DR 97-180
                                     
                               BELL ATLANTIC
                                     
                Petition to Change "Call Around 603 (Plus)"
                                     
              Order Granting Motion for Proprietary Treatment
                                     
                          O R D E R  N O. 22,870
                                     
                              March 16, 1998
                                     
         On February 26, 1998, New England Telephone & Telegraph
     Company, now d/b/a Bell Atlantic (Bell Atlantic) filed with the
     New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (Commission), pursuant
     to Puc 203.04, a Motion for Confidential Treatment of certain
     information (Information) filed in support of proposed changes to
     Bell Atlantic's "CallAround 603 (Plus)" tariff.  "CallAround 603
     (Plus)" is an optional calling plan for New Hampshire customers
     which provides a flat rate for an hour of toll calling during
     certain hours and a discounted rate for certain other calls.  The
     proposed changes are part of Bell Atlantic's overall revenue
     reduction plan referred to in Order No. 22,861 (March 10, 1998)
     and will simplify this optional calling plan for residential
     customers.
         Bell Atlantic filed the Information in redacted form as
     well as full, unredacted copies of the Information.  Consistent
     with recent Commission orders, Bell Atlantic did not redact the
     relevant rates and charges.
         In its motion, Bell Atlantic states that the
     Information contains competitively-sensitive revenue analyses and
     targeted market segment usage information.  Bell Atlantic asserts
     that this Information falls within the exemptions from disclosure
     set forth in RSA 91-A:5,IV, as further defined in Puc 204.06.  In
     particular, Bell Atlantic asserts facts describing how release of
     the Information would provide competitors with an unfair
     competitive advantage in developing marketing strategies.  The
     benefits of non-disclosure, as measured by the described
     competitive harm inflicted on Bell Atlantic and the general body
     of ratepayers as a result of disclosure, outweigh the benefit of
     public disclosure, according to Bell Atlantic. 
         Bell Atlantic's motion presents facts demonstrating
     that the Information also meets the requirements of Puc
     204.06(c), that is, it is confidential, research, development,
     financial or commercial information.  The demonstration includes
     evidence showing the Information is not general public knowledge
     or published elsewhere and that measures have been taken to
     prevent dissemination in the ordinary course of business. 
     Specifically, Cynthia Bowman, Bell Atlantic's Senior Specialist,
     Product Management, attests that the information is compiled from
     internal data bases that are not publicly available and which are
     protected from dissemination by either Bell Atlantic or by 
     non-Bell Atlantic employees.
         The Commission recognizes that the Information is
     critical to review of the proposed CallAround 603(Plus) tariff
     changes.  Based on the company's representations, under the
     balancing test we have applied in prior cases, e.g., Re New
     England Telephone & Telegraph Company (Auditel), 80 NH PUC 437
     (1995); Re Bell Atlantic, Order No. 22,851 (February 17, 1998);
     Re EnergyNorth Natural Gas, Inc., Order No. 22,859 (February 24,
     1998), we find that the benefits to Bell Atlantic of non-disclosure in this case outweigh the benefits to the public of
     disclosure. 
         Based upon the foregoing, it is hereby
         ORDERED, that Bell Atlantic's Motion for Proprietary
     Treatment is GRANTED; and it is
         FURTHER ORDERED, that this Order is subject to the
     ongoing rights of the Commission, on its own motion or on the
     motion of Staff, any party or any other member of the public, to
     reconsider this Order in light of RSA 91-A, should circumstances
     so warrant.
                   By order of the Public Utilities Commission of New
     Hampshire this sixteenth day of March, 1998. 
     
     
     
                                                                     
        Douglas L. Patch    Bruce B. Ellsworth        Susan S. Geiger
            Chairman           Commissioner            Commissioner
     
     Attested by:
     
     
     
                                      
     Thomas B. Getz
     Executive Director and Secretary