Bell Atlantic Receives Award Of Excellence For Its Commitment To Education In Maryland

Bell Atlantic Receives Award Of Excellence For Its Commitment To
Education In Maryland

Baltimore-Washington Corridor Chamber of Commerce and
Chamber Foundation Honor Local Phone Company

February 7, 1997

BALTIMORE -- Bell Atlantic is the 1997 recipient of
the
Baltimore-Washington Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Foundation Award
of Excellence for Achievement in Education. The award will be
presented by the chamber Saturday, Feb. 8, during an awards dinner at
the BWI Marriott Hotel.

The chamber's award will recognize Bell Atlantic's corporate
commitment to programs benefiting Maryland students at all levels -
including adult education - as well as the company's leading-edge
technology in the classroom.

"This is a great honor for Bell Atlantic that reinforces our
commitment to make a contribution to the communities we serve," said
Daniel J.
Whelan, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic - Maryland.
"Through our efforts in education, we have seen what can be achieved
when business and government work together to prepare our children for
the 21st century. Our Logan Online project, for example, shows us
everyday that telecommunications can make a significant impact on
educational performance."

In 1996, Bell Atlantic began a unique and far-reaching educational
project in Baltimore County called Logan
Online. The company is the
lead corporate partner in the project, which has equipped Logan
Elementary School and the homes of third graders with personal
computers, ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network)
telecommunications service, electronic mail and Internet capabilities.
Bell Atlantic's investment in this project is a showcase of the
learning environment of the 21st century, and will help schools across
the state learn how to incorporate technology in the classroom.

Bell Atlantic also has created a distance learning network for the
state's school systems. Using distance learning, a teacher in one
location can teach students in multiple classrooms over an interactive
voice and video connection. Bell Atlantic has pledged $13.5 million
to provide distance learning equipment to every public high school,
college and university across the state that wishes to participate in
the Maryland distance learning network.

In addition, Bell Atlantic supported the Governor's Net Weekend
project in September by making a corporate contribution and by
enlisting the help of more than 250 employees and family members. The
volunteers helped install wiring to provide Internet access in schools
throughout the state.

Bell Atlantic employees are an important part of the company's
educational support. The Telephone Pioneers, an organization of
employees and retirees, have donated more than 53,000 books to Maryland
elementary school students through a program called "Book
'Em." The
Pioneers also paint 20-by-30-foot maps of the United States on school
playgrounds to make geography fun for students and teachers, and
conduct fund-raisers for scholarships for students with disabilities.

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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