Atlantic Offers Flat-Rate Regional Calling Plan for Pennsylvania Consumers

Bell Atlantic Offers Flat-Rate Regional Calling Plan for Pennsylvania
Consumers

No Surprises with SoundDialing

February 25, 1997

PHILADELPHIA -- Bell Atlantic's residential customers
in Pennsylvania
now have a unique money saving way to make toll calls to nearby points
with the company's newest regional toll plan, launched today,
SoundDialing^sm.

Residential customers who sign up for SoundDialing can make all their
in-state, regional toll calls for a flat monthly rate. Prices start
as low as $10 a month and are guaranteed for six months.

SoundDialing was developed in response to consumer requests for a set
monthly price with no surprises.

"Consumers have struggled long enough with complicated calling plans
they can't understand," said Bill Harral,
Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania
president and CEO. "With Bell Atlantic's new flat monthly rate,
you'll know exactly how much you'll pay each month for regional toll
calls, allowing you to stay within your budget."

Regional toll calls are those made outside a local calling area, but
generally within a few dozen miles from a customer's home or office.
Pennsylvania has five regional calling areas. Examples of regional
calls are those from Philadelphia to Allentown, Pittsburgh to
Uniontown, Lancaster to Harrisburg, Scranton to Stroudsburg or Altoona
to State College.

Customers can find out what communities are in their regional calling
area by checking the Customer Guide section in the front of their Bell
Atlantic White Pages directory.

The monthly SoundDialing rate will be set for each customer based on
that customer's prior regional toll usage. Basic price tiers are $10,
$15 and $24. Rates for customers who typically have high monthly
regional toll charges will be customized to the customers' needs.

The initial flat monthly rate will apply to direct-dialed, in-state
regional toll calls and is guaranteed until Aug. 23. The flat-rate
offer may be adjusted after that date. Cellular calls, calls to the
976 exchange, operator-handled calls and Bell Atlantic®
IQ® Card
calls are excluded. Certain eligibility requirements and restrictions
apply.

Residential customers can get more information and sign up for
SoundDialing starting today by calling toll-free, 1-888-FLAT
TOLL
(1-888-352-8865), operator 75034. There is no enrollment
fee.

Pennsylvania consumers who prefer simple per-minute pricing can enroll
in Bell Atlantic's SoundMinutes plan. This optional toll plan allows
residential customers to make direct-dialed, in-state regional toll
calls for 10 cents per minute evenings (5 p.m. to 8 a.m.) and weekends,
and 15 cents per minute weekdays (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). SoundMinutes was
introduced last summer as a trial offering. Because of its popularity,
Bell Atlantic has made the regional toll plan a regular offer to
Pennsylvania consumers.

In addition, SoundMinutes customers can continue to save 20 percent on
their regional toll calls when their monthly bill for these calls
totals $20 or more through Bell Atlantic's Automatic Savings Plan.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (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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