Bell Atlantic Storm Efforts Underway

Bell Atlantic Storm Efforts Underway

Company Technicians Ready to Tackle Potential Storm Damage;
Network Experiences Heavy Calling Loads

February 25, 1999

BOSTON -- Bell Atlantic has mobilized operations teams and is checking
backup power systems to deal with any problems related to the winter
storm hitting much of southern New England.

"While we still don't know the full impact of the snow and high winds that
continues to hit us, we're ready to deal with whatever Mother Nature
throws at us," said Virginia Ruesterholz, Bell Atlantic group vice
president-network. "And as usual, all of the emergency power generators
in our call-switching centers are ready in the event we lose electrical
power. When we lose commercial power, we're still able to provide dial
tone to our customers."

The company is prepared to move additional crews into any area hit hard
by the storm.

In addition, the Bell Atlantic network that serves nearly 50 million
customers from West Virginia to Maine continues to handle exceptionally
heavy calling loads as home-bound students and telecommuters add to the
normally heavy network volumes on a business day.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 42 million telephone access lines
and more than eight 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.