EXHIBIT 12

COMPUTATION OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

BELLSOUTH CORPORATION

	For the years ended December 31,
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)	1999			2000			2001			2002			2003
Earnings
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, minority interest, discontinued operations, and cumulative effect of accounting change	$	5,703		$	6,537		$	4,120		$	5,367		$	5,424
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates		(199	)		(784	)		(681	)		(542	)		(452	)
Fixed Charges		1,116			1,348			1,268			1,195			1,061
Distributed income of equity affiliates		97			156			369			8			4
Interest capitalized		(29	)		(34	)		(31	)		(20	)		(8	)
Income, as adjusted	$	6,688		$	7,223		$	5,045		$	6,008		$	6,029
Fixed Charges
Interest expense	$	961		$	1,182		$	1,145		$	1,066		$	947
Interest capitalized		29			34			31			20			8
Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor		126			132			92			109			106
Fixed Charges	$	1,116		$	1,348		$	1,268		$	1,195		$	1,061
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		5.99			5.36			3.98			5.03			5.68

BELLSOUTH 2004      69