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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC FILES ANNUAL ACCESS RATES;
AVERAGE SWITCHED ACCESS RATE REDUCED

Arlington, VA -- Long distance companies will continue
to benefit from
some of the lowest rates in the country when they obtain switched
access services from Bell Atlantic, based on tariff changes the
company filed today with the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

Bell Atlantic's filing, which is $23 million below the cap authorized
under the FCC's price cap regulation of interstate rates, maintains Bell
Atlantic's position as a low-priced leader for switched access services.
In fact, Bell Atlantic's average interstate switched access rate will
decline from 2.07 cents to 2.05 cents per minute.

Rate adjustments, proposed in the 1996 annual price cap filing will
result in a projected net increase to revenues of only six-tenths of
one percent ($18 million). This slight increase in revenues follows a
decrease of over $300 million in the 1995 annual access filing. The
proposed rates are scheduled to become effective July 1,1996.

The increase in the price cap indices was due to the expiration of
one-time adjustments that had reduced rates the previous year,
corrections of previous Commission decisions, and increases in support
payments to the National Exchange Carrier Association (NECA). The
on-going price cap productivity adjustment continued to exert downward
pressure on Bell Atlantic's rates. The 1996 annual price cap filing
will reduce rates in inflation-adjusted terms by 1.9 percent. Bell
Atlantic has reduced its inflation-adjusted rates every year since the
adoption of price cap regulation.

"Today's filing includes rate adjustments that will strengthen our
competitive position in the market place, provide incentives to
maintain long-term relationships with us and maximize network
efficiencies" said Pat Hanley, president of Bell
Atlantic Carrier
Services. "Our goal is to stabilize rates as much as possible
because
we value our long-term relationships with our customers and are
sensitive to their need for cost savings."

The Bell Atlantic Carrier
Services line of business provides switched,
special, and wireless access to Bell Atlantic's telecommunications
network. Carrier Services also is developing new wireless services
such as personal communications services, new access services, billing
services, and increased network survivability.

Bell Atlantic Corporation (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, the company is the premier provider of local
telecommunications and advanced services. Globally, it is one of the
largest investors in the high-growth wireless communication
marketplace. Bell Atlantic also owns a substantial interest in
Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and is actively developing
high-growth national and international business opportunities in all
phases of the industry.

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for more information, contact:

Paul Miller, 804-772-1460
miller@ba.com

Michel Daley (after April 2), 202-392-1021
michel.l.daley@bell-atl.com