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RNS No 3092h
BELL ATLANTIC CORP
13th October 1998


Bell Atlantic Initiatives to Result in $1.1 Billion In After-Tax Charges

Pension Offer and Productivity Gains To Result In Permanent Force Reductions

NEW YORK - Bell Atlantic (NYSE:BEL) said today that it will take changes in the
third quarter totaling approximately $1.1 billion after taxes, or $.70 per
diluted share, related to the costs of completing an enhanced pension offer, a
revaluation of several international assets, and other items.  The charges are
mainly non-cash in nature.

Frederic V. Salerno, Bell Atlantic senior executive vice president and CFO,
said.  "We remain confident we will meet our targets for adjusted earnings
growth in 1998." 

Charges of approximately $500 million, or $.32 per share, will be recorded
primarily for the completion of a retirement incentive program begun at NYNEX in
1994 and extended through the end of next year as part of recent union contract
settlements.

Of 13,800 eligible union-represented employees, approximately 5,200 workers
accepted the offer and will voluntarily leave the company in stages over the
next 14 months. As a result of productivity gains, the company anticipates that
less than half of the workers who take advantage of the program will be
replaced.

Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr., Bell Atlantic president and CEO - Network, said,
"Combining the best practices of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX is allowing us to
handle increasing business volumes with greater efficiency and higher quality.
We're confident that we will see continued productivity improvements, which will
give us a great deal of flexibility in meeting our financial goals and funding
start-up costs for our new businesses in 1999."

Charges totaling approximately $545 million, or $.35 per share, will be taken
primarily for write-downs in the value of TelecomAsia, Bell Atlantic's wireline
investment in Thailand, and Excelcomindo, its wireless investment in Indonesia.

"We have concluded that the currency devaluations and severe economic
conditions in Asia will have an impact on the book value of our Thai and
Indonesian holdings," Salerno said.  "As a result, we are making the accounting
adjustments we are announcing today."

"We remain committed to both investments, which we have always viewed as long-
term opportunities."

Bell Atlantic accounts for the TelecomAsia and Excelcomindo investments under
the cost method.  The company has limited exposure to Asian and other emerging
markets.

Approximately $55 million in charges, or $.03 per share, are primarily for
transition costs related to the Bell Atlantic-NYNEX merger and a write-off of
video equipment that has been superseded by Bell Atlantic's digital video
offering in partnership with DirecTV and USSB, and its planned next-generation
broadband network.

Bell Atlantic will announce its third-quarter results on Oct. 21.

Bell Atlantic is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With more than 41 million telephone access lines and more than seven
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.

NOTE: This press release contains statements about expected future events and
financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and
uncertainties.  For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor
for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995.  Discussion of factors that may affect future results is
contained in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

INTERNET USERS: Bell Atlantic news releases, executive speeches, news media
contacts and other useful information are available at Bell Atlantic's News
Center on the World Wide Web (http://www.ba.com).  To receive news releases by
email, visit the News Center and register for personalized automatic delivery
of Bell Atlantic news releases.


END



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