**EXHIBIT 12**

**BellSouth Corporation**

**Computation Of Earnings To Fixed Charges**

**(Dollars In Millions)**

 

 

|                                                                                                                                                        | **For the Nine Months Ended**

**September 30,** |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                                                        | **2005**                                         | **2006** |
| **Earnings**                                                                                                                                                |                                             |   |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, minority interest, discontinued operations, and cumulative effect of accounting change | $  3,435                                         | $  4,042 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates                                                                                                    | (85)                                             | (694) |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                                                 | 79                                               | 81 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Distributed income of equity affiliates                                                                                                                     | —                                           | — |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Interest expense                                                                                                                                            | 850                                              | 860 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Income, as adjusted                                                                                                                                         | $  4,279                                         | $  4,289 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| **Fixed Charges**                                                                                                                                           |                                             |   |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Interest expense                                                                                                                                            | $    850                                         | $    860 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Interest capitalized                                                                                                                                        | 6                                                | 8 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                                                 | 79                                               | 81 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| Fixed Charges                                                                                                                                               | $   935                                          | $   949 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                             |   |
| **Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges**                                                                                                                      | 4.58                                             | 4.52 |