Bell Atlantic Declares $.72 Quarterly Dividend

September 24, 1996

Bell Atlantic Declares $.72 Quarterly
Dividend

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- The board of directors of Bell
Atlantic Corporation
(NYSE: BEL) today declared a quarterly dividend of $.72 per share on
the company's outstanding common shares. The amount of the payment
is the same as in the previous quarter and 2.9 percent higher than in
the same quarter of 1995. Since the company was formed in 1984, Bell
Atlantic has paid 51 consecutive quarterly dividends, with 12
consecutive annual increases.

The dividend is payable on November 1, 1996, to shareowners of record
on October 10, 1996. Bell Atlantic has approximately 900,000
registered shareowners and approximately 438 million shares of common
stock outstanding.

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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Media contact:

David Stakun (215) 963-6639
david.j.stakun@bell-atl.com