<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     WHEREAS, VERIZON GLOBAL FUNDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a
resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement")
relating to its Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes due 2021, the shares of the
Verizon Communications Inc.'s common stock into which such notes are convertible
and the related support and share contribution obligations of Verizon
Communications Inc.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints William F. Heitmann, Janet
M. Garrity, and David S. Kauffman and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and
in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such
person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
or by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 13th day of August, 2001.



                                /s/ Robert S. Fitmire
                                ____________________________
                                Robert S. Fitzmire
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     WHEREAS, VERIZON GLOBAL FUNDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a
resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement")
relating to its Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes due 2021, the shares of the
Verizon Communications Inc.'s common stock into which such notes are convertible
and the related support and share contribution obligations of Verizon
Communications Inc.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints William F. Heitmann, David
S. Kauffman and Robert S. Fitzmire and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and
in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such
person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
or by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 13th day of August, 2001.



                                 /s/ Janet M. Garrity
                                 __________________________
                                 Janet M. Garrity
<PAGE>

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     WHEREAS, VERIZON GLOBAL FUNDING CORP., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"), proposes to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a
resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement")
relating to its Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes due 2021, the shares of the
Verizon Communications Inc.'s common stock into which such notes are convertible
and the related support and share contribution obligations of Verizon
Communications Inc.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby appoints Janet M. Garrity, David S.
Kauffman and Robert S. Fitzmire and each of them, his or her true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution, for him or her and
in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and
all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in
connection therewith, making such changes in the Registration Statement as such
person or persons so acting deems appropriate, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or
his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
or by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
this 13th day of August, 2001.



                                    /s/ William F. Heitmann
                                    _____________________________
                                    William F. Heitmann

