Carlos Santiago to Leave Bell Atlantic

Carlos Santiago to Leave Bell Atlantic

Consumer Competitive Response Vice President Led
Ethnic and Premium Marketing Efforts

October 29, 1999

NEW YORK -- Carlos Santiago, Bell Atlantic vice president -- Consumer
Competitive Response, has announced he is leaving Bell Atlantic to
pursue other opportunities in the Internet industry.

"Carlos is a pioneer in ethnic marketing and he has been
instrumental in expanding our revenue growth strategies, especially to
ethnic customers through our multi-lingual centers," said Consumer
Markets Group President Fred D'Alessio. "He has also been a
strong diversity advocate, helping us to increase our minority hiring and
purchasing, as well as our philanthropic programs benefiting minorities.
We wish him the best in his new ventures."

Santiago has more than 13 years' experience in market management,
market segmentation and competitive response. He joined NYNEX,
which merged with Bell Atlantic in 1997, after working at Pacific Bell and
Anheuser-Busch. He is a director of the Hispanic Federation and the
United Way of New York City. He also served as an advisor to Hispanic
and gay, lesbian and transsexual employee affinity groups at Bell Atlantic.

"I'm proud of what we've accomplished at Bell Atlantic. It has been
a privilege to work with so many excellent professionals," Santiago
said.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 43 million telephone access lines and more than 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.