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February 3, 1997 CONTACT: Bell Atlantic, Michel Daley, 202-392-1021; NYNEX, Maureen Flanagan, 212-395-0500; United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Jenifer Simpson, 202-973-7111; National Association of the Deaf, Karen Peltz-Strauss, 301-587-7466; or Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership, Judy Brewer, 617-355-6380 Bell Atlantic, NYNEX Announce Plans to Make Services, Products More Accessible Leaders of Disability Community Challenge Telecommunications Industry To Improve Accessibility, Representative Edward Markey Applauds Initiative WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -- Bell Atlantic (NYSE: BEL) and NYNEX (NYSE:NYN) today announced a far-reaching program designed to make their services and products more accessible to people with disabilities. Representative Edward Markey (D-MA), one of the key architects of the Telecommunications Act, and a coalition of leaders from the disability community endorsed the move at a press conference held in Washington, D.C. The companies pledged that when they merge the new Bell Atlantic will: * Adopt Universal Design Principles to ensure that all company-wide telecommunications services are fully accessible and widely marketed to a broad range of diverse users, including individuals with disabilities; * Include people with disabilities on consumer panels and advisory committees; * Use advertising that is accessible to consumers who have hearing or visual disabilities; and * Expand the existing line of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX products and services that are already accessible and usable by people with disabilities. Michael Morris, Executive Director of the United Cerebral Palsy Associations (UCPA), said: "We live in a world where a strong, accessible communications infrastructure is essential to the daily routine of every citizen -- including citizens with disabilities. Universal design, or inclusive design, strives to make products and services usable by the broadest array of consumers. UCPA, together with other national disability organizations and a number of industry players, worked to make disability access a reality in the Telecommunications Act of 1996. And now we want to work together to make Universal Design happen. "We commend Bell Atlantic and NYNEX for their leadership in committing to make their products and services accessible for all consumers. We challenge other telecommunications companies to step forward and work in partnership with the disability community," concluded Morris. Bell Atlantic and NYNEX said that the commitment to the Universal Design Principles is based in large part on the companies' commitments to people with disabilities. It was developed in close cooperation with leaders of organizations in the NYNEX region representing people with disabilities and is an example of the "best practices" of the combined Bell Atlantic/NYNEX. At the press conference, the companies demonstrated current products that make communications access easier for all customers. Donald B. Reed, NYNEX's President and Group Executive, External Affairs and Corporate Communications, said: "The significance of the universal design program is that it will be fully integrated across the entire company. Rather than designing special products or services for disabled consumers, we are pledging to engineer universal design principles into everything we do. Our goal is to make the new Bell Atlantic's products and services accessible to all consumers -- helping everyone communicate better." Bruce S. Gordon, Bell Atlantic's Group President Consumer and Small Business Services, said: "The merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX is about finding new ways to meet the challenges of a diverse customer base. We will incorporate the NYNEX approach to providing universal access to all telecommunications services and products offered by the new Bell Atlantic and will expand consumer input through the development of universal design committees and consumer panels." A coalition of leaders from the disability community endorsed the far-reaching Universal Design Principles adopted by Bell Atlantic and NYNEX, and issued a challenge to all telecommunications providers and manufacturers to take steps to improve the universal accessibility of their services and products. Groups represented included the American Council of the Blind, Association of Late Deafened Adults, Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership, National Association of the Deaf, Self-Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc., United Cerebral Palsy Associations, the World Institute on Disability and the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Project. The proposed merger between Bell Atlantic and NYNEX was announced April 22, 1996. The combined corporation will serve 39 million telephone access lines in 13 states and more than 4 million cellular customers. Shareowners of both companies overwhelmingly approved the merger at special meetings in November 1996. go to news archive