Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 10q

                                    BELLSOUTH
                       OFFICER COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN

               (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005)

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                  BELLSOUTH OFFICER COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE.................................................    1

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS..................................................    2

1.1      "Account".....................................................    2

1.2      "Affiliate"...................................................    2

1.3      "Annual Bonus"................................................    2

1.4      "Base Salary".................................................    2

1.5      "BellSouth"...................................................    2

1.6      "Beneficiary".................................................    2

1.7      "Board".......................................................    2

1.8      "Bonus Deferral Election".....................................    2

1.9      "Business Day"................................................    2

1.10     "Code"........................................................    2

1.11     "Company Stock"...............................................    3

1.12     "Compensation"................................................    3

1.13     "Credited Interest Rate"......................................    3

1.14     "Deferral Contributions"......................................    3

1.15     "Deferral Election"...........................................    3

1.16     "Effective Date"..............................................    3

1.17     "Election Deadline"...........................................    3

1.18     "Election Package"............................................    4

1.19     "Eligible Executive"..........................................    4
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1.20     "ERISA"....................................................    4

1.21     "Financial Hardship".......................................    4

1.22     "Interest Income Option"...................................    5

1.23     "Interest Income Subaccount"...............................    5

1.24     "Investment Election"......................................    5

1.25     "Investment Options".......................................    5

1.26     "Mutual Fund"..............................................    5

1.27     "Mutual Fund Option".......................................    5

1.28     "Mutual Fund Subaccount"...................................    5

1.29     "Participant"..............................................    5

1.30     "Participating Company"....................................    5

1.31     "Performance Period".......................................    5

1.32     "Performance Share Award"..................................    6

1.33     "Performance Share Deferral Election"......................    6

1.34     "Performance Share Payment"................................    6

1.35     "Plan"   ..................................................    6

1.36     "Plan Administrator".......................................    6

1.37     "Plan Year"................................................    6

1.38     "Short Term Bonus Plan"....................................    6

1.39     "Stock/Interest Option"....................................    6

1.40     "Stock Plan"...............................................    6

1.41     "Stock Unit"...............................................    6
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<TABLE>
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1.42     "Stock Unit Option".............................................   6

1.43     "Stock Unit Subaccount".........................................   7

1.44     "Valuation Date"................................................   7

ARTICLE II ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION.................................   8

2.1      Annual Participation............................................   8

2.2      Interim Plan Year Participation.................................   8

2.3      Election Procedures.............................................   8

2.4      Cessation of Eligibility........................................   8

ARTICLE III PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; DEFERRAL CONTRIBUTIONS...............  10

3.1      Participants' Accounts..........................................  10
         (a)      Establishment of Accounts..............................  10
         (b)      Nature of Contributions and Accounts...................  10
         (c)      Several Liabilities....................................  10
         (d)      General Creditors......................................  10

3.2      Deferral Contributions..........................................  10
         (a)      Effective Date.........................................  11
                  (i)   Base Salary Deferral Election....................  11
                  (ii)  Bonus Deferral Election..........................  11
                  (iii) Performance Share Deferral Election..............  11
                  (iv) Other Requirements................................  11
         (b)      Term...................................................  11
         (c)      Base Salary Deferral Election Amount...................  11
         (d)      Bonus Deferral Election Amount.........................  12
         (e)      Performance Share Deferral Election Amount.............  12
         (f)      Revocation.............................................  12
         (g)      Crediting of Deferred Compensation.....................  13
                  (i)   Stock Unit Option and/or Interest Income Option..  13
                  (ii)  Mutual Fund Option...............................  13

3.3      Deferral Elections and Multiple Participating Companies.........  14

3.4      Termination Under Severance Arrangement.........................  14

3.5      Vesting.........................................................  14
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3.6      Debiting of Distributions.......................................  14

ARTICLE IV DETERMINATION AND CREDITING OF INVESTMENT RETURN..............  15

4.1      General Investment Parameters...................................  15

4.2      Participant Direction of Deemed Investments.....................  15
         (a)      Nature of Participant Direction........................  15
         (b)      Investment of Contributions............................  15
                  (i)   Stock Unit Option and/or Interest Income Option..  15
                  (ii)  Mutual Fund Option...............................  16
         (c)      Investment of Existing Account Balances................  16
                  (i)   Stock/Interest Option............................  16
                  (ii)  Mutual Fund Option...............................  16
         (d)      Investment Subaccounts.................................  16

4.3      Stock Unit Option...............................................  17
         (a)      Stock Unit Subaccount..................................  17
         (b)      Cash Dividends.........................................  17
         (c)      Adjustments............................................  17

4.4      Interest Income Option..........................................  17
         (a)      Interest Income Subaccount.............................  17
         (b)      Crediting of Deemed Interest...........................  18
                  (i)   Amount Invested..................................  18
                  (ii)  Determination of Amount..........................  18

4.5      Mutual Fund Option..............................................  18
         (a)      Mutual Funds...........................................  18
         (b)      Mutual Fund Subaccount.................................  18
         (c)      Crediting of Earnings..................................  19

4.6      Good Faith Valuation Binding....................................  19

4.7      Errors and Omissions in Accounts................................  19

ARTICLE V PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT BALANCES....................................  20

5.1      Benefit Amounts.................................................  20
         (a)      Benefit Entitlement....................................  20
         (b)      Valuation of Benefit...................................  20
         (c)      Conversion of Stock Units into Dollars.................  20

5.2      Elections of Timing and Form....................................  20
         (a)      Timing.................................................  20
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
         (b)      Form of Distribution.................................   21
         (c)      Multiple Selections..................................   21

5.3      Benefit Payments to a Participant.............................   21
         (a)      Timing...............................................   21
         (b)      Form of Distribution.................................   21
         (c)      Valuation of Single Lump-Sum Payments................   21
         (d)      Valuation of Installment Payments....................   21

5.4      Death Benefits................................................   22
         (a)      General..............................................   22
         (b)      Valuation............................................   22

5.5      Withdrawals...................................................   22
         (a)      Hardship Withdrawals.................................   22
         (b)      Withdrawals with Forfeiture..........................   23

5.6      Beneficiary Designation.......................................   23
         (a)      General..............................................   23
         (b)      No Designation or Designee Dead or Missing...........   23
         (c)      Death of Beneficiary.................................   24

5.7      Taxes    .....................................................   24

ARTICLE VI CLAIMS......................................................   25

6.1      Initial Claim.................................................   25

6.2      Appeal   .....................................................   25

6.3      Satisfaction of Claims........................................   25

ARTICLE VII SOURCE OF FUNDS............................................   26

ARTICLE VIII PLAN ADMINISTRATION.......................................   27

8.1      Action by the Plan Administrator..............................   27
         (a)      Individual Administrator.............................   27
         (b)      Administrative Committee.............................   27

8.2      Rights and Duties of the Plan Administrator...................   27

8.3      Bond; Compensation............................................   28

ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION...................................   29
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
9.1      Amendments...................................................     29

9.2      Termination of Plan..........................................     29

9.3      Limitation on Authority......................................     29
         (a)      Plan Amendments.....................................     29
         (b)      Plan Termination....................................     29
         (c)      Opinions of Counsel.................................     30

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS...............................................     31

10.1     Taxation.....................................................     31

10.2     Withholding..................................................     31

10.3     No Employment Contract.......................................     31

10.4     Headings.....................................................     31

10.5     Gender and Number............................................     31

10.6     Assignment of Benefits.......................................     31

10.7     Legally Incompetent..........................................     31

10.8     Entire Document..............................................     31

10.9     Governing Law................................................     31

EXHIBIT A.............................................................    A-1
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                  BELLSOUTH OFFICER COMPENSATION DEFERRAL PLAN

      Effective as of the 1st day of January, 2002, BellSouth Corporation
("BellSouth") established the BellSouth Officer Compensation Deferral Plan (the
"Plan"). The Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety effective as of
the 1st day of January, 2005.

                             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

      A.    GOAL. BellSouth desires to provide its executives, and those of its
Affiliates that participate in the Plan, with an opportunity (i) to defer the
receipt and income taxation of a portion of such executives' compensation; and
(ii) to receive an investment return on those deferred amounts based on either
(A) the return of BellSouth stock, an indexed rate of interest, or a combination
of the two, or (B) for executives who satisfy BellSouth's stock ownership
guidelines, the return of a selected group of mutual and other investment funds.

      B.    PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to set forth the terms and
conditions under which these deferrals may be made and deemed invested and to
describe the nature and extent of the executives' rights to their deferred
amounts.

      C.    TYPE OF PLAN. The Plan constitutes an unfunded, nonqualified
deferred compensation plan that benefits certain designated employees who are
within a select group of key management or highly compensated employees. Each
Participating Company alone has the obligation to pay amounts payable under the
Plan to Plan Participants, and such payments are not, and will not be, an
obligation of any other Participating Company.

                                       -1-
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                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

      For purposes of the Plan, each of the following terms, when used with an
initial capital letter, shall have the meaning set forth below unless a
different meaning plainly is required by the context.

      1.1   "ACCOUNT" shall mean, with respect to a Participant or Beneficiary,
the total dollar amount or value evidenced by the last balance posted in
accordance with the terms of the Plan to the account record established for such
Participant or Beneficiary with respect to the Deferral Contributions of such
Participant for any Plan Year.

      1.2   "AFFILIATE" shall mean at any time any corporation, joint venture or
partnership in which BellSouth owns directly or indirectly, (i) with respect to
a corporation, stock possessing at least ten percent (10%) of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock in the corporation, or (ii) in the case of
a joint venture or partnership, a ten percent (10%) or greater interest in the
capital or profits of such joint venture or partnership.

      1.3   "ANNUAL BONUS" shall mean, with respect to each Eligible Executive
for a specified Plan Year, such Eligible Executive's actual award amount to be
paid under the Short Term Bonus Plan for such Plan Year (payable in the
succeeding year).

      1.4   "BASE SALARY" shall mean, with respect to each Eligible Executive
for a specified Plan Year, the gross regular, periodic base salary paid or
payable to the Eligible Executive for each payroll period during such Plan Year,
including any of the Eligible Executive's own before-tax and after-tax
contributions to, or deferrals under, any Code Section 401(k), Code Section 125,
nonqualified deferred compensation or other employee benefit plan or program,
maintained by a Participating Company from time to time, but excluding any
contributions or benefits paid under any such plan or program by a Participating
Company.

      1.5   "BELLSOUTH" shall mean BellSouth Corporation, a Georgia corporation.

      1.6   "BENEFICIARY" shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the
person(s) determined in accordance with Section 5.4 to receive any death
benefits that may be payable under the Plan upon the death of the Participant.

      1.7   "BOARD" shall mean the Board of Directors of BellSouth.

      1.8   "BONUS DEFERRAL ELECTION" shall mean an election in such form as is
provided by the Plan Administrator on which an Eligible Executive may elect to
defer a portion of such executive's Annual Bonus.

      1.9   "BUSINESS DAY" shall mean each day on which the New York Stock
Exchange operates and is open to the public for trading.

                                       -2-
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      1.10  "CODE" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

      1.11  "COMPANY STOCK" shall mean the $1.00 par value per share voting
common stock of BellSouth.

      1.12  "COMPENSATION" shall mean, for any Plan Year, the Participant's
annualized Base Salary rate as in effect on November 15 preceding the beginning
of the Plan Year. Provided, however, that with respect to an Eligible Executive
whose eligibility to actively participate in the Plan commences after November
15 preceding the beginning of the Plan Year, such amount shall be the
Participant's annualized Base Salary rate as in effect on the first day of the
first payroll period after which the Eligible Executive is eligible to actively
participate in the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator,
in its sole discretion, may specify dates other than those described above on
which a Participant's annualized Base Salary rate for a Plan Year is to be
determined. For any Participant employed by a Participating Company whose
compensation structure does not readily fit this definition, "Compensation"
shall mean cash compensation as defined by the Plan Administrator.

      1.13  "CREDITED INTEREST RATE" shall mean, for each Plan Year, the rate of
return equal to Moody's Monthly Average of Yields of Aa Corporate Bonds, as
published by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., for the month of July immediately
preceding such Plan Year. If such rate (or any alternative rate described in
this sentence) is at any time no longer available, the Plan Administrator shall
designate an alternative rate which, in the Plan Administrator's reasonable
judgment, is generally comparable to the rate described in the preceding
sentence, and such alternative rate shall thereafter be the Credited Interest
Rate.

      1.14  "DEFERRAL CONTRIBUTIONS" shall mean, as applicable, for each Plan
Year that portion of a Participant's Base Salary and/or Annual Bonus deferred,
and for each Performance Period that portion of a Participant's Performance
Share Payment deferred, under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.2.

      1.15  "DEFERRAL ELECTION" shall mean an election in such form as is
provided by the Plan Administrator on which an Eligible Executive may elect to
defer under the Plan a portion of such Eligible Executive's Base Salary.

      1.16  "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean January 1, 2005, the date this
restatement of the Plan is effective. The Plan initially was effective as of
January 1, 2002.

      1.17  "ELECTION DEADLINE" shall mean:

            (a)   With respect to a Deferral Election and a Bonus Deferral
Election, for an individual who is eligible to participate in the Plan for an
entire Plan Year and is employed by a Participating Company on such date, the
November 30 (or if November 30 is not a Business Day, the last Business Day
immediately preceding November 30) immediately preceding the first day of such
Plan Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with the approval of the Plan
Administrator, "Election Deadline" may mean, with respect to such an Eligible
Executive for a Plan Year, the

                                       -3-
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December 31 (or if December 31 is not a Business Day, the last Business Day
immediately preceding December 31) immediately preceding the first day of such
Plan Year.

            (b)   With respect to a Deferral Election and a Bonus Deferral
Election, for an individual who becomes employed by a Participating Company as
an Eligible Executive after the November 30 (or such other date) described in
the preceding paragraph and on or before October 1 of a Plan Year and who is
eligible to participate in the Plan during the remainder of such Plan Year
pursuant to Section 2.2, the date which is thirty (30) days after the date the
individual first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

            (c)   With respect to a Performance Share Deferral Election, the
November 30 (or if November 30 is not a Business Day, the last Business Day
immediately preceding November 30) immediately preceding the final year of the
Performance Period.

      1.18  "ELECTION PACKAGE" shall mean a package consisting of a Deferral
Election, a Bonus Deferral Election, a Performance Share Deferral Election, an
Investment Election and such other forms and documents distributed to an
Eligible Executive by the Plan Administrator for the purpose of allowing such
Eligible Executive to elect to actively participate in the Plan for a Plan Year.

      1.19  "ELIGIBLE EXECUTIVE" shall mean, for each Plan Year, each management
employee of a Participating Company who (i) is a member of a select group of
highly compensated or key management employees, and (ii) is designated by the
Plan Administrator as a member of BellSouth's "executive compensation group," or
is otherwise designated by the Plan Administrator as eligible to participate in
the Plan.

      1.20  "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

      1.21  "FINANCIAL HARDSHIP" shall mean a severe financial hardship to the
Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the
Participant or of the Participant's dependent [as defined in Code Section
152(a)], loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other similar
extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events
beyond the control of the Participant. Financial Hardship shall be determined by
the Plan Administrator on the basis of the facts of each case, including
information supplied by the Participant in accordance with uniform guidelines
prescribed from time to time by the Plan Administrator; provided, the
Participant will be deemed not to have a Financial Hardship to the extent that
such hardship is or may be relieved:

            (a)   through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or
otherwise;

            (b)   by liquidation of the Participant's assets, to the extent the
liquidation of assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship; or

            (c)   by cessation of deferrals under the Plan.

                                       -4-
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Examples of what are not considered to be unforeseeable emergencies include the
need to send a Participant's child to college or the desire to purchase a home.

      1.22  "INTEREST INCOME OPTION" shall mean the Investment Option described
in Section 4.4, pursuant to which a Participant's deemed investment earnings are
determined on the basis of the Credited Interest Rate.

      1.23  "INTEREST INCOME SUBACCOUNT" shall mean a bookkeeping subaccount
reflecting that portion of a Participant's Account for each Plan Year which is
deemed to be invested in the Interest Income Option.

      1.24  "INVESTMENT ELECTION" shall mean an election in such form as is
provided by the Plan Administrator on which an Eligible Executive may elect to
have Deferral Contributions for a Plan Year (and all investment earnings
attributable thereto) deemed invested in the Stock Unit Option, the Interest
Income Option and/or the Mutual Fund Option (including the underlying Mutual
Funds).

      1.25  "INVESTMENT OPTIONS" shall mean the Stock Unit Option, the Interest
Income Option and the Mutual Fund Option (including the underlying Mutual
Funds).

      1.26  "MUTUAL FUND" shall mean the investment funds selected from time to
time by the Plan Administrator for purposes of determining the rate of return on
amounts deemed invested in the Mutual Fund Option pursuant to the terms of the
Plan.

      1.27  "MUTUAL FUND OPTION" shall mean the Mutual Fund Option described in
Section 4.5, pursuant to which a Participant's deemed investment earnings are
determined by the rate of return applicable to Mutual Funds.

      1.28  "MUTUAL FUND SUBACCOUNT" shall mean a bookkeeping subaccount
reflecting that portion of a Participant's Account for each Plan Year which is
deemed to be invested in the Mutual Fund Option.

      1.29  "PARTICIPANT" shall mean any person participating in the Plan
pursuant to the provisions of Article II.

      1.30  "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" shall mean BellSouth and each Affiliate
which, by action of its board of directors (or equivalent governing body),
adopts the Plan as a Participating Company with the approval of the Plan
Administrator. Such entities shall be listed on Exhibit A hereto, which shall be
updated from time to time to reflect the addition of new Participating Companies
and the effective dates of their participation, and the deletion of any entities
which are no longer Participating Companies.

      1.31  "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" shall mean the three consecutive calendar year
period (or other period of time) specified in a performance share award
agreement (or similar document)

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made pursuant to the Stock Plan with respect to which a Performance Share
Deferral Election is made.

      1.32  "PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARD" shall mean, with respect to each Eligible
Executive for a specified Performance Period, an award of "Performance Shares"
(as such term is defined in the Stock Plan) made pursuant to the Stock Plan with
respect to such Performance Period.

      1.33  "PERFORMANCE SHARE DEFERRAL ELECTION" shall mean an election in such
form as is provided by the Plan Administrator on which an Eligible Executive may
elect to defer a portion of such executive's Performance Share Payment.

      1.34  "PERFORMANCE SHARE PAYMENT" shall mean the aggregate of any and all
amounts to be paid with respect to a Performance Share Award.

      1.35  "PLAN" shall mean the BellSouth Officer Compensation Deferral Plan,
as contained herein and all amendments hereto.

      1.36  "PLAN ADMINISTRATOR" shall mean the Chief Executive Officer of
BellSouth and any individual or committee the Chief Executive Officer designates
to act on his or her behalf with respect to any or all of the Chief Executive
Officer's responsibilities hereunder; provided, the Board may designate any
other person or committee to serve in lieu of the Chief Executive Officer as the
Plan Administrator with respect to any or all of the administrative
responsibilities hereunder.

      1.37  "PLAN YEAR" shall mean the calendar year.

      1.38  "SHORT TERM BONUS PLAN" shall mean, effective April 26, 2004, the
BellSouth Corporation Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan, or any successor
plan. Prior to April 26, 2004, "Short Term Bonus Plan" referred to the BellSouth
Corporation Officer Short Term Incentive Award Plan.

      1.39  "STOCK/INTEREST OPTION" shall mean the investment option comprised
of the Stock Unit Option and/or the Interest Income Option, as described in
Section 4.2(b)(i).

      1.40  "STOCK PLAN" shall mean the BellSouth Corporation Stock and
Incentive Compensation Plan, or any successor plan.

      1.41  "STOCK UNIT" shall mean an accounting entry that represents an
unsecured obligation of a Participating Company to pay to a Participant an
amount which is based on the fair market value of one share of Company Stock as
set forth herein. A Stock Unit shall not carry any voting, dividend or other
similar rights and shall not constitute an option or any other right to acquire
any equity securities of BellSouth.

                                       -6-
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      1.42  "STOCK UNIT OPTION" shall mean the Investment Option described in
Section 4.3, pursuant to which a Participant's deemed investment earnings are
determined by the rate of return applicable to Stock Units.

      1.43  "STOCK UNIT SUBACCOUNT" shall mean a bookkeeping subaccount
reflecting that portion of a Participant's Account for each Plan Year which is
deemed to be invested in the Stock Unit Option.

      1.44  "VALUATION DATE" shall mean each Business Day. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, for any specific purpose determined in the sole discretion of the
Plan Administrator, "Valuation Date" shall mean any day or days declared by the
Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, to be a Valuation Date. If the Plan
provides for a valuation to be made on a day that is not a Valuation Date, such
valuation shall be made as of the Valuation Date immediately preceding such day.

                                       -7-
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                                   ARTICLE II
                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

      2.1 ANNUAL PARTICIPATION. Each individual who is an Eligible Executive as
of the first day of a Plan Year and is employed by a Participating Company
before the beginning of such Plan Year shall be eligible to defer a portion of
such Eligible Executive's Base Salary, Annual Bonus and Performance Share
Payment, if any, and thereby to actively participate in the Plan for such Plan
Year. Such individual's participation shall become effective as of the first day
of such Plan Year, provided that the Eligible Executive properly and timely
completes the election procedures described in Section 2.3. For purposes of the
Plan, references to "Plan Year" with respect to a Performance Share Deferral
Election shall mean the Plan Year that is the final calendar year of the
Performance Period.

      2.2 INTERIM PLAN YEAR PARTICIPATION. Each individual who becomes employed
by a Participating Company as an Eligible Executive on or before October 1 of a
Plan Year, and who is not otherwise eligible to participate in the Plan during
such Plan Year in accordance with Section 2.1, shall be immediately eligible
upon commencement of such employment to make a Deferral Election and/or Bonus
Deferral Election, and thereby to actively participate in the Plan, for the
remainder of such Plan Year. Such individual's participation shall become
effective as of the first day of the calendar month following the calendar month
in which such Deferral Election and/or Bonus Deferral Election is made, provided
that the Eligible Executive properly and timely completes the election
procedures described in Section 2.3.

      2.3 ELECTION PROCEDURES. Each Eligible Executive may elect to defer a
portion of such Eligible Executive's Base Salary, Annual Bonus and/or
Performance Share Payment, and thereby become an active Participant for a Plan
Year (or, if Section 2.2 is applicable, for the remainder of such Plan Year), by
delivering a completed Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or
Performance Share Deferral Election and an Investment Election to the Plan
Administrator by the applicable Election Deadline for such Plan Year. Such an
election shall be effective only if the individual is actively employed as an
Eligible Executive at the time the individual delivers the completed Deferral
Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share Deferral Election and
Investment Election to the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator may also
require the Eligible Executive to complete other forms and provide other data,
as a condition of participation in the Plan.

      2.4 CESSATION OF ELIGIBILITY. An Eligible Executive's active participation
in the Plan shall terminate, and the Eligible Executive shall not be eligible to
make any additional Deferral Contributions, for any portion of a Plan Year
following the date the Eligible Executive's employment with BellSouth and all
Participating Companies terminates (unless such individual is reemployed as an
Eligible Executive later in such Plan Year). In addition, an individual who
actively participated in the Plan during prior Plan Years but who is not an
Eligible Executive or does not complete the election procedures, for a
subsequent Plan Year, shall cease active participation in the Plan for such
subsequent Plan Year. If an individual's active participation in the Plan ends,
such individual shall remain an inactive Participant in the Plan until the
earlier of (i) the date the full amount of such individual's Accounts is
distributed from the Plan, or (ii) the

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

date the individual again becomes an Eligible Executive and recommences active
participation in the Plan. During the period of time that an individual is an
inactive Participant in the Plan, such individual's Accounts shall continue to
be credited with earnings as provided in the Plan.

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE III
                 PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; DEFERRAL CONTRIBUTIONS

      3.1 PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS.

            (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNTS. The Plan Administrator shall
establish and maintain one or more Accounts on behalf of each Participant for
each Plan Year for which the Participant makes Deferral Contributions. The Plan
Administrator shall credit each Participant's Account with the Participant's
Deferral Contributions for such Plan Year and earnings attributable thereto, and
shall maintain such Account until the value thereof has been distributed to or
on behalf of such Participant or his or her Beneficiary.

            (b) NATURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOUNTS. The amounts credited to a
Participant's Accounts shall be represented solely by bookkeeping entries.
Except as provided in Article VII, no monies or other assets shall actually be
set aside for such Participant, and all payments to a Participant under the Plan
shall be made from the general assets of the Participating Companies.

            (c) SEVERAL LIABILITIES. Each Participating Company shall be
severally (and not jointly) liable for the payment of benefits under the Plan
under Deferral Elections, Bonus Deferral Elections and Performance Share
Deferral Elections executed by Eligible Executives with, and while employed by,
such Participating Company.

            (d) GENERAL CREDITORS. Any assets which may be acquired by a
Participating Company in anticipation of its obligations under the Plan shall be
part of the general assets of such Participating Company. A Participating
Company's obligation to pay benefits under the Plan constitutes a mere promise
of such Participating Company to pay such benefits, and a Participant or
Beneficiary shall be and remain no more than an unsecured, general creditor of
such Participating Company.

      3.2 DEFERRAL CONTRIBUTIONS. Each Eligible Executive may irrevocably elect
to have Deferral Contributions made on his or her behalf for a Plan Year (or, if
Section 2.2 is applicable, for the remainder of such Plan Year), by completing
in a timely manner a Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or
Performance Share Deferral Election and an Investment Election, and following
other election procedures as provided in Section 2.3. Subject to any
modifications, additions or exceptions that the Plan Administrator, in its sole
discretion, deems necessary, appropriate or helpful, the following terms shall
apply to such Deferral Elections, Bonus Deferral Elections and Performance Share
Deferral Elections:

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

            (a) EFFECTIVE DATE.

                  (i) BASE SALARY DEFERRAL ELECTION. Subject to Section
3.2(a)(iv), a Deferral Election made by a Participant shall be effective
beginning with the first regular, periodic paycheck earned and paid (A) with
respect to a Participant participating for the entire Plan Year, in such Plan
Year, and (B) with respect to a Participant participating for a portion of a
Plan Year, in accordance with Section 2.2, in the calendar month following the
calendar month in which the Participant makes his or her Deferral Election.

                  (ii) BONUS DEFERRAL ELECTION. Subject to Section 3.2(a)(iv), a
Bonus Deferral Election made by a Participant shall be effective (A) with
respect to a Participant participating for the entire Plan Year, for the Annual
Bonus earned during the Plan Year, and (B) with respect to a Participant
participating for a portion of Plan Year in accordance with Section 2.2, for the
Annual Bonus earned during such portion of the Plan Year.

                  (iii) PERFORMANCE SHARE DEFERRAL ELECTION. Subject to Section
3.2(a)(iv), a Performance Share Deferral Election shall be effective for the
Performance Share Payment earned during the Performance Period with respect to
which such election is made.

                  (iv) OTHER REQUIREMENTS. To be effective, a Participant's
Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share Deferral
Election, as applicable, must be made by the Election Deadline. If an Eligible
Executive fails to deliver a Deferral Election, a Bonus Deferral Election or a
Performance Share Deferral Election, or to complete any of the other requisite
election procedures for a Plan Year, in a timely manner, the Eligible Executive
shall be deemed to have elected not to participate in the Plan for that Plan
Year.

            (b) TERM. Each Deferral Election for a Plan Year that is made by a
Participant shall remain in effect with respect to the specified portion of all
Base Salary earned and paid or payable during such Plan Year (or, in the case of
a Participant participating for a portion of the Plan Year in accordance with
Section 2.2, with respect to the specified portion of all Base Salary paid or
payable during the remainder of such Plan Year) but shall not apply to any
subsequent Plan Year. Each Bonus Deferral Election for a Plan Year that is made
by a Participant shall be effective with respect to the specified portion of
Annual Bonus, if any, earned during such Plan Year (or, in the case of a
Participant participating for a portion of the Plan Year in accordance with
Section 2.2, for the specified portion of the Annual Bonus earned during the
remainder of such Plan Year), but shall not apply to any subsequent Plan Year.
Each Performance Share Deferral Election that is made by a Participant shall be
effective with respect to the specified portion of Performance Share Payment, if
any, under the Performance Share Award to which it relates, but shall not apply
to any subsequent Performance Share Award.

            (c) BASE SALARY DEFERRAL ELECTION AMOUNT. Each Eligible Executive's
Deferral Election for a Plan Year shall specify a whole percentage of his or her
Compensation to be deferred from his or her Base Salary for such year.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion,
may allow an Eligible Executive to complete a Deferral Election specifying
either (i) a whole dollar amount of his or her Base Salary to be deferred, with

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

such amount being expressed in increments of $1,000 (or such other increments as
the Plan Administrator may determine), or (ii) a percentage of his or her Base
Salary paid or payable for each payroll period, with the amount of such deferral
to vary as the Eligible Executive's Base Salary changes. The maximum amount of
Base Salary that an Eligible Executive may defer for any Plan Year shall be
fifty-five percent (55%) of the Eligible Executive's Compensation for such Plan
Year rounded up to the next highest thousand dollars. The total amount elected
to be deferred shall be withheld from such Eligible Executive's regular,
periodic paychecks of Base Salary in substantially equal installments (except as
contemplated in clause (ii) above) throughout the Plan Year. If any election
would result in a fractional dollar amount to be withheld, the Plan
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine that such amount will be
rounded up to the next highest whole dollar. Notwithstanding any provision of
the Plan or a Deferral Election to the contrary, however, the amount withheld
from any payment of Base Salary shall be reduced automatically, if necessary, so
that it does not exceed the amount of such payment net of all withholding,
allotments and deductions, other than any reduction pursuant to such Deferral
Election. No amounts shall be withheld during any period an individual ceases to
receive Base Salary as an actively employed Eligible Executive for any reason
during the Plan Year except that, in the case of an individual on an approved
paid leave of absence as an Eligible Executive (including a paid leave of
absence under a short term disability plan of a Participating Company), amounts
shall be withheld from such leave of absence payments and otherwise treated in
the same manner as if such payments constituted Base Salary under the Plan. No
adjustment shall be made in the amount to be withheld from any subsequent
payment of Base Salary for a Plan Year to compensate for any missed or reduced
withholding amounts above.

            (d) BONUS DEFERRAL ELECTION AMOUNT. The Bonus Deferral Election of
each Eligible Executive shall specify a whole percentage of such Eligible
Executive's Annual Bonus to be deferred, not to exceed fifty percent (50%) and
not less than five percent (5%). Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or a
Bonus Deferral Election to the contrary, the amount withheld from any bonus
payment shall be reduced automatically, if necessary, so that it does not exceed
the amount of such payment net of all withholding, allotments and deductions
other than any reduction pursuant to such Bonus Deferral Election.

            (e) PERFORMANCE SHARE DEFERRAL ELECTION AMOUNT. The Performance
Share Deferral Election of each Eligible Executive shall specify a whole
percentage of such Eligible Executive's Performance Share Payment to be
deferred, not less than five percent (5%) and not to exceed one hundred percent
(100%) of the amount actually payable to the Eligible Executive with respect to
the Performance Share Award. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or a
Performance Share Deferral Election to the contrary, the amount withheld from
any Performance Share Payment shall be reduced automatically, if necessary, so
that it does not exceed the amount of such payment net of all withholding,
allotments and deductions, other than any reduction pursuant to such Performance
Share Deferral Election.

            (f) REVOCATION. Once made, a Participant may not revoke a Deferral
Election or Bonus Deferral Election for a Plan Year, or a Performance Share
Deferral Election with respect to a Performance Share Award.

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

            (g) CREDITING OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION.

                  (i) STOCK UNIT OPTION AND/OR INTEREST INCOME OPTION. If a
Participant elects to have all or any portion of his or her deferred Base Salary
for a Plan Year deemed invested in the Stock/Interest Option pursuant to Section
4.2(b), the Plan Administrator shall credit to the Participant's Account for
such Plan Year, as of the first day of such Plan Year (or, as of the effective
date of participation of a Participant described in Section 2.2), the entire
amount of the Participant's deferred Base Salary for such Plan Year. If a
Participant elects to have all or any portion of his or her deferred Annual
Bonus for a Plan Year deemed invested in the Stock/Interest Option pursuant to
Section 4.2(b), the Plan Administrator shall credit to the Participant's
Account, as of the first day of the Plan Year in which the Participant's Annual
Bonus for such Plan Year is actually paid under the Short Term Bonus Plan, the
entire amount deferred. If a Participant elects to have all or any portion of
his or her deferred Performance Share Payment for a Performance Period deemed
invested in the Stock/Interest Option pursuant to Section 4.2(b), the Plan
Administrator shall credit to the Participant's Account, as of the first day of
the Plan Year next following the end of the Performance Period, the entire
amount deferred. If for any reason the entire amount of the Participant's
Deferral Contributions so elected are not made, the Participant's Account shall
be automatically adjusted, retroactively to the first day of such Plan Year (or,
if applicable, the effective date of participation of a Participant described in
Section 2.2), to reflect the amount of Deferral Contributions actually made from
Base Salary (or pursuant to Section 3.4, if applicable), Annual Bonus and/or
Performance Share Payment during the Plan Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if a Participant described in this Section 3.2(g)(i) is an "Executive Officer"
(as such term is defined in the Stock Plan), the Plan Administrator shall
instead credit to such Participant's Account for a Plan Year, as of the last day
of the applicable Plan Year, the entire amount of the Participant's Base Salary,
Annual Bonus and/or Performance Share Payment actually deferred, retroactively
to the first day of such Plan Year (or, if applicable, the effective date of
participation of a Participant described in Section 2.2).

                  (ii) MUTUAL FUND OPTION. If a Participant elects to have all
or any portion of his or her deferred Base Salary for a Plan Year deemed
invested in the Mutual Fund Option pursuant to Section 4.2(b), the Plan
Administrator shall credit to the Participant's Account, as of each Valuation
Date that is on (or as soon as administratively practicable after) a payroll
period payment date, the Deferral Contribution made from Base Salary for such
payroll period. If a Participant elects to have all or any portion of his or her
deferred Annual Bonus for a Plan Year deemed invested in the Mutual Fund Option
pursuant to Section 4.2(b), the Plan Administrator shall credit to the
Participant's Account, as of the Valuation Date that is on (or as soon as
administratively practicable after) the date the Participant's Annual Bonus for
the prior Plan Year is actually paid under the Short Term Bonus Plan, the amount
of such Annual Bonus that is deferred. If a Participant elects to have all or
any portion of his or her deferred Performance Share Payment for a Performance
Period deemed invested in the Mutual Fund Option pursuant to Section 4.2(b), the
Plan Administrator shall credit to the Participant's Account, as of each
Valuation Date that is on (or as soon as administratively practicable after) the
date that each separate payment to be made to the Participant with respect to
the Performance Share Award is actually payable, the amount of such Performance
Share Award that is deferred.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

      3.3 DEFERRAL ELECTIONS AND MULTIPLE PARTICIPATING COMPANIES. Any Deferral
Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share Deferral Election
which is timely executed and delivered to the Plan Administrator shall be
effective to defer Base Salary, Annual Bonus and/or a Performance Share Payment
earned by the Participant from the Participating Company employing such
Participant at the time of the Participant's election or any other Participating
Company employing such Participant during the Plan Year for which the Deferral
Election, Bonus Deferral Election is effective, or during the Performance Period
with respect to which a Performance Share Deferral Election is effective. In
particular, a Participant (i) who timely executes and delivers a Deferral
Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share Deferral Election
while employed by one Participating Company and subsequently transfers to
another Participating Company, or (ii) who terminates employment and
subsequently becomes employed by another Participating Company, shall have the
Base Salary, Annual Bonus and/or Performance Share Payment that is paid or
payable to such Participant by both Participating Companies reduced under the
terms of the Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share
Deferral Election and the Plan as if the transfer or termination and
reemployment had not occurred; provided that, as provided in Section 3.2(c), no
amounts of Base Salary shall be withheld to the extent they are attributable to
any portion of the Plan Year during which such Participant is not receiving Base
Salary as an Eligible Executive of a Participating Company.

      3.4 TERMINATION UNDER SEVERANCE ARRANGEMENT. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Participant eligible to participate in a severance plan or
arrangement sponsored by a Participating Company which provides for a lump-sum
severance payment upon termination of employment may elect, on such form and at
such time and in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Plan Administrator,
to reduce the amount of a lump-sum severance payment to which the Participant
may become entitled under such plan or arrangement. The amount of such reduction
shall not exceed the dollar amount by which the Participant's deferred Base
Salary for the Plan Year in which such termination occurs would not have been
made at the time of termination of employment, and the amount so elected shall
for all purposes be treated as Deferral Contributions made under the Plan.

      3.5 VESTING. A Participant shall at all times be fully vested in the
Participant's Deferral Contributions and all investment earnings attributable
thereto.

      3.6 DEBITING OF DISTRIBUTIONS. As of each Valuation Date, the Plan
Administrator shall debit each Participant's Account for any amount distributed
from such Account since the immediately preceding Valuation Date.

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IV
                DETERMINATION AND CREDITING OF INVESTMENT RETURN

      4.1 GENERAL INVESTMENT PARAMETERS. The rate of return credited to each
Participant's Account shall be determined on the basis of the Investment
Option(s) selected by the Participant. The terms of this selection process and
the manner in which investment return is credited are set forth in this Article
IV.

      4.2 PARTICIPANT DIRECTION OF DEEMED INVESTMENTS. Each Participant
generally may direct that his or her Deferral Contributions for each Plan Year
shall be deemed invested in the Stock/Interest Option, the Mutual Fund Option or
both, and then may select among the options offered within that selection. The
Participant may make a separate election for his or her deferred Base Salary and
deferred Annual Bonus for each Plan Year and deferred Performance Share Payment
for each Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Mutual Fund
Option may be elected only by Participants who, as of June 30 of the year in
which the Investment Election is made, satisfy the BellSouth stock ownership
target then applicable to each such Participant under BellSouth's executive
stock ownership guidelines. Once made, a Participant may not revoke an election
between the Stock/Interest Option and the Mutual Fund Option.

            (a) NATURE OF PARTICIPANT DIRECTION. A Participant's election of the
deemed investments shall be for the sole purpose of determining the rate of
return to be credited to such Participant's Account for such Plan Year, and
shall not be treated or interpreted in any manner whatsoever as a requirement or
direction to actually invest assets in Company Stock, an interest income fund, a
mutual fund or any other investment media. The Plan, as an unfunded,
nonqualified deferred compensation plan, at no time shall have any actual
investment of assets relative to the benefits or Accounts hereunder.

            (b) INVESTMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS. In conjunction with completing each
of a Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share
Deferral Election for a Plan Year, an Eligible Executive shall complete a
separate Investment Election in which he or she elects the whole percentages of
the amount deferred under such Deferral Election, such Bonus Deferral Election
or such Performance Share Deferral Election (as applicable) to be deemed
invested in (i) the Stock/Interest Option, and/or (ii) if available with respect
to the executive, the Mutual Fund Option; provided, the combined percentages
allocated to the Stock/Interest Option and the Mutual Fund Option shall equal
one hundred percent (100%). Once a Participant makes an election between the
Stock/Interest Option and the Mutual Fund Option for a Plan Year, he or she may
not change such election. If the Eligible Executive elects the Stock/Interest
Option, he or she must then select his or her investment mix as described in
subsection (i) hereinbelow; and if the Eligible Executive elects the Mutual Fund
Option, he or she must then select his or her investment mix as described in
subsection (ii) hereinbelow.

                  (i) STOCK UNIT OPTION AND/OR INTEREST INCOME OPTION. An
Eligible Executive who selects the Stock/Interest Option with respect to either
his or her deferred Base

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

Salary, deferred Annual Bonus or deferred Performance Share Payment shall
specify any whole percentage to be invested in the Stock Unit Option and any
whole percentage to be invested in the Interest Income Option, such that the
total of the two percentages equals the total percentage of his deferred amount
allocated to the Stock/Interest Option.

                  (ii) MUTUAL FUND OPTION. An Eligible Executive, who as of June
30 of the year during which the Investment Election is made satisfies
BellSouth's stock ownership target applicable to such Executive under
BellSouth's executive stock ownership guidelines, and who selects the Mutual
Fund Option with respect to either his or her deferred Base Salary, deferred
Annual Bonus or deferred Performance Share Payment, shall specify the whole
percentage of such Deferral Contributions that will be deemed invested in each
Mutual Fund. Within the Mutual Fund Option, a Participant may make subsequent
Investment Elections to change the percentage of such Deferral Contributions
that will be deemed invested in each Mutual Fund, and any such election shall
apply to all such Deferral Contributions credited to his or her Account after
the election becomes effective. Any such election shall be effective on or as
soon as administratively practicable after the Plan Administrator's receipt of
the election. All such Investment Elections shall be (A) made in whole
percentages, (B) effected at the 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time closing price of the
applicable Mutual Fund on each applicable Valuation Date, and (C) subject to
such additional rules as the Plan Administrator may prescribe.

            (c) INVESTMENT OF EXISTING ACCOUNT BALANCES.

                  (i) STOCK/INTEREST OPTION. A Participant with all or part of
his or her Account deemed invested in the Stock/Interest Option may not make an
Investment Election (i) changing all or any portion of such deemed investment
among investment alternatives within the Stock/Interest Option, or (ii)
transferring all or any portion of such deemed investments to the Mutual Fund
Option. Thus, once an amount is deemed invested in the Stock/Interest Option, it
shall continue to be so invested until such amount is distributed.

                  (ii) MUTUAL FUND OPTION. A Participant with all or part of his
or her Account deemed invested in the Mutual Fund Option may make subsequent
Investment Elections changing the percentage of that portion of his or her
existing Account balance that will be deemed invested in each Mutual Fund. Any
such election shall be effected at the 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time closing price of
the applicable Mutual Fund on the Valuation Date that is coincident with or as
soon as administratively practicable after the Plan Administrator's receipt of
such election. All such Investment Elections shall be made in whole percentages,
and subject to such additional rules as the Plan Administrator may prescribe. No
Investment Election may be made changing a deemed investment from the Mutual
Fund Option to the Stock/Interest Option.

            (d) INVESTMENT SUBACCOUNTS. For the sole purpose of tracking a
Participant's Investment Elections and calculating deemed investment earnings
attributable to a Participant's Account for a Plan Year pursuant to the terms of
this Article IV, the Plan Administrator shall establish and maintain for such
Participant for such Plan Year a Stock Unit Subaccount, an Interest Income
Subaccount and a Mutual Fund Subaccount, as necessary, the total of which shall
equal such Participant's Account for such Plan Year.

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

      4.3 STOCK UNIT OPTION.

            (a) STOCK UNIT SUBACCOUNT. To the extent an Eligible Executive makes
an Investment Election in accordance with Section 4.2 to have his or her
Deferral Contributions for a Plan Year deemed to be invested in the Stock Unit
Option, the Participant's Stock Unit Subaccount shall be credited (subject to
the adjustment described in subsection 3.2(g), if applicable) with the
applicable portion of each such Deferral Contribution at the time such Deferral
Contribution is credited to the Participant's Account under Section 3.2(g), with
a number of Stock Units equal to the number of full and fractional shares of
Company Stock that could have been purchased with such portion of the Eligible
Executive's Deferral Contribution at the average of the high and low sales
prices of one share of Company Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the last
Business Day of each of the three (3) calendar months immediately preceding the
first day of such Plan Year.

            (b) CASH DIVIDENDS. As of each date on which BellSouth has paid a
cash dividend on Company Stock, the number of Stock Units credited to a
Participant's Stock Unit Subaccount shall be increased by a number of additional
Stock Units equal to the quotient of (i) the amount of dividends that would have
been paid on the number of shares of Company Stock equivalent to the number of
Stock Units credited to such subaccount on such dividend payment date, divided
by (ii) the 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time closing price of Company Stock on the New
York Stock Exchange on such dividend payment date.

            (c) ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of any change in outstanding shares of
Company Stock, by reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
spinoff, combination, exchange of shares, stock split, reverse stock split or
otherwise, or in the event of the payment of a stock dividend on Company Stock,
or in the event of any other increase or decrease in the number of outstanding
shares of Company Stock, other than the issuance of shares for value received by
BellSouth or the redemption of shares for value, the Plan Administrator shall
adjust the number and/or form of Stock Units in the manner it deems appropriate
in its reasonable judgment to reflect such event, including substituting or
adding publicly traded shares of companies other than the Company as a basis for
determining Stock Units. The Plan Administrator similarly shall make such
adjustments as it deems are appropriate in its reasonable judgment in the form,
including the basis of measurement, of Stock Units in the event all shares of
Company Stock cease for any reason to be outstanding or to be actively traded on
the New York Stock Exchange. In the event the Plan Administrator determines in
its reasonable judgment that it would not be possible to appropriately reflect
an event under this paragraph (c) by adjusting the number and/or form of Stock
Units, the Plan Administrator shall establish a special Valuation Date
appropriate to such event for all Stock Unit Subaccounts and shall cause such
subaccounts, as so valued, automatically to be converted into Interest Income
Subaccounts, which thereafter shall be subject to Section 4.4.

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

      4.4 INTEREST INCOME OPTION.

            (a) INTEREST INCOME SUBACCOUNT. To the extent that an Eligible
Executive makes an Investment Election in accordance with Section 4.2 to have
his or her Deferral Contributions for a Plan Year deemed to be invested in the
Interest Income Option, the Participant's Interest Income Subaccount shall be
credited (subject to the adjustment described in subsection 3.2(g), if
applicable) with the applicable portion of each such Deferral Contribution at
the time such Deferral Contribution is credited to the Participant's Account
under Section 3.2(g).

            (b) CREDITING OF DEEMED INTEREST. As of each Valuation Date, the
Plan Administrator shall credit a Participant's Interest Income Subaccounts with
the amount of earnings applicable thereto for the period since the immediately
preceding Valuation Date. Such crediting of earnings for each Interest Income
Subaccount shall be effected, as follows:

                  (i) AMOUNT INVESTED. The Plan Administrator shall determine
      the amount of (A) in the case of an Interest Income Subaccount established
      in connection with a Deferral Election or Bonus Deferral Election for the
      Plan Year, or established in connection with a Performance Share Deferral
      Election for the Performance Period, such Participant's Deferral
      Contributions credited to such Participant's Interest Income Subaccount as
      of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, plus any investment earnings
      credited to such Participant's Interest Income Subaccount since the
      immediately preceding Valuation Date; and (B) in the case of an Interest
      Income Subaccount for a prior Plan Year, the balance of such Participant's
      Interest Income Subaccount as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date,
      plus any investment earnings credited to such Participant's Interest
      Income Subaccount since the immediately preceding Valuation Date, minus
      the amount distributed from such Participant's Interest Income Subaccount
      since the immediately preceding Valuation Date; and

                  (ii) DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT. The Plan Administrator then
      shall apply the Credited Interest Rate for such Plan Year to such
      Participant's adjusted Interest Income Subaccount (as determined in
      subparagraph (i) hereof), and the total amount of investment earnings
      resulting therefrom shall be credited to such Participant's Interest
      Income Subaccount as of such Valuation Date.

      4.5 MUTUAL FUND OPTION.

            (a) MUTUAL FUNDS. From time to time, the Plan Administrator shall
select two (2) or more Mutual Funds for purposes of determining the rate of
return on amounts deemed invested in the Mutual Fund Option in accordance with
the terms of the Plan. The Plan Administrator may change, add or remove Mutual
Funds on a prospective basis at any time and in any manner it deems appropriate.

            (b) MUTUAL FUND SUBACCOUNT. To the extent that an Eligible Executive
makes an Investment Election in accordance with Section 4.2 to have his or her
Deferral Contributions for a Plan Year deemed to be invested in the Mutual Fund
Option, the Participant's

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

Mutual Fund Subaccount shall be credited with the applicable portion of each
such Deferral Contribution at the time such Deferral Contribution is credited to
the Participant's Account under Section 3.2(g), with the investment in each
Mutual Fund based on the 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time closing price of the Mutual Fund
on such crediting date.

            (c) CREDITING OF EARNINGS. As of each Valuation Date, the Plan
Administrator shall determine the value of a Participant's Mutual Fund
Subaccount (as well as the earnings and/or losses thereof) by valuing the deemed
investments in the Mutual Funds as if such subaccount actually were invested
therein.

      4.6 GOOD FAITH VALUATION BINDING. In determining the value of Accounts,
the Plan Administrator shall exercise its best judgment, and all such
determinations of value (in the absence of bad faith) shall be binding upon all
Participants and their Beneficiaries.

      4.7 ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN ACCOUNTS. If an error or omission is
discovered in the Account of a Participant or in the amount of a Participant's
Deferral Contributions, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall
cause appropriate, equitable adjustments to be made as soon as administratively
practicable following the discovery of such error or omission.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE V
                           PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT BALANCES

      5.1 BENEFIT AMOUNTS.

            (a) BENEFIT ENTITLEMENT. As the benefit under the Plan, each
Participant (or Beneficiary) shall be entitled to receive the total amount of
the Participant's Accounts, determined as of the most recent Valuation Date, and
payable at such times and in such forms as described in this Article V.

            (b) VALUATION OF BENEFIT. For purposes hereof, each Account of a
Participant as of any Valuation Date shall be equal to the total value such
Participant's Stock Unit Subaccount, Interest Income Subaccount and Mutual Fund
Subaccount.

            (c) CONVERSION OF STOCK UNITS INTO DOLLARS. For purposes of
converting some or all of a Participant's Stock Units into a dollar amount in
valuing the Participant's Accounts as of any Valuation Date, the value of each
Stock Unit shall be equal to the average of the high and low sales prices of one
share of Company Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the last Business Day
of each of the three (3) months of the calendar quarter most recently completed
on or prior to such Valuation Date.

      5.2 ELECTIONS OF TIMING AND FORM. In conjunction with, and at the time of,
completing a Deferral Election and/or Bonus Deferral Election for each Plan
Year, or a Performance Share Deferral Election for each Performance Share Award,
an Eligible Executive shall select the timing and form of the distribution that
will apply to the Account for such Eligible Executive's Deferral Contributions
(and deemed investment earnings attributable thereto) for such Plan Year. The
terms applicable to this selection process are as follows:

            (a) TIMING. For a Participant's Account for each Plan Year, such
Participant may elect that distribution will be made or commence as of any
January 1 following the Plan Year of deferral; provided, a Participant may not
select a benefit payment or commencement date for such Account that is (i)
earlier than (A) in the case of a Deferral Election, the second January 1
following the end of the Plan Year for which the deferral is made, or (B) in the
case of a Bonus Deferral Election or a Performance Share Deferral Election, the
third January 1 following the end of the Plan Year for which the deferral is
made; or (ii) later than the twentieth (20th) January 1 following the end of the
Plan Year of deferral.

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

            (b) FORM OF DISTRIBUTION. For a Participant's Account for each Plan
Year, such Participant may elect that distribution will be paid in one of the
following forms:

                  (i) a single lump-sum cash payment; or

                  (ii) substantially equal annual installments (adjusted for
      investment earnings between payments in the manner described in Article
      IV) over a period of two (2) to ten (10) years.

            (c) MULTIPLE SELECTIONS. An Eligible Executive may select a
different benefit payment or commencement date and/or a different form of
distribution with respect to his or her Account for each Plan Year. For ease of
administration, the Plan Administrator may combine Accounts and subaccounts of a
Participant to which the same benefit payment/commencement date and the same
form of distribution apply.

      5.3 BENEFIT PAYMENTS TO A PARTICIPANT.

            (a) TIMING. A Participant shall receive or begin receiving a
distribution of each of his or her Accounts as of the earlier of (i) the January
1 selected by such Participant with respect to each such Account pursuant to the
terms of Section 5.2(a); or (ii) the January 1 immediately following the date
that such Participant's employment with BellSouth and all Affiliates ends for
any reason, unless the Participant returns to employment with BellSouth or one
of the Affiliates before such January 1; provided, however, that with respect to
a Bonus Deferral Election or Performance Share Deferral Election of a
Participant whose employment has so terminated, distribution shall be made or
begin no sooner than the January 1 immediately following the date on which the
Annual Bonus or Performance Share Payment is payable. An amount payable "as of"
any January 1 shall be made as soon as practicable after such January 1 and,
unless extenuating circumstances arise, no later than January 31.

            (b) FORM OF DISTRIBUTION. A Participant shall receive or begin
receiving a distribution of each of his or her Accounts in cash in the form
selected by such Participant with respect to such Account pursuant to the terms
of Section 5.2(b).

            (c) VALUATION OF SINGLE LUMP-SUM PAYMENTS. The amount of a
Participant's single lump-sum distribution of any of his or her Accounts as of
any applicable January 1 shall be equal to the value of such Account as of the
Valuation Date immediately preceding the date on which such distribution is
paid.

            (d) VALUATION OF INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS. For purposes of determining
the amount of any installment payment to be paid as of a January 1 from an
Account, the following shall apply:

                  (i) for any amount of such Account attributable to an Interest
      Income Subaccount as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, such
      amount shall be

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

      divided by the number of remaining installments to be paid from such
      Account (including the current installment);

                  (ii) for any portion of such Account attributable to a Stock
      Unit Subaccount as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, the total
      number of Stock Units constituting such portion shall be divided by the
      number of remaining installments to be paid from such Account (including
      the current installment), and the resulting number of Stock Units shall be
      converted into a dollar amount (pursuant to the terms of Section 5.1(c))
      as of such Valuation Date; and

                  (iii) for any amount of such Account attributable to a Mutual
      Fund Subaccount as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date, such
      amount shall be divided by the number of remaining installments to be paid
      from such Account (including the current installment).

      5.4 DEATH BENEFITS.

            (a) GENERAL. If a Participant dies before receiving the entire
amount of his or her benefit under the Plan, such Participant's Beneficiary
shall receive distribution of amounts remaining in the Participant's Accounts in
the form, as elected by the Participant on a Beneficiary designation form
described in Section 5.6, of either:

                  (i) a single lump-sum cash payment of the entire balance in
      the Participant's Accounts as of the January 1 immediately following the
      date of the Participant's death; or

                  (ii) (A) for Accounts with respect to which distribution has
      not commenced under Section 5.2 at the time of the Participant's death,
      substantially equal annual installments (adjusted for investment earnings
      between payments in the manner described in Article IV) over a period of
      two (2) to ten (10) years, commencing as of the January 1 immediately
      following the Participant's death; and (B) for Accounts with respect to
      which distribution has commenced in the form of installments described in
      Section 5.2(b)(ii) at the time of the Participant's death, continuation of
      such installment payment schedule.

An amount payable "as of" any January 1 shall be made as soon as practicable
after such January 1 and, unless extenuating circumstances arise, no later than
January 31.

            (b) VALUATION. The valuation rules described in subsections 5.3(c)
and 5.3(d) shall apply to payments described in this Section 5.4.

      5.5 WITHDRAWALS.

            (a) HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS. Upon receipt of an application for a
hardship withdrawal and the Plan Administrator's decision, made in its sole
discretion, that a Participant

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

has suffered a Financial Hardship, the Plan Administrator shall cause the
payment of a distribution to such Participant. Such distribution shall be paid
in a single-sum payment in cash as soon as administratively feasible after the
Plan Administrator determines that the Participant has incurred a Financial
Hardship. The amount of such single-sum payment shall be limited to the amount
reasonably necessary to meet the Participant's requirements resulting from the
Financial Hardship. The amount of such distribution shall reduce the
Participant's Account balance as provided in Section 3.6.

            (b) WITHDRAWALS WITH FORFEITURE. Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Article V to the contrary, a Participant may elect, at any
time prior to the distribution of his or her entire benefit hereunder, to
withdraw all or a portion of (i) the remaining amount credited to one or more of
his or her Accounts, determined as of the Valuation Date on which such
distribution is processed, in twenty-five percent (25%) increments; plus (ii)
the amount of Deferral Contributions made since such Valuation Date. Such
distribution shall be made in the form of a single-sum payment in cash, as
prescribed in Section 5.2(b)(i), as soon as administratively feasible after the
date of the Participant's election under this subsection (b). At the time such
distribution is made, an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the amount
distributed shall be permanently and irrevocably forfeited (and, if the
distribution request is more than ninety percent (90%) of such Participant's
Account, the forfeiture amount shall be deducted from his or her distribution
amount to the extent there otherwise will be an insufficient remaining Account
balance from which to deduct this forfeiture). In addition, the Participant
receiving such distribution shall immediately cease to make Deferral
Contributions with respect to a Deferral Election for the Plan Year in which
such withdrawal occurs, and any Bonus Deferral Election and/or Performance Share
Deferral Election with respect to such Plan Year shall be disregarded, and such
Participant shall not be eligible to resume Deferral Contributions until the
first day of the Plan Year coinciding with or immediately following the one year
anniversary of such distribution.

      5.6 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION.

            (a) GENERAL. A Participant shall designate a Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries for all of his or her Accounts by completing the form prescribed
for this purpose for the Plan by the Plan Administrator and submitting such form
as instructed by the Plan Administrator. Once a Beneficiary designation is made,
it shall continue to apply until and unless such Participant makes and submits a
new Beneficiary designation form for this Plan.

            (b) NO DESIGNATION OR DESIGNEE DEAD OR MISSING. In the event that:

                (i) a Participant dies without designating a Beneficiary;

                (ii) the Beneficiary designated by a Participant is not
      surviving or in existence when payments are to be made or commence to such
      designee under the Plan, and no contingent Beneficiary, surviving or in
      existence, has been designated; or

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

                  (iii) the Beneficiary designated by a Participant cannot be
      located by the Plan Administrator within 1 year from the date benefit
      payments are to be made or commence to such designee;

then, in any of such events, the Beneficiary of such Participant shall be the
Participant's surviving spouse, if any can then be located, and if not, the
estate of the Participant, and the entire balance in the Participant's Accounts
shall be paid to such Beneficiary in the form of a single lump-sum cash payment
described in Section 5.4(a)(i).

            (c) DEATH OF BENEFICIARY. If a Beneficiary who survives the
Participant, and to whom payment of Plan benefits commences, dies before
complete distribution of the Participant's Accounts, the entire balance in such
Accounts shall be paid to the estate of such Beneficiary in the form of a single
lump-sum cash payment as of the January 1 immediately following such
Beneficiary's death. An amount payable "as of" any January 1 shall be made as
soon as practicable after such January 1 and, unless extenuating circumstances
arise, no later than January 31. The valuation rules described in subsection
5.3(c) shall apply to any payments described in this subsection 5.6(c).

      5.7 TAXES. If the whole or any part of any Participant's or Beneficiary's
benefit hereunder shall become subject to any estate, inheritance, income,
employment or other tax which a Participating Company shall be required to pay
or withhold, the Participating Company shall have the full power and authority
to withhold and pay such tax out of any monies or other property in its hand for
the account of the Participant or Beneficiary whose interests hereunder are so
affected. Prior to making any payment, the Participating Company may require
such releases or other documents from any lawful taxing authority as it shall
deem necessary.

                                      -24-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                     CLAIMS

      6.1 INITIAL CLAIM. Claims for benefits under the Plan may be filed with
the Plan Administrator on forms or in such other written documents, as the Plan
Administrator may prescribe. The Plan Administrator shall furnish to the
claimant written notice of the disposition of a claim within 90 days after the
application therefor is filed. In the event the claim is denied, the notice of
the disposition of the claim shall provide the specific reasons for the denial,
citations of the pertinent provisions of the Plan, and, where appropriate, an
explanation as to how the claimant can perfect the claim and/or submit the claim
for review.

      6.2 APPEAL. Any Participant or Beneficiary who has been denied a benefit
shall be entitled, upon request to the Plan Administrator, to appeal the denial
of his or her claim. The claimant (or his or her duly authorized representative)
may review pertinent documents related to the Plan and in the Plan
Administrator's possession in order to prepare the appeal. The request for
review, together with written statement of the claimant's position, must be
filed with the Plan Administrator no later than 60 days after receipt of the
written notification of denial of a claim provided for in Section 6.1. The Plan
Administrator's decision shall be made within 60 days following the filing of
the request for review. If unfavorable, the notice of the decision shall explain
the reasons for denial and indicate the provisions of the Plan or other
documents used to arrive at the decision.

      6.3 SATISFACTION OF CLAIMS. The payment of the benefits due under the Plan
to a Participant or Beneficiary shall discharge the Participating Company's
obligations under the Plan, and neither the Participant nor the Beneficiary
shall have any further rights under the Plan upon receipt by the appropriate
person of all benefits. In addition, (i) if any payment is made to a Participant
or Beneficiary with respect to benefits described in the Plan from any source
arranged by BellSouth or a Participating Company including, without limitation,
any fund, trust, insurance arrangement, bond, security device, or any similar
arrangement, such payment shall be deemed to be in full and complete
satisfaction of the obligation of the Participating Company under the Plan to
the extent of such payment as if such payment had been made directly by such
Participating Company; and (ii) if any payment from a source described in clause
(i) shall be made, in whole or in part, prior to the time payment would be made
under the terms of the Plan, such payment shall be deemed to satisfy such
Participating Company's obligation to pay Plan benefits beginning with the
benefit which would next become payable under the Plan and continuing in the
order in which benefits are so payable, until the payment from such other source
is fully recovered. The Plan Administrator or such Participating Company, as a
condition to making any payment, may require such Participant or Beneficiary to
execute a receipt and release therefor in such form as shall be determined by
the Plan Administrator or the Participating Company. If receipt and release is
required but the Participant or Beneficiary (as applicable) does not provide
such receipt and release in a timely enough manner to permit a timely
distribution in accordance with the general timing of distribution provisions in
the Plan, the payment of any affected distribution may be delayed until the Plan
Administrator or the Participating Company receives a

                                      -25-

<PAGE>

proper receipt and release.

                                      -26-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                 SOURCE OF FUNDS

      Each Participating Company shall provide the benefits described in the
Plan from its general assets. However, to the extent that funds in one or more
trusts, or other funding arrangement(s), allocable to the benefits payable under
the Plan are available, such assets may be used to pay benefits under the Plan.
If such assets are not sufficient or are not used to pay all benefits due under
the Plan, then the appropriate Participating Company shall have the obligation,
and the Participant or Beneficiary, who is due such benefits, shall look to such
Participating Company to provide such benefits. No Participant or Beneficiary
shall have any interest in the assets of any trust, or other funding
arrangement, or in the general assets of the Participating Companies other than
as a general, unsecured creditor. Accordingly, a Participating Company shall not
grant a security interest in the assets held by the trust in favor of the
Participants, Beneficiaries or any creditor.

                                      -27-

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                               PLAN ADMINISTRATION

      8.1 ACTION BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

            (a) INDIVIDUAL ADMINISTRATOR. If the Plan Administrator is an
individual, such individual shall act and record his or her actions in writing.
Any matter concerning specifically such individual's own benefit or rights
hereunder shall be determined by the Board or its designee.

            (b) ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE. If the Plan Administrator is a
committee, action of the Plan Administrator may be taken with or without a
meeting of committee members; provided, action shall be taken only upon the vote
or other affirmative expression of a majority of the committee members qualified
to vote with respect to such action. If a member of the committee is a
Participant or Beneficiary, such member shall not participate in any decision
which solely affects his or her own benefit under the Plan. For purposes of
administering the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall choose a secretary who
shall keep minutes of the committee's proceedings and all records and documents
pertaining to the administration of the Plan. The secretary may execute any
certificate or any other written direction on behalf of the Plan Administrator.

      8.2 RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR. The Plan Administrator
shall administer the Plan and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish that
purpose, including (but not limited to) the following:

            (a) to construe, interpret and administer the Plan;

            (b) to make determinations required by the Plan, and to maintain
records regarding Participants' and Beneficiaries' benefits hereunder;

            (c) to compute and certify to Participating Companies the amount and
kinds of benefits payable to Participants and Beneficiaries, and to determine
the time and manner in which such benefits are to be paid;

            (d) to authorize all disbursements by a Participating Company
pursuant to the Plan;

            (e) to maintain all the necessary records of the administration of
the Plan;

            (f) to make and publish such rules and procedures for the regulation
of the Plan as are not inconsistent with the terms hereof;

            (g) to delegate to other individuals or entities from time to time
the performance of any of its duties or responsibilities hereunder; and

                                      -28-

<PAGE>

            (h) to hire agents, accountants, actuaries, consultants and legal
counsel to assist in operating and administering the Plan.

The Plan Administrator shall have the exclusive right to construe and interpret
the Plan, to decide all questions of eligibility for benefits and to determine
the amount of such benefits, and its decisions on such matters shall be final
and conclusive on all parties.

      8.3 BOND; COMPENSATION. The Plan Administrator and (if applicable) its
members shall serve as such without bond and without compensation for services
hereunder. All expenses of the Plan Administrator shall be paid by the
Participating Companies.

                                      -29-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX
                            AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

      9.1 AMENDMENTS. Subject to Section 9.3, the Board shall have the right, in
its sole discretion, to amend the Plan in whole or in part at any time and from
time to time. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the right, in its
sole discretion, to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time so long as
such amendment is not of a material nature.

      9.2 TERMINATION OF PLAN. Subject to Section 9.3, BellSouth reserves the
right to discontinue and terminate the Plan at any time, for any reason. Any
action to terminate the Plan shall be taken by the Board and such termination
shall be binding on all Participating Companies, Participants and Beneficiaries.

      9.3 LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY. Except as otherwise provided in this Section
9.3, no contractual right created by and under any Deferral Election, Bonus
Deferral Election or Performance Share Deferral Election made prior to the
effective date of any amendment or termination shall be abrogated by any
amendment or termination of the Plan, absent the express, written consent of the
Participant who made the Deferral Election, Bonus Deferral Election or
Performance Share Deferral Election.

            (a) PLAN AMENDMENTS. The limitation on authority described in this
Section 9.3 shall not apply to any amendment of the Plan which is reasonably
necessary, in the opinion of counsel, (i) to preserve the intended income tax
consequences of the Plan described in Section 10.1, (ii) to preserve the status
of the Plan as an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan for the
benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees and not
subject to the requirements of Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of Title I of ERISA, or
(iii) to guard against other material adverse impacts on Participants and
Beneficiaries, and which, in the opinion of counsel, is drafted primarily to
preserve such intended consequences, or status, or to guard against such adverse
impacts.

            (b) PLAN TERMINATION. The limitation on authority described in this
Section 9.3 shall not apply to any termination of the Plan as the result of a
determination that, in the opinion of counsel, (i) Participants and
Beneficiaries generally are subject to federal income taxation on Deferral
Contributions or other amounts in Participant Accounts prior to the time of
distribution of amounts under the Plan, or (ii) the Plan is generally subject to
Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4 of Title I of ERISA, but in either case only if such
termination is reasonably necessary, in the opinion of counsel, to guard against
material adverse impacts on Participants and Beneficiaries, or BellSouth or
Participating Companies. Upon such termination, the entire amount in each
Participant's Accounts shall be distributed in a single lump-sum distribution as
soon as practicable after the date on which the Plan is terminated. In such
event, the Plan Administrator shall declare that the date of termination (or, if
such day is not a Business Day, the last Business Day immediately preceding such
day) shall be a Valuation Date and all distributions shall be made based on the
value of the Accounts as of such Valuation Date.

                                      -30-

<PAGE>

            (c) OPINIONS OF COUNSEL. In each case in which an opinion of counsel
is contemplated in this Section 9.3, such opinion shall be in writing and
delivered to the Board, rendered by a nationally recognized law firm selected or
approved by the Board.

                                      -31-

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE X
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

      10.1 TAXATION. It is the intention of BellSouth that the benefits payable
hereunder shall not be deductible by the Participating Companies nor taxable for
federal income tax purposes to Participants or Beneficiaries until such benefits
are paid by the Participating Company to such Participants or Beneficiaries.
When such benefits are so paid, it is the intention of the Participating
Companies that they shall be deductible by the Participating Companies under
Code Section 162.

      10.2 WITHHOLDING. All payments made to a Participant or Beneficiary
hereunder shall be reduced by any applicable federal, state or local withholding
or other taxes or charges as may be required under applicable law.

      10.3 NO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT. Nothing herein contained is intended to be
nor shall be construed as constituting a contract or other arrangement between a
Participating Company and any Participant to the effect that the Participant
will be employed by the Participating Company or continue to be an employee for
any specific period of time.

      10.4 HEADINGS. The headings of the various articles and sections in the
Plan are solely for convenience and shall not be relied upon in construing any
provisions hereof. Any reference to a section shall refer to a section of the
Plan unless specified otherwise.

      10.5 GENDER AND NUMBER. Use of any gender in the Plan will be deemed to
include all genders when appropriate, and use of the singular number will be
deemed to include the plural when appropriate, and vice versa in each instance.

      10.6 ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS. The right of a Participant or Beneficiary to
receive payments under the Plan may not be anticipated, alienated, sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered, attached or garnished by creditors
of such Participant or Beneficiary, except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and then only to the extent permitted under the terms of the Plan.

      10.7 LEGALLY INCOMPETENT. The Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion,
may direct that payment be made to an incompetent or disabled person, for
whatever reason, to the guardian of such person or to the person having custody
of such person, without further liability on the part of a Participating Company
for the amount of such payment to the person on whose account such payment is
made.

      10.8 ENTIRE DOCUMENT. This Plan document sets forth the entire Plan and
all rights and limits. Except for a formal amendment hereto, no document shall
modify the Plan or create any additional rights or benefits.

      10.9 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan shall be construed, administered and governed
in all respects in accordance with applicable federal law (including ERISA) and,
to the extent not

                                      -32-

<PAGE>

preempted by federal law, in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.
If any provisions of this instrument shall be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof
shall continue to be fully effective.

                                      -33-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                             Participating Companies
                             (as of January 1, 2005)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            Participating Company Names                                 Effective Date
-------------------------------------------------                       ---------------
<S>                                                                     <C>
1. BellSouth Advertising & Publishing Corporation                       January 1, 2002

2. BellSouth Corporation                                                January 1, 2002

3. BellSouth D.C., Inc.                                                 January 1, 2002

4. BellSouth International, Inc.                                        January 1, 2002

5. BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc.                                   January 1, 2002
</TABLE>

                                    Exhibit A

                                       A-1<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 10r

                                      2004

                   BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

1.    BellSouth Corporation has established target stock ownership levels for
      all BellSouth executives. To meet the target, an executive must own stock
      with a MARKET VALUE equal to a multiple of his/her January 1 base pay, as
      defined below:

               BellSouth CEO               4   times base salary

               Band AA                     3.5 times base salary

               Band A                      3   times base salary

               Band BB                     2.5 times base salary

               Band B                      2   times base salary

               Band C                      1.5 times base salary

               Band D                      1   time base salary

      If an individual is initially promoted or hired into an executive position
      on or before April 1, the base salary at the time of the promotion/hire
      will be used to compute the target market value. An individual who is
      promoted or hired into an executive position after April 1 will not have a
      target established until the following year.

2.    Shares in the following categories will count toward achievement of the
      target market value:

            -     Direct ownership

            -     Shares in dividend reinvestment accounts

            -     Share equivalents from the BellSouth Stock Fund of the various
                  savings plans

            -     Shares held by brokers or banks and listed in street name

            -     Shares or stock units that have been deferred under a deferral
                  plan.
                  NOTE: SALARY DEFERRAL COMMITMENTS MADE DURING THE 4TH QUARTER
                  FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR WILL BE INCLUDED IN 4TH QUARTER
                  OWNERSHIP. SHORT TERM DEFERRALS WILL BE INCLUDED IN 1ST
                  QUARTER OWNERSHIP WHEN ACTUAL SHORT TERM PAYMENTS ARE MADE.

            -     Shares owned by a trust, provided that the executive or his or
                  her spouse contributed the shares (or the money or other
                  property used by the trustee to purchase the shares) and also
                  holds the power to vote and dispose of the shares.

3.    Direct Ownership information will be obtained from the BellSouth transfer
      agent. Shares from Deferrals and Savings Plans will be reported from
      internal systems. Shares held in Street Name must be reported quarterly by
      the executive. As a convenience to the executive, a report from the
      executive's financial counselor regarding shares held in a broker account
      is acceptable.

      Attachment 1 ( Street Name) should be used to submit information on the
      TOTAL number of BellSouth shares listed in Street Name. This form should
      be provided to the Executive Compensation staff within 30 days following
      the end of each quarter.

            PLEASE NOTE: SHARES IN A BROKER ACCOUNT CANNOT BE CONFIRMED BY OUR
            INTERNAL SYSTEMS. SHARES NOT REPORTED BY THE EXECUTIVE OR HIS OR HER
            FINANCIAL COUNSELOR ON A QUARTERLY BASIS WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE
            QUARTERLY OWNERSHIP CALCULATIONS.

     Attachment 2 (Disposition of Shares) should be used to report the Sale or
     Gift of shares that should no longer be considered in the executive's
     ownership.

     Attachment 3 is an example of the Stock Ownership Report that will be
     provided to each executive and his or her financial counselor following the
     compilation of all data. This report should be available 6-8 weeks
     following the end of each quarter. Fractional shares will not be included
     in the calculation.

<PAGE>
                                      2004

                   BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

4.    Quarterly, the Executive Compensation staff will calculate each
      executive's Total Market Value of Ownership. The total market value of
      ownership is equal to:

                  # Shares Owned at the                     End of Quarter
                   End of the Quarter          X             Stock Price

                  The stock price is the average of the high and low
                  stock prices for a 10-day period, consisting of the
                  last 5 trading days of the quarter and the first 5
                  trading days of the following quarter.

      Each April, a report of the average quarterly market value for the prior
      year for each executive will be provided to the Chairman and the Executive
      Nominating and Compensation Committee of the BellSouth Board.

5.    For every THREE SHARES by which the average variance from the target for
      the year exceeds zero, the executive is eligible to receive ONE SHARE OF
      OWNERSHIP RESTRICTED STOCK (Minimum - 25 Shares). The maximum grant value
      under this plan is based on current Officer Bands as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               MAXIMUM ANNUAL
                 OFFICER BAND                    SHARE VALUE
                 ------------                  ---------------
                 <S>                           <C>
                     CEO                         $ 100,000
                     AA                          $  87,500
                     A                           $  75,000
                     BB                          $  62,500
                     B                           $  50,000
                     C                           $  37,500
                     D                           $  25,000
</TABLE>

6.    After an executive has received an initial grant of Ownership Restricted
      Stock (ORS) to recognize exceeding his/her ownership target, eligibility
      for future grants will be based on exceeding the annual target (base
      salary x ownership target multiple) plus the ownership previously
      recognized and rewarded, which equals the Total Target for Ownership
      Restricted Stock. The number of shares to reach target will be determined
      as follows:

       Number of Shares       =               Total Target for ORS
                                      -------------------------------------
       To Reach Target                Stock Price at the End of the Quarter

      THE NUMBER OF SHARES TO REACH THE TARGET MARKET VALUE WILL FLUCTUATE EACH
      QUARTER, BASED ON THE CHANGES IN STOCK PRICE.

      The average of the four quarters will determine the year's average
      variance from the target for Ownership Restricted Stock.

      Ownership Restricted Stock will vest 1/3 per year over a 3-year period.

7.    Once the annual ownership target is achieved, an executive is expected to
      maintain his/her ownership level. The ownership target must be exceeded to
      be eligible for additional Ownership Restricted Stock.

8.    All grants are subject to the discretion of the Executive Nominating and
      Compensation Committee of the BellSouth Corporation Board of Directors.

                                        2
<PAGE>

                                      2004

                   BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

BAND C OFFICER EXAMPLE:
                              Salary    =    $250,000
                            Multiple    =         1.5
             Annual Ownership Target    =    $375,000 (Salary x Multiple)
   Grant Value of Previous Ownership
                    Restricted Stock    =    $ 37,500
                    Total Target for
          Ownership Restricted Stock    =    $412,500 (Target + Previous ORS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      1ST QUARTER    2ND QUARTER   3RD QUARTER   4TH QUARTER
                                                      -----------    -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                              <C>                  <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>

STOCK PRICE                                             $ 25.00        $ 26.00       $ 27.00       $ 29.00

# SHARES TO TARGET FOR           $412,500 /
OWNERSHIP RESTRICTED STOCK       Stock Price             16,500         15,866        15,278        14,225

# OF SHARES OWNED                                        16,900         17,745        18,590        19,511

                                 # Shares Owned  -
VARIANCE FROM TARGET             # Shares to Target         400          1,879         3,312         5,286

YEAR'S AVERAGE
VARIANCE FROM TARGET             2,719                    400+1,879+3,312+5,286 / 4 = 2,719

OWNERSHIP RESTRICTED STOCK       906                      2,719 / 3 = 906
</TABLE>

Executives who are below their ownership target should increase their ownership
in order to meet the target over time. For planning purposes, achievement of
approximately 20% of the target market value would be appropriate progress
during each year. It is expected that an executive will meet or exceed his/her
ownership target within 5 years of becoming an officer.

NOTE: NO BELLSOUTH STOCK MAY BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNLESS THE
      INVOLVED EXECUTIVE'S CURRENT OWNERSHIP TARGET HAS BEEN MET, AND WILL
      CONTINUE TO BE MET AFTER THE SALE, WITH THE FOLLOWING EXCEPTIONS:

 [X]  RESTRICTED STOCK MAY BE ISSUED NET OF TAXES;

 [X]  OPTION SHARES MAY BE TRADED FOR TAXES DUE IN A CASH STOCK OPTION EXERCISE;

 [X]  CURRENTLY OWNED SHARES MAY BE SWAPPED TO COVER THE OPTION PRICE AND TAXES
      DUE IN A STOCK SWAP STOCK OPTION EXERCISE;

 [X]  STOCK OPTIONS MAY BE EXERCISED USING A SALE TO COVER STOCK OPTION EXERCISE
      WHERE SHARES ARE SOLD TO COVER THE OPTION PRICE AND TAXES DUE. REMAINING
      SHARES MUST BE ISSUED AND HELD BY THE EXECUTIVE.

ALL STOCK TRANSACTIONS MUST BE CLEARED BY BELLSOUTH LEGAL PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO
A TRANSACTION. CONTACT MARCY BASS AT 404-249-3875 TO REQUEST CLEARANCE.

                                        3
<PAGE>

                                                                    ATTACHMENT 1

                   BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

                               BROKER STREET NAME
                          SHARES OWNED AT THE END OF :

   1ST QUARTER         2ND QUARTER       3RD QUARTER           4TH QUARTER
      2004                 2004              2004                 2004

THE BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM ALLOWS RECOGNITION OF SHARES
HELD IN BROKER STREET NAME BY EITHER A BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE OR HIS/HER SPOUSE. TO
FOR SUCH OWNERSHIP TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING WHETHER AN EXECUTIVE HAS MET
HIS OR HER TARGET OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES, THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW SHOULD
BE FORWARDED TO THE BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION STAFF WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER
THE END OF EACH QUARTER. THE DATA SHOULD BE MAILED TO JEANNETTE BUTLER,
BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, 1155 PEACHTREE STREET, ROOM 13K06, ATLANTA, GA
30309-3610.

BROKER NAME             ________________________________________________________

ADDRESS                 ________________________________________________________

                        ________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER        ________________________________________________________

CLIENT ACCOUNT NUMBER(S)________________________________________________________

                        ________________________________________________________

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT AS OF THE DATE INDICATED BELOW, THE FOLLOWING BELLSOUTH
SHARES ARE HELD IN THE ABOVE BROKER'S STREET NAME ACCOUNT(S) FOR THE CLIENT(S)
LISTED BELOW.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              TOTAL
       NAME                SSN           NUMBER OF SHARES           DATE
-------------------  ----------------  --------------------  -------------------
<S>                  <C>               <C>                   <C>

___________________  ________________  ____________________  ___________________
   (EXECUTIVE)
___________________  ________________  ____________________  ___________________
     (SPOUSE)
___________________  ________________  ____________________  ___________________
(JOINT OWNERSHIP)

                         TOTAL:        ____________________  ___________________

EXECUTIVE OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

_____________________   _________________________________    ___________________
       (PRINT)                     (SIGNATURE)                      (DATE)
</TABLE>

                                        4
<PAGE>

                                                                    ATTACHMENT 2

                   BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE STOCK OWNERSHIP PROGRAM

                              DISPOSITION OF SHARES
                                     DURING:

  1ST QUARTER          2ND QUARTER         3RD QUARTER           4TH QUARTER
     2004                 2004                2004                  2004

THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION STAFF WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE DISPOSITION OF SHARES. THE DATA SHOULD
BE MAILED TO JEANNETTE BUTLER, BELLSOUTH EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION, 1155 PEACHTREE
STREET, ROOM 13K06, ATLANTA, GA 30309-3610.

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT AS OF THE DATE INDICATED BELOW, THE FOLLOWING BELLSOUTH
SHARES HAVE BEEN SOLD OR GIFTED AND ARE NO LONGER IN THE POSSESSION OF THE OWNER
LISTED BELOW.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  NUMBER
 OWNER NAME        SSN          OF SHARES       DISPOSITION         DATE
------------   ------------   --------------   -------------   -----------------
<S>            <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>
____________   ____________   ______________   _____________   _________________
(EXECUTIVE)
____________   ____________   ______________   _____________   _________________
  (SPOUSE)

                   TOTAL:     ______________   _____________   _________________

EXECUTIVE OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE

___________________________   ______________________________   _________________
          (PRINT)                       (SIGNATURE)                (DATE)
</TABLE>

                                        5

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00079-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00079-of-00352.parquet"}]]