EXHIBIT 12

                    CAROLINA TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY
          COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Unaudited)

- -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
                                                       Quarter Ended                      Year-to-Date
                                                       September 30,                      September 30,
                                             --- ------------- -- ------------- --- ------------- -- -------------
                                                     1998             1997              1998             1997
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                                                                        (in thousands)
Earnings
                                                                                                
   Income before income taxes                $     52,915      $      51,681    $     147,265     $     154,223
   Capitalized interest                               (35)               105              (64)              (51)
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Subtotal                                           52,880             51,786          147,201           154,172
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Fixed charges
   Interest charges                                 4,502              5,808           15,140            16,768
   Interest factor of operating rents                 337                331              922               994
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Total fixed charges                                 4,839              6,139           16,062            17,762
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Earnings, as adjusted                        $     57,719      $      57,925    $     163,263     $     171,934
                                             --- ------------- -- ------------- --- ------------- -- -------------

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                  11.93               9.44            10.16              9.68
                                             --- ------------- -- ------------- --- ------------- -- -------------


Note:    These ratios were  computed by dividing  fixed  charges into the sum of
         earnings  (after  certain  adjustments)  and  fixed  charges.  Earnings
         include income before income taxes,  less capitalized  interest.  Fixed
         charges include  interest on all debt  (including  amortization of debt
         issuance costs) and the interest component of operating rents.