Bell Atlantic-New Jersey SoundMinutes Customers To Enjoy Free Weekend REgional Toll Calls

Bell Atlantic-New Jersey SoundMinutes Customers To Enjoy Free Weekend
Regional Toll Calls

May 2, 1997

NEWARK, NJ - Sundays are on us. That's right, free.
And soon,
Saturdays will be too. Starting on June 1, New Jersey Bell Atlantic
SoundMinutes subscribers can make free, unlimited regional toll calls
on Saturdays and Sundays through the end of December, 1997.

Beginning on May 5, New Jersey residents will have the option of
designating (or "presubscribing") their regional toll service
provider. Regional toll calls are calls outside a customer's local
calling area, but generally are within a few dozen miles from the
customer's home. Examples of regional toll calls are those from
Wildwood to Atlantic City, Toms River to Freehold, Morristown to
Newark and Princeton to Trenton. New Jersey has three regional toll
regions.

"Bell Atlantic recognizes that customers have various lifestyles and
their calling patterns and budgets are very different," said Len
Lauer, president and CEO of Bell
Atlantic-New Jersey. "That's why we
offer a choice of plans and our knowledgeable consultants can help
customers select the best plan for them."

SoundMinutes^SM

Consumers who make fewer regional toll calls may find that
SoundMinutes is right for them. SoundMinutes is a flat per-minute
rate calling plan that allows residential customers to make regional
toll calls for 10 cents per minute evenings (5 p.m. - 8 a.m.) and
weekends and 12 cents per minute weekdays (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Sundays
are currently offered free. Free Saturdays and Sundays will be part
of the plan from June 1 through December 28. Additionally,
SoundMinutes customers automatically save 20 percent when their
monthly regional toll bill totals $20 or more through their automatic
enrollment in Bell Atlantic's 20/20 Savings Plan.

SoundDialing^SM

For residential customers who make a high volume of regional toll
calls, SoundDialing is a convenient, flat per month rate choice which
allows a customer to make all their regional toll calls for a flat
monthly fee. The monthly SoundDialing rate will be set for each
customer based on that customer's prior regional toll usage. Basic
price tiers are $10, $15, $20 and $27.50. Rates for higher volume
regional toll customers will be individually determined. Monthly
prices are guaranteed as long as the customer does not exceed an
average of $500 in monthly regional toll calling. SoundDialing is
presently offered in New Jersey as a promotional plan until October
20, 1997.

"Our regional toll calling plans offer New Jersey residents a range
of
choices to satisfy their calling and budget needs. Also, with our
long-standing, working knowledge of the New Jersey marketplace, we
have a distinct advantage over our competitors to offer even more
lifestyle-oriented choices in the future," added Lauer.

Residential customers can find out more information about SoundMinutes
or SoundDialing by calling Bell Atlantic at
1-888-FLAT-TOLL
(1-888-352-8865). There is no enrollment fee for either
plan.

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.