Providence Performing Arts Center Selected for Cover Illustration of Yellow and White Pages

Providence Performing Arts Center Selected for Cover
Illustration of Yellow and White Pages

Directories Feature E-mail, Web Site Listings for First Time

July 16, 1998

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Bell Atlantic today announced that it has selected
the Providence Performing Arts Center for the cover illustration of its
1998-1999 Providence Yellow and White Pages. At a presentation held at
the Center, Mary Jo Howe, vice president of marketing and customer
relations for Bell Atlantic Directory Services, unveiled the cover illustration
of the directories, which appears on nearly 800,000 directories distributed
in the Providence area.

In addition to the new cover, the Yellow Pages also contain new Internet-
related features. For the first time in the Providence region, Yellow Pages
listings feature an optional extra line for E-mail and Web site addresses in
response to the growing use of the Internet. Industry analysts report that
50 percent of all U.S. companies have Web sites.

"Our Bell Atlantic directories for the Providence area provide our
customers and advertisers with local information and services that allow for
global access, such as the Internet,"said Howe.

Covers of the new directory were presented to Providence Mayor Vincent
Cianci and Joseph W. Walsh, chairman of the board of trustees for the
Providence Performing Arts Center.

"Nothing better depicts our city's reverence for history and the arts than
the Providence Performing Arts Center, one of our capital city's treasures,"
said Mayor Cianci. "Its restoration and expansion have earned PPAC the
appreciation of its audiences and accolades from the theatre industry. I
thank Bell Atlantic for supporting Providence's celebration of the arts with
this fine illustration."

In 1928, the Performing Arts Center opened as a movie palace true to the
grand style of the era. The 3,200-seat theater has since undergone
extensive renovations, including a multi-million dollar stagehouse
expansion. Although the Providence Performing Arts Center now features
a variety of Broadway shows, it still houses a restored movie screen,
continuing its early tradition of cinema.

"We are delighted that Bell Atlantic has selected the Performing Arts
Center for the cover of the Providence Yellow and White Pages,"said
Singleton. "The renovation of the Center has made this a very exciting
year, and we appreciate Bell Atlantic's continuing support and celebration
of our success."

The directory cover illustrator is artist Mary Lynn Blasutta, of New Paltz,
N.Y. Her illustrations are featured on Bell Atlantic's 500 directories in 13
states and Washington, D.C.

Bell Atlantic is the world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping
directories. Its affiliate, Bell Atlantic Electronic Commerce Services, is the
creator of BigYellow^SM, a leading national online shopping service.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and 6.7 million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier providers
of advanced wireline voice and data services, and market leaders in wireless
services. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's largest
investors in high-growth global communications markets, with operations
and investments in 23 countries.