Bell Atlantic Launches Employment Referral Program To Fill Need for Technical Workers in West Virginia

Bell Atlantic Launches Employment Referral Program
To Fill Need for Technical Workers in West Virginia

Non-profit Organizations Can Earn $1,000
For Technical Job Referrals through Dec. 31

August 31, 1999

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Non-profit organizations who help Bell
Atlantic - West Virginia recruit high-quality people for technical jobs can
help themselves in the process through an innovative program announced
by the company today.

The employment referral program will benefit non-profits that provide
names of people who are hired and complete the company's initial training
for technical positions.

"Bell Atlantic is hiring," said Dennis Bone, president and CEO of Bell
Atlantic - West Virginia. "Our business is growing, and our need for top-
notch employees is growing, from entry-level, customer contact jobs to
highly skilled technicians. We anticipate hiring about 10 employees for
technical positions over the next four months."

Bell Atlantic - West Virginia will contribute $1,000 to organizations
defined as non-profit by the Internal Revenue Service for every referral
resulting in hiring a person who successfully completes initial job training.
The referrals must be for new candidates, not those already under
consideration.

The referral program, which is effective through the end of December,
applies to the following jobs: assistant technician, cable splicing
technician, central office technician, engineering assistant, outside plant
technician, services technician and systems technician.

Qualified organizations that want to make a referral or would like more
information on the referral program may call 888-239-5093 (toll-free).

Bell Atlantic Employees Serve Customers throughout Mid-Atlantic
Region from West Virginia

Bell Atlantic employs nearly 3,100 people across West Virginia. The
company provides telecommunications services to businesses and
residential customers throughout the state. In addition, employees at work
centers in the state provide operator services, sales and service support to
Bell Atlantic customers in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. These centers are located in
Beckley, Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Huntington, Parkersburg and
Wheeling.

"We have had great success in attracting Bell Atlantic work operations to
West Virginia over the past 10 years," said Bone. "Our advanced
telecommunications infrastructure, combined with a work ethic that's
second to none, allows Bell Atlantic's Mountain State employees to
delight customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region."

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines
and nearly 10 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic
companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice and data
services, market leaders in wireless services and the world's largest
publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic companies are also
among the world's largest investors in high-growth global communications
markets, with operations and investments in 23 countries.