EXHIBIT 5-a



                                        
Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.     John M. Walker
1710 H Street, NW                          Vice President and General Counsel, Secretary
11th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006                              [BELL ATLANTIC LOGO]
202 392-5296 Fax 202 887-9195                            
E-Mail: john.m.walker@BellAtlantic.com



                                                             September 30, 1998




Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
1710 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

      Re:  Registration Statement
           on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        Reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (which also
constitutes Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No.
33-53234) (the "Registration Statement") which Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C.,
Inc., a New York corporation (the "Company"), is filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registering
one or more series of up to $40,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of debt
securities (the "Securities") of the Company, to be issued under an Indenture
dated as of February 1, 1993 between the Company and Crestar Bank, Trustee.

        I am Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. I [or members of
my staff] have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and By-Laws, resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company, and such other documents and records as deemed appropriate for the
purpose of giving this opinion.

        Based upon the foregoing, it is my opinion that:

               1.   The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
                    existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
                    New York.

Bell Atlantic-Washington, D.C., Inc.
Page 2

               2.   The execution and delivery of the Indenture have been duly
                    authorized by the Company by appropriate corporate action,
                    and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
                    thereof by the Trustee, the Indenture is a valid and binding
                    agreement in accordance with its terms.

               3.   Upon issuance of the Securities, in accordance with the
                    terms of the resolutions relating thereto of the Board of
                    Directors of the Company and the Indenture, and receipt of
                    payment therefor, and in accordance with the terms of
                    legally required consents, approvals, authorizations and
                    other orders of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
                    any other regulatory authorities, the Securities will be
                    legally issued and binding obligations of the Company.

Insofar as the opinions expressed herein relate to or are dependent upon matters
governed by the laws of the State of New York, I have relied upon the opinion of
Darlene D. Kleiner, Esq., Counsel for Bell Atlantic Corporation (attached), who
is a member in good standing of the Bar of the State of New York.

               I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement
and to being named under the heading "Legal Opinions" in the Registration
Statement.

                                                              Very truly yours,

                                                              /s/ John M. Walker
                                                                  John M. Walker


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