Bell Atlantic Mobile CEO Receives Outstanding Leadership Award

Bell Atlantic Mobile CEO Receives Outstanding Leadership Award

Dennis Strigl Honored for Commitment to Advancing
Wireless Technology

June 3, 1998

BEDMINSTER, NJ -- Bell Atlantic Mobile President and CEO Dennis F.
Strigl will receive the Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership
tonight at the fourth annual Cellular Telephone Industry Association
(CTIA) Foundation Achievement Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C.

One of the most prominent architects of the industry, Strigl is being
honored for his commitment to growing the industry, encouraging
competition and using wireless technology to help local communities.

Strigl has been involved in the industry from its inception, helping to launch
the nation's first cellular telephone network and managing two of the
largest cellular mergers in the industry. Today he leads one of the world's
preeminent wireless portfolios, with domestic operations in 19 states and
international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

He served as Chairman of the CTIA Board of Directors from 1996-1997,
at a time when the wireless industry was undergoing dramatic changes.
Under his leadership, the industry began to implement the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 and furthered its commitment to
competition, innovation, and safety.

Strigl's commitment to a better America, through his company and the
CTIA Foundation, is significant. At Bell Atlantic Mobile he initiated the
"Wireless at Work '85" philanthropic program, using the company's
wireless technology to help individuals and communities in
need improve security and emergency communications.

A focus of this program is domestic violence awareness and prevention.
The company's HopeLine® , a free voice mail service, has provided
thousands of homeless individuals and victims of domestic violence
residing in shelters with a link to the outside world and a building block to
a productive future. Last year, Strigl was invited to play a prominent role
at a White House event recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month
and encouraging other corporations to take action.

"The wireless industry is more exciting and rewarding now than ever
before," said Strigl. "Not only are we putting the convenience of wireless
communications in the hands of more and more people every day, but the
industry is also using its collective strength to donate wireless products and
services where they are needed most. Recognition by the industry and my
peers for promoting these parallel initiatives is gratifying."

Strigl is one of two individuals being honored this year by the CTIA. The
Achievement Award for Outstanding Leadership also will be presented to
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Newt Gingrich for his
contributions to the CTIA Foundation's ClassLink program for schools and
strong support of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Anti-Cloning
Bill, and the Privacy Bill. In addition, the CTIA will present its VITA
Wireless Samaritan Awards tonight to 51 individuals throughout the
nation, including four Bell Atlantic Mobile customers, who used their cellular
phones to save lives, stop crimes, and speed help in emergencies.

CTIA is the international association for the wireless industry. The CTIA
Foundation is dedicated to spreading wireless technology where it is
needed most and its Achievement Awards honor individuals who have
helped America benefit from the wireless revolution.

Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the
East, covering 112,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets
devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in
Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 5.5 million customers and 7,000
employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the
southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work '85" community relations program,
the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve
security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile's parent is one
of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic
operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and
the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit:
www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.