NYNEX Brings Digital Network to Limestone, Machias

March 19, 1997

Contact: Cliff Lee 1-800-698-0198

NYNEX Brings Digital Network to Limestone, Machias

NYNEX will activate a state-of-the-art digital switching system today
(3/19) for Limestone customers in the 925 exchange. A similar system will
be activated on Wednesday, March 26 for NYNEX customers in the 353 Machias
exchange.

These new switches in NYNEX's Main Street, Limestone, and Main Street,
Machias central offices, which serve about 2,000 customer lines, will bring
a variety of new services for both residential and business customers in
the two communities. When combined with the regions nearly 100,000 miles
of optical fiber -- the pipeline for rapid, high-volume transmission of
voice, data and video messages -- the NYNEX digital switching systems will
provide Limestone and Machias customers with the most advanced telecommunications
network in the world.

"This effort is another example of NYNEXs commitment to its
customers in Cattaraugus County and throughout the region," said Joseph
DeMauro, NYNEX vice president and general manager for Western New York operations.
"The all-digital network soon to be serving Limestone and Machias also
reflects a commitment from the NYNEX employees in this region. NYNEX and
its employees will continue to upgrade services and enhance our more than
$1.4 billion investment in the region."

The digital switching centers will provide business and residential
customer lines with new features and services, including ISDN (Integrated
Services Digital Network), PhoneSmart and Digital Centrex. ISDN allows customers
to transmit and receive video, voice and data simultaneously over a single
telephone line at rates significantly faster than conventional computer
modems.

In addition, digital switching is the backbone for other NYNEX services,
such as telemedicine and distance learning.

Some new PhoneSmart features include:

• Caller ID - Displays the telephone number of the
  person calling you after the first ring. Customers must order the service
  from NYNEX and purchase devices separately to display numbers of incoming
  calls.
• Repeat Dialing - Automatically redials a busy number
  for up to 30 minutes.
• Call Return - Redials the number of the last caller.
• Call Trace - Sends the telephone number of the
  last caller to the NYNEX Annoyance Call Bureau.
• Ringmate Service - Allows two or three telephone
  numbers to be associated with one telephone line. Each number has a distinctive
  ring. The service is convenient for families with teenage children or people
  with home businesses.

NYNEX is a global communications and media corporation that provides
a full range of services in the Northeastern United States and high-growth
markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Gibraltar,
Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The corporation is a leader in telecommunications, wireless communications,
directory publishing and video entertainment and information services. NYNEX
is also managing sponsor of FLAG -- Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe --
the world's longest undersea fiber optic communications cable.