EXHIBIT 23.1



                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and related prospectus of
Verizon Communications Inc. and Verizon Global Funding Corp. for the
registration of $2,000,000,000 floating rate notes due 2002, and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated February 1, 2001, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and financial statement
schedule of Verizon Communications Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2000, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.



/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York

January 2, 2002