Bell Atlantic Launches Long-Distance Service in Texas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 1996

BELL ATLANTIC LAUNCHES LONG-DISTANCE SERVICE
IN TEXAS

First Regional Bell Company To Provide Long-Distance Service
Outside Its Service Area

Dallas, TX- Consumers in Texas now have a new choice
for their
long-distance service - Bell Atlantic. The Philadelphia-based firm is
the first regional Bell company to provide long-distance service
outside of its traditional service area, the mid-Atlantic region.

Bell Atlantic Communications will begin the launch of its
long-distance service with television, radio, and newspaper
advertising and marketing campaigns in Texas. The company has
established sales offices in Dallas, located at Park Place, 2911
Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite #300, 214-523-9059, and Houston, located
at
Omni Offices, 2500 City West Blvd., Suite #300, 713-267-2301.

"Residents of Texas who choose Bell Atlantic as their long-distance
company will receive high-quality, customer oriented long-distance
service at an exceptional value," said Al
Binford, president and CEO
of Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc. "They'll no longer be limited
to the three long-distance companies that have dominated the
market."

"Customers want long-distance service that's simple, with
easy-to-understand pricing plans that won't disappear in a few
weeks,"
said Binford. "With Bell Atlantic, there'll be value and quality
service from a company that focuses on the customer."

While the company is concentrating its long-distance efforts in Texas,
North Carolina, and Michigan starting today, Bell Atlantic plans to
introduce long-distance service within its mid-Atlantic region as soon
as the company meets the conditions of the new Telecommunications Act
of 1996, signed into law last February by President Clinton. ""We
plan
to enter the in-region market next year," Binford said.

The new telecommunications act allows the regional Bell telephone
companies to enter the long-distance business for the first time.
Within days of the bill's enactment, Bell Atlantic filed applications
with state regulators to get into the long-distance market outside of
its region.

Bell Atlantic Communications' television, radio, and print advertising
promoting the company's long-distance service begins within the next
few weeks.

"We're very excited re-entering the long-distance business, and we
plan
to provide excellent service at an outstanding value to customers in
Texas," Binford said. "Bell Atlantic brings over 100 years of
telephone experience to our long-distance business. Consumers won't
find a better company to be their long-distance provider."

Bell Atlantic Communications, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Bell Atlantic Corporation. Bell Atlantic Communications operates Bell
Atlantic's new nationwide long-distance business.

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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Media contacts:

Shirley Risoldi, 412-633-5574
shirley.a.risoldi@bell-atl.com

Alan Hill, 703-974-2134