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EXHIBIT 12

BellSouth Corporation
Computation Of Earnings To Fixed Charges
(Dollars In Millions)

			For the years ended December 31,
			1996			1997			1998			1999			2000
1. Earnings
	(a) Income from continuing operations before deductions for taxes and interest		$	5,329		$	6,182		$	6,588		$	6,518		$	7,926
	(b) Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor			90			91			81			99			105
	(c) Equity in losses from less-than-50% owned investments (accounted for under the equity method of accounting)			68			78			97			396			142
	(d) Excess of earnings over distributions of less-than-50%-owned investments (accounted for under the equity method of accounting)			(53	)		(85	)		(46	)		(87	)		(707	)
		TOTAL	$	5,434		$	6,266		$	6,720		$	6,926		$	7,466
2. Fixed Charges
	(a) Interest		$	739		$	783		$	867		$	1,059		$	1,361
	(b) Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor			90			91			81			99			105
		TOTAL	$	829		$	874		$	948		$	1,158		$	1,466
	Ratio (1 divided by 2)			6.55			7.17			7.09			5.98			5.09

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BellSouth Corporation Computation Of Earnings To Fixed Charges (Dollars In Millions)