TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bell Atlantic Settlement: Bell Atlantic Corp., the last of the regional telephone companies without a labor contract, agreed to raise wages 11.74% over three years for 52,000 employees. The agreement, covering employees of Bell Atlantic Network Services and seven Bell Atlantic regional operating companies, also covers pensions, benefits, labor management and other issues. Local issues still have to be ironed out, and the agreement must be ratified by members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The current contract expired Aug. 8.