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