Bell Atlantic Joins On-Line Privacy Alliance

Bell Atlantic Joins On-Line Privacy Alliance

Corporation Leads Efforts in Telecommunications Industry

June 22, 1998

WASHINGTON -- Bell Atlantic today joined forces with other industry
privacy champions in launching the national On-Line Privacy Alliance, a
cross-industry effort dedicated to protecting individual privacy on the
Internet and in electronic commerce.

"Bell Atlantic applauds the goals of this alliance," said Toby Webb, Bell
Atlantic executive vice president-external affairs and corporate
communications. "Individual privacy is an endangered species that must be
protected. The alliance has a formidable task, one that will require the
commitment and cooperation of our country's leading businesses.

"At Bell Atlantic, we take privacy concerns very seriously. Over the years,
we have worked diligently to protect the privacy of our customers," he
said.

Webb cited several of the company's privacy initiatives:

• Following the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX last summer,
  Bell Atlantic announced new Privacy Principles which govern all its
  businesses, including its on-line services;

• Bell Atlantic has posted a privacy statement on its Web site
  (http://www.bellatlantic.com) telling users what information Bell
  Atlantic obtains about individuals who visit the Web site, how that
  data is used and how individuals can restrict the use or disclosure of
  that information;

• Bell Atlantic's privacy policies are listed in customer brochures,
  White Pages directories and bill inserts. In New York, Bell
  Atlantic also has a toll-free number for information on privacy-
  management services. Customers in New York can call 1-800-322-
  3436 to find out more about services that may affect their privacy;

• Bell Atlantic has led efforts in the telecommunications industry to
  define on-line privacy policy. Company executives have testified in
  hearings before the Federal Trade Commission and the New York
  State Assembly. The company also has provided input on privacy
  issues to the Federal Trade Commission and to the National
  Telecommunications and Information Administration.

"Along with other members of this important alliance, Bell Atlantic is
committed to creating an environment of trust on-line and fostering the
protection of individuals' privacy in electronic commerce," Webb said.

Other companies and associations that joined with Bell Atlantic in
founding the Alliance include Acxiom, American Advertising Federation,
American Electronics Association, America Online, Inc., AT&T, Bay
Networks, Bell Atlantic, CASIE (representing Association of National
Advertisers and American Association of Advertising Agencies), Cisco,
Compaq, Dell, Direct Marketing Association, Disney, Dun & Bradstreet,
eBay Inc., EDS, E-LOAN, Equifax, Ernst and Young, Ford, Hewlett
Packard, IBM, Individual Reference Services Group, Information
Industry Association, Information Technology Association of America,
Information Technology Industry Council, Interactive Services
Association, Kodak, LEXIS-NEXIS, MatchLogic, MCI, Microsoft,
NationsBank, NCR, NETCOM On-line Communications Services, Inc.,
Netscape, Oracle, Price Waterhouse, Procter & Gamble, Sun Microsystems,
Time Warner, United States Council for International Business, Viacom
and Xerox. The Alliance will actively seek to expand its membership to
companies involved in all sectors of online and electronic commerce.

Bell Atlantic -- formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX --
is at the forefront of the new communications and information industry.
With more than 41 million telephone access lines and 6.7 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.