**EXHIBIT 12**

**BellSouth Corporation**

**Computation Of Earnings To Fixed Charges**

**(Dollars In Millions)**

 

 
|                                                                                                                                                        | **For the Six Months Ended**

**June 30,** |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                                                        | **2005**                                   | **2006** |
| **Earnings**                                                                                                                                                |                                       |   |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, minority interest, discontinued operations, and cumulative effect of accounting change | $  2,226                                   | $  2,467 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated affiliates                                                                                                    | 12                                         | (352) |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                                                 | 53                                         | 55 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Distributed income of equity affiliates                                                                                                                     | —                                     | — |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Interest expense                                                                                                                                            | 576                                        | 558 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Income, as adjusted                                                                                                                                         | $  2,867                                   | $  2,728 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| **Fixed Charges**                                                                                                                                           |                                       |   |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Interest expense                                                                                                                                            | $    576                                   | $    558 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Interest capitalized                                                                                                                                        | 4                                          | 6 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                                                 | 53                                         | 55 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| Fixed Charges                                                                                                                                               | $    633                                   | $   619 |
|                                                                                                                                                        |                                       |   |
| **Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges**                                                                                                                      | 4.53                                       | 4.41 |