Bell Atlantic Proposes Updated Affiliate Rules in New York

BELL ATLANTIC PROPOSES UPDATED AFFILIATE RULES IN NEW YORK

September 26, 1997

ALBANY, NY -- Bell Atlantic today proposed updating some of

the rules that govern the way the company's local telephone

operation in New York interacts with Bell Atlantic affiliates.

While retaining many of the safeguards contained in the

existing rules, the proposal would give Bell Atlantic more

flexibility to develop, market and sell new services -- including long

distance -- to New York customers.

"In its most recent report on the existing structural rules,

the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) staff concluded

that there should be an immediate and comprehensive review of

those rules," said William Allan, Bell Atlantic vice president

for Regulatory Affairs in New York. "Our filing responds to

that conclusion, as well as to how much the world has changed

since the existing rules were put in place over five years

ago.

"With these proposed rules, we will be able to bring all

the advantages of today's competitive telecommunications market

to our customers more quickly, including long distance service,"

he added.

Bell Atlantic is now completing the required work that

will enable it to apply to offer long distance service in New

York.

The proposal filed with the PSC today recognizes the

sweeping industry changes brought on by local telephone

competition and the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.

The proposed plan also takes into account the price, service

quality and network infrastructure requirements contained in

the seven-year Performance Regulatory Plan, under which the

company now operates in New York. That new regulatory

framework was adopted by the PSC in August 1995 and will run

through August 2002.

The proposed organizational plan would still include the

tracking of financial and other transactions between local New

York telephone operations and affiliates. This information would

be made available to the PSC. The proposed plan also carries

forward from the old framework provisions dealing with service

quality, network investment in the state and the existing

Consumer Advisory Council.

At the same time, the proposed plan would provide Bell

Atlantic with more operational flexibility, especially in

delivering and packaging existing and new services for its

customers in the state.

The new Bell Atlantic formed through the merger of Bell

Atlantic and NYNEX is at the forefront of the new

communications, information and entertainment industry.

With 40 million telephone access lines and 5.5 million

wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are

premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data

services, market leaders in wireless services and

the worlds largest publishers of directory information.

Bell Atlantic companies are also among the worlds largest

investors in high-growth global communications markets,

with operations and investments in 21 countries.