Bell Atlantic Sets 1997 Annual Meeting

February 7, 1997

PHILADELPHIA -- Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL)
announced today that
the 1997 annual meeting of shareowners will be held at 2 p.m. on May
2, at The Playhouse Theatre in the DuPont Building, 10th and Market
Streets, Wilmington, Del.

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.