Bell Atlantic - Virginia Extends Local Calling Area

Bell Atlantic - Virginia Extends Local Calling Area

January 30, 1998

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Bell Atlantic - Virginia will extend the local
calling area for many area customers on Feb. 1. As a result, calls
between Williamsburg or Toano and Charles City will no longer be long
distance calls.

In the Williamsburg and Charles City area, the change will affect telephone
numbers in the 757 area code beginning with 220, 221, 229, 253, 258,
259, 345, 564, 565, 566. In Charles City, the change will affect
telephone numbers in the 804 area code beginning with 829.

Local calls between these exchanges will be made by dialing 10 digits,
that is the area code + the seven-digit telephone number. Calls
placed from the Williamsburg and Toano exchanges will require dialing
"804 + the seven-digit telephone number" to reach customers in the
Charles City exchange. Calls placed from the Charles City exchange to
Williamsburg and Toano will require dialing "757 + the seven digit
telephone number." These calls no longer will require dialing a "1"
and customers who do will hear a recording.

Monthly rates will increase for Williamsburg and Toano residence
customers from 2 to 6 cents per line, while rates for business lines
will increase from 3 to 23 cents per line, depending on the type of
service.

Monthly rates for Charles City residence customers will increase from
23 to 61 cents per line, while rates for business lines will increase
from $0.52 to $2.23 per line depending on the type of service.

January telephone bills included an explanation of the extended local
calling area and new rates in more detail. Customers should contact
the Bell Atlantic Customer Service Center on 954-6222 (residence
customers) or 954-6888 (business customers) for further information.

Bell Atlantic is extending the local calling area between Charles City
and the Williamsburg and Toano exchanges as a result of requests from
Charles City customers. Currently, Bell Atlantic is also seeking to
extend the local calling routes between West Point and Williamsburg
and Toano; and between Providence Forge and Williamsburg and Toano.
Each of these local calling routes now crosses a long distance
boundary must be approved by the Federal Communications Commission and
the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

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.