BELL ATLANTIC BUSINESS CUSTOMERS TO SAVE ON TOLL CALLS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
TO SAVE ON TOLL
CALLS

Baltimore, MD -- Businesses that make regional Bell
Atlantic-carried
toll calls within the state of Maryland will be able to determine the
cost of their calls more easily and, in most cases, will see their
dollars go further thanks to a new simple pricing structure offered by
Bell Atlantic.

On Feb. 1, the company introduced a flat-rate pricing of nine cents
per minute for calls made within four regional calling areas --
Hagerstown, Baltimore, Salisbury and the Maryland suburbs of
Washington, D.C.

The Hagerstown and Salisbury areas cover the far-western and
far-eastern parts of Maryland respectively. The central part of the
state is split in two, with a boundary that runs north to south
dividing the two remaining areas. The Baltimore area is to the east of
the boundary and the Maryland suburban area is to the west.

As long as calls are made within these regions, business callers no
longer need to be concerned about different rates for distance,
time-of-day and weekend calling.

For example, under the old rate structure, an in-region, three-minute
call made during the day to someone 30 miles away cost 51 cents. With
the new pricing, the call costs 27 cents. A similar call made to
someone over 71 miles away cost 69 cents with the old rate, but 27
cents with the new plan--a 61 percent saving.

"Customers have told us they want easy-to-understand rates, and
these
new toll rates demonstrate we are listening," said Bell Atlantic -
Maryland President and CEO Dan Whelan. "The new rate structure will
make it much easier for businesses to calculate costs for in-region
calling, and it will make their expenditures more predictable and less
variable," he said.

Bell Atlantic - Maryland is introducing the new pricing structure as
part of a "revenue neutral" rate plan. The new toll rates will
be
offset by minor price increases for some specialized Bell Atlantic
services such as private lines and directory assistance.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

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for more information, contact:

Michel L. Daley, 202-392-1021
michel.l.daley@bell-atl.com