Bell Atlantic, Hyperion Agree To Connect Networks In Three States

Bell Atlantic, Hyperion Agree To Connect Networks In Three States

January 29, 1997

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Bell Atlantic and affiliates of
Hyperion
Telecommunications announced today they will connect their networks in
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

This brings to 25 the total number of interconnection agreements
entered into by Bell Atlantic under the terms of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996. The agreements, which are with eight
major carriers, cover five states and the District of Columbia.
Fifteen of these agreements have been signed since the 8th Circuit
Court of Appeals stayed portions of the Federal Communications
Commission order implementing the act.

"There should be no question that we are absolutely committed to
opening our markets to competition," said Pat Hanley,
president of
Bell Atlantic Carrier
Services. "These agreements, along with
the many others we've signed, demonstrate our resolve to meet the spirit
and intent of the Telecommunications Act."

According to Dan Millard, president of Hyperion Telecommunications,
"This is a continuation of our commitment to our investors and to
our
partners to expand our business to include a full range of local
telecommunications services. More importantly, it is a continuation
of our commitment to our customers to provide choice, superior
products, superior service and lower prices."

The three agreements announced today are between: Bell Atlantic -
New Jersey and New Jersey Fiber Technologies; Bell Atlantic -
Pennsylvania and Hyperion Telecommunications of Harrisburg and
PECO-Hyperion Telecommunications; Bell Atlantic - Virginia and
Hyperion Telecommunications of Virginia.

Under the terms of the agreements, which are effective immediately,
Hyperion and its affiliates will be able to interconnect their
facilities with portions of Bell Atlantic's network to provide local
exchange telephone services in competition with Bell Atlantic. The
agreements cover such details as how the companies will physically
connect their networks and the price they will pay for completion of
calls on the other's network. In addition, the agreements outline
what the companies must do to allow customers to take their telephone
number with them as they switch phone companies.

Under the terms of the new law, Bell Atlantic cannot enter the long
distance business until it meets a 14-point checklist. Hanley said he
is confident the company has met the requirements of this checklist
enabling the company to apply to enter the long distance business
within the next several months.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (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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