Bell Atlantic Recognized by Governor Carper for Connecting Delaware Schools to Cyberspace

Bell Atlantic Recognized by Governor Carper for Connecting Delaware
Schools to Cyberspace

Company Earns "Partner in Education" Award for NetDay 96

February 26, 1997

WILMINGTON, De. -- Bell Atlantic has been honored by
the State of
Delaware for the company's leadership and support of NetDay 96
Delaware, a grassroots, volunteer effort that resulted in the wiring
of 72 Delaware public and private elementary schools to the Internet
using materials donated by Bell Atlantic.

Governor Thomas R. Carper has named Bell Atlantic-Delaware and Bell
Atlantic Network Integration, Inc. (BANI) recipients of the "Partners
in Education" award, the first such award to corporations in
Delaware.
Governor Carper presented the award to Bell Atlantic-Delaware
President and CEO Joshua W. Martin at
the
annual Delaware Instructional Technology Symposium recently in Dover.

"I commend Bell Atlantic-Delaware and Bell Atlantic Network
Integration for the vital role they played in making NetDay 96 a
success," Governor Carper said. "My administration has set
aside $30
million to provide connectivity and computers for every classroom in
Delaware. However, this is an enormous job. With the help of Bell
Atlantic and other companies involved in NetDay, thousands of
Delaware students now have global resources at their fingertips. They
won't have to wait to use the Information Superhighway."

Bell Atlantic-Delaware and BANI, a subsidiary of Bell Atlantic Corp.,
provided more than $200,000 in equipment and services for NetDay 96
Delaware, including 200,000 feet of telephone cable and wiring kits to
provide the 72 schools with an on-ramp to the Information Superhighway
and its wealth of educational resources. Bell Atlantic technicians
also volunteered on NetDay 96 to assist schools that needed technical
expertise.

"We want all Delaware schools to have an equal opportunity to use
the
very latest technology in the classroom, " Martin said. "We
are
confident that our investment in NetDay 96 will produce significant
learning opportunities for Delaware children, regardless of where they
attend school."

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 Corp. of New Zealand and is actively developing high-growth
national and international business opportunities in all phases of the
industry.

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