Bell Atlantic Sponsors Free Internet Learning Day for Area Residents and Small Business Owners

Bell Atlantic Sponsors Free Internet Learning Day
for Area Residents and Small Business Owners

New Internet Guide Introduced in 200,000 Bell Atlantic
Yellow and White Pages in Portland, Maine

August 21, 1998

PORTLAND, Maine -- Bell Atlantic tomorrow will bring the Internet to
area residents and small businesses by sponsoring a free Internet Learning
Day at the Productivity Point International facility in Portland. The event
coincides with the introduction of the Internet Guide inside the 1998-1999
Portland Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages, which are currently in
delivery. The guide, bound inside the Yellow Pages, is a step-by-step
primer designed for novice Internet users.

The Internet Learning Day initiative, supported by local community
organizations, is offered to residents and small businesses who may not
have access to Internet training. The Portland event is the sixth in an
ongoing series of Internet Learning Days across the Bell Atlantic region.

"The Internet Guide and the Internet Learning Day series are targeted at
the 35 percent of the adult population without access to learning about the
Internet," said Mary Jo Howe, vice president of marketing and customer
relations at Bell Atlantic Directory Services. "We believe that offering such
community-oriented initiatives is consistent with our efforts to provide
local information and services that allow for global access, such as the
Internet."

Saturday's Internet Learning Day event -- expected to attract some 200
participants' is co-sponsored by Productivity Point International, a leading
computer training firm, and a number of community-based organizations.

Co-sponsors, including Goodwill Industries, the Greater Portland YMCA,
Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility, the Preble Street Resource
Center, Salvation Army/Senior Center and the Training Resource Center,
are participating in the day as well by promoting membership attendance.
According to representatives of these community organizations, there is a
lack of available Internet education for adults of all ages and socio-
economic levels, as well as for businesses seeking to market on the
Internet.

"The Internet is becoming a commodity in the work force, so for our
members becoming more knowledgeable about the Internet also means
becoming more marketable in the work force," said Fran Beach,
Community Services Director at Salvation Army/Senior Center. "Activities
such as this free Internet learning experience and the availability of Bell
Atlantic's Yellow Pages Internet Guide are a good first step."

The advertiser-supported Internet Guide is a 12-page tabbed insert that
contains information on hardware and software requirements, a step-by-
step approach for connecting to the World Wide Web, tips on choosing an
Internet service provider, Frequently Asked Questions and a list of
recommended local, regional and national Web sites.

Participants in the Internet Learning Day beginner's sessions receive
information on places where they can access the Internet for free, ways to
acquire a personal computer at a discount cost, as well as participate in a
drawing for a personal computer donated by Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages.

Delivery of the Portland Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages featuring a
cover illustration of the Centennial Bandstand in Fort Williams Parkwill
be completed during the next few weeks. Now serving as a tourism,
recreation and leisure site, Fort Williams was once the main defense for the
Cape Elizabeth shoreline during World War II. The directory cover
illustrator is 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.

The new Portland Bell Atlantic Yellow Pages also includes recycling
information designed to educate consumers on what, where and how to
recycle in their area.

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 more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than
seven 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.