AICPA Announces Bell Canada Upgrades WebTrust to Version 2.0.

Business Editors, Hi-Tech Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 6, 2000

Enhancements Include Increased Privacy Protection and Additional

Customer Complaint Resolution Procedures Through

Independent Verification

Seal Contributes to Increased Revenue and Customer Confidence

at Bell Canada Site

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) announced today that Bell Canada, the largest Canadian communications company and first of its kind to receive a WebTrust seal of assurance, recently upgraded to version 2.0 of WebTrust. Version 2.0 includes enhancements to WebTrust's Principles and Criteria covering information privacy protection and customer complaint resolution. Developed jointly by the AICPA and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Public Accountants (CICA), WebTrust is designed to make the Internet a safer place to shop and to help online businesses build customer confidence in electronic commerce.

"We understand that online privacy is becoming a critical issue around the world," said Barry Melancon, President and CEO of the AICPA. "In part, version 2.0 of WebTrust was developed to comply with various laws and regulations in other countries to provide a level of assurance to online customers that their privacy is being protected, no matter where they are through independent verification by CPAs. In addition, WebTrust has added an easy-to-use customer complaint mechanism to resolve disputes over privacy infringements, service complaints or product quality issues."

CPAs and their international counterparts use WebTrust 2.0 Principles and Criteria to rigorously examine the following:

1. Business Practices and Information Privacy: the site discloses its

business and information privacy practices for e-commerce

transactions and executes them in accordance with those practices.

Examples of these disclosures include: how information collected

online may be used or distributed and how customers can opt out;

how to file a complaint; how to obtain customer service and

support; and practices concerning returns, warranty claims,

delivery methods and payment terms. 2. Transaction Integrity: the site maintains effective controls to

provide reasonable assurance that e-commerce transactions are

completed and billed as agreed. 3. Information Protection: the site maintains effective controls to

provide reasonable assurance that private information obtained at

the site is protected from uses not related to the site's

business.

"The WebTrust seal has been one of many key strategic elements we have executed over the last year in order to help continue to build online confidence and relationships with our customers and stakeholders," said Sean Seaton, Director e-Business Strategy for Bell Canada. "As a result of this confidence, the WebTrust Seal has been a factor in assisting Bell Canada to drive increased customer interactions and hence greater online sales revenue potential through www.bell.ca."

"Businesses need to recognize the importance for its customers to feel secure that personal information is not shared with unauthorized parties. The Ernst & Young certification of the "My Service", "My Account" and "Virtual Store" sections of the Bell Ernst & Young provides assurance for secure business transactions," said Doug McPhie, partner Ernst & Young Information Systems Assurance and Advisory Services. "According to our 1999 Second Annual Ernst & Young Internet Shopping Study, 97% of consumers surveyed were uncomfortable sending credit card data across the Internet. WebTrust raises their comfort level and reduces the risk of fraud, as we have seen with the results shown by Bell Canada."

Recognized as a global symbol of assurance, WebTrust is currently being offered to online businesses by licensed accounting firms in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and France. Discussions are underway with several other European and Asia-Pacific countries to offer WebTrust.

"Internet businesses and shoppers need a global solution that builds consumer confidence and helps reduce risk of online fraud, thereby turning shoppers into buyers," said Anthony Pugliese, Director of Assurance Services for the AIPCA. "This solution is WebTrust - CPAs and their international counterparts are uniquely qualified to examine online businesses to determine if the business is legitimate, its transactions are secure, the information it collects from consumers is kept private, and its business practices are fully disclosed to Web site visitors."

Bell Canada provides a full range of communications services to customers, including wired and wireless local and long distance telephone services, Internet access, high-speed data services and directories. Bell Canada, its telecom partners and subsidiaries provide services through 13.6 million access lines, including 11 million in Ontario and Quebec. Bell Canada also serves more than 2.3 million wireless customers through Bell Mobility. Bell Canada is 80% owned by BCE Inc. of Montreal and 20% owned by SBC Communications Inc. of San Antonio, Texas. Bell Canada's Internet Web site is located at http://www.bell.ca. News releases, speeches and background information are in the Newsroom. Our e-mail address is [e-mail].

Ernst & Young (www.eycan.com) is one of the world's leading providers of dot-company services in assurance, consulting, corporate finance and tax. More than 85,000 people around the world act as creative catalysts, joining forces with clients to do all it takes --FROM THOUGHT TO FINISH(TM) -- to achieve positive, significant change. Ernst & Young pioneered the development of advanced solutions that connect clients, partners and employees with Ernst & Young resources and knowledge to help them rapidly reach their goals. Ernst & Young refers to the Canadian chartered accounting firm of Ernst & Young LLP and other members of the global Ernst & Young organization.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (http://www.aicpa.org) is the ISO 9001 certified national professional organization of CPAs in the United States with more than 330,000 members in public practice, business and industry, government and education. For more information about CPA WebTrust, please visit http://www.cpawebtrust.org.