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January 6, 1997 CONTACT: Susan Kraus, 212-395-0500 Erle Pierce, 603-641-1651 NYNEX Merger With Bell Atlantic Approved By New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission Concord, NH, Jan. 6, 1997 -- The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission today approved the merger of NYNEX and Bell Atlantic. Ivan Seidenberg, NYNEX chairman and CEO, said, "Today's action means that now five of the seven NYNEX states have either approved the merger or have not sought jurisdiction over it. We are on track to bring the substantial benefits of this merger to our customers." The proposed merger was announced on April 22, 1996. Shareowners of both companies overwhelmingly approved the merger at special meetings in early November. The new Bell Atlantic will serve 39 million telephone access lines in 13 states and more than 4 million cellular customers. Wayne Budd, NYNEX senior vice president in New England, said, "I am pleased that New Hampshire regulators recognized that this merger is good for NYNEX customers in New Hampshire and for the state of New Hampshire itself. I look forward to positive responses to the proposed merger from the remaining states in the NYNEX region, as well as the Department of Justice." Regulators in New York and Vermont are now conducting reviews of the merger in accordance with applicable state laws. Massachusetts and Rhode Island have not sought to assert jurisdiction over the proposed merger, although Massachusetts is reviewing the merger within the context of its general supervisory authority over telephone operations. All reviews are expected to be completed shortly, and the companies expect to close the merger in the first quarter. NYNEX is a global communications and media corporation that provides a full range of services in the northeastern United States and high-growth markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, Thailand, Gibraltar, Greece, Indonesia, the Philippines, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The corporation is a leader in telecommunications, wireless communications, directory publishing and video entertainment and information services. NYNEX is also managing sponsor of FLAG -- Fiberoptic Link Around the Globe -- the world's longest undersea fiber optic communications cable. FAX copies of recent NYNEX news releases are available free of charge, 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-331-1214 and an automated system will provide instructions. go to news archive