Bell Atlantic Connects Sussex County Communites to the Information Superhighway

Bell Atlantic Connects Sussex County Communites to the
Information Superhighway

October 16, 1996

GEORGETOWN, Del. -- Bell Atlantic customers in
Millsboro, Milton and
Gumboro soon will be able to use advanced telephone services such as
ISDN (Integrated Services
Digital Network), which provides high-speed
access to the information superhighway, thanks to new digital
telephone switching equipment being installed by the company at a cost
of $2 million.

Bell Atlantic-Delaware President and CEO Joshua W. Martin III said
new
digital telephone switches in the Sussex County communities are part
of Bell Atlantic's commitment to Delaware under the
Telecommunications Technology Investment Act (TTIA). "Bell Atlantic
is bringing the latest technology to communities from Claymont to
Gumboro," Martin said. "We are modernizing our telephone
network
throughout Delaware to meet increasing consumer demand for new
products and services such as ISDN and to satisfy our business
customers' needs for a wide range of high-tech services.

"Through a digitally switched, fiber optic network, everyone can
have
two-way access to voice, video and graphics, which makes communicating
and sharing information easier and faster. This capability will
stimulate job and income growth, making Delaware a more attractive
location for corporations and individuals," Martin said.
"Because of
the TTIA, Bell Atlantic has incentives to aggressively invest in our
network, thus assuring Delaware will be leader in the information
society of the 21st century."

Customers served by the following exchanges will benefit from the new
technology: 934, 684, and 238.

The new phone equipment in Millsboro, Milton and Gumboro also is
designed to allow for future growth in customer demand for services and
phone lines. Installation of the new digital switches is expected to
be completed by Oct. 20.

Bell Atlantic has accelerated its investment in Delaware's
telecommunications network under the TTIA. The company has exceeded
expectations by investing more than $170 million in digital switches,
fiber optic cable and advanced signaling systems in the last
two-and-a-half years, nearly 70 percent of Bell Atlantic's five-year
TTIA commitment.

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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