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