EXHIBIT 12.1 WORLDCOM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES (IN MILLIONS) For the Three Months Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31, ------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1999 ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ Earnings: Pretax income (loss) from continuing operations $ 376 $(2,272) $ 578 $(1,590) $7,164 $2,333 $1,212 Fixed charges, net of capitalized interest 285 315 500 774 1,098 262 315 ----- ------- ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ Earnings $ 661 $(1,957) $1,078 $ (816) $8,262 $2,595 $1,527 ===== ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== Fixed Charges: Interest cost 270 308 538 928 1,287 321 339 Amortization of financing costs 4 4 2 12 18 5 4 Interest factor of rent expense 16 19 47 78 132 44 43 ----- ------- ------ ------- ------ ------ ------ Fixed charges $ 290 $ 331 $ 587 $ 1,018 $1,437 $ 370 $ 386 ===== ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== Deficiency of earnings to fixed charges $ - $(2,288) $ - $(1,834) $ - $ - $ - ===== ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ====== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges 2.28 - 1.84 - 5.75 7.01 3.96 ===== ======= ====== ======= ====== ====== ======