Bell Atlantic Publishes 10th Edition of 'West Virginia--It's You!'

Bell Atlantic Publishes 10th Edition of 'West Virginia--It's You!'

3 Millionth Copy Presented to Governor

February 17, 1998

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia Gov. Cecil H. Underwood today
received the three-millionth copy of Bell Atlantic's popular West
Virginia - It's You! travel guide. This marks the tenth consecutive
year Bell Atlantic has published the guide.

Fresh off the press, the 180-page full-color guide offers travel
seekers tips on everything from skiing, hiking and biking in West
Virginia to mastering the state's great white water. Bell Atlantic
is publisher of the book in a public/private partnership with the
State of West Virginia. Don Molter of Clarksburg is publisher; Jeri
Matheney of Charleston is the guide's editor.

This year's cover commemorates the 30th anniversary of the white water
industry in the state. West Virginia's white water industry and
rivers rival that of western states, offering more affordable and
accessible river rafting from calm tubing runs to adventurous Class V
rapids.

"West Virginia - It's You! showcases our state in a beautiful and
effective way," said Underwood. "This type of private/public
partnership demonstrates and promotes so much about what is good about
living and working in West Virginia."

More than 330,000 copies of West Virginia - It's You! are available.
Throughout the year, most of those copies will be distributed to
travelers who call West Virginia's tourist hotline, 1-800-CALL WVA.

Single or bulk copies of West Virginia - It's You! may be ordered by
calling 304-623-6979. Single copies are $4.95, plus six percent West
Virginia sales tax. Discounts are given when 15 or more copies are
ordered.

Publication of the tourism guide is just one example of Bell
Atlantic's commitment to the state. The company is providing Internet
access to all kindergarten through twelfth-grade public schools in its
West Virginia service area through the Bell Atlantic® WORLD SCHOOL^sm
program. Bell Atlantic also works to bring jobs to the state through
the Office of the Future partnership with the State of West Virginia.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six 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 21 countries.