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Verizon

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FY2002 Annual Report · Verizon
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Dorothy
Wireless Data Consultant

Mariano
International Operations

Progress:

2002 Annual Report

Scott
Database Manager

Rudy
Call Center Manager

Johnna
PBX Technician

Yvette
Residential Sales

Domestic Telecom 
Largest provider of local, long distance, data and broadband 
services to customers in two-thirds of the top 100 markets 
in the U.S.

— More than 30 million residential customers

— 10.4 million long distance customers, third in the U.S.

— 1.8 million DSL lines

Domestic Wireless
Premier wireless provider in U.S., with a network serving 49 of 
the top 50 markets

— 32.5 million customers, up 10.5 percent in 2002

— Revenues of $19.3 billion, up nearly 11 percent

— High-speed data network in all major markets

Information Services
Leading print and on-line directory publisher

— 2,100 directories in U.S. and 13 countries

— 156 million circulation worldwide

— 57 million monthly searches on SuperPages.com

International
Strategic investments in wireless and wireline businesses in the
Americas, Europe and the Pacific Rim

— 3.2 million proportionate access lines

— 8.7 million proportionate wireless subscribers

— $861 million in income from unconsolidated businesses

Financial Highlights

2002 REVENUES
(billions)

Domestic Telecom

$

41

61%

Domestic Wireless

$

19

28%

Information Services

$

4

6%

International

$

3

5%

Total $67 Billion

EARNINGS PER SHARE*
*before special items

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS
(billions)

2002

$3.05

2001

$3.00

2000

$2.91

2002

$1.54

2001

$1.54

2000

$1.54

2002

$22.1

2001

$19.8

2000

$15.8

The  2002  Annual  Report  is  printed  on  non-glossy,  recycled  paper  and  is  an
example  of  Verizon’s  commitment  to  sound  environmental  practices.  Other 
initiatives  include  aggressive  energy  conservation,  recycling  of  equipment  and
phone directories, and the innovative use of new technologies such as fuel cells
for  power  generation.  Our  leadership  on  environmental  issues  earned  Verizon
the EPA’s Energy Star Corporate Partner of the Year Award for 2002.    

How do you make progress? Win a Nobel Prize? 
Earn a gold medal? Change the world?
At Verizon, we believe progress is the sum of the little things we do every day to make life better 
for our customers and communities. Like listening to customers. Providing great service. 
Making communications simpler. Giving something back.  

Because we do what we do, a busy mother can order phone service over the Internet, 
even at 1 a.m. A Verizon employee volunteering his time and money to charity knows they’ll 
go twice as far because we match them dollar for dollar, hour for hour. And whether 
it’s by cell phone, computer or telephone, our customers know Verizon networks are the world’s 
most reliable way to make a connection.

We may not be changing the world overnight. But by focusing on what we do best — and doing 
it better tomorrow than we did yesterday — we make progress every day.   

Strongest nationwide 
wireless network
— Wall Street Journal

Best long distance, heavy users 
— J.D. Power 

Number one on-line directory
— Nielsen/NetRatings

Top telecom for on-line service
— Fortune

Most respected communications
brand in our service area
—Corporate Brand Tracker

1

Fellow Shareowners:

Ivan G. Seidenberg

—

THERE’S AN OLD ADAGE THAT STRONG COMPANIES GET STRONGER IN DIFFICULT TIMES. BY THAT MEASURE, VERIZON HAD A GOOD YEAR

IN ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING PERIODS IN MEMORY FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.

We  began  the  year  with  a  focus  on  execution,  fiscal  discipline 
and service and ended by meeting or exceeding our financial and 
operational targets.

We  began  with  a  belief  in  the  value  of  our  core  businesses 
and  new  technologies  and  ended  with  a  solid  track  record  of 
innovation, investment and growth.

We  began  with  a  determination  to  leverage  our  unified  brand
and ended the year with Verizon firmly established as the leading
brand for communications in our markets.

And  we  began  the  year  as  we  have  every  other  year  in  our 
existence, with a rock-solid value system and ethical management
team that sustained us through an extraordinarily difficult year for
corporate America.

In  short,  2002  was  a  year  of  progress  in  our  journey  toward
industry  leadership — a  journey  that  finds  us  stronger  today,  across
virtually every dimension of our company, than we were one year ago.

2002 Financial Performance: Focused on Fundamentals
In  a  contracting  industry,  Verizon’s  earnings  before  special  and
non-recurring  items  grew  1.7  percent  in  2002.  We  managed  to
hold revenues flat at $67 billion, offsetting the impact of the slow
economy,  increased  competition  and  outdated  regulation  with 
continued double-digit revenue growth from Verizon Wireless and
strong performance in long distance and broadband. 

Uncertain times require management to focus intensely on the
factors we can control, which we did with good results in 2002. We
improved  our  balance  sheet  by  shaving  more  than  $10  billion  off
our  debt  load,  a  reduction  of  almost  16  percent.  In  response 
to  declining  volumes  in  telecom,  we  reduced  the  size  of  our 
workforce. These and other cost-saving moves, along with contin-
uing  productivity  improvements,  resulted  in  significant  gains  in
operating income and free cash flow. With a leaner cost structure
and  industry-leading  results  in  the  fourth  quarter,  we  enter  2003
with a strong foundation and great momentum.

We are obviously not satisfied with the flat revenue growth we
experienced  last  year.  But  by  focusing  on  the  fundamentals,  we
essentially held our own in a year when most of the companies in
our  industry  were  shrinking.  The  same  can  be  said  for  our  stock
performance (depicted on the chart on page 3). When you include
dividends, Verizon’s total return to shareowners for 2002 was down
more  than  15  percent,  reflecting  the  market’s  general  uncertainty
about the impact of competition, technological change, regulation
and  the  continuing  recession  on  the  communications  industry.
More  broadly,  however,  Verizon  outperformed  the  S&P  Telecom

Services  Index,  as  well  as  the  S&P  500  Index,  indicating  our 
relative strength in a difficult market.

This is mixed news, at best, and demonstrates the need for us
to show that we can translate our belief in the growth potential of
communications into shareowner value. What is clear is the oper-
ational strength of our core businesses and the power of our inte-
grated business model. While we remain cautious about the eco-
nomic  environment  for  2003,  we  believe  the  market  will  reward
these strengths over the long term.

2002 Operating Results: Growth through Innovation
Our operational performance in 2002 demonstrates our continued
focus on growth, innovation and service. Despite increased com-
petition, we added customers and grew share in several markets.
Verizon Wireless ended the year with 32.5 million customers —
by far the largest customer base in the country. Not only is this a
more than 10 percent increase over 2001, it also represents prof-
itable growth, with margins and revenue per subscriber going up.
With  10.4  million  long  distance  subscribers,  we  are  now  the
third largest consumer long distance company in the marketplace
and — sometime in the first half of 2003 — expect to be able to pro-
vide  all  our  customers  with  a  full  package  of  local  and  long 
distance services.

We  continued  the  aggressive  transformation  of  our  telecom
business  to  a  more  data-centric,  high-speed  platform.  We  now
have  1.8  million  digital  subscriber  lines  and  enjoyed  9.2  percent
growth in data transport revenues.

We  are  becoming  a  premier  e-business  provider  with  our
SuperPages.com  on-line  directory  product  and  a  full-service 
electronic portal in Verizon.com.

And  we  focused  our  international  investments  on  those 
businesses — mainly  in  the  Americas  and  Canada — that  have 
synergy  with  our  domestic  wireless,  wireline  and  directory 
businesses.  Going  forward,  our  international  portfolio  will  be  a
smaller,  stronger  set  of  companies,  characterized  by  the  same
operational excellence that distinguishes our core businesses.

We  also  showed  we  could  do  what  infrastructure  businesses
like  ours  do:  invest  in  and  operate  great  networks  and  grow
through innovation.

We  invested  $12  billion  in  capital,  much  of  it  to  upgrade  our
wireless and wireline networks with higher-speed capabilities. We
were  the  first  to  offer  a  complete  bundle  of  services  for  the 
consumer  market,  gaining  more  than  half  a  million  customers 
for  our  VeriationsSM packages  that  combine  local,  long  distance,

2

2002 RELATIVE STOCK PERFORMANCE

Verizon

S&P500 Index

S&P Telecom Svcs Index

$47.46

$38.75

10%

0%

-10%

-20%

-30%

-40%

-50%

-60%

1/01/02

3/31/02

6/30/02

9/30/02

12/31/02

broadband and wireless services. With Enterprise Advance, we are
bringing  to  market  an  integrated,  managed  suite  of  services  for
large business customers. Verizon Wireless continued its record of
innovation  by  introducing  new  wireless  data  and  downloadable
applications.  And  Verizon  Information  Services  is  transforming  its
traditional  directory  business  into  one  of  the  leading  electronic
commerce providers in the world.

Through  it  all,  we  continue  to  focus  on  the  essence  of  our 
business: delivering great service to customers. According to inter-
nal and external metrics — from customer surveys to J. D. Power 
ratings — the  quality  of  service  went  up  in  2002,  as  it  has  every
year since Verizon was formed.

Our  efforts  in  2002  strengthened  our  competitive  position,
improved our cost structure, and made our already advanced net-
works even more robust. We have the scale, scope and financial
strength required to compete in this industry. And we are proving,
year  after  year,  that  we  have  the  right  strategy  for  delivering  the
benefits of our assets to the marketplace.

Commitment to Leadership
Of course, as we saw in 2002, even sound business models can
be  undermined  fatally  if  they  are  not  based  on  a  foundation  of
strong values and ethical management.

Our Board of Directors, led by Chairman Chuck Lee, deserves
special recognition for its steadfast ethical guidance and insistence
on sound governance practices. So too does the Verizon leader-
ship team for ensuring our adherence to a rigorous code of con-
duct  for  all  employees.  (See  “Straight  Talk”  on  page  8  for  a 
further discussion of these topics.) The Verizon leadership team is
arguably  the  most  experienced,  diverse  and  proven  in  all  of  tele-
com. They managed to do the right things the right way in 2002.

Our  employees  deserve  special  mention,  as  well,  for  their 
dedication to our customers, their focus on results in a tumultuous
year, and their can-do spirit in an age when too many people find
it easier to make excuses than to make progress.

The months ahead will put that resourcefulness to the test.
Verizon has achieved a position of leadership in communications.
We  have  assembled  the  assets  and  established  a  record  of  per-
formance that others in our business have yet to match. 

Now we must do what leaders do — raise the bar for ourselves

and the industry. 

Technology  businesses  create  the  future  through  innovation.
For  us — and,  more  important,  for  the  American  economy — that
means broadband and wireless. We must continue to break down
the regulatory barriers to investment in new technologies that will
unleash  a  new  era  of  productivity  and  growth  across  the  entire

technology  sector.  In  the  meantime,  we  are  pushing  forward 
with  the  next  generation  of  services  to  ensure  that  Verizon’s 
customers — whether  they  come  to  us  through  wireless,  telecom
or SuperPages — will be the first to receive the benefits of a truly
integrated broadband experience.

The  quest  for  leadership  is  a  long-term  game.  Our  challenge 
is  to  fight  our  way  through  all  the  doubts  about  the  future  of 
communications,  continue  to  turn  in  superior  operating  perform-
ance, and deliver the sustainable value creation that characterizes
the truly great corporations. 

Fortunately,  we  love  what  we  do.  We  believe  in  our  business
model, our technology and our people. We know that we have a
great and vital role to play in revitalizing the communications indus-
try and, with it, the technology engine of the economy. And we’re
prepared to step up to the plate and do what we do best — invest,
innovate and deliver great service — to reignite the market’s excite-
ment about the possibilities of communications to change people’s
lives for the better.

Verizon’s journey to being one of America’s flagship companies
will  never  be  over.  But  as  we  showed  in  2002 — and  as  we  will
demonstrate again in the years to come — we’re making progress
every day.

IVAN G. SEIDENBERG
Chief Executive Officer

A Note of Thanks

Verizon gratefully acknowledges the service of four directors who
are leaving our board this year.  John Snow has joined the 
Bush Administration as U.S. Treasury Secretary. Edward Budd,
Robert Daniell and Helene Kaplan will retire upon reaching 
the board’s mandatory retirement age. Their leadership, integrity
and acumen have helped build not only Verizon’s assets but 
also our character.

We also extend a special thank-you to Fred Salerno, who retired 
in 2002 as vice chairman and chief financial officer. His strategic
vision and moral fiber are part of our foundation and constitute a
lasting legacy to Verizon’s shareowners and employees.

3

—

In the communications business, the foundation for innovation is a great network—
or, in Verizon’s case, networks. We invested $12 billion in wireless and telecom 
networks in 2002: adding 400,000 miles of fiber-optic cable, extending DSL to 60
percent of our lines, and enhancing our wireless network with higher-speed data
capabilities. The bigger challenge is putting the power of all this technology to work
for customers—helping them make progress with products that save them time,
money and aggravation. At Verizon, our goal is to be the market leader in delivering
innovative, integrated communications solutions to customers at home, at work 
and on the go.

4

Innovation:
Great companies transform 
themselves from within — building on
their core strengths to create new
products, services and markets.

VERIZON CAN TURN YOUR HOME INTO A HIGH-SPEED DATA HUB, YOUR OFFICE INTO AN ENGINE OF PRODUCTIVITY, AND YOUR CELL

PHONE, LAPTOP OR PDA INTO A PORTAL TO THE INTERNET. EVEN BETTER, WE CAN PUT IT ALL TOGETHER — ONE BUNDLE, ONE BILL,

ONE TRUSTED SOURCE FOR ALL YOUR COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS.

At home

At work

Anywhere you go

— Verizon DSL provides high-speed

— With Enterprise Advance, large 

— With America’s ChoiceSM, Verizon

Internet access over a dedicated line
that lets you click and connect in an
instant. And with Home Networking,
all your computers and laptops can
share the same great connection.

— Customers logged on to our 

e-commerce portal, Verizon.com,
more than 60 million times in 2002 to
pay bills, order service, change their
address — any time, day or night, at
the touch of a button.

— Put it all together with VeriationsSM —

our convenient bundles of local calling
plans, long distance, wireless,
advanced calling features and DSL, 
all available on one bill.

business customers get managed,
end-to-end communications 
services that take advantage of
Verizon’s national scale, high-speed
data networks, and unrivalled network
operating experience.

— No directory in the world links more
buyers and sellers than Verizon
SuperPages. Our on-line version,
SuperPages.com, has more than
100,000 advertisers, lists more 
than 15 million businesses, and has
more unique visitors than Yahoo 
yellow pages.

— After a successful trial in Boston,

Verizon will bring the benefits of fast,
economical data communications to
small businesses in other cities
by using wireless fidelity, or “Wi-Fi,”
technology to establish high-speed
data networks in offices and stores.

Wireless’s simple, nationwide price
plan, you can call from anywhere on
our network without roaming or long
distance charges. More important,
you know your call will be carried on a
network whose quality is checked by
real-life Test Men and Women, who
cover 100,000 miles every month to
make sure your call goes through.

— Express Network, our high-speed
wireless data network, makes the
Internet accessible wherever you 
are, over your laptop or personal
digital assistant. 

— Only Verizon Wireless lets you Get It
NowSM — download applications to
your wireless phone that let you read a
restaurant review, get directions, see if
your plane is on time, even play golf
with Tiger Woods.

5

—

The more people connected to a network, the more valuable it is to those who use
it. That’s the idea that underlies our business. It’s also the philosophy behind 
our commitment to our communities. Our aim is to mobilize and empower the 
millions of individuals and organizations—employees, retirees, customers and non-
profits—that comprise the Verizon community, putting the tools for progress 
into the hands of people who can make a difference on the local level. We promote
employee volunteerism through matching gift programs that recognize contributions
of money and time. And we are helping build a strong and lasting infrastructure 
for progress by making sure people have the fundamental skills—like literacy and
access to technology—to succeed in the digital era.

Commitment:
Verizon defines “commitment” the
same way we have for a hundred
years: developing our people, giving
back to our communities, staying 
true to our values.

6

Diversity

Community involvement

Literacy

For Verizon, diversity is a business 
imperative. Our employees’ diverse
experiences, cultures and perspectives
help us serve our multicultural markets
more effectively.

— Fortune magazine recognized Verizon’s
commitment to an inclusive workplace
by naming us one of the “50 Best
Companies for Minorities” in 2002.
Verizon Wireless was also cited as one
of the top 100 companies in America
by Working Mother magazine.

— We promote economic empowerment
by buying more than $1.8 billion in
goods and services from businesses
owned by minorities, women, people
with disabilities and Vietnam veterans.
We also use minority-owned 
investment firms to help manage our
pension funds.

— From multilingual call centers to the

nation’s only Spanish-language on-line
directory — SuperPages.com en
Español — we are making Verizon 
easier to do business with for the
more than 40 million Hispanics in the
United States and Puerto Rico.

Our approach to philanthropy is unique
not so much for what we do, but for 
how we do it: We’re on-line, bilingual, 
community-based and largely volunteer.

— The Verizon Foundation invested $75
million in communities nationwide in
2002, making it one of the top ten
corporate foundations in the U.S.

— Verizon Wireless puts the power 

of wireless to work to help victims of
domestic violence through its
HopelineSM program. In the past two
years, Hopeline has donated more
than 7,200 wireless phones, airtime,
and more than $1 million to support
domestic violence shelters and 
prevention programs.

— Through a unique approach that puts
the power to serve communities 
in the hands of employees, Verizon
Volunteers matches employee gifts of
money and time to qualified nonprofit
organizations, anywhere in the U.S.
Employees and retirees responded in
2002 by donating more than $15 
million and logging more than half a
million hours of community service.

Verizon is dedicated to being America’s
Literacy Champion through our signature
program, Verizon Reads. We encourage
collaboration among literacy organizations
to improve the lives of the millions of
Americans with low literacy skills.

— Our annual book drive, Season’s
Readings, brightened the lives of 
thousands of people over the holidays. 
Verizon employees donated nearly
120,000 books and pledged to spend
some 50,000 hours reading to kids.

— Whether it’s the strength of New York
Giant Tiki Barber, the soul of singer 
Al Jarreau, or the stamina of blind
mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer,
Verizon’s celebrity Literacy Champions
use their gifts to raise awareness 
and inspire hope about literacy issues.

— SuperPages.com uses the Internet to

bring the power of reading and 
technology to families and educators. 
Enlighten Me is an on-line resource
with book reviews, tutorials, games
and a search engine that puts a world
of resources at your fingertips. 

7

Straight Talk:
From Ivan Seidenberg

WHAT ASSURANCES CAN YOU GIVE INVESTORS THAT THE ETHICAL

PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED SOME OTHER COMPANIES WILL

NOT AFFECT VERIZON?

Verizon’s core values of integrity and respect are a fundamental
part of our culture. We have one of the most rigorous codes 
of conduct in corporate America, which applies to all employees
worldwide. We also publish standards of conduct for our suppli-
ers. We train and certify all our employees on their understanding
of compliance and ethics issues. And we operate several 
confidential ethics hotlines that employees can use, 24x7, to
report any questionable conduct. (For a look at Verizon’s code of
conduct, see “About Verizon” on our website, www.verizon.com.)

WHAT ARE THE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN YOUR FINANCIAL

REPORTING PROCESS?

Investors can be confident that Verizon follows all generally
accepted accounting principles, and that our financial results
accurately and fairly present the financial condition of the 
company. Our CFO, Doreen Toben, and I personally certify our
results after a thorough review process that involves all our 
business units and thousands of people, across, up and down
our organization. 

From an auditing standpoint, we are scrutinized in a number of
ways, by at least three sets of eyes. Our independent auditors,
Ernst & Young, examine our financial results. Our internal 
auditing team audits our management controls and processes.
And both sets of auditors report on their activities to the Audit
and Finance Committee of the board. By the way, in selecting
Ernst & Young, we deliberately chose an auditing firm that 
had not worked for either of our predecessor companies, 
ensuring ourselves an objective look at our company when it 
was formed.

ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU HAVE IN THE

PAST AS A RESULT OF NEW OR PROPOSED CHANGES IN REQUIRE-

MENTS PERTAINING TO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE?

We conducted a formal review of our board governance guide-
lines and practices and are satisfied that they are fundamentally
sound. We determined that our board structure and practices
were already in line with most of the new requirements. We made
some changes to our corporate governance guidelines, including
even more rigorous independence standards for directors. We
have also made some changes in our financial reporting to pro-

8

vide better and more understandable financial information to
shareowners. For example, we decided to expense employee
stock options granted after January 1, 2003 and to communicate
the impact we expect reduced pension income will have on 
our 2003 results – steps designed to make our results more
transparent to investors. (A copy of our Corporate Governance
Guidelines can be found on our investor website.)

SHOULD VERIZON’S LARGE DEFINED-BENEFIT PENSION PLAN 

BE A CONCERN FOR INVESTORS, GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT 

FUNDING THAT SOME OTHER COMPANIES HAVE HAD TO PROVIDE

FOR THEIR PLANS?

Actually, we have several different pension plans, a majority of
which are adequately funded. Based on the funded status 
of the plans at the end of 2002, there will be no significant cash 
contributions required through 2003.

Our pension funds consist of a well-diversified, balanced portfolio
of assets that has performed reasonably well in spite of 
the downturn in the market. We expect our pension assets will 
continue to be sufficient to cover our obligations to retirees.

HOW SHOULD INVESTORS THINK ABOUT YOUR INVESTMENT 

WRITE-DOWNS IN 2002?

We certainly have made some investments that didn’t work out.
Some turned out not to be a strategic fit, some suffered from a
bad economic or political climate, and some, frankly, were based
on growth assumptions that didn’t materialize. If you look at 
our record over time, you’d find that we’ve gained more than
we’ve lost from strategic investments, but clearly we’re not
immune from the problems that have beset telecom investments
over the last few years. 

The difference is, we didn’t build Verizon on a foundation of false
assumptions. The biggest investments we’ve made have been
the mergers that formed a company with the best collection of
assets in the communications business. Our bet-your-company
moves have worked, and we’re confident they will produce true
long-term shareowner value.

IS VERIZON’S DIVIDEND STABLE – AND, IF SO, WILL IT GO UP 

ANY TIME SOON?

Our dividend is very stable. Our strong operating businesses 
generate sufficient cash not only to fund our dividends, but 
also a significant capital investment program. Looking ahead, our
first priority for free cash flow is to continue to pay down debt, 
as we did in 2002. If the economy improves and we continue 
to generate strong cash flow growth, we will have the flexibility to
consider raising the dividend in the future. 

AS OF YEAR-END 2002, MANY COMPANIES HAD TAKEN CAUTIOUS,

WAIT-AND-SEE OUTLOOKS. HOW DOES VERIZON APPROACH THE

FUTURE? WHERE DO YOU SEE THE COMPANY IN FIVE YEARS? 

We approach the future with confidence. We know that there are
challenges ahead, but we are transforming our business to meet
the changing marketplace. Our immediate goal is to widen 
the gap between Verizon and other companies in the telecommu-
nications business. Our longer-term goal is more ambitious. It 
has always been our core corporate goal to create the most
respected brand in communications. Our aspiration over the next
five years is to create the most respected brand. Period.

Financial Contents

Selected Financial Data

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

Report of Management

Report of Independent Auditors

Consolidated Statements of Income

Consolidated Balance Sheets 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareowners’ Investment

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Board of Directors

Officers and Leadership 

Investor Information 

10

11

35

35

36

37

38

39

40

68

68

Inside Back Cover

9

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Results of Operations
Operating revenues
Operating income
Income before extraordinary items 

and cumulative effect of accounting change

Per common share – basic
Per common share – diluted

Net income
Net income available to common shareowners

Per common share – basic
Per common share – diluted

Cash dividends declared per common share

Financial Position
Total assets
Long-term debt
Employee benefit obligations
Minority interest, including a portion 
subject to redemption requirements

Shareowners’ investment

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

2002

2001

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
1998
1999

2000

$

67,625
14,997

$

67,190
11,532

$

64,707
16,758

$

58,194
15,953

$

57,075
11,756

4,584
1.67
1.67
4,079
4,079
1.49
1.49
1.54

590
.22
.22
389
389
.14
.14
1.54

10,810
3.98
3.95
11,797
11,787
4.34
4.31
1.54

8,296
3.03
2.98
8,260
8,260
3.02
2.97
1.54

$ 167,468
44,791
15,390

$ 170,795
45,657
11,898

$ 164,735
42,491
12,543

$ 112,830
32,419
13,744

$

24,141
32,616

22,149
32,539

21,830
34,578

1,900
26,376

5,326
1.94
1.92
4,980
4,948
1.81
1.79
1.54

98,164
33,064
14,788

2,490
21,435

• Significant events affecting our historical earnings trends in 2000 through 2002 are described in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial

Condition.

• 1999 data includes a net gain on the sale of assets, merger-related costs and other special and non-recurring items.

• 1998 data includes retirement incentive costs, merger-related costs and other special and non-recurring items.

10

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

OVERVIEW

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Verizon Communications Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers
of  communications  services.  Verizon  companies  are  the  largest
providers  of  wireline  and  wireless  communications  in  the  United
States,  with  135.8  million  access  line  equivalents  and  32.5  million
wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in
the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and 229,500
employees, Verizon’s global presence extends to 32 countries in the
Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

We have four reportable segments, which we operate and manage as
strategic  business  units:  Domestic  Telecom,  Domestic  Wireless,
International  and  Information  Services.  Domestic  Telecom  includes
local, long distance and other telecommunication services. Domestic
Wireless products and services include wireless voice and data serv-
ices,  paging  services  and  equipment  sales.  International  operations
include wireline and wireless communications operations and invest-
ments  in  the  Americas,  Europe,  Asia  and  the  Pacific.  Information
Services  consists  of  our  domestic  and  international  publishing 
businesses, 
and  electronic
SuperPages.com® directories,  as  well  as  includes  website  creation
and other electronic commerce services.

including  print  SuperPages®

In this section, we discuss our overall results of operations and high-
light  special  and  non-recurring  items.  In  the  following  section,  we
review the performance of our four reportable segments. We exclude
the effects of the special and non-recurring items from the segments’
results  of  operations  since  management  does  not  consider  them  in
assessing segment performance, due primarily to their non-recurring
and/or non-operational nature. We believe that this presentation will
assist readers in better understanding our results of operations and
trends from period to period. This section on consolidated results of
operations  carries  forward  the  segment  results,  which  exclude  the
special and non-recurring items, and highlights and describes those
items separately to ensure consistency of presentation in this section
and the “Segment Results of Operations” section.

The special and non-recurring items include operating results through
the sale date of 1.27 million non-strategic access lines sold in 2002,
1.6 million non-strategic access lines sold during 2000 and the con-
solidated results of Genuity Inc. through June 30, 2000, which are not
included in segment results of operations to enhance comparability.
In  addition,  consolidated  operating  results  include  several  other
events  and  transactions  that  are  highlighted  because  of  their 
non-recurring  and/or  non-operational  nature.  See  “Special  and 
Non-Recurring Items” for additional discussion of these items.

The  significant  items  impacting  Verizon’s  consolidated  revenues,
consolidated  operating  expenses  and  consolidated  net  income  are
summarized below and described in additional detail in the “Segment
Results  of  Operations,”  “Special  and  Non-Recurring  Items”  and
“Other Consolidated Results” sections.

Consolidated Revenues

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

% Change

Domestic Telecom
Domestic Wireless
International
Information Services
Corporate & Other
Special and Non-Recurring Items
Consolidated Revenues

nm – Not meaningful

$

$

40,712
19,260
2,962
4,287
(219)
623
67,625

$

$

42,081
17,393
2,337
4,313
69
997
67,190

(3.3)%
10.7
26.7
(0.6)
nm
(37.5)
0.6

2001

42,081
17,393
2,337
4,313
69
997
67,190

$

$

(dollars in millions)
% Change

2000

$

$

42,322
14,236
1,976
4,144
(276)
2,305
64,707

(0.6)%
22.2
18.3
4.1
nm
(56.7)
3.8

2002 Compared to 2001
Domestic Telecom’s 2002 revenues were lower than 2001 by $1,369
million.  Local  service  revenues  declined  $1,167  million,  or  5.4%  in
2002 largely due to lower demand and usage of our basic local wire-
line services and mandated intrastate price reductions. Our network
access revenues increased $327 million, or 2.5% in 2002 mainly as a
result of higher customer demand for data transport services (prima-
rily special access services and digital subscriber lines, or DSL). Long
distance  service  revenues  increased  $100  million,  or  3.3%  in  2002
primarily  as  a  result  of  revenue  growth  from  our  interLATA  long  dis-
tance  services  offered  throughout  the  region,  partially  offset  by  the
effects of competition and toll calling discount packages and product
bundling offers of our intraLATA toll services. In 2002, revenues from

other  services  declined  $629  million,  or  13.7%  substantially  due  to
lower customer premises equipment and supply sales to some major
customers, lower volumes at some of our non-regulated businesses
due  to  the  slowing  economy  and  a  decline  in  public  telephone  rev-
enues  as  more  customers  substituted  wireless  communications  for
pay telephone services.

Domestic  Wireless’s  revenues  were  higher  by  $1,867  million  in
2002,  largely  due  to  customer  additions  and  higher  revenue  per
customer per month. Our Domestic Wireless segment ended 2002
with  32.5  million  customers,  an  increase  of  10.5%  over  year-end
2001 and average revenue per customer per month grew by 1.1%
to $48.35 in 2002.

11

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Revenues earned by International grew by $625 million in 2002 pri-
marily  due  to  the  consolidation  of  Telecomunicaciones  de  Puerto
Rico,  Inc.  (TELPRI)  partially  offset  by  the  deconsolidation  of  CTI
Holdings, S.A. (CTI) in 2002. Adjusting 2001 for the consolidation of
TELPRI and the deconsolidation of CTI to be comparable with 2002,
revenues generated by our international businesses declined by $210
million,  or  6.6%  in  2002  due  primarily  to  the  weak  economies  and
increased  competition  in  our  Latin  America  markets  as  well  as
reduced software sales.

Lower  special  and  non-recurring  items  in  2002  of  $374  million  are
the result of the sales of wireline access lines in the third quarter of
2002, compared to a full year of results of operations for those lines
in 2001.

2001 Compared to 2000
Domestic  Telecom  ended  2001  with  a  decline  in  revenues  of  $241
million  compared  to  2000.  In  2001,  local  service  revenues  declined
$138 million, or 0.6% due to the effects of lower demand and usage
of  our  basic  local  wireline  services  and  mandated  intrastate  price
reductions. Our network access revenues grew $270 million, or 2.1%
in 2001 due mainly to higher customer demand, primarily for special
access  services  (including  DSL).  Long  distance  service  revenues
declined  $41  million,  or  1.3%  in  2001  primarily  due  to  competition
and  the  effects  of  toll  calling  discount  packages  and  product
bundling offers of our intraLATA toll services, largely offset by revenue
growth  from  our  interLATA  long  distance  services.  Revenues  from
other services declined $332 million, or 6.7% in 2001 principally as a
result  of  lower  sales  of  customer  premises  equipment,  a  decline  in

public  telephone  revenues  as  more  customers  substituted  wireless
communications  for  pay  telephone  services,  and  lower  billing  and
collection  revenues  reflecting  the  take-back  of  these  services  by
interexchange carriers.

Revenues earned by Domestic Wireless in 2001 grew by $3,157 mil-
lion.  By  including  the  revenues  of  the  properties  of  the  Verizon
Wireless  joint  venture  and  excluding  the  impact  of  wireless  overlap
properties in 2000 on a basis comparable with 2001, revenues were
$2,030  million,  or  13.2%,  higher  than  2000.  On  this  comparable
basis, revenue growth was largely attributable to customer additions
and  slightly  higher  revenue  per  customer  per  month.  Our  domestic
wireless customer base grew to 29.4 million customers in 2001, com-
pared to 26.8 million customers in 2000, an increase of nearly 10%. 

Revenues earned by International grew by $361 million in 2001, pri-
marily  due  to  an  increase  in  wireless  revenues  resulting  from  an
increase in wireless subscribers of consolidated subsidiaries.

Revenues  from  our  Information  Services  segment  increased  $169
million in 2001. This increase was due primarily to growth in directory
advertising  revenues  and  extension  revenues,  continued  growth  of
our Internet directory service, SuperPages.com®, and increased rev-
enue from a 2001 acquisition.

Special and non-recurring items include the revenues associated with
significant operations sold, primarily the wireline access lines in 2002
and 2000 as well as revenues of Genuity reported prior to the decon-
solidation of Genuity on June 30, 2000, and represented a reduction
of consolidated revenues in 2001 of $1,308 million.

Consolidated Operating Expenses

Consolidated operating expenses include operations and support expense, depreciation and amortization and sales of assets, net.

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

% Change

Domestic Telecom
Domestic Wireless
International
Information Services
Corporate & Other
Special and Non-Recurring Items
Consolidated Operating Expenses

nm – Not meaningful

$

$

31,730
15,620
2,355
2,173
(707)
1,457
52,628

$

$

32,847
15,088
2,044
2,040
(651)
4,290
55,658

(3.4)%
3.5
15.2
6.5
8.6
(66.0)
(5.4)

2001

32,847
15,088
2,044
2,040
(651)
4,290
55,658

$

$

(dollars in millions)
% Change

2000

$

$

32,750
12,457
1,714
2,100
(584)
(488)
47,949

0.3%

21.1
19.3
(2.9)
11.5
nm
16.1

2002 Compared to 2001
Domestic Telecom’s operations and support expenses decreased in
2002 by $1,302 million, or 5.5% principally due to reduced spending
for materials and contracted services, driven by lower capital expen-
ditures,  strong  cost  control  management,  business  integration
activities and achievement of merger synergies. Lower overtime for
installation  and  maintenance  activity  principally  as  a  result  of
reduced  volumes  at  our  dispatch  and  call  centers  and  lower 
employee costs associated with declining workforce levels also con-
tributed to the decline in operating costs. In addition, lower cost of
sales  at  our  customer  premises  equipment  and  supply  business
driven by declining business volumes contributed to the 2002 cost
reductions.  These  cost  reductions  were  partially  offset  by  higher
costs associated with our growth businesses such as data and long
distance  services,  salary  and  wage  increases,  higher  employee

medical costs and higher uncollectible accounts receivable for com-
petitive  local  exchange  carriers  (CLECs)  and  other  wholesale
customers.  The  increase  in  depreciation  and  amortization  expense
included  the  effect  of  growth  in  depreciable  telephone  plant  and
increased software amortization costs. These factors were offset, in
part, by the effect of lower rates of depreciation.

Operations and support expenses at Domestic Wireless increased in
2002 by $948 million, or 8.3% due primarily to increased advertising
and selling expenses related to an increase in gross retail customer
additions in 2002 compared to 2001, as well as increased salary and
wage  expense  in  customer  care  and  sales  channels.  Depreciation
and  amortization  expense  decreased  in  2002  by  $416  million,  or
11.2%  as  a  result  of  a  reduction  of  amortization  expense  from  the
adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No.

12

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

142,  “Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets,”  effective  January  1,
2002,  which  requires  that  goodwill  and  indefinite-lived  intangible
assets no longer be amortized. This decrease was partially offset by
increased depreciation expense related to the increase in depreciable
assets related to an increased asset base.

International’s  operations  and  support  expenses  increased  by  $201
million, or 12.4% in 2002 primarily due to the consolidation of TELPRI
partially offset by the deconsolidation of CTI in 2002. Adjusting 2001
to  be  comparable  with  2002,  operations  and  support  expense
decreased  $190  million,  or  9.4%  in  2002  reflecting  lower  variable
costs  associated  with  reduced  sales  volumes  in  Latin  America  and
credits  related  to  the  settlement  of  a  contract  dispute  in  2002.
Depreciation  and  amortization  expense  increased  $110  million,  or
26.1% in 2002 primarily due to the consolidation of TELPRI partially
offset  by  the  deconsolidation  of  CTI  in  2002.  Adjusting  2001  to  be
comparable  with  2002,  depreciation  and  amortization  expense
decreased $3 million, or 0.6% in 2002.

Consolidated operating expenses in 2002 were favorably impacted
by  special  and  non-recurring  items  including  the  pretax  gains  on
sales, net of $2,747 million, primarily from the non-strategic access
line sales, compared to exit costs of $350 million in 2001, lower tran-
sition costs of $529 million compared to 2001 and lower operating
expenses of $172 million related to the sales of wireline access lines
in the third quarter of 2002. This benefit is partially offset by higher
severance,  pension  and  benefit  charges  of  $355  million  and  other
special and non-recurring items of $610 million in 2002. Other spe-
cial  and  non-recurring  items  are  primarily  comprised  of  asset
impairment charges.

2001 Compared to 2000
Domestic  Telecom’s  operations  and  support  expenses  declined  in
2001 by $601 million, or 2.5% as a result of strong cost containment
measures,  merger-related  savings  and  other  cost  reductions.
Operating  expenses  included  increased  costs  associated  with  our
growth  businesses  such  as  long  distance  and  data  services.  Also
included in 2001 operating expenses is a pretax charge of $285 mil-
lion ($172 million after-tax, or $.06 per diluted share) related to losses,
and service disruption and restoration costs, net of insurance recov-
ery,  associated  with  the  September  11,  2001  terrorist  attacks  (also
see  “Segment  Results  of  Operations-Domestic  Telecom”).  Verizon’s
insurance policies are limited to losses of $1 billion for each occur-
rence and include a deductible of $1 million. The cost and insurance
recovery  were  recorded  in  accordance  with  Emerging  Issues  Task
Force  (EITF)  Issue  No.  01-10,  “Accounting  for  the  Impact  of  the
Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001.” Depreciation and amortiza-
tion expense increased by $698 million, or 8.2%, in 2001 principally
due to growth in depreciable telephone plant and increased software
amortization costs. These factors were partially offset by the effect of
lower rates of depreciation.

Domestic Wireless’s operations and support expenses increased by
$1,816  million,  or  19.0%  in  2001.  By  including  the  expenses  of  the
properties  of  the  Verizon  Wireless  joint  venture  in  2000  on  a  basis
comparable  with  2001,  operations  and  support  expenses  were
$1,186 million, or 11.6% higher than 2000. Higher costs were attrib-
utable to the growth in the subscriber base as well as the continuing
migration of analog customers to digital. Depreciation and amortiza-
tion expense increased by $815 million, or 28.2% in 2001. Adjusting

for  the  joint  venture  in  a  manner  similar  to  operations  and  support
expenses above, depreciation and amortization was $336 million, or
10.0% higher than 2000. Capital expenditures for our cellular network
increased in 2001 to support increased demand in all markets.

Operations and support expenses of International increased by $263
million,  or  19.4%  in  2001.  The  higher  costs  in  2001  were  primarily
generated  by  the  Global  Solutions  Inc.  start-up  and  its  continued
expansion throughout 2001. Depreciation and amortization expense
increased by $67 million, or 18.9% in 2001 due to the capital expen-
ditures necessary to support the growth in cellular customers. 

The  special  and  non-recurring  items  include  operating  expenses
associated with operations sold, primarily the wireline access lines in
2002  and  2000  as  well  as  Genuity’s  operating  expenses  reported
prior to the deconsolidation of Genuity on June 30, 2000 and other
special and non-recurring items, and represented a reduction of con-
solidated operating expenses in 2001 of $1,411 million.

Consolidated operating expenses in 2001 also included several other
special  and  non-recurring  items.  Transition  costs  related  to  the  Bell
Atlantic  Corporation-GTE  Corporation  merger  and  the  formation  of
the  Verizon  Wireless  joint  venture  were  $1,039  million  ($578  million
after  taxes  and  minority  interest,  or  $.21  per  diluted  share)  in  2001,
compared to $694 million ($316 million after taxes and minority inter-
est, or $.12 per diluted share) in 2000. In addition, we recognized net
losses in operations related to sales of assets, impairments of assets
held for sale and other charges of $350 million ($226 million after-tax,
or $.08 per diluted share) in 2001, compared to net gains related to
sales of assets and impairments of assets held for sale of $3,793 mil-
lion ($1,987 million after-tax, or $.73 per diluted share). Also in 2001,
we recorded a special charge of $1,596 million ($984 million after-tax,
or $.36 per diluted share) primarily associated with employee sever-
ance costs and related pension enhancements. In 2000, we recorded
pension  settlement  gains  of  $911  million  ($564  million  after-tax,  or
$.21 per diluted share). Those gains relate to settlements of pension
obligations  for  some  former  GTE  employees.  Also  in  2001,  we
recorded a charge of $672 million ($663 million after-tax, or $.24 per
diluted share) primarily relating to our cellular subsidiary in Argentina,
given the status of the Argentinean economy, the devaluation of the
Argentinean peso as well as future economic prospects, including a
worsening  of  the  recession.  Other  charges  and  special  and  non-
recurring  items  in  2001  and  2000  include  asset  impairments  and
investment write-offs.

13

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Consolidated Net Income

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

% Change

Domestic Telecom
Domestic Wireless
International
Information Services
Corporate & Other
Special and Non-Recurring Items
Consolidated Net Income

nm – Not meaningful

$

$

4,387
966
1,047
1,281
682
(4,284)
4,079

$

$

4,551
537
958
1,352
792
(7,801)
389

(3.6)%
79.9
9.3
(5.3)
(13.9)
nm
nm

2001

4,551
537
958
1,352
792
(7,801)
389

$

$

(dollars in millions)
% Change

2000

$

$

4,839
444
733
1,238
708
3,835
11,797

(6.0)%
20.9
30.7
9.2
11.9
nm
(96.7)

2002 Compared to 2001
The significant items affecting net income in 2002 compared to 2001
include  the  impact,  after  taxes  and  minority  interest,  of  changes  in
revenues and operating expenses previously described and special
and  non-recurring  items  recorded  in  non-operating  expense  and
income accounts. These special and non-recurring items recorded in
2002  include  after-tax  losses  on  unconsolidated  investments  of
$5,139  million  ($1.87  per  diluted  share),  primarily  related  to  our
investments  in  Genuity,  Compañia  Anónima  Nacional  Teléfonos  de
Venezuela  (CANTV)  and  TELUS  Corporation.  We  determined  that
market  value  declines  in  these  investments  were  considered  other
than temporary. These losses were partially offset by tax benefits of
$2,104 million ($.77 per diluted share) pertaining to current and prior
year investment impairments and an after-tax gain on the sale of an
international  investment  of  $229  million  ($.08  per  diluted  share).  In
addition, 2002 includes an after-tax charge of $496 million ($.18 per
diluted  share)  associated  with  the  cumulative  effect  of  adopting
SFAS No. 142.

Similar items in results of operations for 2001 include the recogni-
tion of pretax losses totaling $5,937 million ($4,858 million after-tax,
or  $1.78  per  diluted  share)  primarily  relating  to  our  investments  in
Genuity,  Cable  &  Wireless  plc  (C&W),  NTL  Incorporated  (NTL)  and
Metromedia Fiber Network, Inc. (MFN). We determined that market
value  declines  in  these  investments  were  considered  other  than
temporary.  Substantially  all  of  this  total  charge  was  recorded  in
Income  (Loss)  from  Unconsolidated  Businesses.  Results  of  opera-
tions in 2001 also include an after-tax charge of $182 million ($.07
per diluted share) associated with the cumulative effect of adopting
new accounting for derivative financial instruments and a charge of
$182 million ($179 million after taxes and minority interest, or $.07
per diluted share) related to the mark-to-market of derivative finan-
cial instruments.

International’s income from unconsolidated businesses decreased by
$58 million, or 6.3% in 2002. Adjusting 2001 for the consolidation of
TELPRI and the deconsolidation of CTI, income from unconsolidated
businesses increased $107 million, or 14.2% in 2002. This increase
primarily  reflects  the  2002  cessation  of  recording  CTI’s  operating
losses  and  gains  on  sales  of  equity  investments.  Partially  offsetting
these  increases  was  the  impact  of  fluctuations  of  the  Venezuelan
bolivar on the results of CANTV in 2002.

2001 Compared to 2000
Included in results of operations for 2001 is the recognition of pretax
losses  totaling  $5,937  million  ($4,858  million  after-tax,  or  $1.78  per
diluted share) primarily relating to our investments in Genuity, C&W,

14

NTL  and  MFN.  We  determined  that  market  value  declines  in  these
investments were considered other than temporary. Substantially all
of  this  total  charge  was  recorded 
(Loss)  from
Unconsolidated Businesses. In 2000, we recorded a non-cash pretax
gain  of  $3,088  million  ($1,941  million  after-tax,  or  $.71  per  diluted
share) in Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Businesses in connec-
tion  with  the  restructuring  of  Cable  &  Wireless  Communications  plc
(CWC).  In  connection  with  this  restructuring,  we  received  shares  of
C&W and NTL.

Income 

in 

International’s  income  from  unconsolidated  businesses  increased
by $247 million, or 36.8% in 2001. This increase was primarily due
to improved operational growth at Vodafone Omnitel N.V. (Omnitel)
and CANTV.

In 2000, we recorded a gain on a mark-to-market adjustment of $664
million ($431 million after-tax, or $.16 per diluted share) related to our
notes which were exchangeable into shares of C&W and NTL.

During  the  second  half  of  2000,  we  completed  the  sale  of  several
overlapping  wireless  properties  resulting  in  a  total  pretax  gain  of
$1,724  million  ($1,039  million  after-tax,  or  $.38  per  diluted  share).
Since the sales were required by a consent decree and occurred after
the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger, the gains on sales were recorded net of
taxes as Extraordinary Items.

Results of operations in 2001 also include an after-tax charge of $182
million ($.07 per diluted share) associated with the cumulative effect
of adopting new accounting for derivative financial instruments and a
charge of $182 million ($179 million after taxes and minority interest,
or $.07 per diluted share) related to the mark-to-market of derivative
financial instruments. We adopted the provisions of new accounting
rules on revenue recognition in 2000. Our 2000 results include the ini-
tial  impact  of  adoption  recorded  as  a  cumulative  effect  of  an
accounting change of $40 million after-tax ($.01 per diluted share).

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Income,  net  of  expenses  related  to  Verizon’s  pension  and  other
postretirement  plans,  before  special  and  non-recurring  items,  con-
tributed $971 million ($.35 per diluted share) to Verizon’s net income
in 2002. Similar amounts were recorded in 2001 and 2000. However,
as  of  December  31,  2002,  Verizon  changed  key  employee  benefit
plan assumptions in response to current conditions in the securities
markets and medical and prescription drug costs trends. The expected
rate of return on pension plan assets has been changed from 9.25%
in  2002  to  8.50%  in  2003  and  the  expected  rate  of  return  on  other
postretirement benefit plan assets has been changed from 9.10% in
2002 to 8.50% in 2003. The discount rate assumption has been low-

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

ered  from  7.25%  in  2002  to  6.75%  in  2003  and  the  medical  cost
trend  rate  assumption  has  been  increased  from  10.00%  in  2002  to
11.00%  in  2003.  The  overall  impact  of  these  assumption  changes,
combined  with  the  impact  of  lower  than  expected  actual  asset
returns  over  the  past  three  years,  is  expected  to  be  a  reduction  of
pension income, net of other postretirement benefit expense, of $.30
to $.32 per diluted share in 2003. In addition, we anticipate reporting
a declining level of earnings from pensions and other postretirement
benefits for the following two to three years.

SEGMENT RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

We  measure  and  evaluate  our  reportable  segments  based  on  seg-
ment income. This segment income excludes unallocated corporate
expenses  and  other  adjustments  arising  during  each  period.  The
other adjustments include transactions that the chief operating deci-
sion  makers  exclude  in  assessing  business  unit  performance  due
primarily  to  their  non-operational  and/or  non-recurring  nature.
Although  such  transactions  are  excluded  from  business  segment
results, they are included in reported consolidated earnings. We pre-
viously  highlighted  the  more  significant  of  these  transactions  in  the
“Consolidated Results of Operations” section. Gains and losses that
are  not  individually  significant  are  included  in  all  segment  results,
since these items are included in the chief operating decision makers’
assessment  of  unit  performance.  These  are  mostly  contained  in
International  and  Information  Services  since  they  actively  manage
investment portfolios.

Effective  January  1,  2003,  our  Global  Solutions  subsidiary  was
transferred  from  our  International  segment  to,  and  consolidated
with,  our  Domestic  Telecom  segment.  The  transfer  of  Global
Solutions’  revenues  and  costs  of  operations  will  not  be  significant
to  the  results  of  operations  of  Domestic  Telecom  or  International.
See  the  “International”  section  for  additional  information  about
Global Solutions’ impact on the International segment’s year-over-
year comparisons.

Further information about our segments can be found in Note 20 to
the consolidated financial statements.

Domestic Telecom

Domestic Telecom provides local telephone services, including voice
and  data  transport,  enhanced  and  custom  calling  features,  network
access,  directory  assistance,  private  lines  and  public  telephones  in
29  states  and  the  District  of  Columbia.  As  discussed  earlier  under
“Consolidated Results of Operations,” we recently sold wireline prop-
erties representing approximately 1.27 million access lines or 2% of
the  total  Domestic  Telecom  switched  access  lines  in  service.  We 
also sold approximately 1.6 million access lines in 2000. For compa-
rability purposes, the results of operations discussed in this section
exclude the properties that have been sold. This segment also pro-
vides  long  distance  services,  customer  premises  equipment
distribution,  data  solutions  and  systems  integration,  billing  and  col-
lections,  Internet  access  services  and  inventory  management
services.

Highlights
Domestic Telecom’s revenue growth rates in both years were pres-
sured by several factors including the weakened U.S. economy and

rate  reductions  mandated  by  regulators.  The  effects  of  the
depressed economy, particularly in 2002, slowed demand for basic
wireline and other services. In addition, Domestic Telecom continues
to be affected by competition and technology substitution, as more
customers  choose  wireless  and  Internet  services  in  place  of  some
basic wireline services.

Despite these challenges, our data transport and long distance busi-
nesses continued to show solid demand and revenue growth. Data
transport  revenues,  which  include  our  high-bandwidth,  packet-
switched and special access services, as well as DSL services, grew
in  both  2002  and  2001  due  to  strong  customer  demand  for  high-
capacity,  high-speed  digital  services.  Long  distance  revenues
gained in both years due primarily to new subscriber growth result-
ing  from  the  introduction  of  long  distance  services  in  a  number  of
states throughout our region. Verizon is now the nation’s third largest
provider  of  consumer  long  distance  service,  with  more  than  half  of
its  10.4  million  long  distance  customers  in  the  former  Bell  Atlantic
territory.

Domestic  Telecom’s  operations  and  support  expenses  declined  in
2002  and  2001  as  a  result  of  strong  cost  containment  measures,
merger-related savings and other cost reductions. Operating expenses
in  both  years  included  increased  entry  costs  associated  with  our
growth  businesses  such  as  long  distance  and  data  services.  These
entry  costs  include  customer  acquisition  expenses  associated  with
the launch of long distance in many states and costs related to mar-
keting, distribution and service installation of our DSL service. Costs
in  2001  also  included  expenses  related  to  the  events  of  September
11,  2001  (see  “Consolidated  Results  of  Operations”).  Depreciation
and  amortization  expense  increased  as  a  result  of  growth  in  depre-
ciable  telephone  plant  and  increased  software  amortization  costs,
partially  offset  by  lower  rates  of  depreciation  for  some  telephone
plant assets.

Additional financial information about Domestic Telecom’s results of
operations for 2002, 2001 and 2000 follows:

Operating Revenues
Years Ended December 31,

Local services
Network access services
Long distance services
Other services

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 20,271 $ 21,438 $ 21,576
12,698
12,968
3,111
3,070
4,937
4,605
$ 40,712 $ 42,081 $ 42,322

13,295
3,170
3,976

Local Services
Local service revenues are earned by our telephone operations from
the provision of local exchange, local private line, wire maintenance,
voice  messaging  and  value-added  services.  Value-added  services
are  a  family  of  services  that  expand  the  utilization  of  the  network,
including  products  such  as  Caller  ID,  Call  Waiting  and  Return  Call.
The provision of local exchange services not only includes retail rev-
enue  but  also  includes  local  wholesale  revenues  from  unbundled
network  elements  (UNEs),  interconnection  revenues  from  CLECs,
wireless interconnection revenues and some data transport revenues.

Local service revenues declined $1,167 million, or 5.4% in 2002 and
$138  million,  or  0.6%  in  2001,  largely  due  to  lower  demand  and
usage  of  our  basic  local  wireline  services  and  mandated  intrastate
price reductions. Our switched access lines in service declined 3.7%

15

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

from December 31, 2001 to December 31, 2002 and declined 2.3%
from December 31, 2000 to December 31, 2001, primarily reflecting
the  impact  of  the  economic  slowdown  and  competition  for  some
local services. Technology substitution has also affected local service
revenue growth in both years, as indicated by lower demand for res-
idential access lines of 2.8% from 2001 to 2002 and 1.4% from 2000
to  2001.  A  primary  contributor  to  the  decline  in  residential  access
lines is a decrease in additional lines, with second lines in service of
5.3  million,  5.9  million  and  6.2  million  at  December  31,  2002,  2001
and 2000, respectively. At the same time, basic business access lines
have declined 5.2% from 2001 to 2002 and 3.9% from 2000 to 2001,
primarily  reflecting  the  continued  weakness  in  the  economy  and  a
shift to high-speed, high-volume special access lines.

These factors were partially offset in both years by higher payments
received  from  CLECs  for  interconnection  of  their  networks  with  our
network  and  by  increased  sales  of  packaged  wireline  services  as  a
result  of  expanded  new  products  and  pricing  plans.  Sales  of  pack-
ages  of  wireline  services  increased  by  approximately  22%  in  2002
over 2001 and 48% in 2001 over 2000. Today, more than 20% of our
consumer  customer  base  subscribes  to  a  package,  compared  to
16%  in  2001.  Nearly  570,000  customers  subscribe  to  the  Verizon
“Veriations” package plans that were introduced in the second half of
2002. These plans bundle local services, long distance, wireless and
Internet  access  in  a  discounted  bundle  available  on  one  bill.  Our
ONE-BILL  service,  which  provides  Verizon  local,  long  distance  and
wireless charges on a single monthly bill, is now available in 20 of the
29 states where Verizon provides wireline services.

Network Access Services
Network  access  services  revenues  are  earned  from  end-user  sub-
scribers and long distance and other competing carriers who use our
local exchange facilities to provide usage services to their customers.
Switched  access  revenues  are  derived  from  fixed  and  usage-based
charges  paid  by  carriers  for  access  to  our  local  network.  Special
access revenues originate from carriers and end-users that buy ded-
icated  local  exchange  capacity  to  support  their  private  networks.
End-user access revenues are earned from our customers and from
resellers who purchase dial-tone services.

Our  network  access  services  revenues  increased  $327  million,  or
2.5%  in  2002  and  $270  million,  or  2.1%  in  2001.  This  growth  was
mainly  attributable  to  higher  customer  demand  for  data  transport
services (primarily special access services and DSL) that grew 9.2%
in 2002 and 19.3% in 2001, compared to prior years. Special access
revenue  growth  reflects  strong  demand  in  the  business  market  for
high-capacity,  high-speed  digital  services.  Voice-grade  equivalents
(switched  access  lines  and  data  circuits)  grew  4.5%  in  2002  and
13.7% in 2001 compared to the prior year, as more customers chose
digital  services.  We  added  approximately  600,000  new  DSL  lines  in
2002, for a total of 1.79 million lines in service at December 31, 2002,
a more than 50% year-over-year increase. Currently, 62% of our total
access lines qualify for DSL service and 57% of households are cov-
ered  by  DSL  service.  At  the  same  time,  customer  service  levels
continue to show improvement through a reduction in the DSL order
provisioning interval from more than fifteen days in 2001 to five days
by the end of 2002, and we have nearly reached a 100% self installa-
tion  rate  by  our  customers.  At  December  31,  2001,  DSL  lines  in
service were 1.19 million, compared to 540,000 DSL lines in service

16

at December 31, 2000. In addition to volume-related growth, network
access revenues in the fourth quarter of 2002 also included the favor-
able effect of a state regulatory decision in Michigan.

These factors in 2002 and 2001 were partially offset by price reduc-
tions  associated  with  federal  and  state  price  cap  filings  and  other
regulatory decisions and declining switched minutes of use (MOUs).
Switched MOUs declined by 8.4% in 2002 and 1.0% in 2001. State
rate reductions on access services were approximately $72 million in
2002,  $165  million  in  2001  and  $285  million  in  2000.  The  Federal
Communications  Commission  (FCC)  regulates  the  rates  that  we
charge long distance carriers and end-user subscribers for interstate
access  services.  We  are  required  to  file  new  access  rates  with  the
FCC  each  year.  In  July  2000,  we  implemented  the  Coalition  for
Affordable Local and Long Distance Services (CALLS) plan. Interstate
price reductions on access services were approximately $48 million
in  2002,  $300  million  in  2001  and  $520  million  in  2000.  Revenue
growth  in  both  years  was  also  negatively  affected  by  the  slowing
economy, as reflected by declines in minutes of use from carriers and
CLECs of 8.4% in 2002 and 1.0% in 2001, compared to prior years.

See  “Other  Factors  That  May  Affect  Future  Results”  for  additional
information  on  FCC  rulemakings  concerning  federal  access  rates,
universal service and unbundling of network elements.

WorldCom  Inc.,  including  its  affiliates,  purchases  dedicated  local
exchange  capacity  from  us  to  support  its  private  networks  and  we
also  charge  WorldCom  for  access  to  our  local  network.  In  addition,
we  sell  local  wholesale  interconnection  services  and  provide  billing
and collection services to WorldCom. We purchase long distance and
related  services  from  WorldCom.  On  July  21,  2002,  WorldCom  filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. During 2002, we recorded rev-
enues earned from the provision of primarily network access services
to  WorldCom  of  approximately  $2.1  billion.  If  WorldCom  terminates
contracts  with  us  for  the  provision  of  services,  our  operating  rev-
enues would be lower in future periods. Lower revenues as a result of
canceling contracts for the provision of services could be partially off-
set, in some cases, by the migration of customers on the terminated
facilities  to  Verizon  or  other  carriers  who  purchase  capacity  and/or
interconnection  services  from  Verizon.  At  December  31,  2002,
accounts  receivable  from  WorldCom,  net  of  a  provision  for  uncol-
lectibles,  was  approximately  $300  million.  We  continue  to  closely
monitor our collections on WorldCom account balances. WorldCom
is current with respect to its post-bankruptcy obligations. We believe
we are adequately reserved for the potential risk of non-payment of
pre-bankruptcy receivables from WorldCom.

Long Distance Services
Long  distance  service  revenues  include  both  intraLATA  toll  services
and interLATA long distance voice and data services.

Long  distance  service  revenues  increased  $100  million,  or  3.3%  in
2002 primarily as a result of revenue growth from our interLATA long
distance  services  offered  throughout  the  region.  We  now  offer  long
distance service in 47 states and to more than 90% of our local tele-
phone customers across the country. In 2002, we began offering long
distance services in Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, New
Hampshire, Delaware and Virginia. At December 31, 2002, we had a
total of 10.4 million long distance customers nationwide, representing
an increase of nearly 3.0 million long distance customers year-over-

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

year,  or  nearly  40%  customer  growth  and  21%  interLATA  long  dis-
tance service revenue growth from last year. In March 2003, the FCC
must act on our application to offer long distance in Maryland, West
Virginia  and  the  District  of  Columbia.  After  the  FCC  approves  the
application for the three remaining regions, we will have the ability to
offer long distance services nationwide.

Long distance service revenue growth in 2002 was partially offset by
the  effects  of  competition  and  toll  calling  discount  packages  and
product  bundling  offers  of  our  intraLATA  toll  services.  However,  we
are experiencing net win-backs of customers for intraLATA toll serv-
ices  in  the  states  where  interLATA  long  distance  service  has  been
introduced.  Technology  substitution  and  lower  access  line  growth
due to the slowing economy also affected long distance service rev-
enue growth.

Long distance service revenues declined $41 million, or 1.3% in 2001
primarily  due  to  competition  and  the  effects  of  toll  calling  discount
packages and product bundling offers of our intraLATA toll services.
These  reductions  were  largely  offset  by  revenue  growth  from  our
interLATA long distance services, including significant customer win-
backs  resulting  from  the  introduction  of  interLATA  long  distance
services in New York in 2000 and in Massachusetts, Connecticut and
Pennsylvania in 2001. At December 31, 2001, we had 7.4 million long
distance  customers  nationwide,  compared  to  4.7  million  long  dis-
tance customers at December 31, 2000.

See  also  “Other  Factors  That  May  Affect  Future  Results”  for  a  dis-
cussion of the interLATA long distance market in our region.

Other Services
Our other services include such services as billing and collections for
long distance carriers, public (coin) telephone and customer premises
equipment  and  supply  sales.  Other  services  revenues  also  include
services provided by our non-regulated subsidiaries such as inventory
management  and  purchasing,  and  data  solutions  and  systems 
integration businesses.

In  2002,  revenues  from  other  services  declined  $629  million,  or
13.7%.  This  decline  was  substantially  due  to  lower  customer
premises  equipment  and  supply  sales  to  some  major  customers,
lower volumes at some of our non-regulated businesses due to the
slowing  economy  and  a  decline  in  public  telephone  revenues  as
more customers substituted wireless communications for pay tele-
phone services.

In 2001, revenues from other services declined $332 million, or 6.7%
principally as a result of lower sales of customer premises equipment,
a  decline  in  public  telephone  revenues  due  to  wireless  substitution,
and lower billing and collection revenues reflecting the take-back of
these  services  by  interexchange  carriers.  Lower  data  solutions  and
systems  integration  revenues  due  to  the  slowing  economy  and  the
effect  of  closing  our  CLEC  operation  further  contributed  to  the  rev-
enue decline in 2001. These revenue reductions were partially offset
by higher revenues from other non-regulated services.

Operating Expenses
Years Ended December 31,

Operations and support
Depreciation and amortization

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 22,297 $ 23,599 $ 24,200
8,550
$ 31,730 $ 32,847 $ 32,750

9,433

9,248

Operations and Support
Operations and support expenses, which consist of employee costs
and other operating expenses, decreased by $1,302 million, or 5.5%
in  2002  principally  due  to  lower  costs  at  our  domestic  telephone
operations, business integration activities and achievement of merger
synergies.  In  2002,  these  reductions  were  mainly  attributable  to
reduced  spending  for  materials  and  contracted  services,  driven  by
lower  capital  expenditures  and  strong  cost  control  management.
Lower overtime for installation and maintenance activity principally as
a  result  of  reduced  volumes  at  our  dispatch  and  call  centers  and
lower employee costs associated with declining workforce levels also
contributed to the decline in operating costs. At December 31, 2002,
we  reduced  our  full-time  headcount  by  approximately  18,000
employees, or 10.1%, from the prior year. At year-end 2002, we had
reduced the installation and repair overtime hours per employee per
week by 23.8% from a year ago. Lower cost of sales at our customer
premises  equipment  and  supply  business  driven  by  declining  busi-
ness  volumes  also  contributed  to  the  cost  reductions  in  2002.
Favorable adjustments in 2002 included updates to ongoing expense
estimates as a result of specific regulatory decisions by the FCC and
state regulatory commissions in New York and other states.

These cost reductions were partially offset by higher costs associated
with our growth businesses such as data and long distance services.
Increased  costs  associated  with  salary  and  wage  increases  for
employees,  increased  health  care  costs  and  higher  uncollectible
accounts  receivable  for  CLECs  and  other  wholesale  customers  fur-
ther offset cost reductions in 2002.

Operations  and  support  expenses  decreased  by  $601  million,  or
2.5%  in  2001  due  mainly  to  lower  overtime  for  repair  and  mainte-
nance activity at our domestic telephone operations principally as a
result  of  reduced  volumes  at  our  dispatch  and  call  centers  and
lower  employee  costs  associated  with  declining  workforce  levels.
At  December  31,  2001,  we  reduced  our  full-time  headcount  by
approximately  16,900  employees,  or  8.6%  from  the  prior  year.
Operating costs in 2001 had also decreased due to business inte-
gration activities and merger-related synergies. Other effective cost
containment  measures,  including  lower  spending  by  non-strategic
businesses  and  closing  our  CLEC  operation,  also  contributed  to
cost reductions in 2001.

Cost  reductions  in  2001  were  partially  offset  by  additional  charges
related  to  the  terrorist  attacks  on  September  11,  2001  (see
“Consolidated  Results  of  Operations”  section)  and  by  higher  costs
associated  with  our  growth  businesses  such  as  long  distance  and
data  services.  Increased  costs  associated  with  uncollectible
accounts receivable and higher employee benefit costs further offset
cost  reductions  in  2001.  The  increase  in  employee  benefit  costs  in
2001 was largely due to increased health care costs driven by infla-
tion, higher savings plan costs and changes in some plan provisions.
These factors were partially offset by favorable pension plan income,
including gain amortization.

Depreciation and Amortization
The increase in depreciation and amortization expense in both 2002
and 2001 included the effect of growth in depreciable telephone plant
and increased software amortization costs. These factors were offset,
in part, by the effect of lower rates of depreciation.

17

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Segment Income
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Segment Income

$ 4,387 $ 4,551 $ 4,839

Segment income decreased by $164 million, or 3.6% from 2001 and
decreased by $288 million, or 6.0% from 2000 primarily as a result of
the after-tax impact of operating revenues and operating expenses,
described  above.  Special  and  non-recurring  items  of  $197  million,
$1,187 million, and $(1,218) million, after-tax, affected the Domestic
Telecom segment in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Special and
non-recurring items in all three years include the results of operations
of the access lines sold. Special and non-recurring items in 2002 pri-
marily  related  to  gains  on  sales  of  assets,  net,  offset  by  employee
severance  and  termination  benefit  costs  and  merger-related  costs.
Special and non-recurring items in 2001 primarily related to merger-
related costs and severance and retirement enhancement costs, and
special and non-recurring items in 2000 pertained to gains on sales
of assets, net, pension settlement gains and merger-related costs.

Domestic Wireless

Our  Domestic  Wireless  segment  provides  wireless  voice  and  data
services, paging services and equipment sales. This segment prima-
rily  represents  the  operations  of  the  Verizon  Wireless  joint  venture.
Verizon Wireless was formed in April 2000 through the combination of
our wireless properties with the U.S. properties and paging assets of
Vodafone  Group  plc  (Vodafone),  including  the  consolidation  of
PrimeCo  Personal  Communications,  L.P.  (PrimeCo).  Verizon  owns  a
55%  interest  in  the  joint  venture  and  Vodafone  owns  the  remaining
45%. The 2002 and 2001 financial results included in the table below
reflect the combined results of Verizon Wireless. The period prior to
the formation of Verizon Wireless is reported on a historical basis, and
therefore, does not reflect the contribution of the Vodafone properties
and the consolidation of PrimeCo. In addition, the financial results of
several overlap properties, that were subsequently sold, were included
in Domestic Wireless’s results through June 30, 2000.

Operating Revenues
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Wireless sales and services

$ 19,260 $ 17,393 $ 14,236

Domestic  Wireless’s  revenues  grew  by  $1,867  million,  or  10.7%  in
2002. This revenue growth was largely attributable to customer addi-
tions  and  higher  revenue  per  customer  per  month.  Our  Domestic
Wireless  segment  ended  2002  with  32.5  million  customers,  an
increase of 10.5% over year-end 2001, which included 485,000 sub-
scribers added as a result of acquisitions during 2002, primarily from
the  acquisition  of  Price  Communications  Corp.’s  (Price)  wireless
operations  in  Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia  and  South  Carolina.  Total
churn  decreased  to  2.3%  in  2002,  compared  to  2.5%  in  2001.
Average revenue per customer per month grew by 1.1% to $48.35 in
2002, compared to 2001, primarily due to increased access revenue
per subscriber. Retail customers, who generally produce higher serv-
ice  revenue  than  wholesale  customers,  comprised  approximately
97% of the subscriber base at the end of 2002, compared to 93% at
the end of 2001.

18

Approximately 28.6 million, or almost 88%, of Verizon Wireless cus-
tomers  now  subscribe  to  CDMA  (Code  Division  Multiple  Access)
digital  services,  and  generate  more  than  97%  of  our  busy-hour
usage, compared to 93% at year-end 2001.

Domestic  Wireless’s  revenues  grew  by  $3,157  million,  or  22.2%  in
2001. By including the revenues of the properties of the wireless joint
venture and excluding the impact of wireless overlap properties on a
basis comparable with 2001, revenues were $2,030 million, or 13.2%
higher  than  2000.  On  this  comparable  basis,  revenue  growth  was
largely attributable to customer additions and slightly higher revenue
per  customer  per  month.  At  year-end  2001,  customers  totaled
approximately 29.4 million, an increase of 9.8% over year-end 2000.

Operating Expenses
Years Ended December 31,

Operations and support
Depreciation and amortization

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 12,327 $ 11,379 $ 9,563
2,894
$ 15,620 $ 15,088 $ 12,457

3,293

3,709

Operations and Support
Operations and support expenses, which represent employee costs
and other operating expenses, increased by $948 million, or 8.3% in
2002 and $1,816 million, or 19.0% in 2001. Higher costs were attrib-
utable  to  increased  advertising  and  selling  expenses  related  to  an
increase  in  gross  retail  customer  additions  in  2002  compared  to
2001, as well as increased salary and wage expense in customer care
and sales channels.

The  increased  costs  in  2001  were  attributable  to  the  growth  in  the
subscriber base described above, as well as the migration of analog
customers to digital.

Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased by $416 million, or
11.2% in 2002 and increased by $815 million, or 28.2% in 2001. The
decrease in 2002 was primarily attributable to a reduction of amorti-
zation expense from the adoption of SFAS No. 142, effective January
1,  2002,  which  requires  that  goodwill  and  indefinite-lived  intangible
assets no longer be amortized. This decrease was partially offset by
increased depreciation expense related to the increase in depreciable
assets related to an increased asset base.

The  2001  increase  was  mainly  attributable  to  increased  capital
expenditures to support the increasing demand for wireless services.

Segment Income
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Segment Income

$

966 $

537 $

444

Segment income increased by $429 million, or 79.9% in 2002 and by
$93  million,  or  20.9%  in  2001,  primarily  as  a  result  of  the  after-tax
impact  of  operating  revenues  and  operating  expenses  described
above as well as minority interest and interest expense. Special and
non-recurring  items  of  $57  million,  $107  million  and  $(410)  million,
after-tax, affected the Domestic Wireless segment in 2002, 2001 and
2000, respectively. Special and non-recurring items in 2002 pertained
to merger-related costs and employee severance costs. Special and
non-recurring items in 2001 primarily related to merger-related costs
and  special  and  non-recurring  items  in  2000  pertained  to  gains  on
sales, net and merger-related costs.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Increases  in  minority  interest  in  2002  and  2001  were  principally
due to the increased income of the wireless joint venture and the
significant  minority  interest  attributable  to  Vodafone  beginning  in
April 2000.

International

Our International segment includes international wireline and wireless
telecommunication  operations  and  investments  in  the  Americas,
Europe,  Asia  and  the  Pacific.  Our  consolidated  international  invest-
ments as of December 31, 2002 included Grupo Iusacell S.A. de C.V.
(Iusacell) in Mexico, CODETEL C. por A. (Codetel) in the Dominican
Republic,  TELPRI  in  Puerto  Rico,  Micronesian  Telecommunications
Corporation  in  the  Northern  Mariana  Islands  and  Global  Solutions.
Those investments in which we have less than a controlling interest
are accounted for by either the cost or equity method.

On January 25, 2002, we exercised our option to purchase an addi-
tional  12%  of  TELPRI  common  stock  from  the  government  of
Puerto Rico. We now hold 52% of TELPRI stock, up from 40% held
at December 31, 2001. As a result of gaining control over TELPRI,
we  changed  the  accounting  for  this  investment  from  the  equity
method to full consolidation, effective January 1, 2002. Accordingly,
TELPRI’s net results are reported as a component of Income (Loss)
from Unconsolidated Businesses for the years ended December 31,
2001  and  2000,  while  2002  results  of  operations  are  included  in
consolidated revenues and expenses in the tables below.

On March 28, 2002, we transferred 5.5 million of our shares in CTI to
an  indirectly  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  Verizon  and  subsequently
transferred ownership of that subsidiary to a newly created trust for
CTI  employees.  This  decreased  our  ownership  percentage  in  CTI
from  65%  to  48%.  We  also  reduced  our  representation  on  CTI’s
Board of Directors from five of nine members to four of nine (subse-
quently reduced to one of five members). As a result of these actions
that surrender control of CTI, we changed our method of accounting
for this investment from consolidation to the equity method. On June
3,  2002,  as  a  result  of  an  option  exercised  by  Telfone  (BVI)  Limited
(Telfone), a CTI shareholder, Verizon acquired approximately 5.3 mil-
lion  additional  CTI  shares.  Also  on  June  3,  2002,  we  transferred
ownership of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon that held 5.4 mil-
lion  CTI  shares  to  a  second  independent  trust  leaving  us  with  an
approximately 48% non-controlling interest in CTI. In addition, during
the first quarter of 2002, we wrote our remaining investment in CTI,
including those shares we were contractually committed to purchase
under  the  Telfone  option,  down  to  zero  (see  “Special  and  Non-
Recurring  Items”).  Since  we  have  no  other  future  commitments  or
plans  to  fund  CTI’s  operations  and  we  have  written  our  investment
down  to  zero,  in  accordance  with  the  accounting  rules  for  equity
method investments, we are no longer recording operating income or
losses  related  to  CTI’s  operations.  CTI’s  results  of  operations  are
reported  in  revenues  and  expenses  for  the  years  ended  December
31,  2001  and  2000,  while  2002  revenues  and  expenses  are  not
included in the tables below.

Operating Revenues
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Operating Revenues

$ 2,962 $ 2,337 $ 1,976

Revenues  generated  by  our  international  businesses  grew  by  $625
million, or 26.7% in 2002 and by $361 million, or 18.3% in 2001. The
2002 growth is primarily due to the consolidation of TELPRI partially
offset  by  the  deconsolidation  of  CTI  in  2002.  The  2001  growth  was
primarily  due  to  an  increase  in  wireless  subscribers  of  consolidated
subsidiaries  and  revenues  generated  by  the  Global  Solutions  net-
work,  which  began  its  commercial  operations  in  the  first  quarter  of
2001.  Adjusting  2001  and  2000  to  be  comparable  with  2002,  rev-
enues  generated  by  our  international  businesses  declined  by  $210
million, or 6.6% in 2002 and increased $283 million, or 9.8% in 2001.
The  2002  decrease  in  adjusted  revenues  is  due  to  the  weak
economies and increased competition in our Latin America markets
as  well  as  reduced  software  sales.  These  decreases  were  offset  in
part by higher revenues generated by the Global Solutions network.

Operating Expenses
Years Ended December 31,

Operations and support
Depreciation and amortization

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 1,823 $ 1,622 $ 1,359
355
$ 2,355 $ 2,044 $ 1,714

532

422

Operations and Support
Operations  and  support  expenses,  which  include  employee  costs
and other operating expenses, increased by $201 million, or 12.4% in
2002 and by $263 million, or 19.4% in 2001. The 2002 increase is pri-
marily  due  to  the  consolidation  of  TELPRI  partially  offset  by  the
deconsolidation of CTI in 2002. The higher costs in 2001 were prima-
rily  generated  by  the  Global  Solutions  start-up  and  its  continued
expansion  throughout  2001  as  well  as  higher  costs  from  CTI’s
Buenos  Aires  wireless  operations.  Adjusting  2001  and  2000  to  be
comparable  with  2002,  operations  and  support  expense  decreased
$190 million, or 9.4% in 2002 and increased $255 million, or 14.5% in
2001. The decrease in expense in 2002 reflects lower variable costs
associated with reduced sales volumes in Latin America and credits
related  to  a  one-time  contractual  settlement  of  $66  million  in  2002,
offset in part by higher variable costs associated with the increased
revenues and costs of Global Solutions’ operations. The increase in
expenses in 2001 is primarily due to the start-up of Global Solutions’
operations and expansion throughout 2001.

Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation  and  amortization  expense  increased  $110  million,  or
26.1%  in  2002  and  by  $67  million,  or  18.9%  in  2001.  The  2002
growth is primarily due to the consolidation of TELPRI partially offset
by the deconsolidation of CTI in 2002. The 2001 increase was attrib-
utable to the capital expenditures necessary to support the growth in
wireless subscribers. Adjusting 2001 and 2000 to be comparable with
2002,  depreciation  and  amortization  expense  decreased  $3  million,
or 0.6% in 2002 and $2 million, or 0.4% in 2001. The 2002 decrease
is  driven  by  the  January  1,  2002  cessation  of  the  amortization  of
goodwill  and  intangible  assets  with  indefinite  lives  as  required  by
SFAS No. 142, offset by ongoing network capital expenditures nec-
essary to service the increased subscriber base.

Segment Income
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Segment Income

$ 1,047 $

958 $

733

19

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Segment  income  increased  by  $89  million,  or  9.3%  in  2002  and  by
$225 million, or 30.7% in 2001. The 2002 increase in segment income
was primarily the result of the after-tax impact of operating revenues
and  operating  expenses  described  above,  offset  by  a  decrease  in
income from unconsolidated businesses and the impact on Iusacell
of fluctuations of the Mexican peso.

directory  is  distributed.  This  segment  has  operations  principally  in
North America, Europe and Latin America.

Operating Revenues
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Operating Revenues

$ 4,287 $ 4,313 $ 4,144

Income from unconsolidated businesses decreased by $58 million, or
6.3%  in  2002  and  increased  $247  million,  or  36.8%  in  2001.
Adjusting  2001  and  2000  for  the  consolidation  of  TELPRI  and  the
deconsolidation  of  CTI,  income  from  unconsolidated  businesses
increased $107 million, or 14.2% in 2002 and $249 million, or 49.3%
in 2001. The 2002 increase reflects the 2002 cessation of recording
CTI’s operating losses, gains on sales of equity investments, includ-
ing a portion of our interest in Taiwan Cellular Corporation (TCC), and
the discontinuation of amortization of goodwill and intangible assets
with  indefinite  lives  of  our  equity  investments,  as  required  by  SFAS
No.  142.  Partially  offsetting  these  increases  was  the  impact  of
Venezuelan bolivar fluctuations on the results of CANTV in 2002 and
ceasing  recording  TCC  equity  income  after  selling  a  portion  of  our
interest and beginning to account for our remaining interest using the
cost  method.  The  increase  in  2001  was  primarily  due  to  improved
operational growth at Omnitel and CANTV.

The 2002 impact of the Mexican peso fluctuations was a loss of $136
million,  before  minority  interest  benefit  of  $83  million.  An  after-tax
gain of $32 million on the sale of a portion of our interest in TCC was
recorded in 2002 as well as a small gain on the sale of STET Hellas
Telecommunications SA. 2002 also benefited from the 12% increase
in our ownership of TELPRI.

The 2001 increase in segment income was primarily the result of the
after-tax  impact  of  operating  revenues  and  operating  expenses
described above, increases in income from unconsolidated businesses
and the impact on Iusacell of fluctuations of the Mexican peso. The
2001  impact  of  the  Mexican  peso  fluctuations  was  income  of  $62 
million, before minority interest expense of $38 million. After-tax gains
of $64 million and $30 million on sales of our shares in QuébecTel to
TELUS were recorded in 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Special and non-recurring items of $2,383 million, $2,953 million and
$(1,814) million, after-tax, affected the International segment in 2002,
2001 and 2000, respectively. Special and non-recurring items in 2002
included  losses  on  CANTV,  TELUS,  CTI  and  other  investments  and
the cumulative effect of adopting SFAS No. 142, partially offset by the
gain on a sale of an interest in Telecom Corporation of New Zealand
Limited  (TCNZ).  Special  and  non-recurring  items  in  2001  primarily
related  to  losses  on  securities  and  a  loss  on  CTI,  and  special  and
non-recurring items in 2000 pertained to the CWC restructuring gain,
partially offset by merger-related costs.

Information Services

Our  Information  Services  segment  consists  of  our  domestic  and
international  publishing  businesses,  including  print  SuperPages®
and  electronic  SuperPages.com® directories,  as  well  as  includes
website creation and other electronic commerce services. Our direc-
tory  business  uses  the  publication  date  method  for  recognizing
revenues. Under that method, costs and advertising revenues asso-
ciated  with  the  publication  of  a  directory  are  recognized  when  the

20

Operating  revenues  from  our  Information  Services  segment  are
essentially  flat,  decreasing  $26  million,  or  0.6%  in  2002.  The  2002
revenue decrease was due primarily to the impacts of lower affiliate
and  extension  revenues  and  the  elimination  of  directory  revenues
related to wireline property sales. The decrease was partially offset by
sales  performance  growth  and  increased  revenue  from  the  August
2001 acquisition of TELUS’ advertising services business in Canada.
Verizon’s  domestic  Internet  directory  service,  SuperPages.com®, 
revenue grew 63.7% over 2001 as Information Services continues to
be the dominant leader in online directory services.

Operating revenues from our Information Services segment increased
$169  million,  or  4.1%  in  2001.  The  2001  revenue  increase  was  due
primarily to growth in directory advertising revenues and extension of
publications, continued growth of SuperPages.com®, and increased
revenue  from  the  TELUS  acquisition  in  August  2001,  partially  offset
by reductions in affiliate revenues.

Operating Expenses
Years Ended December 31,

Operations and support
Depreciation and amortization

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 2,099 $ 1,961 $ 2,026
74
$ 2,173 $ 2,040 $ 2,100

74

79

In  2002,  total  operating  expenses  increased  $133  million,  or  6.5%
primarily  due  to  increased  selling  costs,  a  small  asset  sale  gain
recorded in 2001 and higher uncollectible accounts receivable.

In 2001, total operating expenses decreased $60 million, or 2.9% pri-
marily  due  to  the  execution  of  cost  reduction  initiatives,  merger
synergies and a small asset sale gain recorded in 2001.

Segment Income
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Segment Income

$ 1,281 $ 1,352 $ 1,238

Segment income decreased by $71 million, or 5.3% from 2001 and
increased $114 million, or 9.2% from 2000 as a result of the after-tax
impact  of  operating  revenues  and  operating  expenses  described
above.  Special  and  non-recurring  items  of  $92  million,  $81  million
and  $140  million,  after-tax,  affected  the  Information  Services  seg-
ment 
in  2002,  2001  and  2000,  respectively.  Special  and
non-recurring  items  in  2002  included  merger-related  costs,  costs
associated with Domestic Telecom access line sales and severance
costs. Special and non-recurring items in 2001 and 2000 pertained
to merger-related costs.

SPECIAL AND NON-RECURRING ITEMS

Special  and  non-recurring  items  generally  represent  revenues  and
gains as well as expenses and losses that are non-operational and/or
non-recurring  in  nature.  Several  of  these  special  and  non-recurring
items  include  impairment  losses.  These  impairment  losses  were
determined in accordance with our policy of comparing the fair value

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

of  the  asset  with  its  carrying  value.  The  fair  value  is  determined  by
quoted market prices or by estimates of future cash flows.

These special and non-recurring items are not considered in assess-
ing  operational  performance,  either  at  the  segment  level  or  for  the
consolidated  company.  However,  they  are  included  in  our  reported
results. This section provides a detailed description of these special
and non-recurring items.

Sales of Assets, Net

During 2002, we recognized net gains in operations related to sales
of assets and other charges. During 2001, we recognized net losses
in  operations  related  to  sales  of  assets,  impairments  of  assets  held
for  sale  and  other  charges.  During  2000,  we  recognized  net  gains
related  to  sales  of  assets  and  impairments  of  assets  held  for  sale.
These net gains and losses are summarized as follows:

Years Ended 
December 31,

Wireline property

sales

Wireless overlap
property sales

Other, net

2002
Pretax After-tax

2001
Pretax After-tax

(dollars in millions)
2000
Pretax After-tax

$ 2,527 $ 1,550 $

– $

– $ 3,051 $ 1,856

–
220

1,156
(1,025)
$ 2,747 $ 1,666 $ (350) $ (226) $ 3,793 $ 1,987

1,922
(1,180)

(60)
(166)

(92)
(258)

–
116

As  required,  gains  on  sales  of  wireless  overlap  properties  that
occurred  prior  to  the  closing  of  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger  are
included in operating income and in the table above. Gains on sales
of significant wireless overlap properties that occurred after the Bell
Atlantic-GTE  merger  are  classified  as  extraordinary  items.  See
“Extraordinary Items” below for gains on sales of significant wireless
overlap properties subsequent to the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger.

Wireline Property Sales
In October 2001, we agreed to sell all 675,000 of our switched access
lines  in  Alabama  and  Missouri  to  CenturyTel  Inc.  (CenturyTel)  and
600,000  of  our  switched  access  lines  in  Kentucky  to  ALLTEL
Corporation (ALLTEL). During the third quarter of 2002, we completed
the  sales  of  these  access  lines  for  $4,059  million  in  cash  proceeds
($191 million of which was received in 2001). We recorded a pretax
gain  of  $2,527  million  ($1,550  million  after-tax,  or  $.56  per  diluted
share). For the years 2002, 2001 and 2000, the operating revenues of
the access lines sold were $623 million, $997 million and $1,021 mil-
lion,  respectively.  For  the  years  2002,  2001  and  2000,  operating
expenses of the access lines sold were $241 million, $413 million and
$539 million, respectively.

During  1998,  GTE  committed  to  sell  approximately  1.6  million  non-
strategic  domestic  access  lines.  During  2000,  access  line  sales
generated combined cash proceeds of approximately $4,903 million
and  $125  million  in  convertible  preferred  stock.  The  pretax  gain  on
the  sales  was  $3,051  million  ($1,856  million  after-tax,  or  $.68  per
diluted  share).  The  operating  revenues  and  expenses  of  the  access
lines sold in 2000 were $766 million and $253 million, respectively.

Wireless Overlap Property Sales
A  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  (DOJ)  consent  decree  issued  on
December  6,  1999  required  GTE  Wireless,  Bell  Atlantic  Mobile,
Vodafone and PrimeCo to resolve a number of wireless market over-

laps  in  order  to  complete  the  wireless  joint  venture  and  the  Bell
Atlantic-GTE  merger.  As  a  result,  during  April  and  June  2000  we
completed transactions with ALLTEL that provided for the exchange
of former Bell Atlantic Mobile and GTE Wireless markets for several
of ALLTEL’s wireless markets. These exchanges were accounted for
as purchase business combinations and resulted in combined pre-
tax  gains  of  $1,922  million  ($1,156  million  after-tax,  or  $.42  per
diluted share).

During 2001, we recorded a pretax gain of $80 million ($48 million
after-tax,  or  $.02  per  diluted  share)  on  the  sale  of  the  Cincinnati
wireless market and a pretax loss of $172 million ($108 million after-
tax,  or  $.04  per  diluted  share)  related  to  the  sale  of  the  Chicago
wireless market.

Other Transactions 
During 2002, we recorded a net pretax gain of $220 million ($116 mil-
lion  after-tax,  or  $.04  per  diluted  share),  primarily  resulting  from  a
pretax gain on the sale of TSI Telecommunication Services Inc. (TSI)
of $466 million ($275 million after-tax, or $.10 per diluted share), par-
tially offset by an impairment charge in connection with our exit from
the  video  business  and  other  charges  of  $246  million  ($159  million
after-tax, or $.06 per diluted share).

During 2001, we recorded charges totaling $258 million ($166 million
after-tax,  or  $.06  per  diluted  share)  related  to  exiting  several  busi-
nesses, including our video business and some leasing activities.

During 2000, we recorded charges related to the write-down of some
impaired  assets  and  other  charges  of  $1,180  million  ($1,025  million
after-tax, or $.37 per diluted share), as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 2000

Airfone and Video impairment
CLEC impairment
Real estate consolidation and other 

merger-related charges

Deferred taxes on contribution to 

the wireless joint venture

Other, net

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Per diluted
share

Pretax After-tax

$

566 $
334

362 $
218

220

–
60

142

249
54

$ 1,180 $ 1,025 $

.13
.08

.05

.09
.02
.37

In  connection  with  our  decisions  to  exit  the  video  business  and
Airfone (a company involved in air-to-ground communications), in the
second quarter of 2000 we recorded an impairment charge to reduce
the carrying value of these investments to their estimated net realiz-
able value.

The  CLEC  impairment  primarily  relates  to  the  revaluation  of  assets
and the accrual of costs pertaining to some long-term contracts due
to  strategic  changes  in  our  approach  to  offering  bundled  services
both in and out of franchise areas. The revised approach to providing
such services resulted, in part, from post-merger integration activities
and acquisitions.

The  real  estate  consolidation  and  other  merger-related  charges
include  the  revaluation  of  assets  and  the  accrual  of  costs  to  exit
leased facilities that are in excess of our needs as the result of post-
merger integration activities.

21

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

The deferred tax charge is non-cash and was recorded as the result
of the contribution in July 2000 of the GTE Wireless assets to Verizon
Wireless based on the differences between the book and tax bases of
assets contributed.

Severance/Retirement Enhancement Costs and 
Settlement Gains/(Losses)

Total  pension  and  benefit  costs  recorded  in  2002  related  to  sever-
ances  were  $2,010  million  ($1,264  million  after  taxes  and  minority
interest, or $.46 per diluted share). In the fourth quarter of 2002, we
recorded a pretax charge of $981 million ($604 million after taxes and
minority interest, or $.22 per diluted share) primarily associated with
pension and benefit costs related to severances. This charge included
losses  of  $910  million  ($558  million  after-tax,  or  $.20  per  diluted
share)  recorded  in  accordance  with  SFAS  No.  88,  “Employers’
Accounting  for  Settlements  and  Curtailments  of  Defined  Benefit
Pension  Plans  and  for  Termination  Benefits”  and  SFAS  No.  106,
“Employers’  Accounting  for  Postretirement  Benefits  Other  Than
Pensions.”  These  losses  include  curtailment  losses  of  $755  million
($464 million after-tax, or $.17 per diluted share) for significant reduc-
tion  of  the  expected  years  of  future  service  resulting  from  early
retirements once the threshold for significance was reached, pension
settlement  losses  of  $102  million  ($62  million  after-tax,  or  $.02  per
diluted share) related to lump sum settlements of some existing pen-
sion  obligations,  and  pension  and  postretirement  benefit
enhancements of $53 million ($32 million after-tax, or $.01 per diluted
share).  The  fourth  quarter  charge  also  included  severance  costs  of
$71 million ($46 million after taxes and minority interest, or $.02 per
diluted share). We also recorded a pretax charge in 2002 of $295 mil-
lion  ($185  million  after-tax,  or  $.07  per  diluted  share)  related  to
settlement losses incurred in connection with previously announced
employee  separations.  SFAS  No.  88  requires  that  settlement  losses
be  recorded  once  prescribed  payment  thresholds  have  been
reached.  Also  during  2002,  we  recorded  a  charge  of  $734  million
($475  million  after  taxes  and  minority  interest,  or  $.17  per  diluted
share) primarily associated with employee severance costs and sev-
erance-related  activities  in  connection  with  the  voluntary  and
involuntary separation of approximately 8,000 employees.

During  2001,  we  recorded  a  special  charge  of  $1,613  million
($1,001 million after-tax, or $.37 per diluted share) primarily asso-
ciated  with  employee  severance  costs  and  related  pension
enhancements. The charge included severance and related bene-
fits of $765 million ($477 million after-tax, or $.18 per diluted share)
for  the  voluntary  and  involuntary  separation  of  approximately
10,000  employees.  We  also  included  a  charge  of  $848  million
($524 million after-tax, or $.19 per diluted share) primarily associ-
ated with related pension enhancements.

In 2000, we recorded pension settlement gains of $911 million pretax
($564 million after-tax, or $.21 per diluted share) in accordance with
SFAS No. 88. They relate to some settlements of pension obligations
for former GTE employees through direct payment, the purchase of
annuities or otherwise.

22

Investment-Related Charges

We continually evaluate our investments in securities for impairment
due to declines in market value considered to be other than tempo-
rary.  That  evaluation  includes,  in  addition  to  persistent,  declining
stock prices, general economic and company-specific evaluations. In
the  event  of  a  determination  that  a  decline  in  market  value  is  other
than temporary, a charge to earnings is recorded for the loss and a
new cost basis in the investment is established.

In  2002,  we  recorded  total  net  investment-related  pretax  losses  of
$6,203 million ($5,652 million after-tax, or $2.06 per diluted share) in
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Businesses and Operations and
Support Expense. These losses are comprised of the following:

• A loss of $2,898 million ($2,735 million after-tax, or $1.00 per diluted
share)  related  to  our  investment  in  Genuity.  This  loss  includes  a
write-down of our investments and loans of $2,624 million ($2,560
million after-tax, or $.93 per diluted share). We also recorded a pre-
tax  charge  of  $274  million  ($175  million  after-tax,  or  $.07  per 
diluted  share)  related  to  the  remaining  financial  exposure  to  our
assets, including receivables, as a result of Genuity’s bankruptcy
(see “Other Factors That May Affect Future Results – Genuity” for
additional information).

• During  2002,  we  also  recorded  a  pretax  loss  of  $1,400  million
($1,400 million after-tax, or $.51 per diluted share) due to the other
than  temporary  decline  in  the  market  value  of  our  investment  in
CANTV.  As  a  result  of  the  political  and  economic  instability  in
Venezuela,  including  the  devaluation  of  the  Venezuelan  bolivar,
and  the  related  impact  on  CANTV’s  future  economic  prospects,
we  no  longer  expected  that  the  future  undiscounted  cash  flows
applicable  to  CANTV  would  be  sufficient  to  recover  our  invest-
ment. Accordingly, we wrote our investment down to market value
as of March 31, 2002.

• In  2002,  we  also  recorded  an  other  than  temporary  loss  related  to
several  investments,  including  a  loss  of  $580  million  ($430  million
after-tax, or $.16 per diluted share) to the market value of our invest-
ment in TELUS, a net loss of $347 million ($230 million after-tax, or
$.08 per diluted share) related to the market value of our investment
in  C&W  and  losses  totaling  $232  million  ($231  million  after-tax,  or
$.08 per diluted share) relating to several other investments.

• In 2002, we also recorded a pretax loss of $516 million ($436 mil-
lion after-tax, or $.16 per diluted share) to the market value of MFN
primarily  due  to  the  other  than  temporary  decline  in  the  market
value of our investment in MFN. During 2001, we wrote down our
investment in MFN due to the declining market value of its stock.
We wrote off our remaining investment and other financial state-
ment exposure related to MFN in 2002 primarily as a result of its
deteriorating financial condition and related defaults.

• In  addition,  in  2002  we  recorded  a  pretax  loss  of  $230  million
($190 million after-tax, or $.07 per diluted share) to fair value due
to the other than temporary decline in the fair value of our remain-
ing investment in CTI. In 2001, we recorded an estimated loss of
$637  million  ($637  million  after-tax,  or  $.23  per  diluted  share)  to
reflect  the  impact  of  the  deteriorating  Argentinean  economy  and
devaluation of the Argentinean peso on CTI’s financial position. As
a  result  of  these  charges,  our  financial  exposure  related  to  our
equity investment in CTI has been eliminated.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

As a result of capital gains and other income on access line sales and
investment  sales  in  2002,  as  well  as  assessments  and  transactions
related  to  several  of  the  impaired  investments  during  the  third  and
fourth  quarters  of  2002,  we  recorded  tax  benefits  of  $2,104  million
($.77  per  diluted  share)  in  2002  pertaining  to  current  and  prior  year
investment impairments. The investment impairments primarily relat-
ed to debt and equity investments in MFN and in Genuity.

Prior  to  the  second  quarter  of  2001,  we  considered  the  declines  in
the  market  values  of  our  investments  in  securities  to  be  temporary,
due  principally  to  the  overall  weakness  in  the  securities  markets  as
well as telecommunications sector share prices. However, included in
our  results  for  2001  is  the  recognition  of  pretax  losses  recorded  in
June 2001 and December 2001 totaling $4,686 million ($3,607 million
after-tax, or $1.32 per diluted share) primarily relating to our invest-
ments in C&W, NTL and MFN. We determined, through the evaluation
described  above,  that  market  value  declines  in  these  investments
were considered other than temporary.

During  2001,  we  also  recorded  a  pretax  charge  of  $1,251  million
($1,251 million after-tax, or $.46 per diluted share) related to our cost
investment in Genuity. The charge was necessary because we deter-
mined  that  the  decline  in  the  estimated  fair  value  of  Genuity  was
other than temporary. Our investment in Genuity was not considered
a marketable security given its unique characteristics and the associ-
ated contingent conversion right (see “Other Factors That May Affect
Future  Results  –  Genuity”  for  additional  information).  However,  we
estimated  fair  value  based  on  the  number  of  shares  of  Genuity  we
would own, assuming the exercise of the contingent conversion right,
and the market value of Genuity common stock.

In  May  2000,  C&W,  NTL  and  CWC  completed  a  restructuring  of
CWC. Under the terms of the restructuring, CWC’s consumer cable
telephone, television and Internet operations were separated from its
corporate,  business,  Internet  protocol  and  wholesale  operations.
After the separation, the consumer operations were acquired by NTL
and the other operations were acquired by C&W. In connection with
the restructuring, we, as a shareholder in CWC, received shares in the
two  acquiring  companies,  representing  approximately  9.1%  of  the
NTL  shares  outstanding  at  the  time  and  approximately  4.6%  of  the
C&W shares outstanding at the time. Our exchange of CWC shares
for  C&W  and  NTL  shares  resulted  in  the  recognition  of  a  non-cash
pretax  gain  of  $3,088  million  ($1,941  million  after-tax,  or  $.71  per
diluted share) in Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Businesses and
a corresponding increase in the cost basis of the shares received.

Mark-to-Market Adjustment – Financial Instruments

During  2001,  we  began  recording  mark-to-market  adjustments  in
earnings relating to some of our financial instruments in accordance
with  newly  effective  accounting  rules  on  derivative  financial  instru-
ments.  For  the  years  ended  December  31,  2002  and  2001,  we
recorded  net  pretax  losses  on  mark-to-market  adjustments  of  $14
million ($15 million after-tax, or $.01 per diluted share) and $182 mil-
lion ($179 million after taxes and minority interest, or $.07 per diluted
share),  respectively.  The  losses  on  mark-to-market  adjustments  in
2001  were  primarily  due  to  the  change  in  the  fair  value  of  the  MFN
debt conversion option.

In 2000, we recorded a gain on a mark-to-market adjustment of $664
million ($431 million after-tax, or $.16 per diluted share) related to our
then $3,180 million of 4.25% senior exchangeable notes (the 4.25%
Notes) which, when issued, were exchangeable into ordinary shares
of CWC stock. In connection with a restructuring of CWC in 2000 and
the bankruptcy of NTL in 2002, the 4.25% Notes are now exchange-
able into shares of C&W and a combination of shares and warrants in
the reorganized NTL entities. These mark-to-market adjustments are
non-cash,  non-operational  transactions  that  result  in  either  an
increase or decrease in the carrying value of the debt obligation and
a  charge  or  credit  to  income.  The  mark-to-market  adjustments  are
required  because  the  4.25%  Notes  are  indexed  to  the  fair  market
value of the exchange property into which they are exchangeable. If
the fair market value of the exchange property exceeds the exchange
price established at the offering date, a mark-to-market adjustment is
recorded,  recognizing  an  increase  in  the  carrying  value  of  the  debt
obligation  and  a  charge  to  income.  If  the  fair  market  value  of  the
exchange  property  subsequently  declines,  the  debt  obligation  is
reduced  (but  not  to  less  than  the  amortized  carrying  value  of  the
notes).  The  4.25%  Notes  became  exchangeable  in  July  2002.  For
information on our election to redeem the 4.25% Notes, see “Market
Risk – Exchangeable Notes.”

Genuity Loss In 2000

Prior to the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, we owned and consoli-
dated  Genuity  (a  tier-one  interLATA  Internet  backbone  and  related
data business). In June 2000, as a condition of the merger, 90.5% of
the voting equity of Genuity was issued in an initial public offering. As
a result of the initial public offering and our loss of control, we decon-
solidated  Genuity.  Our  remaining  ownership  interest  in  Genuity
contained a contingent conversion feature that gave us the option (if
prescribed conditions were met), among other things, to regain con-
trol of Genuity. Our ability to legally exercise this conversion feature
was dependent on obtaining approvals to provide long distance serv-
ice  in  the  former  Bell  Atlantic  region  and  satisfaction  of  other
regulatory and legal requirements.

As  a  result  of  the  circumstances  described  above,  we  began
accounting for our investment in Genuity using the cost method after
June  30,  2000.  Our  accounting  policy  concerning  the  method  of
accounting  applied  to  investments  (consolidation,  equity  or  cost)
involves an evaluation of all significant terms of the investments that
explicitly  grant  or  suggest  evidence  of  control  or  influence  over  the
operations of the entity in which we have invested. Where control is
determined, we consolidate the investment. If we determine that we
have significant influence over the operating and financial policies of
an entity in which we have invested, we apply the equity method. We
apply the cost method in situations where we determine that we do
not have significant influence, such as our investment in Genuity. As
a result, Genuity’s revenues and expenses, as well as changes in bal-
ance  sheet  accounts  and  cash  flows  subsequent  to  June  30,  2000
are no longer included in our consolidated financial results. For com-
parability, we have included Genuity’s results prior to June 30, 2000
in  special  and  non-recurring  items.  The  after-tax  losses  of  Genuity
were $281 million (or $.10 per diluted share) in 2000.

23

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

For  information  on  our  July  2002  decision  not  to  regain  control  of
Genuity  and  our  ongoing  commercial  relationship  with  Genuity,  see
“Other Factors That May Affect Future Results – Genuity.” In addition,
for  information  on  charges  related  to  Genuity,  see  “Investment-
Related Charges” in this section.

Completion of Merger

In  June  2000,  Bell  Atlantic  and  GTE  completed  a  merger  under  a
definitive  merger  agreement  dated  as  of  July  27,  1998  and  began
doing business as Verizon. The following table summarizes the pretax
charges incurred for the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger.

Years Ended December 31,

Direct Incremental Costs
Compensation arrangements
Professional services
Shareowner-related
Registration, regulatory and other
Total Direct Incremental Costs

Employee Severance Costs

Transition Costs
Systems modifications
Branding
Relocation, training and other
Total Transition Costs
Total Merger-Related Costs

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$

$

– $
–
–
–
–

– $
–
–
–
–

–

–

210
161
35
66
472

584

283
99
401
10
240
112
217
355
526
510
694
1,039
510 $ 1,039 $ 1,750

Merger-Related Costs
Direct Incremental Costs
Direct  incremental  costs  related  to  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger  of
$472 million ($378 million after-tax, or $.14 per diluted share) include
compensation, professional services and other costs. Compensation
includes  retention  payments  to  employees  that  were  contingent  on
the close of the merger and payments to employees to satisfy con-
tractual obligations triggered by the changes in control. Professional
services  include  investment  banking,  legal,  accounting,  consulting
and other advisory fees incurred to obtain federal and state regulatory
approvals and take other actions necessary to complete the merger.
Other  includes  costs  incurred  to  obtain  shareholder  approval  of  the
merger,  register  securities  and  communicate  with  shareholders,
employees and regulatory authorities regarding merger issues.

Employee Severance Costs
Employee severance costs related to the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger of
$584  million  ($371  million  after-tax,  or  $.14  per  diluted  share)  as
recorded  under  SFAS  No.  112,  “Employers’  Accounting  for
Postemployment Benefits,” represent the benefit costs for the sepa-
ration  of  approximately  5,500  management  employees  who  were
entitled to benefits under pre-existing separation plans, as well as an
accrual for ongoing SFAS No. 112 obligations for GTE employees. Of
these  employees,  approximately  5,200  were  located  in  the  United
States  and  approximately  300  were  located  at  various  international
locations. The separations occurred as a result of consolidations and
process  enhancements  within  our  operating  segments.  As  of
December  31,  2002,  the  severances  in  connection  with  the  Bell
Atlantic-GTE merger are complete.

24

Transition Costs
In  addition  to  the  direct  incremental  merger-related  and  severance
costs  discussed  above,  we  announced  at  the  time  of  the  Bell
Atlantic-GTE  merger  that  we  expected  to  incur  a  total  of  approxi-
mately  $2  billion  of  transition  costs  related  to  the  merger  and  the
formation of the wireless joint venture. These costs were incurred to
integrate  systems,  consolidate  real  estate  and  relocate  employees.
They  also  included  approximately  $500  million  for  advertising  and
other  costs  to  establish  the  Verizon  brand.  Transition  activities  are
complete at December 31, 2002 and totaled $2,243 million. For 2002,
2001 and 2000, transition costs were $510 million ($288 million after
taxes and minority interest, or $.10 per diluted share), $1,039 million
($578  million  after  taxes  and  minority  interest,  or  $.21  per  diluted
share) and $694 million ($316 million after taxes and minority interest,
or $.12 per diluted share), respectively.

Other Charges and Special Items

During 2002, we recorded pretax charges of $593 million ($445 mil-
lion after-tax, or $.16 per diluted share) primarily related to a pretax
impairment charge in connection with our financial statement expo-
sure  to  WorldCom  due  to  its  July  2002  bankruptcy  of  $300  million
($183 million after-tax, or $.07 per diluted share), a pretax impairment
charge  of  $117  million  ($136  million  after-tax,  or  $.05  per  diluted
share) pertaining to our leasing operations for airplanes leased to air-
lines  currently  experiencing  financial  difficulties  and  other  pretax
charges  of  $176  million  ($126  million  after-tax,  or  $.04  per  diluted
share). In addition, we recorded a pretax charge of $175 million ($114
million after-tax, or $.04 per diluted share) related to a settlement of a
litigation matter that arose from our decision to terminate an agree-
ment  with  NorthPoint  Communications  Group,  Inc.  (NorthPoint)  to
combine the two companies’ DSL businesses.

In  2002,  we  sold  nearly  all  of  our  investment  in  TCNZ  for  net  cash
proceeds of $769 million, which resulted in a pretax gain of $383 mil-
lion ($229 million after-tax, or $.08 per diluted share).

Other charges and special items recorded during 2001 include asset
impairments  related  to  property  sales  and  facility  consolidation  of
$151 million ($95 million after-tax, or $.03 per diluted share). In 2001,
we also recorded a loss of $35 million ($26 million after-tax, or $.01
per diluted share) related to international losses.

Other charges and special items recorded during 2000 included the
write-off of our investment in NorthPoint of $155 million ($153 million
after-tax, or $.06 per diluted share) as a result of the deterioration in
NorthPoint’s  business,  operations  and  financial  condition.  We  also
recorded a pretax charge of $50 million ($50 million after-tax, or $.02
per diluted share) associated with our share of costs incurred at two
of  our  international  equity  investees  to  complete  employee  separa-
tion programs.

Other  charges  and  special  items  in  2000  also  included  the  cost  of
disposing or abandoning redundant assets and discontinued system
development  projects  in  connection  with  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE 
merger  of  $287  million  ($175  million  after-tax,  or  $.06  per  diluted
share), regulatory settlements of $98 million ($61 million after-tax, or
$.02  per  diluted  share)  and  other  asset  write-downs  of  $416  million
($290 million after-tax, or $.11 per diluted share).

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Extraordinary Items

In 2002, we recognized a net pretax extraordinary charge of $19 mil-
lion ($9 million after-tax, or less than $.01 per diluted share) related to
the  extinguishments  of  $2,306  million  of  debt  prior  to  the  stated
maturity dates.

During 2001, we retired $726 million of debt prior to the stated matu-
rity date, resulting in a pretax extraordinary charge of $29 million ($19
million after-tax, or $.01 per diluted share).

In June 2000, we entered into a series of definitive sale agreements
to  resolve  service  area  conflicts  prohibited  by  FCC  regulations  as  a
result  of  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger  (see  “Sales  of  Assets,  Net  –
Wireless  Overlap  Property  Sales”).  These  agreements,  which  were
pursuant to the consent decree issued for the merger, enabled both
the formation of Verizon Wireless and the closing of the merger. Since
the sales were required by the consent decree and occurred after the
merger,  the  gains  on  sales  were  recorded  net  of  taxes  as
Extraordinary Items in the consolidated statements of income.

During  the  second  half  of  2000,  we  completed  the  sale  of  the
to  CFW
(former  PrimeCo)  wireless  market 
Richmond 
Communications Company in exchange for two wireless rural service
areas in Virginia and cash. The sale resulted in a pretax gain of $184
million ($112 million after-tax, or $.04 per diluted share). In addition,
we completed the sales of the consolidated markets in Washington
and Texas and unconsolidated interests in Texas (former GTE) to SBC
Communications. The sales resulted in a pretax gain of $886 million
($532 million after-tax, or $.19 per diluted share). Also, we completed
the sale of the San Diego (former GTE) market to AT&T Wireless. The
sale resulted in a pretax gain of $304 million ($182 million after-tax, or
$.07  per  diluted  share).  In  2000,  we  also  completed  the  sale  of  the
Houston (former PrimeCo) wireless overlap market to AT&T Wireless,
resulting  in  a  pretax  gain  of  $350  million  ($213  million  after-tax,  or
$.08 per diluted share).

During 2000, we retired $190 million of debt prior to the stated matu-
rity date, resulting in a pretax extraordinary charge of $19 million ($12
million after-tax, or less than $.01 per diluted share).

Effective  January  1,  2003,  we  adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.
145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment
of  FASB  Statement  No.  13,  and  Technical  Corrections,”  and  will  no
longer report extinguishments of debt as extraordinary items.

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

Impact of SFAS No. 142
We  adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  142  on  January  1,  2002.
SFAS  No.  142  no  longer  permits  the  amortization  of  goodwill  and
indefinite-lived  intangible  assets.  Instead,  these  assets  must  be
reviewed  annually  (or  more  frequently  under  various  conditions)  for
impairment  in  accordance  with  this  statement.  Results  for  the  year
ended  December  31,  2002  include  the  initial  impact  of  adoption
recorded  as  a  cumulative  effect  of  an  accounting  change  of  $496
million after-tax ($.18 per diluted share). In accordance with the new
rules, starting January 1, 2002, we are no longer amortizing goodwill,
acquired workforce intangible assets and wireless licenses which we
determined  have  an  indefinite  life.  On  a  comparable  basis,  had  we
not  amortized  these  intangible  assets  during  the  years  ended
December  31,  2001  and  2000,  net  income  before  extraordinary

items and cumulative effect of accounting change would have been
$973 million ($.36 per diluted share) and $11,113 million ($4.06 per
diluted  share),  respectively,  or  increased  by  $383  million  ($.14  per
diluted share) and $303 million ($.11 per diluted share) in 2001 and
2000, respectively.

Impact of SFAS No. 133
We  adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  133,  “Accounting  for
Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities,”  and  SFAS  No.  138,
“Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging
Activities” on January 1, 2001. The impact on Verizon pertains to the
recognition  of  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  derivative  instruments.
Results  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2001  include  the  initial
impact of adoption recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting
change  of  $182  million  after-tax  ($.07  per  diluted  share)  in  the  first
quarter of 2001. This cumulative effect charge primarily relates to the
change in the fair value of the MFN debt conversion option prior to
January 1, 2001.

Impact of SAB No. 101
We adopted the provisions of Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC)  Staff  Accounting  Bulletin 
(SAB)  No.  101,  “Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements,” in the fourth quarter of 2000,
retroactive to January 1, 2000, as required by the SEC. The impact
of SAB No. 101 on our results pertains to the deferral of some non-
recurring  fees,  such  as  service  activation  and  installation  fees,  and
associated  incremental  direct  costs,  and  the  recognition  of  those
revenues  and  costs  over  the  expected  term  of  the  customer  rela-
tionship.  Our  2000  results  include  the  initial  impact  of  adoption
recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change of $40 mil-
lion after-tax ($.01 per diluted share).

OTHER CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

The  following  discussion  of  nonoperating  items  is  based  on  the
amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements.

Other Income and (Expense), Net
Years Ended December 31,

Interest income
Foreign exchange gains (losses), net
Other, net
Total

2002

187 $
(93)
46

140 $

$

$

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

383 $

32
34

449 $

281
(11)
41
311

The changes in other income and expense were primarily due to the
changes in interest income and foreign exchange gains and losses.
We recorded additional interest income in 2001 primarily as a result of
interest on several notes receivable and the settlement of tax-related
matters. Foreign exchange gains and losses were affected primarily
by Iusacell, which uses the Mexican peso as its functional currency.
We  expect  that  our  earnings  will  continue  to  be  affected  by  foreign
currency gains or losses associated with the U.S. dollar denominated
debt issued by Iusacell.

Interest Expense
Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Total interest expense
Capitalized interest costs
Total interest costs on debt balances
Average debt outstanding
Effective interest rate

368

185

$ 3,237 $ 3,369 $ 3,490
230
$ 3,422 $ 3,737 $ 3,720
$ 59,967 $ 62,622 $ 51,987
7.2%

6.0%

5.7%

25

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

The decrease in interest costs in 2002, compared to 2001, was prin-
cipally  attributable  to  lower  average  interest  rates  and  lower  debt
levels. The decrease in the average debt levels for 2002 was primarily
due  to  lower  commercial  paper  borrowings.  Cash  from  operations,
asset  sales  and  other  favorable  cash  flows  (see  “Consolidated
Financial Condition”) reduced the need for financing in 2002. In addi-
tion,  lower  capital  expenditures  in  2002  contributed  to  lower
capitalized interest costs.

The effect of lower average interest rates on 2001 interest costs was
more  than  offset  by  the  increase  in  average  debt  levels  from  2000.
The increase in debt levels was mainly the result of funding for capi-
tal  expenditures  primarily  at  our  Domestic  Telecom  and  Domestic
Wireless segments and the debt assumed by Verizon Wireless in con-
nection with the formation of Verizon Wireless.

Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

Minority interest

$ 1,270 $

622 $

216

The increase in minority interest expense in 2002 and 2001 was pri-
marily  due  to  higher  earnings  at  Domestic  Wireless,  which  has  a
significant  minority  interest  attributable  to  Vodafone  (see  “Segment
Results of Operations – Domestic Wireless”). The decrease in minor-
ity interest expense from losses at Iusacell in 2002 is more than offset
by the consolidation of TELPRI and the deconsolidation of CTI (see
“Segment Results of Operations – International”).

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

2000

Effective income tax rates

26.1%

78.7%

39.3%

The effective income tax rate is the provision for income taxes as a
percentage  of  income  before  the  provision  for  income  taxes.  Our
effective  income  tax  rate  for  2002  was  favorably  impacted  by  tax
benefits recorded in 2002 relating to the other than temporary decline
in fair value of several of our investments recorded during 2002 and
2001 that were not available at the time the investments were written
down, as the decline in fair value was not recognizable at the time of
the impairment (see “Special and Non-Recurring Items – Investment-
Related  Charges”),  partially  offset  by  other  investment  charges  in
2002 associated with other than temporary declines in fair value for
which an associated tax benefit was not available. The effective rate
for 2002 was also favorably impacted by a tax law change relating to
employee stock ownership plan dividend deductions, increased state
tax benefits and capital loss utilization.

The effective income tax rate for 2001 is not consistent with 2000 pri-
marily because tax benefits were not available on many of the losses
resulting  from  the  other  than  temporary  decline  in  market  value  of
several of our investments during 2001.

A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effec-
tive  rate  for  each  period  is  included  in  Note  19  to  the  consolidated
financial statements.

26

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION

Years Ended December 31,

Cash Flows Provided By (Used In)
Operating activities
Investing activities
Financing activities
Increase (Decrease) In Cash and 

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$ 22,100 $ 19,773 $ 15,827
(16,055)
(21,626)
(1,048)
2,075

(6,828)
(14,813)

Cash Equivalents

$

459 $

222 $ (1,276)

We  use  the  net  cash  generated  from  our  operations  to  fund  capital
expenditures for network expansion and modernization, repay exter-
nal financing, pay dividends, and invest in new businesses. Additional
external financing is utilized when necessary. While our current liabil-
ities typically exceed current assets, our sources of funds, primarily
from operations and, to the extent necessary, from readily available
external financing arrangements, are sufficient to meet ongoing oper-
ating  and  investing  requirements.  We  expect  that  capital  spending
requirements will continue to be financed primarily through internally
generated funds. Additional debt or equity financing may be needed
to  fund  additional  development  activities  or  to  maintain  our  capital
structure to ensure our financial flexibility.

Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities

Our  primary  source  of  funds  continues  to  be  cash  generated  from
operations. In 2002, the increase in cash from operations compared
to 2001 primarily reflects improved results of operations before gains
or losses on asset sales.

In 2001, the increase in cash from operations compared to 2000 pri-
marily reflects improved results of operations before gains and losses
on asset sales, net and the mark-to-market adjustments of financial
instruments,  which  are  adjusted  in  cash  from  operating  activities,
partially offset by an increase in working capital requirements.

Decreased cash flow from operations during 2000 resulted primarily
from the payment of income taxes on the disposition of businesses
and assets. See “Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities” for addi-
tional information on sales of businesses and assets.

Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities

Capital  expenditures  continue  to  be  our  primary  use  of  capital
resources and facilitate the introduction of new products and services,
enhance responsiveness to competitive challenges and increase the
operating efficiency and productivity of our networks. Excluding cap-
italized  non-network  software,  we  invested  $6,977  million  in  our
Domestic  Telecom  business  in  2002,  compared  to  $11,480  million
and $12,119 million in 2001 and 2000, respectively. We also invested
$4,354 million in our Domestic Wireless business in 2002, compared
to $5,006 million and $4,322 million, respectively, in 2001 and 2000.
The  decrease  in  capital  spending  in  2002,  particularly  by  Domestic
Telecom, is primarily due to the effective management of our capital
expenditure budget to current network demand. The increase in cap-
ital  spending  in  2001  is  primarily  due  to  the  inclusion  of  both
Vodafone  and  PrimeCo  properties  in  Verizon  Wireless  in  April  2000,
as  well  as  increased  capital  spending  in  existing  Bell  Atlantic  and
GTE wireless properties.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Capital  spending,  including  capitalized  non-network  software,  is
expected to be approximately $12.5 billion to $13.5 billion in 2003.

We  invested  $1,093  million  in  acquisitions  and  investments  in  busi-
nesses  during  2002,  including  $556  million  to  acquire  some  of  the
cellular properties of Dobson Communications Corporation and $242
million for other wireless properties. We also received a $1,740 million
refund from the FCC in connection with our wireless auction payment
(see  “Other  Factors  That  May  Affect  Future  Results  –  Recent
Developments – FCC Auction” for additional information). In 2001, we
invested $3,142 million in acquisitions and investments in businesses,
including  $1,691  million  related  to  wireless  licenses  purchased  in
connection with an FCC auction (see “Other Factors That May Affect
Future Results – Recent Developments – FCC Auction” for additional
information), $410 million for additional wireless spectrum purchased
from another telecommunications carrier and $194 million in wireless
properties.  In  addition,  we  invested  $497  million  in  2001  to  acquire
the directory business of TELUS. In 2000, we invested $2,247 million
in acquisitions and investments including approximately $715 million
in the equity of MFN and $1,028 million in wireless properties.

In  2002,  we  received  cash  proceeds  of  $4,638  million,  including
$3,868 million from the sale of non-strategic access lines and $770
million in connection with the sale of TSI. In 2001, we received cash
proceeds of $200 million and $215 million in connection with sales of
our Cincinnati and Chicago wireless overlap properties, respectively.
In  2000,  we  received  cash  proceeds  on  sales  of  businesses  and
assets  of  $6,794  million,  including  gross  cash  proceeds  of  $4,903
million from the sale of non-strategic access lines and $1,464 million
from overlap wireless properties, as well as $144 million from the sale
of our CyberTrust business.

Our short-term investments include principally cash equivalents held
in  trust  accounts  for  payment  of  employee  benefits.  In  2002,  2001
and 2000, we invested $2,099 million, $2,002 million and $1,204 mil-
lion,  respectively,  in  short-term  investments,  primarily  to  pre-fund
active  employees’  health  and  welfare  benefits.  Proceeds  from  the
sales  of  all  short-term  investments,  principally  for  the  payment  of
these benefits, were $1,931 million, $1,595 million and $983 million in
the years 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Other,  net  investing  activities  include  capitalized  non-network  soft-
ware  of  $1,161  million  in  2002,  compared  with  $1,250  million  and
$1,044  million  in  2001  and  2000,  respectively.  Other,  net  investing
activities for 2002 also includes total cash proceeds of $1,453 million
in connection with share sales of various investments, including net
cash proceeds of $769 million in connection with a sale of our invest-
ment in TCNZ and $281 million related to the sale of our investment
in  C&W,  and  purchases  of  investments  of  $425  million.  Other,  net
investing activities for 2001 include loans to Genuity of $1,150 million
(see  “Other  Factors  That  May  Affect  Future  Results  –  Genuity”).  In
addition,  in  2001  we  received  a  deposit  of  $191  million  related  to  a
sale  of  telephone  lines,  $167  million  in  connection  with  CANTV’s
share  repurchase  program  and  proceeds  of  $515  million  related  to
prior year wireless asset sales.

During  2000,  we  invested  $975  million  in  subordinated  convertible
notes of MFN, in connection with our overall investment in MFN, as
well as $45 million in OnePoint Communications Corp. notes, included
in  Other,  net  investing  activities.  The  MFN  notes  were  originally

issued to be convertible at our option, upon receipt of necessary gov-
ernment approvals, into MFN common stock at a conversion price of
$17 per share (after two-for-one stock split) or an additional 9.6% of
the  equity  of  MFN  (based  on  shares  outstanding  at  that  time).  This
investment completed a portion of our previously announced agree-
ment,  as  amended,  with  MFN,  which  included  the  acquisition  of
approximately  $350  million  of  long-term  capacity  on  MFN’s  fiber
optic  networks,  from  1999  through  2002.  Of  the  $350  million,  $105
million was paid in October 2000 and $95 million was paid in 2001,
and  these  amounts  are  included  in  net  cash  provided  by  operating
activities.  In  2001  we  renegotiated  several  significant  terms  of  our
MFN investment and commitments, in connection with a new financ-
ing  arrangement.  Pursuant  to  that  financing  arrangement,  we
purchased  $50  million  of  senior  secured  convertible  notes  that  are
convertible into MFN common stock at a conversion price of $.53 per
share. This new financing arrangement also repriced $500 million of
the  subordinated  convertible  notes  purchased  in  2000  to  a  conver-
sion price of $3 per share (from $17 per share). However, we wrote off
our  remaining  investment  and  other  financial  statement  exposure
related to MFN in 2002 primarily as a result of its deteriorating finan-
cial condition and related defaults.

Under the terms of an investment agreement relating to our wireless
joint  venture,  Vodafone  may  require  us  or  Verizon  Wireless  to  pur-
chase up to an aggregate of $20 billion worth of its interest in Verizon
Wireless  between  2003  and  2007  at  its  then  fair  market  value.  The
purchase of up to $10 billion, in cash or stock at our option, may be
required  in  the  summer  of  2003  or  2004,  and  the  remainder,  which
may not exceed $10 billion at any one time, in the summers of 2005
through  2007.  Vodafone  has  the  option  to  require  us  or  Verizon
Wireless  to  satisfy  up  to  $7.5  billion  of  the  remainder  with  cash  or
contributed debt.

Cash Flows Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities

Cash  of  $11,602  million  was  used  to  reduce  our  total  debt  during
2002.  We  repaid  $4,083  million  of  Verizon  Global  Funding  Corp.,
$2,454 million of Domestic Telecom and $1,022 million of Domestic
Wireless long-term debt (including $585 million of net debt assumed
in connection with the Price transaction), and reduced our short-term
borrowings by $11,024 million primarily with cash and the issuance of
Domestic  Telecom  and  Verizon  Global  Funding  long-term  debt.
Domestic Telecom and Verizon Global Funding issued $3,779 million
and $3,816 million of long-term debt, respectively.

The net cash proceeds from increases in our total debt during 2001
of $6,064 million was primarily due to the issuance of $7,002 million
of  long-term  debt  by  Verizon  Global  Funding,  partially  offset  by
repayments of $980 million of maturities of corporate long-term debt.
In addition, Verizon Wireless issued $4,555 million of long-term debt
and repaid $4,690 million of revolving loans, while Domestic Telecom
incurred $2,303 million of long-term debt, repaid $573 million of net
short-term debt and retired $1,430 million of long-term debt.

In  2000,  the  net  cash  proceeds  from  increases  in  our  total  debt  of
$5,058 million was primarily due to the issuance of $5,500 million of
long-term  notes  issued  by  Verizon  Global  Funding.  The  increase  in
total  debt  was  also  attributable  to  the  issuance  of  $893  million  of
notes under a medium-term note program, $657 million of financing
transactions of cellular assets, $398 million of long-term bank debt at

27

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Verizon Wireless and an increase in other short-term borrowings, par-
tially  offset  by  repayments  of  long-term  debt.  The  pre-funding  of
employee benefit trusts also contributed to the increase in debt lev-
els  in  2001  and  2000.  Additionally,  the  purchases  of  shares  to  fund
employee stock option exercises contributed to the increase in debt
levels in 2000.

Our  ratio  of  debt  to  debt  and  shareowners’  equity  was  62.4%  at
December 31, 2002, compared to 66.4% at December 31, 2001.

As  of  December  31,  2002,  we  had  $596  million  in  bank  borrowings
outstanding. In addition, we had approximately $7.9 billion of unused
bank lines of credit and our telephone and financing subsidiaries had
shelf registrations for the issuance of up to $5.1 billion of unsecured
debt  securities.  The  debt  securities  of  our  telephone  and  financing
subsidiaries  continue  to  be  accorded  high  ratings  by  primary  rating
agencies. However, in March 2002, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) revised
our credit rating outlook from stable to negative, citing concern about
the  overall  debt  level  of  Verizon.  In  May  2002,  Moody’s  Investors
Service  (Moody’s)  placed  our  debt  under  review  for  possible  down-
grade.  In  December  2002,  Moody’s  downgraded  our  senior
unsecured debt rating from A1 to A2, and changed our credit rating
outlook from negative to stable. The short term rating of Prime-1 was
maintained. We have adopted a debt portfolio strategy that includes
a reduction in total debt as well as a reduction in the short-term debt
component.  In  February  2003,  S&P  upgraded  our  credit  rating  out-
look  from  negative  to  stable,  citing  debt  reduction  efforts  over  the
past year.

As in prior years, dividend payments were a significant use of capital
resources. We determine the appropriateness of the level of our divi-
dend  payments  on  a  periodic  basis  by  considering  such  factors  as
long-term growth opportunities, internal cash requirements, and the
expectations  of  our  shareowners.  In  2002  and  2001,  we  declared
quarterly  cash  dividends  of  $.385  per  share.  In  the  first,  third  and
fourth quarters of 2000, we announced a quarterly cash dividend of
$.385 per share. In the second quarter of 2000, we announced two
separate pro rata dividends to ensure that the respective shareown-
ers of Bell Atlantic and GTE received dividends at an appropriate rate.

In  2001  and  2000,  common  stock  repurchases  were  primarily  the
result of the two-year share buyback program approved by the Board
of Directors in March 2000 and repurchase of GTE common stock. In
January  2002,  the  Board  of  Directors  approved  an  extension  of  the
existing buy-back program to February 2004. In 2001 and 2000, 0.4
million  and  35.1  million  Verizon  common  shares  were  repurchased,
respectively. In August 1999, GTE announced the initiation of a share
repurchase program to offset shares issued under its employee-ben-
efit  and  dividend-reinvestment  programs.  Under  the  program,  we
repurchased  approximately  17.7  million  shares  of  GTE  common
stock in 1999, and completed the program with the purchase of an
additional  8.4  million  shares  valued  at  approximately  $600  million
through February 2000.

Increase (Decrease) In Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2002 totaled $1,438
million,  a  $459  million  increase  over  cash  and  cash  equivalents  at
December  31,  2001  of  $979  million.  The  increase  in  cash  and  cash
equivalents was driven by favorable results of operations, proceeds

28

from non-strategic access line sales and other sales, partially offset
by  capital  expenditures  and  a  significant  reduction  in  borrowings  in
2002. The December 31, 2001 balance of cash and cash equivalents
increased by $222 million compared to December 31, 2000.

Additional Minimum Pension Liability and Contributions

In  2002,  we  recorded  an  additional  minimum  pension  liability  of
$1,342 million for the amount of excess unfunded accumulated ben-
efit  liability  over  our  accrued  liability,  as  required  by  SFAS  No.  87,
“Employers’ Accounting for Pensions.” We periodically evaluate each
pension plan to determine whether any additional minimum liability is
required. As a result of lower interest rates and lower than expected
2002 investment returns, an additional minimum pension liability was
required  for  a  small  number  of  plans.  The  increase  in  the  liability  is
recorded  as  a  charge  to  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Loss,
net of a tax benefit, in shareowners’ investment in the consolidated
balance sheets.

The majority of Verizon’s pension plans are adequately funded. Based
on the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2002, there will be
no  significant  pension  trust  contributions  required  through  2003;
however,  we  anticipate  making  required  pension  trust  contributions
of approximately $125 million in 2004.

Leasing Arrangements

We are the lessor in leveraged and direct financing lease agreements
under  which  commercial  aircraft  and  power  generating  facilities,
which  comprise  the  majority  of  the  portfolio,  along  with  industrial
equipment,  real  estate  property,  telecommunications  and  other
equipment are leased for remaining terms of less than 1 year to 45
years  as  of  December  31,  2002.  Minimum  lease  payments  receiv-
able  represent  unpaid  rentals,  less  principal  and  interest  on
third-party  nonrecourse  debt  relating  to  leveraged  lease  transac-
tions. Since we have no general liability for this debt, which holds a
senior  security  interest  in  the  leased  equipment  and  rentals,  the
related principal and interest have been offset against the minimum
lease  payments  receivable  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles.  All  recourse  debt  is  reflected  in  our  consoli-
dated balance sheets.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

The  following  table  provides  a  summary  of  our  contractual  obliga-
tions  and  commercial  commitments  at  December  31,  2002.
Additional  detail  about  these  items  is  included  in  the  notes  to  the
consolidated financial statements.

(dollars in millions)

Contractual
Obligations

Long-term debt
Capital lease
obligations

Operating leases
Other long-term 
obligations

Total contractual 
cash obligations

Payments Due By Period
4-5
years

1-3
years

Less than
1 year

Total

After 5
years

$ 51,737 $ 7,133 $ 10,520 $ 7,737 $ 26,347

241
4,305

1,173

54
825

725

93
1,382

34
1,051

60
1,047

447

1

–

$ 57,456 $ 8,737 $ 12,442 $ 8,823 $ 27,454

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

MARKET RISK

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course
of our business, including the impact of interest rate changes, foreign
currency  exchange  rate  fluctuations,  changes  in  equity  investment
prices and changes in corporate tax rates. We employ risk manage-
ment strategies using a variety of derivatives, including interest rate
swap agreements, interest rate caps and floors, foreign currency for-
wards and options, equity options and basis swap agreements. We
do not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

It  is  our  general  policy  to  enter  into  interest  rate,  foreign  currency
and  other  derivative  transactions  only  to  the  extent  necessary  to
achieve our desired objectives in limiting our exposures to the vari-
ous market risks. Our objectives include maintaining a mix of fixed
and  variable  rate  debt  to  lower  borrowing  costs  within  reasonable
risk  parameters  and  to  protect  against  earnings  and  cash  flow
volatility  resulting  from  changes  in  market  conditions.  We  do  not
hedge our market risk exposure in a manner that would completely
eliminate  the  effect  of  changes  in  interest  rates,  equity  prices  and
foreign exchange rates on our earnings. We do not expect that our
net  income,  liquidity  and  cash  flows  will  be  materially  affected  by
these risk management strategies.

Exchangeable Notes

In  1998,  we  issued  exchangeable  notes  as  described  in  Note  13  to
the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  discussed  earlier  under
“Mark-to-Market  Adjustment  –  Financial  Instruments.”  These  finan-
cial instruments expose us to market risk, including:

• Equity price risk, because the notes are exchangeable into shares
that are traded on the open market and routinely fluctuate in value.

• Foreign exchange rate risk, because the notes are exchangeable

into shares that are denominated in a foreign currency.

•

Interest rate risk, because the notes carry fixed interest rates.

Periodically,  equity  price  or  foreign  exchange  rate  movements  may
require us to mark-to-market the exchangeable note liability to reflect
the increase or decrease in the current share price compared to the
established exchange price, resulting in a charge or credit to income.
The following sensitivity analysis measures the effect on earnings and
financial condition due to changes in the exchange property for the
exchangeable notes.

• At  December  31,  2002,  each  $1,000  principal  amount  of  5.75%
notes (each, a 5.75% Note) was exchangeable into 178.0369 ordi-
nary  shares  of  TCNZ  (5.75%  Note  Exchange  Property),  and  the
market value of the 5.75% Note Exchange Property was substan-
tially  below  the  debt  liability  associated  with  each  5.75%  Note.
Each  $20  increase  in  the  value  of  the  5.75%  Note  Exchange
Property above the value of the associated debt liability would in
the aggregate reduce our pretax earnings by $49 million.

• At  December  31,  2002,  each  $1,000  principal  amount  of  4.25%
notes (each, a 4.25% Note) was exchangeable into 40.3702 ordi-
nary  shares  of  C&W  and  7.6949  shares  of  NTL  (collectively,
4.25%  Note  Exchange  Property),  and  the  market  value  of  the
4.25% Note Exchange Property was substantially below the debt
liability  associated  with  each  4.25%  Note.  As  a  result  of  NTL’s
emergence from bankruptcy, the 4.25% Note Exchange Property

now  consists  of  C&W  shares  and  a  combination  of  shares  and
warrants in the reorganized NTL entities. Each $20 increase in the
value  of  the  4.25%  Note  Exchange  Property  above  the  value  of
the  associated  debt  liability  would  in  the  aggregate  reduce  our
pretax earnings by $53 million.

• A subsequent decrease in the value of the 5.75% Note Exchange
Property  or  the  4.25%  Note  Exchange  Property  would  corre-
spondingly  increase  earnings,  but  not  to  exceed  the  amount  of
any previous reduction in earnings.

• Our cash flows would not be affected by mark-to-market activity

relating to the exchangeable notes.

If we decide to deliver the exchange property, which we may have to
purchase for cash, in exchange for the notes, the exchangeable note
liability (including any mark-to-market adjustments) will be eliminated
and  the  investment  will  be  reduced  by  the  fair  market  value  of  the
exchange property delivered. Upon settlement, any excess of the lia-
bility over the book value of the exchange property delivered will be
recorded as a gain. We also have the option to settle these liabilities
with cash upon exchange.

On February 4, 2003, Verizon Global Funding, the issuer of the 4.25%
Notes, exercised its right under the indenture to redeem all of the out-
standing  4.25%  Notes  on  March  15,  2003.  The  cash  redemption
price  for  the  4.25%  Notes  is  $1,048.29  for  each  $1,000  principal
amount  of  the  notes.  A  holder  of  4.25%  Notes  that  exercises  an
exchange  right  will  receive  a  cash  settlement  of  $1,000  for  each
$1,000 principal amount of the notes. As of December 31, 2002, the
principal  amount  of  4.25%  Notes  outstanding,  before  unamortized
discount, was $2,839 million.

Interest Rate Risk

The  table  that  follows  summarizes  the  fair  values  of  our  long-term
debt,  interest  rate  derivatives  and  exchangeable  notes  as  of
December  31,  2002  and  2001.  The  table  also  provides  a  sensitivity
analysis  of  the  estimated  fair  values  of  these  financial  instruments
assuming  100-basis-point  upward  and  downward  parallel  shifts  in
the yield curve. Our sensitivity analysis did not include the fair values
of our commercial paper and bank loans because they are not signif-
icantly affected by changes in market interest rates.

At December 31, 2002

Fair Value

Fair Value
assuming
+100 basis
point shift

(dollars in millions)
Fair Value
assuming
-100 basis
point shift

Long-term debt and 

interest rate derivatives

Exchangeable notes
Total

At December 31, 2001

Long-term debt and 

interest rate derivatives

Exchangeable notes
Total

$

$

$

$

49,446
5,239
54,685

45,736
5,678
51,414

$

$

$

$

46,913
5,162
52,075

43,667
5,538
49,205

$

$

$

$

52,222
5,317
57,539

47,973
5,786
53,759

29

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Equity Risk

The  fair  values  of  some  of  our  investments,  primarily  in  common
stock, expose us to equity price risk. These investments are subject
to changes in the market prices of the securities. As noted earlier, the
fair values of our exchangeable notes are also affected by changes in
equity  price  movements.  The  table  that  follows  summarizes  the  fair
values  of  our  investments  and  exchangeable  notes  and  provides  a
sensitivity  analysis  of  the  estimated  fair  values  of  these  financial
instruments assuming a 10% increase or decrease in equity prices.

The table that follows summarizes the fair values of our foreign cur-
rency derivatives, cost investments, and the exchangeable notes as
of December 31, 2002 and 2001. The table also provides a sensitivity
analysis  of  the  estimated  fair  values  of  these  financial  instruments
assuming a 10% decrease and increase in the value of the U.S. dol-
lar  against  the  various  currencies  to  which  we  are  exposed.  Our
sensitivity analysis does not include potential changes in the value of
our international investments accounted for under the equity method.
As  of  December  31,  2002,  the  carrying  value  of  our  equity  method
international investments totaled approximately $3.4 billion.

At December 31, 2002

Fair Value

Fair Value

(dollars in millions)
Fair Value 
assuming 10% assuming 10% 
increase in 
equity price

decrease in
equity price

At December 31, 2002

Fair Value

Fair Value

(dollars in millions)
Fair Value 
assuming 10% assuming 10%
increase 
in US$

decrease 
in US$

Equity price sensitive cost 
investments, at fair value 
and derivatives
Exchangeable notes
Total

At December 31, 2001

Equity price sensitive cost 
investments, at fair value 
and derivatives
Exchangeable notes
Total

$

$

$

$

363
(5,239)
(4,876)

2,189
(5,678)
(3,489)

$

$

$

$

352
(5,239)
(4,887)

2,008
(5,677)
(3,669)

$

$

$

$

375
(5,239)
(4,864)

2,369
(5,680)
(3,311)

Foreign exchange sensitive 

cost investments and foreign 
currency derivatives

Exchangeable notes
Total

At December 31, 2001

Foreign exchange sensitive 

cost investments and foreign 
currency derivatives

Exchangeable notes
Total

$

$

$

$

98
(5,239)
(5,141)

1,433
(5,678)
(4,245)

$

$

$

$

73
(5,239)
(5,166)

1,581
(5,680)
(4,099)

$

$

$

$

126
(5,239)
(5,113)

1,316
(5,677)
(4,361)

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for nearly all of our foreign operations is the
local  currency.  The  translation  of  income  statement  and  balance
sheet  amounts  of  these  entities  into  U.S.  dollars  are  recorded  as
cumulative 
in
translation  adjustments,  which  are 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in our consolidated balance
sheets. At December 31, 2002, our primary translation exposure was
to the Venezuelan bolivar, Mexican peso, Dominican Republic peso,
Canadian  dollar  and  the  Euro.  We  have  not  hedged  our  accounting
translation  exposure  to  foreign  currency  fluctuations  relative  to  the
carrying value of these investments.

included 

In 2002, 2001 and 2000, our earnings were affected by foreign cur-
rency gains or losses associated with the unhedged portion of U. S.
dollar denominated debt at Iusacell.

Equity  income  from  our  international  investments  is  affected  by
exchange rate fluctuations when an equity investee has assets and
liabilities denominated in a currency other than the investee’s func-
tional  currency.  Several  of  our  equity  investees  have  assets  and
liabilities denominated in a currency other than the investee’s func-
tional currency, such as our investments in Venezuela, Canada and
Slovakia.

Foreign Exchange Risk

The  fair  values  of  our  foreign  currency  derivatives  and  investments
accounted  for  under  the  cost  method  are  subject  to  fluctuations  in
foreign  exchange  rates.  We  use  forward  foreign  currency  exchange
contracts  to  offset  foreign  exchange  gains  and  losses  on  British
pound and Japanese yen denominated debt obligations.

30

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS 

Significant Accounting Policies

A  summary  of  the  significant  accounting  policies  used  in  preparing
our financial statements are as follows:

• Special and non-recurring items generally represent revenues and
gains  as  well  as  expenses  and  losses  that  are  non-operational
and/or non-recurring in nature. Several of these special and non-
recurring items include impairment losses. These impairment losses
were determined in accordance with our policy of comparing the
fair  value  of  the  asset  with  its  carrying  value.  The  fair  value  is
determined by quoted market prices or by estimates of future cash
flows.  There  is  inherent  subjectivity  involved  in  estimating  future
cash flows, which impacts the amount of any impairment.

• We  continually  evaluate  our  investments  in  securities  for  impair-
ment due to declines in market value considered to be other than
temporary.  That  evaluation  includes,  in  addition  to  persistent,
declining  stock  prices,  general  economic  and  company-specific
evaluations. In the event of a determination that a decline in mar-
ket value is other than temporary, a charge to earnings is recorded
for the loss and a new cost basis in the investment is established.
Given our significant investments in securities, other than tempo-
rary declines in market values can have a material impact on our
results of operations and financial condition.

• We  maintain  defined  benefit  pension  plans  for  most  of  our 
employees. In the aggregate, the fair value of plan assets of those
plans  exceeds  benefit  obligations,  which  contributes  to  pension
plan income. Significant pension plan assumptions, including the

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

discount rate used, the long-term rate of return on plan assets and
rate of future increases in compensation are periodically updated
and impact the amount of pension plan income, assets and obli-
gations (see “Consolidated Results of Operations – Consolidated
Net Income – Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits”).

year will be recognized for new awards granted, modified, or settled.
However,  in  subsequent  years,  the  vesting  of  awards  issued  on  or
after January 1, 2003 may cause an increase in employee compen-
sation expense. We estimate the impact in 2003 will be approximately
$.01 to $.02 per diluted share.

• Our  accounting  policy  concerning  the  method  of  accounting
applied to investments (consolidation, equity or cost) involves an
evaluation of all significant terms of the investments that explicitly
grant or suggest evidence of control or influence over the opera-
tions  of  the  entity  in  which  we  have  invested.  Where  control  is
determined, we consolidate the investment. If we determine that
we have significant influence over the operating and financial poli-
cies of an entity in which we have invested, we apply the equity
method. We apply the cost method in situations where we deter-
mine that we do not have significant influence.

• Our current and deferred income taxes, and associated valuation
allowances, are impacted by events and transactions arising in the
normal  course  of  business  as  well  as  in  connection  with  special
and  non-recurring  items.  Assessment  of  the  appropriate  amount
and classification of income taxes is dependent on several factors,
including  estimates  of  the  timing  and  realization  of  deferred
income tax assets and the timing of income tax payments. Actual
collections  and  payments  may  differ  from  these  estimates  as  a
result of changes in tax laws as well as unanticipated future trans-
actions impacting related income tax balances.

•

Intangible assets are a significant component of our consolidated
assets. Wireless licenses of $40,088 million represent the largest
component  of  our  intangible  assets.  Our  wireless  licenses  are
indefinite-lived  intangible  assets,  and  as  required  by  SFAS  No.
142,  are  no  longer  amortized  but  are  periodically  evaluated  for
impairment.  Any  impairment  loss  would  be  determined  by  com-
paring  the  fair  value  of  the  wireless  licenses  with  their  carrying
value. The fair value is determined by estimating future cash flows.
There  is  inherent  subjectivity  involved  in  estimating  future  cash
flows, which impacts the amount of any impairment.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting for Stock Options
In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation –
Transition  and  Disclosure.”  This  statement  amends  SFAS  No.  123,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to provide alternative
methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based
method  of  accounting  for  stock-based  employee  compensation.  In
addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS
No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim
financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based
employee  compensation  and  the  effect  of  the  method  used  on
reported  results.  This  statement  permits  two  additional  transition
methods (modified prospective and retroactive restatement) for enti-
ties that adopt the preferable method of accounting for stock-based
employee compensation.

Effective January 1, 2003 we adopted the fair value recognition pro-
visions of SFAS No. 123, using the prospective method, for all new
awards  granted  to  employees  after  January  1,  2003.  Under  the
prospective  method,  employee  compensation  expense  in  the  first

Exit or Disposal Activities
In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs
Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” This statement addresses
financial  accounting  and  reporting  for  costs  associated  with  exit  or
disposal  activities  and  nullifies  EITF  Issue  No.  94-3,  “Liability
Recognition  for  Certain  Employee  Termination  Benefits  and  Other
Costs  to  Exit  an  Activity  (including  Certain  Costs  Incurred  in
Restructuring).”  EITF  Issue  No.  94-3  required  accrual  of  liabilities
related  to  exit  and  disposal  activities  at  a  plan  (commitment)  date.
SFAS  No.  146  requires  that  a  liability  for  a  cost  associated  with  an
exit  or  disposal  activity  be  recognized  when  the  liability  is  incurred.
The  provisions  of  this  statement  are  effective  for  exit  or  disposal
activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002.

Asset Retirement Obligations
On  January  1,  2003,  we  adopted  SFAS  No.  143,  “Accounting  for
Asset Retirement Obligations.” This statement provides the account-
ing for the cost of legal obligations associated with the retirement of
long-lived  assets.  SFAS  No.  143  requires  that  companies  recognize
the fair value of a liability for asset retirement obligations in the period
in  which  the  obligations  are  incurred  and  capitalize  that  amount  as
part  of  the  book  value  of  the  long-lived  asset.  We  have  determined
that Verizon does not have a material legal obligation to remove long-
lived  assets  as  described  by  this  statement.  However,  we  have
included estimated removal costs in our group depreciation models.
These costs have increased depreciation expense and accumulated
depreciation  for  future  removal  costs  for  existing  assets.  These
removal costs are recorded as a reduction to accumulated deprecia-
tion when the assets are retired and removal costs are incurred.

For some assets, such as telephone poles, the removal costs exceed
salvage value. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 143, we are required
to exclude costs of removal from our depreciation rates for assets for
which the removal costs exceed salvage. Accordingly, in connection
with the initial adoption of this standard on January 1, 2003, we have
reversed  accrued  costs  of  removal  in  excess  of  salvage  from  our
accumulated depreciation accounts for these assets. The adjustment
was recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change, result-
ing  in  the  recognition  of  a  gain  of  approximately  $3.4  billion  ($2.0
billion  after-tax).  Effective  January  1,  2003,  we  began  expensing
costs  of  removal  in  excess  of  salvage  for  these  assets  as  incurred.
The  impact  of  this  change  in  accounting  will  result  in  a  decrease  in
depreciation  expense  and  an  increase  in  operational  and  support
expenses.  We  estimate  the  net  favorable  impact  in  2003,  excluding
the cumulative effect adjustment, will be approximately $50 million to
$70 million ($30 million to $42 million after-tax).

31

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS

Genuity

Prior to the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, we owned and consoli-
dated  Genuity  (a  tier-one  interLATA  Internet  backbone  and  related
data business). In June 2000, as a condition of the merger, 90.5% of
the voting equity of Genuity was issued in an initial public offering. As
a result of the initial public offering and our loss of control, we decon-
solidated  Genuity.  Our  remaining  ownership  interest  in  Genuity
contained a contingent conversion feature that gave us the option (if
prescribed conditions were met), among other things, to regain con-
trol of Genuity. Our ability to legally exercise this conversion feature
was dependent on obtaining approvals to provide long distance serv-
ice  in  the  former  Bell  Atlantic  region  and  satisfaction  of  other
regulatory and legal requirements.

On July 24, 2002, we converted all but one of our shares of Class B
common  stock  of  Genuity  into  shares  of  Class  A  common  stock  of
Genuity. As a result, we have relinquished the right to convert our cur-
rent  ownership  into  a  controlling  interest  as  described  above.  On
December  18,  2002,  we  sold  all  of  our  Class  A  common  stock  of
Genuity.  We  now  own  a  voting  and  economic  interest  in  Genuity  of
less than one-hundredth of 1%.

Our  commercial  relationship  with  Level  3  Communications,  Inc.
(Level  3),  the  purchaser  of  substantially  all  of  Genuity’s  domestic
assets and the assignee of Genuity’s principal contract with us, con-
tinues  including  a  multi-year  purchase  commitment  expiring  on
December 31, 2005 for services such as dedicated Internet access,
managed web hosting, Internet security and some transport services.
Under this purchase commitment, Verizon has agreed to pay Level 3
a minimum of approximately $250 million after February 4, 2003.

Pursuant  to  an  agreement  reached  with  most  bank  lenders  to
Genuity, we agreed to subordinate our $1,150 million loan to Genuity
to  the  loans  made  by  the  banks  to  Genuity.  In  addition,  we  pur-
chased participation in the amount of $182 million in the loans made
by the banks to Genuity. Depending on the amounts available to pay
creditors of Genuity, Verizon may or may not recover all of this par-
ticipation.  Consequently,  we  recorded  a  charge  of  $182  million  in
connection with losses recorded in 2002 related to our investment in
Genuity  (see  “Special  and  Non-Recurring  Items  –  Investment-
Related Charges”).

Recent Developments

Verizon Wireless
FCC Auction
On January 29, 2001, the bidding phase of the FCC reauction of 1.9
GHz  C  and  F  block  broadband  Personal  Communications  Services
(PCS) spectrum licenses, which began December 12, 2000, officially
ended. Verizon Wireless was the winning bidder for 113 licenses. The
total  price  of  these  licenses  was  $8,781  million,  $1,822  million  of
which had been paid. There were no legal challenges to our qualifi-
cations  to  acquire  these  licenses.  We  were  awarded  33  of  the  113
licenses in August 2001 and paid approximately $82 million for them.
However,  the  remaining  licenses  for  which  we  were  the  high  bidder
have  been  the  subject  of  litigation  by  the  original  licensees,  whose
licenses  had  been  cancelled  by  the  FCC.  In  March  2002,  the  FCC

32

ordered  a  refund  of  85%  of  the  payments.  In  December  2002,  pur-
suant  to  an  FCC  order,  we  dismissed  our  applications  for  these
licenses, received our remaining payment and were relieved of all of
our  remaining  obligations  with  respect  to  the  FCC  reauction.  On
January 27, 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FCC’s can-
cellation of the licenses violated federal bankruptcy law.

Timing of Initial Public Offering
Since August 2000, when the Verizon Wireless Inc. registration state-
ment  was  initially  filed  with  the  SEC,  we  periodically  reiterated  that
the  initial  public  offering  would  occur  when  market  conditions  are
favorable. On January 29, 2003, Verizon Wireless withdrew the regis-
tration  statement  because  it  currently  does  not  have  significant
funding requirements that need to be addressed.

Northcoast Spectrum Purchase
In  December  2002,  Verizon  Wireless  announced  that  it  signed  an
agreement  with  Northcoast  Communications  LLC  to  purchase  50
PCS licenses and related network assets for approximately $750 mil-
lion.  The  licenses  cover  large  portions  of  the  U.S.  including  such
markets as New York, NY, Boston, MA, Minneapolis, MN, Columbus,
OH, Providence, RI, Rochester, NY and Hartford, CT. The transaction
is expected to close in the first half of 2003.

New York Recovery Funding
In  August  2002,  President  Bush  signed  the  Supplemental
Appropriations  bill  passed  earlier  this  year  by  the  U.S.  House  of
Representatives  and 
the  U.S.  Senate.  The  Supplemental
Appropriations bill includes $5.5 billion in New York recovery funding.
Of  that  amount,  approximately  $750  million  has  been  allocated  to
cover the uninsured losses of businesses (including the restoration of
utility  infrastructure)  as  a  result  of  the  September  11th  terrorist
attacks. These funds will be distributed through the lower Manhattan
Development Corporation following an application process.

Regulatory and Competitive Trends

Competition and the Telecommunications Act of 1996
We  face  increasing  competition  in  all  areas  of  our  business.  The
Telecommunications  Act  of  1996  (1996  Act),  regulatory  and  judicial
actions  and  the  development  of  new  technologies,  products  and
services  have  created  opportunities  for  alternative  telecommunica-
tion service providers, many of which are subject to fewer regulatory
constraints. Current and potential competitors in telecommunications
services  include  long  distance  companies,  other  local  telephone
companies,  cable  companies,  wireless  service  providers,  foreign
telecommunications  providers,  electric  utilities,  Internet  service
providers and other companies that offer network services. Many of
these companies have a strong market presence, brand recognition
and existing customer relationships, all of which contribute to inten-
sifying competition and may affect our future revenue growth.

We  are  unable  to  predict  definitively  the  impact  that  the  ongoing
changes  in  the  telecommunications  industry  will  ultimately  have  on
our business, results of operations or financial condition. The finan-
cial impact will depend on several factors, including the timing, extent
and success of competition in our markets, the timing and outcome
of  various  regulatory  proceedings  and  any  appeals,  and  the  timing,
extent and success of our pursuit of new opportunities resulting from
the 1996 Act and technological advances.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

In-Region Long Distance
We  offer  long  distance  service  throughout  most  of  the  country,
except in Maryland, West Virginia and the District of Columbia where
we  have  not  yet  received  authority  to  offer  long  distance  service
under the 1996 Act, and in Alaska. Under the 1996 Act, our ability to
offer in-region long distance services in the regions where the former
Bell Atlantic telephone subsidiaries operate as local exchange carri-
ers  is  largely  dependent  on  satisfying  specified  requirements.  The
requirements  include  a  14-point  “competitive  checklist”  of  steps
which we must take to help competitors offer local services through
resale, through purchase of unbundled network elements, or by inter-
connecting their own networks to ours. We must also demonstrate to
the FCC that our entry into the in-region long distance market would
be in the public interest.

We now have authority to offer in-region long distance service in 11
states  in  the  former  Bell  Atlantic  territory,  accounting  for  approxi-
mately  90%  of  the  lines  served  by  the  former  Bell  Atlantic.  These
states  are  New  York,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,
Rhode  Island,  Vermont,  Maine,  New  Jersey,  New  Hampshire,
Delaware and Virginia. The Pennsylvania and New Jersey orders are
currently on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals. The U.S. Court of
Appeals has remanded the Massachusetts order to the FCC for fur-
ther explanation on one issue, but left our long distance authority in
effect.  In  December  2002,  we  filed  an  application  with  the  FCC  for
permission to enter the in-region long distance market in Maryland,
West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The FCC must act on this
application by March 19, 2003.

FCC Regulation and Interstate Rates
Our  telephone  operations  are  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  FCC
with  respect  to  interstate  services  and  related  matters.  In  2002,  the
FCC continued to implement reforms to the interstate access charge
system  and  to  implement  the  “universal  service”  and  other  require-
ments of the 1996 Act.

Access Charges and Universal Service
On  May  31,  2000,  the  FCC  adopted  the  CALLS  plan  as  a  compre-
hensive five-year plan for regulation of interstate access charges. The
CALLS  plan  has  three  main  components.  First,  it  establishes  a
portable  interstate  access  universal  service  support  of  $650  million
for  the  industry.  This  explicit  support  replaces  implicit  support
embedded in interstate access charges. Second, the plan simplifies
the  patchwork  of  common  line  charges  into  one  subscriber  line
charge (SLC) and provides for de-averaging of the SLC by zones and
class of customers in a manner that will not undermine comparable
and  affordable  universal  service.  Third,  the  plan  sets  into  place  a
mechanism  to  transition  to  a  set  target  of  $0.0055  per  minute  for
switched  access  services.  Once  that  target  rate  is  reached,  local
exchange carriers are no longer required to make further annual price
cap  reductions  to  their  switched  access  prices.  The  annual  reduc-
tions leading to the target rate, as well as annual reductions for the
subset  of  special  access  services  that  remain  subject  to  price  cap
regulation was set at 6.5% per year.

On  September  10,  2001,  the  U.S.  Court  of  Appeals  for  the  Fifth
Circuit  ruled  on  an  appeal  of  the  FCC  order  adopting  the  plan.  The
court upheld the FCC on several challenges to the order, but remanded
two aspects of the decision back to the FCC on the grounds that they
lacked  sufficient  justification.  The  court  remanded  back  to  the  FCC

for  further  consideration  its  decision  setting  the  annual  reduction 
factor  at  6.5%  minus  an  inflation  factor  and  the  size  of  the  new 
universal service fund at $650 million. The entire plan (including these
elements) will continue in effect pending the FCC’s further considera-
tion of its justification of these components.

As  a  result  of  tariff  adjustments  which  became  effective  in  July
2002, approximately 98% of our access lines reached the $0.0055
benchmark.

The FCC has adopted rules for special access services that provide
for pricing flexibility and ultimately the removal of services from price
regulation when prescribed competitive thresholds are met. In order
to use these rules, carriers must forego the ability to take advantage
of provisions in the current rules that provide relief in the event earn-
ings  fall  below  prescribed  thresholds.  We  have  been  authorized  to
remove  special  access  and  dedicated  transport  services  from  price
caps  in  36  Metropolitan  Statistical  Areas  (MSAs)  in  the  former  Bell
Atlantic territory and in 17 additional MSAs in the former GTE territory.
In  addition,  the  FCC  has  found  that  in  20  MSAs  we  have  met  the
stricter standards to remove special access connections to end-user
customers  from  price  caps.  Approximately  55%  of  special  access
revenues  are  now  removed  from  price  regulation.  We  also  have  an
application pending that, if granted, would remove an additional three
MSAs, and special access connections to end-user customers in two
additional MSAs, from price cap regulation.

In November 1999, the FCC adopted a new mechanism for providing
universal  service  support  to  high  cost  areas  served  by  large  local
telephone  companies.  This  funding  mechanism  provides  additional
support for local telephone services in several states served by our
telephone  operations.  This  system  has  been  supplemented  by  the
new FCC access charge plan described above. On July 31, 2001, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded to
the FCC for further proceedings. The court concluded that the FCC
had  failed  to  adequately  explain  some  aspects  of  its  decision  and
had failed to address any need for a state universal service mecha-
nism.  The  current  universal  service  mechanism  remains  in  place
pending the outcome of any FCC review as a result of these appeals.

Unbundling of Network Elements
In November 1999, the FCC announced its decision setting forth new
unbundling requirements, eliminating elements that it had previously
required  to  be  unbundled,  limiting  the  obligation  to  provide  others
and adding new elements.

In  addition  to  the  unbundling  requirements  released  in  November
1999,  the  FCC  released  an  order  in  a  separate  proceeding  in
December 1999, requiring incumbent local exchange companies also
to unbundle and provide to competitors the higher frequency portion
of their local loop. This provides competitors with the ability to provi-
sion data services on top of incumbent carriers’ voice services.

In July 2000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found
that some aspects of the FCC’s requirements for pricing UNEs were
inconsistent  with  the  1996  Act.  In  particular,  it  found  that  the  FCC
was wrong to require incumbent carriers to base these prices not on
their real costs but on the imaginary costs of the most efficient equip-
ment and the most efficient network configuration. This portion of the
court’s  decision  was  stayed  pending  review  by  the  U.S.  Supreme

33

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS 
OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION CONTINUED

Court. On May 13, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that deci-
sion and upheld the FCC’s pricing rules.

On  May  24,  2002,  the  U.S.  Court  of  Appeals  for  the  D.C.  Circuit
released  an  order  that  overturned  the  most  recent  FCC  decision
establishing  which  network  elements  were  required  to  be  unbun-
dled. In particular, the court found that the FCC did not adequately
consider the limitations of the “necessary and impair” standards of
the 1996 Act when it chose national rules for unbundling and that it
failed  to  consider  the  relevance  of  competition  from  other  types  of
service providers, including cable and satellite. The court also vacated
a separate order that had authorized an unbundling requirement for
“line sharing” where a competing carrier purchases only a portion of
the  copper  connection  to  the  end-user  in  order  to  provide  high-
speed  broadband  services  using  DSL  technology.  Several  parties,
including  the  FCC,  petitioned  the  court  for  rehearing  of  the  court
order.  The  court  rejected  the  petitions  that  asked  it  to  change  its
decision  on  September  4,  2002.  The  court  did,  however,  stay  its
order  vacating  the  FCC’s  rules  until  February  20,  2003,  to  provide
the FCC time to complete an ongoing rulemaking to determine what
elements  should  be  unbundled.  Several  carriers  have  sought  U.S.
Supreme Court review of the underlying court decision. That request
remains pending.

On October 25, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
released  an  order  upholding  the  FCC’s  decisions  that  established
interim  limits  on  the  availability  of  combinations  of  unbundled  net-
work elements known as enhanced extended links or “EELs.” EELs
consist  of  unbundled  loops  and  transport  elements.  The  FCC  deci-
sions  limited  access  to  EELs  to  carriers  that  would  use  them  to
provide a significant amount of local traffic, and not just use them as
substitutes for special access services.

Prior to the issuance of these orders from the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the D.C. Circuit, the FCC had already begun a review of the scope
of its unbundling requirement through a rulemaking referred to as the
triennial  review  of  UNEs.  This  rulemaking  reopens  the  question  of
what  network  elements  must  be  made  available  on  an  unbundled
basis  under  the  1996  Act  and  will  revisit  the  unbundling  decisions
made  in  the  order  overturned  by  the  U.S.  Court  of  Appeals  for  the
D.C. Circuit. In this rulemaking, the FCC also will address other pend-
ing issues relating to unbundled elements, including the question of
whether  competing  carriers  may  substitute  combinations  of  unbun-
dled  loops  and  transport  for  already  competitive  special  access
services. On February 20, 2003, the FCC announced a decision in its
triennial review, but the order has not yet been released.

Compensation for Internet Traffic
On April 27, 2001, the FCC released an order addressing intercarrier
compensation for dial-up connections for Internet-bound traffic. The
FCC found that Internet-bound traffic is interstate and subject to the
FCC’s  jurisdiction.  Moreover,  the  FCC  again  found  that  Internet-
bound traffic is not subject to reciprocal compensation under Section
251(b)(5) of the 1996 Act. Instead, the FCC established federal rates
per minute for this traffic that decline from $0.0015 to $0.0007 over a
three-year period. The FCC order also sets caps on the total minutes
of  this  traffic  that  may  be  subject  to  any  intercarrier  compensation
and requires that incumbent local exchange carriers must offer to pay
reciprocal compensation for local traffic at the same rate as they are

34

required to pay on Internet-bound traffic. On May 3, 2002, the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected part of the FCC’s ration-
ale for its April 27, 2001 order, but declined to vacate the order while
it is on remand.

Several  parties  requested  rehearing,  asking  the  court  to  vacate  the
underlying  order.  Those  requests  were  denied  in  a  series  of  orders
released on September 24, 2002 and September 25, 2002. One car-
rier  has  sought  U.S.  Supreme  Court  review  of  that  denial.  In  the
meantime, pending further action by the FCC, the FCC’s underlying
order remains in effect.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-
LOOKING STATEMENTS

In  this  Management’s  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Results  of
Operations  and  Financial  Condition,  and  elsewhere  in  this  Annual
Report,  we  have  made  forward-looking  statements.  These  state-
ments are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject
to  risks  and  uncertainties.  Forward-looking  statements  include  the
information  concerning  our  possible  or  assumed  future  results  of
operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded
or  followed  by  the  words  “anticipates,”  “believes,”  “estimates,”
“hopes”  or  similar  expressions.  For  those  statements,  we  claim  the
protection  of  the  safe  harbor  for  forward-looking  statements  con-
tained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The  following  important  factors,  along  with  those  discussed  else-
where  in  this  Annual  Report,  could  affect  future  results  and  could
cause  those  results  to  differ  materially  from  those  expressed  in  the
forward-looking statements:

•

the duration and extent of the current economic downturn;

• materially adverse changes in economic or labor conditions in the
markets served by us or by companies in which we have substan-
tial investments;

• material changes in available technology;

•

technology substitution;

• an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by

nationally accredited ratings organizations;

•

the final results of federal and state regulatory proceedings con-
cerning our provision of retail and wholesale services and judicial
review of those results;

•

the effects of competition in our markets;

• our ability to satisfy regulatory merger conditions;

•

the ability of Verizon Wireless to continue to obtain sufficient spec-
trum resources;

• our  ability  to  recover  insurance  proceeds  relating  to  equipment
losses and other adverse financial impacts resulting from the ter-
rorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and

• changes in our accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies,
including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the
accounting  rules  or  their  application,  which  could  result  in  an
impact on earnings.

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We, the management of Verizon Communications Inc., are responsi-
ble for the consolidated financial statements and the information and
representations  contained  in  this  report.  The  financial  statements
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted account-
ing  principles  and  include  amounts  based  on  management’s  best
estimates  and  judgments.  Financial  information  elsewhere  in  this
report is consistent with that in the financial statements.

Management  has  established  and  maintained  a  system  of  internal
control  which  is  designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that
errors  or  irregularities  that  could  be  material  to  the  financial  state-
ments are prevented or would be detected within a timely period. The
system of internal control includes widely communicated statements
of policies and business practices, which are designed to require all
employees  to  maintain  high  ethical  standards  in  the  conduct  of  our
business.  The  internal  controls  are  augmented  by  organizational
arrangements that provide for appropriate delegation of authority and
division of responsibility and by a program of internal audits.

The 2002, 2001 and 2000 financial statements have been audited by
Ernst  &  Young  LLP,  independent  auditors.  Their  audits  were  con-
ducted  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing  standards
and  included  an  evaluation  of  our  internal  control  structure  and
selective tests of transactions. The Report of Independent Auditors
follows this report.

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, which is composed
solely  of  outside  directors,  meets  periodically  with  the  independent
auditors,  management  and  internal  auditors  to  review  accounting,
auditing,  internal  controls,  litigation  and  financial  reporting  matters.
Both  the  internal  auditors  and  the  independent  auditors  have  free
access to the Audit Committee without management present.

Ivan G. Seidenberg
President and Chief Executive Officer

Doreen A. Toben
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

John F. Killian
Senior Vice President and Controller

To the Board of Directors and Shareowners of
Verizon Communications Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Verizon  Communications  Inc.  and  subsidiaries  (Verizon)  as  of
December  31,  2002  and  2001,  and  the  related  consolidated  state-
ments  of  income,  cash  flows  and  changes  in  shareowners’
investment for each of the three years in the period ended December
31,  2002.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of
Verizon’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards gen-
erally accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we
plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about
whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement.
An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  An  audit  also
includes  assessing  the  accounting  principles  used  and  significant
estimates  made  by  management,  as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In  our  opinion,  the  financial  statements  referred  to  above  present 
fairly,  in  all  material  respects,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of
Verizon  at  December  31,  2002  and  2001,  and  the  consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three
years  in  the  period  ended  December  31,  2002,  in  conformity  with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

As  discussed  in  Note  2  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,
Verizon  changed  its  method  of  accounting  for  goodwill  and  other
intangible  assets  in  accordance  with  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards  (SFAS)  No.  142,  “Goodwill  and  Other
Intangible  Assets”  effective  January  1,  2002,  and  as  discussed  in
Note  14  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements,  Verizon  changed
its  method  of  accounting  for  derivative  instruments  in  accordance
with  SFAS  No.  133,  “Accounting  for  Derivative  Instruments  and
Hedging  Activities”  and  SFAS  No.  138,  “Accounting  for  Certain
Derivative  Instruments  and  Certain  Hedging  Activities”  effective
January 1, 2001.

Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York

January 29, 2003

35

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

Years Ended December 31,

Operating Revenues

Operating Expenses

Operations and support expense (exclusive of items shown below)
Depreciation and amortization
Sales of assets, net

Total Operating Expenses

Operating Income
Income (loss) from unconsolidated businesses
Other income and (expense), net
Interest expense
Minority interest
Mark-to-market adjustment – financial instruments
Income before provision for income taxes, extraordinary items 

and cumulative effect of accounting change

Provision for income taxes
Income Before Extraordinary Items and Cumulative 

Effect of Accounting Change

Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
Net Income
Redemption of subsidiary preferred stock
Net Income Available to Common Shareowners

Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative 

effect of accounting change
Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
Net Income
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share:
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative 

effect of accounting change
Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
Net Income
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

2002

$

67,625

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
2000

2001

$

67,190

$

64,707

41,952
13,423
(2,747)
52,628

14,997
(4,414)
140
(3,237)
(1,270)
(14)

6,202
1,618

4,584
(9)
(496)
4,079
–
4,079

1.67
–
(.18)
1.49
2,729

1.67
–
(.18)
1.49
2,745

$

$

$

$

$

41,651
13,657
350
55,658

11,532
(5,042)
449
(3,369)
(622)
(182)

2,766
2,176

590
(19)
(182)
389
–
389

.22
(.01)
(.07)
.14
2,710

.22
(.01)
(.07)
.14
2,730

$

$

$

$

$

39,481
12,261
(3,793)
47,949

16,758
3,792
311
(3,490)
(216)
664

17,819
7,009

10,810
1,027
(40)
11,797
(10)
11,787

3.98
.37
(.01)
4.34
2,713

3.95
.37
(.01)
4.31
2,737

$

$

$

$

$

36

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

At December 31,

Assets
Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term investments
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2,782 and $2,153
Inventories
Net assets held for sale
Prepaid expenses and other

Total current assets

Plant, property and equipment

Less accumulated depreciation

Investments in unconsolidated businesses
Intangible assets, net
Other assets
Total assets

Liabilities and Shareowners’ Investment
Current liabilities

Debt maturing within one year
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Other

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt
Employee benefit obligations
Deferred income taxes
Other liabilities

Minority interest

Shareowners’ investment

Series preferred stock ($.10 par value; none issued)
Common stock ($.10 par value; 2,751,650,484 shares issued in both periods)
Contributed capital
Reinvested earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Less common stock in treasury, at cost
Less deferred compensation-employee stock ownership plans and other

Total shareowners’ investment
Total liabilities and shareowners’ investment

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
2001

2002

$

1,438
2,042
12,598
1,502
–
3,341
20,921

178,028
103,532
74,496
4,988
46,739
20,324
$ 167,468

$

9,288
12,745
5,014
27,047

44,791
15,390
19,468
4,015

24,141

–
275
24,685
10,536
(2,110)
33,386
218
552
32,616
$ 167,468

$

979
1,991
14,254
1,968
1,199
2,796
23,187

169,586
95,167
74,419
10,202
44,262
18,725
$ 170,795

$

18,669
13,947
5,404
38,020

45,657
11,898
16,543
3,989

22,149

–
275
24,676
10,704
(1,187)
34,468
1,182
747
32,539
$ 170,795

37

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

(dollars in millions)
2000

Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of 

accounting change

Adjustments to reconcile income before extraordinary 
items and cumulative effect of accounting change 
to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization
Sales of assets, net
Mark-to-market adjustment – financial instruments
Employee retirement benefits
Deferred income taxes
Provision for uncollectible accounts
(Income) loss from unconsolidated businesses
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects from 

acquisition/disposition of businesses:

Accounts receivable
Inventories
Other assets
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

Other, net

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and investments
Proceeds from disposition of businesses
Proceeds from spectrum payment refund
Purchases of short-term investments
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments
Other, net
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings
Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations
Increase (decrease) in short-term obligations, excluding current maturities
Dividends paid
Proceeds from sale of common stock
Purchase of common stock for treasury
Other, net
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

$

4,584

$

590

$

10,810

13,423
(2,747)
14
(501)
1,722
2,905
4,414

(989)
469
24
(1,304)
86
22,100

(11,984)
(1,093)
4,638
1,740
(2,099)
1,931
39
(6,828)

7,882
(8,460)
(11,024)
(4,200)
915
–
74
(14,813)

13,657
350
182
(1,327)
1,065
1,952
5,042

(2,379)
(47)
(396)
420
664
19,773

(17,371)
(3,142)
415
–
(2,002)
1,595
(1,121)
(21,626)

14,199
(7,589)
(546)
(4,168)
501
(18)
(304)
2,075

459
979
1,438

$

222
757
979

$

$

12,261
(3,793)
(664)
(3,340)
3,434
1,409
(3,792)

(2,440)
(530)
(264)
1,973
763
15,827

(17,633)
(2,247)
6,794
–
(1,204)
983
(2,748)
(16,055)

8,781
(7,238)
3,515
(4,421)
576
(2,294)
33
(1,048)

(1,276)
2,033
757

38

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREOWNERS’ INVESTMENT

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

Shares

2,751,650
–
–
2,751,650

35,173
–

(26,531)
(18)
8,624

Years Ended December 31,

Common Stock
Balance at beginning of year
Shares issued-employee plans
Shares retired
Balance at end of year

Contributed Capital
Balance at beginning of year
Shares issued-employee plans
Shares retired
Issuance of stock by subsidiaries
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options
Gain on formation of wireless joint venture
Other
Balance at end of year

Reinvested Earnings
Balance at beginning of year
Net income
Dividends declared ($1.54, $1.54, and $1.54 per share)
Shares issued-employee plans
Other
Balance at end of year

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance at beginning of year
Foreign currency translation adjustment
Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Minimum pension liability adjustment
Other comprehensive income (loss)
Balance at end of year

Treasury Stock
Balance at beginning of year
Shares purchased
Shares distributed
Employee plans
Shareowner plans
Balance at end of year

Deferred Compensation–ESOPs and Other
Balance at beginning of year
Amortization
Other
Balance at end of year
Total Shareowners’ Investment

Comprehensive Income
Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss) per above
Total Comprehensive Income

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2002
Amount

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts, and shares in thousands)
2000
Amount

2001
Amount

Shares

Shares

$

$

275
–
–
275

2,751,650
–
–
2,751,650

$

275
–
–
275

2,756,485
5,533
(10,368)
2,751,650

276
–
(1)
275

24,676
–
–
–
46
–
(37)
24,685

10,704
4,079
(4,208)
(48)
9
10,536

(1,187)
220
(304)
12
(851)
(923)
(2,110)

1,182
–

(963)
(1)
218

747
(150)
(45)
552
$ 32,616

$

$

4,079
(923)
3,156

24,555
–
–
–
101
–
20
24,676

14,667
389
(4,176)
(188)
12
10,704

(2,176)
(40)
1,061
(45)
13
989
(1,187)

1,861
18

(694)
(3)
1,182

882
(155)
20
747
$ 32,539

$

$

389
989
1,378

49,215
395

(14,376)
(61)
35,173

23,569
35,110

(9,444)
(20)
49,215

20,134
473
(577)
171
66
4,271
17
24,555

7,428
11,797
(4,416)
(160)
18
14,667

75
(262)
(1,965)
–
(24)
(2,251)
(2,176)

640
1,717

(495)
(1)
1,861

897
(155)
140
882
$ 34,578

$ 11,797
(2,251)
9,546

$

39

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF 
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business
Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) is one of the world’s leading
providers of communications services. Our company is the largest
provider  of  wireline  and  wireless  communications  in  the  United
States.  Our  global  presence  extends  to  32  countries  in  the
Americas,  Europe,  Asia  and  the  Pacific.  We  have  four  reportable
segments,  which  we  operate  and  manage  as  strategic  business
units:  Domestic  Telecom,  Domestic  Wireless,  International  and
Information  Services.  For  further  information  concerning  our  busi-
ness segments, see Note 20.

Consolidation
The method of accounting applied to investments, whether consoli-
dated, equity or cost, involves an evaluation of all significant terms of
the investments that explicitly grant or suggest evidence of control or
influence over the operations of the investee. The consolidated finan-
cial  statements  include  our  controlled  subsidiaries.  Investments  in
businesses which we do not control, but have the ability to exercise
significant  influence  over  operating  and  financial  policies,  are
accounted for using the equity method. Investments in which we do
not  have  the  ability  to  exercise  significant  influence  over  operating
and  financial  policies  are  accounted  for  under  the  cost  method.
Equity  and  cost  method  investments  are  included  in  Investments  in
Unconsolidated  Businesses  in  our  consolidated  balance  sheets.
Certain  of  our  cost  method  investments  are  classified  as  available-
for-sale securities and adjusted to fair value pursuant to Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  (SFAS)  No.  115,  “Accounting  for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.”

All  significant  intercompany  accounts  and  transactions  have  been
eliminated.

Use of Estimates
We  prepare  our  financial  statements  using  generally  accepted
accounting principles which require management to make estimates
and  assumptions  that  affect  reported  amounts  and  disclosures.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Examples of significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful
accounts,  the  recoverability  of  intangibles  and  other  long-lived
assets, valuation allowances on tax assets and pension and postre-
tirement benefit assumptions.

Revenue Recognition
We  recognize  wireline  and  wireless  service  revenues  based  upon
usage of our network and facilities and contract fees. We recognize
product  and  other  service  revenues  when  the  products  are  deliv-
ered  and  accepted  by  the  customers  and  when  services  are
provided  in  accordance  with  contract  terms.  The  sale  of  wireless
handsets  and  service  revenues  are  separate  earnings  processes
and  revenues  associated  with  each  are  recorded  separately.  We
recognize  directory  revenues,  and  associated  costs,  when  the
directories are published.

40

VERIZON  COMMUNICATIONS  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES

We  adopted  the  provisions  of  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (SEC)  Staff  Accounting  Bulletin  (SAB)  No.  101,
“Revenue  Recognition  in  Financial  Statements”  effective  January  1,
2000, as required by the SEC. The impact to Verizon pertains to the
deferral  of  some  non-recurring  fees,  such  as  service  activation  and
installation  fees,  and  associated  incremental  direct  costs,  and  the
recognition  of  those  revenues  and  costs  over  the  expected  term  of
the  customer  relationship.  The  total  cumulative  effect  of  adopting
SAB No. 101 was a non-cash, after-tax charge of $40 million.

Maintenance and Repairs
We charge the cost of maintenance and repairs, including the cost of
replacing  minor  items  not  constituting  substantial  betterments,  to
Operations and Support Expense as these costs are incurred.

Earnings Per Common Share
Basic earnings per common share are based on the weighted-aver-
age number of shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings
per common share include the dilutive effect of shares issuable under
our  stock-based  compensation  plans  and  an  exchangeable  equity
interest  (see  Note  6),  which  represent  the  only  potentially  dilutive
common shares.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or
less  when  purchased  to  be  cash  equivalents,  except  cash  equiva-
lents held as short-term investments. Cash equivalents are stated at
cost, which approximates market value.

Short-Term Investments
Our short-term investments consist primarily of cash equivalents held
in trust to pay for certain employee benefits. Short-term investments
are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Marketable Securities
We continually evaluate our investments in marketable securities for
impairment  due  to  declines  in  market  value  considered  to  be  other
than  temporary.  That  evaluation  includes,  in  addition  to  persistent,
declining stock prices, general economic and company-specific eval-
uations. In the event of a determination that a decline in market value
is other than temporary, a charge to earnings is recorded for the loss,
and a new cost basis in the investment is established. These invest-
ments  are  included  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance
sheets in Investments in Unconsolidated Businesses or Other Assets.

Inventories
We  include  in  inventory  new  and  reusable  supplies  and  network
equipment of our telephone operations, which are stated principally
at  average  original  cost,  except  that  specific  costs  are  used  in  the
case of large individual items. Inventories of our other subsidiaries are
stated at the lower of cost (determined principally on either an aver-
age cost or first-in, first-out basis) or market.

Plant and Depreciation
We  record  plant,  property  and  equipment  at  cost.  Our  telephone
operations’  depreciation  expense  is  principally  based  on  the  com-
posite group remaining life method and straight-line composite rates.
This method provides for the recognition of the cost of the remaining
net investment in telephone plant, less anticipated net salvage value,
over the remaining asset lives. This method requires the periodic revi-
sion of depreciation rates.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

The asset lives used by our telephone operations are presented in the
following table:

Average Lives (in years)

Buildings
Central office equipment
Outside communications plant
Furniture, vehicles and other

30-35
5-10
14-50
3-15

When we replace or retire depreciable plant used in our wireline net-
work,  we  deduct  the  carrying  amount  of  such  plant  from  the
respective accounts and charge it to accumulated depreciation. See
“Recent  Accounting  Pronouncements  –  Asset  Retirement
Obligations” for additional information.

Plant, property and equipment of our other subsidiaries is generally
depreciated on a straight-line basis over the following estimated use-
ful lives: buildings, 20 to 40 years; wireless plant equipment, 3 to 15
years; and other equipment, 1 to 20 years.

When the depreciable assets of our other subsidiaries are retired or
otherwise  disposed  of,  the  related  cost  and  accumulated  deprecia-
tion are deducted from the plant accounts, and any gains or losses
on disposition are recognized in income.

We capitalize interest associated with the acquisition or construction
of plant assets. Capitalized interest is reported as a cost of plant and
a reduction in interest cost.

Computer Software Costs
We capitalize the cost of internal-use software which has a useful life
in excess of one year in accordance with Statement of Position (SOP)
No.  98-1,  “Accounting  for  the  Costs  of  Computer  Software
Developed  or  Obtained  for  Internal  Use.”  Subsequent  additions,
modifications  or  upgrades  to  internal-use  software  are  capitalized
only to the extent that they allow the software to perform a task it pre-
viously did not perform. Software maintenance and training costs are
expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Also, we capitalize
interest  associated  with  the  development  of  internal-use  software.
Capitalized  computer  software  costs  are  amortized  using  the
straight-line method over a period of 3 to 7 years.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles
Goodwill is the excess of the acquisition cost of businesses over the
fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired. Effective January 1,
2002,  we  adopted  SFAS  No.  142,  “Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible
Assets” and, as required, we no longer amortize goodwill (including
goodwill  recorded  on  our  equity  method  investments),  acquired
workforce  intangible  assets  and  wireless  licenses,  which  we  have
determined have an indefinite life. These assets are reviewed annually
(or more frequently under various conditions) for impairment using a
fair value approach. Intangible assets that do not have indefinite lives
are amortized over their useful lives and reviewed for impairment in
accordance  with  SFAS  No.  144,  “Accounting  for  the  Impairment  or
Disposal  of  Long-Lived  Assets.”  For  additional  information  on  the
impact of adopting SFAS No. 142, see Note 2.

Prior  to  January  1,  2002,  we  generally  amortized  goodwill,  wireless
licenses and other identifiable intangibles on a straight-line basis over
their estimated useful life, not exceeding 40 years. We assessed the
impairment  of  other  identifiable  intangibles  and  goodwill  related  to
our  consolidated  subsidiaries  under  SFAS  No.  121,  “Accounting  for
the  Impairment  of  Long-Lived  Assets  and  for  Long-Lived  Assets  to
Be Disposed Of,” whenever events or changes in circumstances indi-
cated  that  the  carrying  value  may  not  have  been  recoverable.  A
determination of impairment (if any) was made based on estimates of
future  cash  flows.  In  instances  where  goodwill  was  recorded  for
assets that were subject to an impairment loss, the carrying amount
of the goodwill was eliminated before any reduction was made to the
carrying amounts of impaired long-lived assets and identifiable intan-
gibles.  On  a  quarterly  basis,  we  assessed  the  impairment  of
enterprise  level  goodwill  under  Accounting  Principles  Board  (APB)
Opinion No. 17, “Intangible Assets.” A determination of impairment (if
any) was made based primarily on estimates of market value.

Sale of Stock By Subsidiary
We recognize in consolidation changes in our ownership percentage
in  a  subsidiary  caused  by  issuances  of  the  subsidiary’s  stock  as
adjustments to Contributed Capital.

Income Taxes
Verizon  and  its  domestic  subsidiaries  file  a  consolidated  federal
income tax return. For periods prior to the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger
(see  Note  7),  GTE  filed  a  separate  consolidated  federal  income 
tax return.

Our telephone operations use the deferral method of accounting for
investment  tax  credits  earned  prior  to  the  repeal  of  investment  tax
credits by the Tax Reform Act of 1986. We also defer certain transi-
tional credits earned after the repeal. We amortize these credits over
the estimated service lives of the related assets as a reduction to the
Provision for Income Taxes.

Stock-Based Compensation
We have historically accounted for stock-based employee compen-
sation  plans  under  APB  Opinion  No.  25,  “Accounting  for  Stock
Issued  to  Employees,”  and  related  interpretations,  and  followed  the
disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-
Based  Compensation.”  Effective  January  1,  2003,  we  adopted  the
fair  value  recognition  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  123,  prospectively 
(as  permitted  under  SFAS  No.  148,  “Accounting  for  Stock-Based
Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”) to all new awards granted,
modified or settled after January 1, 2003. See Note 17 for additional
information.

Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency for nearly all of our foreign operations is the
local currency. For these foreign entities, we translate income state-
ment  amounts  at  average  exchange  rates  for  the  period,  and  we
translate  assets  and  liabilities  at  end-of-period  exchange  rates.  We
in  Accumulated  Other
record  these  translation  adjustments 
Comprehensive  Loss,  a  separate  component  of  Shareowners’
Investment, in our consolidated balance sheets. We report exchange
gains and losses on intercompany foreign currency transactions of a
long-term nature in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. Other
exchange gains and losses are reported in income.

41

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

When a foreign entity operates in a highly inflationary economy, we
use the U.S. dollar as the functional currency rather than the local
currency. We translate nonmonetary assets and liabilities and related
expenses  into  U.S.  dollars  at  historical  exchange  rates.  We  trans-
late  all  other  income  statement  amounts  using  average  exchange
rates for the period. Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at
end-of-period exchange rates, and any gains or losses are reported
in income.

Employee Benefit Plans
Pension  and  postretirement  health  care  and  life  insurance  benefits
earned during the year as well as interest on projected benefit obli-
gations are accrued currently. Prior service costs and credits resulting
from changes in plan benefits are amortized over the average remain-
ing service period of the employees expected to receive benefits.

Derivative Instruments
We  have  entered  into  derivative  transactions  to  manage  our  expo-
sure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates
and  equity  prices.  We  employ  risk  management  strategies  using  a
variety  of  derivatives  including  foreign  currency  forwards  and
options, equity options, interest rate swap agreements, interest rate
caps and floors, and basis swap agreements. We do not hold deriv-
atives for trading purposes.

Effective January 1, 2001, we adopted SFAS No. 133, “Accounting
for  Derivative  Instruments  and  Hedging  Activities”  and  SFAS  No.
138,  “Accounting  for  Certain  Derivative  Instruments  and  Certain
Hedging  Activities.”  SFAS  No.  133  requires  that  all  derivatives,
including  derivatives  embedded  in  other  financial  instruments,  be
measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or liabilities
on our balance sheet. Changes in the fair values of derivative instru-
ments  not  qualifying  as  hedges  under  SFAS  No.  133  or  any
ineffective portion of hedges are recognized in earnings in the cur-
rent period. Changes in the fair values of derivative instruments used
effectively  as  fair  value  hedges  are  recognized  in  earnings,  along
with changes in the fair value of the hedged item. Changes in the fair
value  of  the  effective  portions  of  cash  flow  hedges  are  reported  in
other  comprehensive  income  (loss),  and  recognized  in  earnings
when the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

included 

investments  were 

Prior to January 1, 2001, foreign currency derivatives and basis swap
agreements  were  accounted  for  under  the  fair  value  method  which
required us to record these derivatives at fair value in our consolidated
balance  sheets,  with  any  changes  in  value  recorded  in  income  or
Shareowners’  Investment.  Gains,  losses  and  related  discounts  or
premiums  related  to  foreign  currency  derivatives  that  hedged  our
investments  in  consolidated  foreign  subsidiaries  or  foreign  equity
method 
in  Accumulated  Other
Comprehensive Loss and reflected in income upon sale or substan-
tial  liquidation  of  the  investment.  Gains  or  losses  from  foreign
currency  derivatives  that  hedged  our  short-term  transactions  and
cost  method  investments  were  included  in  Other  Income  and
(Expense), Net, and discounts or premiums on these contracts were
included  in  income  over  the  lives  of  the  contracts.  Gains  or  losses
from  identifiable  foreign  currency  commitments  were  deferred  and
recognized in income when the future transaction occurred or at the
time the transaction was no longer likely to occur. Interest rate swap
agreements and interest rate caps and floors that qualified as hedges
were  accounted  for  under  the  accrual  method.  Under  the  accrual

42

method,  no  amounts  were  recognized  in  our  consolidated  balance
sheets related to the principal balances. The interest differential that
was  paid  or  received  and  the  premiums  related  to  caps  and  floors
were recognized as adjustments to Interest Expense over the life of
the  agreements.  Gains  or  losses  on  terminated  agreements  were
recorded as an adjustment to the basis of the underlying liability and
amortized over the original life of the agreement.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Exit or Disposal Activities
In  June  2002,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)
issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or
Disposal  Activities.”  This  statement  addresses  financial  accounting
and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and
nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3, “Liability
Recognition  for  Certain  Employee  Termination  Benefits  and  Other
Costs  to  Exit  an  Activity  (including  Certain  Costs  Incurred  in
Restructuring).”  EITF  Issue  No.  94-3  required  accrual  of  liabilities
related  to  exit  and  disposal  activities  at  a  plan  (commitment)  date.
SFAS  No.  146  requires  that  a  liability  for  a  cost  associated  with  an
exit  or  disposal  activity  be  recognized  when  the  liability  is  incurred.
The  provisions  of  this  statement  are  effective  for  exit  or  disposal
activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002.

Asset Retirement Obligations
On  January  1,  2003,  we  adopted  SFAS  No.  143,  “Accounting  for
Asset Retirement Obligations.” This statement provides the account-
ing for the cost of legal obligations associated with the retirement of
long-lived  assets.  SFAS  No.  143  requires  that  companies  recognize
the fair value of a liability for asset retirement obligations in the period
in  which  the  obligations  are  incurred  and  capitalize  that  amount  as
part  of  the  book  value  of  the  long-lived  asset.  We  have  determined
that Verizon does not have a material legal obligation to remove long-
lived  assets  as  described  by  this  statement.  However,  we  have
included estimated removal costs in our group depreciation models.
These costs have increased depreciation expense and accumulated
depreciation  for  future  removal  costs  for  existing  assets.  These
removal costs are recorded as a reduction to accumulated deprecia-
tion when the assets are retired and removal costs are incurred.

For some assets, such as telephone poles, the removal costs exceed
salvage value. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 143, we are required
to exclude costs of removal from our depreciation rates for assets for
which the removal costs exceed salvage. Accordingly, in connection
with the initial adoption of this standard on January 1, 2003, we have
reversed  accrued  costs  of  removal  in  excess  of  salvage  from  our
accumulated depreciation accounts for these assets. The adjustment
was recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change, result-
ing  in  the  recognition  of  an  estimated  gain  of  approximately  $3.4
billion  ($2.0  billion  after-tax).  Effective  January  1,  2003,  we  began
expensing costs of removal in excess of salvage for these assets as
incurred.  The  impact  of  this  change  in  accounting  will  result  in  a
decrease in depreciation expense and an increase in operational and
support  expenses.  We  estimate  the  net  favorable  impact  in  2003,
excluding  the  cumulative  effect  adjustment,  will  be  approximately
$50 million to $70 million ($30 million to $42 million after-tax).

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 2

ACCOUNTING CHANGE – 
GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The  initial  impact  of  adopting  SFAS  No.  142  on  our  consolidated
financial  statements  was  recorded  as  a  cumulative  effect  of  an
accounting  change  as  of  January  1,  2002,  resulting  in  a  charge  of
$496  million,  net  of  tax.  This  charge  is  comprised  of  $204  million
($203  million  after-tax)  for  goodwill  and  $294  million  ($293  million
after-tax) for wireless licenses and goodwill of equity method invest-
ments and for other intangible assets.

Domestic Wireless Licenses
In  conjunction  with  the  adoption  of  SFAS  No.  142,  we  have
reassessed  the  useful  lives  of  previously  recognized  intangible
assets.  A  significant  portion  of  our  intangible  assets  are  Domestic
Wireless  licenses,  including  licenses  associated  with  equity  method
investments, that provide our wireless operations with the exclusive
right to utilize designated radio frequency spectrum to provide cellu-
lar communication services. While licenses are issued for only a fixed
time, generally ten years, such licenses are subject to renewal by the
Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC).  Renewals  of  licenses
have  occurred  routinely  and  at  nominal  cost.  Moreover,  we  have
determined  that  there  are  currently  no  legal,  regulatory,  contractual,
competitive, economic or other factors that limit the useful life of our
wireless licenses. As a result, the wireless licenses will be treated as
an indefinite-lived intangible asset under the provisions of SFAS No.
142 and will not be amortized but rather will be tested for impairment.
We  will  reevaluate  the  useful  life  determination  for  wireless  licenses
each  reporting  period  to  determine  whether  events  and  circum-
stances continue to support an indefinite useful life.

Previous wireless business combinations have been for the purpose
of acquiring existing licenses and related infrastructure to enable us
to  build  out  our  existing  nationwide  wireless  network.  The  primary
asset  acquired  in  such  combinations  has  been  wireless  licenses.  In
the  allocation  of  the  purchase  price  of  these  previous  acquisitions,
amounts  classified  as  goodwill  have  related  predominately  to  the
expected  synergies  of  placing  the  acquired  licenses  in  our  national
footprint.  Further,  in  purchase  accounting,  the  values  assigned  to
both  wireless  licenses  and  goodwill  were  principally  determined
based on an allocation of the excess of the purchase price over the
other acquired net assets. We believe that the nature of our wireless
licenses and related goodwill are fundamentally indistinguishable. 

In light of these considerations, on January 1, 2002, amounts previ-
ously  classified  as  goodwill,  approximately  $7.9  billion  as  of
December  31,  2001,  were  reclassified  into  wireless  licenses.  Also,
assembled workforce, previously included in other intangible assets,
will  no  longer  be  recognized  separately  from  wireless  licenses.
Amounts for 2001 and 2000 have been reclassified to conform to the
presentation  adopted  on  January  1,  2002.  In  conjunction  with  this
reclassification,  and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.
109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” we have recognized in the first
quarter  of  2002  a  deferred  tax  liability  of  approximately  $1.6  billion
related to the difference in the tax basis compared to the book basis
of  the  wireless  licenses.  This  reclassification,  including  the  related
impact on deferred taxes, had no impact on our results of operations.

When  testing  the  carrying  value  of  the  wireless  licenses  for  impair-
ment,  we  will  determine  the  fair  value  of  the  aggregated  wireless
licenses by subtracting from wireless operations’ estimated discounted
cash flows the fair value of all of the other net tangible and intangible
assets of our wireless operations. If the fair value of the aggregated
wireless  licenses  as  determined  above  is  less  than  the  aggregated
carrying  amount  of  the  licenses,  an  impairment  will  be  recognized.
Upon  adoption  of  SFAS  No.  142,  a  test  for  impairment  of  wireless
licenses was performed with no impairment recognized. Future tests
for impairment will be performed at least annually and more often if
events or circumstances warrant.

Impact of SFAS No. 142
The following tables present the impact of SFAS No. 142 on reported
income  before  extraordinary  items  and  cumulative  effect  of
accounting change, reported net income and earnings per share had
the standard been in effect for the years ended December 31, 2001
and 2000:

Years Ended December 31,

Reported income before extraordinary 

items and cumulative effect of
accounting change

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted income before extraordinary 

items and cumulative effect of 
accounting change

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$

$

4,584
–
–

590
49
334

$ 10,810
40
263

$

4,584

$

973

$ 11,113

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

2000

Basic earnings per common share

$

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted earnings 

$

1.67
–
–

$

.22
.02
.12

3.98
.01
.10

per common share – basic

$

1.67

$

.36

$

4.09

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

2000

Diluted earnings per common share

$

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted earnings 

$

1.67
–
–

$

.22
.02
.12

3.95
.01
.10

per common share – diluted

$

1.67

$

.36

$

4.06

Years Ended December 31,

Reported net income

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted net income

Years Ended December 31,

Basic earnings per common share

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted earnings 

$

$

$

2002

4,079
–
–
4,079

2002

1.49
–
–

$

$

$

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

389
49
334
772

$ 11,787
40
263
$ 12,090

2001

2000

$

.14
.02
.12

4.34
.01
.10

per common share – basic

$

1.49

$

.28

$

4.45

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

2000

Diluted earnings per common share

$

Goodwill amortization
Wireless licenses amortization

Adjusted earnings 

$

1.49
–
–

$

.14
.02
.12

4.31
.01
.10

per common share – diluted

$

1.49

$

.28

$

4.42

43

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

The preceding tables exclude $115 million ($.04 per share), and $76 million ($.03 per share) for the years ended 2001 and 2000, respectively,
related to amortization of goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives of equity method investments.

Goodwill
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2002 are as follows:

Balance as of December 31, 2001

Goodwill reclassifications
Goodwill acquired during the period
CTI goodwill in impairment charge
Goodwill impairment losses under

SFAS No. 142

Balance as of December 31, 2002

(dollars in millions)

Domestic
Telecom

Domestic
Wireless

International

Information
Services

Corporate &
Other

$

$

401
–
3
–

(90)
314

$

$

–
–
–
–

–
–

$

$

627
338
51
(220)

–
796

$

$

558
23
–
–

(2)
579

$

112
–
–
–

(112)
–

$

Total

$ 1,698
361
54
(220)

(204)
$ 1,689

Other Intangible Assets
The major components and average useful lives of our other acquired intangible assets follows:

Amortized intangible assets:

Customer lists (4 to 7 years)
Non-network software (3 to 7 years)
Other (2 to 30 years)

Total
Unamortized intangible assets:

Wireless licenses

As of December 31, 2002
Accumulated
Amortization

Gross Carrying
Amount

(dollars in millions)
As of December 31, 2001
Accumulated 
Amortization

Gross Carrying
Amount

$

$

3,440
4,700
81
8,221

$ 40,088

$

$

1,846
1,399
14
3,259

$

$

3,349
3,187
74
6,610

$ 38,055

$

$

1,279
793
29
2,101

Intangible asset amortization expense was $1,164 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. It is estimated to be $1,189 million in 2003,
$1,143 million in 2004, $1,027 million in 2005, $602 million in 2006 and $265 million in 2007, primarily related to customer lists and non-net-
work software.

NOTE 3

SALES OF ASSETS, NET

During 2002, we recognized net gains in operations related to sales
of assets and other charges. During 2001, we recognized net losses
in  operations  related  to  sales  of  assets,  impairments  of  assets  held
for  sale  and  other  charges.  During  2000,  we  recognized  net  gains
related  to  sales  of  assets  and  impairments  of  assets  held  for  sale.
These net gains and losses are summarized as follows:

Years Ended
December 31,

Wireline property 

(dollars in millions)

2002
Pretax After-tax

2001
Pretax After-tax

2000
Pretax After-tax

sales

$ 2,527 $ 1,550 $

– $

– $ 3,051 $ 1,856

Wireless overlap 
property sales

Other, net

–
220

1,156
(1,025)
$ 2,747 $ 1,666 $ (350) $ (226) $ 3,793 $ 1,987

1,922
(1,180)

(60)
(166)

(92)
(258)

–
116

As  required,  gains  on  sales  of  wireless  overlap  properties  that
occurred  prior  to  the  closing  of  the  Bell  Atlantic  Corporation  (Bell
Atlantic)-GTE  Corporation  (GTE)  merger  are  included  in  operating
income and in the table above. Gains on sales of significant wireless

44

overlap  properties  that  occurred  after  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger
are classified as extraordinary items. See Note 5 for gains on sales of
significant  wireless  overlap  properties  subsequent  to  the  Bell
Atlantic-GTE merger.

Wireline Property Sales
In October 2001, we agreed to sell all 675,000 of our switched access
lines  in  Alabama  and  Missouri  to  CenturyTel  Inc.  (CenturyTel)  and
600,000  of  our  switched  access  lines  in  Kentucky  to  ALLTEL
Corporation (ALLTEL). During the third quarter of 2002, we completed
the  sales  of  these  access  lines  for  $4,059  million  in  cash  proceeds
($191 million of which was received in 2001). We recorded a pretax
gain  of  $2,527  million  ($1,550  million  after-tax).  For  the  years  2002,
2001 and 2000, the operating revenues of the access lines sold were
$623  million,  $997  million  and  $1,021  million,  respectively.  For  the
years 2002, 2001 and 2000, operating expenses of the access lines
sold were $241 million, $413 million and $539 million, respectively.

During  1998,  GTE  committed  to  sell  approximately  1.6  million  non-
strategic  domestic  access  lines.  During  2000,  access  line  sales
generated combined cash proceeds of approximately $4,903 million
and  $125  million  in  convertible  preferred  stock.  The  pretax  gain  on
the sales was $3,051 million ($1,856 million after-tax). The operating
revenues and expenses of the access lines sold in 2000 were $766
million and $253 million, respectively.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Wireless Overlap Property Sales
A  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  (DOJ)  consent  decree  issued  on
December  6,  1999  required  GTE  Wireless,  Bell  Atlantic  Mobile,
(Vodafone)  and  PrimeCo  Personal
Vodafone  Group  plc 
Communications L.P. (PrimeCo) to resolve a number of wireless mar-
ket  overlaps  in  order  to  complete  the  wireless  joint  venture  and  the
Bell Atlantic-GTE merger. As a result, during April and June 2000 we
completed transactions with ALLTEL that provided for the exchange
of former Bell Atlantic Mobile and GTE Wireless markets for several of
ALLTEL’s wireless markets. These exchanges were accounted for as
purchase  business  combinations  and  resulted  in  combined  pretax
gains of $1,922 million ($1,156 million after-tax).

During  2001,  we  recorded  a  pretax  gain  of  $80  million  ($48  million
after-tax) on the sale of the Cincinnati wireless market and a pretax
loss of $172 million ($108 million after-tax) related to the sale of the
Chicago wireless market.

Other Transactions
In  December  2001,  we  agreed  to  sell  TSI  Telecommunications
Services  Inc.  (TSI).  During  2002,  we  recorded  a  net  pretax  gain  of
$220 million ($116 million after-tax), primarily resulting from a pretax
gain on the sale of TSI of $466 million ($275 million after-tax), par-
tially offset by an impairment charge in connection with our exit from
the  video  business  and  other  charges  of  $246  million  ($159  million
after-tax).

During 2001, we recorded charges totaling $258 million ($166 million
after-tax)  related  to  exiting  several  businesses,  including  our  video
business and some leasing activities.

During 2000, we recorded charges related to the write-down of some
impaired  assets  and  other  charges  of  $1,180  million  ($1,025  million
after-tax), as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 2000

Pretax

(dollars in millions)
After-tax

Airfone and Video impairment
CLEC impairment
Real estate consolidation and 
other merger-related charges
Deferred taxes on contribution to 

the wireless joint venture

Other, net

$

566
334

220

–
60
$ 1,180

$

362
218

142

249
54
$ 1,025

In  connection  with  our  decisions  to  exit  the  video  business  and
Airfone  (a  company  involved  in  air-to-ground  communications),  in
the  second  quarter  of  2000  we  recorded  an  impairment  charge  to
reduce the carrying value of these investments to their estimated net
realizable value.

The  competitive  local  exchange  carrier  (CLEC)  impairment  primarily
relates to the revaluation of assets and the accrual of costs pertain-
ing  to  some  long-term  contracts  due  to  strategic  changes  in  our
approach  to  offering  bundled  services  both  in  and  out  of  franchise
areas.  The  revised  approach  to  providing  such  services  resulted,  in
part, from post-merger integration activities and acquisitions.

The  real  estate  consolidation  and  other  merger-related  charges
include  the  revaluation  of  assets  and  the  accrual  of  costs  to  exit
leased facilities that are in excess of our needs as the result of post-
merger integration activities.

The deferred tax charge is non-cash and was recorded as the result
of the contribution in July 2000 of the GTE Wireless assets to Verizon
Wireless based on the differences between the book and tax bases of
assets contributed.

Net Assets Held For Sale
At December 31, 2001, the net assets of the switched access lines
sold to CenturyTel and ALLTEL and the net assets of TSI were classi-
fied as Net Assets Held for Sale in the consolidated balance sheets.

NOTE 4

OTHER STRATEGIC ACTIONS

Total  pension  and  benefit  costs  recorded  in  2002  related  to  sever-
ances  were  $2,010  million  ($1,264  million  after  taxes  and  minority
interest). In the fourth quarter of 2002, we recorded a pretax charge
of $981 million ($604 million after taxes and minority interest) primarily
associated  with  pension  and  benefit  costs  related  to  severances. 
This  charge  included  losses  of  $910  million  ($558  million  after-tax)
recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting
for  Settlements  and  Curtailments  of  Defined  Benefit  Pension  Plans
and  for  Termination  Benefits”  and  SFAS  No.  106,  “Employers’
Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” These
losses include curtailment losses of $755 million ($464 million after-
tax)  for  significant  reduction  of  the  expected  years  of  future  service
resulting  from  early  retirements  once  the  threshold  for  significance
was reached, pension settlement losses of $102 million ($62 million
after-tax) related to lump sum settlements of some existing pension
obligations, and pension and postretirement benefit enhancements of
$53  million  ($32  million  after-tax).  The  fourth  quarter  charge  also
included severance costs of $71 million ($46 million after taxes and
minority interest). We also recorded a pretax charge in 2002 of $295
million ($185 million after-tax) related to settlement losses incurred in
connection with previously announced employee separations. SFAS
No. 88 requires that settlement losses be recorded once prescribed
payment  thresholds  have  been  reached.  Also  during  2002,  we
recorded  a  special  charge  of  $734  million  ($475  million  after  taxes
and minority interest) primarily associated with employee severance
costs and severance-related activities in connection with the volun-
tary  and  involuntary  separation  of  approximately  8,000  employees.
As  of  December  31,  2002,  a  total  of  over  20,000  employees  have
been  separated  under  the  2001  and  2002  severance  activity.  We
expect to complete the severance activities within a year of when the
respective charges are recorded.

During 2001, we recorded a special charge of $1,613 million ($1,001
million after-tax) primarily associated with employee severance costs
and related pension enhancements. The charge included severance
and related benefits of $765 million ($477 million after-tax) for the vol-
untary  and 
involuntary  separation  of  approximately  10,000
employees. We also included a charge of $848 million ($524 million
after-tax) primarily associated with related pension enhancements.

In 2000, we recorded pension settlement gains of $911 million pretax
($564 million after-tax) in accordance with SFAS No. 88. They relate
to some settlements of pension obligations for former GTE employees
through direct payment, the purchase of annuities or otherwise.

45

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

During 2002, we recorded pretax charges of $593 million ($445 mil-
lion  after-tax)  primarily  related  to  a  pretax  impairment  charge  in
connection with our financial statement exposure to WorldCom Inc.
due  to  its  July  2002  bankruptcy  of  $300  million  ($183  million  after-
tax),  a  pretax  impairment  charge  of  $117  million  ($136  million
after-tax) pertaining to our leasing operations for airplanes leased to
airlines  currently  experiencing  financial  difficulties  and  other  pretax
charges  of  $176  million  ($126  million  after-tax).  In  addition,  we
recorded a pretax charge of $175 million ($114 million after-tax) related
to a settlement of a litigation matter that arose from our decision to
terminate an agreement with NorthPoint Communications Group, Inc.
(NorthPoint)  to  combine  the  two  companies’  digital  subscriber  line
(DSL) businesses (see Note 24).

Other charges and special items recorded during 2001 include asset
impairments  related  to  property  sales  and  facility  consolidation  of
$151 million ($95 million after-tax). In 2001, we also recorded a loss
of $35 million ($26 million after-tax) related to international losses.

Other charges and special items recorded during 2000 included the
write-off of our investment in NorthPoint of $155 million ($153 million
after-tax)  as  a  result  of  the  deterioration  in  NorthPoint’s  business,
operations and financial condition. We also recorded a pretax charge
of  $50  million  ($50  million  after-tax)  associated  with  our  share  of
costs  incurred  at  two  of  our  international  equity  investees  to  com-
plete employee separation programs.

Other  charges  and  special  items  in  2000  also  included  the  cost  of
disposing or abandoning redundant assets and discontinued system
development projects in connection with the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger
of $287 million ($175 million after-tax), regulatory settlements of $98
million  ($61  million  after-tax)  and  other  asset  write-downs  of  $416
million ($290 million after-tax).

NOTE 5

EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS

In 2002, we recognized a net pretax extraordinary charge of $19 mil-
lion  ($9  million  after-tax)  related  to  the  extinguishments  of  $2,306
million of debt prior to the stated maturity dates.

During 2001, we retired $726 million of debt prior to the stated matu-
rity date, resulting in a pretax extraordinary charge of $29 million ($19
million after-tax).

In June 2000, we entered into a series of definitive sale agreements
to  resolve  service  area  conflicts  prohibited  by  FCC  regulations  as  a
result  of  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger  (see  Note  3).  These  agree-
ments,  which  were  pursuant  to  the  consent  decree  issued  for  the
merger, enabled both the formation of Verizon Wireless and the clos-
ing  of  the  merger.  Since  the  sales  were  required  pursuant  to  the
consent  decree  and  occurred  after  the  merger,  the  gains  on  sales
were recorded net of taxes as Extraordinary Items in the consolidated
statements of income.

During  the  second  half  of  2000,  we  completed  the  sale  of  the
Richmond (former PrimeCo) wireless market to CFW Communications
Company in exchange for two wireless rural service areas in Virginia
and  cash.  The  sale  resulted  in  a  pretax  gain  of  $184  million  ($112 
million  after-tax).  In  addition,  we  completed  the  sales  of  the 

46

consolidated markets in Washington and Texas and unconsolidated
interests  in  Texas  (former  GTE)  to  SBC  Communications.  The  sales
resulted in a pretax gain of $886 million ($532 million after-tax). Also,
we completed the sale of the San Diego (former GTE) market to AT&T
Wireless. The sale resulted in a pretax gain of $304 million ($182 mil-
lion  after-tax).  In  2000,  we  also  completed  the  sale  of  the  Houston
(former PrimeCo) wireless overlap market to AT&T Wireless, resulting
in a pretax gain of $350 million ($213 million after-tax).

During 2000, we retired $190 million of debt prior to the stated matu-
rity date, resulting in a pretax extraordinary charge of $19 million ($12
million after-tax).

Effective  January  1,  2003,  we  adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.
145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment
of  FASB  Statement  No.  13,  and  Technical  Corrections,”  and  will  no
longer report extinguishments of debt as extraordinary items.

NOTE 6

WIRELESS JOINT VENTURE

On April 3, 2000, Verizon and Vodafone consummated the previously
announced  agreement  to  combine  U.S.  wireless  and  paging  opera-
tions.  Vodafone  contributed  its  U.S.  wireless  operations,  including  its
interest in PrimeCo, to an existing Bell Atlantic partnership in exchange
for a 65.1% economic interest in the partnership. Bell Atlantic retained
a  34.9%  economic  interest  and  control  pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the
partnership  agreement.  We  accounted  for  this  transaction  as  a  pur-
chase  business  combination.  The  total  consideration  for  the  U.S.
wireless operations of Vodafone was approximately $34 billion, result-
ing  in  increases  in  intangible  assets  of  approximately  $31  billion,
minority interest of approximately $21 billion and debt of approximately
$4  billion  included  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets.  Since  the 
acquisition was effected through the issuance of partnership interests,
the $4,271 million after-tax gain on the transaction was reported as an
adjustment  to  contributed  capital  in  accordance  with  our  accounting
policy  for  recording  gains  on  the  issuance  of  subsidiary  stock.  The
appraisal and the allocation of the purchase price to the tangible and
identifiable  intangible  assets  were  completed  in  the  fourth  quarter  of
2000. A substantial portion of the excess purchase prices over the tan-
gible assets acquired were identified with wireless licenses, which as of
January 1, 2002, are no longer being amortized since they are indefi-
nite-lived assets under the provisions of SFAS No. 142 (see Note 2).

In  July  2000,  following  the  closing  of  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger,
interests  in  GTE’s  U.S.  wireless  operations  were  contributed  to
Verizon Wireless in exchange for an increase in our economic owner-
ship interest to 55%. This transaction was accounted for as a transfer
of  assets  between  entities  under  common  control  and,  accordingly,
was recorded at the net book value of the assets contributed.

In  addition,  under  the  terms  of  an  investment  agreement,  Vodafone
may require us or Verizon Wireless to purchase up to an aggregate of
$20 billion worth of its interest in Verizon Wireless between 2003 and
2007 at its then fair market value. The purchase of up to $10 billion,
in cash or stock at our option, may be required in the summer of 2003
or 2004, and the remainder, which may not exceed $10 billion at any
one  time,  in  the  summers  of  2005  through  2007.  Vodafone  has  the
option to require us or Verizon Wireless to satisfy up to $7.5 billion of
the remainder with cash or contributed debt.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

In  December  2001,  Verizon  Wireless  and  Price  Communications
Corp. (Price) announced that an agreement had been reached com-
bining Price’s wireless business with a portion of Verizon Wireless in
a transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion, including $550 mil-
lion of net debt. The transaction closed on August 15, 2002 and the
assumed debt was redeemed on August 16, 2002. The resulting lim-
ited  partnership  is  controlled  and  managed  by  Verizon  Wireless.  In
exchange for its contributed assets, Price received a limited partner-
ship  interest  in  the  new  partnership  which  is  exchangeable  into
common stock of Verizon Wireless if an initial public offering of that
stock  occurs,  or  into  the  common  stock  of  Verizon  on  the  fourth
anniversary of the asset contribution date if the initial public offering
of Verizon Wireless common stock does not occur prior to then. The
price of the Verizon common stock used in determining the number
of Verizon common shares received in an exchange is also subject to
a maximum and minimum amount.

NOTE 7

COMPLETION OF MERGER

On June 30, 2000, Bell Atlantic and GTE completed a merger under a
definitive merger agreement dated as of July 27, 1998. Upon closing
of  the  merger,  the  combined  company  began  doing  business  as
Verizon. GTE shareowners received 1.22 shares of Bell Atlantic com-
mon  stock  for  each  share  of  GTE  common  stock  that  they  owned.
The  merger  qualified  as  a  tax-free  reorganization  and  has  been
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests business combination. Under
this method of accounting, Bell Atlantic and GTE are treated as if they
had  always  been  combined  for  accounting  and  financial  reporting
purposes.  As  a  result,  we  have  restated  our  consolidated  financial
statements for all dates and periods prior to the merger to reflect the
combined results of Bell Atlantic and GTE as of the beginning of the
earliest period presented.

In  addition  to  combining  the  separate  historical  results  of  Bell
Atlantic  and  GTE,  the  restated  combined  financial  statements
include the adjustments necessary to conform accounting methods
and presentation, to the extent that they were different, and to elim-
inate  significant  intercompany  transactions.  The  separate  Bell
Atlantic and GTE results of operations for periods prior to the merger
were as follows:

Operating Revenues
Bell Atlantic
GTE
Conforming adjustments, 

reclassifications and eliminations

Accounting change
Combined

Net Income
Bell Atlantic
GTE
Conforming adjustments, 

reclassifications and eliminations

Accounting change
Combined

(dollars in millions)
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2000

(Unaudited)

$ 8,534
6,100

(85)
(17)
$ 14,532

$

731
807

19
(42)
$ 1,515

The  following  table  summarizes  the  pretax  charges  incurred  for  the
Bell Atlantic-GTE merger.

Years Ended December 31,

Direct Incremental Costs
Compensation arrangements
Professional services
Shareowner-related
Registration, regulatory and other
Total Direct Incremental Costs

Employee Severance Costs

Transition Costs
Systems modifications
Branding
Relocation, training and other
Total Transition Costs
Total Merger-Related Costs

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$

$

– $
–
–
–
–

– $
–
–
–
–

–

–

210
161
35
66
472

584

283
99
401
10
240
112
217
355
526
510
694
1,039
510 $ 1,039 $ 1,750

Merger-Related Costs
Direct Incremental Costs
Direct  incremental  costs  related  to  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE  merger  of
$472  million  ($378  million  after-tax)  include  compensation,  profes-
sional  services  and  other  costs.  Compensation  includes  retention
payments  to  employees  that  were  contingent  on  the  close  of  the
merger  and  payments  to  employees  to  satisfy  contractual  obliga-
tions  triggered  by  the  change  in  control.  Professional  services
include investment banking, legal, accounting, consulting and other
advisory  fees  incurred  to  obtain  federal  and  state  regulatory
approvals and take other actions necessary to complete the merger.
Other includes costs incurred to obtain shareholder approval of the
merger,  register  securities  and  communicate  with  shareholders,
employees and regulatory authorities regarding merger issues. All of
the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger direct incremental costs had been paid
as of December 31, 2001.

Employee Severance Costs
Employee severance costs related to the Bell Atlantic-GTE merger
of $584 million ($371 million after-tax), as recorded under SFAS No.
112, “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits,” repre-
sent  the  benefit  costs  for  the  separation  of  approximately  5,500
management  employees  who  were  entitled  to  benefits  under  pre-
existing  separation  plans,  as  well  as  an  accrual  for  ongoing  SFAS
No.  112  obligations  for  GTE  employees  (see  Note  18).  Of  these
employees, approximately 5,200 were located in the United States
and  approximately  300  were  located  at  various  international  loca-
tions.  The  separations  occurred  as  a  result  of  consolidations  and
process  enhancements  within  our  operating  segments.  Accrued
postemployment benefit liabilities for those employees are included
in our consolidated balance sheets as components of Other Current
Liabilities  and  Employee  Benefit  Obligations.  As  of  December  31,
2001  and  2000,  the  remaining  merger-related  severance  liability
was $76 million and $343 million, respectively. As of December 31,
2002,  the  severances  in  connection  with  the  Bell  Atlantic-GTE
merger are complete.

Transition Costs
In  addition  to  the  direct  incremental  merger-related  and  severance
costs  discussed  above,  we  announced  at  the  time  of  the  Bell

47

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Atlantic-GTE  merger  that  we  expected  to  incur  a  total  of  approxi-
mately  $2  billion  of  transition  costs  related  to  the  merger  and  the
formation of the wireless joint venture. These costs were incurred to
integrate systems, consolidate real estate, and relocate employees.
They  also  included  approximately  $500  million  for  advertising  and
other  costs  to  establish  the  Verizon  brand.  Transition  activities  are
complete  at  December  31,  2002  and  totaled  $2,243  million.
Transition  costs  were  $510  million  ($288  million  after  taxes  and
minority interest) in 2002, $1,039 million ($578 million after taxes and
minority  interest)  in  2001  and  $694  million  ($316  million  after  taxes
and minority interest) in 2000.

NOTE 8

MARKETABLE SECURITIES

We have investments in marketable securities which are considered
“available-for-sale”  under  SFAS  No.  115.  These  investments  have
been included in our consolidated balance sheets in Investments in
Unconsolidated Businesses and Other Assets.

Under SFAS No. 115, available-for-sale securities are required to be
carried  at  their  fair  value,  with  unrealized  gains  and  losses  (net  of
income  taxes)  that  are  considered  temporary  in  nature  recorded  in
Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Loss.  The  fair  values  of  our
investments in marketable securities are determined based on mar-
ket  quotations.  We  continually  evaluate  our  investments  in
marketable securities for impairment due to declines in market value
considered  to  be  other  than  temporary.  That  evaluation  includes,  in
addition to persistent, declining stock prices, general economic and
company-specific evaluations. In the event of a determination that a
decline in market value is other than temporary, a charge to earnings
is recorded in Income (Loss) From Unconsolidated Businesses in the
consolidated statements of income for all or a portion of the unreal-
ized loss, and a new cost basis in the investment is established.

The following table shows certain summarized information related to
our investments in marketable securities:

(dollars in millions)

At December 31, 2002
Investments in unconsolidated 

businesses
Other assets

At December 31, 2001
Investments in unconsolidated 

businesses
Other assets

Cost

$

$

115
196
311

$ 1,337
243
$ 1,580

Gross

Gross
Unrealized Unrealized
Losses

Gains

Fair Value

$

$

$

$

5
46
51

578
26
604

$

$

$

$

(20)
–
(20)

$

$

100
242
342

(80)
–
(80)

$ 1,835
269
$ 2,104

primarily bonds and mutual funds. At December 31, 2001, the unreal-
ized  gains  on  marketable  securities  related  primarily  to  our
investment in TCNZ. (See Note 10 for more information on these and
other of our investments in unconsolidated businesses.)

During 2002, we recognized a pretax net loss of $347 million ($230
million  after-tax)  primarily  relating  to  our  investment  in  C&W  and
$232 million ($231 million after-tax) relating to several other invest-
ments  in  marketable  securities.  We  determined  that  market  value
declines  in  these  investments  during  2002  were  considered  other
than temporary.

In  2002,  we  sold  nearly  all  of  our  investment  in  TCNZ  for  net  cash
proceeds of $769 million, which resulted in a pretax gain of $383 mil-
lion ($229 million after-tax).

During  2002,  we  also  recorded  a  pretax  loss  of  $516  million  ($436
million after-tax) to market value due primarily to the other than tem-
porary  decline  in  the  market  value  of  our  investment  in  MFN.  We
wrote  off  our  remaining  investment  and  other  financial  statement
exposure  related  to  MFN  primarily  as  a  result  of  its  deteriorating
financial condition and related defaults.

During  2001,  we  recognized  a  pretax  loss  of  $4,686  million  ($3,607
million  after-tax)  primarily  relating  to  our  investments  in  C&W,  NTL
Incorporated  (NTL)  and  MFN.  We  determined  that  market  value
declines  in  these  investments  during  2001  were  considered  other
than temporary. (See Note 10.)

During  2000,  we  recognized  a  pretax  gain  of  $3,088  million  ($1,941
million after-tax) related to the restructuring of our equity investment
in Cable & Wireless Communications plc (CWC). In exchange for our
equity investment in CWC, we received shares of C&W and NTL. In
2000, half of our shares in MFN were restricted and carried at cost. In
2001,  those  shares  became  unrestricted  and  all  of  our  MFN  shares
were recorded at fair value. (See Note 10.)

Certain other investments in securities that we hold are not adjusted
to market values because those values are not readily determinable
and/or the securities are not marketable. We have, however, adjusted
the carrying values of these securities in situations where we believe
declines in value below cost were other than temporary. During 2002
and 2001, we recognized pretax losses of $2,898 million ($2,735 mil-
lion  after-tax)  and  $1,251  million  ($1,251  million  after-tax),
respectively,  primarily  in  Income  (Loss)  From  Unconsolidated
Businesses in the consolidated statements of income relating to our
investment  in  Genuity.  The  2002  loss  includes  a  write-down  of  our
investments and loans of $2,624 million ($2,560 million after-tax). We
also recorded a pretax charge of $274 million ($175 million after-tax)
related  to  the  remaining  financial  exposure  to  our  assets,  including
receivables,  as  a  result  of  Genuity’s  bankruptcy  (see  Note  10).  The
carrying  values  for  investments  not  adjusted  to  market  value  were
$103 million at December 31, 2002 and $1,558 million at December
31, 2001.

At  December  31,  2002,  the  decrease  in  marketable  securities  from
December  31,  2001  is  primarily  due  to  the  other  than  temporary
declines  in  the  market  value  of  Cable  &  Wireless  plc  (C&W)  and  its
subsequent  sale,  the  sale  of  nearly  all  of  our  interest  in  Telecom
Corporation of New Zealand Limited (TCNZ) and the other than tem-
porary  declines  in  the  market  value  of  Metromedia  Fiber  Network,
Inc.  (MFN).  Our  remaining  investments  in  marketable  securities  are

As a result of capital gains and other income on access line sales and
investment  sales  in  2002,  as  well  as  assessments  and  transactions
related  to  several  of  the  impaired  investments  during  the  third  and
fourth quarters of 2002, we recorded tax benefits of $2,104 million in
2002  pertaining  to  current  and  prior  year  investment  impairments.
The  investment  impairments  primarily  related  to  debt  and  equity
investments in MFN and in Genuity.

48

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 9

PLANT, PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

The following table displays the details of plant, property and equip-
ment, which is stated at cost:

At December 31,

Land
Buildings and equipment
Network equipment
Furniture, office and data processing equipment
Work in progress
Leasehold improvements
Other

Accumulated depreciation
Total

NOTE 10

(dollars in millions)
2001

2002

$

915
14,572
137,353
18,586
1,476
1,573
3,553
178,028
(103,532)
$ 74,496

$

850
13,285
132,035
15,568
1,970
1,516
4,362
169,586
(95,167)
$ 74,419

INVESTMENTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED BUSINESSES

Our investments in unconsolidated businesses are comprised of the
following:

(dollars in millions)
2001
Ownership Investment Ownership Investment

2002

During 2002, we recorded a pretax loss of $1,400 million ($1,400 mil-
lion after-tax) due to the other than temporary decline in the market
value of our investment in CANTV. As a result of the political and eco-
nomic  instability  in  Venezuela,  including  the  devaluation  of  the
Venezuelan  bolivar,  and  the  related  impact  on  CANTV’s  future  eco-
nomic  prospects,  we  no 
future
undiscounted  cash  flows  applicable  to  CANTV  were  sufficient  to
recover our investment. Accordingly, we wrote our investment down
to market value as of March 31, 2002. The goodwill included in our
investment in CANTV was zero at December 31, 2002.

longer  expected  that  the 

Omnitel
Vodafone  Omnitel  N.V.  (Omnitel)  operates  a  cellular  mobile  tele-
phone  network  in  Italy.  At  December  31,  2002  and  2001,  our
investment  in  Omnitel  included  goodwill  of  $830  million  and  $703
million, respectively.

TELUS
TELUS  Corporation  (TELUS)  is  a  full-service  telecommunications
provider  operating  in  the  Canadian  provinces  of  British  Columbia,
Alberta and Québec. TELUS also provides wireless, data and Internet
protocol  services  in  central  and  eastern  Canada.  At  December  31,
2001, our investment in TELUS included goodwill of $55 million.

In 2002, we recorded a pretax loss of $580 million ($430 million after-
tax) to the market value of our investment in TELUS. We determined
that  market  value  decline  in  this  investment  was  considered  other
than  temporary.  At  December  31,  2002,  goodwill  included  in  our
investment in TELUS was zero.

28.5% $
23.1
21.3
52.0
Various

475
2,226
463
–
1,622
4,786

28.5% $ 1,869
1,574
23.1
1,363
23.7
446
40.0
1,560
Various
6,812

TELPRI
Telecomunicaciones  de  Puerto  Rico,  Inc.  (TELPRI)  provides  local,
wireless,  long-distance,  paging,  and  Internet-access  services  in
Puerto  Rico.  At  December  31,  2001,  our  investment  in  TELPRI 
included goodwill of $206 million.

–
–
0.2
–
Various

–
–
8
–
194
202
$ 4,988

8.2
4.6
21.5
6.6
Various

1,264
634
840
230
422
3,390
$10,202

Dividends received from investees amounted to $182 million in 2002,
$244 million in 2001 and $215 million in 2000.

Equity Investees
CANTV 
Compañia Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (CANTV) is the
primary provider of local telephone service and national and interna-
tional  long-distance  service  in  Venezuela.  CANTV  also  provides
wireless,  Internet-access  and  directory  advertising  services.  At
December  31,  2001,  our  investment  in  CANTV  included  goodwill  of
$673 million.

In October 2001, shareholders of CANTV approved an extraordinary
dividend  of  approximately  $550  million,  paid  in  two  installments  in
December 2001 and March 2002, and a share repurchase program of
up to 15% of CANTV's shares. During December 2001, we received
approximately  $167  million  from  the  repurchase  program  and  $85
million in dividends. In 2002, we received $67 million in dividends.

On  January  25,  2002,  Verizon  exercised  its  option  to  purchase  an
additional  12%  of  TELPRI  common  stock,  from  PRTA  Holdings
Corporation,  an  entity  of  the  government  of  Puerto  Rico.  Verizon
obtained the option as part of the March 1999 TELPRI privatization.
We now hold 52% of TELPRI stock, up from 40%. As a result, Verizon
changed the accounting for its investment in TELPRI from the equity
method to full consolidation, effective January 1, 2002.

Other Equity Investees
Verizon has limited partnership investments in variable interest enti-
ties  that  invest  in  affordable  housing  projects,  for  which  Verizon
provides  funding  as  a  limited  partner  and  receives  tax  deductions
and tax credits based on its partnership interests. At December 31,
2002 and 2001, Verizon had equity investments in these partnerships
of  $954  million  and  $825  million,  respectively.  Verizon  currently
adjusts  the  carrying  value  of  these  investments  for  any  losses
incurred by the limited partnerships through earnings.

We  also  have  international  wireless  investments  in  the  Czech
Republic  and  Slovakia.  These  investments  are  in  joint  ventures  to
build and operate cellular networks in these countries. We also have
an  investment  in  a  company  in  the  Philippines  which  provides
telecommunications  services  in  some  regions  of  that  country.  The
remaining investments include wireless partnerships in the U.S., real
estate  partnerships,  publishing  joint  ventures,  and  several  other
domestic and international joint ventures.

49

At December 31,

Equity Investees
CANTV
Omnitel
TELUS
TELPRI
Other

Total equity investees

Cost Investees
Genuity
C&W
TCNZ
MFN
Other

Total cost investees

Total

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Cost Investees
Some  of  our  cost  investments  are  carried  at  their  current  market
value, principally our investment in TCNZ. Other cost investments are
carried  at  their  original  cost,  except  in  cases  where  we  have  deter-
mined that a decline in the estimated market value of an investment
is other than temporary as described in Note 8.

Genuity
Prior to the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE, we owned and consoli-
dated  Genuity  (a  tier-one  interLATA  Internet  backbone  and  related
data business). In June 2000, as a condition of the merger, 90.5% of
the voting equity of Genuity was issued in an initial public offering. As
a result of the initial public offering and our loss of control, we decon-
solidated Genuity. Genuity’s revenues for the first six months of 2000,
the period prior to deconsolidation, were $529 million and its net loss
was  $281  million.  Our  remaining  ownership  interest  in  Genuity  con-
tained  a  contingent  conversion  feature  that  gave  us  the  option  (if
prescribed conditions were met), among other things, to regain con-
trol of Genuity. Our ability to legally exercise this conversion feature
was dependent on obtaining approvals to provide long distance serv-
ice  in  the  former  Bell  Atlantic  region  and  satisfaction  of  other
regulatory and legal requirements.

On July 24, 2002, we converted all but one of our shares of Class B
common stock of Genuity into shares of Class A common stock of
Genuity.  As  a  result,  we  have  relinquished  the  right  to  convert  our
current ownership into a controlling interest as described above. On
December  18,  2002,  we  sold  all  of  our  Class  A  common  stock  of
Genuity. We now own a voting and economic interest in Genuity of
less than one-hundredth of 1%. See Note 24 for additional informa-
tion  on  our  ongoing  business  relationship  and  future  commitments
to Genuity.

During 2002, we determined that recoverability of our investment in
Genuity  was  not  reasonably  assured  due  to  Genuity’s  continuing
operating  losses  and  a  significant  decrease  in  the  market  price  of
the  Class  A  common  stock  of  Genuity.  As  a  result,  we  recorded  a
pretax  charge  of  $2,624  million  ($2,560  million  after-tax)  to  reduce
the carrying value of our interest in Genuity to its estimated fair value
(see Note 8).

During 2001, we recorded a pretax charge of $1,251 million ($1,251
million after-tax) related to our cost investment in Genuity. The charge
was  necessary  because  we  determined  that  the  decline  in  the  esti-
mated fair value of Genuity was other than temporary. Our investment
in Genuity was not considered a marketable security given its unique
characteristics  and  the  associated  contingent  conversion  right.
However, we estimated fair value based on the number of shares of
Genuity we would own, assuming the exercise of the contingent con-
version right, and the market value of Genuity common stock.

C&W/NTL
Prior  to  2000,  we  transferred  our  interests  in  cable  television  and
telecommunications  operations  in  the  United  Kingdom  to  CWC  in
exchange for an 18.5% ownership interest in CWC, an international
telecommunications  service  provider.  In  May  2000,  C&W,  NTL  and
CWC  completed  a  restructuring  of  CWC.  Under  the  terms  of  the
restructuring,  CWC’s  consumer  cable  telephone,  television  and
Internet  operations  were  separated  from  its  corporate,  business,
Internet  protocol  and  wholesale  operations.  Once  separated,  the
consumer operations were acquired by NTL and the other operations

50

were acquired by C&W. In connection with the restructuring, we, as a
shareholder in CWC, received shares in the two acquiring companies,
representing  approximately  9.1%  of  the  NTL  shares  outstanding  at
the time and approximately 4.6% of the C&W shares outstanding at
the  time.  Based  on  this  level  of  ownership,  our  investments  in  NTL
and C&W have been accounted for under the cost method. See Note
8  for  information  regarding  a  gain  on  the  restructuring  of  CWC  and
declines  in  market  value  of  our  C&W  and  NTL  investments  consid-
ered other than temporary. During 2002, we sold all of our investment
in C&W (see Note 8 for additional information) and NTL.

TCNZ
TCNZ is the principal provider of telecommunications services in New
Zealand. During 2002, we sold nearly all of our investment in TCNZ
(see Note 8 for additional information).

Agreement with MFN
On March 6, 2000, we invested approximately $1.7 billion in MFN, a
domestic and international provider of dedicated fiber optic networks
in major metropolitan markets. This investment included $715 million
to acquire what was at that time approximately 9.5% of the equity of
MFN through the purchase of newly issued shares at $14 per share
(after  two-for-one  stock  split).  We  also  purchased  approximately
$975 million in subordinated debt securities convertible at our option,
upon receipt of necessary government approvals, into MFN common
stock at a conversion price of $17 per share (after two-for-one stock
split)  or  an  additional  9.6%  of  the  equity  of  MFN  (based  on  shares
outstanding at that time). This investment completed a portion of our
previously  announced  agreement,  as  amended,  with  MFN,  which
included  the  acquisition  of  approximately  $350  million  of  long-term
capacity  on  MFN’s  fiber  optic  networks,  beginning  in  1999  through
2002. Of the $350 million, $105 million was paid in October 2000 and
$95 million was paid in 2001. In 2001, we renegotiated several signif-
icant terms of our MFN investment and commitments, in connection
with  a  new  financing  arrangement.  Pursuant  to  that  financing
arrangement, we purchased $50 million of senior secured convertible
notes  that  are  convertible  into  MFN  common  stock  at  a  conversion
price of $.53 per share. This new financing arrangement also repriced
$500 million of the subordinated convertible notes purchased in 2000
at  a  conversion  price  of  $3  per  share  (from  $17  per  share).
Furthermore, the remaining obligations under the long-term capacity
agreement of $115 million were to be satisfied through purchases in
the amount of $90 million in 2002, $10 million in 2003 and 2004, and
$5 million in 2005.

During 2002, we wrote off our remaining investment and other finan-
cial  statement  exposure  related  to  MFN  primarily  as  a  result  of  its
deteriorating financial condition and related defaults. See Note 8 for
information  regarding  declines  in  market  value  of  our  MFN  invest-
ment considered other than temporary. In April 2002, we delivered a
notice of termination to MFN with respect to the long-term capacity
agreement. In addition, subsequent to MFN’s filing for bankruptcy, in
September  2002,  we  sold  all  of  our  subordinated  convertible  notes
and  equity  interest  in  MFN.  In  November  2002,  we  received  funds
from  MFN  in  partial  satisfaction  of  the  $50  million  senior  secured
convertible notes and released our related security interest. The prin-
cipal  amount  of  the  senior  secured  convertible  notes  remaining
outstanding is approximately $11 million.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Other Cost Investees
Other  cost  investments  include  a  variety  of  domestic  and  interna-
tional investments primarily involved in providing telecommunication
services.

NOTE 11

MINORITY INTEREST

Minority interests in equity of subsidiaries were as follows:

At December 31,

Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries*:

Wireless joint venture (see Note 6)
Cellular partnerships and other
Iusacell (39.4% and 39.4%)
TELPRI (52% and 40%)
CTI Holdings, S.A. (47.8% and 65.3%)
Preferred securities issued by subsidiaries

(dollars in millions)
2001

2002

$ 22,018
1,544
84
276
–
219
$ 24,141

$ 21,243
329
234
–
124
219
$ 22,149

*Indicated ownership percentages are Verizon’s consolidated interests.

Cellular Partnerships and Other
The increase in cellular partnerships in 2002 is primarily related to the
Price transaction (see Note 6).

Iusacell
Iusacell is a wireless telecommunications company in Mexico. Since
we appoint a majority of the members of its Board of Directors, we
consolidate Iusacell.

In November 2001, Iusacell completed a $100 million rights offering
to holders of outstanding stock. We purchased a prorata interest for
$37 million, Vodafone purchased a prorata interest for $35 million and
the  public  purchased  $19  million.  Verizon  purchased  the  additional
shares the public elected not to purchase for $9 million. As a result of
this  transaction,  our  ownership  percentage  in  Iusacell  increased  to
39.4% in 2001.

TELPRI
TELPRI provides local, wireless, long-distance, paging and Internet-
access services in Puerto Rico. During 2002, we exercised our option
to purchase additional equity in TELPRI, which increased our owner-
ship percentage to 52%. As a result, Verizon changed the accounting
for its investment in Puerto Rico from the equity method to full con-
solidation,  effective  January  1,  2002.  See  Note  10  for  additional
information on the ownership change.

CTI
In  2001,  we  recorded  a  pretax  charge  of  $637  million  ($637  million
after-tax)  related  to  our  investment  in  CTI  Holdings,  S.A.  (CTI),  our
cellular  subsidiary  in  Argentina.  Given  the  status  of  the  Argentinean
economy, the devaluation of the Argentinean peso as well as future
economic  prospects,  including  a  worsening  of  the  recession,  we
recorded  this  estimated  loss  based  on  CTI’s  financial  position  and
revised  expected  results  of  operations.  This  loss  was  an  estimation
since the Argentinean economy deteriorated very rapidly at year-end
and was continuing to reflect instability. We noted this estimated loss
might not be sufficient when our assessment of the economic impact
on CTI, as well as the structure and nature of our continuing involve-
ment in CTI, was completed.

During the 2002, we recorded a pretax loss of $230 million ($190 mil-
lion after-tax) to fair value due to the other than temporary decline in
the fair value of our remaining investment in CTI.

As  a  result  of  the  2002  charge  and  the  charge  recorded  in  2001,
our financial exposure related to our equity investment in CTI has
been eliminated.

On March 28, 2002, Verizon transferred 5.5 million of its shares in CTI
to an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon and subsequently
transferred ownership of that subsidiary to a newly created trust for
CTI  employees.  This  decreased  Verizon’s  ownership  percentage  in
CTI from 65% to 48%. We also reduced our representation on CTI’s
Board of Directors from five of nine members to four of nine (subse-
quently reduced to one of five members). As a result of these actions
that surrender control of CTI, we changed our method of accounting
for this investment from consolidation to the equity method. On June
3,  2002,  as  a  result  of  an  option  exercised  by  Telfone  (BVI)  Limited
(Telfone), a CTI shareholder, Verizon acquired approximately 5.3 mil-
lion  additional  CTI  shares.  Also  on  June  3,  2002,  we  transferred
ownership of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon that held 5.4 mil-
lion  CTI  shares  to  a  second  independent  trust  leaving  us  with  an
approximately 48% non-controlling interest in CTI. Since we have no
remaining investment in CTI or other future commitments or plans to
fund  CTI’s  operations,  in  accordance  with  the  accounting  rules  for
equity  method  investments,  we  are  no  longer  recording  operating
income or losses related to CTI’s operations.

51

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 12 

LEASING ARRANGEMENTS 

As Lessor
We are the lessor in leveraged and direct financing lease agreements
under  which  commercial  aircraft  and  power  generating  facilities,
which  comprise  the  majority  of  the  portfolio,  along  with  industrial
equipment,  real  estate  property,  telecommunications  and  other
equipment are leased for remaining terms of less than 1 year to 45
years  as  of  December  31,  2002.  Minimum  lease  payments  receiv-
able  represent  unpaid  rentals,  less  principal  and  interest  on
third-party  nonrecourse  debt  relating  to  leveraged  lease  transac-
tions. Since we have no general liability for this debt, which holds a
senior  security  interest  in  the  leased  equipment  and  rentals,  the
related principal and interest have been offset against the minimum
lease  payments  receivable  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting  principles.  All  recourse  debt  is  reflected  in  our  consoli-
dated  balance  sheets.  See  Note  4  for  a  discussion  of  an  aircraft
lease impairment charge.

Finance lease receivables, which are included in Prepaid Expenses and Other and Other Assets in our consolidated balance sheets are com-
prised of the following:

At December 31,

Minimum lease payments receivable
Estimated residual value
Unearned income

Allowance for doubtful accounts
Finance lease receivables, net
Current
Noncurrent

Leveraged
Leases

$ 3,881
2,556
(2,426)
$ 4,011

Direct
Finance
Leases

$

$

260
35
(41)
254

2002

Total

$ 4,141
2,591
(2,467)
4,265
(214)
$ 4,051
$
49
$ 4,002

Leveraged
Leases

$ 3,645
2,499
(2,355)
$ 3,789

Direct
Finance
Leases

$

$

321
42
(47)
316

(dollars in millions)
2001

Total

$ 3,966
2,541
(2,402)
4,105
(53)
$ 4,052
$
71
$ 3,981

Accumulated  deferred  taxes  arising  from  leveraged  leases,  which  are  included  in  Deferred  Income  Taxes,  amounted  to  $3,282  million  at
December 31, 2002 and $3,079 million at December 31, 2001.

As Lessor
The following table is a summary of the components of income from
leveraged leases:

Years Ended December 31,

Pretax lease income
Income tax expense/(benefit)
Investment tax credits

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$

110 $

17
3

64 $
(32)
3

135
46
3

The future minimum lease payments to be received from noncance-
lable leases, net of nonrecourse loan payments related to leveraged
and  direct  financing  leases  in  excess  of  debt  service  requirements,
for the periods shown at December 31, 2002, are as follows: 

Years

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Thereafter
Total

Capital Leases

(dollars in millions)
Operating Leases

$

185
142
161
108
120
3,425
$ 4,141

$

$

35
30
25
22
16
49
177

52

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

As Lessee 
We  lease  certain  facilities  and  equipment  for  use  in  our  operations
under  both  capital  and  operating  leases.  Total  rent  expense  under
operating leases amounted to $1,304 million in 2002, $1,282 million
in 2001 and $1,052 million in 2000.

Capital lease amounts included in plant, property and equipment are
as follows:

At December 31,

Capital leases
Accumulated amortization
Total

2002

544
(368)
176

$

$

(dollars in millions)
2001

$

$

482
(263)
219

The  aggregate  minimum  rental  commitments  under  noncancelable
leases for the periods shown at December 31, 2002, are as follows:

Years

Capital Leases

(dollars in millions)
Operating Leases

2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Thereafter
Total minimum rental commitments
Less interest and executory costs
Present value of minimum lease payments
Less current installments
Long-term obligation at December 31, 2002

$

$

75
89
31
24
19
93
331
(90)
241
(54)
187

$

825
739
643
698
353
1,047
$ 4,305

As of December 31, 2002, the total minimum sublease rentals to be
received in the future under noncancelable operating and capital sub-
leases were $38 million and $4 million, respectively.

NOTE 13

DEBT

Debt Maturing Within One Year
Debt maturing within one year is as follows:

At December 31,

Notes payable

Commercial paper
Bank loans
Short-term notes

Long-term debt maturing within one year
Total debt maturing within one year
Weighted-average interest rates for 

(dollars in millions)
2001

2002

$ 2,057
40
4
7,187
$ 9,288

$ 12,781
39
12
5,837
$ 18,669

notes payable outstanding at year-end

1.4%

2.1%

Capital  expenditures  (primarily  construction  of  telephone  plant)  are
partially  financed,  pending  long-term  financing,  through  bank  loans
and the issuance of commercial paper payable within 12 months.

At December 31, 2002, we had approximately $7.9 billion of unused
bank  lines  of  credit.  Certain  of  these  lines  of  credit  contain  require-
ments for the payment of commitment fees.

Assets of Iusacell, totaling approximately $1,073 million at December
31, 2002, are subject to lien under credit facilities with certain bank
lenders, equipment suppliers and other financial institutions.

53

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Long-Term Debt
Outstanding long-term debt obligations are as follows:

At December 31,

Notes payable

Interest Rates %

Maturities

2002

(dollars in millions)
2001

1.5 – 14.98

2003 – 2032

$ 17,789

$ 18,377

Telephone subsidiaries – debentures and first/refunding mortgage bonds

2.00 – 7.00
7.15 – 7.75
7.85 – 9.67

2003 – 2042
2006 – 2033
2010 – 2031

Other subsidiaries – debentures and other

6.36 – 14.50

2003 – 2028

13,492
3,315
2,288

4,895

11,408
3,590
2,383

5,062

Zero-coupon convertible notes, 

net of unamortized discount of $2,293 and $2,386

3.0% yield

2021

3,149

3,056

Employee stock ownership plan loans:

GTE guaranteed obligations
NYNEX debentures

9.73
9.55

2005
2010

Capital lease obligations (average rate 8.2% and 9.4%) 

and other lease-related debt (average rate 4.8% and 4.8%)

Exchangeable notes, net of unamortized discount of $90 and $146

4.25  –  5.75

2003 – 2005

Property sale holdbacks held in escrow, vendor financing and other

1.75  –  6.00

2003 – 2005

Unamortized discount, net of premium
Total long-term debt, including current maturities
Less: debt maturing within one year
Total long-term debt

222
203

1,269

5,204

241

311
230

1,392

5,744

39

(89)
51,978
(7,187)
$ 44,791

(98)
51,494
(5,837)
$ 45,657

Telephone Subsidiaries’ Debt
The telephone subsidiaries’ debentures outstanding at December 31,
2002 include $273 million that are callable. The call prices range from
100% to 103.6% of face value, depending upon the remaining term
to  maturity  of  the  issue.  Our  refunding  mortgage  bond  issuance  of
$100  million  is  also  callable  as  of  December  31,  2002.  Of  this  total
callable amount of $373 million, we expect to call $273 million in the
first half of 2003. In addition, our refunding mortgage bond issuance
and first mortgage bonds of $393 million are secured by certain tele-
phone operations assets.

Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes
In May 2001, Verizon Global Funding Corp. (Verizon Global Funding)
issued  approximately  $5.4  billion  in  principal  amount  at  maturity  of
zero-coupon convertible notes due 2021, resulting in gross proceeds
of approximately $3 billion. The notes are convertible into shares of
our common stock at an initial price of $69.50 per share if the closing
price  of  Verizon  common  stock  on  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange
exceeds  specified  levels  or  in  other  specified  circumstances.  The
conversion price increases by at least 3% a year. The initial conver-
sion price represents a 25% premium over the May 8, 2001 closing
price of $55.60 per share. There are no scheduled cash interest pay-
ments associated with the notes. The zero-coupon convertible notes
are callable by Verizon Global Funding on or after May 15, 2006. In
addition,  the  notes  are  redeemable  at  the  option  of  the  holders  on
May 15th in each of the years 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2016.

Exchangeable Notes
In 1998, Verizon Global Funding issued $2,455 million of 5.75% sen-
ior exchangeable notes due on April 1, 2003 (the 5.75% Notes). The
5.75% Notes are exchangeable into 437.1 million ordinary shares of
TCNZ stock at the option of the holder, beginning on September 1,
1999. The exchange price was established at a 20% premium to the
TCNZ share price at the pricing date of the offering. Upon exchange
by investors, we retain the option to settle in cash or by delivery of
TCNZ shares. During the period from April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002,
the 5.75% Notes were callable at our option at 102.3% of the princi-
pal  amount  and,  thereafter  and  prior  to  maturity  at  101.15%.  As  of
December 31, 2002, $8,000 in principal amount of the 5.75% Notes
has been delivered for exchange.

Also in 1998, Verizon Global Funding issued $3,180 million of 4.25%
senior exchangeable notes due on September 15, 2005 (the 4.25%
Notes).  When  issued,  the  4.25%  Notes  were  exchangeable  into
277.6 million ordinary shares of CWC stock at the option of the holder
beginning on July 1, 2002. The exchange price was established at a
28%  premium  to  the  CWC  share  price  at  the  pricing  date  of  the
offering.  The  4.25%  Notes  were  issued  at  a  discount,  and  as  of
December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, the 4.25% Notes had
a carrying value of $2,749 million and $3,289 million, respectively. In
connection with a restructuring of CWC in 2000 described in Notes
8 and 10 and the bankruptcy of NTL in 2002, the 4.25% Notes are
now exchangeable into 106 million shares of C&W and a combina-

54

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

tion  of  shares  and  warrants  in  the  reorganized  NTL  entities.  The
4.25%  Notes  are  redeemable  at  our  option,  beginning  September
15, 2002, at escalating prices from 104.2% to 108.0% of the princi-
pal amount. If the 4.25% Notes are not called or exchanged prior to
maturity, they will be redeemable at 108.0% of the principal amount
at that time. During 2002, we recorded the extinguishment of $573
million of the 4.25% Notes.

The 5.75% Notes and the 4.25% Notes are indexed to the fair mar-
ket  value  of  the  exchange  property 
into  which  they  are
exchangeable.  If  the  fair  market  value  of  the  exchange  property
exceeds the exchange price established at the offering date, a mark-
to-market  adjustment  is  recorded,  recognizing  an  increase  in  the
carrying value of the debt obligation and a charge to income. If the
fair  market  value  of  the  exchange  property  subsequently  declines,
the  debt  obligation  is  reduced  (but  not  to  less  than  the  amortized
carrying value of the notes).

At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the exchange prices of each of the
5.75% Notes and the 4.25% Notes exceeded the fair market value of
the  exchange  property.  Consequently,  the  notes  were  recorded  at
their  amortized  carrying  value  with  no  mark-to-market  adjustments.
The  decrease  in  the  debt  obligation  in  2000  of  $664  million  was
recorded as an increase to income in 2000 ($431 million after-tax).

On February 4, 2003, Verizon Global Funding, the issuer of the 4.25%
Notes, exercised its right under the indenture to redeem all of the out-
standing  4.25%  Notes  on  March  15,  2003.  The  cash  redemption
price  for  the  4.25%  Notes  is  $1,048.29  for  each  $1,000  principal
amount  of  the  notes.  A  holder  of  4.25%  Notes  that  exercises  an
exchange  right  will  receive  a  cash  settlement  of  $1,000  for  each
$1,000 principal amount of the notes. As of December 31, 2002, the
principal  amount  of  4.25%  Notes  outstanding,  before  unamortized
discount, was $2,839 million.

Support Agreements 
All  of  Verizon  Global  Funding’s  debt  has  the  benefit  of  Support
Agreements between us and Verizon Global Funding, which guaran-
tee  payment  of  interest,  premium  (if  any)  and  principal  outstanding
should  Verizon  Global  Funding  fail  to  pay.  The  holders  of  Verizon
Global Funding debt do not have recourse to the stock or assets of
most of our telephone operations; however, they do have recourse to
dividends paid to us by any of our consolidated subsidiaries as well
as  assets  not  covered  by  the  exclusion.  Verizon  Global  Funding’s
long-term debt, including current portion, aggregated $19,360 million
at  December  31,  2002.  The  carrying  value  of  the  available  assets
reflected in our consolidated financial statements was approximately
$60 billion at December 31, 2002.

Maturities of Long-Term Debt
Maturities of long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 2002 are
$7.2 billion in 2003, $5.4 billion in 2004, $5.2 billion in 2005, $4.4
billion  in  2006,  $3.4  billion  in  2007  and  $26.4  billion  thereafter.
These  amounts  include  the  redeemable  debt  at  the  earliest
redemption dates.

NOTE 14

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Derivatives – Effective January 1, 2001
We  adopted  the  provisions  of  SFAS  No.  133  effective  January  1,
2001. The initial impact of adoption of SFAS No. 133 on our consoli-
dated financial statements was recorded as a cumulative effect of an
accounting  change  resulting  in  a  charge  of  $182  million  to  current
earnings and income of $110 million to other comprehensive income
(loss). The recognition of assets and liabilities was immaterial to our
financial position. The ongoing effect of SFAS No. 133 on our consol-
idated  financial  statements  will  be  determined  each  quarter  by
several  factors,  including  the  specific  hedging  instruments  in  place
and their relationships to hedged items, as well as market conditions
at the end of each period. For the years ended December 31, 2002
and 2001, we recorded charges to current earnings of $14 million and
$182 million, respectively, and gains of $12 million and losses of $43
million to other comprehensive income (loss), respectively.

Interest Rate Risk Management
We have entered into domestic interest rate swaps, to achieve a tar-
geted  mix  of  fixed  and  variable  rate  debt,  where  we  principally
receive  fixed  rates  and  pay  variable  rates  based  on  LIBOR.  These
swaps hedge against changes in the fair value of our debt portfolio.
We record the interest rate swaps at fair value in our balance sheet as
assets and liabilities and adjust debt for the change in its fair value
due  to  changes  in  interest  rates.  The  ineffective  portions  of  these
hedges at January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2001 and 2002 were
immaterial to our operating results.

Foreign Exchange Risk Management
Our  foreign  exchange  risk  management  includes  the  use  of  foreign
currency  forward  contracts  and  cross  currency  interest  rate  swaps
with foreign currency forwards. These contracts are typically used to
hedge short-term foreign currency transactions and commitments, or
to  offset  foreign  exchange  gains  or  losses  on  the  foreign  currency
obligations  and  are  designated  as  cash  flow  hedges.  The  contracts
have maturities ranging from approximately two months to four years.
We record these contracts at fair value as assets or liabilities and the
related gains or losses are deferred in shareowners’ investment as a
component of other comprehensive income (loss). We have recorded
gains of $12 million and losses of $43 million in other comprehensive
income (loss) at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Other Derivatives
Conversion Option
In 2001 and 2000, we invested a total of $1,025 million in MFN’s con-
vertible debt securities (see Note 10). The conversion options on the
MFN  debt  securities  have,  as  their  underlying  risk,  changes  in  the
MFN  stock  price.  This  risk  is  not  clearly  and  closely  related  to  the
change  in  interest  rate  risk  underlying  the  debt  securities.  Under
SFAS  No.  133  we  are  required  to  separate  the  conversion  options,
considered  embedded  derivatives,  from  the  debt  securities  in  order
to  account  for  changes  in  the  fair  value  of  the  conversion  options
separately from changes in the fair value of the debt securities. The
debt securities will retain their classification as available-for-sale with
any temporary changes to fair value being recorded to other compre-
hensive  income  (loss).  The  fair  value  of  the  conversion  options  are
recognized as assets in our balance sheet and we record the mark-

55

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

to-market adjustment in current earnings. The fair value of the debt
securities and the conversion options were recorded in Investments
in Unconsolidated Businesses in the consolidated balance sheets.

A  net  charge  of  $186  million  related  to  the  conversion  options  was
included  as  part  of  the  cumulative  effect  of  the  accounting  change
recorded  on  January  1,  2001.  A  net  charge  of  $163  million  was
recorded  as  a  mark-to-market  adjustment  for  the  year  ended
December 31, 2001. As of December 31, 2001, the value of the con-
version options in our consolidated balance sheet was approximately
$48  million.  During  2002,  we  wrote  off  the  value  of  the  conversion
options  due  to  the  other  than  temporary  decline  in  market  value  of
our  investment  in  MFN  and  recorded  the  charge  of  $48  million  in
Income (Loss) from Unconsolidated Businesses (see Note 10).

Warrants
On  October  10,  2000,  we  received  warrants  giving  us  the  right  to
obtain 3.1 million shares of Interland, Inc. common stock for an exer-
cise  price  of  $18  per  share  in  association  with  an  agreement  to
purchase an ownership interest in a business. SFAS No. 133 requires
that these warrants be recorded at fair value in the balance sheet with
mark-to-market adjustments recorded in current earnings. A gain of
$3  million  was  recorded  as  the  cumulative  effect  of  an  accounting
change on January 1, 2001. Mark-to-market adjustments were imma-
terial in 2002 and 2001.

Call Options
We previously entered into several long-term call options on our com-
mon stock to hedge our exposure to compensation expense related
to  stock-based  compensation.  Prior  to  the  adoption  of  SFAS  No.
133,  we  recognized  gains  and  losses  in  current  earnings  based  on
changes in the intrinsic values of the options caused by changes in
the underlying stock price. SFAS No. 133 requires that we record the
fair value of the options as assets and recognize the mark-to-market
adjustments  as  gains  or  losses  in  current  earnings.  As  such,  we
included income of $3 million as part of the cumulative effect of an
accounting change on January 1, 2001. We recorded charges of $15
million and $13 million as mark-to-market adjustments for the years
ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Japanese Leveraged Leases
We  previously  entered  into  several  long-term  foreign  currency  for-
ward contracts to offset foreign exchange gains or losses associated
with  Japanese  yen  denominated  capitalized  lease  payments.  In
accordance with SFAS No. 133, these contracts were designated as
effective cash flow hedges; however, late in 2000, we sold a location
which held some of the capital leased assets. The assets and corre-
sponding capital lease obligations were transferred to the purchaser
as part of the sale and, as a result, the forward contracts associated
with the sold assets no longer qualified for hedge accounting under
SFAS  No.  133.  The  nonqualifying  contracts  were  recorded  at  fair
value  with  mark-to-market  adjustments  recognized  in  current  earn-
ings  in  2001.  These  contracts  were  settled  in  2002.  We  recorded  a
charge of $4 million as part of the cumulative effect of an accounting
change on January 1, 2001. Mark-to-market adjustments were imma-
terial in 2002 and 2001.

Derivatives – Prior to January 1, 2001
Prior  to  January  1,  2001,  we  applied  several  accounting  principles
pertaining to our investments in derivatives, which have been super-

56

seded  by  SFAS  No.  133.  The  table  that  follows  provides  additional
information  about  our  risk  management  in  accordance  with  those
principles. The notional amounts shown were used to calculate inter-
est payments, foreign currencies and stock to be exchanged. These
amounts were not actually paid or received, nor were they a measure
of our potential gains or losses from market risks. They did not repre-
sent our exposure in the event of nonperformance by a counterparty
or  our  future  cash  requirements.  Our  financial  instruments  were
grouped based on the nature of the hedging activity.

At December 31, 2000

Interest Rate Swap 

Agreements

Pay fixed
Pay variable

Foreign Currency 

Contracts

Notional
Amount

Maturities

(dollars in millions)
Weighted-Average Rate
Pay
Receive

$ 270
$ 901

2001 – 2005
2001 – 2007

Various
7.0%

6.3%
Various

$ 613

2001 – 2005

Interest Rate Cap/Floor 

Agreements

$ 147

2001 – 2002

Basis Swap Agreements $ 1,001

2003 – 2004

Call Options on 

Common Stock

$

80

2001 – 2006

Interest Rate Risk Management
Interest  rate  swap  agreements,  which  sometimes  incorporated
options and interest rate caps and floors, were all used to adjust the
interest rate profile of our debt portfolio and allowed us to achieve a
targeted mix of fixed and variable rate debt. We entered into domes-
tic  interest  rate  swaps,  where  we  principally  paid  floating  rates  and
received  fixed  rates,  as  indicated  in  the  previous  table,  primarily
based  on  six-month  LIBOR.  At  December  31,  2000,  the  six-month
LIBOR was 6.2%.

Foreign Exchange Risk Management
Our  foreign  exchange  risk  management  included  the  use  of  foreign
currency  forward  contracts,  options  and  foreign  currency  swaps.
Forward contracts and options called for the sale or purchase, or the
option  to  sell  or  purchase,  certain  foreign  currencies  on  a  specified
future date. These contracts were typically used to hedge short-term
foreign currency transactions and commitments, or to offset foreign
exchange  gains  or  losses  on  the  foreign  currency  obligations.  The
contracts outstanding at December 31, 2000 had maturities ranging
from approximately one month to four years.

Our  net  equity  position  in  unconsolidated  foreign  businesses  as
reported in our consolidated balance sheets totaled $5,386 million at
December 31, 2000. Our most significant investments at December
31, 2000 had operations in Italy, Venezuela and Canada.

Our equity income is subject to exchange rate fluctuations when our
equity  investees  have  balances  denominated  in  currencies  other 
than the investees’ functional currency. We recognized losses of $2
million  in  2000  related  to  such  fluctuations  in  Income  (Loss)  from
Unconsolidated  Businesses.  In  2000,  our  consolidated  subsidiaries
recognized a net loss of $23 million related to balances denominated
in currencies other than their functional currencies.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

We  continually  monitor  the  relationship  between  gains  and  losses
recognized on all of our foreign currency contracts and on the under-
lying transactions being hedged to mitigate market risk.

NOTE 15

SHAREOWNERS’ INVESTMENT

Our certificate of incorporation provides authority for the issuance of
up to 250 million shares of Series Preferred Stock, $.10 par value, in
one or more series, with such designations, preferences, rights, qual-
ifications,  limitations  and  restrictions  as  the  Board  of  Directors  may
determine.

We are authorized to issue up to 4.25 billion shares of common stock.

Common Stock Buyback Program
On March 1, 2000, our Board of Directors authorized a new two-year
share buyback program through which we may repurchase up to 80
million  shares  of  common  stock  in  the  open  market.  The  Board  of
Directors also rescinded a previous authorization to repurchase up to
$1.4  billion  in  Verizon  shares.  On  January  24,  2002,  our  Board  of
Directors approved the extension of the stock repurchase program to
the earlier of the date on which the aggregate number of shares pur-
chased  under  the  program  after  March  1,  2000  reaches  80  million
shares, or the close of business on February 29, 2004. All other terms
of the prior resolutions dated March 1, 2000 remain in full force and
effect.  Through  December  31,  2002,  we  repurchased  36  million
Verizon common shares, principally under this program.

Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that subject us to concentrations of credit risk
consist  primarily  of  temporary  cash  investments,  short-term  and
long-term  investments,  trade  receivables,  certain  notes  receivable
including lease receivables, preferred stock, and derivative contracts.
Our  policy  is  to  place  our  temporary  cash  investments  with  major
financial  institutions.  Counterparties  to  our  derivative  contracts  are
also major financial institutions and organized exchanges. The finan-
cial institutions have all been accorded high ratings by primary rating
agencies.  We  limit  the  dollar  amount  of  contracts  entered  into  with
any  one  financial  institution  and  monitor  our  counterparties’  credit
ratings. We generally do not give or receive collateral on swap agree-
ments due to our credit rating and those of our counterparties. While
we  may  be  exposed  to  credit  losses  due  to  the  nonperformance  of
our  counterparties,  we  consider  the  risk  remote  and  do  not  expect
the settlement of these transactions to have a material effect on our
results of operations or financial condition.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The tables that follow provide additional information about our mate-
rial financial instruments:

Financial Instrument

Valuation Method

Cash and cash equivalents and 

Carrying amounts

short-term investments

Short- and long-term debt 

(excluding capital leases and 
exchangeable notes)

Market quotes for similar terms and
maturities or future cash flows
discounted at current rates

Exchangeable notes

Market quotes

Cost investments in unconsolidated 
businesses and notes receivable 

Future cash flows discounted at

current rates, market quotes for
similar instruments or other
valuation models

At December 31,

Short- and long-term debt
Exchangeable notes
Cost investments in 

unconsolidated businesses

Notes receivable, net

2002
Fair
Value

(dollars in millions)
2001
Fair
Value

Carrying
Amount

Carrying
Amount

$ 48,634
5,204

$ 51,685
5,239

$ 58,303
5,744

$ 58,613
5,678

202
175

202
175

3,390
1,299

3,390
1,299

The decrease in our cost investments in unconsolidated businesses
resulted  primarily  from  declines  in  the  market  values  of  our  invest-
ments in Genuity, C&W, MFN and the sale of nearly all of our interest
in  C&W  and  TCNZ,  as  previously  discussed.  The  decrease  in  notes
receivable,  net  resulted  primarily  from  the  loss  recorded  on  our
investment in Genuity’s notes.

57

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 16

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table is a reconciliation of the numerators and denomi-
nators used in computing earnings per share:

Certain outstanding options to purchase shares were not included in
the  computation  of  diluted  earnings  per  common  share  because  to
do so would have been anti-dilutive for the period, including approx-
imately  228  million  shares  during  2002,  116  million  shares  during
2001 and 85 million shares during 2000.

Years Ended December 31,

(dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
2002
2000

2001

The  diluted  earnings  per  share  calculation  considers  the  assumed
conversion of an exchangeable equity interest (see Note 6).

Net Income Used For Basic Earnings 

Per Common Share

Income before extraordinary items and 

NOTE 17

cumulative effect of accounting change

$

4,584

$

590

$ 10,810

STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

Redemption of subsidiary 

preferred stock

Income available to common shareowners

before extraordinary items and 
cumulative effect of accounting change

Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting 

change, net of tax
Net income available to 
common shareowners

Net Income Used For Diluted Earnings 

Per Common Share

Income before extraordinary items and 

–

–

(10)

4,584
(9)

590
(19)

10,800
1,027

(496)

(182)

(40)

$

4,079

$

389

$ 11,787

We  have  stock-based  compensation  plans,  which  permit  the
issuance of stock-based instruments, including fixed stock options,
performance-based shares, restricted stock and phantom shares. We
recognize no compensation expense for our fixed stock option plans.
Compensation  expense  charged  to  income  for  our  performance-
based share plans was $34 million in 2002, $66 million in 2001 and
$101  million  in  2000.  If  we  had  elected  to  recognize  compensation
expense based on the fair value at the date of grant for the fixed and
performance-based  plan  awards  consistent  with  the  provisions  of
SFAS No. 123, net income and earnings per share would have been
changed to the pro forma amounts below:

cumulative effect of accounting change

$

4,584

$

590

$ 10,810

–

7

–

–

(10)

–

Years Ended December 31,

Net income (loss) available 
to common shareowners

Diluted earnings 
(loss) per share

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
2000

2002

2001

As reported
Pro forma

$ 4,079
3,612

$ 389 $ 11,787
11,445

(109)

As reported
Pro forma

$

1.49
1.32

$

.14 $
(.04)

4.31
4.19

We  determined  the  pro  forma  amounts  using  the  Black-Scholes
option-pricing  model  based  on  the  following  weighted-average
assumptions:

Dividend yield
Expected volatility
Risk-free interest rate
Expected lives (in years)

2002

2001

2000

3.2%

2.7%

3.3%

28.5
4.6
6

29.1
4.8
6

27.5
6.2
6

The  weighted-average  value  of  options  granted  during  2002,  2001
and 2000 was $12.11, $15.24 and $13.09, respectively.

Redemption of subsidiary 

preferred stock

After-tax minority interest expense related 

to exchangeable equity interest

Income available to common shareowners

before extraordinary items and cumulative 
effect of accounting change – after 
assumed conversion of dilutive securities

Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting 

change, net of tax

Net income available to common 
shareowners after assumed 
conversion of dilutive securities

Basic Earnings Per Common Share
Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic 
Income before extraordinary items and 

cumulative effect of accounting change

Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting 

change, net of tax

Net income

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
Weighted-average shares outstanding
Effect of dilutive securities:

Stock options
Exchangeable equity interest
Weighted-average shares – diluted
Income before extraordinary items and 

cumulative effect of accounting change

Extraordinary items, net of tax
Cumulative effect of accounting 

change, net of tax

Net income

58

4,591
(9)

590
(19)

10,800
1,027

(496)

(182)

(40)

$

4,086

$

389

$ 11,787

2,729

2,710

2,713

1.67
–

(.18)
1.49

$

$

.22
(.01)

(.07)
.14

$

$

3.98
.37

(.01)
4.34

2,729

2,710

2,713

6
10
2,745

20
–
2,730

1.67
–

(.18)
1.49

$

$

.22
(.01)

(.07)
.14

$

$

24
–
2,737

3.95
.37

(.01)
4.31

$

$

$

$

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Our stock incentive plans are described below:

Fixed Stock Option Plans
We  have  fixed  stock  option  plans  for  substantially  all  employees.
Options to purchase common stock were granted at a price equal to
the market price of the stock at the date of grant. The options gener-
ally vest over three years and have a maximum term of ten years.

This table summarizes our fixed stock option plans:

Stock Options
(in thousands)

Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding, January 1, 2000

Granted
Exercised
Canceled/forfeited

Outstanding, December 31, 2000

Granted
Exercised
Canceled/forfeited

Outstanding, December 31, 2001

Granted
Exercised
Canceled/forfeited

Outstanding, December 31, 2002

Options exercisable, December 31,

2000
2001
2002

156,164
98,022
(14,663)
(6,955)
232,568
34,217
(15,358)
(6,219)
245,208
31,206
(7,417)
(7,560)
261,437

111,021
131,924
162,620

$ 42.76
48.93
35.57
51.39
45.58
55.93
35.64
47.82
47.60
48.57
28.15
43.62
48.32

40.97
45.29
48.37

The following table summarizes information about fixed stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2002:

$

Range of
Exercise Prices

20.00 – 29.99
30.00 – 39.99
40.00 – 49.99
50.00 – 59.99
60.00 – 69.99
Total

Shares
(in thousands)

Weighted-Average
Remaining Life

Stock Options Outstanding
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price

Stock Options Exercisable
Weighted-Average
Shares
Exercise Price
(in thousands)

8,534
29,069
109,507
112,359
1,968
261,437

1.71 years
3.79
7.46
7.03
6.77
6.68

$

26.09
34.84
45.34
56.15
62.15
48.32

8,502
28,823
36,513
86,854
1,928
162,620

$

26.08
34.82
45.29
56.02
62.49
48.37

Performance-Based Shares
Performance-based  share  programs  provided  for  the  granting  of
awards  to  certain  key  employees  of  the  former  Bell  Atlantic,  which
are now fully vested. Certain key employees of the former GTE par-
ticipated  in  the  Equity  Participation  Program  (EPP).  Under  EPP,  a
portion  of  their  cash  bonuses  were  deferred  and  held  in  restricted
stock units for a minimum of three years. Effective January 1, 2002,
all distributions from the EPP will be paid in cash. In 2000, certain key
Verizon employees were granted restricted stock units that vest over
a three to five year period.

The number of shares accrued for the performance-based share pro-
grams  was  2,861,000,  4,507,000,  and  4,387,000  at  December  31,
2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

Accounting Change – Stock Options
In  December  2002,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS  No.  148,  “Accounting  for
Stock-Based  Compensation  –  Transition  and  Disclosure.”  This  state-
ment  amends  SFAS  No.  123,  “Accounting  for  Stock-Based
Compensation,” to provide alternative methods of transition for a vol-
untary  change  to  the  fair  value  based  method  of  accounting  for

stock-based  employee  compensation.  In  addition,  this  statement
amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 to require promi-
nent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about
the  method  of  accounting  for  stock-based  employee  compensation
and the effect of the method used on reported results. This statement
permits  two  additional  transition  methods  (modified  prospective  and
retroactive restatement) for entities that adopt the preferable method of
accounting for stock-based employee compensation.

Effective January 1, 2003 we adopted the fair value recognition pro-
visions of SFAS No. 123, using the prospective method, for all new
awards  granted  to  employees  after  January  1,  2003.  Under  the
prospective  method,  employee  compensation  expense  in  the  first
year will be recognized for new awards granted, modified, or settled.
However,  in  subsequent  years,  the  vesting  of  awards  issued  on  or
after January 1, 2003 may cause an increase in employee compen-
sation expense. We estimate the impact in 2003 will be approximately
$.01 to $.02 per diluted share.

Beginning  in  2003,  stock  option  grants  to  some  levels  of  manage-
ment  will  be  reduced,  and  accompanied  by  performance-based
share awards.

59

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 18

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

We maintain noncontributory defined benefit pension plans for sub-
stantially  all  employees.  The  postretirement  health  care  and  life
insurance plans for our retirees and their dependents are both con-
tributory  and  noncontributory  and  include  a  limit  on  the  company’s
share of cost for certain recent and future retirees. We also sponsor
defined contribution savings plans to provide opportunities for eligi-
ble employees to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
Pension  and  other  postretirement  benefits  for  the  majority  of  our
employees  are  subject  to  collective  bargaining  agreements.
Modifications in benefits have been bargained from time to time, and
we  may  also  periodically  amend  the  benefits  in  the  management
plans. At December 31, 2002, shares of our common stock accounted
for less than 1% of the assets held in the pension and postretirement
benefit trusts.

The following tables summarize benefit costs, as well as the benefit obligations, plan assets, funded status and rate assumptions associated
with pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefit plans.

Benefit Cost

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Amortization of transition asset
Amortization of prior service cost
Actuarial loss (gain), net
Net periodic benefit (income) cost
Termination benefits
Settlement loss (gain)
Curtailment (gain) loss and other, net
Subtotal
Total (income) cost

$

718
2,488
(4,883)
(109)
(4)
(707)
(2,497)
286
237
314
837
$ (1,660)

$

665
2,490
(4,811)
(112)
(44)
(878)
(2,690)
813
35
(6)
842
$ (1,848)

Pension
2000

$

612
2,562
(4,686)
(127)
(66)
(623)
(2,328)
–
(911)
(250)
(1,161)
$ (3,489)

2002

$

126
1,066
(476)
2
(89)
70
699
21
–
441
462
$ 1,161

(dollars in millions)
Health Care and Life
2000
2001

$

$

128
965
(461)
–
(26)
(78)
528
–
–
–
–
528

$

$

121
909
(441)
–
(28)
(124)
437
–
–
(43)
(43)
394

Assumptions
The actuarial assumptions used are based on market interest rates, past experience, and management’s best estimate of future economic con-
ditions.  Changes  in  these  assumptions  may  impact  future  benefit  costs  and  obligations.  As  of  December  31,  2002,  Verizon  changed  key
employee benefit plan assumptions in response to current conditions in the securities markets and medical and prescription drug costs trends.
The expected rate of return on pension plan assets has been changed from 9.25% in 2002 to 8.50% in 2003 and the expected rate of return
on other postretirement benefit plan assets has been changed from 9.10% in 2002 to 8.50% in 2003. The discount rate assumption has been
lowered from 7.25% in 2002 to 6.75% in 2003 and the medical cost trend rate assumption has been increased from 10.00% in 2002 to 11.00%
in 2003. The weighted-average assumptions used in determining expense and benefit obligations are as follows:

Discount rate at end of year
Long-term rate of return on plan assets for the year
Rate of future increases in compensation at end of year
Medical cost trend rate at end of year
Ultimate (year 2007)

2002

2001

6.75%
9.25
5.00

7.25%
9.25
5.00

Pension
2000

7.75%
9.25
5.00

2002

6.75%
9.10
4.00
11.00
5.00

Health Care and Life
2000
2001

7.25%
9.10
4.00
10.00
5.00

7.75%
9.10
4.00
5.00
5.00

The medical cost trend rate significantly affects the reported postretirement benefit costs and obligations. A one-percentage-point change in
the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects:

One-Percentage-Point

Effect on 2002 total service and interest cost
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 2002

Increase

$

103
1,275

(dollars in millions)
Decrease

$

(85)
(1,060)

60

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

At December 31,

Benefit Obligation
Beginning of year
Service cost
Interest cost
Plan amendments
Actuarial loss, net
Benefits paid
Termination benefits
Acquisitions and divestitures, net
Settlements and curtailments
Other
End of year
Fair Value of Plan Assets
Beginning of year
Actual return on plan assets
Company contributions
Benefits paid
Settlements
Acquisitions and divestitures, net
End of year
Funded Status
End of year

Unrecognized

Actuarial (gain) loss, net
Prior service (benefit) cost
Transition asset
Net amount recognized
Amounts recognized on the balance sheet
Prepaid pension cost (in Other Assets)
Employee benefit obligation
Other assets
Minority interest
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Net amount recognized

Changes  in  benefit  obligations  were  caused  by  factors  including
changes in actuarial assumptions (see “Assumptions”), acquisitions,
and special termination benefits. In 2002 and 2001, Verizon reduced
its  workforce  using  its  employee  severance  plans  (see  Note  4).
Additionally,  in  2002,  2001  and  2000,  several  of  the  pension  plans’
lump  sum  pension  distributions  surpassed  the  settlement  threshold
equal  to  the  sum  of  service  cost  and  interest  cost  requiring  settle-
ment recognition for all cash settlements for each of those years.

In  2002,  we  recorded  an  additional  minimum  pension  liability  of
$1,342 million for the amount of excess unfunded accumulated ben-
efit  liability  over  our  accrued  liability,  as  required  by  SFAS  No.  87,
“Employers’ Accounting for Pensions.” We periodically evaluate each
pension plan to determine whether any additional minimum liability is
required. As a result of lower interest rates and lower than expected
2002 investment returns, an additional minimum pension liability was
required  for  a  small  number  of  plans.  The  increase  in  the  liability  is
recorded  as  a  charge  to  Accumulated  Other  Comprehensive  Loss,
net of a tax benefit, in shareowners’ investment in the consolidated
balance sheets.

The majority of Verizon’s pension plans are adequately funded. Based
on the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2002, there will be
no  significant  pension  trust  contributions  required  through  2003;
however,  we  anticipate  making  required  pension  trust  contributions
of approximately $125 million in 2004.

2002

$ 36,391
718
2,488
114
2,560
(3,356)
286
885
(2,256)
78
37,908

48,558
(4,678)
157
(3,356)
(2,536)
531
38,676

768

8,295
752
(44)
9,771

$

$ 12,794
(4,540)
72
71
1,374
9,771

$

Pension
2001

$ 33,136
665
2,490
721
1,888
(3,851)
813
70
15
444
36,391

55,225
(3,063)
81
(3,851)
–
166
48,558

12,167

(4,547)
817
(160)
8,277

9,738
(1,601)
108
–
32
8,277

$

$

$

(dollars in millions)
Health Care and Life
2001

2002

$ 14,310
126
1,066
–
2,253
(1,183)
21
404
434
–
17,431

4,720
(464)
165
(429)
–
–
3,992

(13,439)

4,412
(892)
23
(9,896)

–
(9,896)
–
–
–
(9,896)

$

$

$

$ 12,397
128
965
(601)
2,394
(988)
–
15
–
–
14,310

5,236
(252)
253
(517)
–
–
4,720

(9,590)

1,121
(980)
–
(9,449)

–
(9,449)
–
–
–
(9,449)

$

$

$

Savings Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plans
We maintain four leveraged employee stock ownership plans (ESOP);
two  were  established  by  Bell  Atlantic  and  one  each  by  GTE  and
NYNEX. Under these plans, we match a certain percentage of eligible
employee contributions to the savings plans with shares of our com-
mon stock from these ESOPs. At the date of the respective mergers,
NYNEX and GTE common stock outstanding was converted to Bell
Atlantic shares using an exchange ratio of 0.768 and 1.22 per share
of Bell Atlantic common stock to one share of NYNEX and GTE com-
mon  stock,  respectively.  Common  stock  is  allocated  from  all
leveraged ESOP trusts based on the proportion of principal and inter-
est  paid  on  ESOP  debt  in  a  year  to  the  remaining  principal  and
interest  due  over  the  term  of  the  debt.  At  December  31,  2002,  the
number  of  unallocated  and  allocated  shares  of  common  stock  was
17 million and 64 million, respectively. All leveraged ESOP shares are
included in earnings per share computations.

61

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

We  recognize  leveraged  ESOP  cost  based  on  the  modified  shares
allocated method for the Bell Atlantic and GTE leveraged ESOP trusts
which  purchased  securities  before  December  15,  1989  and  the
shares allocated method for the NYNEX leveraged ESOP trust which
purchased securities after December 15, 1989.

ESOP cost and trust activity consist of the following:

Years Ended December 31,

2002

Compensation
Interest incurred
Dividends
Net leveraged ESOP cost
Additional (reduced) ESOP cost
Total ESOP cost

Dividends received for debt service

Total company contributions to 

leveraged ESOP trusts

$

$

$

$

143
30
(29)
144
120
264

80

280

$

$

$

$

(dollars in millions)
2000

2001

121
61
(36)
146
90
236

87

259

$

$

$

$

161
69
(43)
187
(19)
168

87

151

In  addition  to  the  ESOPs  described  above,  we  maintain  savings
plans  for  non-management  employees  and  employees  of  certain
subsidiaries. Compensation expense associated with these savings
plans was $212 million in 2002, $252 million in 2001 and $219 mil-
lion in 2000.

Severance Benefits
The following table provides an analysis of our ongoing severance lia-
bility recorded in accordance with SFAS No. 112:

Beginning
of Year

Charged to
Expense

Payments

(dollars in millions)
End of
Year

Other

The  following  table  shows  the  principal  reasons  for  the  difference
between  the  effective  income  tax  rate  and  the  statutory  federal
income tax rate:

Years Ended December 31,

2002

2001

2000

Statutory federal income tax rate
State and local income tax, 
net of federal tax benefits
Tax benefits (recognized)/not 

recognized on investment losses
Income (loss) from unconsolidated 

businesses

Other, net
Effective income tax rate

35.0%

35.0%

35.0%

7.9

(17.3)

(3.2)
3.7
26.1%

11.5

40.2

(11.1)
3.1
78.7%

4.3

.3

(1.2)
.9
39.3%

The decrease in our effective income tax rate in 2002 was primarily
because  tax  benefits  were  recognized  in  2002  relating  to  losses
resulting from the other than temporary decline in market value of our
investments in 2002 and prior years (see Notes 8 and 10).

Deferred  taxes  arise  because  of  differences  in  the  book  and  tax
bases  of  certain  assets  and  liabilities.  Significant  components  of
deferred tax liabilities (assets) are shown in the following table:

At December 31,

Depreciation
Employee benefits
Leasing activity
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities
Wireless joint venture
Uncollectible accounts receivable
Wireless licenses (see Note 2)
Other – net

(dollars in millions)
2001

2002

$ 7,314
(427)
3,109
(388)
7,638
(704)
1,613
(425)
17,730
661
$ 18,391

$ 6,171
(533)
3,060
(1,124)
7,287
(255)
–
(204)
14,402
1,574
$ 15,976

Year

2000
2001
2002

$

266
319
1,100

$

122
819
707

$

(11) $
(38)
(691)

(58)
–
21

$

319
1,100
1,137

Valuation allowance
Net deferred tax liability

At  December  31,  2002,  undistributed  earnings  of  our  foreign  sub-
sidiaries  amounted  to  approximately  $4.5  billion.  Deferred  income
taxes  are  not  provided  on  these  earnings  as  it  is  intended  that  the
earnings are indefinitely invested outside of the U.S. It is not practical
to  estimate  the  amount  of  taxes  that  might  be  payable  upon  the
remittance of such earnings.

The valuation allowance primarily represents the tax benefits of cer-
tain state net operating loss carry forwards and other deferred tax
assets  which  may  expire  without  being  utilized.  During  2002,  the
valuation allowance decreased $913 million. This decrease primari-
ly relates to the tax benefits recognized on the sale of investments
during 2002.

The  remaining  severance  liability  includes  future  contractual  pay-
ments to employees separated as of December 31, 2002.

NOTE 19

INCOME TAXES

The components of income tax expense from continuing operations
are as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000

2001

Current

Federal
Foreign
State and local

Deferred
Federal
Foreign
State and local

Investment tax credits
Other credits
Total income tax expense

62

$

(638)
38
496
(104)

1,476
5
256
1,737
(15)
–
$ 1,618

$

759
94
258
1,111

898
(16)
232
1,114
(49)
–
$ 2,176

$ 3,165
105
657
3,927

2,969
(60)
553
3,462
(28)
(352)
$ 7,009

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 20

SEGMENT INFORMATION

We have four reportable segments, which we operate and manage as
strategic business units and organize by products and services. We
measure  and  evaluate  our  reportable  segments  based  on  segment
income.  This  segment  income  excludes  unallocated  corporate
expenses  and  other  adjustments  arising  during  each  period.  The
other adjustments include transactions that the chief operating deci-
sion  makers  exclude  in  assessing  business  unit  performance  due
primarily  to  their  non-operational  and/or  non-recurring  nature.
Although such transactions are excluded from the business segment
results,  they  are  included  in  reported  consolidated  earnings.  Gains
and losses that are not individually significant are included in all seg-
ment  results,  since  these  items  are  included  in  the  chief  operating
decision makers’ assessment of unit performance. These are mostly
contained in International and Information Services since they actively
manage investment portfolios.

Our segments and their principal activities consist of the following:

Domestic Telecom
Domestic wireline communications services, principally representing our
telephone  operations  that  provide  local  telephone  services  in  29  states
and the District of Columbia. These services include voice and data trans-
port,  enhanced  and  custom  calling  features,  network  access,  directory
assistance,  private  lines  and  public  telephones.  This  segment  also  pro-
vides long distance services, customer premises equipment distribution,
data  solutions  and  systems  integration,  billing  and  collections,  Internet
access services and inventory management services.

Domestic Wireless
Domestic  wireless  products  and  services  include  wireless  voice  and
data services, paging services and equipment sales.

International
International wireline and wireless communications operations and invest-
ments in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

Information Services
Domestic  and  international  publishing  businesses,  including  print
SuperPages® and  electronic  SuperPages.com® directories,  as  well  as
website creation and other electronic commerce services. This segment
has operations principally in North America, Europe and Latin America.

Reportable Segments
The following table provides operating financial information for our four reportable segments:

2002

External revenues
Intersegment revenues

Total operating revenues
Depreciation & amortization
Income from unconsolidated businesses
Interest income
Interest expense
Income tax expense
Segment income
Assets
Investments in unconsolidated businesses
Capital expenditures

2001

External revenues
Intersegment revenues

Total operating revenues
Depreciation & amortization
Income from unconsolidated businesses
Interest income
Interest expense
Income tax expense 
Segment income
Assets
Investments in unconsolidated businesses
Capital expenditures

2000

External revenues
Intersegment revenues

Total operating revenues
Depreciation & amortization
Income from unconsolidated businesses
Interest income
Interest expense
Income tax (expense) benefit
Segment income
Assets
Investments in unconsolidated businesses
Capital expenditures

Domestic
Telecom

$ 40,133
579
40,712
9,433
–
50
(1,714)
(2,944)
4,387
81,017
70
6,977

$ 41,603
478
42,081
9,248
4
133
(1,787)
(3,037)
4,551
82,635
69
11,480

$ 41,576
746
42,322
8,550
35
116
(1,767)
(3,124)
4,839
78,112
24
12,119

Domestic
Wireless

$ 19,211
49
19,260
3,293
14
24
(626)
(740)
966
63,470
289
4,354

$ 17,352
41
17,393
3,709
5
12
(577)
(413)
537
60,262
285
5,006

$ 14,194
42
14,236
2,894
55
66
(617)
(345)
444
56,029
133
4,322

International

Information
Services

(dollars in millions)
Total
Segments

$

$

$

2,859
103
2,962
532
861
81
(375)
(66)
1,047
11,302
3,605
532

2,281
56
2,337
422
919
93
(439)
(31)
958
14,324
7,317
704

1,976
–
1,976
355
672
28
(398)
53
733
14,466
8,919
586

$

$

$

4,287
–
4,287
74
1
11
(35)
(794)
1,281
4,319
9
69

4,267
46
4,313
79
–
22
(39)
(892)
1,352
4,160
10
93

4,031
113
4,144
74
5
13
(25)
(788)
1,238
3,148
28
48

$ 66,490
731
67,221
13,332
876
166
(2,750)
(4,544)
7,681
160,108
3,973
11,932

$ 65,503
621
66,124
13,458
928
260
(2,842)
(4,373)
7,398
161,381
7,681
17,283

$ 61,777
901
62,678
11,873
767
223
(2,807)
(4,204)
7,254
151,755
9,104
17,075

63

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Corporate,  eliminations  and  other  includes  unallocated  corporate
expenses,  intersegment  eliminations  recorded  in  consolidation,  the
results of other businesses such as lease financing, and asset impair-
ments  and  expenses  that  are  not  allocated  in  assessing  segment
performance due to their non-recurring nature.

We generally account for intersegment sales of products and services
and asset transfers at current market prices. We are not dependent
on any single customer.

Geographic Areas
Our  foreign  investments  are  located  principally  in  Europe,  the
Americas  and  Asia.  Domestic  and  foreign  operating  revenues  are
based  on  the  location  of  customers.  Long-lived  assets  consist  of
plant, property and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation) and
investments in unconsolidated businesses. The table below presents
financial information by major geographic area:

Years Ended December 31,

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000

2001

Domestic
Operating revenues
Long-lived assets

Foreign
Operating revenues
Long-lived assets

Consolidated
Operating revenues
Long-lived assets

$ 64,356
72,726

$ 64,649
74,462

$ 62,066
71,180

3,269
6,758

2,541
10,159

2,641
11,439

67,625
79,484

67,190
84,621

64,707
82,619

Reconciliation To Consolidated Financial Information
A reconciliation of the results for the operating segments to the appli-
cable line items in the consolidated financial statements is as follows:

Operating Revenues
Total reportable segments
Genuity and GTE Government Systems 

(see Note 10)

Domestic Telecom access line sales 

(see Note 3)

Merger-related regulatory settlements 

(see Note 4)

Corporate, eliminations and other
Consolidated operating revenues – 

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000

2001

$ 67,221

$ 66,124

$ 62,678

–

623

–
(219)

–

529

997

1,787

–
69

(69)
(218)

reported

$ 67,625

$ 67,190

$ 64,707

Net Income
Segment income - reportable segments
Merger-related costs (see Note 7)
Transition costs (see Note 7)
Sales of assets and investments, 

$

7,681
–
(288)

$

7,398
–
(578)

$

7,254
(749)
(316)

net (see Notes 3 and 8)

1,895

(226)

1,987

Investment-related gains / (charges) 

(see Notes 8 and 10)

Settlement gains (see Note 4)
Mark-to-market adjustment – 

financial instruments
(see Notes 13 and 14)
Genuity loss (see Note 10)
NorthPoint investment write-off 

(see Note 4)

NorthPoint settlement (see Note 4)
Severance, pension and benefit charges 

(see Note 4)

International restructuring (see Note 4)
Other special items (see Note 4)
Extraordinary items (see Note 5)
Cumulative effect of accounting change 

(see Notes 1, 2, and 14)
Tax benefits (see Note 8)
Corporate and other
Consolidated net income – reported

$

(5,652)
–

(5,495)
–

1,941
564

(15)
–

–
(114)

(1,264)
–
(445)
(9)

(496)
2,104
682
4,079

(179)
–

–
–

(1,001)
(26)
(95)
(19)

431
(281)

(153)
–

–
(50)
(526)
1,027

(182)
–
792
389

(40)
–
708
$ 11,797

$

Assets
Total reportable segments
Reconciling items
Consolidated assets

$ 160,108
7,360
$ 167,468

$ 161,381
9,414
$ 170,795

$ 151,755
12,980
$ 164,735

64

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 21

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting shareowners’ investment that, under generally accepted
accounting principles, are excluded from net income.

Changes in the components of other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax expense (benefit), are as follows:

Years Ended December 31,

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments, net of taxes of $28, $-- and $1
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Marketable Securities
Unrealized gains (losses), net of taxes of $(129), $(403) and $(1,077)

$

Less: reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) realized in net income, 

net of taxes of $51, $(1,059) and $51

Add: reclassification of earnings due to accounting change for derivatives

Net unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities
Unrealized Derivative Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges
Cumulative effect of accounting change
Unrealized gains (losses)

Less: reclassification adjustments for gains (losses) realized in net income

Net unrealized derivative gains (losses) on cash flow hedges
Minimum Pension Liability Adjustment, net of taxes of $(491), $7 and $(13)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$

2002

220

(464)

(160)
–
(304)

–
70
58
12
(851)
(923)

2001

(dollars in millions)
2000

$

(40)

$

(262)

(2,402)

(3,351)
112
1,061

(2)
(68)
(25)
(45)
13
989

$

(1,877)

88
–
(1,965)

–
–
–
–
(24)
(2,251)

$

The reclassification adjustments for net losses realized in net income on marketable securities in 2002 and 2001 primarily relate to the other
than temporary decline in market value of certain of our investments in marketable securities. The net realized losses for 2002 are partially off-
set  by  realized  gains  on  the  sales  of  TCNZ  and  C&W.  The  net  unrealized  losses  on  marketable  securities  in  2000  primarily  relate  to  our
investments in C&W, NTL and MFN (see Note 8). The unrealized derivative gains and losses for 2002 and 2001 result from our hedges of for-
eign exchange risk (see Note 14). The increase in the minimum pension liability in 2002 was required by accounting rules for certain pension
plans based on their funded status (see Note 18).

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss are as follows:

At December 31,

Foreign currency translation adjustments
Unrealized gains on marketable securities
Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges
Minimum pension liability adjustment
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

2002

(1,228)
23
(33)
(872)
(2,110)

$

$

(dollars in millions)
2001

$

$

(1,448)
327
(45)
(21)
(1,187)

65

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

NOTE 22

ACCOUNTING FOR THE IMPACT OF THE SEPTEMBER 11,
2001 TERRORIST ATTACKS

The  primary  financial  statement  impact  of  the  September  11,  2001
terrorist attacks pertains to Verizon’s plant, equipment and adminis-
trative office space located either in, or adjacent to the World Trade
Center  complex,  and  the  associated  service  restoration  efforts.
During the year ended December 31, 2001, we recorded an estimate
of equipment losses and costs incurred associated with service dis-
ruption  and  restoration  of  $685  million.  In  addition,  we  accrued  an
insurance recovery of $400 million, resulting in a net impact of $285
million  ($172  million  after-tax)  recorded  in  Operations  and  Support
Expense in the consolidated statements of income, and also reported
by  our  Domestic  Telecom  segment.  The  costs  and  estimated  insur-
ance  recovery  were  recorded  in  accordance  with  Emerging  Issues
Task  Force  Issue  No.  01-10,  “Accounting  for  the  Impact  of  the
Terrorist  Attacks  of  September  11,  2001.”  In  2002,  we  recorded  an
additional  insurance  recovery  of  $200  million,  primarily  offsetting
fixed  asset  losses  and  expenses  incurred  in  2002  such  that  net
income  in  2002  was  not  impacted  by  the  losses  and  expenses
incurred. As of December 31, 2002, we received insurance proceeds
of $401 million.

NOTE 23

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The tables that follow provide additional financial information related
to our consolidated financial statements:

$

2002

11,927
3,422
(185)
1,565

(dollars in millions)
2000

2001

$

11,155
3,737
(368)
1,454

$

10,276
3,720
(230)
1,399

(dollars in millions)
2001

2002

$ 4,917
2,796
960
2,171
669
1,232
$ 12,745

$ 1,565
1,072
2,377
$ 5,014

$ 5,171
3,224
1,086
1,985
626
1,855
$ 13,947

$ 1,640
1,061
2,703
$ 5,404

Income Statement Information

Years Ended December 31,

Depreciation expense
Interest expense incurred
Capitalized interest
Advertising expense

Balance Sheet Information

At December 31,

Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Accrued vacation pay
Accrued salaries and wages
Interest payable
Accrued taxes

Other Current Liabilities
Advance billings and customer deposits
Dividends payable
Other

66

Cash Flow Information

Years Ended December 31,

Cash Paid
Income taxes, net of amounts refunded
Interest, net of amounts capitalized
Supplemental investing and 

financing transactions:
Assets acquired in 

business combinations

Liabilities assumed in 

business combinations

Debt assumed in 

business combinations

2002

(dollars in millions)
2000
2001

$

539 $

2,935

945 $ 3,201
3,414

3,289

2,702

3,075

6,944

1,200

37

3,667

589

215

4,387

NOTE 24

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Several  state  and  federal  regulatory  proceedings  may  require  our
telephone  operations  to  pay  penalties  or  to  refund  to  customers  a
portion  of  the  revenues  collected  in  the  current  and  prior  periods.
There are also various legal actions pending to which we are a party
and  claims  which,  if  asserted,  may  lead  to  other  legal  actions.  We
have  established  reserves  for  specific  liabilities  in  connection  with
regulatory and legal actions, including environmental matters, that we
currently deem to be probable and estimable. We do not expect that
the  ultimate  resolution  of  pending  regulatory  and  legal  matters  in
future  periods  will  have  a  material  effect  on  our  financial  condition,
but it could have a material effect on our results of operations.

On January 29, 2001, the bidding phase of the FCC reauction of 1.9
GHz  C  and  F  block  broadband  Personal  Communications  Services
spectrum licenses, which began December 12, 2000, officially ended.
Verizon  Wireless  was  the  winning  bidder  for  113  licenses.  The  total
price  of  these  licenses  was  $8,781  million,  $1,822  million  of  which
had been paid. There were no legal challenges to our qualifications to
acquire  these  licenses.  We  were  awarded  33  of  the  113  licenses  in
August 2001 and paid approximately $82 million for them. However,
the remaining licenses for which we were the high bidder have been
the subject of litigation by the original licensees, whose licenses had
been cancelled by the FCC. In March 2002, the FCC ordered a refund
of  85%  of  the  payments.  In  December  2002,  pursuant  to  an  FCC
order, we dismissed our applications for these licenses, received our
remaining payment and were relieved of all of our remaining obliga-
tions  with  respect  to  the  FCC  reauction.  On  January  27,  2003,  the
U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the FCC’s cancellation of the licenses
violated federal bankruptcy law.

In  2001,  we  agreed  to  provide  up  to  $2.0  billion  in  financing  to
Genuity with maturity in 2005 and have loaned $1,150 million of that
commitment to date, which was included in our analysis of financial
statement exposure to Genuity (see Note 10). As a result of our deci-
sion to convert all but one of our shares of Class B common stock of
Genuity into shares of Class A common stock of Genuity and relin-
quish our right to convert to a controlling interest in Genuity, we are
no longer obligated to fund the remaining commitment under the $2.0
billion agreement.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

Our  commercial  relationship  with  Level  3  Communications,  Inc.
(Level  3),  the  purchaser  of  substantially  all  of  Genuity’s  domestic
assets and the assignee of Genuity’s principal contract with us, con-
tinues  including  a  multi-year  purchase  commitment  expiring  on
December 31, 2005 for services such as dedicated Internet access,
managed web hosting, Internet security and some transport services.
Under this purchase commitment, Verizon has agreed to pay Level 3
a minimum of approximately $250 million after February 4, 2003.

Pursuant  to  an  agreement  reached  with  most  bank  lenders  to
Genuity, we agreed to subordinate our $1,150 million loan to Genuity
to the loans made by the banks to Genuity. In addition, we purchased
participation in the amount of $182 million in the loans made by the
banks to Genuity. Depending on the amounts available to pay credi-
tors  of  Genuity,  Verizon  may  or  may  not  recover  all  of  this
participation. Consequently, we recorded a charge of $182 million in
connection with losses recorded in 2002 related to our investment in
Genuity (see Note 8).

NOTE 25

QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

We  also  have  several  commitments  primarily  to  purchase  network
equipment and software from a variety of suppliers, totaling $798 mil-
lion. Of this total amount, $642 million, $140 million, $15 million and
$1  million  are  expected  to  be  purchased  in  2003,  2004,  2005  and
2006, respectively.

As  discussed  in  Note  4,  during  the  second  quarter  of  2002,  we
recorded a pretax charge of $175 million ($114 million after-tax) for a
proposed  settlement  of  the  NorthPoint  litigation.  The  lawsuit  arose
from Verizon’s decision to terminate an agreement with NorthPoint to
combine the two companies’ DSL businesses. Verizon terminated the
merger agreement due to the deterioration in NorthPoint’s business,
operations  and  financial  condition.  The  proposed  settlement  has
been approved by the bankruptcy court and paid by Verizon and the
NorthPoint  litigation  has  been  dismissed  with  prejudice.  Appeals  of
the bankruptcy court’s order were dismissed in early 2003.

(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

Quarter Ended

2002
March 31(a)
June 30(b)
September 30(c)
December 31(d)

2001
March 31
June 30(e)
September 30
December 31(f)

Operating
Revenues

Operating
Income

$ 16,375
16,835
17,201
17,214

$ 16,266
16,909
17,004
17,011

$ 3,511
2,683
6,017
2,786

$ 3,607
3,801
3,677
447

Income (Loss) Before Extraordinary Item and
Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change
Per Share-
Diluted

Per Share-
Basic

Amount

$

4
(2,118)
4,408
2,290

$ 1,754
(1,021)
1,883
(2,026)

$

$

–
(.78)
1.61
.84

.65
(.38)
.69
(.75)

$

$

–
(.78)
1.60
.83

.65
(.38)
.69
(.75)

Net Income
(Loss)

$

(501)
(2,115)
4,405
2,290

$ 1,572
(1,021)
1,875
(2,037)

(a) Results of operations for the first quarter of 2002 include a $2,026 million after-tax loss on investments.

(b) Results of operations for the second quarter of 2002 include a $3,305 million after-tax loss on investments and a $475 million after-tax charge for severance and related pension set-

tlement benefits.

(c) Results of operations for the third quarter of 2002 include a $1,550 million after-tax gain on the sale of non-strategic domestic access lines and tax benefits of $983 million related to

current and prior year investment losses.

(d) Results of operations for the fourth quarter of 2002 include tax benefits of $1,121 million related to current and prior year investment losses, partially offset by an after-tax sever-

ance, pension and benefits charge of $604 million.

(e) Results of operations for the second quarter of 2001 include a $2,926 million after-tax loss on investments. 

(f) Results of operations for the fourth quarter of 2001 include a $1,932 million after-tax loss on investments, a $1,001 million after-tax charge for severance benefits, and a $663 million

after-tax charge related to international operations, including CTI.

Income (loss) before extraordinary item and cumulative effect of accounting change per common share is computed independently for each quarter and the sum of the quarters may

not equal the annual amount.

67

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATE OFFICERS

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP

Ivan G. Seidenberg
President and 
Chief Executive Officer

Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr.
Vice Chairman and President

Dennis F. Strigl
Executive Vice President and President and
Chief Executive Officer - 
Verizon Wireless Joint Venture

Doreen A. Toben
Executive Vice President and 
Chief Financial Officer

William P. Barr
Executive Vice President and 
General Counsel

Mary Beth Bardin
Executive Vice President - 
Public Affairs and Communications

David H. Benson
Executive Vice President -
Strategy, Development and Planning

John W. Diercksen
Senior Vice President - Investor Relations

Marianne Drost
Senior Vice President, Deputy General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary

William F. Heitmann
Senior Vice President and Treasurer

John F. Killian
Senior Vice President and Controller

Joleen D. Moden
Vice President - Internal Auditing

Ezra D. Singer
Executive Vice President - 
Human Resources

Thomas A. Bartlett
President - Telecom Support

Jeannie H. Diefenderfer
President - 
Network Process Assurance - Retail

Suzanne A. DuBose
President - Verizon Foundation

Oscar C. Gomez
Vice President - 
Diversity and Business Compliance

Bruce S. Gordon
President - Retail Markets

Katherine J. Harless
President - Information Services

Shaygan Kheradpir
Chief Information Officer

Paul A. Lacouture
President - Network Services

Richard J. Lynch
Chief Technical Officer
Verizon Wireless Joint Venture

Lowell C. McAdam
Chief Operating Officer
Verizon Wireless Joint Venture

Eduardo R. Menasce
President - Enterprise Solutions

Eileen Odum
President - National Operations

Daniel C. Petri
President - International

Virginia P. Ruesterholz
President - Wholesale Markets

Thomas J. Tauke
Senior Vice President - 
Public Policy and External Affairs

Charles R. Lee
Chairman
Verizon Communications Inc.

James R. Barker
Chairman 
Interlake Steamship Co.
and Vice Chairman 
Mormac Marine Group, Inc. and 
Moran Towing Corporation

Edward H. Budd
Retired Chairman
Travelers Corporation

Richard L. Carrion
Chairman, President and 
Chief Executive Officer
Popular, Inc.
and Chairman, President and 
Chief Executive Officer, 
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Robert F. Daniell
Retired Chairman
United Technologies Corporation

Helene L. Kaplan
Of Counsel, law firm of 
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Sandra O. Moose
Senior Vice President and Director of 
The Boston Consulting Group, Inc.

Joseph Neubauer
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
ARAMARK Corporation

Thomas H. O’Brien 
Retired Chairman
The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

Russell E. Palmer
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer 
The Palmer Group

Hugh B. Price
President and Chief Executive Officer
National Urban League

Ivan G. Seidenberg
President and 
Chief Executive Officer
Verizon Communications Inc.

Walter V. Shipley 
Retired Chairman 
The Chase Manhattan Corporation

John R. Stafford
Retired Chairman
Wyeth

Robert D. Storey
Partner, law firm of 
Thompson Hine LLP

68

INVESTOR INFORMATION

Registered Shareowner Services
Questions or requests for assistance regarding changes to or
transfers of your registered stock ownership should be directed
to our transfer agent, EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. at:

Investor Services
Shareowner Newsline — For recorded earnings highlights, divi-
dend announcements and other pertinent information, you may
call our newsline at: 800 235-5595

Verizon Communications Shareowner Services
c/o EquiServe
P.O. Box 43005
Providence, RI 02940–3005
Phone 800 631-2355
Website: www.equiserve.com
Email: verizon@equiserve.com

Persons outside the U.S. may call: 816 843-4284

Persons using a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD)
may call: 800 524-9955

On-line Account Access — Registered shareowners can view
account information on-line at: www.verizon.equiserve.com

You will need your account number, a password and taxpayer iden-
tification number to enroll. For more information, contact Equiserve.

Electronic Delivery of Proxy Materials — Registered shareown-
ers can receive their Annual Report, Proxy Statement and 
Proxy Card and vote on-line, instead of receiving printed materi-
als by mail.
Enroll at www.econsent.com/vz

Direct Dividend Deposit Service — Verizon offers an electronic
funds transfer service to registered shareowners wishing 
to deposit dividends directly into checking or savings accounts 
on dividend payment dates. For more information, contact
EquiServe.

Direct Invest Stock Purchase and Ownership Plan - Verizon
offers a direct stock purchase and share ownership plan. The plan
allows current and new investors to purchase common stock and
to reinvest the dividends toward the purchase of additional 
shares. To receive a Plan Prospectus and enrollment form, contact
EquiServe or visit their website.

Corporate Governance
Verizon’s Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our
website — www.verizon.com/investor

If you would prefer to receive a printed copy in the mail, please
contact the Assistant Corporate Secretary:

Verizon Communications Inc.
Assistant Corporate Secretary
1095 Avenue of the Americas
38th Floor
New York, New York 10036

Equal Opportunity Policy
The company maintains a long-standing commitment to equal
opportunity and valuing the diversity of its employees, suppliers,
and customers. Verizon is fully committed to a workplace free
from discrimination and harassment for all persons, without
regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, national origin, sexual
orientation, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, 
disability or other protected classifications.

Investor Website — Get company information and news on our
website – www.verizon.com/investor

VZ Mail — Get the latest investor information delivered directly 
to your desktop. Subscribe to VZ mail at our investor 
information website 

Stock Market Information
Shareowners of record at December 31, 2002: 1,121,000

Verizon is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
(ticker symbol: VZ)

Also listed on the Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Pacific,
London, Swiss, Amsterdam and Frankfurt exchanges.

Common Stock Price and Dividend Information

2002
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

2001
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

$

$

Market Price

High

51.09
46.01
40.20
43.20

57.13
56.99
57.40
55.99

$

$

Low

43.02
36.50
26.01
27.50

43.80
47.00
48.32
46.90

Cash
Dividend
Declared

0.385
0.385
0.385
0.385

0.385
0.385
0.385
0.385

$

$

Form 10–K
To receive a copy of the 2002 Verizon Annual Report on Form
10–K, which is filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, contact Investor Relations:

Verizon Communications Inc.
Investor Relations
1095 Avenue of the Americas
36th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Phone 212 395-1525
Fax 212 921-2917

Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
212 395-2121

www.verizon.com

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