Bell Atlantic Ready to Introduce New 347 Area Code;

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Bell Atlantic Ready to Introduce New 347 Area Code;
        New Area Code to Join 718 to Serve The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens
                              and Staten Island

    NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Bell Atlantic (NYSE: BEL) has made the
necessary modifications to its network to begin the introduction of the 347
area code for The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.  The new area
code will join 718 as the area codes for the four New York City boroughs on
Oct. 1.
    The new 347 area code will be introduced as an "overlay" in the same
geographic area as the 718 code.  As a result, current customers with the 718
area code will keep their same area code and telephone numbers.
    Customers in the four boroughs who request new telephone service, add a
phone line, or, in some cases, move within the four boroughs may receive the
new 347 area code.  In addition, 718 numbers may also be assigned, depending
on availability.
    "It's important for all customers to begin now thinking of their telephone
number as a 10-digit number when providing it to family and friends," said
John Rollo, Bell Atlantic executive director for Community Affairs.  "The good
news is that no current customers have to change their telephone number when
this new area code is introduced."
    Calls between New York City's 347, 718, 212, 646 and 917 area codes will
continue to be billed as local calls.  Charges for calls to 411 directory
assistance service will remain the same, and 911 emergency calls will continue
to be free.
    Customers with the 718 area code will continue to dial only seven digits
to reach another resident or business with the 718 area code.  Similarly,
calls from a customer with a 347 number to another customer with a 347 number
will be dialed with seven digits.
    To call between any of the New York City area codes, including 347 and
718, customers will dial "1" plus the area code, plus the standard seven-digit
number, just as in calling another area code across the country.
    This month, Bell Atlantic is beginning a customer education campaign to
familiarize callers with the new 347 area code.  The campaign will include
notices in September phone bills; advertising; a 24-hour, toll-free recorded
information line (800-322-3558 in English; 800-882-7818 in Spanish, and
800-299-2630 for TTY users); programs for community groups; community
newsletters, and more.  Much of the communications will be multi-lingual and
accessible by TTY for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
    In addition, the company's Web site, http://www.BellAtlantic.com/areacode,
has a full description of area code changes throughout Bell Atlantic's
Maine-to-Virginia service area.
    Customers who use speed dialing, modems, fax machines, automatic dialers
and other telecommunications equipment will need to program such equipment to
dial "1" plus the area code and the standard seven-digit number to reach a
customer with a 347 area code.
    A new area code is needed for the four boroughs because the demand for new
telephone numbers is exploding as people communicate more than ever using
additional phone lines, cellular phones, pagers, computer modems and fax
machines.  In addition, dozens of other communications companies offer local
phone service, and these competing companies require phone numbers for their
customers.
    In April 1998, the New York State Public Service Commission ordered the
new 347 area code to be added to the 718 area code.  The 212 area code was
introduced in 1945 and served all of New York City for 40 years.  The 718 area
code was introduced in 1985, replacing the 212 area code in Brooklyn, Queens
and Staten Island.  In 1993, The Bronx also changed from the 212 to the 718
area code.  The 917 area code was introduced in all five boroughs of New York
City in 1992 and was used initially for phone numbers for cellular and paging
services.  It now also is used for basic phone service in Manhattan as well.
Area code 646 was introduced this July to serve Manhattan.
    Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and
information industry.  With more than 43 million telephone access lines and
nearly 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.

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SOURCE Bell Atlantic
http://www.ba.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 094251
CONTACT:
John Bonomo of Bell Atlantic, 212-395-7756,
John.J.Bonomo@BellAtlantic.com