BELL ATLANTIC UNVEILS GATEWAY

Bell Atlantic introduced Common Carrier Signaling (CCS) Gateway Service to make it easier for IXCs to use Bell Atlantic's SS7 services to exchange signaling information associated with call set-up and completion. CCS Gateway Service is an outgrowth of the Telecom Act of 1996, which allows RBOCs to provide signaling services across LATAs. In the past if an IXC wanted to use Bell Atlantic's SS7 services it would need to have a presence in each of Bell Atlantic's regional calling areas, because RBOCs were prohibited from carrying signaling information across LATAs. CCS Gateway Services initially will offer five locations to link into Bell Atlantic's SS7 system. When connected to all five locations carriers will have access to nearly all of Bell Atlantic's LATAs in the mid-Atlantic states.