Bell Atlantic Sponsors Free Internet Learning Day As Part of Region-Wide Program

Bell Atlantic Sponsors Free Internet Learning Day As Part of Region-Wide Program

New Cover Design and Internet Guide Introduced in Bell Atlantic Albany Directories

March 12, 1999

ALBANY, N.Y. -- As part of its ongoing efforts to educate consumers
and businesses on the Internet, Bell Atlantic will host an Internet Learning
Day in Albany tomorrow at Hudson Valley Community College. The Albany event
is the 11th in a series of Internet Learning Days across the Bell Atlantic
region.

The event coincides with the roll out of the new 1999-2000 Albany
Yellow and White Pages, which features the Internet Guide, a step-by-step
primer designed to help educate novice Internet users. More than 250,000
new directories are currently being distributed.

The Internet Learning Day initiative is offered to residents and small
businesses that may not have access to Internet training. The program also
includes a Web-marketing session, which is customized for small
businesses exploring cost-effective ways to promote their company,
products or services on the World Wide Web.

"We are proud that the Internet Learning Day program, now in its second
year, is helping people use the power of the Internet," said Mary Jo Howe,
vice president of marketing and customer care at Bell Atlantic Directory
Group. "The high level of response to the Albany program is an indication
of this community's desire to acquire knowledge tools to meet the next
millennium."

Saturday's Internet Learning Day event is expected to attract some 150
Participants' is co-sponsored by Hudson Valley Community College and a
number of community-based organizations, which are participating in the
event as well as promoting membership attendance.

These include Hispanic Outreach Services, the Job Placement Consortium,
the Arbor Hill Community Center and the Town of Colonie Senior
Resources Department. 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.

"As a participant in this year's Internet Learning Day, our members
recognize the value of Internet education," said Gladys Vasquez, case
manager and site coordinator, Hispanic Outreach Services. "Becoming
more knowledgeable about the Internet also means becoming more
integrated into the community. Activities such as this Internet Learning
Day and the availability of the Internet Guide make it easier to get
started."

The advertiser-supported Internet Guide is an 8-page tabbed insert that
contains information on hardware and software requirements, tips on
choosing an Internet service provider, instructions on conducting a Web
search and a list of recommended national Web sites.

Participants in the beginner sessions receive information on places they
can access the Internet for free and ways to acquire a personal computer at
reduced cost. Small business attendees participating in the Web-
marketing session receive information about online marketing techniques.

The 1999-2000 Albany Yellow and White Pages feature the new "Points
of Pride" cover design. The new cover highlights where people live and
work with a unique montage of icons in the shape of New York state.
The icons symbolize general points of interests for New Yorkers.

The new Albany Bell Atlantic Yellow and White Pages 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 42 million telephone access lines
and 8.6 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies
are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, 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.