Bell Atlantic Volunteers Join the State of Maryland to Wire Schools for Access to the Internet

September 27, 1996

Bell Atlantic Volunteers Join the State of Maryland to
Wire Schools for Access to the Internet

Company Donates Over $76,000 To Get Students On
The Information Superhighway

BALTIMORE, Md. - Over 150 Bell Atlantic volunteers will
set out this
weekend to wire schools throughout Maryland so students can cruise the
information superhighway.

During Maryland's Net Weekend, which runs September 27-29, Bell
Atlantic employees and retirees, along with hundreds of other
volunteers, will donate their time and talents to install computer
wiring networks inside over 500 public, private and alternative K-12
schools. These networks will connect the schools to the Internet.

"Net Weekend is a natural extension of Bell Atlantic's long-standing
commitment to improve the quality of education throughout our
region,"
said Daniel J.
Whelan, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic - Maryland.
"Once connected to the Internet , Maryland students will have a vast
new resource at their fingertips, which will broaden their horizons
and make learning as creative and fun as a child's imagination."

In addition to organizing employee volunteers, Bell Atlantic -
Maryland has contributed over $76,000 in cash and in-kind services to
help cover expenses for the event.

Bell Atlantic also will offer Internet access to schools in the
Baltimore/Washington area free of charge for the first 30 days. Then
service will be discounted at $16.95 per month for unlimited usage.
As part of the package, Bell Atlantic will provide electronic mail, a
customized Netscape Navigator and prepackaged links to the best sites
on the World Wide Web. Any school interested in the service can call
1-800-NET-5235 for more information.

Bell Atlantic installers and wire systems engineers also will be on
hand at area schools to assist in the wiring process.

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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Media contact:

Sandra Arnette, (410) 393-7109
sandra.u.arnette@bell-atl.com