BELL ATLANTIC CUSTOMERS TO GET DISCOUNTS FROM LOCAL MERCHANTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC CUSTOMERS TO GET DISCOUNTS FROM LOCAL
MERCHANTS

They'll Benefit from "Local Values" Savings
on Products, Services

Baltimore, MD -- Now Bell Atlantic residential customers in
Maryland
can get discounts on products and services from local businesses as
part of a new program called "Local Values."

Bell Atlantic is mailing Local Values cards and savings booklets to
high-usage residential customers. The savings booklets contain offers
that are good for discounts from shops, restaurants and merchants in
their communities.

"By using the Local Values card, customers will realize instant
savings, and there are no coupons to clip," said Dan Whelan,
president
and CEO of Bell Atlantic - Maryland. "Through the Local Values
program, Bell Atlantic is saying thanks to our customers for their
business. Participating merchants also benefit from increased customer
traffic."

"With growing competition in our business, we want our customers to
think of Bell Atlantic as their number-one choice for communications
services. Local Values is an example of how we're letting our
customers know we appreciate them," said Whelan.

"We will continue to develop ways to reinforce the value Bell
Atlantic
brings to residential customers," he said. "We want to
demonstrate
how much our customers mean to us and how much more we can do for
them."

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