BellSouth Establishes Community Identity; `Community Matters' Brand Defines Company Tradition.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1999--

BellSouth Corporation is rolling out its new community involvement identity, Community Matters, in 30 southeastern markets over the next six months. The Community Matters brand will identify BellSouth's vast community involvement throughout its nine-state service area.

As home of BellSouth's corporate headquarters, Atlanta has benefited greatly from the company's longstanding tradition of community involvement over the last 15 years. The Community Matters brand will now provide a vehicle to showcase BellSouth's high-level of community commitment in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast.

"We are extremely proud of our community involvement in Atlanta and in all of our service markets," BellSouth Chairman and CEO Duane Ackerman said. "Serving the needs of others is a philosophy that remains central to our business strategy and sense of corporate responsibility."

In the past 15 years, BellSouth has contributed more than $2 billion in volunteer time and financial resources implementing successful community programs like, Groundhog Job Shadowing Day and NetDay, as well as sponsoring non-profit groups like Habitat for Humanity.

Last year alone, BellSouth supported communities in its nine-state region through $27 million in sponsorships and corporate contributions, 12 million volunteer hours, service on more than 80 community boards of directors, $3 million in BellSouth Foundation grants and programs and more than $1.5 million in economic development efforts. BellSouth has selected to launch Community Matters in Atlanta.

"BellSouth owes a great deal to the city of Atlanta," Ackerman said. "Over the years, we have cultivated many great community relationships in Atlanta and as a result we decided to launch Community Matters here to demonstrate our long-term commitment to community support and involvement in Atlanta."

Today, BellSouth will celebrate Community Matters and a new three-year, $150,000 agreement with the community service organization, Hands On Atlanta, by joining students from two local grade schools in a variety of volunteer activities. BellSouth's contribution will assist Hands On Atlanta with many of its volunteer endeavors like working soup kitchens and youth mentoring programs.

BellSouth is a $24 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications, wireless communications, cable and digital TV, directory advertising and publishing, and Internet and data services to nearly 35 million customers in 19 countries worldwide.

NOTE: For more information about BellSouth Corporation, visit the BellSouth Web page at: http://www.bellsouth.com.