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RNS No 8780m
BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION
7 May 1999

Contact:
John Killian, Bell Atlantic
212-395-1152

George Lieb, GTE
972-507-2462

                      Department of Justice Clears
                        Bell Atlantic-GTE Merger
           Companies enter consent decree to resolve wireless
                                overlaps

Today the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) gave its approval to the merger of
Bell Atlantic and GTE. The two companies and DOJ agreed to a consent decree to
dispose of the companies' overlapping wireless properties. No other conditions
were imposed on the merger.

After an exhaustive review of the transaction, DOJ carefully considered and
rejected all of the other various competitive arguments raised by opponents of
the merger, including many of the arguments still being considered at the
Federal Communications Commission and various state commissions.

"The decision by DOJ today underscores that this merger will strengthen
competition and deliver to consumers a new, top-tier telecommunications provider
that will rival existing and emerging national and global carriers," said
William P. Barr, executive vice president and general counsel for GTE. "This
merger promises a new era in consumer choice for telecommunications products and
services, fulfilling the procompetitive vision embodied in the
Telecommunications Act of 1996."

"We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the department's investigation.
Some of the department's best antitrust attorneys were dedicated to our merger
and gave it a clean bill of health. We commend the staff for its hard work and
thoroughness," said James R. Young, executive vice president and general
counsel of Bell Atlantic.

"When we announced the merger," Young explained, "we knew we would need to
address certain issues related to the companies' wireless overlaps. The decree
gives us full flexibility to clear wireless conflicts by disposing of either
cellular or PCS properties.

It also allows us to retain 10 megahertz (MHz) of broadband spectrum in areas
where we choose to sell our PCS properties. Finally, we have the time to resolve
wireless conflicts in an orderly way."

GTE and Bell Atlantic announced last July that the two companies have agreed to
a merger of equals. To date, 27 state public utility commissions have cleared
the merger. The merger also has won the support of the AFL-CIO, Communications
Workers of America, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and
dozens of business and community leaders from areas served by GTE and Bell
Atlantic.

Shareholder voting on the merger is under way by both companies and will be
completed at their annual meetings on May 18 (GTE) and May 19 (Bell Atlantic).


END

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