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Bedminster NJ and Pittsburgh, PA, February 9, 1999 –– Bell Atlantic (NYSE: BEL) Mobile and Crown Communications, the domestic operating subsidiary of Crown Castle International Corp. (Nasdaq: TWRS), announced today that Brian D. Jacks has been designated President of the planned joint venture between the two companies. Once the joint venture closes, Mr. Jacks will be responsible for establishing and managing sales and operations for the new venture, and for overseeing its site construction activities.

The joint venture will own, operate, and actively advance the leasing of space on Bell Atlantic Mobile’s existing extensive network of over 1,400 high-quality wireless towers located in major markets throughout the eastern and southwestern United States. The companies plan to close the joint venture by the second Quarter.

"Brian’s vast experience in the cellular industry on the carrier side will enable the joint venture to meet Bell Atlantic’s exacting quality standards while offering co-location programs ideally suited to the rapidly expanding wireless industry," said John Kelly, President and COO of Crown Communications. "Transition planning for the new venture is proceeding smoothly and is ahead of schedule, and we look forward to Brian’s leadership."

"We are excited about Brian joining the new venture," said Dick Lynch, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Bell Atlantic Mobile. "His extensive experience in managing the maintenance, expansion, and optimization of Bell Atlantic Mobile’s network in New York, the largest wireless market in the country, and his background of integrating network operations in prior mergers and joint ventures will help ensure that this joint venture is successful in managing and growing its high quality tower portfolio."

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Jacks served as Executive Network Director of the New York metro market for Bell Atlantic Mobile since July 1995. He was responsible for the continuous buildout, performance, maintenance and enhancement of Bell Atlantic Mobile’s New York digital and packet data networks serving New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties – supervising the roll out of CDMA digital technology.

He oversaw the exclusive installation of the nation’s first integrated voice and data, 2-way radio, and AM-FM broadcast service in two of New York City’s major tunnels and also played a role in the integration of the operations of Metro Mobile and Nynex Mobile when they became part of Bell Atlantic Mobile through joint ventures.

"Brian is very innovative in working with communities to make sure both the communities’ and customers’ needs are met in getting cellular antennas approved and built," said Lynch. "

The new company, to be majority owned by Crown Castle International, will help Bell Atlantic Mobile respond to the soaring popularity of its DigitalChoice SingleRate(SM) service by building hundreds of new towers for the carrier. The joint venture will perform site acquisition, site design, and site construction activities, as well as offer co-location opportunities on its wireless tower portfolio. Bell Atlantic Mobile will lease back space on the towers under a global lease agreement.

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Bell Atlantic Mobile was named leader in overall customer satisfaction among wireless users in New York, Boston, Washington/Baltimore and Pittsburgh, according to the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates 1998 U.S. Wireless Customer Satisfaction Study (sm). Bell Atlantic Mobile owns and operates the largest wireless network in the East, covering 120,000 square miles, and the largest chain of retail outlets devoted exclusively to wireless voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell Atlantic Mobile has 6.2 million customers and 8,000 employees from Maine to Georgia and, through a separate subsidiary, in the Southwest. Through its "Wireless at Work…" community service program, the company uses its technology to help individuals and communities improve security and emergency communications. Bell Atlantic Mobile’s parent is one of the world's largest wireless communications companies, with domestic operations in 25 states and international investments in Mexico, Europe and the Pacific Rim. For more information on Bell Atlantic Mobile visit:

www.bam.com; on global operations visit: www.bellatlantic.com/worldwide.

Crown Castle International Corp. is a leading provider of communication sites and wireless network services and provides an array of related infrastructure and network support services to the wireless communications and radio and television broadcasting industries in the United States and internationally. In the United States and Puerto Rico, Crown Castle offers build-to-suit, site management, RF engineering services, tower rental space and coverage, and tower acquisitions to all types of wireless users though its domestic operating arm, Crown Communications. In the United Kingdom, Crown Castle offers world class broadcast engineering talent and almost 1,500 terrestrial broadcasting and telecommunication sites with universal broadcast coverage through its subsidiary, Castle Transmission International. By providing turnkey service, Crown Castle is able to customize a service program to meet its client’s design and transmission requirements. After the Bell Atlantic Mobile transaction is completed, Crown Castle International will own, operate and manage over 3,000 communication sites. Further information on Crown Castle International Corp. and its operating companies can be obtained through the companies’ web site,

www.crowncastle.com.