Bell Atlantic Offers New 9-1-1 System Enhancements in Massachusetts

Bell Atlantic Offers New 9-1-1 System Enhancement in Massachusetts

Rescuers Can Now Pinpoint Emergency Locations
on Widespread Campuses and in Large Businesses

May 18, 1998

NEW YORK -- Critical seconds can be saved in an emergency thanks to a
new enhancement to 9-1-1 systems now available from Bell Atlantic in
Massachusetts.

The enhancement, known as Private Switch/Automatic Location
Identification, provides emergency operators with the precise location of
callers in large office and government buildings, hotels, hospitals and
residential complexes or on large college and university campuses.

Without the automatic location identification, emergency operators may
see only the street address of a main building when callers dial 9-1-1 from a
telephone served by a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), Centrex, or other
multi-lined telephone system. So, emergency personnel may spend
precious time searching for the precise location of the emergency. That
few minutes delay could mean the difference between a rescue or tragedy.

"Since the 1970s, 9-1-1 service has provided the public with a quick
connection to emergency services," said Bob Jacobs, Bell Atlantic product
manager. "Since then, enhanced 9-1-1 systems have evolved to help
emergency personnel see the residential and small business addresses of the
persons calling. With this latest improvement, rescuers will be able to find
the exact location of emergencies in locations with multi-line telephone
systems, such as college dorms."

Private Switch/Automatic Location Identification is based on software
which enables organizations to maintain specific location information in the
E9-1-1 database for each telephone number on its phone system. The
organization that subscribes to the service is responsible for inputting all
the necessary telephone numbers, location information and updates.

"Private Switch/Automatic Location Identification gives PBX and Centrex
users direct, secure access to Bell Atlantic's E9-1-1 data base. Customers
merely sit at their PCs and input the specific location information into our
system," Jacobs said. "The intelligence of the system automatically triggers
location information as soon as emergency personnel receive a call for
help."

One of the advantages of this 9-1-1 enhancement is its flexibility. With
workers and residents moving all the time, subscribers can make changes at
any time.

Monthly and non-recurring charges apply. Non-recurring charges include
$3,500 for set-up and access and $485 per trunk for network trunk
installation. Recurring monthly charges include $10 per 100 records on file
for database maintenance and management; $46 per network access trunk.
In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the 9-1-1 Agency requires a
minimum of four trunks. Trunk rates are subject to state tariffs.

With additional hardware and software, on-premises security personnel
also can receive simultaneous emergency notification when callers dial
9-1-1.

PBX, Centrex or multi-line telephone system users can get additional
information on the new Private Switch/Automatic Location Identification
by contacting their Bell Atlantic account representative.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and
NYNEX - is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and 6.7 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 22 countries.