BELL ATLANTIC NAMES OLIVE BELL TO NEW EXECUTIVE POSITION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC NAMES OLIVE BELL
TO NEW EXECUTIVE
POSITION

Pittsburgh, PA -- Bell Atlantic has appointed Olive Bell to the
new
position of vice president and general manager in the Pittsburgh
metropolitan area.

In her new role, Bell will head installation and repair operations,
while assuming a broadened role in community affairs, including local
government and service organizations.

In making the announcement, Bell Atlantic Network Operations Vice
President Regina Novotny said, "Pittsburgh is one of the most
important marketplaces we serve. With her proven leadership skills
and interest in the community, Ollie is a logical candidate for this
important new position."

A native of Homestead, Pa., Bell joined the telephone company in 1960
and progressed through a series of positions in customer services,
engineering and network operations. In 1987 she was named director of
outside facilities engineering, followed by director positions in
interexchange carrier services, training and business service centers.
In 1993 she was named general manager in Pittsburgh.

Bell attended Carlow College in Pittsburgh. She is a member of the
board of directors of the Western Pennsylvania Development Credit
Corp. and the Pittsburgh Dance Council. She serves on the Boro of
Whitaker council and chairs the Finance Committee. She was boro
representative for the Steel Valley Council of Governments.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (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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for more information, contact:

Shirley Risoldi, 412-633-5574
shirley.a.risoldi@bell-atl.com