EXHIBIT 12

BellSouth Corporation  Computation Of Earnings To Fixed Charges  (Dollars In Millions)

|                                                                                                                                   |                        | For the years ended December 31, |      
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | -----
|
|1. Earnings                                                                                                                        |                        |                                  |      
|(a) Income from continuing operations before deductions for taxes and interest                                                     |                        | $                                | 6,588
|(b) Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                    |                        |                                  | 81   
|(c) Equity in losses from less-than-50% owned investments (accounted for under the equity method of accounting)                    |                        |                                  | 97   
|(d) Excess of earnings over distributions of less-than-50%-owned investments (accounted for under the equity method of accounting) |                        |                                  | (46  
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  | TOTAL
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      
|2. Fixed Charges                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      
|(a) Interest                                                                                                                       |                        | $                                | 867  
|(b) Portion of rental expense representative of interest factor                                                                    |                        |                                  | 81   
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  | TOTAL
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      
|                                                                                                                                   | Ratio (1 divided by 2) |                                  |      
|                                                                                                                                   |                        |                                  |      

---

QuickLinks