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Prepared and filed by St Ives Burrups
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<p align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">Registration Statement No. 333-</font></p>
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<p align="right"><font size="2" face="serif"></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="3" face="serif"><b>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br>
  </b></font><b><font size="3" face="serif">Washington, D.C. 20549</font></b></p>
<p align="center"><b><font size="3" face="serif">FORM S-8<br>
  REGISTRATION STATEMENT<br>
  </font></b><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Under<br>
  <font size="3">THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="3" face="serif"><b>VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.<br>
  </b></font><font size="2" face="serif">(Exact name of registrant as specified
  in its charter)</font></p>
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    <td width="50%"><div align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;Delaware&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>
        (State or other jurisdiction of<br>
        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) </font></div></td>
    <td><div align="center"><font size="2" face="serif"> 23-2259884<br>
        incorporation or organization)</font></div></td>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font><font size="2" face="serif">1095
  Avenue of the Americas<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">New York, NY 10036<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(212) 395-2121<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN
  FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(Full title of the plan)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">WILLIAM F. HEITMANN<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">Senior Vice President and Treasurer<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">Verizon Communications Inc.<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">1095 Avenue of the Americas<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">New York, NY 10036<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(Name and address of agent for service)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">(212) 395-2121<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(Telephone number, including area code, of
  agent for service)</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">Copy to:<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">David S. Kauffman, Esq.<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">Vice President and Associate General Counsel<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">Verizon Communications Inc.<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">1095 Avenue of the Americas<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">New York, NY 10036<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">(212) 395-6174</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></p>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center">
  <tr valign="top" >
    <td width="15%"align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Title
      of Securities<br>
      to be registered</font></td>
    <td width="2%" align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="2%" align="right" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="15%" align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Amount
      to be registered (1)</font></td>
    <td width="2%" align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="2%" align="right" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="15%" align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Proposed
      maximum offering price per share (2)</font></td>
    <td width="2%" align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="2%" align="right" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="15%" align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Proposed
      maximum aggregate offering price</font></td>
    <td width="2%" align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="2%" align="right" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="15%" align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Amount
      of registration fee</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td colspan="13"><hr noshade size="1"> </td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
    <td align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">Common Stock,
      <br>
      par value $.10 per share</font></td>
    <td align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="right" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="right" valign="bottom"><div align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">5,000,000</font></div></td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">$35.725</font></td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">$178,625,000</font></td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="right">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left" valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">$14,450.76</font></td>
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      <hr noshade size="1">
    </td>
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<p><font size="2" face="serif">(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This registration statement also relates to
  an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon stock
  splits, stock dividends or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416.</font></p>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Estimated pursuant to
  paragraph (h) of Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
  fee, based upon the average of the reported high and low sales prices for a
  share of Common Stock on May 20, 2003, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">PART II</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The following documents, as filed by the registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 1-8606), are incorporated by reference in this registration statement and made a part hereof:</font></p>
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    <td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">(a)</font></td>
    <td> <font size="2" face="serif">the registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form
      10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002;</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif">(b)</font></td>
    <td> <font size="2" face="serif">the registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Report on
      Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003;</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif">(c)</font></td>
    <td> <font size="2" face="serif">the registrant&#8217;s Current Report on
      Form 8-K filed January 16, 2003; and </font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif">(d)</font></td>
    <td> <font size="2" face="serif">The description of the registrant&#146;s Common
      Stock contained in the registration statement on Form 10 filed under Section
      12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;Exchange
      Act&#8221;), and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
      that description.</font></td>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document, all or a portion of which is incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained or incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Copies of the above documents (excluding exhibits) may be obtained without charge upon written request directed to Investor Relations, Verizon Communications Inc., 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10036.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b>Experts</b></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The consolidated financial statements
  and financial statement schedule of the registrant as of December 31, 2002 and
  2001 and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, included
  in the registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2003,
  and incorporated by reference in this registration statement, have been audited
  by Ernst &amp; Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
  which is also included therein and incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated
  financial statements are incorporated by reference herein in reliance on such
  report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.</font></p>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Not applicable.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The validity of the shares of Verizon Communications Inc. (&#8220;Verizon&#8221;) Common Stock to be issued in connection with this registration statement will be passed upon for Verizon by William P. Barr, its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. As of April 30, 2003, Mr. Barr was the beneficial owner of approximately 12,359 shares of Verizon Common Stock and had options to purchase an aggregate of 694,399 shares of Verizon Common Stock within the next 60 days.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Section 145 of the Delaware General
  Corporation Law (&#147;DGCL&#148;) permits a corporation to indemnify any of
  its directors or officers who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
  a party to any third party proceeding by reason of the fact that such person
  is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including
  attorney&#146;s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
  reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding,
  if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
  to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
  respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that
  such person&#146;s conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or
  in the right of the corporation, the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors
  and officers against expenses (including attorney&#146;s fees) actually and reasonably
  incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or
  suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed
  to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that
  no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable
  to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the
  action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant
  directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
  expenses despite such adjudication of liability.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Article 7 of the Verizon Restated Certificate of Incorporation makes mandatory the indemnification expressly authorized under the DGCL, except that the Restated Certificate of Incorporation only provides for indemnification in derivative actions, suits or proceedings by a director or officer if the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pursuant to Section 7.8 of the Amended
  and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &#147;NYNEX Merger Agreement&#148;),
  dated as of April 21, 1996 by and between NYNEX Corporation (&#147;NYNEX&#148;)
  and Bell Atlantic Corporation (&#147;Bell Atlantic&#148;), a predecessor of
  Verizon, Bell Atlantic agreed for a period of six years following the Effective
  Time (as defined in the NYNEX Merger Agreement) to (a) cause NYNEX to maintain
  in effect the provisions regarding indemnification of officers and directors
  contained in the NYNEX Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the certificates
  of incorporation and bylaws of each of its subsidiaries or in director, officer
  or employee indemnification agreements of NYNEX and its subsidiaries, (b) maintain
  in effect and cause NYNEX to maintain in effect current policies of directors&#146;
  and officers&#146; liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance with
  respect to claims arising prior to the Effective Time, and (c) indemnify, and
  cause NYNEX to indemnify, the directors and officers of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX
  respectively, to the fullest extent permitted under their respective certificates
  of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law. In addition, Bell Atlantic agreed
  to unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee for the benefit of such directors,
  officers and employees the obligations of NYNEX under its indemnification arrangements.</font></p>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pursuant to Section 7.8 of the Agreement
  and Plan of Merger (the &#147;GTE Merger Agreement&#148;), dated as of July
  27, 1998, between Bell Atlantic and GTE Corporation (&#147;GTE&#148;), Bell
  Atlantic agreed for a period of six years following the Effective Time (as defined
  in the GTE Merger Agreement) to (a) cause GTE to maintain in effect the provisions
  regarding indemnification of officers and directors contained in the GTE Certificate
  of Incorporation and Bylaws and the certificates of incorporation and bylaws
  of each of its subsidiaries or in director, officer or employee indemnification
  agreements of GTE and its subsidiaries, (b) maintain in effect and cause GTE
  to maintain in effect current policies of directors&#146; and officers&#146;
  liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance with respect to claims
  arising prior to the Effective Time, and (c) indemnify, and cause GTE to indemnify,
  the directors and officers of Bell Atlantic and GTE respectively, to the fullest
  extent permitted under their respective certificates of incorporation and bylaws
  and applicable law. In addition, Bell Atlantic agreed to unconditionally and
  irrevocably guarantee for the benefit of such directors, officers and employees
  the obligations of GTE under its indemnification arrangements.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The Verizon Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The directors and officers of Verizon are insured against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;Act&#8221;), which might be incurred by them in  such capacities and against which they cannot be indemnified by Verizon.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Not applicable.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;EXHIBITS.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>Exhibit Number</u></font></p>
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    <td width="5%"><font size="2" face="serif">5</font></td>
    <td align="left"> <font size="2" face="serif">Opinion of William P. Barr,
      Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Communications
      Inc.</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">23.1</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Consent of Ernst
      &amp; Young LLP.</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">23.2</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Consent of William
      P. Barr (Included in Exhibit 5).</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">24&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Powers of Attorney.</font></td>
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<p><font size="2" face="serif">ITEM 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;UNDERTAKINGS</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</font></p>
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    <td width="3%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="3%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td colspan="2"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;(1) To file, during any
      period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
      to this registration statement:</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="3%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp; </font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"> (i) To include any prospectus
      required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;</font></td>
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  <tr valign="top">
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"> (ii) To reflect in the prospectus
      any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration
      statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
      or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
      forth in the registration statement; and</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(iii) To include any material
      information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
      in the registration statement or any material change to such information
      in the registration statement;</font></td>
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<br>
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<td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
<td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</font></td>
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<p>&nbsp;</p><hr noshade>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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    <td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(2) That, for the purpose of
      determining any liability under the Act, each such post-effective amendment
      shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
      offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
      be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></td>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(3) To remove from registration
      by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
      that remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</font></td>
  </tr>
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<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">(c) Insofar as indemnification for
  liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
  controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
  or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
  and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
  against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
  incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
  in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
  such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
  being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
  the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
  policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
  of such issue.</font></p>
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<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">SIGNATURES</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements
  of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has reasonable grounds
  to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
  has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The City of New York, State of New
  York on May 23, 2003.</font></p>
<div style="margin-left: 60%"><font size="2">VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. </font>
<p></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>By: /s/ W<small>ILLIAM</small>
    F. H<small>EITMANN<br>
    </small></u></font><font size="2" face="serif">William F. Heitmann<br>
    Senior Vice President and Treasurer</font></p>
  </div>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed
  below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.</font></p>
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    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif">SIGNATURE</font></td>
    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif"> TITLE</font></td>
    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif">DATE</font></td>
  </tr>
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    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
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    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
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    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">James R. Barker</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td height="21">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Richard L. Carrion</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Charles R. Lee</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Sandra O. Moose</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Joseph Neubauer</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Thomas H. O&#146;Brien</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Russell E. Palmer</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Hugh B. Price</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p><hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">

<div style="page-break-before:always"><a name="p6"></a></div>
<page>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif">SIGNATURE</font></td>
    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif"> TITLE</font></td>
    <td width="33%"><font size="2" face="serif">DATE</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td valign="bottom"><p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></p></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td valign="bottom">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div>
      <hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director, President and<br>
      Chief Executive Officer</font><font size="2" face="serif"><br>
      (principal executive officer) </font></td>
    <td valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Ivan G. Seidenberg</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td> <div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Walter V. Shipley</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td height="22">&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">John R. Stafford</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Director</font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Robert D. Storey</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div>
      <hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Executive Vice President and Chief<br>
      Financial Officer (principal financial officer) </font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Doreen A. Toben</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 18%; text-indent: -3%"><font size="2">*</font></div>
      <hr align="left" width="100" size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">Senior Vice President and Controller<br>
      (principal accounting officer) </font></td>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">May 23, 2003</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif">John F. Killian</font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td valign="bottom"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">*By:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/
      W<small>ILLIAM</small> F. H<small>EITMANN</small></font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td valign="top"><div style="margin-left: 14%; text-indent: -3%">
        <hr align="left" width="60%" size="1" noshade>
      </div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><div style="margin-left: 12%; text-indent: -0%">&nbsp;<font size="2">William
        F. Heitmann</font><br>
        <font size="2" face="serif">(as attorney-in-fact)</font></div></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
</table>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">

<div style="page-break-before:always"><a name="p7"></a></div>
<page>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><u>Exhibit No.</u></font></p>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
  <tr valign="top">
    <td width="5%"><font size="2" face="serif">5</font></td>
    <td align="left"> <font size="2" face="serif">Opinion of William P. Barr,
      Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Communications
      Inc.</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">23.1</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Consent of Ernst
      &amp; Young LLP</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">23.2</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Consent of William
      P. Barr (Included in Exhibit 5).</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td align="left">&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr valign="top">
    <td><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">24</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif" align="left">Powers
      of Attorney.</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">

<div style="page-break-before:always"><a name="p8"></a></div>
<page>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><div align="right"><font size="2" face="serif">EXHIBIT 5</font><font size="2" face="serif">
        </font> </div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="88%"><hr size="1" noshade></td>
    <td><hr size="1" noshade></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td><font size="2" face="serif"><b><font face="serif" size="1">William P.
      Barr</font></b></font><br> <font size="2" face="serif"><font face="serif" size="1">Executive
      Vice President and General Counsel</font></font></td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><div align="right"><img src="logo.jpg" width="115"></div></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>&nbsp;</td>
    <td><div align="left"><font size="2" face="serif"><b><font face="serif" size="1">Verizon
        Communications</font></b></font><br>
        <font size="2" face="serif"><font face="serif" size="1">1095 </font> <font face="serif" size="1">Avenue
        of the Americas</font></font><br>
        <font size="2" face="serif"><font face="serif" size="1">New York, NY 10036</font></font></div></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;May 23,
  2003</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Verizon Communications Inc.<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">1095 Avenue of the Americas<br>
  </font><font size="2" face="serif">New York, New York 10036</font></p>
<table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
  <tr valign="top">
    <td width="3%">&nbsp;</td>
    <td width="3%"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;Re:&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></td>
    <td align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;Verizon Communications
      Inc. Registration Statement &nbsp;<br>
      on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933</font></td>
  </tr>
</table>
<p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Ladies and Gentlemen:</font></p>
<div style="text-indent: 3%">
  <p><font size="2">Reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
    (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) which Verizon Communications Inc.,
    a Delaware corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;), is filing with the Securities
    and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registering
    5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company
    (the &#8220;Shares&#8221;) to be offered and sold from time to time under
    the Verizon Savings and Security Plan for Mid-Atlantic Associates.</font></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">I or members of my staff have reviewed
    the Registration Statement, the Company&#146;s Certificate of Incorporation
    and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company,
    and such other documents and records as I have deemed appropriate for the
    purpose of giving this opinion.</font></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">Based upon the foregoing, I am of
    the opinion that:</font></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">1. The Company is a corporation
    duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
    the State of Delaware.</font></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">2. All necessary corporate action
    on the part of the Company&#146;s Board of Directors with respect to the issuance
    and sale of Shares to be purchased directly from the Company has been taken,
    and any Shares to be purchased directly from the Company will be legally issued,
    fully paid and nonassessable when such Shares shall have been issued and sold
    for the consideration contemplated in the Plan.</font></p></div>
  <p align="left">&nbsp;</p>
  <hr noshade>
  <div style="page-break-before:always"><a name="p9"></a><page></div>

<div style="text-indent: 3%">
  <p><font size="2">3. Any Shares to be purchased on the open market were, on
    the date of their issue, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.</font></p>
  <p align="left"><font size="2" face="serif">I hereby consent to the filing of
    this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
    the Registration Statement and to being named under the heading &#147;Interests
    of Named Experts and Counsel&#148; in the Registration Statement.</font></p>
</div>
<p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div style="margin-left: 60%"><font size="2">Very truly yours, </font>
  <p></p>
  <p><font size="2" face="serif">&nbsp;<u>/s/ W<small>ILLIAM</small> P. B<small>ARR<br>
    </small></u></font><font size="2" face="serif">William P. Barr<br>
    </font><font size="2" face="serif">Executive Vice President and &nbsp;<br>
    General Counsel</font></p>
  </div>
<hr noshade align="center" width="100%" size="2">
</body>
</html>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "b325055_s8.htm", "description": "REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 41445}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC", "cik": "0000732712", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "232259884", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-105511", "film-number": "03717629"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1095 AVE OF THE AMERICAS", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10036", "phone": "2123952121"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1095 AVE OF THE AMERICAS", "street2": "38TH FLOOR", "city": "NEW YORK", "state": "NY", "zip": "10036"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "BELL ATLANTIC CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
Prepared and filed by St Ives Burrups
Registration Statement No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified
  in its charter)
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
23-2259884
incorporation or organization)
1095
  Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(212) 395-2121
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
VERIZON SAVINGS AND SECURITY PLAN
  FOR MID-ATLANTIC ASSOCIATES
(Full title of the plan)
WILLIAM F. HEITMANN
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(Name and address of agent for service)
(212) 395-2121
(Telephone number, including area code, of
  agent for service)
Copy to:
David S. Kauffman, Esq.
Vice President and Associate General Counsel
Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
(212) 395-6174
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
      of Securities
to be registered
Amount
      to be registered (1)
Proposed
      maximum offering price per share (2)
Proposed
      maximum aggregate offering price
Amount
      of registration fee
Common Stock,
par value $.10 per share
5,000,000
$35.725
$178,625,000
$14,450.76
(1)    This registration statement also relates to
  an indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon stock
  splits, stock dividends or similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416.
(2)    Estimated pursuant to
  paragraph (h) of Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating the registration
  fee, based upon the average of the reported high and low sales prices for a
  share of Common Stock on May 20, 2003, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3.    INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
The following documents, as filed by the registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 1-8606), are incorporated by reference in this registration statement and made a part hereof:
(a)
the registrant's Annual Report on Form
      10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002;
(b)
the registrant's Quarterly Report on
      Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003;
(c)
the registrant's Current Report on
      Form 8-K filed January 16, 2003; and
(d)
The description of the registrant's Common
      Stock contained in the registration statement on Form 10 filed under Section
      12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
      Act"), and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating
      that description.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document, all or a portion of which is incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained or incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Copies of the above documents (excluding exhibits) may be obtained without charge upon written request directed to Investor Relations, Verizon Communications Inc., 1095 Avenue of the Americas, 36th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Experts
The consolidated financial statements
  and financial statement schedule of the registrant as of December 31, 2002 and
  2001 and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, included
  in the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2003,
  and incorporated by reference in this registration statement, have been audited
  by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
  which is also included therein and incorporated by reference herein. Such consolidated
  financial statements are incorporated by reference herein in reliance on such
  report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ITEM 4.    DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.
Not applicable.
ITEM 5.    INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
The validity of the shares of Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") Common Stock to be issued in connection with this registration statement will be passed upon for Verizon by William P. Barr, its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. As of April 30, 2003, Mr. Barr was the beneficial owner of approximately 12,359 shares of Verizon Common Stock and had options to purchase an aggregate of 694,399 shares of Verizon Common Stock within the next 60 days.
ITEM 6.    INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the Delaware General
  Corporation Law ("DGCL") permits a corporation to indemnify any of
  its directors or officers who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
  a party to any third party proceeding by reason of the fact that such person
  is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including
  attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
  reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action or proceeding,
  if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
  to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
  respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that
  such person's conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or
  in the right of the corporation, the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors
  and officers against expenses (including attorney's fees) actually and reasonably
  incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or
  suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed
  to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that
  no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable
  to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the
  action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant
  directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
  expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
Article 7 of the Verizon Restated Certificate of Incorporation makes mandatory the indemnification expressly authorized under the DGCL, except that the Restated Certificate of Incorporation only provides for indemnification in derivative actions, suits or proceedings by a director or officer if the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Pursuant to Section 7.8 of the Amended
  and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "NYNEX Merger Agreement"),
  dated as of April 21, 1996 by and between NYNEX Corporation ("NYNEX")
  and Bell Atlantic Corporation ("Bell Atlantic"), a predecessor of
  Verizon, Bell Atlantic agreed for a period of six years following the Effective
  Time (as defined in the NYNEX Merger Agreement) to (a) cause NYNEX to maintain
  in effect the provisions regarding indemnification of officers and directors
  contained in the NYNEX Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the certificates
  of incorporation and bylaws of each of its subsidiaries or in director, officer
  or employee indemnification agreements of NYNEX and its subsidiaries, (b) maintain
  in effect and cause NYNEX to maintain in effect current policies of directors'
  and officers' liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance with
  respect to claims arising prior to the Effective Time, and (c) indemnify, and
  cause NYNEX to indemnify, the directors and officers of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX
  respectively, to the fullest extent permitted under their respective certificates
  of incorporation and bylaws and applicable law. In addition, Bell Atlantic agreed
  to unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee for the benefit of such directors,
  officers and employees the obligations of NYNEX under its indemnification arrangements.
Pursuant to Section 7.8 of the Agreement
  and Plan of Merger (the "GTE Merger Agreement"), dated as of July
  27, 1998, between Bell Atlantic and GTE Corporation ("GTE"), Bell
  Atlantic agreed for a period of six years following the Effective Time (as defined
  in the GTE Merger Agreement) to (a) cause GTE to maintain in effect the provisions
  regarding indemnification of officers and directors contained in the GTE Certificate
  of Incorporation and Bylaws and the certificates of incorporation and bylaws
  of each of its subsidiaries or in director, officer or employee indemnification
  agreements of GTE and its subsidiaries, (b) maintain in effect and cause GTE
  to maintain in effect current policies of directors' and officers'
  liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance with respect to claims
  arising prior to the Effective Time, and (c) indemnify, and cause GTE to indemnify,
  the directors and officers of Bell Atlantic and GTE respectively, to the fullest
  extent permitted under their respective certificates of incorporation and bylaws
  and applicable law. In addition, Bell Atlantic agreed to unconditionally and
  irrevocably guarantee for the benefit of such directors, officers and employees
  the obligations of GTE under its indemnification arrangements.
The Verizon Restated Certificate of Incorporation limits the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
The directors and officers of Verizon are insured against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which might be incurred by them in  such capacities and against which they cannot be indemnified by Verizon.
ITEM 7.    EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8.    EXHIBITS.
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement.
Exhibit Number
5
Opinion of William P. Barr,
      Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Communications
      Inc.
23.1
Consent of Ernst
      & Young LLP.
23.2
Consent of William
      P. Barr (Included in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers of Attorney.
ITEM 9.    UNDERTAKINGS
(a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any
      period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
      to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus
      required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus
      any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration
      statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
      or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
      forth in the registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material
      information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
      in the registration statement or any material change to such information
      in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of
      determining any liability under the Act, each such post-effective amendment
      shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
      offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
      be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration
      by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered
      that remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for
  liabilities arising under the Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
  controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions,
  or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
  and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
  in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
  against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
  incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
  in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
  such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
  being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel
  the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
  jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
  policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
  of such issue.
SIGNATURES
THE REGISTRANT. Pursuant to the requirements
  of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has reasonable grounds
  to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
  has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in The City of New York, State of New
  York on May 23, 2003.
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
By: /s/ W
ILLIAM
F. H
EITMANN
William F. Heitmann
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
Pursuant to the requirements of the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed
  below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE
TITLE
DATE
*
Director
May 23, 2003
James R. Barker
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Richard L. Carrion
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Charles R. Lee
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Sandra O. Moose
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Joseph Neubauer
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Thomas H. O'Brien
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Russell E. Palmer
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Hugh B. Price
SIGNATURE
TITLE
DATE
*
Director, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
May 23, 2003
Ivan G. Seidenberg
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Walter V. Shipley
*
Director
May 23, 2003
John R. Stafford
*
Director
May 23, 2003
Robert D. Storey
*
Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer (principal financial officer)
May 23, 2003
Doreen A. Toben
*
Senior Vice President and Controller
(principal accounting officer)
May 23, 2003
John F. Killian
*By:    /s/
      W
ILLIAM
F. H
EITMANN
William
        F. Heitmann
(as attorney-in-fact)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
5
Opinion of William P. Barr,
      Esq., Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Verizon Communications
      Inc.
23.1
Consent of Ernst
      & Young LLP
23.2
Consent of William
      P. Barr (Included in Exhibit 5).
24
Powers
      of Attorney.
EXHIBIT 5
William P.
      Barr
Executive
      Vice President and General Counsel
Verizon
        Communications
1095
Avenue
        of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
May 23,
  2003
Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Re:
Verizon Communications
      Inc. Registration Statement
on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Registration Statement on Form S-8
    (the "Registration Statement") which Verizon Communications Inc.,
    a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is filing with the Securities
    and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, registering
    5,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company
    (the "Shares") to be offered and sold from time to time under
    the Verizon Savings and Security Plan for Mid-Atlantic Associates.
I or members of my staff have reviewed
    the Registration Statement, the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
    and Bylaws, resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company,
    and such other documents and records as I have deemed appropriate for the
    purpose of giving this opinion.
Based upon the foregoing, I am of
    the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation
    duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
    the State of Delaware.
2. All necessary corporate action
    on the part of the Company's Board of Directors with respect to the issuance
    and sale of Shares to be purchased directly from the Company has been taken,
    and any Shares to be purchased directly from the Company will be legally issued,
    fully paid and nonassessable when such Shares shall have been issued and sold
    for the consideration contemplated in the Plan.
3. Any Shares to be purchased on the open market were, on
    the date of their issue, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
I hereby consent to the filing of
    this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
    the Registration Statement and to being named under the heading "Interests
    of Named Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ W
ILLIAM
P. B
ARR
William P. Barr
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel