Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania President Bill Harral Retires

Bell Atlantic-Pennsylvania President Bill Harral Retires

Daniel J. Whelan, Bell Atlantic - Maryland President and CEO, Is
Harral's Successor

February 27, 1997

PHILADELPHIA -- Bill Harral,
57, president and CEO of Bell
Atlantic
- Pennsylvania, today announced his retirement from the corporation
following nearly 36 years of service.

Daniel J.
Whelan, 51, president and CEO of Bell Atlantic-Maryland,
has been named Harral's successor, effective March 1.

"Bill's contributions to Bell Atlantic have been
immeasurable," said
James G.
Cullen, vice chairman - Bell Atlantic. "He has been among
our most versatile leaders, with tremendous savvy in all aspects of
our business. From marketing to network operations to external
affairs, Bill has done it all. While we'll miss him, we know he'll
put his talent and energy to many worthwhile initiatives in the
future."

Harral joined Bell of Pennsylvania as a student engineer in 1961.
Over the years, he has held positions throughout the Commonwealth in
network operations, customer services, finance, marketing and external
affairs. As vice president of Bell Atlantic's Federal Systems line
of business, Harral served as the corporation's top sales liaison to
the U.S. government. In 1989, Harral was named vice president -
external affairs and chief financial officer before being appointed
president and CEO of Bell Atlantic - Pennsylvania in 1994.

Harral has been active in approximately 20 community and civic
organizations throughout Pennsylvania and serves on ten boards of
directors, including Greater Philadelphia First, the Pennsylvania
Business Roundtable, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
and the Free Public Library.

"The word 'retirement' is not part of my vocabulary," Harral
said.
"While I leave wonderful friends and a most satisfying career at
Bell
Atlantic, I view my departure as the beginning of the next phase of my
life. This phase will include teaching, consulting, volunteer work
and more leisure activities right here in the Delaware Valley."

For Harral's successor, Daniel J. Whelan, returning to Pennsylvania is
a homecoming.

Whelan began his career with Bell of Pennsylvania in 1977 as an
attorney, and was appointed vice president - Keystone operations in
Pittsburgh in 1988. In 1991, Whelan served as vice president -
regulatory and governmental relations for Bell Atlantic - Pennsylvania
and in 1995, he was appointed president and CEO of Bell Atlantic -
Maryland.

Under Whelan's leadership, Maryland abandoned outmoded rate-of-return
regulation in favor of new rules that strengthen the company for
competition. Whelan also oversaw the successful implementation of
Logan Online in Dundalk, the first corporate pilot project linking an
elementary school to the homes of third graders via high-speed data
lines.

"Working with the people of Maryland has been a terrific
experience,"
Whelan said. "But I look forward to tackling the challenges of the
new competitive telecommunications world in my home state,
Pennsylvania."

"Dan Whelan accomplished more in 21 months than many industry
executives achieve in years," noted Cullen. "He earned his new
post
as a strong leader in Maryland, and I know he will be equally
effective in Pennsylvania."

A native of Philadelphia, Whelan is a cum laude graduate of Temple
University School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
philosophy from LaSalle College. Whelan served in the U.S. Navy from
1968 through 1971. He is married with three children.

Whelan's civic affiliations include Director of the Greater Baltimore
Committee, Director of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education,
Director of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, and member of the Board
of Governors of the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

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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