NYNEX Seeks New York PSC's Aid in Reaching Interconnection Agreement with AT&T

February 14, 1997

CONTACT:Bob Varettoni 212-395-0500

NYNEX Seeks New York PSC's Aid in Reaching Interconnection Agreement with AT&T

New York, New York -- NYNEX today

appealed to the New York Public Service Commission for

further assistance in its year-long effort to reach an

interconnection agreement with AT&T.

The company said in the letter it was

"deeply concerned" that -- given the current state of

negotiations -- an agreement was unlikely anytime soon

unless the PSC stepped in and helped resolve issues the

companies have been unable to resolve

themselves.

Talks aimed at reaching an

interconnection agreement with AT&T began in March of

last year and continued after the parties filed for

arbitration in August. Even though the PSC issued an order

in late November resolving outstanding issues, the companies

have not been able to agree on contract language for all of

those issues, and AT&T has raised others that were not

part of the arbitration proceeding.

"If AT&T truly wished to enter the

local market in New York, it would join the company in

accepting the pending proposal and get on with providing

consumers another choice for local service," said Jack

Goldberg, NYNEX vice president - Wholesale Markets.

"Instead, AT&T is trying to use the lack of an

interconnection agreement as a means of trying to keep NYNEX

out of the long distance market in New York."

In the letter, the company proposes

specific action steps that could break the deadlock between

the parties and result in a final agreement within 60 days.

The company said it has sent a separate letter to AT&T

inviting the long distance carrier to join in its request

for PSC intervention.

The Telecommunications Act requires

NYNEX and the other regional Bell companies to satisfy a

14-point checklist before they are allowed to provide long

distance service in their local markets. Allowing new

entrants to compete in their home regions through

interconnection agreements is an important element of the

checklist.

NYNEX and the PSC have led the industry

in creating an environment in New York State that is fully

open to competition. For example, NYNEX was the first

regional Bell company to negotiate interconnection

agreements, provide competitors unbundled access to its

network and allow rivals to "collocate" their phone wires in

its telephone buildings.

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.

NYNEX news releases are now available on

the Internet at http://www.. You can also receive

fax copies of recent NYNEX news releases, free of charge, 24

hours a day. Call 1-800-331-1214. An automated system will

provide you with instructions.