Bell Atlantic Names New Presidents at Two Local Telephone Companies

Bell Atlantic Names New Presidents at Two Local Telephone Companies

Bill Freeman to Lead Bell Atlantic - New Jersey;
Marie Johns Promoted to President of Bell Atlantic - Washington

April 13, 1998

NEW YORK - Bell Atlantic today appointed new presidents at two of its
local telephone companies.

William M. Freeman, currently president and CEO of Bell Atlantic -
Washington, D.C., has been named president and CEO of Bell Atlantic -
New Jersey. He succeeds Len J. Lauer, who has resigned to accept
another position in the telecommunications industry.

Marie C. Johns, currently vice president-external affairs at Bell
Atlantic - Washington, has been promoted to president and CEO of that
company, succeeding Freeman.

"Bill and Marie are skilled telecommunications industry veterans and
valuable members of a strong Bell Atlantic senior management team,"
said Morrison DeS. Webb, Bell Atlantic executive vice
president-external affairs and corporate communications. "Bill brings
to New Jersey a proven record of accomplishment as president and CEO
of our operations in the nation's capital, and Marie will capitalize
on her in-depth knowledge of the Washington marketplace in her new
assignment.

"Bill and Marie will lead Bell Atlantic's efforts to gain entry into
long distance in New Jersey and Washington - two markets critical to
our success in the increasingly competitive telecommunications
environment."

A native of New Jersey, Freeman, 45, obtained a bachelor of arts
degree in economics from Drew University and a masters of business
administration in finance and management from Rutgers University. He
began his telecommunications career with New Jersey Bell in 1974 and
worked in engineering, rates and tariffs, external affairs, human
resources and service costs for New Jersey Bell and Bell Atlantic
Network Services, Inc. Freeman was selected as a Presidential
Executive Exchange Fellow in 1989. He was appointed president and CEO
of Bell Atlantic - Washington in January 1994.

Freeman is a member of the national board of directors of Junior
Achievement (JA) and chairman of the board of the Washington area JA.
In Washington, Freeman is a member of the board of governors of the
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a principal of the
Council for Excellence in Government, and a member of the board of
associates of Gallaudet University.

Johns, 46, received bachelor of science and master of public
administration degrees from Indiana University. She began her
telecommunications career with Indiana Bell before joining Bell
Atlantic Network Services, Inc. in 1985. At Bell Atlantic, Johns held
several assignments in regulatory relations, working with government
and industry organizations at the local and federal levels, before
being appointed vice president-external affairs for Bell Atlantic -
Washington in 1994. Johns also was a Presidential Executive Exchange
Fellow in 1988.

Johns holds leadership positions in a number of Washington-area
organizations. Among her other affiliations, Johns is chairperson of
Leadership Washington, president-elect of the D.C. Chamber of
Commerce, and a member of the board of directors of the Washington
Performing Arts Society, the Greater Washington Research Center and
the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of Freeman and Johns are available on Bell
Atlantic's News Center on the World Wide Web at:

Freeman -- http://www.ba.com/images2/profiles/Freeman2.jpg
Johns -- http://www.ba.com/images2/profiles/Johns.jpg)

Bell Atlantic - formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX -
is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six 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 21 countries.