Bell Atlantic Awards Relay, Md., Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Bell Atlantic Awards Relay, Md., Resident With Company's Highest Honor

Joseph Long Recognized for Outstanding Community to
Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore County

March 30, 1998

NEW YORK -- Joseph Long, of Relay, Md., has been awarded the
company's highest employee honor, the Leaders in Excellence Award.

Long, Bell Atlantic project manager - Telecom Industry Services,
earned the award for his significant contributions to projects that
have improved the quality of education at Eastern Technical High
School in Essex, Md., by utilizing Bell Atlantic's technology and
expertise.

The Bell Atlantic Leaders in Excellence Award will be presented each
year to individual employees and employee teams who have demonstrated
a devotion to quality, along with a commitment to customers or an
outstanding dedication to community service.

Long is one of seven individuals and 18 employee teams who will be
honored tomorrow at area celebrations hosted by Bell Atlantic's senior
executives. Honorees were selected from more than 2,000 nominees.

"Congratulations to our champions, who have set a new benchmark
against which future accomplishments will be measured," said Bell
Atlantic Vice Chairman Ivan Seidenberg. "Their best-in-class
performance and dedication to excellence is a model for us all."

In 1997, Long managed the design and completion of a multi-media
showcase and presentation room and the expansion of a distance
learning facility for the school. He also worked with teachers to
develop and launch two new education modules, one on communication and
presentation skills, and the other on telecommunications. In addition,
Long mentored students who developed a virtual reality video of the
distance learning and multi-media facilities.

As a result of these and other accomplishments, Long has received
awards from the Maryland Department of Education, Baltimore County
Public Schools, and the National Association of State Directors for
Vocational Education.

Note to Editors: Photographs are available upon request.

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.