LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS

Verizon Communications Inc.
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036    

March 15, 2004

To Our Shareholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Verizon cordially invites you to attend the 2004 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Verizon Communications Inc. on Wednesday, April 28, 2004. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Richmond Marriott Hotel, 500 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia. The Annual Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end no later than 12 noon. The formal Notice of Annual Meeting appears on the next page.

The attached Proxy Statement describes the matters that we expect to act upon at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders who attend the Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to ask questions of broad interest to Verizon's shareholders. You will need an admission ticket to attend the Annual Meeting, and specific information about obtaining your admission ticket can be found in the Notice of Annual Meeting. Directions to the Annual Meeting are printed on the admission ticket.

It is important that your views be represented whether or not you attend the Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR Items 1 and 2 and AGAINST Items 3 through 11.

We appreciate your interest in Verizon and urge you to vote your shares either in person at the Annual Meeting or by returning your proxy as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer