Exhibit 23


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc. on Form S-3 (File No. 33-53234) of our
report dated February 5, 1997, which includes an explanatory paragraph stating
that the Company changed its method of accounting for directory publishing
revenue and expenses in 1996 and  discontinued accounting for its operations in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting
for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," effective August 1, 1994, on
our audits of the financial statements and financial statement schedule of the
Company as of December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996, which report is included in this
Annual Report on Form 10-K.



/s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.



2400 Eleven Penn Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 25, 1997