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                                                                    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-3 and related Prospectus of
Verizon Communications Inc. and Verizon Global Funding Corp. for the
registration of $5,442,079,000 principal amount at maturity of Zero-Coupon
Convertible Notes due 2021, 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

November 8, 2001

