Bell Atlantic Helps News Media, Voters Track New Hampshire's First-In-Nation Presidential Primary

MANCHESTER, N.H -- As New Hampshire voters go to the polls tomorrow in the nation's first presidential primary, citizens around the country will be hearing early results fast, thanks in part to the Bell Atlantic network and speedy work by company technicians.

With the national and international news media - along with the candidates' organizations - descending on the Granite State for the primary, Bell Atlantic technicians have been hard at work ensuring that the various organizations have the telecommunications links they need when they need them.

Bell Atlantic has installed about 3,600 special telephone lines and nearly 100 video circuits for news media organizations and the candidates vying for their party's nomination. The demand for lines has increased substantially since the last primary in 1996 when Bell Atlantic installed about 2,400 phone lines and 60 video circuits. Much of the work this year was accomplished under short deadlines as those organizations prepared for the primary.

"Our entire team here has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we've met every commitment for a news media outlet or candidate," said Mike Hickey, Bell Atlantic-New Hampshire president. "We created a special task force that has been meeting on a semi-monthly basis for some time. We are ready."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry. With nearly 44 million telephone access lines and 12 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.