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                                                                   Exhibit 23(e)

          Consent of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

      We hereby consent to the use of our opinion letter dated September 6, 1996
to the Board of Directors of Bell Atlantic Corporation included as Appendix VI
to the Joint Proxy Statement which forms a part of the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 relating to the proposed combination of Bell Atlantic Corporation with
NYNEX Corporation and to the references to such opinion in such Joint Proxy
Statement under the captions "Summary-The Merger-Opinions of Financial
Advisors", "The Merger-Background of the Merger", "The Merger-Reasons for the
Merger; Recommendations of the Boards" and "Opinions of Financial
Advisors-Opinion of Bell Atlantic's Financial Advisor".

      In giving such consent, we do not admit that we come within the category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission thereunder, nor do we thereby admit that we are experts with respect
to any part of such Registration Statement within the meaning of the term
"experts" as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.

September 6, 1996                                  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER
                                                     & SMITH INCORPORATED