Hawaii Approves Bell Atlantic - GTE Merger

Hawaii Approves Bell Atlantic - GTE Merger

November 18, 1999

HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
yesterday approved the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE.

"We are pleased that the Hawaii PUC has recognized the benefits
this merger will bring to our state," said Warren Haruki, president of
GTE Hawaiian Tel. "Hawaii will be the merged company's gateway
to the Asia Pacific market."

This latest approval leaves only four states reviewing the merger, along
with the Federal Communications Commission. The U.S. Department of
Justice has given its clearance, as have shareholders of the two companies.
The merger also has received endorsements from the AFL-CIO, the
Communications Workers of America, the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, the League of United Latin American Citizens,
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Organization of Chinese-Americans, and
many business and community leaders from areas served by Bell Atlantic
and GTE.

The four remaining states are California, Ohio, Virginia and Washington.
More information is available at Bell Atlantic's News Center on the World
Wide Web (http://www.ba.com) or at GTE's homepage
(http://www.gte.com).