NYNEX Merger With Bell Atlantic Approved by Vermont Public NYNEX Merger With Bell Atlantic Approved by Vermont Public

February 27, 1997

CONTACT: Contact: Susan Kraus 212-395-0500 or Joan Jamieson 802-863-0797

NYNEX Merger With Bell Atlantic Approved by Vermont Public Service Board

Montpelier, VT, Feb. 27, 1997 -- The

Vermont Public Service Board has approved the merger of

NYNEX and Bell Atlantic.

Of the seven states served by NYNEX,

only the New York Public Service Commission is still

conducting its review. All the other states in the region

either have approved the merger or have not sought

jurisdiction over it.

Ivan Seidenberg, NYNEX chairman and CEO,

said, "I am pleased that Vermont regulators have recognized

the substantial benefits of this merger, and I look forward

to approval shortly by the commission in New York and a

closing of this merger in the first quarter. Whether you are

in the heart of Manhattan or in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom,

the new Bell Atlantic will assure that every customer can

take full advantage of an information-based

economy."

Wayne Budd, NYNEX senior vice president

for New England, said, "As the new Bell Atlantic we will

continue our unwavering commitment to Vermont and Vermonters

in building an advanced network, maintaining jobs in the

state, and providing excellent customer service and strong

community involvement."

The proposed merger was announced on

April 22, 1996. Shareowners of both companies overwhelmingly

approved the merger at special meetings in early November.

The new Bell Atlantic will serve more than 39 million

telephone access lines and more than 4.5 million cellular

customers in 13 states and around the world.

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, wirefree communications, directory

publishing and video entertainment and information services.

NYNEX is also managing sponsor of FLAG -- Fiberoptic Link

Around the Globe -- the worlds longest undersea fiber optic

communications cable.

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