EXHIBIT 12

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

	(dollars in millions)
Years Ended December 31,	2003			2002		2001			2000			1999
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, extraordinary items, and cumulative effect of accounting change	$	4,761		$	6,258	$	2,731		$	17,853		$	13,055
Minority interest		1,583			1,404		625			288			181
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated businesses		(1,278	)		1,547		(446	)		(3,792	)		(511	)
Dividends from unconsolidated businesses		198			97		178			215			336
Interest expense		2,797			3,130		3,276			3,406			2,586
Portion of rent expense representing interest		434			420		419			345			333
Amortization of capitalized interest		103			87		70			52			33
Income, as adjusted	$	8,598		$	12,943	$	6,853		$	18,367		$	16,013
Fixed charges:
Interest expense	$	2,797		$	3,130	$	3,276		$	3,406		$	2,586
Portion of rent expense representing interest		434			420		419			345			333
Capitalized interest		144			185		368			230			146
Preferred stock dividend requirement		12			18		59			26			106
Fixed Charges	$	3,387		$	3,753	$	4,122		$	4,007		$	3,171
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		2.54			3.45		1.66			4.58			5.05