EXHIBIT 12

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

	(dollars in millions)
Years Ended December 31,	2004			2003			2002		2001			2000
Income from before provision for income taxes, discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and cumulative effect of accounting change	$	10,112		$	4,673		$	6,130	$	2,660		$	17,841
Minority interest		2,409			1,583			1,404		625			288
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated businesses		(1,691	)		(1,278	)		1,547		(446	)		(3,792	)
Dividends from unconsolidated businesses		162			198			97		178			215
Interest expense		2,384			2,797			3,130		3,276			3,406
Portion of rent expense representing interest		449			445			418		419			345
Amortization of capitalized interest		104			103			87		70			52
Income, as adjusted	$	13,929		$	8,521		$	12,813	$	6,782		$	18,355
Fixed charges:
Interest expense	$	2,384		$	2,797		$	3,130	$	3,276		$	3,406
Portion of rent expense representing interest		449			445			418		419			345
Capitalized interest		177			144			185		368			230
Preferred stock dividend requirement		8			12			18		61			26
Fixed Charges	$	3,018		$	3,398		$	3,751	$	4,124		$	4,007
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		4.62			2.51			3.42		1.64			4.58