Bell Atlantic Public Communications Salutes Dorchester County Sheriff

Bell Atlantic Public Communications
Salutes Dorchester County Sheriff

Sheriff McKelvey Becomes National Sheriffs' Association
President

June 29, 1999

BALTIMORE -- Bell Atlantic Public Communications, payphone service
provider to corrections facilities and jails throughout Maryland, will honor
Dorchester County Sheriff Phillip H. McKelvey at a reception Tuesday,
June 29, in recognition of his installation as president of the National
Sheriffs' Association.

McKelvey assumed the presidency of the association at its annual meeting
this week in Columbus, Ohio.

Bell Atlantic is hosting a reception for Maryland delegates to the
association meeting, along with McKelvey's family, friends and associates
at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus.

"We want to share the pride of the Maryland law enforcement
community for Sheriff McKelvey's achievement," said Lorraine E.
Chickering, president of Bell Atlantic Public Communications. "His
presidency is a positive reflection on the entire Maryland law enforcement
community and should be a source of pride for all residents of the
state."

Bell Atlantic's inmate phone service is the primary communication
medium for those who are incarcerated in most Maryland corrections
facilities and jails. The company has been successful, working with
corrections professionals, in developing processes for reducing costly
fraud at jail and prison payphones. Bell Atlantic has also developed
innovative security and intelligence processes for thwarting gang
communications that can be troublesome to jailers and the community.

"As we provide a communications resource to both inmates and
corrections facilities, we've been sensitive to the special needs that arise in
the corrections environment," Chickering said. "By working
with our customers, we've made breakthroughs in helping them with the
difficult job of administering the jails and prisons in a way that facilitates
inmate communications, but controls inappropriate use of
payphones."

At the reception, McKelvey is expected to be honored by his peers and
Maryland state leadership.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With 43 million telephone access lines and nine
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.