Bell Atlantic Spokesperson James Earl Jones Honors Staten Island Chamber of Commerce As Selection for Cover of 190,000 Yellow and White Pages

Bell Atlantic Spokesperson James Earl Jones Honors
Staten Island Chamber of Commerce As Selection
for Cover of 190,000 Yellow and White Pages

New Features Include Internet Guide, Fold-out Map and ZIP
Code List

November 11, 1998

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Bell Atlantic spokesman and actor James Earl
Jones honored the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce this morning by
announcing that an illustration of the Chamber headquarters is featured on
the cover of the borough's new Yellow and White Pages directory. Jones
unveiled the cover of the 1998-1999 Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages
for Staten Island during a ceremony at the Excelsior Grand facility.

More than 190,000 copies of the new directory are now being delivered to
businesses and households across Staten Island.

"Bell Atlantic and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce have worked
closely together for years to support the local community and its many
businesses," said Lawrence De Maria, president and chief executive officer
of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. "Like the Yellow Pages, the
Chamber is a comprehensive resource for businesses and the community,
and we are pleased to be chosen for the new Bell Atlantic Yellow and
White Pages directory cover."

The Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages for Staten Island include several
new features designed to help area businesses, residents and visitors find
helpful local information. For the first time in Staten Island, the Yellow
Pages feature the Internet Guide, a "how-to" primer for consumers
unfamiliar with how to use the Internet. The Internet Guide - supported by
advertising in a 8-page tabbed insert - contains information on hardware
and software requirements, a glossary, a step-by-step approach for
connecting to the World Wide Web, tips on choosing an Internet service
provider and a list of recommended local and national Web sites.

Other new features include a fold-out street map of Staten Island and a
comprehensive list of local ZIP codes. The Yellow Pages for Staten Island
also include recycling information that tells consumers what, where and
how to recycle. The new features put valuable information at the fingertips
of businesses and consumers.

At the presentation, Jack Miller, vice president of New York and national
sales for Bell Atlantic Directory Services, presented De Maria with a
framed cover of the new Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages signed by
Jones.

"Bell Atlantic and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce share a
dedication to business and consumers," said Miller. "Offering features like
the new Internet Guide in the Yellow and White Pages shows Bell
Atlantic's commitment to providing Staten Island consumers with
information geared to a changing world."

The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1895, has nearly
1,000 member businesses working to foster economic activity in the
borough. The Chamber offers members access to a wide range of business
data and information, networking opportunities, and statistical information
about the Staten Island.

The Bell Atlantic directory cover illustrations are designed by artist Mary
Lynn Blasutta of New Paltz, N.Y. Her illustrations are featured on Bell
Atlantic's 500 directories in 13 states and Washington, D.C.

Bell Atlantic is the world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping
directories. Its affiliate, Bell Atlantic Electronic Commerce Services, is the
creator of BigYellow^SM, a leading national online shopping service.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 42 million telephone access lines and eight million wireless
customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of
advanced wireline voice and data services, and market leaders in wireless
services. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.