Bell Atlantic Responds to Changing Landscape of Interactive Education

Bell Atlantic Responds to Changing Landscape of Interactive Education

Company's Leadership in Landmark Projects Provides
Lessons on the Services of the Future

March 24, 1997

ARLINGTON, Va. -- In New Jersey, seventh graders
transmit e-mail
messages a world away while students in suburban Baltimore take
electronic field trips over Bell Atlantic's high speed video networks.
As their classrooms become gateways to the universe, the company is
discovering that demands are changing for interactive learning
services.

Beginning today, Bell Atlantic will demonstrate its flexible response
to current demands and discuss future distance learning services in
Potomac Room #6 at the International Distance Learning Conference
(IDLCON) in Arlington, Va. The show runs through Wednesday.

"There is a virtual high-tech gold rush going on in classrooms
throughout America," said James G.
Cullen, vice chairman - Bell
Atlantic. "And in every state we serve, we've linked schools to the
fastest technology available. These experiences have prepared us for
the new, emerging distance learning market where we'll serve the
traditional classroom and reach out to a new breed of students."

Academic performance can improve when students and parents are linked
from the home to the classroom using computers and the local telephone
network. That happened as a result of Project Explore in Union
City, N.J., and early indications from the new Logan Online project in
Dundalk, Md., echo that experience.

Bell Atlantic provides distance learning services within the Bell
Atlantic®All@Once^SM Solutions
family of telecommunications products and
services. All@Once offers customers a single point of contact for
enhanced professional services; integrated packages of voice, video
and data; state-of-the-art equipment from alliance partners and any
additional resources they need.

Bell Atlantic's rapid deployment of Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN) lines to schools and homes have smoothed these
pathways
of communication. To respond to the growing popularity of
communication links between the school and home, Bell Atlantic is
testing speedier data pipelines to accommodate future demand.

As schools reach out to parents through innovative education projects,
educators also are hearing from adults who are clamoring for remote
access to new learning opportunities. Bell Atlantic is meeting the
demand for technological solutions to serve these diverse audiences,
including customers who are juggling job and family responsibilities.

In 1997, the company will offer competitively priced services,
including its most popular and powerful networking services (Frame
Relay, Switched Multimegabit Data Service and ISDN) along with
Internet access. This package will give parents, teachers and
students even greater access to classroom instruction, both on and
off-campus anytime, anywhere. The power of Bell Atlantic's wireless
network also is being explored to serve parents who are always on the
go.

"We'll continue to work hand in hand with educators to develop and
foster the 'virtual university'," Cullen said. "As colleges
reach out
to this changing student population, we'll deliver the technology that
will link them together, smoothly, seamlessly and affordably."

Bell Atlantic's powerful network applications are on display at this
year's IDLCON show. Participants can see live connections to
Net.Work.Virginia, a statewide ATM network that brings live
instruction and the riches of the Internet to every classroom in the
state.

Visitors also can see innovative demonstrations of stored video
instruction, high-speed access to the Internet, as well as a clear
strategy for connecting existing networks to the network of the
future.

This year, over 7,000 people are expected to attend IDLCON, which is
sponsored by the United States Distance Learning Association.
Participants include distance learning professionals in grades K-12,
higher education, continuing education, corporate education,
telemedicine, military and government training. Over 200 exhibitors
will be on hand.

The company's Large Business Services organization offers customers
Bell Atlantic® All@Once^SM Solutions:
integrated voice, data and video
applications and the professional consulting and support services that
add up to a precise solution that fits and evolves to meet customers'
specific communications needs.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (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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