EXHIBIT 12 BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Dollars in Millions) YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------------ 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Income before provision for income taxes, extraordinary items, and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles......................................... $2,750.6 $3,009.4 $2,286.8 $2,273.6 $2,025.7 Equity in income of less than majority-owned subsidiaries...... (327.9) (152.5) (41.1) (48.3) (52.4) Dividends from less than majority-owned subsidiaries........... 125.5 146.0 101.0 73.4 48.3 Interest expense, including interest on capital lease obligations................................................. 486.1 571.1 624.6 719.6 828.7 Portion of rent expense representative of the interest factor.. 82.7 90.9 95.2 102.6 98.6 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Income, as adjusted............................................ $3,117.0 $3,664.9 $3,066.5 $3,120.9 $2,948.9 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Fixed charges: Interest expense, including interest on capital lease obligations.................................................. $ 486.1 $ 571.1 $ 624.6 $ 719.6 $ 828.7 Portion of rent expense representative of the interest factor.. 82.7 90.9 95.2 102.6 98.6 Capitalized interest........................................... 49.6 64.4 19.1 1.1 3.2 Preferred stock dividend requirement........................... 15.0 9.9 5.7 -- -- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Fixed charges.................................................. $ 633.4 $ 736.3 $ 744.6 $ 823.3 $ 930.5 ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............................. 4.92 4.98 4.12 3.79 3.17 ======== ======== ======== ======== ========