Southern New Jersey Area Code Change Finalized Nov. 13

Southern New Jersey Area Code Change Finalized Nov. 13

Callers Must Dial New 856 Area Code To Complete Calls

Oct. 29, 1999

NEWARK -- Beginning Saturday, Nov. 13, callers must dial the "856"
area code to reach phone numbers in the new southern New Jersey area
code.

The new 856 code went into effect in June, but since then callers have
been able to reach numbers in the new area code even when they forgot
and dialed the old 609 area code. However, the transition period is ending
and beginning Nov. 13, calls will be completed only when callers use the
new 856 area code. While the dialing change will begin on Nov. 13, it will
take a few days days to implement throughout the region and, therefore,
some 856 numbers may still be called with either the 856 or 609 area code
for a few days after Nov. 13.

In February, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities voted to create
millions of new local numbers by an east-west split of the existing 609
area code, with the eastern side keeping the 609 code and the western side
receiving new 856 numbers.

The new area code encompasses Salem County, large portions of
Cumberland, Gloucester and Camden counties and portions of Burlington
and Atlantic counties.

(A list of exchanges in the new 856 area code, which was provided by
the North American Numbering Plan Administrator on Sept. 15,
1999, is included at the end of this release.)

The five-month transition period was designed to allow callers an
opportunity to adjust to the new area code and time reprogram automatic
dialers and commercial switching systems.

"It is our hope that these five months have provided our customers time to
adjust to the new area code," said William Freeman, president and CEO of
Bell Atlantic-New Jersey. "We have attempted to make the transition as
painless as possible and to minimize the impact on customers."

For a limited period of time after Nov. 13, callers who forget to dial "856"
will hear a message instructing them to redial the number with the new
area code so their call can be completed. Bell Atlantic is urging all its
customers to tell their friends, family and business associates about the
area code changes so that they do not miss calls.

Creation of the new area code will not affect rates or local calling within
the region. Local calls will still be local calls, even though some
customers may have to dial a "1" and the area code to complete the call.

Since June, Bell Atlantic has conducted a customer education program to
inform area residents of the changes and to urge them to reprogram their
telecommunications equipment and services -- including computer
modems, autodialers, speed dialing, call forwarding, voice dialing, and
security and medical alarms -- to reflect the new area code.

The demand for new telephone numbers is exploding as people are
communicating more than ever using additional phone lines, cellular
phones, pagers, computer modems and fax machines. In addition, since
Bell Atlantic has provided an open telephone market in New Jersey,
dozens of other communications companies offer local phone service, and
these competing companies need phone numbers for their customers.

Further information about the area code changes is available by calling
Bell Atlantic at 1-800-719-6200 or by visiting the Bell Atlantic Web site
at www.bellatlantic.com/areacode.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines
and more than 10 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 23 countries.

Local Exchange Codes Included In New 856 Area Code

205 210 216 218 222 223 224 225 227 228 231

232 233 234 235 237 240 241 244 245 246 248

249 250 251 253 255 256 262 270 271 273 274

276 277 284 289 293 299 302 303 307 309 310

312 317 318 321 322 323 325 327 328 331 337

338 339 342 346 349 350 351 354 355 356 357

358 359 363 365 367 374 377 379 384 385 401

414 415 416 422 423 424 427 428 429 433 435

437 438 439 445 446 447 451 453 454 455 456

459 461 464 467 468 470 473 474 475 477 478

479 481 482 483 486 488 489 507 508 515 521

531 532 533 535 536 537 539 540 541 542 543

544 545 546 547 549 552 563 564 565 566 568

573 574 580 582 589 590 591 593 595 596 598

600 608 613 614 616 619 622 623 627 629 630

632 635 642 644 649 650 651 657 661 662 663

665 667 668 669 672 674 675 678 681 686 690

691 692 694 696 697 701 715 718 719 721 722

727 728 733 736 738 740 741 742 746 751 752

753 754 755 756 757 761 762 764 765 767 768

769 770 772 773 776 778 779 782 783 784 785

786 787 788 793 794 795 796 797 798 802 809

810 813 821 824 825 829 830 831 833 837 840

842 843 845 848 851 853 854 855 857 858 863

864 866 869 873 874 875 878 879 881 885 891

899 901 904 905 906 910 914 916 917 931 933

935 938 939 940 946 956 957 961 960 962 963

964 966 968 969 974 975 979 983 985 986 988

994 995 996