EXHIBIT
23.1
CONSENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We
consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Verizon
Communications Inc. (Verizon) for the registration of 30,000,000 shares of
its
common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated
February 23, 2006, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
Verizon, Verizon management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal
control over financial reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control
over
financial reporting of Verizon, incorporated by reference in its Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2005,
and
the related financial statement schedule of Verizon included therein, filed
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/
Ernst
& Young LLP
Ernst
& Young LLP
New
York,
New York