Telecommunications Classroom Linked To Bell Atlantic's Distance Learning Network

Telecommunications Classroom Linked To Bell Atlantic's Distance Learning Network

Addition to Education Network Made Possible by a $50,000 Equipment Donation from Sony Electronics Inc.

May 22, 1997

NEWARK, N.J. - Telecommunications classes and demonstrations held in a
Bell Atlantic classroom now may be seen by students in 130 public
schools that participate in Bell Atlantic's Interactive Distance
Learning Service (IDLS), thanks to a gift from Sony Electronics.

Sony is donating all the microphones, monitors, speakers, amplifiers
and other audio visual equipment currently on loan to Bell Atlantic's
Project SMART classroom at the Ocean County Vocational Technical
School in Toms River, N.J. The equipment is valued at $50,000.

"We already know that we've created the finest telecommunications
apprenticeship programs in the nation," said Bell Atlantic-New Jersey
President and CEO Len J. Lauer. "Our challenge is to expose as many
students as possible to Project SMART and TEC 2000. Sony's generosity
is helping us do that."

Sony lent the distance learning equipment to Bell Atlantic three years
ago, when the first Project SMART classroom was built. The loan
allowed the classroom to be connected to individual schools, but not
to Bell Atlantic's entire IDLS network.

The Sony gift will allow students at any IDLS classroom in northern or
central New Jersey to participate in classes or presentations
originating from the Project SMART site in Toms River.

Michael Baron, senior vice president of Business Systems for Sony
Electronics' Business and Professional Group, said distance learning
allows students to take advantage of educational opportunities that
might not be otherwise accessible because of "time, distance or
physical limitations ."

"Making distance learning a reality for students across the country is
of tremendous importance to Sony," Baron said. "Our donation of
distance learning equipment to Bell Atlantic's Project SMART and TEC
2000 programs will help give New Jersey students an opportunity to
prepare for the future while they achieve their current educational
goals."

Project SMART is a nationally recognized telecommunications apprentice
partnership between Bell Atlantic and the Ocean County Vocational
Technical School.

High school juniors and seniors who participate in the program train
in a Bell Atlantic-designed classroom filled with telecommunications
equipment. The students receive hands-on instruction from seasoned
Bell Atlantic technicians.

A statewide version of the project, dubbed TEC 2000, was launched in
May 1996, with the cooperation of the New Jersey Department of
Education, the New Jersey Department of Labor and the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Bell Atlantic has TEC 2000 classrooms in Essex, Morris, Hudson, Salem
and Cape May counties.

Bell Atlantic IDLS is a broadband educational network that allows
students and teachers in sites scattered across New Jersey to interact
using digital sound and full-motion video.

Bell Atlantic Corp. (NYSE: BEL) is at the forefront of the new
communications, entertainment and information industry. In the
mid-Atlantic region, Bell Atlantic's local phone companies are the
premier providers 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.

More information about Sony products can be found on the World Wide
Web at http://www.sony.com/professional, or readers may call
1-800-686-SONY. Additional press information is available at
http://www.sony.com/news.