Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 10g

                                                     [VERIZON LOGO]

                                                     1095 Avenue of the Americas
                                                     New York, NY 10036

October 3, 2000

Mr. Lawrence R. Whitman
[Address]
[Address]

Dear Larry:

         We are pleased to offer you this employment agreement (the "Agreement")
with Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon"). For purposes of this Agreement,
the term "Company" means Verizon, all corporate subsidiaries and other companies
affiliated with Verizon, all companies in which Verizon has an ownership or
other proprietary interest of more than 10 percent, and their successors and
assigns.

         The opportunities and challenges facing the Company are enormous and
exciting. Both as a new organization and as a vigorous competitor in the most
dynamic and innovative industry in history, the Company needs extraordinarily
talented and committed leaders. This Agreement and the valuable array of
wealth-creation opportunities it provides reflect our view that you meet this
high standard.

         We value you and the leadership, vision, and commitment you bring to
the Company. We are excited by the prospect of having you as a key member of our
leadership team. We look forward to working with you as we chart the course of
our new organization at the beginning of a new century.

         The terms and conditions of this Agreement are set forth below.

         1. PURPOSE -- Verizon enters into this Agreement with you because the
rapidly-changing and increasingly global telecommunications market and the
recent Bell Atlantic -- GTE merger (the "Merger") require the Company to make
critical strategic, marketing, and technical decisions. These decisions by the
Company will be based, in whole or in part, on confidential analyses of the
evolving

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Mr. Lawrence R. Whitman
October 3, 2000
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telecommunications market, confidential assessments of the technical
capabilities and strategic plans of the Company and competing businesses, and
confidential or proprietary information regarding the Company's technology,
resources, and business opportunities or other confidential or proprietary
information relating to the Company's business. Verizon seeks by this Agreement
to ensure that you remain a part of the executive management team that plays a
central role in this decision-making process.

         In consideration for your entering into this Agreement, including the
restrictions on the disclosure and use of confidential or proprietary
information and the limitations on your engaging in competitive activities, the
Company is providing you with the security of a fixed-term agreement, short- and
long-term award opportunities, and other benefits.

         2. GENERAL -- Under this Agreement, you shall continue as a senior
executive of the Company. As a senior executive, you shall report to Fred
Salerno or his successor.

         3. TERM -- The term of employment under this Agreement ("Term of
Employment") shall commence on July 1, 2000, and end on June 30, 2002.

         4. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES -- You shall serve as a senior executive
of the Company in such capacities, with such titles and authorities, as Fred
Salerno or his successor may from time to time prescribe, and you shall perform
all duties incidental to such positions, shall cooperate fully with Fred or his
successor, and shall work cooperatively with the other officers of the Company.
You shall continue to devote your entire business skill, time, and effort
diligently to the affairs of the Company in accordance with the duties assigned
to you, and you shall perform all such duties, and otherwise conduct yourself,
in a manner reasonably calculated in good faith by you to promote the best
interests of the Company. During the Term of Employment, except to the extent
specifically permitted in writing by Fred or his successor, and except for
memberships on boards of directors that you hold on the date of this Agreement,
you shall not, directly or indirectly, render any services of a business,
commercial, or professional nature to any other person or organization other
than the Company or a person or organization in which the Company has a
financial interest, whether or not the services are rendered for compensation.

         5. LOCATION -- During the Term of Employment, you shall perform
services for the Company at its New York City headquarters, or at any other
location designated by the Company as necessary or appropriate for the discharge
of your responsibilities under this Agreement. In the event of any change in
your principal

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work location, you shall be eligible for relocation assistance under the terms
of any Company relocation policy applicable to other senior executives of the
Company in your salary band at the time of such relocation.

         6. BASE SALARY -- During the Term of Employment, your annual base
salary shall not be less than $450,000 per year; provided that if you are
granted a merit increase in your base salary, your base salary shall not
thereafter be reduced below that increased level during the Term of Employment.
After this Agreement has been in effect for 18 months, the Human Resources
Committee of Verizon's Board of Directors or its designee shall review your base
salary at least annually.

         7. SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM BONUS OPPORTUNITIES -- During the Term of
Employment, the Company shall provide you with annual short-term and long-term
bonus opportunities equivalent to those available to other senior executives of
the Company in your salary band. Your annual short-term bonus opportunity shall
be prorated for the year 2000 to reflect the six-month duration of the Agreement
during 2000, and your annual long-term bonus opportunity shall become effective
beginning in 2001. The value of your annual short-term bonus opportunity shall
not be less than 75 percent of your then-current base salary. The value of your
annual long-term bonus opportunity shall not be less than 425 percent of your
then-current base salary.

         8. FOUNDERS' GRANT -- You shall receive a Founders' Grant of options to
purchase 130,000 shares of Verizon common stock. The Founders' Grant is
contingent on your timely execution of this Agreement and your election to
participate in the Special Retention Account Program described in paragraph 11
("Special Retention Account Program"). The terms of the Founders' Grant are set
forth in the instrument governing the Founders' Grant attached hereto as Exhibit
A, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not timely execute this
Agreement and timely elect to participate in such Special Retention Account
Program, you shall not receive the Founders' Grant.

         9. PERFORMANCE SHARE RETENTION UNIT GRANT -- You shall receive a
Performance Share Retention Unit Grant with respect to 30,000 shares of Verizon
common stock. The Performance Share Retention Unit Grant is contingent on your
timely execution of this Agreement and your election to participate in the
Special Retention Account Program described in paragraph 11 ("Special Retention
Account Program"). The terms of the Performance Share Retention Unit Grant are
set forth in the Performance Share Retention Unit Grant Agreement attached
hereto as Exhibit B, which is incorporated herein by reference. Your rights
under the Performance Share Retention Grant following the termination of your
employment

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shall be governed by such Performance Share Retention Grant Agreement, rather
than by the terms of paragraph 13 ("Termination of Employment"). If you do not
timely execute this Agreement and timely elect to participate in such Special
Retention Account Program, you shall not receive the Performance Share Retention
Unit Grant.

         10. BENEFITS AND PERQUISITES -- (a) IN GENERAL -- For the immediate
future, you shall--

                           (1)      participate in the tax-qualified and
                                    nonqualified retirement plans in which you
                                    currently participate;

                           (2)      be eligible for the perquisites identified
                                    in subparagraph (b), below; and

                           (3)      participate in the other employee benefit
                                    plans, programs, and policies in which you
                                    currently participate, including medical,
                                    dental, and life insurance plans;

provided that the Company retains the right to amend or terminate any benefit
plan, policy, program, or perquisite either as part of the process of providing
uniform retirement benefits to former Bell Atlantic and GTE employees or in the
normal course of business.

                  (b) PERQUISITES -- The perquisites referred to in subparagraph
(a), above, are the following:

                           (1)      FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: A flexible
                                    spending account of $26,000 per year shall
                                    be available for such items as club
                                    initiation fees, club memberships, and
                                    automobile payments. The available balance
                                    in the account shall be allocated to you in
                                    monthly installments.

                           (2)      FINANCIAL PLANNING: You shall be eligible
                                    for the Company's financial planning and
                                    services program. If you are already using a
                                    vendor other than the vendor used by the
                                    Company's financial planning and services
                                    program, and you wish to continue using that
                                    other vendor, your are eligible for
                                    reimbursement of the cost

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                                    of using that other vendor up to an annual
                                    maximum of $9,000.

                           (3)      COMPANY AIRCRAFT: You shall be eligible to
                                    use Company aircraft for business travel,
                                    subject to the availability of the aircraft.

                           (4)      FIRST-CLASS AIR TRAVEL: When Company
                                    aircraft are not available for business
                                    travel, you shall be eligible for
                                    first-class commercial air travel.

                           (5)      CAR SERVICE: You shall be eligible to use
                                    the Company's car service for business
                                    travel.

                           (6)      HOME SECURITY: You shall be eligible for
                                    home security on an as-needed basis,
                                    consistent with Company policy as in effect
                                    from time to time.

                           (7)      HOME OFFICE EQUIPMENT: You shall be eligible
                                    for home office equipment (e.g., computer,
                                    fax machine, business line with long
                                    distance, and internet access) on an
                                    as-needed basis, consistent with Company
                                    policy as in effect from time to time.

                           (8)      CELLULAR TELEPHONE: You shall be provided
                                    with cellular telephone equipment and
                                    service.

                           (9)      NEW YORK APARTMENT: The Company shall
                                    reimburse your for fifty percent (50%) of
                                    the cost of renting an apartment in New York
                                    City from July 1, 2000, through June 30,
                                    2002, and for twenty five percent (25%) of
                                    such cost from July 1, 2002, through June
                                    30, 2003.

                  (c) ANNUAL PHYSICAL -- You are encouraged to take an annual
physical examination from a physician at the Company's expense and to certify in
writing to the Company's designee each year (1) that you have had the
examination and (2) the nature and extent of any medical impairments that
prevent you from currently performing the essential functions of your position.

         11. SPECIAL RETENTION ACCOUNT PROGRAM -- By executing this Agreement,
you waive all of your rights under your Executive Severance Agreement with GTE
Service Corporation, dated June 4, 1998 (the "ESA"). In lieu of the benefits

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previously provided to you under your ESA, the Company shall establish a Special
Retention Account on your behalf under the GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan.
The balance in your Special Retention Account as of July 1, 2000, is $1,468,352.
You shall also be eligible for such other benefits as are provided under the GTE
Executive Salary Deferral Plan to employees with Special Retention Accounts. A
copy of the applicable provisions of the GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan
relating to the Special Retention Account is attached hereto as Exhibit C, which
is incorporated herein by reference. Your rights to the balance in your Special
Retention Account following the termination of your employment shall be governed
by the applicable provisions of the GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan, rather
than by the terms of paragraphs 13 ("Termination of Employment") and 14
("Release").

         12. EXCISE TAX GROSS-UP -- Under certain circumstances you may become
entitled to a gross-up payment with respect to the excise tax imposed by section
4999 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The terms governing the gross-up
payment are set forth in Exhibit D, which is incorporated herein by reference.

         13. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT -- (a) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY YOU --
You may terminate your employment under this Agreement for a reason other than
Retirement (as defined in subparagraph (c), below) at any time by giving the
Chief Executive Officers (or, if only one person holds that position, the Chief
Executive Officer) of the Company (the "CEO(s)") written notice of intent to
terminate, delivered at least 30 calendar days before the effective date of such
termination (such period not to include vacation). The termination shall
automatically become effective upon the expiration of the 30-day notice period.
Upon the effective date of such termination, your base salary and any other
Company benefits and perquisites shall cease to accrue, you shall forfeit all
then-outstanding stock options, and you shall forfeit all rights under this
Agreement which as of the relevant date have not yet been earned. A termination
of employment in accordance with this subparagraph (a) shall be deemed a
"Voluntary Termination."

                  (b) TERMINATION DUE TO DEATH OR DISABILITY -- If, during the
Term of Employment, you terminate employment because of death or disability (as
defined under the Company-sponsored long-term disability plan that applies to
you at the time your employment is so terminated), the Company shall make a
lump-sum cash payment to you equal to your base salary and short-term bonus (at
100% of target) for the remaining Term of Employment, reduced by any amounts
payable to you during the Term of Employment under Company-sponsored disability
plans, you shall be entitled to accelerated vesting of all outstanding stock
options, and you shall be entitled to exercise all then-outstanding stock
options until the earlier of (1) the fifth anniversary of the date your
employment terminates (or any later date

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prescribed by the terms of the option relating to termination of employment) or
(2) the expiration of the option; provided that if you terminate employment
because of death, your rights under this subparagraph (b) shall pass to your
estate. For this purpose, your base salary shall be based on your base salary
rate in effect immediately before your employment terminated.

                  (c) RETIREMENT -- If, during the Term of Employment, you
terminate employment by reason of Retirement (as defined below), you shall be
entitled to a pro-rated portion of any short-term and long-term bonuses (when
and to the extent that they are earned) and, except as otherwise provided in
subparagraph (g) ("Mandatory Retirement"), accelerated vesting of all
outstanding stock options (other than the Founders' Grant), and except as
otherwise provided in subparagraph (g) ("Mandatory Retirement"), you shall be
entitled to exercise all then-outstanding stock options (excluding nonvested
Founders' Grant options) until the earlier of (1) the fifth anniversary of the
date your employment terminates (or any later date prescribed by the terms of
the option relating to termination of employment) or (2) the expiration of the
option. For purposes of this Agreement, "Retirement" means retirement under the
terms of the Verizon Communications 2000 Broad-Based Incentive Plan. Except as
provided by the preceding provisions of this subparagraph (c), upon the
effective date of your Retirement, your base salary and any other Company
benefits and perquisites shall cease to accrue; provided that you shall
otherwise be eligible to receive any and all compensation and benefits for which
a similarly situated senior executive would be eligible under the applicable
provisions of the compensation and benefit plans in which he is then eligible to
participate, as those plans may be amended from time to time.

                  (d) TERMINATION FOR GOOD REASON -- (1) You may terminate your
employment under this Agreement for Good Reason by giving the CEO(s), at least
30 calendar days' (exclusive of vacation days) in advance of such termination
(the "Notice Period"), written notice of your intent to so terminate, setting
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances deemed to provide a basis
for such termination. For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means a
material breach by the Company of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, a
material reduction in your overall compensation opportunities, or your
assignment to a new principal work location that is more than 50 miles from your
previous principal work location. A "Good Reason" shall not occur merely because
of a change in the individual (or position) to whom (or to which) you report.

                           (2) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
have 15 calendar days from its receipt of such notice to cure the action
specified in the

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notice. In the event of a cure by the Company within the 15-day period, the
action in question shall not constitute Good Reason.

                           (3) Except as provided in subparagraph (d)(2), above,
at the end of the Notice Period, the Good Reason termination shall take effect,
and your obligation to serve the Company, and the Company's obligation to employ
you, under the terms of this Agreement shall terminate simultaneously, and you
shall be deemed to have incurred an Involuntary Termination Without Cause, with
the consequences described in subparagraph (e), below; provided that your rights
under this subparagraph (d) are contingent on your execution of a release in
accordance with paragraph 14 ("Release").

                           (4) If you do not fulfill the notice and explanation
requirements imposed by this subparagraph (d), the resulting termination of
employment shall be deemed a Voluntary Termination.

                  (e) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE -- The Company may
terminate your employment under this Agreement at any time and for any reason.
However, if the Company terminates your employment for any reason other than
death, disability, or Cause (as defined in subparagraph (f), below), such
termination shall be deemed an Involuntary Termination by the Company, and you
shall be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits in lieu of any
payment or benefit otherwise provided pursuant to paragraphs 6 ("Base Salary")
through 10 ("Benefits And Perquisites"):

                           (1)      The Company shall make a lump-sum cash
                                    severance payment to you equal to the excess
                                    of (i) 200% of the sum of your then-current
                                    annual base salary and your then-current
                                    target short-term bonus, over (ii) the sum
                                    of your then-current balance in your Special
                                    Retention Account, as determined under the
                                    GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan, and any
                                    amounts paid or payable to you under any
                                    Company-sponsored severance plan, program,
                                    policy, contract, account, or arrangement
                                    during the remaining Term of Employment;

                           (2)      Your unvested stock options shall
                                    immediately vest, and you may exercise all
                                    of your then-outstanding stock options at
                                    any time up to the earlier of (i) the fifth
                                    anniversary of the date your employment
                                    terminates (or any later date prescribed by
                                    the terms of the option

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                                    relating to termination of employment) or
                                    (ii) the expiration of the option; and

                           (3)      You shall be eligible for outplacement
                                    services to the extent that such services
                                    are then available to senior executives in
                                    your salary band;

provided that your rights under this subparagraph (e) are contingent on your
execution of a release in accordance with paragraph 14 ("Release").

                  (f) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION FOR CAUSE -- (1) Nothing in this
Agreement prevents the Company from terminating your employment under this
Agreement for Cause. In the event of your termination for Cause, the Company
shall pay you your full accrued base salary and accrued vacation time through
the date of your termination, you shall forfeit all then-outstanding stock
options if you are not eligible for Retirement at the time of your termination,
and the Company shall have no further obligations under this Agreement; provided
that you shall otherwise be eligible to receive any and all compensation and
benefits for which a similarly situated senior executive would be eligible under
the applicable provisions of the compensation and benefit plans in which he is
then eligible to participate, as those plans may be amended from time to time.

                           (2) For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" is
defined as (i) grossly incompetent performance or substantial or continuing
inattention to or neglect of the duties and responsibilities assigned to you;
fraud, misappropriation or embezzlement involving the Company or a material
breach of any provision incorporated in paragraph 15 ("Covenants"), as
determined by the CEO(s) in his/their discretion, or (ii) commission of any
felony of which you are finally adjudged guilty by a court of competent
jurisdiction.

                           (3) If the Company terminates your employment for
Cause, the Company shall provide you with a written statement of the grounds for
such termination within 10 business days after the date of termination.

                  (g) MANDATORY RETIREMENT -- If you retire at or after age 65
because you are required to do so by the Company's mandatory retirement policy,
your retirement shall not be deemed an Involuntary Termination by the Company
for purposes of this Agreement, your unvested stock options shall immediately
vest, and you may exercise all of your then-outstanding stock options at any
time up to the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the date your employment
terminates (or any later date prescribed by the terms of the option relating to
termination of employment) or (ii) the expiration of the option.

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         14. RELEASE -- You shall not be entitled to any benefits under this
Agreement following the termination of your employment unless, at the time your
employment terminates, you execute a release satisfactory to the Company
releasing the Company, its affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers,
employees, representatives, and agents and their successors and assigns from any
and all employment-related claims you or your successors and beneficiaries might
then have against them (excluding any claims you might then have under this
Agreement, or any employee benefit plan that is subject to the vesting standards
imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended).
This paragraph 14 shall not apply if your employment is terminated by reason of
your Retirement, disability, or death.

         15. COVENANTS -- In consideration for the benefits and agreements
described above, you agree to comply with the covenants set forth in Exhibit E
hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

         16. REQUEST FOR WAIVER -- Nothing in this Agreement bars you from
requesting, at the time of your termination of employment or at any time
thereafter, that the CEO(s), in his/their sole discretion, waive in writing the
Company's rights to enforce some or all of the provisions incorporated in
paragraph 15 ("Covenants").

         17. OTHER AGREEMENTS AND POLICIES -- The obligations imposed on you by
paragraph 15 ("Covenants") are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any and all
other policies and agreements of the Company regarding the subject matter of the
foregoing obligations.

         18. NONDUPLICATION OF BENEFITS -- No provision of this Agreement shall
require the Company to provide you with any payment, benefit, or grant that
duplicates any payment, benefit, or grant that you are entitled to receive under
any Company compensation or benefit plan, award agreement, or other arrangement.

         19. OTHER COMPANY PLANS -- Except to the extent otherwise explicitly
provided by this Agreement, any awards made to you under any Company
compensation or benefit plan or program shall be governed by the terms of that
plan or program and any applicable award agreement thereunder as in effect from
time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be entitled to
participate in any Company compensation or benefit plan that is established
after your employment with the Company terminates, and except as specifically
provided in this Agreement, you shall not be entitled to any additional grants
or awards under any Company compensation or benefit plan after your employment
with the Company

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terminates. The amounts paid, provided, or credited under this Agreement shall
not be treated as compensation for purposes of determining any benefits payable
under any Company-sponsored pension, savings, life insurance, or other employee
benefit plan except to the extent provided by the terms of such plan.

         20. FORFEITURE -- (a) If you breach any of the obligations incorporated
in paragraph 15 ("Covenants"), or engage in serious misconduct during the Term
of Employment that is contrary to written policies of the Company and is harmful
to the Company or its reputation, you shall forfeit (1) all interest and other
gains on compensation deferred under any Company-sponsored deferred compensation
arrangement (other than the Special Retention Account Program) to the extent
that such deferred compensation accrues after you execute this Agreement, and
(2) any unpaid incentive compensation (such as performance bonus awards under
the GTE Long-Term Incentive Plan) that you are otherwise entitled to receive.

                  (b) The remedies available under this paragraph are in
addition to, and not in lieu of, the remedies available under paragraph 27
("Additional Remedies").

         21. NO DEEMED WAIVER -- Failure to insist upon strict compliance with
any of the terms, covenants, or conditions of this Agreement shall not be deemed
a waiver of such term, covenant, or condition, nor shall any waiver or
relinquishment of any right or power hereunder at any one or more times be
deemed a waiver or relinquishment of such right or power at any other time or
times.

         22. TAXES -- The Company may withhold from any benefits payable under
this Agreement all taxes that the Company reasonably determines to be required
pursuant to any law, regulation, or ruling. However, it is your obligation to
pay all required taxes on any amounts and benefits provided under this
Agreement, including the benefits provided to you pursuant to paragraph 10(b)
("Perquisites"), regardless of whether withholding is required; provided that if
you recognize income for income tax purposes as a result of the use of an
apartment in accordance with paragraph 10(b)(9) ("Apartment"), regardless of
whether you recognize such income before or after your employment terminates,
the Company shall make a tax gross-up payment to you based on the additional tax
liability that you incur by reason of your recognition of such income.

         23. CONFIDENTIALITY -- Except to the extent otherwise required by law,
you shall not disclose, in whole or in part, any of the terms of this Agreement.
This paragraph 23 does not prevent you from disclosing the terms of this
Agreement to your spouse or to your legal, tax, or financial adviser, provided
that you take all

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October 3, 2000
Page 12

reasonable measures to assure that he or she does not disclose the terms of this
Agreement to a third party except as otherwise required by law.

         24. GOVERNING LAW -- To the extent not preempted by federal law, the
provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule
or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this
provision to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

         25. ASSIGNMENT -- Verizon may, without your consent, assign its rights
and obligations under this Agreement to any entity that is a part of the
Company, and if Verizon makes such an assignment, all references in this
Agreement to Verizon (except for references to Verizon common stock) shall be
deemed to refer to the assignee. However, you may not assign your rights and
obligations under this Agreement.

         26. SEVERABILITY -- The agreements contained herein and within the
release prescribed by paragraph 14 ("Release") shall each constitute a separate
agreement independently supported by good and adequate consideration, and shall
each be severable from the other provisions of the Agreement and such release.
If an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction determines that any term,
provision, or portion of this Agreement or such release is void, illegal, or
unenforceable, the other terms, provisions, and portions of this Agreement or
such release shall remain in full force and effect, and the terms, provisions,
and portions that are determined to be void, illegal, or unenforceable shall
either be limited so that they shall remain in effect to the extent permissible
by law, or such arbitrator or court shall substitute, to the extent enforceable,
provisions similar thereto or other provisions, so as to provide to the Company,
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the benefits intended by this
Agreement and such release.

         27. ADDITIONAL REMEDIES -- In addition to any other rights or remedies,
whether legal, equitable, or otherwise, that each of the parties to this
Agreement may have, you acknowledge that

                  (a)      The covenants incorporated in paragraph 15
                           ("Covenants") are essential to the continued good
                           will and profitability of the Company;

                  (b)      You have broad-based skills that will serve as the
                           basis for employment opportunities that are not
                           prohibited by the covenants incorporated in paragraph
                           15 ("Covenants");

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                  (c)      When your employment with the Company terminates, you
                           shall be able to earn a livelihood without violating
                           any of the terms of this Agreement;

                  (d)      Irreparable damage to the Company shall result in the
                           event that the covenants incorporated in paragraph 15
                           ("Covenants") are not specifically enforced and that
                           monetary damages will not adequately protect the
                           Company from a breach of these paragraphs of the
                           Agreement;

                  (e)      If any dispute arises concerning the violation by you
                           of the covenants incorporated in paragraph 15
                           ("Covenants"), an injunction may be issued
                           restraining such violation pending the determination
                           of such controversy, and no bond or other security
                           shall be required in connection therewith;

                  (f)      Such covenants shall continue to apply after any
                           expiration, termination, or cancellation of this
                           Agreement; and

                  (g)      Your breach of any of such covenants shall result in
                           your immediate forfeiture of all rights under this
                           Agreement.

         28. SURVIVAL -- The provisions of paragraphs 15 ("Covenants") through
30 ("Entire Agreement") shall survive the Term of Employment. In addition, if
your employment continues after the Term of Employment, you shall be subject to
the obligations imposed by each of such paragraphs with respect to such
employment. Any obligations that the Company has incurred under this Agreement
to provide benefits that have vested under the terms of this Agreement
(including the Company's obligations under paragraph 13(c) ("Retirement")) shall
likewise survive the Term of Employment. In addition, to the extent that your
employment with the Company continues after the Term of Employment, the
Company's obligations under paragraph 10(b)(9) ("New York Apartment") shall
survive the Term of Employment (but not beyond June 30, 2003). Except as
provided by the preceding provisions of this paragraph 28, the terms of your
employment after the end of the Term of Employment shall not be governed by this
Agreement.

         29. ARBITRATION -- Any dispute arising out of or relating to this
Agreement (except any dispute arising out of or relating to paragraph 15
("Covenants")), and any dispute arising out of or relating to your employment,
shall be settled by final and binding arbitration, which shall be the exclusive
means of resolving any such dispute, and the parties specifically waive all
rights to pursue any other remedy, recourse, or relief. With respect to disputes
by the Company arising out of or

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October 3, 2000
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relating to paragraph 15 ("Covenants"), the Company has retained all its rights
to legal and equitable recourse and relief, including but not limited to
injunctive relief, as referred to in paragraph 27 ("Additional Remedies"). The
arbitration shall be expedited and conducted in the State of New York pursuant
to the Center for Public Resources ("CPR") Rules for Non-Administered
Arbitration in effect at the time of notice of the dispute before one neutral
arbitrator appointed by CPR from the CPR Panel of neutrals unless the parties
mutually agree to the appointment of a different neutral arbitrator. The
arbitration shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. sections
1-16, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by
any court having jurisdiction. The finding of the arbitrator may not change the
express terms of this Agreement and shall be consistent with the arbitrator's
understanding of the findings a court of proper jurisdiction would make in
applying the applicable law to the facts underlying the dispute. In no event
whatsoever shall such an arbitration award include any award of damages other
than the amounts in controversy under this Agreement. The parties waive the
right to recover, in such arbitration, punitive damages. Each party hereby
agrees that New York City is the proper venue for any litigation seeking to
enforce any provision of this Agreement or to enforce any arbitration award
under this paragraph 29, and each party hereby waives any right it otherwise
might have to defend, oppose, or object to, on the basis of jurisdiction, venue,
or forum nonconveniens, a suit filed by the other party in any federal or state
court in New York City to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to enforce
any arbitration award under this paragraph 29. Each party also waives any right
it might otherwise have to seek to transfer from a federal or state court in New
York City a suit filed by the other party to enforce any provision of this
Agreement or to enforce any arbitration award under this paragraph 29.

         30. ENTIRE AGREEMENT -- Except for the terms of the compensation and
benefit plans in which you participate, this Agreement, including the Exhibits
hereto, sets forth the entire understanding of you and the Company, and
supersedes all prior agreements and communications, whether oral or written,
between the Company (or GTE or Bell Atlantic or any of their respective
subsidiaries) and you regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, including
your ESA and any severance arrangement provided under a merger agreement. This
Agreement shall not be modified except by written agreement of you and Verizon.

<PAGE>   15

Mr. Lawrence R. Whitman
October 3, 2000
Page 15

Larry, we believe that this Agreement provides you and your family with both
financial security and great opportunity as our industry and the Company evolve.
We recognize that the challenges facing us are formidable and that you will be
assuming very substantial responsibilities in meeting those challenges. It is
our hope that this Agreement provides you with opportunities commensurate with
the commitment that we expect from you. Please indicate your acceptance by
signing below and returning the signed Agreement to us within ten business days
after your receipt of this Agreement.

Sincerely yours,

Charles R. Lee                       Ivan G. Seidenberg

           Co-Chief Executive Officers

cc: E. Singer

I agree to the terms described above.

-----------------------------------------------
Lawrence R. Whitman

Attachments:          Exhibit A - Founders' Grant
                      Exhibit B - Performance Share Retention Unit Grant
                      Exhibit C - Special Retention Account Program
                      Exhibit D - Excise Tax Gross-Up
                      Exhibit E - Covenants

<PAGE>   16

                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                           VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                     FOUNDERS' GRANT STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT between Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") and the
participant identified on the attached signature page (the "Participant").

1.       Purpose of Agreement. The purpose of this Agreement is to provide a
         one-time grant of a stock option to the Participant in light of the
         merger of Bell Atlantic Corporation and GTE Corporation and the
         creation of Verizon Communications Inc. This grant shall be known as
         the "Founders' Grant."

2.       Agreement. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the terms of the
         plan identified on the attached signature page (the "Plan") and
         evidences the grant of a nonqualified stock option (the "Option") to
         the Participant to purchase shares of Verizon's Common Stock ("Common
         Stock") pursuant to the Plan. This Option is not an incentive stock
         option. The Option and this Agreement are subject to the terms and
         provisions of the Plan. (The Participant may request a copy of the Plan
         from the Verizon Communications Inc. Executive Compensation and
         Benefits Department.) By executing this Agreement, the Participant
         agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Plan, by the
         actions of the Plan Administrator, by the actions of the Human
         Resources Committee of Verizon's Board of Directors or any successor
         thereto (the "Committee") or any designee of the Committee, and by the
         actions of Verizon's Board of Directors pursuant to the Plan.

3.       Contingency. The Founders' Grant is contingent on the Participant's
         timely execution of this Agreement and the agreement to which this
         Agreement is an exhibit. If the Participant does not timely execute
         this Agreement and the agreement to which this Agreement is an exhibit,
         the Participant shall not receive the Founders' Grant.

4.       Date. The date of the grant of the Option is specified on the attached
         signature page.

5.       Number of Shares. The number of shares of Common Stock as to which the
         option is granted is specified on the attached signature page.

6.       Option Price. The option price per share is specified on the attached
         signature page.

<PAGE>   17

7.   (a) Option Period and Vesting Schedule. The period for which the Option
         is granted is until the earlier of June 30, 2010, or five years from
         the Participant's separation from employment with the Company under the
         circumstances described in subsections (b)(1) through (b)(6) (the
         "Option Period"). In no event shall the Option be exercisable after the
         Option Period, and the Option may expire earlier as set forth in
         Section 7(b) ("Separation from Employment"). Except as set forth in
         Section 7(b), the Option may not be exercised until June 30, 2003, when
         the Option shall become exercisable in full; provided that upon the
         occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in the Plan), the Option
         shall be exercisable in full.

     (b) Separation from Employment. The Option may be terminated prior to
         the expiration of the Option Period, and the date when the Option may
         first be exercised may be modified, in accordance with the following
         terms and conditions:

         (1)      Voluntary Separation and Discharge for Cause. If the
                  Participant quits or otherwise separates from the Company
                  under circumstances not described in Section 7(b)(2)
                  ("Retirement") through (b)(6) ("Death") below, or if the
                  Participant is discharged from employment with the Company for
                  Cause (as defined below) and subsection (b)(2) below does not
                  apply, this subsection (b)(1) shall apply. If the Participant
                  separates from the Company before the date on which the Option
                  becomes exercisable under Section 7(a), the Option shall be
                  forfeited. If the Participant separates from the Company on or
                  after the date on which the Option becomes exercisable under
                  Section 7(a), the Option may be exercisable in full during the
                  Option Period, i.e., until the earlier of June 30, 2010, or
                  five years from the Participant's separation from employment
                  with the Company.

         (2)      Retirement. (A) If the Participant Retires (as defined below)
                  and subsections (b)(3) through (b)(6) below do not apply, this
                  subsection (b)(2) shall apply. Except as provided in
                  subsection (b)(2)(B), below, if the Participant Retires before
                  the date on which the Option becomes exercisable under Section
                  7(a), the Option shall be forfeited. If the Participant
                  Retires on or after the date on which the Option becomes
                  exercisable under Section 7(a), the Option may be exercisable
                  in full during the Option Period, i.e., until the earlier of
                  June 30, 2010, or five years from the Participant's separation
                  from employment with the Company.

                                                                     Exhibit A-2
<PAGE>   18

                  (B) If the Participant retires at or after age 65 because the
                  Participant is required to do so by the Company's mandatory
                  retirement policy, the Option shall be immediately exercisable
                  in full. In no event shall the Option be exercisable after the
                  Option Period, i.e., after the earlier of June 30, 2010, or
                  five years from the Participant's separation from employment
                  with the Company.

         (3)      Involuntary Discharge Without Cause. If the Company discharges
                  the Participant without Cause (as defined below), such as by
                  reason of a Company-initiated, voluntary or involuntary, force
                  management or force reduction program or initiative, the
                  Option shall be immediately exercisable in full. In no event
                  shall the Option be exercisable after the Option Period, i.e.,
                  after the earlier of June 30, 2010, or five years from the
                  Participant's separation from employment with the Company. For
                  purposes of this subsection (b)(3), a Participant's separation
                  from employment with the Company occurs on the last day the
                  Participant is on the payroll of the Company. This subsection
                  (b)(3) shall not apply to a Participant whose employment is
                  terminated for refusal to accept a reassignment that involves
                  no relocation or downgrade.

         (4)      Termination for Good Reason. If the Participant terminates
                  employment for Good Reason (as defined in the employment
                  agreement to which this Agreement is an exhibit), the Option
                  shall be immediately exercisable in full. In no event shall
                  the Option be exercisable after the Option Period, i.e., after
                  the earlier of June 30, 2010, or five years from the
                  Participant's separation from employment with the Company. For
                  purposes of this subsection (b)(4), a Participant's separation
                  from employment with the Company occurs on the last day the
                  Participant is on the payroll of the Company.

         (5)      Disability. If the Participant's separation from employment
                  with the Company occurs as a result of total and permanent
                  disability, as defined under the Company-sponsored long-term
                  disability plan that applies to the Participant (or, if the
                  Participant is not covered by a long-term disability plan, as
                  defined in such plan or in such manner as the Plan
                  Administrator determines), the Option shall be immediately
                  exercisable in full. In no event shall the Option be
                  exercisable after the Option Period, i.e., after the earlier
                  of June 30, 2010, or five years from the Participant's
                  separation from employment with the Company. For purposes of
                  this

                                                                     Exhibit A-3
<PAGE>   19

                  subsection (b)(5), a Participant's separation from employment
                  with the Company occurs on the later of the last day the
                  Participant is (i) on the payroll of the Company or (ii) on
                  short-term disability.

         (6)      Death. If the Participant's separation from employment with
                  the Company occurs as a result of death, the Option shall be
                  immediately exercisable in full by the Participant's
                  beneficiary. If the Participant dies after separation from
                  employment with the Company, but while the Option is
                  exercisable in accordance with subsections (b)(1) ("Voluntary
                  Separation and Discharge for Cause") through (b)(5)
                  ("Disability") above, the Participant's beneficiary may
                  exercise the Option to the extent that the Option has become
                  exercisable in accordance with such subsections. In no event
                  shall the Option be exercisable after the Option Period, i.e.,
                  after the earlier of June 30, 2010, or five years from the
                  Participant's separation from employment with the Company.

         (7)      Termination of Option. Upon the expiration of any period
                  during which the Option is exercisable in accordance with the
                  preceding provisions of this Section 7(b), the Option shall
                  terminate and shall not thereafter be exercisable.

         (8)      Transfer. Transfer of employment from Verizon to a Related
                  Company, from a Related Company to Verizon, or from one
                  Related Company to another Related Company shall not
                  constitute a separation from employment with the Company
                  hereunder.

         (9)      Retirement. For purposes of this Section 7(b), "Retire" means
                  (A) to retire with a right to an immediate normal retirement,
                  early retirement or service pension under the
                  Company-sponsored tax-qualified final average pay defined
                  benefit pension plan (excluding from this definition any cash
                  balance plan) in which the Participant actively participates,
                  (B) if the Participant does not actively participate in such a
                  tax-qualified final average pay defined benefit pension plan,
                  to retire (i) after attaining normal retirement age under the
                  Company-sponsored cash balance plan or nonqualified defined
                  benefit pension plan in which the Participant actively
                  participates, or (ii) with a combination of age and years of
                  service (as calculated for retirement-eligibility purposes)
                  that equals or exceeds any of the following combinations:

                                                                     Exhibit A-4
<PAGE>   20

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       AGE EQUAL TO OR                             SERVICE EQUAL TO OR
        GREATER THAN:                                 GREATER THAN:
        -------------                                 -------------
<S>                                                <C>
           Any age                                       30 years
              50                                         25 years
              55                                         20 years
              60                                         15 years
              65                                         10 years
</TABLE>

                  or (C) retirement under any other circumstances determined in
                  writing by the Plan Administrator.

         (10)     Cause. For purposes of this Section 7(b), "Cause" is defined
                  as (i) grossly incompetent performance or substantial or
                  continuing inattention to or neglect of the duties and
                  responsibilities assigned to the Participant; fraud,
                  misappropriation or embezzlement involving the Company or a
                  material breach of any provision incorporated in paragraph 15
                  ("Covenants") of the agreement to which this Agreement is an
                  exhibit, as determined by the CEO(s) in his/their discretion,
                  or (ii) commission of any felony of which the Participant is
                  finally adjudged guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

8.   (a) Exercise. The Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, as
         permitted under this Agreement, by making payment in accordance with
         subsection (b), below, and by delivering to the Executive VP - Human
         Resources (the "EVP HR") or to any delegate of the EVP HR ("Delegate")
         a notice of exercise in the form approved by the EVP HR or in any other
         manner approved by the EVP HR. The Participant shall be informed in
         writing of the appointment, if any, of a Delegate.

     (b) Payment of Option Price. To exercise the Option, the Participant
         must pay the Option Price by one of the following methods:

         (1)      (i) check or wire transfer, (ii) surrender of Common Stock
                  that has been held by the Participant for at least six months,
                  or (iii) a combination of both (i) and (ii);

         (2)      subject to the prior written approval of the Committee, a
                  recourse promissory note; or

         (3)      subject to the prior written approval of the EVP HR, the
                  administrator of the stock option program may pay the Option

                                                                     Exhibit A-5
<PAGE>   21

                  Price on behalf of the Participant subject to such terms and
                  conditions as the administrator may impose.

               For purposes of an exchange of Common Stock in subsection (b)(1),
               above, the value of a share of Common Stock used to pay the
               Option Price shall be equal to the average of the high and low
               sales prices of shares of Common Stock traded on the New York
               Stock Exchange (or any other exchange or reporting system
               selected by the Committee) on the date the Option is exercised,
               or if there are no sales of Common Stock reported for that date,
               on the date or dates that the Committee determines, in its sole
               discretion, to be appropriate for purposes of valuation.

               The Participant may be charged an administrative fee or fees in
               connection with the exercise of the Option.

9. Notice and Date of Exercise. The notice of exercise shall indicate the number
of shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised. The Option may
not be exercised with respect to fractional shares. In addition, the Option may
not be exercised if the administrator of the stock option program determines
that, at the time of an attempted exercise, the fair market value of the shares
with respect to which the Option is being exercised is either below the Option
Price with respect to such shares or not sufficiently above such Option Price to
cover any applicable taxes and administrative fees. Subject to the conditions
and restrictions set forth in this Agreement, the date of exercise of the Option
shall be the later of (a) the date on which the notice of exercise in the
approved form is received in the office of the EVP HR or in the office of the
Delegate or (b) the date on which either (i) full payment of the Option Price
and any required tax withholding is received by the EVP HR or the Delegate or
(ii) the administrator of the stock option program is irrevocably committed to
make such payment. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no shares shall be
issued until full payment is received by the EVP HR or the Delegate. Upon the
exercise of the Option and receipt of full payment, Verizon shall, as soon as
practicable, issue or deliver certificates for the number of shares acquired
thereby, subject to the conditions and restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
If the Participant dies following the exercise of all or part of the Option, but
before issuance or delivery of the shares, such shares shall be issued or
delivered to the Participant's beneficiary.

10. Shareholder Rights. The Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder
with respect to shares of Common Stock to which the Option relates until the
date on which the Participant becomes the holder of record of such shares.
Except as provided by the Plan, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or
other rights for which the record date is prior to such date.

11. Amendment of Option. The Committee may not, without the written consent of
the Participant, revoke this Agreement insofar as it relates to the Option
granted

                                                                     Exhibit A-6
<PAGE>   22

hereunder, and may not without such written consent make or change any
determination or change any term, condition or provision affecting the Option if
the determination or change would materially and adversely affect the Option or
the Participant's rights thereto.

12. Assignment. The Option shall not be assignable or transferable except by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the Participant's
lifetime, the Option may be exercised only by the Participant or by the
Participant's guardian or legal representative.

13. Beneficiary. The Participant shall designate a beneficiary in writing and in
such manner as is acceptable to the EVP HR or the Delegate. If the Participant
fails to so designate a beneficiary, or if no such designated beneficiary
survives the Participant, the Participant's beneficiary shall be the
Participant's beneficiary under the Company-paid group life insurance plan in
which the Participant participates at the time of the Participant's death. If
the Participant does not participate in a Company-paid group life insurance plan
at the time of the Participant's death, the Participant's beneficiary shall be
the Participant's estate.

14. Other Plans and Agreements. Any gain realized by the Participant pursuant to
this Agreement shall not be taken into account as compensation in the
determination of the Participant's benefits under any pension, savings, group
insurance, or other benefit plan maintained by the Company, except as determined
by the board of directors of Verizon or, in the case of a plan not maintained by
Verizon, the Related Company that maintains the plan. The Participant
acknowledges that receipt of this Agreement or any prior stock option agreement
shall not entitle the Participant to any other benefits under the Plan or any
other plans maintained by the Company.

15. Company and Related Company. For purposes of this Agreement, "Company" means
Verizon and Related Companies. "Related Company" means (i) any corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other entity in which Verizon holds a direct or
indirect ownership or proprietary interest of 50 percent or more, or (ii) any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which Verizon holds
an ownership or proprietary interest of less than 50 percent but which, in the
discretion of the Committee, is treated as a Related Company for purposes of
this Agreement.

16. Employment Status. The grant of the Option shall not be deemed to constitute
a contract of employment between the Company and the Participant, nor shall it
constitute a right to remain in the employ of the Company.

17. Withholding. It shall be a condition to the issuance or delivery of shares
of Common Stock as to which the Option shall have been exercised that provisions
satisfactory to the Company shall have been made for payment of any taxes
reasonably determined by the Company or the Delegate to be required to be paid

                                                                     Exhibit A-7
<PAGE>   23

or withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. The Participant may
irrevocably elect to have the minimum required amount of any withholding tax
obligation satisfied by (a) having shares withheld that are otherwise to be
issued or delivered to the Participant with respect to the exercise of the
Option, (b) delivering to the Company or the Delegate other shares of Common
Stock that have been held by the Participant for at least six months, or (c) any
other method approved by the EVP HR of which the Participant may be informed in
writing.

18. Securities Laws. If at the time of any exercise of the Option in whole or in
part, the Company deems it to be a violation of any federal or state securities
law or regulation to issue or deliver its shares pursuant to such exercise, the
Company, at its sole option, may reject such exercise and return the tender or
make application for such qualification or registration as the Company deems
advisable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of
Common Stock prior to the admission of such shares to listing on any stock
exchange on which the stock may then be listed and the completion of any
registration or qualification of such shares under any federal or state law or
rulings or regulations of any government body that the Company, in its sole
discretion, determines to be necessary or advisable.

19. Committee Authority. The Committee shall have complete discretion in the
exercise of its rights, powers, and duties under this Agreement. Any
interpretation or construction of any provision of, and the determination of any
question arising under, this Agreement shall be made by the Committee in its
sole discretion and shall be final, conclusive, and binding. The Committee may
designate any individual or individuals to perform any of its functions
hereunder.

20. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit
of, any successor or successors of Verizon and the person or entity to whom the
Option may have been transferred by will, the laws of descent and distribution,
or beneficiary designation. All terms and conditions of this Agreement imposed
upon the Participant shall, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, be
deemed, in the event of the Participant's death, to refer to and be binding upon
such last-mentioned person or entity.

21. Construction. This Agreement is intended to grant the Option upon the terms
and conditions authorized by the Plan. Any provisions of this Agreement that
cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed shall be disregarded. In
the event that any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable
by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be considered
separate and apart from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall remain in
full force and effect. In the event that any provision is held to be
unenforceable for being unduly broad as written, such provision shall be deemed
amended to narrow its application to the extent necessary to make the provision
enforceable according to applicable law and shall be enforced as amended.

                                                                     Exhibit A-8
<PAGE>   24

22. Defined Terms. Except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, all
capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions ascribed to them by the
Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall apply where appropriate.

23. Execution of Agreement. The Participant shall indicate consent to the terms
of this Agreement and the Plan by executing the attached signature page which is
made a part of this Agreement.

24. Confidentiality. Except to the extent otherwise required by law, the
Participant shall not disclose, in whole or in part any of the terms of this
Agreement. This Section 24 does not prevent the Participant from disclosing the
terms of this Agreement to the Participant's spouse or to the Participant's
legal, tax, or financial adviser, provided that the Participant take all
reasonable measures to assure that he or she does not disclose the terms of this
Agreement to a third party except as otherwise required by law.

                                                                     Exhibit A-9
<PAGE>   25

                                 SIGNATURE PAGE

By executing this page, the undersigned Participant agrees to be bound by the
terms of the Plan and the Founders' Grant Stock Option Agreement, the terms of
which are incorporated herein by reference, in connection with the following
grant to the Participant under the Plan:

<TABLE>
<S>                                        <C>
NAME OF PARTICIPANT:                       LAWRENCE WHITMAN

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:                    [SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER]

DATE OF GRANT:                             SEPT. 7, 2000

NUMBER OF SHARES:                          130,000

OPTION PRICE:                              $43.34

PLAN FROM WHICH OPTIONS ARE AWARDED:       1997 GTE LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
</TABLE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Verizon Communications Inc., by its duly authorized Officer,
and the Participant have executed this Agreement.

                           VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

     By:
          ---------------------------              ---------------------------
           Charles R. Lee                          Ivan G. Seidenberg

                           Co-Chief Executive Officers

                                                   ----------------------------
                                                        Participant

                                                   ----------------------------
                                                        Date

Please indicate your acceptance by signing above and returning the signed
Agreement to us within ten business days after your receipt of this Agreement.

Please complete the Beneficiary Designation form on the back side.

<PAGE>   26
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                           VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                   PERFORMANCE SHARE RETENTION UNIT AGREEMENT

         AGREEMENT between Verizon Communications Inc. ("Verizon") and the
participant identified on the attached signature page (the "Participant").

         1. Purpose of Agreement. The purpose of this Agreement is to provide a
one-time grant of restricted stock units to the Participant, as a senior
management employee of Verizon, in light of the merger of GTE Corporation and
Bell Atlantic Corporation and the creation of Verizon Communications Inc. The
restricted stock units that are the subject of this grant shall be known as
"Performance Share Retention Units."

         2. Agreement. This Agreement is entered into pursuant to the terms of
the plan or plans specified on the attached signature page (the "Plan"), and
evidences the grant of a stock-based award in the form of restricted stock units
("RSUs") pursuant to the Plan. The Agreement is subject to the terms and
provisions of the Plan. By execution of this Agreement, the Participant
acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and further agrees to be bound
thereby and by the actions of the Human Resources Committee of Verizon's Board
of Directors or any successor thereto (the "Committee") and Verizon's Board of
Directors pursuant to the Plan.

         3. Contingency. The grant of Performance Share Retention Units is
contingent on the Participant's timely execution of this Agreement and the
agreement to which this Agreement is an exhibit. If the Participant does not
timely execute this Agreement and the agreement to which this Agreement is an
exhibit, the Participant shall not receive the grant of Performance Share
Retention Units.

         4. Number of Units. The Participant is granted the number of RSUs
specified on the attached signature page as of July 1, 2000. An RSU is a
hypothetical share of Verizon's Common Stock. The value of an RSU on any given
date shall be equal to the closing price of Verizon's Common Stock as of such
date. An RSU does not represent an equity interest in Verizon and carries no
voting rights. A Dividend Equivalent Unit ("DEU") or fraction thereof shall be
added to each RSU each time that a dividend is paid on Verizon's Common Stock.
The amount of each DEU shall be equal to the dividend paid on a share of
Verizon's Common Stock. The DEU shall be converted into RSUs or fractions
thereof based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of Verizon's
Common Stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange on the dividend payment date
of each declared dividend on Verizon's Common Stock, and such RSUs or fractions
thereof shall be added to the Participant's RSU balance.

                                                                    Exhibit B-1

<PAGE>   27

         5. Grant Date. The Grant Date for this RSU grant shall be the Grant
Date specified on the attached signature page.

         6. Vesting.

            (a) For purposes of vesting, this RSU grant shall be divided into
         three tranches, each of which shall include the following percentage of
         the total number of RSUs granted pursuant to paragraph 4, above, and
         any additional RSUs that are attributable to DEUs on RSUs in that
         tranche:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Tranche                    Percentage of Initial RSUs
                -------                    --------------------------
                <S>                        <C>
                   1                                  50%

                   2                                  25%

                   3                                  25%
</TABLE>

            (b) Tranche 1.

                (1) Tranche 1 shall vest on the basis of the Participant's
            continued employment with Verizon after the Grant Date. The vesting
            schedule for Tranche 1 shall be as set forth in the following table:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Years of Service                Percentage to              Aggregate Percentage
                                                              Vest                         Vested
                         ----------------                -------------              --------------------
                         <S>                             <C>                        <C>
                           less than 3                         0%                             0%
                                3                             50%                            50%
                                4                             25%                            75%
                            5 or more                         25%                           100%
</TABLE>

                (2) For purposes for the table set forth in subparagraph (1),
            above--

                    (i) "Years of Service" shall mean full years of continuous
                employment with Verizon following June 30, 2000. There shall be
                no proration or interpolation for partial years of service.

                    (ii) "Percentage to Vest" shall mean the percentage of
                Tranche 1 that first vests upon attainment of the applicable
                period of service. It does not mean the aggregate percentage of
                Tranche 1 that is vested at that time.

                                                                    Exhibit B-2
<PAGE>   28

                    (iii) "Aggregate Percentage Vested" shall mean the aggregate
                percentage of Tranche 1 that is vested upon completion of the
                specified period of service. It does not mean the percentage of
                Tranche 1 that first becomes vested upon completion of the
                specified period of service.

            (c) Tranche 2. Subject to continuous employment requirement set
         forth in paragraph 6(e), below, Tranche 2 shall vest based on the
         growth of Verizon's annual revenues as follows--

                (1) As set forth in the following table, if Verizon's annual
            revenues in the "Target Year" exceed Verizon's revenues in the
            "Baseline Year" by the "Revenue Growth Goal" or more, the applicable
            percentage of Tranche 2 shall vest:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     Revenue                         Aggregate
                                                     Growth          Percentage      Percentage
                   Target Year    Baseline Year        Goal            to Vest        Vested
                   -----------    -------------      -------         ----------      ----------
                   <S>            <C>                <C>             <C>             <C>
                       2002            2000            15.5%              50%            N/A
                       2003            2002             7.5%              25%            N/A
                       2004            2003             7.5%              25%            N/A
</TABLE>

                (2) For purposes of the table set forth in subparagraph (c)(1),
            above--

                    (i) Revenues shall be determined by the Plan Administrator.

                    (ii) "Percentage to Vest" shall mean the percentage of
                Tranche 2 that first vests upon attainment of the applicable
                Revenue Growth Goal. It does not mean the aggregate percentage
                of Tranche 2 that is vested at that time.

                    (iii) The "Aggregate Percentage Vested" column is not
                applicable to Tranche 2 because the vesting of each portion of
                Tranche 2 is independent of the vesting of any other portion of
                Tranche 2. If Verizon meets the Revenue Growth Goal for Target
                Year 2003 or 2004, and the Participant satisfies the continuous
                employment requirement of paragraph 6(e), below, the applicable
                percentage of Tranche 2 shall vest whether or not the portion of
                Tranche 2 related to an earlier Target Year has vested.

                                                                    Exhibit B-3
<PAGE>   29

            (d) Tranche 3. Subject to continuous employment requirement set
         forth in paragraph 6(e), below, Tranche 3 shall vest based on growth of
         earnings per share of Verizon's common stock ("EPS") as follows--

                (1) As set forth in the following table, if the EPS in the
            "Target Year" exceeds the EPS in the "Baseline Year" by the "EPS
            Growth Goal" or more, the applicable percentage of Tranche 3 shall
            be vested:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      EPS                           Aggregate
                                                     Growth        Percentage       Percentage
                   Target Year    Baseline Year       Goal           to Vest          Vested
                   -----------    -------------      -------    -----------------   ----------
                   <S>            <C>                <C>        <C>                 <C>
                       2002            2000             17%            50%               50%
                       2003            2000             31%         25% or 75%           75%
                       2004            2000            46.5%    25%, 50%, or 100%       100%
</TABLE>

----------

* This column is explained in paragraph 6(d)(2)(ii), below.

                (2) For purposes of the table set forth in subparagraph (d)(1),
            above--

                    (i) EPS shall be determined by the Plan Administrator.

                    (ii) "Percentage to Vest" shall mean percentage of Tranche 3
                that first vests upon attainment of the applicable EPS Growth
                Goal. It is stated in the alternative due to the cumulative
                nature of the EPS Growth Goals for Tranche 3, all of which use
                Baseline Year 2000. Subject to the continuous employment
                requirement set forth in paragraph 6(e), the "Percentage to
                Vest" of Tranche 3 shall be as follows--

                         (A) Target Year 2002. If the EPS Growth Goal for Target
                    Year 2002 is attained, 50% of Tranche 3 shall vest.

                         (B) Target Year 2003. If the EPS Growth Goal for Target
                    Year 2003 is attained: (1) 25% of Tranche 3 shall vest, and,
                    (2) an additional 50% of Tranche 3 shall also vest if the
                    EPS Goal for Target Year 2002 was not attained at the end of
                    Target Year 2002.

                         (C) Target Year 2004. If the EPS Growth Goal for Target
                    Year 2004 is attained: (1) 25% of Tranche 3 shall vest, (2)
                    an additional 25% of Tranche 3 shall also

                                                                    Exhibit B-4
<PAGE>   30

                    vest if the EPS Goal for Target Year 2003 was not attained
                    at the end of Target Year 2003, and (3) an additional 50% of
                    Tranche 3 shall also vest if the EPS Goal for Target Year
                    2002 was not attained at the end of Target Year 2002 and the
                    EPS Goal for Target Year 2003 was not attained at the end of
                    Target Year 2003.

                    (iii) "Aggregate Percentage Vested" shall mean the aggregate
                percentage of Tranche 3 that is vested upon attainment of the
                applicable EPS Goal. It does not mean the percentage of Tranche
                3 that first becomes vested at that time.

            (e) Continuous Employment Requirement.

                (1) The percentage of Tranches 2 or 3 related to a Target Year
            shall vest only if the Participant is continuously employed by
            Verizon from the Grant Date until June 30th of the year after the
            applicable Target Year.

                (2) There shall be no proration or interpolation for partial
            years of service--if the Participant does not satisfy the
            requirements of this paragraph 6(e), the Participant shall not vest
            in any RSUs related to a Target Year, notwithstanding any period of
            service during or after the Target Year or the attainment of the
            applicable Revenue Growth Goal or EPS Growth Goal.

            (f) Transfer. Transfer of employment from Verizon to a Related
         Company, from a Related Company to Verizon, or from one Related Company
         to another Related Company shall not constitute a separation from
         employment hereunder.

            (g) Vested RSUs shall not be forfeited.

         7. Payment. All payments under this Agreement shall be made in shares
of Verizon's Common Stock, except for any fractional shares, which shall be paid
in the form of cash. As soon as practicable after the Participant has become
vested in all or a portion of a tranche of RSUs, the value of RSUs in that
tranche or portion of the tranche shall be paid to the Participant (subject,
however, to any deferral application that the Participant has made under the
deferral plan then available to the Participant and procedures adopted by the
Plan Administrator). If the Participant dies before any payment due hereunder is
made, such payment shall be made to the Participant's beneficiary. Once a
payment has been made with respect to an RSU, the RSU shall be canceled.

                                                                    Exhibit B-5
<PAGE>   31

         8. Early Cancellation/Accelerated Vesting of RSUs. Subject to the
provisions of paragraph 8(f) hereof, RSUs may vest or be forfeited before
vesting in accordance with paragraph 6 hereof as follows:

            (a) Retirement, Voluntary Separation, or Termination for Cause. If
         the Participant retires, quits, or otherwise separates from employment
         under circumstances not described in subparagraphs (b) through (e),
         below, or is terminated for Cause, all then-unvested RSUs shall be
         canceled immediately, and shall not be payable, except to the extent
         the Committee decides otherwise. For purposes of this Agreement,
         "Cause" is defined as (i) grossly incompetent performance or
         substantial or continuing inattention to or neglect of the duties and
         responsibilities assigned to the Participant; fraud, misappropriation
         or embezzlement involving the Company or a material breach of any
         provision incorporated in paragraph 15 ("Covenants") of the employment
         agreement to which this Agreement is an exhibit, as determined by the
         CEO(s) in his/their discretion, or (ii) commission of any felony of
         which the Participant is finally adjudged guilty by a court of
         competent jurisdiction.

            (b) Involuntary Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding the
         preceding provisions of this paragraph 8 or the continuous employment
         requirement set forth in paragraph 6(e), if the Participant is
         involuntarily terminated from employment other than for Cause--

                (1) all then-unvested RSUs in Tranche 1 shall vest immediately;

                (2) the then-unvested RSUs in Tranche 2 shall be subject to the
            vesting provisions set forth in paragraph 6(c), except that the
            continuous employment requirement set forth in paragraph 6(e) shall
            not apply; and

                (3) the then-unvested RSUs in Tranche 3 shall be subject to the
            vesting provisions set forth in paragraph 6(d), except that the
            continuous employment requirement set forth in paragraph 6(e) shall
            not apply.

         All RSUs that vest pursuant to paragraphs 8(b)(1), 8(b)(2), or 8(b)(3)
         shall be payable at the time the RSUs would have been payable had the
         Participant been subject to and satisfied the continuous employment
         requirement set forth in paragraph 6(e).

         For purposes of this Agreement, the Participant shall not be considered
         to have been involuntarily terminated without Cause if his employment
         is terminated for refusal to accept a reassignment that involves no
         relocation or downgrade and paragraph 8(c) does not apply.

            (c) Mandatory Retirement. If, before all RSUs in a tranche have
         vested, the Participant retires at or after age 65 because the
         Participant is required to do so pursuant to the Company's mandatory
         retirement policy, the then-unvested RSUs in each tranche shall be
         subject to the vesting

                                                                    Exhibit B-6
<PAGE>   32

         provisions set forth in paragraph 8(b) (Involuntary Termination Without
         Cause), above.

            (d) Termination for Good Reason. If, before all RSUs in a tranche
         have vested, the Participant terminates employment for Good Reason (as
         defined in the employment agreement to which this Agreement is an
         exhibit), the then-unvested RSUs in each tranche shall be subject to
         the vesting provisions set forth in paragraph 8(b) (Involuntary
         Termination Without Cause), above.

            (e) Disability or Death. If, before all RSUs in a tranche have
         vested, the Participant separates from employment by reason of death or
         disability (as determined by the Committee), the then-unvested RSUs in
         each tranche shall be subject to the vesting provisions set forth in
         paragraph 8(b) (Involuntary Termination Without Cause), above.

            (f) Change in Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control
         (as defined in the 2000 Verizon Communications Broad-Based Incentive
         Plan), all then-unvested RSUs shall vest and be payable immediately
         without regard to the Revenue Growth Goals or EPS Growth Goals that
         otherwise would apply to RSUs in Tranches 2 and 3, except that no
         portion of Tranche 2 shall vest if the Change in Control occurs after
         the end of a Target Year and the applicable Revenue Growth Goal was not
         attained for that Target Year.

            (g) Vesting Schedule. Except as provided in subparagraphs (b) or
         (c), above, nothing in this paragraph 8 shall accelerate the vesting
         schedule of RSUs prescribed by the provisions of paragraph 6 hereof.

         9. Shareholder Rights. The Participant shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock to which this grant relates
until the date on which the Participant becomes the holder of record of such
shares. Except as provided in the Plan or in this Agreement, no adjustment shall
be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such
date.

         10. Extraordinary Events. In determining EPS or Revenue Growth, and for
other appropriate purposes under this Agreement, the Plan Administrator will
have the discretion to take into consideration any or all of the following: (a)
the effects of business combinations; (b) the effects of discontinued operations
(including loss on disposal of a line of business or class of customer); (c)
changes in accounting principles; (d) extraordinary items; (e) restructuring
charges; and (f) changes in tax law. Items (a) and (b) will be as defined in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), and items (c)
through (f) will be as defined in accordance with GAAP and as defined and as
disclosed in the Company's financial statements.

                                                                    Exhibit B-7
<PAGE>   33

         11. Revocation or Amendment of Agreement. The Committee may not,
without the written consent of the Participant, revoke this Agreement insofar as
it relates to the RSUs granted hereunder, and may not without such written
consent make or change any determination or change any term, condition or
provision affecting the RSUs if the determination or change would materially and
adversely affect the Performance Share Retention Units or the Participant's
rights thereto.

         12. Assignment. The RSUs shall not be assignable or transferable except
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the Participant's
lifetime, the RSUs may be deferred only by the Participant or by the
Participant's guardian or legal representative.

         13. Beneficiary. The Participant shall designate a beneficiary in
writing and in such manner as is acceptable to the Executive VP - Human
Resources (the "EVP HR") or to any delegate of the EVP HR. If the Participant
fails to so designate a beneficiary, or if no such designated beneficiary
survives the Participant, the Participant's beneficiary shall be the
Participant's beneficiary under the Company-paid group life insurance plan in
which the Participant participates at the time of the Participant's death. If
the Participant does not participate in a Company-paid group life insurance plan
at the time of the Participant's death, the Participant's beneficiary shall be
the Participant's estate.

         14. Other Plans and Agreements. Any gain realized by the Participant
pursuant to this Agreement shall not be taken into account as compensation in
the determination of the Participant's benefits under any pension, savings,
group insurance, or other benefit plan maintained by Verizon or a Related
Company, except as determined by the board of directors of such company. The
Participant acknowledges that receipt of this Agreement or any prior RSU
agreement shall not entitle the Participant to any other benefits under the Plan
or any other plans maintained by the Company.

         15. Company and Related Company. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Company" means Verizon and Related Companies. "Related Company" means (i) any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other entity in which Verizon hold a
direct or indirect ownership or proprietary interest of 50 percent or more, or
(ii) any corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other entity in which
Verizon holds an ownership or other proprietary interest of less than 50 percent
but which, in the discretion of the Committee, is treated as a Related Company
for purposes of this Agreement.

         16. Employment Status. The grant of the RSUs shall not be deemed to
constitute a contract of employment between the Company and the Participant, nor
shall it constitute a right to remain in the employ of any such company.

         17. Withholding. It shall be a condition to the issuance or delivery of
shares of Common Stock as to which the RSUs relate that provisions satisfactory
to the Company shall have been made for payment of any taxes determined by the

                                                                    Exhibit B-8
<PAGE>   34

Company to be required to be paid or withheld pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation. The Participant may irrevocably elect to have the minimum required
amount of any withholding tax obligation satisfied by (a) having shares withheld
that are otherwise to be issued or delivered to the Participant with respect to
the RSUs, or (b) delivering to the Company either shares of Common Stock
received with respect to the RSUs or other shares of Common Stock that have been
held by Participant for at least six months, or (c) any other method approved by
the EVP HR of which the Participant may be informed in writing.

         18. Securities Laws. The Company shall not be required to issue or
deliver any shares of Common Stock prior to the admission of such shares to
listing on any stock exchange on which the stock may then be listed and the
completion of any registration or qualification of such shares under any federal
or state law or rulings or regulations of any government body that the Company,
in its sole discretion, determines to be necessary or advisable.

         19. Committee Authority. The Committee shall have complete discretion
in the exercise of its rights, powers, and duties under this Agreement. Any
interpretation or construction of any provision of, and the determination of any
question arising under, this Agreement shall be made by the Committee in its
sole discretion and shall be final, conclusive, and binding. The Committee may
designate any individual or individuals to perform any of its functions
hereunder.

         20. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, any successor or successors of the Company and the person or entity
to whom the RSUs may have been transferred by will, the laws of descent and
distribution, or beneficiary designation. All terms and conditions of this
Agreement imposed upon the Participant shall, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, be deemed, in the event of the Participant's death, to
refer to and be binding upon such last-mentioned person or entity.

         21. Construction. This Agreement is intended to grant the RSUs upon the
terms and conditions authorized by the Plan. Any provisions of this Agreement
that cannot be so administered, interpreted, or construed shall be disregarded.
In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be
considered separate and apart from the remainder of this Agreement, which shall
remain in full force and effect. In the event that any provision is held to be
unenforceable for being unduly broad as written, such provision shall be deemed
amended to narrow its application to the extent necessary to make the provision
enforceable according to applicable law and shall be enforced as amended.

         22. Defined Terms. Except where the context clearly indicates
otherwise, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions ascribed
to them by the Plan, and the terms of the Plan shall apply where appropriate.

                                                                    Exhibit B-9
<PAGE>   35

         23. Execution of Agreement. The Participant shall indicate consent to
the terms of this Agreement and the Plan by executing the attached signature
page which is made a part of this Agreement.

         24. Confidentiality. Except to the extent otherwise required by law,
the Participant shall not disclose, in whole or in part any of the terms of this
Agreement. This paragraph 24 does not prevent the Participant from disclosing
the terms of this Agreement to the Participant's spouse or to the Participant's
legal, tax, or financial adviser, provided that the Participant take all
reasonable measures to assure that he or she does not disclose the terms of this
Agreement to a third party except as otherwise required by law.

                                                                   Exhibit B-10
<PAGE>   36

                                 SIGNATURE PAGE

By executing this page, the undersigned Participant agrees to be bound by the
terms of the plan(s) listed below and the Performance Share Retention Unit
Agreement, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, in
connection with the following grant to the Participant under the Plan:

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>
NAME OF PARTICIPANT:               Lawrence Whitman

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:            [Social Security Number]

GRANT DATE:                        Sept. 7, 2000

NUMBER OF RSUS:                    30,000

PLAN(S) FROM WHICH RSUS AWARDED:   Tranche 1- Verizon Communications 2000 Broad-Based
                                   Incentive Plan

                                   Tranches 2 and 3- 1997 GTE Long-Term Incentive Plan
</TABLE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Verizon Communications Inc., by its duly authorized Officer,
and the Participant have executed this Agreement.

                           VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

     By:
        ----------------------------        -----------------------------------
        Charles R. Lee                      Ivan G. Seidenberg

                           Co-Chief Executive Officers

                                             ----------------------------------
                                                        Participant

                                             ----------------------------------
                                                            Date

Please indicate your acceptance by signing above and returning the signed
Agreement to us within ten business days of your receipt of this Agreement.

Please complete the Beneficiary Designation form on the back side.

<PAGE>   37
                                    EXHIBIT C

================================================================================

                            SPECIAL RETENTION ACCOUNT
                           AND OTHER BENEFITS PROGRAM

                                 ---------------

                                   PART OF THE
                       GTE EXECUTIVE SALARY DEFERRAL PLAN

                                 ---------------

                             Effective July 1, 2000

================================================================================

<PAGE>   38

                            SPECIAL RETENTION ACCOUNT
                           AND OTHER BENEFITS PROGRAM

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                          <C>
Article 1. Introduction........................................................1

         1.01.    Nature of Program............................................1
         1.02.    Purpose of Program...........................................1
         1.03.    Effective Date...............................................1

Article 2. Definitions and Construction........................................2

         2.01.    Definitions..................................................2
         2.02.    Part of the Plan.............................................3
         2.03.    Gender and Number............................................3

Article 3. Eligibility and Account Balance.....................................4

         3.01.    Eligibility..................................................4
         3.02.    Initial Account Balance......................................4
         3.03.    Election to Defer............................................4

Article 4. Accounts............................................................5

         4.01.    Accounts.....................................................5

Article 5. Payments............................................................6

         5.01.    Exclusive Entitlement to Payment.............................6
         5.02.    Amount and Sources of Payment................................6
         5.03.    Limitations on Rights to Payment.............................7

Article 6. Other Benefits......................................................8

         6.01.    Other Benefits...............................................8
         6.02.    Certain Additional Payments by the Company..................10
         6.03.    Nonduplication..............................................10
</TABLE>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program          Table of Contents

<PAGE>   39

                            ARTICLE 1. INTRODUCTION

1.01.    NATURE OF PROGRAM.

         This Program shall become a part of the GTE Executive Salary Deferral
Plan and any successors to that plan. By its terms, this Program shall apply
only to those participants in the GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan who have
waived any entitlement they might otherwise have to certain payments and/or
other benefits as a result of the merger involving GTE Corporation and Bell
Atlantic Corporation.

1.02.    PURPOSE OF PROGRAM.

         The Program is designed to provide incentives for the Company's key
executives to remain with the Company as it charts its course both as a new
company and a competitor in the most dynamic and innovative industry in history.
The Special Retention Account established under this Program is intended to
provide such an incentive: it allows these employees (if they remain with the
Company for at least one year) to defer certain payments that are not otherwise
eligible for deferral under other Company-sponsored deferred compensation
arrangements and to receive other benefits. The Program is expected to play an
important role in the Company's efforts to retain employees with the leadership,
vision, and commitment necessary for the Company to flourish during this
enormously exciting and challenging time.

1.03.    EFFECTIVE DATE.

         The Program is effective as of July 1, 2000, except to the extent
specifically provided herein.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 1

<PAGE>   40

                    ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

2.01.    DEFINITIONS.

         Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following terms,
when used in capitalized form in this Program, shall have the meanings set forth
below.

         COMMITTEE. "Committee" shall mean the Human Resources Committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company.

         COMPANY. "Company" shall mean Verizon Communications Inc. and its
affiliates.

         COVERED EMPLOYEE. "Covered Employee" shall mean an employee of the
Company who is designated as a Covered Employee by the Plan Administrator.

         MERGER. "Merger" shall mean the merger of the businesses of GTE
Corporation and Bell Atlantic Corporation pursuant to the terms of an Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated as of July 27, 1998, among Bell Atlantic, GTE, and Beta
Gamma Corporation.

         OTHER BENEFITS. "Other Benefits" shall mean the benefits described in
Article 6 of this Program.

         OTHER PLANS. "Other Plans" shall mean all employee benefit plans,
programs, awards, arrangements, policies, and practices of the Company, whether
or not qualified under the Code or subject to the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, including any employment agreement the
Participant may have with the Company or its predecessors.

         PARTICIPANT. "Participant" shall mean each Covered Employee who makes
an election pursuant to Section 3.03 and whose Special Retention Account has a
positive balance.

         PLAN. "Plan" shall mean the GTE Executive Salary Deferral Plan, on the
date of its adoption and as it may be amended from time to time and any
successor thereto.

         PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. "Plan Administrator" shall mean the chief human
resources officer of the Company or any other Person designated by the Committee
to serve as Plan Administrator of the Plan.

         PROGRAM. "Program" shall mean this Special Retention Account and Other
Benefits program.

         SPECIAL RETENTION AMOUNT. "Special Retention Amount" shall mean the
amount determined by the Plan Administrator.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 2

<PAGE>   41

         SPECIAL RETENTION ACCOUNT. "Special Retention Account" shall mean the
subaccount established under the Plan pursuant to the terms of this Program.

2.02.    PART OF THE PLAN.

         The provisions of this Program are a part of the Plan. The terms of the
Plan shall apply to the benefits provided by this Program to Participants,
except to the extent a provision of this Program is contrary to a provision of
the Plan, in which case the provisions of this Program shall control.

2.03.    GENDER AND NUMBER.

         Masculine pronouns shall refer to both males and females. The singular
form shall include the plural, where appropriate.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 3

<PAGE>   42

                   ARTICLE 3. ELIGIBILITY AND ACCOUNT BALANCE

3.01.    ELIGIBILITY.

         Covered Employees who are Participants shall be eligible to have a
Special Retention Account established under the Plan and to receive certain
Other Benefits as provided in Article 6, below.

3.02.    INITIAL ACCOUNT BALANCE.

         Each Participant shall defer receipt of 100% of his Special Retention
Amount, and the initial balance in the Participant's Special Retention Account
shall be equal to the amount so deferred.

3.03.    ELECTION TO DEFER.

         (a) A Participant shall elect to defer the Special Retention Amount in
accordance with Section 3.03 of the Plan, except that 100% of the Special
Retention Amount shall be treated as if invested in cash, or such other
hypothetical investment vehicle as the Plan Administrator may allow in its
discretion.

         (b) Any election under this Section 3.03 shall be effective July 1,
2000, or such earlier date as the Plan Administrator may determine in its
discretion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 4

<PAGE>   43

                              ARTICLE 4. ACCOUNTS

4.01.    ACCOUNTS.

         (a) The Special Retention Account shall be maintained as a separate
subaccount for each Participant pursuant to Section 4.01(b) of the Plan.

         (b) The Special Retention Account of each Participant shall be credited
with hypothetical investment returns and/or interest determined in accordance
with Section 3.03, above, unless the Plan Administrator determines in its
discretion that a different hypothetical investment vehicle is appropriate for
the Special Retention Account.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 5

<PAGE>   44

                              ARTICLE 5. PAYMENTS

5.01.    EXCLUSIVE ENTITLEMENT TO PAYMENT.

         To participate in the Program, a Participant shall waive his right to
receive change in control benefits under any prior agreement with the Company or
its predecessors (including his executive severance agreement) as a result of
the Merger and shall agree to receive in lieu thereof the amount payable to him
at the times and in the amounts specified in this Article 5 and in Article V of
the Plan, as well as the Other Benefits set forth in Article 6, below. No other
amounts shall be due under the Plan or otherwise as a result of the
Participant's deferral election pursuant to Section 3.03.

5.02.    AMOUNT AND SOURCES OF PAYMENT.

         (a) Upon termination of employment, a Participant shall be entitled to
receive the greater of (1) the balance in his Special Retention Account at
termination of employment, or (2) the cash component of any severance benefits
that the Participant receives or is entitled to receive in the aggregate under
all Other Plans. For purposes of this Section 5.02(a)--

                  (1) the "cash component" of any severance benefits shall
         include monetary benefits payable in all forms, whether payable in a
         lump sum or otherwise; and

                  (2) a Participant shall be treated as "entitled to receive"
         any benefits under a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan to which
         the Participant would be entitled based on compensation and service,
         even if the Participant does not receive the benefit for any other
         reason.

         (b) The amount payable under the Program after application of Section
5.02(a) shall be payable to the Participant from the following sources in the
following order until the entire amount is paid--

                  (1) any of the Other Plans that is qualified (or intended to
         be qualified) under Section 401(a) of the Code;

                  (2) the Special Retention Account;

                  (3) any of the Other Plans that is not qualified (or intended
         to be qualified) under Section 401(a) of the Code; and

                  (4) the general assets of the Company.

         (c) Any amount not paid from the Special Retention Account as a result
of application of this Section 5.02 shall be forfeited.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 6

<PAGE>   45

5.03.    LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS TO PAYMENT.

         (a) Period of Service, Notice. A Participant shall not be entitled to
receive any amount from his Special Retention Account if he (1) voluntarily
terminates from the Company (including a retirement) effective before July 1,
2001, (2) voluntarily terminates from the Company (including a retirement)
without providing 30 days' written notice of his intent to terminate, or (3) is
terminated for Cause (as defined in Section 5.03(b), below). Nothing in this
Section 5.03(a) shall affect the right of a Participant to receive any amount
from his Special Retention Account if he is involuntarily terminated without
Cause or terminates employment due to his death or disability (as defined in the
applicable long-term disability plan).

         (b) Cause. For purposes of this Program, "Cause" shall mean (i) grossly
incompetent performance or substantial or continuing inattention to or neglect
of the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Participant; fraud,
misappropriation or embezzlement involving the Company or a material breach of
any provision incorporated in paragraph 15 ("Covenants") of the employment
agreement to which this Program is an exhibit, as determined by the CEO(s) in
his/their discretion, or (ii) commission of any felony of which the participant
are finally adjudged guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.

         (c) Other Benefits. The Other Benefits provided in Article 6, below,
shall not be subject to the requirements of Section 5.03(a), above, except to
the extent specifically provided in Article 6, below.

         (d) Other Limitations on Rights to Payment. The provisions of Section
5.05 of the Plan (regarding of Forfeiture of Rights and Competitive Conduct)
shall not apply to the Special Retention Account or the Other Benefits provided
in Article 6, below.

         (e) In-Service Withdrawals. The provisions of Section 5.04 of the Plan
shall not apply to the Special Retention Account to the extent they permit
withdrawals or distributions before a Participant terminates employment with the
Company, except that a Participant may apply to the Committee for such a
withdrawal or distribution after July 1, 2001.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 7

<PAGE>   46

                           ARTICLE 6. OTHER BENEFITS

6.01.    OTHER BENEFITS.

         In addition to the benefits provided in the Plan or otherwise in this
Program, Participants shall be entitled to the benefits set forth in paragraphs
(a) through (c) of this Section 6.01.

         (a) Insurance. The Company shall provide each Participant, at the
Company's expense, for a period beginning on the date of the Participant's
termination of employment with the Company, the same medical, dental, and life
insurance coverage as was in effect on the date of the Participant's termination
from employment or, if greater, coverage under any other Company-sponsored
medical, dental, or life insurance coverage available on the date of the
Participant's termination of employment. Such coverage shall end upon the
expiration of 24 months after the Participant's termination of employment. For
purposes of this paragraph (a), "at the Company's expense" means that the
Company shall make all contributions or premium payments required to obtain
coverage, and that the Participant shall not make any such contributions or
premium payments, but that the Participant shall be subject to any deductibles
and co-payment provisions in effect on June 30, 2000 (or, if applicable,
immediately before the termination of employment). Except to the extent
otherwise required by law, the period of coverage for any health care
continuation coverage required by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985, as amended, shall begin on the date of the Participant's
termination of employment.

         (b) Benefit Credit.

                  (1) Each Participant shall receive service credit, for the
         purpose of receiving benefits and for vesting, retirement eligibility,
         benefit accrual, and all other purposes, under all employee benefit
         plans sponsored by the Company (including, but not limited to, health,
         life insurance, pension, savings, stock, and stock ownership plans, but
         excluding the Company's short-term and long-term disability plans) in
         which he participated on June 30, 2000, for 24 months.

                  (2) For purposes of determining the Participant's benefits
         under all defined benefit pension plans maintained by the Company,
         including the GTE Excess Pension Plan and the GTE Supplemental
         Executive Retirement Plan (collectively "SERP")--

                           (A) The Participant's compensation shall include the
                  greater of--

                                    (i) the initial balance in his Special
                           Retention Account (as determined under Section 3.02,
                           above), and

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 8

<PAGE>   47
                                    (ii) 100 percent of the Participant's base
                            salary and 50 percent of his maximum short-term
                            bonus opportunity (both as in effect immediately
                            before his employment is terminated) for two years;

                            provided that, for purposes of this Section
                            6.01(b)(2)(A), the Participant shall be deemed to
                            have received the greater of the amounts set forth
                            in Section 6.01(b)(2)(A)(i) or Section
                            6.01(b)(2)(A)(ii) in monthly installments over the
                            24 months following the Participant's termination of
                            employment, each equal to 1/24th of the amount
                            payable pursuant to this Section 6.01(b)(2)(A);

                           (B) The Participant's compensation in his final year
                  of service shall be equal to the greater of (i) one-half of
                  the initial balance in his Special Retention Account (as
                  determined under Section 3.02, above), or (ii) the
                  Participant's actual compensation in his final year of
                  service.

                  (3) The Participant shall be considered to have not less than
         76 points and 15 years of Accredited Service for purposes of
         determining (i) his eligibility for early retirement benefits under the
         Company's defined benefit pension plans (including, but not limited to,
         the SERP), and (ii) his eligibility for benefits under the GTE
         Executive Retired Life Insurance Plan (or any predecessor or successor
         thereto).

         Notwithstanding the service credit granted under paragraph (1) of this
         Section 6.01(b) and the compensation recognized under paragraph (2) of
         this Section 6.01(b), nothing in this Section 6.01(b) shall prevent the
         Participant from receiving any benefits to which the Participant is
         entitled under any defined benefit or defined contribution pension plan
         maintained by the Company, including the SERP (as such benefits are
         modified by this Section 6.01(b)) in any form permitted by such plans
         (including but not limited to a lump-sum distribution) immediately
         following the Participant's termination of employment. To the extent
         that the Company's tax-qualified retirement plans cannot provide the
         benefits specified by this Section 6.01(b) without jeopardizing the tax
         qualification of such plans, the Company shall provide such benefits
         under the SERP or its successor.

         (c) Stock Options. Annual stock options granted in 1999 and 2000
(except for the Founder's Grant) under the GTE Long-Term Incentive Plan (or any
successor thereto) shall be immediately vested and exercisable for a period of
at least five years following the date of Participant's termination of
employment (but not beyond the maximum term of the option specified by the terms
of the stock option). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if the Participant
is terminated for Cause, annual stock options granted in 1999 and 2000 shall be
forfeited.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                      Page 9

<PAGE>   48

6.02.    CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY.

         Participants shall be entitled to a tax gross-up payment in accordance
with Addendum A to the Program.

6.03.    NONDUPLICATION.

         No provision of this Program shall require the Company to provide the
Participant with any payment, benefit, or grant that duplicates any payment,
benefit, or grant that the Participant is entitled to receive under any Company
compensation or benefit plan, award agreement, or other arrangement.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                     Page 10
<PAGE>   49

              SPECIAL RETENTION ACCOUNT AND OTHER BENEFITS PROGRAM
                                   ADDENDUM A
                       ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY

         A Participant in the Program shall be entitled to a tax gross-up
payment in accordance with the following provisions:

         (a) Gross-Up Payment. If any payment or benefit received or to be
received by the Participant from the Company pursuant to the Plan (the
"Payments") would be subject to the excise tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by
section 4999 of the Code as determined in accordance with this Addendum A, the
Company shall pay the Participant, at the time specified below, an additional
amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net amount that the Participant
retains, after deduction of the Excise Tax on the Payments and any federal,
state, and local income tax and the Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, and
any interest, penalties, or additions to tax payable by the Participant with
respect thereto, shall be equal to the total present value (using the applicable
federal rate (as defined in section 1274(d) of the Code) in such calculation) of
the Payments at the time such Payments are to be made.

         (b) Calculations. For purposes of determining whether any of the
Payments shall be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such excise tax,

                  (1) The total amount of the Payments shall be treated as
         "parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the
         Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of section
         280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the excise tax,
         except to the extent that, in the written opinion of independent
         counsel selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the
         Participant ("Independent Counsel"), a Payment (in whole or in part)
         does not constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of section
         280G(b)(2) of the Code, or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole
         or in part) are not subject to the Excise Tax;

                  (2) The amount of the Payments that shall be subject to the
         Excise Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the total amount of the
         Payments or (ii) the amount of "excess parachute payments " within the
         meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after applying clause (1),
         above); and

                  (3) The value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment
         or benefit shall be determined by Independent Counsel in accordance
         with the principles of section 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

         (c) Tax Rates. For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up
Payment, the Participant shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the
highest marginal rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in
the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and
local income taxes at the highest marginal rates of taxation applicable to
individuals as are in effect in the state and locality of the Participant's
residence in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                Addendum A-1

<PAGE>   50

Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes that
can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes, taking into
account any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal income tax
at the highest marginal rates.

         (d) Time of Gross-Up Payments. The Gross-Up Payments provided for in
this paragraph 12 shall be made upon the earlier of (i) the payment to the
Participant of any Payment or (ii) the imposition upon the Participant, or any
payment by the Participant, of any Excise Tax.

         (e) Adjustments to Gross-Up Payments. If it is established pursuant to
a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or
the written opinion of Independent Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than the
amount previously taken into account hereunder, the Participant shall repay the
Company, within 30 days of the Participant's receipt of notice of such final
determination or opinion, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to
such reduction (plus the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the
Excise Tax and federal, state, and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up
Payment being repaid by the Participant if such repayment results in a reduction
in Excise Tax or a federal, state, and local income tax deduction) plus any
interest received by the Participant on the amount of such repayment, provided
that if any such amount has been paid by the Participant as an Excise Tax or
other tax, the Participant shall cooperate with the Company in seeking a refund
of any tax overpayments, and the Participant shall not be required to make
repayments to the Company until the overpaid taxes and interest thereon are
refunded to the Participant.

         (f) Additional Gross-Up Payment. If it is established pursuant to a
final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the
written opinion of Independent Counsel that the Excise Tax exceeds the amount
taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any payment the existence
or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment),
the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess
within 30 days of the Company's receipt of notice of such final determination or
opinion.

         (g) Change In Law Or Interpretation. In the event of any change in, or
further interpretation of section 280G or 4999 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, the Participant shall be entitled, by written notice to
the Company, to request a written opinion of Independent Counsel regarding the
application of such change to any of the foregoing, and the Company shall use
its best efforts to cause such opinion to be rendered as promptly as
practicable.

         (h) Fees And Expenses. All fees and expenses of Independent Counsel
incurred in connection with this Addendum A shall be borne by the Company.

         (i) Survival. The Company's obligation to make a Gross-Up Payment with
respect to Payments made or accrued before the Participant's termination of
employment with the Company shall survive the termination of the Participant's
with the Company unless (1) the Participant's employment is terminated for
Cause, or (2) the

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                Addendum A-2

<PAGE>   51

Participant fails to execute a release, in which event the Company's obligation
under this Addendum A shall terminate immediately.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Retention Account and Other Benefits Program                Addendum A-3

<PAGE>   52

                                                                       EXHIBIT D

                               EXCISE TAX GROSS-UP

         1. GROSS-UP PAYMENT - If any payment or benefit received or to be
received by you from the Company pursuant to the terms of the Agreement to which
this Exhibit D is attached or otherwise (the "Payments") would be subject to the
excise tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed by section 4999 of the Internal Revenue
Code (the "Code") as determined in accordance with this Exhibit D, the Company
shall pay you, at the time specified below, an additional amount (the "Gross-Up
Payment") such that the net amount that you retain, after deduction of the
Excise Tax on the Payments and any federal, state, and local income tax and the
Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, and any interest, penalties, or additions
to tax payable by you with respect thereto, shall be equal to the total present
value (using the applicable federal rate (as defined in section 1274(d) of the
Code) in such calculation) of the Payments at the time such Payments are to be
made.

         2. CALCULATIONS - For purposes of determining whether any of the
Payments shall be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such excise tax,

         (a)      The total amount of the Payments shall be treated as
                  "parachute payments" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2)
                  of the Code, and all "excess parachute payments" within the
                  meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code shall be treated as
                  subject to the excise tax, except to the extent that, in the
                  written opinion of independent counsel selected by Verizon and
                  reasonably acceptable to you ("Independent Counsel"), a
                  Payment (in whole or in part) does not constitute a "parachute
                  payment" within the meaning of section 280G(b)(2) of the Code,
                  or such "excess parachute payments" (in whole or in part) are
                  not subject to the Excise Tax;

         (b)      The amount of the Payments that shall be subject to the Excise
                  Tax shall be equal to the lesser of (i) the total amount of
                  the Payments or (ii) the amount of "excess parachute payments
                  " within the meaning of section 280G(b)(1) of the Code (after
                  applying clause (a), above); and

         (c)      The value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or
                  benefit shall be determined by Independent Counsel in
                  accordance with the principles of section 280G(d)(3) and (4)
                  of the Code.

         3. TAX RATES - For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up
Payment, you shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal
rates of federal income taxation applicable to individuals in the calendar year
in

<PAGE>   53

                                      -2-

which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made and state and local income taxes at
the highest marginal rates of taxation applicable to individuals as are in
effect in the state and locality of your residence in the calendar year in which
the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, net of the maximum reduction in federal
income taxes that can be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes,
taking into account any limitations applicable to individuals subject to federal
income tax at the highest marginal rates.

         4. TIME OF GROSS-UP PAYMENTS - The Gross-Up Payments provided for in
this Exhibit D shall be made upon the earlier of (a) the payment to you of any
Payment or (b) the imposition upon you, or any payment by you, of any Excise
Tax.

         5. ADJUSTMENTS TO GROSS-UP PAYMENTS - If it is established pursuant to
a final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or
the written opinion of Independent Counsel that the Excise Tax is less than the
amount previously taken into account hereunder, you shall repay the Company,
within 30 days of your receipt of notice of such final determination or opinion,
the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus the
portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal,
state, and local income tax imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by you
if such repayment results in a reduction in Excise Tax or a federal, state, and
local income tax deduction) plus any interest received by you on the amount of
such repayment, provided that if any such amount has been paid by you as an
Excise Tax or other tax, you shall cooperate with the Company in seeking a
refund of any tax overpayments, and you shall not be required to make repayments
to the Company until the overpaid taxes and interest thereon are refunded to
you.

         6. ADDITIONAL GROSS-UP PAYMENT - If it is established pursuant to a
final determination of a court or an Internal Revenue Service proceeding or the
written opinion of Independent Counsel that the Excise Tax exceeds the amount
taken into account hereunder (including by reason of any payment the existence
or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment),
the Company shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess
within 30 days of the Company's receipt of notice of such final determination or
opinion.

         7. CHANGE IN LAW OR INTERPRETATION - In the event of any change in or
further interpretation of section 280G or 4999 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, you shall be entitled, by written notice to Verizon, to
request a written opinion of Independent Counsel regarding the application of
such change or further interpretation to any of the foregoing, and Verizon shall
use its best efforts to cause such opinion to be rendered as promptly as
practicable.

         8. FEES AND EXPENSES - All fees and expenses of Independent Counsel
incurred in connection with this Exhibit D shall be borne by Verizon.

<PAGE>   54

                                      -3-

         9. SURVIVAL - The Company's obligation to make a Gross-Up Payment with
respect to Payments made or accrued before the end of the Term of Employment
shall survive the Term of Employment unless (a) your employment is terminated
for Cause pursuant to paragraph 13(f) of the Agreement to which this Exhibit D
is attached ("Involuntary Termination For Cause"), (b) you fail to execute a
release in accordance with paragraph 14 of such Agreement ("Release"), or (c)
you fail to comply with the covenants incorporated in paragraph 15 of such
Agreement ("Covenants"), in which event the Company's obligation under this
Exhibit D shall terminate immediately.

         10. DEFINED TERMS - Except where clearly provided to the contrary, all
capitalized terms used in this Exhibit D shall have the definitions given to
those terms in the Agreement to which this Exhibit D is attached.

<PAGE>   55

                                                                       EXHIBIT E

                                    COVENANTS

         1. NONCOMPETITION - In consideration for the benefits and agreements
described in the Agreement to which this Exhibit E is attached, you agree that:

                  (a) PROHIBITED CONDUCT - During the period of your employment
with the Company, and for the period ending six months after your termination of
employment for any reason from the Company, you shall not, without the prior
written consent of the CEO(s):

                           (1)      personally engage in Competitive Activities
                                    (as defined below); or

                           (2)      work for, own, manage, operate, control, or
                                    participate in the ownership, management,
                                    operation, or control of, or provide
                                    consulting or advisory services to, any
                                    individual, partnership, firm, corporation,
                                    or institution engaged in Competitive
                                    Activities, or any company or person
                                    affiliated with such person or entity
                                    engaged in Competitive Activities; provided
                                    that your purchase or holding, for
                                    investment purposes, of securities of a
                                    publicly-traded company shall not constitute
                                    "ownership" or "participation in ownership"
                                    for purposes of this paragraph so long as
                                    your equity interest in any such company is
                                    less than a controlling interest;

provided that this paragraph (a) shall not prohibit you from (i) being employed
by, or providing services to, a consulting firm, provided that you do not
personally engage in Competitive Activities or provide consulting or advisory
services to any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or institution
engaged in Competitive Activities, or any company or person affiliated with such
person or entity engaged in Competitive Activities, or (ii) engaging in the
private practice of law as a sole practitioner or as a partner in (or as an
employee of or counsel to) a law firm in accordance with applicable legal and
professional standards.

                  (b) COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES - For purposes of the Agreement to
which this Exhibit E is attached, "Competitive Activities" means business
activities relating to products or services of the same or similar type as the
products or services (1) which are sold (or, pursuant to an existing business
plan, will be sold) to paying customers of the Company, and (2) for which you
then have responsibility to plan,

<PAGE>   56

                                      -2-

develop, manage, market, or oversee, or had any such responsibility within your
most recent 24 months of employment with the Company. Notwithstanding the
previous sentence, a business activity shall not be treated as a Competitive
Activity if the geographic marketing area of the relevant products or services
sold by you or a third party does not overlap with the geographic marketing area
for the applicable products and services of the Company.

         2. INTERFERENCE WITH BUSINESS RELATIONS - During the period of your
employment with the Company, and for a period ending with the expiration of 12
months following your termination of employment for any reason from the Company,
you shall not, without the written consent of the CEO(s):

                  (a)      recruit or solicit any employee of the Company for
                           employment or for retention as a consultant or
                           service provider;

                  (b)      hire or participate (with another company or third
                           party) in the process of hiring (other than for the
                           Company) any person who is then an employee of the
                           Company, or provide names or other information about
                           Company employees to any person or business (other
                           than the Company) under circumstances that could lead
                           to the use of that information for purposes of
                           recruiting or hiring;

                  (c)      interfere with the relationship of the Company with
                           any of its employees, agents, or representatives;

                  (d)      solicit or induce, or in any manner attempt to
                           solicit or induce, any client, customer, or prospect
                           of the Company (1) to cease being, or not to become,
                           a customer of the Company or (2) to divert any
                           business of such customer or prospect from the
                           Company; or

                  (e)      otherwise interfere with, disrupt, or attempt to
                           interfere with or disrupt, the relationship,
                           contractual or otherwise, between the Company and any
                           of its customers, clients, prospects, suppliers,
                           consultants, or employees.

         3. RETURN OF PROPERTY; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS - You agree that on
or before your termination of employment for any reason with the Company, you
shall return to the Company all property owned by the Company or in which the
Company has an interest, including files, documents, data and records (whether
on paper or in tapes, disks, or other machine-readable form), office equipment,
credit cards, and employee identification cards. You acknowledge that the
Company is

<PAGE>   57

                                      -3-

the rightful owner of any programs, ideas, inventions, discoveries, patented or
copyrighted material, or trademarks that you may have originated or developed,
or assisted in originating or developing, during your period of employment with
the Company, where any such origination or development involved the use of
Company time or resources, or the exercise of your responsibilities for or on
behalf of the Company. You shall at all times, both before and after termination
of employment, cooperate with the Company in executing and delivering documents
requested by the Company, and taking any other actions, that are necessary or
requested by the Company to assist the Company in patenting, copyrighting, or
registering any programs, ideas, inventions, discoveries, patented or
copyrighted material, or trademarks, and to vest title thereto in the Company.

         4. PROPRIETARY AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION - You shall at all times
preserve the confidentiality of all proprietary information and trade secrets of
the Company, except to the extent that disclosure of such information is legally
required. "Proprietary information" means information that has not been
disclosed to the public and that is treated as confidential within the business
of the Company, such as strategic or tactical business plans; undisclosed
financial data; ideas, processes, methods, techniques, systems, patented or
copyrighted information, models, devices, programs, computer software, or
related information; documents relating to regulatory matters and correspondence
with governmental entities; undisclosed information concerning any past,
pending, or threatened legal dispute; pricing and cost data; reports and
analyses of business prospects; business transactions that are contemplated or
planned; research data; personnel information and data; identities of users and
purchasers of the Company's products or services; and other confidential matters
pertaining to or known by the Company, including confidential information of a
third party that you know or should know the Company is bound to protect.

         5. DEFINITIONS - Except where clearly provided to the contrary, all
capitalized terms used in this Exhibit E shall have the definitions given to
those terms in the Agreement to which this Exhibit E is attached.<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 10h

                             VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS
                         2000 BROAD-BASED INCENTIVE PLAN

         Adopted by the Board of Directors of Bell Atlantic Corporation d/b/a
Verizon Communications (the "Company") on August 7, 2000.

         SECTION 1. PURPOSE. The Verizon Communications 2000 Broad-Based
Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is intended to provide employees of the Company and
its Subsidiaries an opportunity to participate in the growth and success of the
Company and to create and enhance incentives for employees to improve the
Company's financial performance. The Plan is expected to help the Company and
its Subsidiaries attract, retain and motivate employees to work for the success
of the Company and its Subsidiaries through broadly-based awards of nonqualified
stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other equity-based
hypothetical stock units following the creation of Verizon Communications upon
the merger of Bell Atlantic Corporation and GTE Corporation.

         SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. Except where otherwise indicated, the following
terms have the definitions set forth below for purposes of the Plan:

                (a) "Agreement" means an agreement entered into between the
Company and a Participant or other documentation, in a form determined by the
Committee or the Plan Administrator in their discretion, evidencing an Award and
setting forth the key terms and conditions applicable to an Award.

                (b) "Award" means an award or grant of an Option, Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Units to a Participant pursuant to this Plan.

                (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

                (d) "Change in Control" is defined in Appendix A to this Plan.

                (e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                (f) "Committee" means the Human Resources Committee of the Board
of Directors or any successor thereto.

                (g) "Company" means Bell Atlantic Corporation d/b/a Verizon
Communications and any successor corporation.

                (h) "Deferral Plan" means a nonqualified plan or program adopted
by the Company or any Subsidiary for specified employees to defer the receipt of
compensation or income.

                (i) "Designated Beneficiary" means the person or persons named
by a Participant, in accordance with rules and guidelines established by the
Plan Administrator, to benefit from an Award after the Participant's death.

<PAGE>   2

                (j) "Eligible Employee" is defined in paragraph 4(a) hereof.

                (k) "Fair Market Value" means the average of the high and low
sales prices of shares of Stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange (or any
other exchange or reporting system selected by the Committee) on the relevant
date, or if there are no sales of shares of Stock reported for that date, on the
date or dates that the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, to be
appropriate for purposes of valuation.

                (l) "Grant Date" means the date the Committee makes an Award to
an Eligible Employee.

                (m) "Option" means a right to purchase a specified number of
shares of Stock at a specified exercise price per share during a specified term.

                (n) "Participant" means an Eligible Employee who receives an
Award and who, if so required, timely executes the Agreement relating thereto.

                (o) "Plan Administrator" means the Executive Vice President -
Human Resources ("EVP HR") of the Company or the officer serving in that
capacity, or the designee of the EVP HR or the officer serving in that capacity.

                (p) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Stock that are subject to
restrictions on transfer or other restrictions on the incidents of ownership or
are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

                (q) "Restricted Stock Unit" means a hypothetical share of Stock,
as defined in Section 7 hereof.

                (r) "Section 16 Officer" means an officer of the Company within
the meaning of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule
16a-1(f) of the Securities Exchange Commission or any successor rule.

                (s) "Stock" means the $0.10 par value common stock of the
Company.

                (t) "Subsidiary" means (i) any corporation, partnership, joint
venture or other entity in which the Company holds a direct or indirect
ownership or proprietary interest of 50 percent or more, or (ii) any
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company
holds an ownership or proprietary interest of less than 50 percent but which, in
the discretion of the Committee, is treated as a Subsidiary for purposes of this
Plan.

         SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.

                (a) In General. The Plan and all Awards made pursuant to the
Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Plan Administrator. The
Committee and the Plan Administrator may each delegate some or all their
administrative responsibilities under the Plan to one or more persons.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

                (b) Committee. The Committee shall determine the Eligible
Employees to whom Awards will be made under this Plan. Consistent with the terms
of this Plan, the Committee shall establish the Grant Dates for Awards, the
number of shares of Stock with respect to which Awards are granted, the time at
which and the conditions under which Options may be exercised, the time or
conditions under which restrictions on the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units will lapse or be satisfied, and such other terms and conditions as it
considers appropriate for Awards. These terms will be reflected in an Agreement
with respect to each Award.

                (c) Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall have the
authority and responsibility, without limitation, to do the following:
distribute summary descriptions of the Plan; issue and enter into Agreements on
behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Awards; establish,
modify and revoke terms, conditions and administrative rules, regulations and
guidelines applicable to Awards which are consistent with the terms and
conditions established by the Committee; maintain records of Awards made and
Awards outstanding; and administer transactions in connection with the exercise
of Options, the distribution of Restricted Stock, the payment of Restricted
Stock Units or the deferral of gains in such transactions. The Plan
Administrator, with the advice of counsel, shall have the right to respond to
and decide any claims or appeals under the Plan and to interpret the Plan. In
the event of any such appeal, the action of the Plan Administrator shall be
final and binding.

                (d) Agreements. Each Award made under the Plan shall be
evidenced by an Agreement between the Company and the Participant to whom an
Option, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit is granted, or by such other
written documentation as the Committee or the Plan Administrator may approve,
reciting (i) the Grant Date, (ii) the number of shares of Stock available upon
the exercise of an Option and the exercise price, or the number of shares of
Restricted Stock, or the number of shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units,
and the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units, and (iii) other key terms and conditions applicable to the Award. The
Committee or its designee may condition an Award on an Eligible Employee's
execution of the Agreement evidencing the Award and establishing such other
terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee in their discretion consider
appropriate.

                (e) Liability. Neither the Plan Administrator nor any member of
the Committee may be held accountable for any action taken under this Plan in
good faith.

         SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY.

                (a) In General. All employees of either the Company or any
Subsidiary shall be eligible to receive Awards under this Plan. All such
employees are referred to herein as "Eligible Employees". Eligible Employees
shall include full-time and part-time employees, hourly and salaried employees,
union and non-union employees, and employees who are on short-term disability or
leaves of absence with rights to reinstatement.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                (b) Directors. No Award may be made under this Plan to any
member of the Board of the Company or its Subsidiaries unless such director is
also an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                (c) No Grants to Committee. No Award may be made under this Plan
to any member of the Committee.

         SECTION 5. STOCK.

                (a) Common Stock. Options may be granted under the Plan for
shares of Stock. Restricted Stock may be granted under the Plan for shares of
Stock. Restricted Stock Units may be granted under the Plan with respect to and
payable in shares of Stock. In the discretion of the Treasurer of the Company,
Stock distributed under this Plan may be authorized but unissued shares,
treasury shares, or outstanding shares acquired by the Company in the open
market or elsewhere.

                (b) Aggregate Share Limitation. The aggregate number of shares
of Stock that may be distributed upon the exercise of Options, the lapsing of
restrictions on Restricted Stock, and the payment of Restricted Stock Units
under this Plan may not exceed 55 million shares. The expiration, forfeiture,
cancellation or termination of an Award will not reduce the number of shares
which may be distributed under this Plan. For purposes of determining whether
the aggregate share limitation of this paragraph has been exceeded, the total
number of shares distributed under this Plan shall be reduced by the number of
shares a Participant tenders, or has withheld, in payment of all or part of the
exercise price of an Option or in satisfaction of withholding tax obligations
with respect to an Award.

                (c) Broadly-Based Awards. In the absence of a Plan amendment
approved by the shareowners of the Company, (i) during both the term of this
Plan and the first three years of such term, at least a majority of the shares
of Stock underlying the Awards made under this Plan shall be with respect to
Awards made to Eligible Employees who are not Section 16 Officers or directors
of the Company; and (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Stock underlying
Awards made under this Plan to any Section 16 Officer or director of the Company
shall be a number not greater than one percent of the number of shares of Stock
of the Company which are issued and outstanding as of the Grant Date.

                (d) Reorganization of the Company. The limitation on the
aggregate number of shares that may be distributed or granted under this Plan
may be adjusted in accordance with section 9 of the Plan (relating to
recapitalizations, etc., of the Company).

         SECTION 6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTIONS. Each Option granted
under the Plan will be a nonqualified stock option, and not an incentive stock
option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. A Participant will not have any of
the rights of a shareholder of the Company by reason of an Option until it is
exercised. Each Option will comply with the following conditions:

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                (a) Option Price. The exercise price for each share of Stock
covered by an Option will not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock on
the Grant Date.

                (b) Ten-Year Limitation. No Option may be exercised more than
ten years after its Grant Date; provided, however, that the Committee may grant
Options that may only be exercised during a period of less than ten years. The
Option Agreement must specify the shorter period for any Option that may only be
exercised during a period of less than ten years.

                (c) Exercise of Options. The Committee will determine the time
at which Options may be exercised and the conditions under which Options may be
exercised. Unless otherwise specified in an Agreement, an Option granted under
this Plan will become exercisable on June 30, 2003, unless the Option has
previously been terminated, forfeited or cancelled. The Agreement will specify
any other limitations and restrictions on the exercise of an Option. After
becoming exercisable, and subject to these limitations and restrictions, an
Option may be exercised in whole or in part for any whole number of shares on
any day trading occurs on the New York Stock Exchange until the Option expires
or is terminated, cancelled or forfeited. When an Option is exercised, and
before shares are transferred to a Participant upon his or her exercise, the
Participant must pay the exercise price in full and make adequate provision for
the payment of any federal, state, local and foreign withholding taxes that
become due on exercise. In the discretion of the Plan Administrator, the
exercise price of an Option and the withholding taxes may be paid in cash, with
Stock, in any combination of cash and Stock, or by any other means that the Plan
Administrator determines to be consistent with the Plan's purposes and
applicable law.

                (d) Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise specified in an
Agreement, an Option will terminate or will remain exercisable for the following
periods and under the following conditions after a Participant terminates
employment with the Company and any Subsidiary, retires from the Company and any
Subsidiaries, dies or becomes disabled. For purposes of this Plan, a transfer of
employment between the Company and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries will not
be considered a termination of employment or retirement.

                  (i) Voluntary Separation; Termination for Cause. If a
         Participant's employment is terminated for cause under circumstances
         not described in paragraph (ii) below, or if Participant quits or
         otherwise separates from employment with the Company and any Subsidiary
         under circumstances not described in paragraphs (ii) to (v) below, an
         Option shall be immediately cancelled and all rights thereunder shall
         be immediately forfeited, whether or not the Option is then
         exercisable.

                  (ii) Separation at Retirement. If a Participant Retires under
         circumstances not described in paragraphs (iii) to (v) below, an Option
         shall be immediately cancelled and all rights thereunder shall be
         immediately forfeited to the extent the Option is not then exercisable.
         If and to the extent an Option is exercisable as of the date a
         Participant Retires, the Option will remain exercisable until the
         earlier of (A) five years after the day the Participant Retires from
         the Company or a Subsidiary, and (B) the expiration of the Option in
         accordance with paragraph 6(b). For purposes of this Plan, "Retire"
         means (x) to retire with a right to an immediate normal retirement,
         early retirement or service pension under the Company-sponsored or
         Subsidiary-sponsored tax-qualified final average pay defined benefit
         pension plan (excluding from this definition any cash balance plan) in
         which the Participant actively participates, or (y) if the

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         Participant does not actively participate in a tax-qualified final
         average pay defined benefit pension plan, to retire (I) after attaining
         normal retirement age under the Company-sponsored or
         Subsidiary-sponsored cash balance plan or nonqualified defined benefit
         pension plan in which the Participant actively participates, or (II)
         with a combination of age and years of service (as calculated for
         retirement-eligibility purposes) that equals or exceeds any of the
         following combinations:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       AGE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN:               SERVICE EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN:
                       ----------------------------                --------------------------------
<S>                                                                <C>
                                  Any age                                      30 years
                                    50                                         25 years
                                    55                                         20 years
                                    60                                         15 years
                                    65                                         10 years
</TABLE>

         Other definitions of "Retire" may be specified in an Agreement or in a
         Participant's written employment contract with the Company or a
         Subsidiary, or determined in writing by the Plan Administrator.

                  (iii) Involuntary Separation Without Cause. If a Participant's
         employment with the Company and any Subsidiary is terminated by reason
         of mandatory retirement or is terminated without cause, such as by
         reason of a Company-initiated or Subsidiary-initiated, voluntary or
         involuntary, force management or force reduction program or initiative,
         an Option shall become immediately vested and exercisable, whether or
         not previously exercisable, and any such outstanding Option may be
         exercised until the earlier of (A) five years after the last day the
         Participant was on the payroll of the Company or a Subsidiary, and (B)
         the expiration of the Option in accordance with paragraph 6(b). The
         Committee or the Plan Administrator may determine, on a case-by-case
         basis and in their discretion, that the sale of a Subsidiary or a
         business unit that employs a Participant constitutes an involuntary
         termination without cause for purposes of this paragraph. This
         paragraph will not apply to a Participant whose employment is
         terminated for refusal to accept a reassignment that involves no
         relocation or downgrade.

                  (iv) Disability. If a Participant separates from active
         employment with the Company and any Subsidiary as a result of total and
         permanent disability, as defined in the Company-sponsored or
         Subsidiary-sponsored long-term disability plan that applies to the
         Participant (or, if a Participant is not covered by a long-term
         disability plan, as defined in such plan or in such manner as the Plan
         Administrator determines), an Option shall become immediately vested
         and exercisable, whether or not previously exercisable, upon the
         expiration of any short-term disability benefit, and any such
         outstanding Option may be exercised until the earlier of (A) five years
         after the last day the Participant was on the payroll of the Company or
         a Subsidiary or on short-term disability, and (B) the expiration of the
         Option in accordance with paragraph 6(b).

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                  (v) Death. If a Participant dies while employed by the Company
         or any Subsidiary, an Option shall become immediately vested and
         exercisable, whether or not previously exercisable, and any such
         outstanding Option may be exercised until the earlier of (A) five years
         after the day the Participant died, and (B) the expiration of the
         Option in accordance with paragraph 6(b). If a Participant dies while
         no longer employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, but during an
         exercise period described in paragraphs (ii) through (iv) above, the
         Option shall remain exercisable during the remainder of that period.
         Following a Participant's death, the Option may be exercised by the
         Participant's Designated Beneficiary or, if the Participant has no
         Designated Beneficiary, by the person entitled to exercise the Option
         under the laws of descent and distribution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee or the Plan Administrator in their
discretion may require a Participant to execute a release satisfactory to the
Committee or the Plan Administrator, releasing the Company and any Subsidiaries
from employment-related claims, as a condition to the acceleration of
exercisability and the extension of the exercise periods under paragraphs (ii)
through (iv) above.

                (e) Waiver of Limitations; Acceleration of Options. Upon a
Participant's termination of employment, retirement, death or disability, the
Committee or its designee in its sole discretion may accelerate the
exercisability of any Option or waive the limitations on exercise of an Option
contained in paragraph 6(d) when it is in the best interests of the Company and
the Subsidiaries to do so. The Committee and its designee may not extend the
expiration of an Option beyond the ten-year limitation specified in paragraph
6(b).

                (f) Transferability of Option. Except as provided in this
paragraph 6(f), no Option will be transferable. A Participant may name the
Designated Beneficiary, in accordance with rules and guidelines established by
the Plan Administrator, who may exercise and benefit from an Option after the
Participant's death, and upon the death of a Participant the Option will be
transferred to the Designated Beneficiary. During a Participant's lifetime, an
Option may only be exercised by the Participant or by the Participant's guardian
or legal representative.

         SECTION 7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS.

                (a) General Provisions. Each Restricted Stock Unit granted under
the Plan represents a hypothetical share of Stock. The value of a Restricted
Stock Unit on any date equals the closing price as of such date of the Company's
Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or any other market or exchange selected
by the Committee). A Restricted Stock Unit does not represent an equity interest
in the Company and carries no voting rights.

                (b) Restrictions. The Committee shall establish restrictions
with respect to each Award of Restricted Stock Units, which may be satisfied
with the passage of time, the continuation of a Participant's employment by the
Company or a Subsidiary, the financial performance of the Company or any
Subsidiary or business, or such other terms or conditions as the Committee in
its discretion determines to be appropriate. The restrictions will be specified
in the Restricted Stock Units Agreement. Upon the satisfaction or lapse of the
applicable restrictions, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment with
respect to the Restricted Stock Units, unless the Participant has made a valid
deferral election pursuant to paragraph 8. If the restrictions of an Award of
Restricted Stock Units are not satisfied within the time period

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

specified in the Agreement, the Restricted Stock Units will expire and the
Participant's rights thereunder will be forfeited. No Restricted Stock Unit may
have a term of more than ten years.

                (c) Dividends. A Dividend Equivalent Unit shall be added to each
outstanding Restricted Stock Unit each time a dividend is paid on shares of
Stock with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit that had been granted to a
Participant as of the dividend's record date. The Dividend Equivalent Unit will
be equal in value to the dividend on a share of Stock, will be converted into
Restricted Stock Units or fractions thereof, based on the Fair Market Value of
the Stock on the dividend payment date, and will be added to the Participant's
Restricted Stock Unit balance.

                (d) Payments. All payments with respect to Restricted Stock
Units, either upon satisfaction or lapse of the applicable restrictions or at
the end of a deferral period, will be made in shares of Stock, with one share of
Stock distributed to the Participant with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit,
except for fractional Units, which will be paid in cash. Before the shares of
Stock are transferred to a Participant, the Participant must make adequate
provision for the payment of any federal, state, local and foreign withholding
taxes that are due. In the discretion of the Plan Administrator, withholding
taxes may be paid in cash, with Stock, in any combination of cash and Stock, or
by any other means that the Plan Administrator determines to be consistent with
the Plan's purposes and applicable law.

                (e) Termination of Employment, Retirement, Death or Disability.
The Committee shall establish terms and conditions regarding the forfeiture or
continuation of Restricted Stock Units, or the satisfaction or lapse of the
restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock Units, after a Participant
terminates employment with the Company and any Subsidiaries, retires from the
Company and any Subsidiaries, dies or becomes disabled. Such conditions shall be
specified in the Restricted Stock Units Agreement. Upon a Participant's
termination of employment, retirement, death or disability, the Committee or its
designee in its sole discretion may determine that the restrictions have been
satisfied or waive the restrictions on Restricted Stock Units when it is in the
best interests of the Company and the Subsidiaries to do so. The Committee and
its designee may not extend the term of a Restricted Stock Unit beyond the
ten-year limitation specified in paragraph 7(b).

                (f) Transferability of Restricted Stock Units. Except as
provided in this paragraph 7(f), no Restricted Stock Unit will be transferable.
A Participant may name the Designated Beneficiary, in accordance with rules and
guidelines established by the Plan Administrator, who may benefit from
Restricted Stock Units after the Participant's death, and upon the death of a
Participant the Restricted Stock Units will be transferred and any payments will
be made to the Designated Beneficiary.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         SECTION 8. DEFERRAL FEATURE. The Committee may provide a deferral
feature with respect to any Award. If an Award has a deferral feature, the
Participant may elect, pursuant to terms of a Deferral Plan then available to
the Participant and procedures adopted by the Plan Administrator, to defer (i)
the gain on exercise of an Option or (ii) the distribution of the shares of
Stock underlying an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that
otherwise would be issued upon satisfaction or lapse of the applicable
restrictions. Dividend Equivalent Units (or other earnings units) will be
credited with respect to Restricted Stock Units (or other equity-based
hypothetical units) during the deferral period, but will not be payable to the
Participant until the end of the deferral period.

         SECTION 9. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.

                (a) Adjustments in Stock. The Committee will determine what
adjustments, if any, are appropriate by reason of a stock split, reverse stock
split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, repurchase or exchange of
shares, distribution to shareholders, split-up, spin-off, significant
distribution of assets, or other similar corporate change to avoid any dilution
or enlargement in the rights or benefits intended to be made available under
this Plan. The Committee may make adjustments in (i) the aggregate number and
type of securities underlying the Awards that may be made under this Plan, (ii)
the number and type of securities underlying outstanding Awards, and (iii) the
exercise price of options or the price of any restricted stock, restricted stock
units or other equity-based hypothetical stock units.

                (b) Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, all
outstanding Options will become immediately vested and exercisable, any time- or
service-related restrictions or conditions on Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units will be deemed to be immediately satisfied, and any
performance-related restrictions or conditions on Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units for current and future periods will be deemed to have
been satisfied and the restrictions will thereupon lapse. In the event of a
Change in Control by merger or acquisition, subject to any required action by
the Company's shareowners, a Participant shall be entitled to receive, upon
exercise of an Option or satisfaction or lapse (including the deemed
satisfaction or lapse) of any restriction on Restricted Stock or Restricted
Stock Units, the same per share consideration with respect to the Stock
underlying the Award on the same terms that an owner of Stock is entitled to
receive pursuant to the merger or acquisition.

         SECTION 10. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. To the extent permitted by law,
the Committee or the Board may amend or suspend, and the Board may terminate,
this Plan. Unless a Participant consents to an amendment, suspension or
termination of the Plan which is adopted by the Committee or the Board, no
amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan will adversely affect the
rights of a Participant with respect to any Award made to the Participant,
provided, however, that the Committee or the Board may amend the definition of
"Change in Control" before a Change in Control has occurred. The termination of
the Plan will not cause any previously granted Award to terminate. After the
termination of the Plan, any previously granted Award will continue to be
governed by the terms of the Plan prior to its termination and any applicable
Agreement. Moreover, without approval of the owners of a majority of the shares
of the Stock voting either in person or by proxy at a duly convened meeting of
the Company's shareowners, no amendment to the Plan may (i) cause or permit a
majority of the shares of Stock underlying the Awards made under this Plan to be
shares of Stock underlying Awards made to Section 16 Officers or directors of
the Company, or (ii) cause or permit the aggregate number of

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

shares of Stock underlying Awards granted to any Section 16 Officer or director
of the Company to be greater than one percent of the number of shares of Stock
of the Company which are issued and outstanding as of the Grant Date. The Plan
Administrator may make administrative modifications to the Plan to comply with
changes in applicable law or to ensure effective and consistent administration
of the Plan; provided, however, that the Plan Administrator shall not amend the
Plan in any manner that materially alters the amount of any benefit provided
under the Plan. The EVP HR, with the advice of counsel, has the authority to
amend the Plan or to modify the administration of the Plan to the extent
required to ensure that transactions under the Plan are exempt to the maximum
extent possible from the short-swing profit provisions of Section 16(b) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

         SECTION 11. EFFECTIVE DATE. Pursuant to action of the Board of
Directors, the effective date of this Plan is August 7, 2000. No Awards may be
made under the Plan following the tenth anniversary of the effective date, but
any Awards then outstanding shall continue in effect in accordance with the
terms of this Plan and the applicable Agreements.

         SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

                (a) No Right to Employment. No Award shall give a Participant a
right to continued employment by the Company or any Subsidiary or otherwise
interfere with the Company's or any Subsidiary's right to discharge a
Participant, whether or not for cause.

                (b) Tax Withholding from Wages. If a Participant fails to remit
to the Company, in cash or Stock, the required amount of tax withholding with
respect to an Option exercise or the lapse of restrictions with respect to
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, the Company and any Subsidiary may
withhold such required amount from the Participant's pay or from other amounts
the Company or any Subsidiary owes to the Participant.

                (c) Nature of Payments. All Awards made pursuant to this Plan
are in consideration of future services for the Corporation or Subsidiaries. Any
gain realized pursuant to an Award constitutes a special incentive payment and
shall not be taken into account as compensation for purposes of any of the
employee benefit plans of the Company or any Subsidiary, except as may be
determined by the Board or by the board of directors of the applicable
Subsidiary.

                (d) Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be held
unlawful or otherwise invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, the
unlawfulness, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision of the Plan or part thereof, each of which shall remain in full force
and effect.

                (e) Governing Law. This Plan shall be construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to the
legislative or judicial conflict of laws rules of any state), except to the
extent superseded by federal law.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

                                   APPENDIX A
                         "CHANGE IN CONTROL" DEFINITION

         (a) For purposes of the Plan, and except as provided in paragraph (b)
hereof, a Change in Control shall occur if:

                  (i) any Person becomes a beneficial owner (as determined under
         Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
         time to time), or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within
         60 days, through tender offer or otherwise, of shares of one or more
         classes of stock of the Company representing 20% or more of the total
         voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting stock;

                  (ii) the Company and any Person consummate a merger,
         consolidation, reorganization or other business combination ("Business
         Combination"); or

                  (iii) the Incumbent Board adopts resolutions authorizing the
         liquidation or dissolution, or sale to any Person of all or
         substantially all of the assets, of the Company.

         (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) hereof, a Change in
Control shall not occur if:

                  (i) the Company's voting stock outstanding immediately before
         the consummation of the transaction will represent no less than 45% of
         the combined voting power entitled to vote for the election of
         directors of the surviving parent corporation immediately following the
         consummation of the transaction;

                  (ii) members of the Incumbent Board will constitute at least
         one-half of the board of directors of the surviving parent corporation;

                  (iii) the Chief Executive Officer or co-Chief Executive
         Officer of the Company will be the chief executive officer or co-chief
         executive officer of the surviving parent corporation; and

                  (iv) the headquarters of the surviving parent corporation will
         be located in New York, New York.

         (c) For purposes of this definition of Change in Control,

                  (i) "Person" means any corporation, partnership, firm, joint
         venture, association, individual, trust or other entity but does not
         include the Company or any of its wholly-owned or majority-owned
         subsidiaries, employee benefit plans or related trusts.

                  (ii) "Incumbent Board" means those persons who either (A) have
         been members of the Board of Directors of the Company since June 30,
         2000, or (B) are new directors whose election by the Board of Directors
         or nomination for election by the

<PAGE>   12

         shareowners of the Company was approved by a vote of at least
         three-fourths of the members of the Incumbent Board then in office who
         either were directors described in clause (A) hereof or whose election
         or nomination for election was previously so approved, but shall not
         include any director elected as a result of an actual or threatened
         solicitation of proxies by any Person.

                                       ii

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