Bell Atlantic "Access New Jersey" High-Speed Network Ready to Handle Statewide Traffic

Bell Atlantic "Access New Jersey" High-Speed Network Ready to Handle Statewide Traffic

Discounted Service on One of the Fastest Networks of its Kind
Available to Schools and Public Libraries

Feb. 19, 1998

NEWARK, N.J. - Most of the world will have to wait a while for the
beginning of the 21st century. But the future already has arrived for
New Jersey's schools and public libraries.

Bell Atlantic's high-speed Access New Jersey^SM network is up and
running, with four asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switches that can
transmit voice, video and data at speeds in excess of 45 megabits per
second to schools and public libraries across the state.

"Access New Jersey is Bell Atlantic's program for building a network
that does more than meet the telecommunications needs of today's
schools and libraries," said Peter J. Ventimiglia, vice
president-external affairs of Bell Atlantic-New Jersey. "It far, far
exceeds them. It is truly the education network of the future."

Bell Atlantic's new broadband education network, one of the fastest of
its kind, is part of Bell Atlantic's Opportunity New Jersey (ONJ)
plan, a 17-year telecommunications network modernization program.

Under the original plan, Bell Atlantic pledged to deploy broadband
technology across the state by 2010. Access New Jersey is an update
of ONJ that will meet the changing needs of New Jersey's education
community.

Today, 12 years ahead of the original schedule, Bell Atlantic's Access
New Jersey is providing New Jersey schools and public libraries with
access to ATM, frame relay, switched multimegabit data service (SMDS)
and integrated services digital network (ISDN) high-speed transmission
services.

For all of its successes in hastening the improvement of New Jersey's
education network, Access New Jersey is more than just a construction
program. It also assists schools and public libraries in connecting
to the network.

Schools and public libraries that sign contracts with Bell Atlantic
for Access New Jersey services can take advantage of discounts ranging
from 31 percent to 72 percent. Similar discounts also are available
for access to the Internet.

Schools and libraries that already use certain Bell Atlantic's
high-speed services can receive discounts retroactive to Sept. 1,
1997.

In addition to discounting services, Bell Atlantic has established a
$25 million fund that helps schools and public libraries acquire the
equipment they need to connect to the Access New Jersey network.

Earlier this month, for example, the Manchester Township School
District became the first in the state to sign a contract for Access
New Jersey services.

Manchester Township had been using ISDN for Internet access. Through
Access New Jersey, however, Bell Atlantic was able to offer the
district a 31 percent discount on frame-relay service and $39,000 in
free equipment. As a result, Manchester Township schools soon will
be able to send and receive data more than 10 times faster than they
could with ISDN.

Opportunities like that are bound to create a stampede of takers, and
Bell Atlantic plans to be ready for them.

Later this year, Bell Atlantic expects to increase the number of ATM
switches at key hub locations to meet New Jersey's need for
high-speed, broadband services. These additional switches - along
with new technology that will expand the capacity of each switch -
will help Bell Atlantic to better serve the state's urban school
districts.

By 2001, when the $55 million ATM network is completed, a minimum of
10 hubs will serve customers across the state. The planned regional
hubs will be located in Camden, Freehold, Hamilton Township, Jersey
City, Newark, New Brunswick, Pleasantville, Rochelle Park, South River
and Trenton. Other hubs may be added if needed.

Schools and public libraries interested in finding out more about
Access New Jersey may visit www.bellatlantic.com/ba-nj on the
Internet or call 1-800-727-0714.

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.