EXHIBIT 12 1996 Form 10-K Southern New England Telecommunications Corporation Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Dollars in Millions, For the Year Ended December 31, 1996 Income before income taxes $300.4 Add: Interest on indebtedness 88.2 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor 7.0 Earnings before fixed charges and income taxes (1) $395.6 Fixed charges Interest charges $ 95.4 Portion of rents representative of the interest factor 7.0 Fixed charges (2) $102.4 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges [(1) divided by (2)] 3.86