********************************************************    
                         NOTICE
********************************************************

This document was converted from
WordPerfect to ASCII Text format.

Content from the original version of the document such as
headers, footers, footnotes, endnotes, graphics, and page numbers
will not show up in this text version.

All text attributes such as bold, italic, underlining, etc. from the
original document will not show up in this text version.

Features of the original document layout such as
columns, tables, line and letter spacing, pagination, and margins
will not be preserved in the text version.

If you need the complete document, download the
WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available.

*****************************************************************
JULY 1999
BA-NY EXTRA "Consumer News"
Upstate/Downstate  Bus/Res


New Automated System Lets You "Freeze" or "Unfreeze"
 Your Carrier Choices
Starting August 15, it will be easier for you to "freeze" or "unfreeze" the telephone company you
choose to carry your regional toll and/or long distance calls.*  Freezing your selection means that
your choice of carrier cannot be changed unless you contact us to change it.  This may provide
additional protection against unauthorized changes, also known as "slamming."  There is no cost to
freeze or unfreeze your choice of carrier.

You will be able to freeze or unfreeze your choice of regional and/or long distance carrier by dialing
our new automated system, toll-free, on 1-800-305-4838  [1-800-288-4197 in Spanish].  The system
is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for brief daily maintenance periods and from
7 p.m. on Saturday to 7 a.m. on Sunday.  You can call from any number. 

 When you use the system, you will be requested to enter your ten-digit telephone number and your
customer code.  Your customer code is the six digit number that directly follows your telephone
number on page one of your Bell Atlantic bill.  This six-digit code appears only on your bill
and should not be known to anyone who does not have access to your bill.  We ask you to
provide the code in order to prevent anyone other than you from using the system to freeze or
unfreeze your choice of carrier.

You can separately freeze or unfreeze your choice of regional carrier and your choice of long distance
carrier as often as you choose.  The automated system will guide you through three basic options:
     Press 1 to freeze your current regional service provider and/or long distance provider
     Press 2 to unfreeze your current regional service provider and/or long distance provider.
     Press 0 to speak to a service representative (during business hours).
A touchtone phone is necessary to use the system (rotary phone customers must speak with a service
representative). Currently, the system will freeze or unfreeze all the telephone numbers billed to the
same account.  If you want to freeze or unfreeze individual telephone numbers under the same
account, you must speak to a service representative.

* Subject to final regulatory approval.