Bell Atlantic Funds NAACP Effort To Share African American History on Web Site

Bell Atlantic Funds NAACP Effort To Share African American History on Web Site

April 22, 1997

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Bell Atlantic today presented a $100,000 check to

the NAACP to fund the civil rights organization's plan to place

thousands of historically significant documents and photographs about

African American history on the NAACP Internet World Wide Web site.

Millions of Internet users will have access to what will be one of

the most comprehensive sources of information on African American

history. Within minutes, historians, students and others seeking data

will be able to obtain information--some of which dates as far back as

1909--that would currently take weeks or months to gather.

"The thread that has linked us [African Americans] to our history has

been active, innovative communication," said Edward D. Young, III,

vice president - External Affairs and associate general counsel for

Bell Atlantic. "It is fitting therefore that the NAACP is using the

Internet to continue what is a long-standing tradition. By digitizing

its most important documents and making them available on-line, the

NAACP is ensuring that my generation, my children's generation and all

generations that follow will have access to these important milestones

in the history of our people," Young said.

Bell Atlantic's contribution represents a new chapter in its alliance

with the NAACP. The company donated $50,000 to plan, design and

develop the NAACP web site last July, and in February Bell Atlantic

donated $15,000 to cover the cost of having the site maintained for

one year.

Kestrel Associates, Inc., a minority-owned firm, will scan and

digitize the documents for the NAACP. Once the documents are on

computer disks they will be placed on the NAACP's web page. Browsers

will then go to a site entitled "Historical Documents," and choose an

appropriate category for the information they desire.

"This new partnership effort will allow a worldwide audience to get a

close look at interesting African American and civil rights

documents," said NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume. "We applaud

Bell Atlantic for helping us move this project ahead."

Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new

communications, entertainment and information industry. In the

mid-Atlantic region, the company's telephone company subsidiaries are

the premier providers 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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