Bell Atlantic Puts Maryland Elementary Bell Atlantic Puts Maryland Elementary Superhighway

September 9, 1996

Bell Atlantic Puts Maryland Elementary School Students on
the Information Superhighway

Company Links Homes and Schools to Online Learning

DUNDALK, MD - Students and teachers at Logan Elementary
School in
Dundalk are launching a new school year with state-of-the-art
technology largely funded by Bell Atlantic. Thanks to a new
telecommunications network and computers in their classrooms and
homes, students and teachers can now surf the Internet, gather
information from across the globe and send electronic mail messages.

"Bell Atlantic is proud to take the lead in preparing our children
for
the 21st century," said Bell Atlantic Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer Raymond W.
Smith. "With computers, Internet connections and
networking capabilities for students, families, teachers and staff,
Logan Elementary School will now be in the driver's seat when motoring
down the information superhighway.

"With all these high-tech resources at their command, the
possibilities for learning at Logan will be as endless as the horizon
and as creative and fun as a child's imagination," Smith added.

Logan Online is one of the nation's first home- and school-based
computer learning initiatives. It represents a three-year, $1.6
million commitment in funds and services from Bell Atlantic. This is
the largest portion of private sector funding for the project. Other
participants
include the State of Maryland, Baltimore County Public
Schools, Bell Atlantic
Internet Solutions, Bell Atlantic
NYNEX Mobile, Bell Atlantic Communications and Construction Services,
Inc.,
Microsoft, Xerox, AST Computer, Cisco Systems and Baltimore Gas &
Electric (BGE).

During the three-year project, Bell Atlantic and the other
participants are providing 180 personal computers for use by the
school's third, fourth and fifth grade students, their teachers and
selected administrators. These computers are connected to a local
area network (LAN) located at the school that will give users access
to the Internet, electronic mail and other services. Three Bell
Atlantic technicians also are assigned to support the project.

About 100 computers already have been installed in the homes of
Logan's 1996-1997 third-grade class. These computers are linked to
the school and to each other through Bell Atlantic's ISDN (Integrated
Services Digital Network) technology with full access to the LAN and
its capabilities.

Computers were purchased by Bell Atlantic and donated to the Baltimore
County Public School System. There is no charge to students for the
PCs or telecommunications services. Third graders will be tracked
closely by the school system to assess the effectiveness of the
home/school computer connection on academic performance.

Bell Atlantic has been working on educational initiatives in the state
of Maryland for over a decade. Through Logan, the company hopes to
tie students, families and teachers closer together to create a
community approach to education. Bell Atlantic also wants this
demonstration project to motivate students by giving them more control
over their learning experience and encourage them to explore new
reading and research sources.

"When I was a kid, there was no e-mail," Smith said. "To
send a
message to a friend, you folded pieces of paper and threw them across
the room and hoped the teacher didn't see you.

"And, if you wanted to write to pen-pals from far away places, you
waited weeks before you could get a return post card," he added.
"Today, you're able to communicate with kids from Africa or China in
real time."

Smith said Bell Atlantic wants to further computer literacy in the
classroom and the home. "Today's economy literally demands that its
workers have the skills to run a computer and get online," he
said.
"In fact, we've already heard stories of boys and girls racing home
to
teach their grandparents - who have never touched a keyboard - how to
become 'cybernauts.'"

Logan Online will serve as a laboratory for the effective use of
technology in education. It is expected that the home/school
connection, combined with multimedia tools, will enhance the
curriculum development already underway in many school systems today.

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 communications
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.

####

Media contact:

Sandra Arnette (410) 393-7109
sandra.u.arnette@bell-atl.com