Bell Atlantic Leader Awarded Top Engineering Honor

Bell Atlantic Leader Awarded Top Engineering Honor

Babbio Recognized as Innovative Trailblazer in Science and Business

April 17, 1998

HOBOKEN, N.J. - The executive overseeing the construction of Bell
Atlantic's massive voice, video and data networks, as well as the
growth of its worldwide wireless business, will be honored tomorrow by
one of the nation's most prestigious engineering schools.

Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. will receive the Renaissance Engineering and
Science Award from Stevens Institute of Technology during a gala at
the Grand Summit Hotel in Summit. Babbio is president and CEO of Bell
Atlantic's Network Group and also serves as chairman of the
corporation's Global Wireless Group.

The award recognizes leaders whose work has sparked innovations
critical to the best engineering and technology available today. In
many cases, winners have not pursued traditional careers, but have
used their engineering and science education to better serve society.

"This honor captures the essence of Larry's life and career," said
Raymond W. Smith, chairman and CEO, Bell Atlantic. "Our customers and
our company will benefit from Larry's innovation for decades to come
-- from his leadership of the explosive growth of Bell Atlantic
Mobile, from his groundbreaking efforts to bring wireless services to
millions across Latin America and Europe, and from his role as chief
architect of our networks of the future. In science and in business,
Larry truly is a renaissance man."

Babbio graduated from Stevens with a B.E. in Electrical Engineering in
1966, and also holds an M.B.A. degree from New York University. A
native of Jersey City, N.J., he began his communications career with
New Jersey Bell Telephone in 1966. During his 32-year tenure, Babbio
has served as vice chairman of Bell Atlantic, executive vice president
and chairman/COO, vice president and CEO of Bell Atlantic Enterprises
International, and president and CEO of Bell Atlantic Mobile.

"Larry's outstanding record of achievement in technical and leadership
positions, along with his international stature, are a source of great
pride to the Stevens community," said Harold J. Raveche, president,
Stevens Institute of Technology. "We are honored that he is an alumnus
and especially for the time that he chairs our board of trustees."

In addition to his service to Stevens, Babbio is a member of the board
of directors of Compaq Computer Corp. He lives in Great Falls, Va.

Established in 1870, Stevens offers baccalaureate, master and doctoral
degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management as
well as a baccalaureate in the humanities and liberal arts. The
university has a total enrollment of more than 1,400 undergraduates
and 2,000 graduate students.

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six 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 21 countries.