GTE CALIFORNIA INC
8-K/A, 1997-09-05
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                
                                
                     Washington, D.C.  20549
                                
                                
                           FORM 8-K/A
                                
                                
                         CURRENT REPORT



             Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                 Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)      September
4, 1997


                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                
     (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                
                                
   California                 1-6417                95-0510200

  (State or other           (Commission            (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of           File Number)        Identification
No.)
  incorporation)


  600 Hidden Ridge, HQE04B12 - Irving, Texas        75038

   (Address of principal executive offices)       (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code     972-718-
5600

                               -2-
                                
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                
                           FORM 8-K/A
                                
                       ITEM OF INFORMATION



ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

(c)    Exhibits

       1.1  -    Revised Form of Purchase Agreement, including
       Standard Purchase Agreement Provisions (September 1997
       Edition), pertaining to Registration Statement on Form S-
       3 (File No. 333-01001) (to be first used on or about
       September 9, 1997).

       4.4  -    Form of New Debenture pertaining to
       Registration Statement on Form
            S-3 (File No. 333-01001) (to be first used on or
       about September 9, 1997).

       26.1 -    Revised Form of Invitation for Bids pertaining
       to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-
       01001)(to be first used on or about September 9, 1997).


                               -3-

                           SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                        (Registrant)




Date:  September 4, 1997           BY  GREGORY D. JACOBSON
                                       GREGORY D. JACOBSON
                                            Treasurer



































CA:8-K:4



                                                  Exhibit 1.1
                                
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                
                                
                       PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                                
                                
                                
      GTE  California Incorporated, a California corporation (the
"Company"),  proposes  to issue and sell  $___,000,000  aggregate
principal amount of its ___% Debentures, Series _, Due ____  (the
"New Debentures").  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth
or  incorporated by reference herein, the Company agrees to  sell
and  the  purchaser  or purchasers named in Schedule  A  attached
hereto (the "Purchasers") agree to purchase the New Debentures at
__%  of  their  principal  amount,  plus  accrued  interest  from
______________ to the date of payment for the New Debentures  and
delivery thereof.  Interest on the New Debentures will be payable
semi-annually   on   ___________  and   ___________,   commencing
_________.  The New Debentures will be reoffered to the public at
____% of their principal amount.

      All  the  provisions  contained in the  Company's  Standard
Purchase  Agreement  Provisions  (September  1997  Edition)  (the
"Standard Purchase Agreement Provisions") annexed hereto shall be
deemed to be a part of this Purchase Agreement to the same extent
as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

      [The  New  Debentures  will  not  be  redeemable  prior  to
maturity.]

                               OR

      [The  New Debentures will not be redeemable prior to _____.
Thereafter, the New Debentures will be redeemable on not less  30
nor more than 60 days' notice given as provided in the Indenture,
as  a  whole  or  in part, at the option of the  Company  at  the
redemption   price   set  forth  below.   The  "initial   regular
redemption  price" will be the initial public offering  price  as
defined  below  plus the rate of interest on the New  Debentures.
The  redemption  price during the twelve month  period  beginning
________  and during the twelve month periods beginning  on  each
____________  thereafter through the twelve  month  period  ended
____________  will be determined by reducing the initial  regular
redemption price by an amount determined by multiplying  (a)  1/_
of  the  amount  by  which such initial regular redemption  price
exceeds  100% by (b) the number of such full twelve month periods
which  shall have elapsed between ___________ and the date  fixed
for  redemption; and thereafter the redemption prices during  the
twelve  month  periods  beginning  ____________  shall  be  100%;
provided, however, that all such prices will be specified to  the
nearest  0.01% or if there is no nearest 0.01%, then to the  next
higher 0.01%.

      For the purpose of determining the redemption prices of the
New  Debentures,  the initial public offering price  of  the  New
Debentures  shall  be  the  price,  expressed  in  percentage  of
principal  amount (exclusive of accrued interest), at  which  the
New Debentures are to be initially offered for sale to


                               -2-


the  public;  if  there  is  not a public  offering  of  the  New
Debentures, the
initial  public  offering price of the New  Debentures  shall  be
deemed  to  be  the price, expressed in percentage  of  principal
amount (exclusive of accrued interest), to be paid to the Company
by the Purchasers.]

CLOSING:

      The Purchasers agree to pay for the New Debentures, at  the
option  of  the Company, by certified or official bank  check  or
checks  or by wire transfer in each case in same day funds,  upon
delivery  of  such New Debentures at 10:00 A.M.  (New  York  City
time)  on  _____________ (the "Closing Date") or  at  such  other
time, not later than the seventh full business day thereafter, as
shall  be  agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers  or  the
firm    or   firms   designated   as   the   representative    or
representatives,  as  the case may be,  of  the  Purchasers  (the
"Representative").   The Company shall advise the  Representative
not later than the business day immediately preceding the Closing
Date  of  its  decision whether to accept  payment  for  the  New
Debentures  by certified bank check or by wire transfer  and,  if
the  Company  chooses  to accept payment by  wire  transfer,  the
Company shall provide the Representative on such date immediately
preceding  the  Closing Date with the appropriate  wire  transfer
instructions.

DENOMINATION OF THE NEW DEBENTURES:

      [The  New  Debentures shall be in the form of temporary  or
definitive  fully-registered New Debentures in  denominations  of
One  Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple  thereof,
registered  in such names as the Purchasers or the Representative
shall  request not less than two business days before the Closing
Date.  The Company agrees to make the New Debentures available to
the Purchasers or the Representative for inspection at the office
of  First Trust of California, National Association, Los Angeles,
California or The Depository Trust Company, New York,  New  York,
at  least  twenty-four  hours prior to the  time  fixed  for  the
delivery of the New Debentures on the Closing Date.]

                               OR

      [The  New  Debentures shall be in the form of one  or  more
Global Debentures which shall represent, and shall be denominated
in  an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the New
Debentures  and shall be registered in the name of The Depository
Trust Company or its nominee.  The Company agrees to make the New
Debentures available to the Purchasers or the Representative  for
inspection  at the office of First Trust of California,  National
Association,  Los  Angeles, California or  The  Depository  Trust
Company, New York, New York, at least twenty-four hours prior  to
the  time  fixed  for the delivery of the New Debentures  on  the
Closing Date.]



                                

                               -3-


RESALE:

     [The Purchasers represent that they intend to resell the New
Debentures, and therefore the provisions applicable to  Reselling
Purchasers in the Standard Purchase Agreement Provisions will  be
applicable.]

                              OR

      [The Purchasers represent that they do not intend to resell
the  New  Debentures, and therefore the provisions applicable  to
Reselling   Purchasers   in  the  Standard   Purchase   Agreement
Provisions will not be applicable.]


      In witness whereof, the parties have executed this Purchase
Agreement this _____ day of __________, _____.

                              [Names of Purchasers or
                              Representative]


                              By: ___________________________
                                  Title:


                              GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED


                              By: ___________________________
                                       Vice President


                           SCHEDULE A
                                
                                
          The names of the Purchasers and the principal amount of
New Debentures which each respectively offers to purchase are  as
follows:

                               Principal
                                 Amount
                                of New
Name                           Debentures
                              ____________

                              $___,000,000












                              ______________


Total........................                     $___,000,000



                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
             STANDARD PURCHASE AGREEMENT PROVISIONS
                                
                    (September 1997 Edition)
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                
                                

      GTE  California Incorporated, a California corporation (the
"Company"),  may  enter  into  one or  more  purchase  agreements
providing  for  the  sale  of  debentures  to  the  purchaser  or
purchasers  named  therein  (the  "Purchasers").   The   standard
provisions set forth herein will be incorporated by reference  in
any such purchase agreement ("Purchase Agreement").  The Purchase
Agreement, including these Standard Purchase Agreement Provisions
incorporated therein by reference, is hereinafter referred to  as
"this Agreement".  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used in
this  Agreement  that are defined in the Purchase Agreement  have
the meanings set forth therein.

                   I.  SALE OF THE DEBENTURES
                                
      The  Company  proposes  to issue  one  or  more  series  of
debentures pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture dated as of
December  1,  1993,  as  amended and supplemented  by  the  First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1996 (as amended and
supplemented,  the  "Indenture"), between the Company  and  First
Trust  of California, National Association, as successor  trustee
to  Bank  of America National Trust and Savings Association  (the
"Trustee").   In  a  supplemental indenture to the  Indenture,  a
resolution  of  the  Board of Directors  of  the  Company  or  an
officers'  certificate  pursuant to a supplemental  indenture  or
board  resolution  specifically authorizing each  new  series  of
debentures,  the  Company will designate the title  of  each  new
series of debentures, and the aggregate principal amount, date or
dates  of  maturity,  dates for payment  and  rate  of  interest,
redemption dates, prices, obligations and restrictions,  if  any,
and any other terms with respect to each such series.

      The  Company  has  filed with the Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act  of  1933,
as  amended  (the  "Act"), registration statement  No.  333-01001
relating  to $400,000,000 of the Company's debentures  registered
thereunder (the amount remaining unsold thereunder, from time  to
time,  is hereinafter referred to as the "Debentures"), including
a prospectus which relates to the Debentures, and has filed with,
or  transmitted for filing to, the Commission (or  will  promptly
after  the  sale  so  file or transmit for filing)  a  prospectus
supplement  specifically  relating  to  a  particular  series  of
Debentures (such particular series being hereinafter referred  to
as  the  "New Debentures") pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the  Act
("Rule  424(b)").  The  term "Registration Statement"  means  the
registration statement referred to herein, as amended to the date
of the Purchase Agreement.  The term "Basic Prospectus" means the
prospectus   relating   to  the  Debentures   included   in   the
Registration  Statement.  The term "Prospectus" means  the  Basic
Prospectus  together with the prospectus supplement  specifically
relating to the New Debentures, as filed with, or transmitted for
filing  to,  the  Commission pursuant to Rule  424(b).   As  used
herein,  the  terms "Registration Statement", "Basic  Prospectus"
and "Prospectus" shall include in each case the material, if any,
incorporated by reference therein.

           II.  PURCHASERS' REPRESENTATIONS AND RESALE
                                
      Each  Purchaser  represents and warrants  that  information
furnished  in  writing  to the Company  expressly  for  use  with
respect  to  the  New  Debentures will  not  contain  any  untrue
statement of a material fact and will not omit any material  fact
in  connection  with  such information  necessary  to  make  such
information not misleading.

                               -2-

      If  the  Purchasers  advise the  Company  in  the  Purchase
Agreement  that  they  intend to resell the New  Debentures,  the
Company will assist the Purchasers as hereinafter provided.   The
terms  of  any  such resale will be set forth in the  Prospectus.
The  provisions of Paragraphs C and D of Article VI and  Articles
VIII,  IX  and X of this Agreement apply only to Purchasers  that
have  advised  the Company of their intention to resell  the  New
Debentures ("Reselling Purchasers").  All other provisions  apply
to any Purchaser including a Reselling Purchaser.
                                
                          III.  CLOSING
                                
      The  closing  will  be held at the office  of  GTE  Service
Corporation, 4th Floor, One Stamford Forum, Stamford, Connecticut
06904  on the Closing Date.  Concurrent with the delivery of  the
New Debentures to the Purchasers or to the Representative for the
account of each Purchaser, payment of the full purchase price  of
the  New  Debentures shall be made, at the option of the Company,
by  certified or official bank check or checks in same day funds,
payable  to  the Company or its order, at The Bank of  New  York,
Attention:  Corporate Trust Department, or by  wire  transfer  in
same  day  funds to The Bank of New York for the account  of  the
Company.  Upon receipt of such check or wire transfer by The Bank
of  New York, such check or wire transfer shall be deemed  to  be
delivered at the closing.

           IV.  CONDITIONS TO PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS
                                
      The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder  are
subject to the following conditions:

      (A)  The Registration Statement shall have become effective
and   no   stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness   of   the
Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for
such  purpose  shall  be  pending before  or  threatened  by  the
Commission;  since  the latest date as of  which  information  is
given  in  the Registration Statement, there shall have  been  no
material  adverse  change  in the business,  business  prospects,
properties, financial condition or results of operations  of  the
Company;  and  the  Purchasers or the Representative  shall  have
received  on  the Closing Date the customary form  of  compliance
certificate,  dated the Closing Date and signed by the  President
or a Vice President of the Company, including the foregoing.  The
officer executing such certificate may rely upon the best of  his
or her knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.

      (B)  At the Closing Date, there shall be in full force  and
effect  an  order  or  orders, satisfactory to  counsel  for  the
Purchasers,  of the California Public Utility Commission  and  of
such   other  regulatory  authorities,  if  any,  as   may   have
jurisdiction over the issue and sale of the New Debentures by the
Company  to  the Purchasers, authorizing such issue and  sale  as
herein  and in the Registration Statement provided, and  none  of
such  orders shall contain any conditions inconsistent  with  the
provisions of this Agreement or of the Registration Statement.


                               -3-

      (C)   The  Purchasers  or  the  Representative  shall  have
received  on  the Closing Date an opinion of Richard  M.  Cahill,
Esq.,  Vice  President-General Counsel of the Company,  or  other
counsel to the Company satisfactory to the Purchasers and counsel
to  the Purchasers, dated the Closing Date, substantially in  the
form set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

      (D)   The  Purchasers  or  the  Representative  shall  have
received on the Closing Date an opinion of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley
&  McCloy,  counsel for the Purchasers, dated the  Closing  Date,
substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

      (E)   The  Purchasers  or  the  Representative  shall  have
received  on the Closing Date a letter from Arthur Andersen  LLP,
independent public accountants for the Company, dated as  of  the
Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

             V.  CONDITIONS TO COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS
                                
      The obligations of the Company hereunder are subject to the
following conditions:

      (A)  The Registration Statement shall have become effective
and   no   stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness   of   the
Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for
such  purpose  shall  be  pending before  or  threatened  by  the
Commission.

      (B)  At the Closing Date, there shall be in full force  and
effect  an order or orders, satisfactory to the Company,  of  the
California Public Utility Commission and of such other regulatory
authorities, if any, as may have jurisdiction over the issue  and
sale of the New Debentures by the Company to the Purchasers.

     (C)  The Company shall have received on the Closing Date the
full purchase price of the New Debentures purchased hereunder.

                  VI.  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
                                
      In further consideration of the agreements contained herein
of   the   Purchasers,  the  Company  covenants  to  the  several
Purchasers as follows:

      (A)   To furnish to the Purchasers or the Representative  a
copy  of the Registration Statement including materials, if  any,
incorporated  by  reference  therein  and,  during   the   period
mentioned  in  (C)  below,  to  supply  as  many  copies  of  the
Prospectus,  any documents incorporated by reference therein  and
any  supplements and amendments thereto as the Purchasers or  the
Representative  may  reasonably request.  The terms  "supplement"
and  "amendment"  or  "amend" as used  in  this  Agreement  shall
include  all  documents filed by the Company with the  Commission
subsequent  to the effective date of the Registration  Statement,
or the date of the Basic Prospectus, as the case may be, pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), which are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.


                               -4-

      (B)   Before  amending  or supplementing  the  Registration
Statement  or the Prospectus with respect to the New  Debentures,
to furnish to any Purchaser or the Representative, and to counsel
for  the  Purchasers, a copy of each such proposed  amendment  or
supplement.

     The covenants in Paragraphs (C) and (D) apply only to
Reselling Purchasers:

      (C)  If in the period after the first date of resale of the
New  Debentures during which, in the opinion of counsel  for  the
Reselling  Purchasers, the Prospectus is required by  law  to  be
delivered,  any  event shall occur as a result  of  which  it  is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to  make
a  statement  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  when  the
Prospectus is delivered to a subsequent purchaser, not materially
misleading,  or  if  it  is  otherwise  necessary  to  amend   or
supplement  the  Prospectus  to comply  with  law,  forthwith  to
prepare  and  furnish, at its own expense (unless such  amendment
shall  relate to information furnished by the Purchasers  or  the
Representative  by  or  on behalf of the  Purchasers  in  writing
expressly   for   use  in  the  Prospectus),  to  the   Reselling
Purchasers,  the  number  of copies requested  by  the  Reselling
Purchasers  or  the  Representative  of   either  amendments   or
supplements  to  the  Prospectus so that the  statements  in  the
Prospectus  as so amended or supplemented will not, in  light  of
the   circumstances  when  the  Prospectus  is  delivered  to   a
subsequent  purchaser, be misleading or so  that  the  Prospectus
will comply with law.

      (D)   To use its best efforts to qualify the New Debentures
for  offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions  as  the  Purchasers or  the  Representative  shall
reasonably  request and to pay all expenses (including  fees  and
disbursements  of  counsel)  in connection  therewith;  provided,
however,  that  the  Company,  in complying  with  the  foregoing
provisions of this paragraph, shall not be required to qualify as
a foreign company or to register or qualify as a broker or dealer
in  securities  in any jurisdiction or to consent to  service  of
process  in  any jurisdiction other than with respect  to  claims
arising  out  of the offering or sale of the New Debentures,  and
provided  further  that  the Company shall  not  be  required  to
continue the qualification of the New Debentures beyond one  year
from the date of the sale of the New Debentures.

       VII.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
                                
       The   Company  represents  and  warrants  to  the  several
Purchasers that (i) each document, if any, filed or to  be  filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the
Basic  Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply  when
so  filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and  the
rules   and  regulations  thereunder,  (ii)  each  part  of   the
Registration Statement filed with the Commission pursuant to  the
Act  relating  to  the  New Debentures,  when  such  part  became
effective,  did not contain any untrue statement  of  a  material
fact  or  omit  to state a material fact required  to  be  stated
therein   or  necessary  to  make  the  statements  therein   not
misleading,  (iii)  on  the effective date  of  the  Registration
Statement,  the  date the Prospectus is filed  pursuant  to  Rule
424(b)  and at all times subsequent to and including the  Closing
Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as


                               -5-

amended  or supplemented, if applicable, complied or will  comply
in  all  material respects with the Act and the applicable  rules
and  regulations thereunder, (iv) on the effective  date  of  the
Registration  Statement,  the  Registration  Statement  did   not
contain, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will  not
contain, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein
not  misleading, and on the date the Prospectus, or any amendment
or  supplement thereto, is filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)  and  on
the  Closing  Date,  the Prospectus will not contain  any  untrue
statement  of  a material fact or omit to state a  material  fact
necessary  in order to make the statements therein, in the  light
of  the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
except that these representations and warranties do not apply  to
statements  or  omissions in the Registration  Statement  or  the
Prospectus based upon information furnished to the Company by any
Purchaser  or the Representative by or on behalf of any Purchaser
in  writing  expressly  for  use  therein  or  to  statements  or
omissions  in  the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee  under
the  Indenture,  (v)  the consummation of any transaction  herein
contemplated will not result in a breach of any of the  terms  of
any  agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party, and
(vi)  the  Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended.

                     VIII.  INDEMNIFICATION
                                
      The  Company  agrees to indemnify and  hold  harmless  each
Reselling  Purchaser and each person, if any, who  controls  such
Reselling  Purchaser within the meaning of either Section  15  of
the  Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against  any
and  all  losses, claims, damages and liabilities based upon  any
untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement of a material  fact
contained in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus  or
the  Prospectus (if used within the period set forth in Paragraph
(C)  of Article VI hereof, and as amended or supplemented if  the
Company  shall  have  furnished  any  amendments  or  supplements
thereto), or based upon any omission or alleged omission to state
therein  a  material  fact  required  to  be  stated  therein  or
necessary  to make the statements therein not misleading,  except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are  based
upon  any  such  untrue statement or omission or  alleged  untrue
statement  or  omission based upon information furnished  to  the
Company by any Reselling Purchaser or the Representative by or on
behalf  of any Reselling Purchaser in writing expressly  for  use
therein  or  by  any statement or omission in  the  Statement  of
Eligibility  of the Trustee under the Indenture.   The  foregoing
agreement,  insofar  as it relates to the Prospectus,  shall  not
inure  to  the  benefit  of any Reselling Purchaser  (or  to  the
benefit  of  any person controlling such Reselling Purchaser)  on
account  of  any  losses, claims, damages or liabilities  arising
from  the  sale of any New Debentures by said Reselling Purchaser
to  any  person  if  a  copy  of the Prospectus  (as  amended  or
supplemented, if prior to distribution of the Prospectus  to  the
Reselling  Purchaser, the Company shall have made any supplements
or  amendments  which  have  been  furnished  to  said  Reselling
Purchaser) shall not have been sent or given by or on  behalf  of
such  Reselling  Purchaser to such person  at  or  prior  to  the
written  confirmation of the sale of the New Debentures  to  such
person and such statement or omission is cured in the Prospectus.


                               -6-

      Each  Reselling  Purchaser agrees  to  indemnify  and  hold
harmless  the Company, its directors, its officers who  sign  the
Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company  to
the  same  extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company  to
each  Reselling Purchaser, but only with reference to information
relating to said Reselling Purchaser furnished to the Company  in
writing by the Reselling Purchaser or the Representative by or on
behalf  of  said  Reselling Purchaser expressly for  use  in  the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

       In   case   any  proceeding  (including  any  governmental
investigation)  shall  be  instituted  involving  any  person  in
respect  of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to  either  of
the  two  preceding  paragraphs, such  person  (the  "indemnified
party") shall promptly notify the person or persons against  whom
such  indemnity  may  be  sought (the  "indemnifying  party")  in
writing  and  the  indemnifying  party,  upon  request   of   the
indemnified  party, shall retain counsel reasonably  satisfactory
to  the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party  and
any   others  the  indemnifying  party  may  designate  in   such
proceeding  (provided,  however, that if such  indemnified  party
shall  object  to  the  selection of counsel  after  having  been
advised  by  such  counsel that there may be one  or  more  legal
defenses  available to the indemnified party which are  different
from  or additional to those available to the indemnifying party,
the  indemnifying party shall designate other counsel  reasonably
satisfactory to the indemnified party) and the indemnifying party
shall  pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related  to
such  proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified  party
shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees  and
expenses  of  such  counsel  shall be  at  the  expense  of  such
indemnified   party  unless  the  indemnifying  party   and   the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention  of
such counsel.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
but  if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment
for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified  party  from and against any  loss  or  liability  by
reason of such settlement or judgment.

      If the indemnification provided for in this Article VIII is
unavailable  to  an indemnified party under the first  or  second
paragraph  hereof  or  insufficient in  respect  of  any  losses,
claims,  damages  or liabilities referred to therein,  then  each
indemnifying  party,  in  lieu of indemnifying  such  indemnified
party  shall  contribute to the amount paid or  payable  by  such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages  or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate  to  reflect
the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and
the  Reselling Purchasers on the other from the offering  of  the
New  Debentures or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause  (i)
above  is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion  as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company
on  the one hand and of the Reselling Purchasers on the other  in
connection with the statement or omission that resulted  in  such
losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities, as well  as  any  other
relevant   equitable  considerations.   The   relative   benefits
received  by  the  Company  on the one  hand  and  the  Reselling
Purchasers  on the other in connection with the offering  of  the
New Debentures


                               -7-

shall  be  deemed to be in the same proportion as the  total  net
proceeds from the offering of the New Debentures received by  the
Company bear to the total commissions, if any, received by all of
the  Reselling Purchasers in respect thereof.  If  there  are  no
commissions  allowed  or  paid by the Company  to  the  Reselling
Purchasers  in  respect  of  the  New  Debentures,  the  relative
benefits  received by the Reselling Purchasers in  the  preceding
sentence  shall be the difference between the price  received  by
such  Reselling Purchasers upon resale of the New Debentures  and
the  price  paid for the New Debentures pursuant to the  Purchase
Agreement.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
of  the Reselling Purchasers on the other shall be determined  by
reference  to, among other things, whether the untrue or  alleged
untrue  statement of a material fact or the omission  or  alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied
by  the  Company or by the Reselling Purchasers and the  parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

      The  amount paid or payable by an indemnified  party  as  a
result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to
in  this Article VIII shall be deemed to include, subject to  the
limitations  set  forth  above,  any  legal  or  other   expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection  with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.   No  person
guilty  of  fraudulent misrepresentation (within the  meaning  of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution  from
any    person   who   was   not   guilty   of   such   fraudulent
misrepresentation.
                                
                          IX.  SURVIVAL
                                
      The  indemnity  and  contribution agreements  contained  in
Article  VIII  and  the  representations and  warranties  of  the
Company  contained in Article VII of this Agreement shall  remain
operative  and  in full force and effect regardless  of  (i)  any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by any
Reselling  Purchaser or on behalf of any Reselling  Purchaser  or
any   persons  controlling  any  Reselling  Purchaser  and  (iii)
acceptance of and payment for any of the New Debentures.
                                
                                
             X.  TERMINATION BY RESELLING PURCHASERS
                                
      At  any time prior to the Closing Date this Agreement shall
be  subject  to  termination in the absolute  discretion  of  the
Reselling  Purchasers, by notice given to  the  Company,  if  (i)
trading  in  securities generally on the New York Stock  Exchange
shall  have been suspended or materially limited, (ii) a  general
moratorium  on  commercial banking activities in New  York  shall
have   been  declared  by  either  Federal  or  New  York   State
authorities, (iii) minimum prices shall have been established  on
the  New  York  Stock  Exchange by  Federal  or  New  York  State
authorities  or  (iv)  any  outbreak or  material  escalation  of
hostilities  involving the United States or  declaration  by  the
United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or
crisis shall have occurred, the effect of any of which is such as
to  make  it  impracticable or inadvisable to  proceed  with  the
delivery  of  the New Debentures on the terms and in  the  manner
contemplated by the Prospectus.


                               -8-

                 XI.  TERMINATION BY PURCHASERS
                                
      If  this  Agreement shall be terminated by  the  Purchasers
because  of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company  to
comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this
Agreement,  or if for any reason (other than those set  forth  in
Article V) the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations
under  this  Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Purchasers
for   all   out-of-pocket  expenses  (including  the   fees   and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by such  Purchasers
in  connection  with  the  New Debentures.   Except  as  provided
herein,   the  Purchasers  shall  bear  all  of  their  expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel.

                XII.  SUBSTITUTION OF PURCHASERS
                                
      If  for any reason any Purchaser shall not purchase the New
Debentures  it  has agreed to purchase hereunder,  the  remaining
Purchasers  shall  have  the  right  within  24  hours  to   make
arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such
New Debentures hereunder.  If they fail to do so, the amounts  of
New  Debentures  that  the  remaining Purchasers  are  obligated,
severally, to purchase under this Agreement shall be increased in
the  proportions  which the total amount of New Debentures  which
they  have  respectively agreed to purchase bears  to  the  total
amount of New Debentures which all non-defaulting Purchasers have
so  agreed  to  purchase,  or in such other  proportions  as  the
Purchasers may specify to absorb such unpurchased New Debentures,
provided  that such aggregate increases shall not exceed  10%  of
the total amount of the New Debentures set forth in Schedule A to
the  Purchase Agreement.  If any unpurchased New Debentures still
remain,  the  Company shall have the right  either  to  elect  to
consummate  the  sale  except  as to  any  such  unpurchased  New
Debentures so remaining or, within the next succeeding 24  hours,
to make arrangements satisfactory to the remaining Purchasers for
the  purchase of such New Debentures.  In any such cases,  either
the  Purchasers or the Representative or the Company  shall  have
the  right  to postpone the Closing Date for not more than  seven
business days to a mutually acceptable date. If the Company shall
not  elect  to  so  consummate the sale and any  unpurchased  New
Debentures remain for which no satisfactory substitute  Purchaser
is  obtained in accordance with the above provisions,  then  this
Agreement  shall terminate without liability on the part  of  any
non-defaulting Purchaser or the Company for the purchase or  sale
of  any New Debenture under this Agreement.  No provision in this
paragraph shall relieve any defaulting Purchaser of liability  to
the Company for damages occasioned by such default.
                                
                      XIII.  MISCELLANEOUS
                                
      This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts,
each  of which shall be an original, with the same effect  as  if
the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

      This  Agreement  shall  be governed  by  and  construed  in
accordance with the substantive laws of the State of New York.


                                                        Exhibit A
                                                                 
                          LETTERHEAD OF
                        RICHARD M. CAHILL
                Vice President - General Counsel
                                
                       _____________, 199_
                                
                                
                                
                                
and the other Purchasers named in
the Purchase Agreement dated ____________,
199_, between GTE California Incorporated
and such Purchasers

Re:  GTE California Incorporated
     ___% Debentures, Series _, Due ____


Dear Sirs:

      I  have  been  requested by GTE California Incorporated,  a
California  corporation (the "Company"), as its  Vice  President-
General  Counsel  to furnish you with my opinion  pursuant  to  a
Purchase  Agreement dated ______, 199_ (the "Agreement")  between
you  and  the  Company,  relating to the  purchase  and  sale  of
$___,000,000  aggregate principal amount of its ___%  Debentures,
Series _, Due ____ (the "New Debentures").

     In this connection I have examined among other things:

      (a)   The  Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation  of  the
Company,  as  amended, and the By-laws of the  Company,  each  as
presently in effect;

      (b)   A copy of the Indenture dated as of December 1, 1993,
as  amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental  Indenture
dated  as  of  April  15, 1996 (as amended and supplemented,  the
"Indenture"), between the Company and First Trust of  California,
National  Association, as successor trustee to  Bank  of  America
National  Trust  and Savings Association (the  "Trustee"),  under
which the New Debentures are being issued;

      (c)   [The  Supplemental Indenture, dated as of ____,  199_
(the  "Supplemental  Indenture")  between  the  Company  and  the
Trustee]  [The  resolutions  of the Board  of  Directors  adopted
_____,  199_  (the  "Board Resolution")] [The certificate,  dated
_____, 199_, of an authorized officer of the Company pursuant  to
authorization  from the Board of Directors of  the  Company  (the
"Officer's  Certificate")]  specifically  authorizing   the   New
Debentures,  including  the  issuance  and  sale   of   the   New
Debentures;

      (d)   The  form  of  the New Debentures set  forth  in  the
[Supplemental    Indenture]   [Board    Resolution]    [Officer's
Certificate];

     (e)  The records of the corporate proceedings of the Company
relating  to  the  authorization, execution and delivery  of  the
Indenture  and  the  [Supplemental Indenture] [Board  Resolution]
[Officer's Certificate];


                               -2-

     (f)  The records of the corporate proceedings of the Company
relating  to  the  authorization, execution and delivery  of  the
Agreement;

      (g)   The  record of all proceedings taken by  the  Company
relating  to  the  registration of the New Debentures  under  the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and qualification
of  the  Indenture  under the Trust Indenture  Act  of  1939,  as
amended (the "TIA"), particularly Registration Statement No. 333-
01001, including the form of prospectus contained therein (unless
the  context shall otherwise require, the Registration  Statement
as amended is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement" and
the  prospectus  dated _________, together  with  the  prospectus
supplement dated __________ relating to the New Debentures in the
form  filed under Rule 424(b) of the Act, are hereinafter  called
the "Prospectus");

      (h)  Statutes, permits and other documents relating to  the
Company's franchises;

      (i)   The records of proceedings and orders issued  by  the
California Public Utility Commission authorizing the issuance and
sale of the New Debentures; and

      (j)   The  Registration Statement, the Prospectus  and  all
documents filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange  Act
of  1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which are incorporated
by reference in the Prospectus (the "Incorporated Documents") .

      On the basis of my examination of the foregoing and of such
other  documents  and matters as I have deemed necessary  as  the
basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed, I am of the opinion
that:

      1.  The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly
existing  and  in good standing under the laws of  the  State  of
California,  and has adequate corporate power to own and  operate
its  properties and to carry on the business in which it  is  now
engaged.   There  are  no states or jurisdictions  in  which  the
qualification  or  licensing  of  the  Company   as   a   foreign
corporation  is  necessary where the failure to be  qualified  or
licensed would have a material adverse effect on the Company.

      2.   All  legal proceedings necessary to the authorization,
issue  and sale of the New Debentures to you have been  taken  by
the Company.

      3.   The  Agreement  has been duly and validly  authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.

      4.   The  Indenture  is  in  proper  form,  has  been  duly
authorized by the Company, has been duly executed by the  Company
and  the  Trustee and delivered by the Company and constitutes  a
legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable  in
accordance  with  its  terms, except as  limited  by  bankruptcy,
insolvency and other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights and the availability of equitable remedies.  The Indenture
has been duly qualified under the TIA.


                               -3-

      5.  The New Debentures conform as to legal matters with the
statements  concerning  them  in the Registration  Statement  and
Prospectus  and  have been duly authorized and  executed  by  the
Company and (assuming due authentication and delivery thereof  by
the  Trustee) have been duly issued for value by the Company  and
(subject  to the qualifications set forth in paragraph  4  above)
constitute  legal, valid and binding obligations of  the  Company
enforceable  in accordance with their terms and are  entitled  to
the benefits afforded by the Indenture.

      6.   The  issuance  and  sale of  the  New  Debentures,  as
contemplated by the Agreement, have been duly authorized  by  the
California  Public Utility Commission, and such authorization  is
in  full force and effect and, except as may be required  by  the
securities  or Blue Sky laws of certain jurisdictions,  no  other
authorization, approval or consent of any governmental regulatory
authority  is  required for the issuance  and  sale  of  the  New
Debentures.

      7.   The  Company  holds  valid and subsisting  franchises,
licenses and permits adequate for the conduct of its business  in
the  territory served by it, except for limited areas  where  the
Company  operates  by  sufferance, and none  of  the  franchises,
licenses  or permits of the Company contain any unduly burdensome
restrictions.

     8.  Registration Statement No. 333-01001 became effective on
February  22,  1996,  and,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  no
proceedings  under  Section  8 of  the  Act  looking  toward  the
possible  issuance  of  a  stop order with  respect  thereto  are
pending  or threatened and the Registration Statement remains  in
effect  on the date hereof.  The Registration Statement  and  the
Prospectus  comply as to form in all material respects  with  the
relevant provisions of the Act and of the Exchange Act as to  the
Incorporated  Documents and the applicable rules and  regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, except that
I  express  no  opinion as to the financial statements  or  other
financial data contained therein.   The Prospectus is lawful  for
use  for the purposes specified in the Act in connection with the
offer  for  sale  and sale of the New Debentures  in  the  manner
therein  specified.   I  have  no  reason  to  believe  that  the
Registration Statement or the Incorporated Documents,  considered
as  a  whole on the effective date of the Registration Statement,
contained  any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted  to
state  a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
in  order to make the statements therein not misleading  or  that
the  Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, considered  as  a
whole  on  the  date hereof, contain any untrue  statement  of  a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under  which they were made, not misleading, except that in  each
case I express no opinion as to the financial statements or other
financial data contained therein.


                               -4-

      Without my prior written consent, this opinion may  not  be
relied  upon  by  any person or entity other than the  addressee,
quoted  in  whole  or in part, or otherwise referred  to  in  any
report  or document, or furnished to any other person or  entity,
except  that Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy may rely  upon  this
opinion as if this opinion were separately addressed to them.

                              Very truly yours,




                              Richard M. Cahill
                              Vice President - General Counsel

cc:  Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy





                                                       Exhibit B
                                                                 
                 MILBANK, TWEED, HADLEY & McCLOY
                     1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
                    New York, New York 10005
                                

__________, 199_
                                                                 
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                                
         $___,000,000 __% Debentures, Series _, Due ____





and the other several Purchasers
referred to in the Purchase Agreement
dated ___________________, among such
Purchasers and GTE California Incorporated

Dear Sirs:

      We have been designated by GTE California Incorporated (the
"Company")   as  counsel  for  the  purchasers  of   $___,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its ___% Debentures, Series _,  Due
____  (the  "New Debentures").  Pursuant to such designation  and
the terms of a Purchase Agreement dated ________, relating to the
New  Debentures (the "Purchase Agreement"), entered into  by  you
with  the  Company,  we have acted as your counsel in  connection
with your several purchases this day from the Company of the  New
Debentures,  which  are  issued under an Indenture  dated  as  of
December  1,  1993,  as  amended and supplemented  by  the  First
Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 15, 1996 (as amended and
supplemented,  the  "Indenture"), between the Company  and  First
Trust  of California, National Association, as successor  trustee
to  Bank  of America National Trust and Savings Association  (the
"Trustee").

      We  have  reviewed originals, or copies  certified  to  our
satisfaction,   of  such  corporate  records  of   the   Company,
indentures,  agreements  and other instruments,  certificates  of
public  officials  and  of officers and  representatives  of  the
Company,  and other documents, as we have deemed necessary  as  a
basis   for   the  opinions  hereinafter  expressed.    In   such
examination  we  have assumed the genuineness of all  signatures,
the  authenticity of all documents submitted to us as  originals,
the  conformity  with  the original documents  of  all  documents
submitted  to us as copies, and the authenticity of the originals
of  such  latter  documents.   As to various  questions  of  fact
material to such opinions, we have, when relevant facts were  not
independently established, relied upon certifications by officers
of  the  Company  and  statements contained in  the  Registration
Statement hereinafter mentioned.

      In  addition,  we attended the closing held  today  at  the
offices of GTE Service Corporation, One Stamford Forum, Stamford,
Connecticut, at which the Company caused the New Debentures to be
delivered to your representatives at


                               -2-

the  Depository  Trust Company, 55 Water Street,  New  York,  New
York, for your several accounts, against payment therefor.

      On  the  basis of the foregoing and having regard to  legal
considerations  which we deem relevant, we  are  of  the  opinion
that:

      1.   The Company is a validly existing corporation, in good
standing, under the laws of the State of California.

      2.   The  Purchase  Agreement  has  been  duly  authorized,
executed and delivered by and on behalf of the Company.

      3.   The  Indenture has been duly authorized, executed  and
delivered  by  the  Company and constitutes a  legal,  valid  and
binding  agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance  with
its   terms,   except  as  limited  by  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,   moratorium   or   similar   laws   of   general
applicability affecting the enforceability of creditors'  rights.
The  enforceability of the Indenture is subject to the effect  of
general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in
a  proceeding in equity or at law), including without  limitation
(i)   the   possible  unavailability  of  specific   performance,
injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and (ii) concepts
of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing.  The
Indenture  has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture  Act
of 1939, as amended.

     4.  The New Debentures have been duly authorized and conform
as   to  legal  matters  in  all  substantial  respects  to   the
description  thereof contained in the Registration Statement  and
Prospectus  hereinafter mentioned.  The New Debentures  (assuming
due  execution thereof by the Company and due authentication  and
delivery by the Trustee) have been duly issued for value  by  the
Company and (subject to the qualifications stated in paragraph  3
above)  constitute  legal, valid and binding obligations  of  the
Company,  and  are  entitled  to the  benefits  afforded  by  the
Indenture  in accordance with the terms of the Indenture  and  of
the New Debentures.

     5.  On the basis of information received by the Company from
the   Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the   "Commission")
Registration  Statement No. 333-01001 with  respect  to  the  New
Debentures  (the  "Registration  Statement"),  filed   with   the
Commission  pursuant to the Securities Act of  1933,  as  amended
(the "Act"), became effective under the Act on February 22, 1996,
and thereupon the Prospectus dated ______________ as supplemented
by  the  Prospectus Supplement dated ____________  (collectively,
the   "Prospectus")  became  lawful  for  use  for  the  purposes
specified in the Act, in connection with the offer for  sale  and
sale  of  the  New  Debentures in the manner  therein  specified,
subject  to compliance with the provisions of securities or  Blue
Sky  laws of certain States in connection with the offer for sale
or sale of the New Debentures in such States.  To the best of our
knowledge, the Registration Statement remains in effect  at  this
date.

      6.   The Registration Statement, as of its effective  date,
and  the  Prospectus, as of the date hereof,  together  with  the
documents  incorporated by reference therein  (the  "Incorporated
Documents") (except any financial


                               -3-

statements  or other financial data contained or incorporated  by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus  or  such
Incorporated  Documents,  as to which no  opinion  is  expressed)
appear  on  their  face to be appropriately  responsive,  in  all
material respects relevant to the offering of the New Debentures,
to the requirements of the Act and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,  as  amended (the "Exchange Act"), as applicable,  and  the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

      The Registration Statement was filed on Form S-3 under  the
Act and, accordingly, the Prospectus does not necessarily contain
a  current  description  of the Company's business  and  affairs,
since  Form  S-3 provides for the incorporation by  reference  of
certain   documents  filed  with  the  Commission  which  contain
descriptions as of various dates.  We participated in conferences
with  counsel  for,  and  representatives  of,  the  Company   in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus  and we have reviewed the Incorporated Documents.   In
connection  with  our  participation in the  preparation  of  the
Registration   Statement  and  the  Prospectus,   we   have   not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness  of
the   statements   contained  therein  or  in  the   Incorporated
Documents, and the limitations inherent in the review made by  us
and the knowledge available to us are such that we are unable  to
assume,  and  we  do  not  assume,  any  responsibility  for  the
accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in
the  Registration  Statement, the Prospectus or the  Incorporated
Documents, except as otherwise specifically stated herein.   None
of  the  foregoing disclosed to us any information which gave  us
reason  to  believe  that  the  Registration  Statement  or   the
Incorporated  Documents, considered as a whole on  the  effective
date  of  the  Registration Statement, contained or  contain  any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to  make  the  statements  therein not  misleading  or  that  the
Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, considered as a  whole
on  the  date hereof, contain any untrue statement of a  material
fact  or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.  We express no opinion as to  any
document  filed  by the Company under the Exchange  Act,  whether
prior  or subsequent to such effective date, except to the extent
that such documents are Incorporated Documents read together with
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and considered as  a
whole,  nor  do  we  express  any opinion  as  to  the  financial
statements  or other financial data included in or omitted  from,
or  incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement,  the
Prospectus or the Incorporated Documents.

      We  express no opinion as to matters governed by  any  laws
other than the laws of the State of New York, the Federal laws of
the  United  States of America and, to the extent  the  foregoing
opinions involve the laws of the State of California, in reliance
upon  the  opinion  of even date herewith of Richard  M.  Cahill,
Esq., Vice President-General Counsel of the Company, the laws  of
the State of California.


                               -4-

      The  opinions contained herein are rendered to you and  are
solely  for  your  benefit  and the  benefit  of  the  Purchasers
represented   by   you   in  connection  with   the   transaction
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.  These opinions  may  not
be  relied  upon by you for any other purpose, or  furnished  to,
quoted  or  relied upon by any other person, firm or  corporation
for any purpose, without our prior written consent.

                                   Very truly yours,




                                     MILBANK,  TWEED,  HADLEY   &
McCLOY

                                                       Exhibit C


            LETTER OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                                
                                
     The letter of independent public accountants for the Company
to  be  delivered pursuant to Article IV, paragraph  (E)  of  the
document   entitled   Standard  Purchase  Agreement   Provisions,
September 1997 Edition, shall be to the effect that:

      At  the  closing, the Purchasers shall have  received  such
number  of  copies  as  are necessary to  provide  one  for  each
Purchaser  of  a letter addressed to the Company and satisfactory
to  the  Purchasers  or the Representative  and  counsel  to  the
Purchasers,  dated  as of the Closing Date and  encompassing  the
performance of certain procedures described in the letter as of a
date  not more than five business days prior to the Closing  Date
(the  "Cutoff  Date"), from Arthur Andersen LLP, confirming  that
they  are  independent public accountants  with  respect  to  the
Company  within  the meaning of the Securities Act  of  1933,  as
amended  (the  "Act")  and  the applicable  published  rules  and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, specifically Rule  2-01
of  Regulation  S-X,  and stating in effect  (1)  that  in  their
opinion, the financial statements and schedules audited  by  them
and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus comply as to form
in   all   material  respects  with  the  applicable   accounting
requirements of the Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as  amended  the  ("Exchange Act") and the  published  rules  and
regulations  thereunder, (2) that although they have not  audited
any financial statements of the Company as of any date or for any
period subsequent to the prior-year audit, and although they have
conducted  an  audit for that period, the purpose (and  therefore
the  scope)  of  the audit was to enable them  to  express  their
opinion  on the financial statements as of that date and for  the
year  then  ended,  but not on the financial statements  for  any
interim  period within that year; therefore, they are  unable  to
and  do  not  express  any  opinion on  the  unaudited  condensed
consolidated  balance  sheet as of the latest  available  interim
date,  and  the  unaudited condensed consolidated  statements  of
income,  reinvested  earnings, and  cash  flows  for  the  latest
available  interim  period subsequent to  that  prior-year  audit
which  are  included  in the Prospectus and  for  the  comparable
period  of the preceding year; they have performed the procedures
specified   by   the  American  Institute  of  Certified   Public
Accountants  for  a  review of interim financial  information  as
described  in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial Information,  on  the
latest   available   unaudited  interim  condensed   consolidated
financial statements prepared by the Company, inquired of certain
officials of the Company responsible for financial and accounting
matters,  and  read  the minutes of the Board  of  Directors  and
shareholders  of the Company, all of which procedures  have  been
agreed  to by the Purchasers, nothing has come to their attention
which  caused  them  to believe that: (a) any  unaudited  interim
condensed  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporated   by
reference in the Prospectus (i) do not comply as to form  in  all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements  of
the  Exchange  Act  as it applies to Form 10-Q  and  the  related
published rules and regulations thereunder or (ii) have not  been
presented   in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with  that
of  the audited financial statements incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus; or (b) (i) as of the


                               -2-

date  of  the  latest available unaudited condensed  consolidated
interim financial statements prepared by the Company, there  have
been  any  changes in the capital stock or any  increase  in  the
short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of the Company  or  any
decrease in net assets, in each case as compared with the amounts
shown  on  the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference  in
the  Prospectus, (ii) for the period from the date of the  latest
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus  to  the specified date referred to in  the  preceding
clause  (i), there were any decreases in operating revenues,  net
operating  income, net income or the Company's ratio to  earnings
to  fixed  charges, in each case as compared with the  comparable
period  of  the  preceding year, or (iii) as of the  Cutoff  Date
there have been any material changes in the capital stock or  any
material  increase in the debt of the Company,  or  any  material
decreases  in  net assets, in each case as compared with  amounts
shown  in  the  latest balance sheet included or incorporated  by
reference  in  the Prospectus, and (iv) for the period  from  the
date   of  the  latest  available  interim  financial  statements
referred to in clause (b)(i) above to the Cutoff Date, there were
any  material  decreases  in operating  revenues,  net  operating
income  or  net  income,  in  each  case  as  compared  with  the
comparable period of the preceding year, except in all  instances
for  changes  or  decreases which the Prospectus  discloses  have
occurred  or may occur or as disclosed in such letter and  except
for  changes  occasioned  by  the  declaration  and  payment   of
dividends  on the stock of the Company or occasioned  by  sinking
fund payments made on the debt securities of the Company, and (3)
that they have performed the following additional procedures with
respect  to  the ratios of earnings to fixed charges included  or
incorporated  by  reference in the Prospectus: (i)  compared  the
amounts  used in the computation of such ratios with the  amounts
included in the financial statements incorporated by reference in
the  Prospectus and noted agreement in all material respects, and
(ii)  recomputed the ratios and noted agreement in  all  material
respects.






















                                                      EXHIBIT 4.4

                      FORM OF NEW DEBENTURE
                                
                   (FORM OF FACE OF DEBENTURE)
                                
[If Debenture is a Global Debenture, insert the following:

EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN SECTION 2.11 OF THE  INDENTURE,
THIS  GLOBAL DEBENTURE MAY BE TRANSFERRED, IN WHOLE  BUT  NOT  IN
PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR TO A SUCCESSOR
DEPOSITORY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.]

[If  The  Depository Trust Company is the Depository, insert  the
following:

Unless   this   certificate  is  presented   by   an   authorized
representative  of  The  Depository Trust  Company,  a  New  York
corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration
of  transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is
registered in the name of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede  &
Co.  or  to  such other entity as is requested by  an  authorized
representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF
FOR  VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL  inasmuch
as  the  registered  owner hereof, Cede & Co.,  has  an  interest
herein.]


No. _____________                                $ _____________

                   GTE California Incorporated
              ____% Debentures, Series _, Due ____
                                
GTE  California  Incorporated, a corporation duly  organized  and
existing  under  the  laws  of the State  of  California  (herein
referred  to  as  the  "Company"),  for  value  received,  hereby
promises  to  pay to _______________ or registered  assigns,  the
principal sum of __________________ Dollars on __________________
and    to    pay   interest   on   said   principal   sum    from
__________________, or from the most recent interest payment date
to  which  interest  has been paid or duly  provided  for,  semi-
annually  on _________ and ____________ in each year,  commencing
____________, at the rate of _____% per annum until the principal
hereof  shall  have become due and payable, and  on  any  overdue
principal  and  (to the extent that payment of such  interest  is
enforceable  under applicable law) on any overdue installment  of
interest at the same rate per annum. The interest installment  so
payable,  and  punctually  paid or  duly  provided  for,  on  any
interest   payment  date  will,  as  provided  in  the  Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be paid to the person in whose name this
Debenture  (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined  in
said  Indenture)  is registered at the close of business  on  the
regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be
the  __________ or __________, as the case may be (whether or not
a  business day), next preceding such interest payment date.  Any
such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided
for  shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder
on  such  regular record date, and may be paid to the  person  in
whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities)
is  registered at the close of business on a special record  date
to  be  fixed  by  the Trustee for the payment of such  defaulted
interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered holders
of

                                
                               -2-
                                
this  series  of Debentures not less than 10 days prior  to  such
special  record  date, or may be paid at any time  in  any  other
lawful  manner  not  inconsistent with the  requirements  of  any
securities  exchange on which the Debentures may be  listed,  and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more
fully  provided  in the Indenture hereinafter  referred  to.  The
principal of and the interest on this Debenture shall be  payable
at  the  office  or  agency of the Company  maintained  for  that
purpose  in the City of Los Angeles, State of California  in  any
coin  or  currency of the United States of America which  at  the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private
debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at
the  option  of  the  Company by check mailed to  the  registered
holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register.

This  Debenture  shall not be entitled to any benefit  under  the
Indenture  hereinafter  referred  to,  or  be  valid  or   become
obligatory   for   any   purpose,  until   the   Certificate   of
Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on  behalf  of
the Trustee.

The  provisions  of this Debenture are continued on  the  reverse
side  hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

      IN  WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument
to be executed.

Dated: _________              GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED

                              By __________________________
                                         President


Attest:

By __________________________
           Secretary

             (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)
                                
                  CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
                                
This  is  one  of the Securities of the series designated  herein
referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

         First Trust of California, National Association
              as Trustee, Authenticating Agent and
                       Security Registrar
                                
                  By __________________________
                      Authorized Signatory
                                
                                
                                
                               -3-
                                
                 (FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE)
                                
This  Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of  Securities
of   the   Company   (herein  sometimes  referred   to   as   the
"Securities"), all issued or to be issued in one or  more  series
under  and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of December 1, 1993,
duly  executed  and  delivered between the Company  and  Bank  of
America  National  Trust  and  Savings  Association,  a  national
banking organization organized and existing under the laws of the
United States of America and a First Supplemental Indenture dated
as  of  April  15, 1996 duly executed and delivered  between  the
Company  and  First Trust of California, National Association,  a
national  banking  association organized and existing  under  the
laws  of  the United States of America, as successor  trustee  to
Bank   of   America   National  Trust  and  Savings   Association
(hereinafter  referred to as the "Trustee") (said  Indenture,  as
amended  and  supplemented  by the First  Supplemental  Indenture
dated  as of April 15,  1996, is hereinafter referred to  as  the
"Indenture"), to which Indenture reference is hereby made  for  a
description  of  the  rights, limitation of rights,  obligations,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company  and
the holders of the Securities. By the terms of the Indenture, the
Securities  are issuable in series which may vary as  to  amount,
date  of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects  as  in
the  Indenture  provided. This Debenture is  one  of  the  series
designated  on  the face hereof (herein called the  "Debentures")
limited in aggregate principal amount to $___,000,000.

[INSERT  IF  GLOBAL  DEBENTURE - This Global Debenture  shall  be
exchangeable for Debentures in definitive form registered in  the
names of persons other than the Depository or its nominee only if
(i)  the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling  or
unable  to  continue as the Depository or if  at  any  time  such
Depository is no longer registered or in good standing under  the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or other applicable statute and a
successor  depository is not appointed by the Company  within  90
days or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee  an
Officer's  Certificate  that the Global  Debenture  shall  be  so
exchangeable.   To  the  extent  that  the  Global  Debenture  is
exchangeable  pursuant  to the preceding sentence,  it  shall  be
exchangeable  for  Debentures registered in  such  names  as  the
Depository shall direct.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, this Global Debenture
may  not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to  a
nominee of such Depository or by a nominee of such Depository  to
such Depository or another nominee of such Depository.]

In  case  an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture,  with
respect  to the Debentures shall have occurred and be continuing,
the  principal of all of the Debentures may be declared, and upon
such  declaration shall become, due and payable, in  the  manner,
with  the  effect and subject to the conditions provided  in  the
Indenture.

The  Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee,  with  the consent of the holders of  not  less  than  a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of  each
series  affected  at  the time outstanding,  as  defined  in  the
Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose  of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any  of  the  provisions of the Indenture or of any  supplemental
indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders
of the Securities; provided,
                                
                               -4-
                                
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the
fixed  maturity of any Securities of any series,  or  reduce  the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend  the  time
of  payment  of  interest thereon, or reduce any premium  payable
upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of
each Security so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage
of  Securities, the holders of which are required to  consent  to
any  such  supplemental indenture, without  the  consent  of  the
holders  of each Security then outstanding and affected  thereby.
The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders  of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any
series  at  the  time outstanding, on behalf of  the  holders  of
Securities  of  such  series, to waive any past  default  in  the
performance  of any of the covenants contained in the  Indenture,
or  established  pursuant to the Indenture with respect  to  such
series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment  of
the  principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any of  the
Securities  of  such series. Any such consent or  waiver  by  the
registered  holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as  provided
in  the  Indenture)  shall be conclusive and  binding  upon  such
holder  and upon all future holders and owners of this  Debenture
and  of  any  Debenture issued in exchange herefor  or  in  place
hereof  (whether  by  registration  of  transfer  or  otherwise),
irrespective  of whether or not any notation of such  consent  or
waiver is made upon this Debenture.

No  reference  herein to the Indenture and no provision  of  this
Debenture  or  of  the  Indenture  shall  alter  or  impair   the
obligation  of  the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to  pay  the principal of and interest on this Debenture  at  the
times  and  place  and  at  the rate  and  in  the  money  herein
prescribed.

The  Debentures  are  issuable as registered  Debentures  without
coupons  in  denominations  of $1,000 or  any  integral  multiple
thereof.  Debentures may be exchanged, upon presentation  thereof
for  that purpose, at the office or agency of the Company in  the
City of Los Angeles, State of California, for other Debentures of
authorized  denominations,  and for a  like  aggregate  principal
amount and series, and upon payment of a sum sufficient to  cover
any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto.

[The Debentures will not be redeemable prior to maturity.]

                               OR

[The  Debentures  may not be redeemed prior to  ________________.
The  Debentures may be redeemed on not less than 30 nor more than
60  days  prior notice given as provided in the Indenture,  as  a
whole or from time to time in part, at the option of the Company,
on  any  date or dates on or after ______________, and  prior  to
maturity,  at  the applicable percentage of the principal  amount
thereof  to  be  redeemed as set forth below  under  the  heading
"Redemption  Price"  during the respective twelve  month  periods
beginning ____ of the years shown below:

               Year      Redemption Price
               ____      ________________
                                   %
                                
                               -5-

together,  in each case, with accrued interest to the date  fixed
for  redemption  (but  if the date fixed  for  redemption  is  an
interest payment date, the interest installment payable  on  such
date  shall be payable to the registered holder at the  close  of
business on the applicable record date).]

As  provided  in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein  set  forth,  this  Debenture  is  transferable  by   the
registered holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company,
upon surrender of this Debenture for registration of transfer  at
the  office or agency of the Company in the City of Los  Angeles,
State  of  California  accompanied by  a  written  instrument  or
instruments  of transfer in form satisfactory to the  Company  or
the  Security  Registrar duly executed by the  registered  holder
hereof  or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon
one  or  more new Debentures of authorized denominations and  for
the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued  to
the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge will
be  made  for  any  such transfer, but the  Company  may  require
payment   of  a  sum  sufficient  to  cover  any  tax  or   other
governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

Prior  to  due presentment for registration of transfer  of  this
Debenture  the  Company, the Trustee, any paying  agent  and  any
Security  Registrar  may  deem and treat  the  registered  holder
hereof  as  the  absolute  owner  hereof  (whether  or  not  this
Debenture  shall  be overdue and notwithstanding  any  notice  of
ownership  or  writing  hereon made  by  anyone  other  than  the
Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account  of the principal hereof and (subject to Section 2.03  of
the  Indenture)  interest due hereon and for all other  purposes,
and  neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor
any  Security  Registrar shall be affected by any notice  to  the
contrary.

No  recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of  or
the interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon, or
otherwise  in  respect hereof, or based on or in respect  of  the
Indenture,  against  any  incorporator, stockholder,  officer  or
director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or  of
any  predecessor or successor corporation, whether by  virtue  of
any  constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the  enforcement
of  any  assessment or penalty or otherwise, all  such  liability
being,  by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration
for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

[INSERT  IF  GLOBAL DEBENTURE - The Depository by  acceptance  of
this  Global  Debenture  agrees that it will  not  sell,  assign,
transfer  or  otherwise convey any beneficial  interest  in  this
Global  Debenture unless such beneficial interest is in an amount
equal  to  an  authorized  denomination for  Debentures  of  this
series.]

Capitalized  terms used herein and not otherwise  defined  herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.




                                                       Exhibit
26.1
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED

             Invitation For Bids For the Purchase of
        $____,000,000 ____% Debentures, Series _, Due____


     GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED (the "Company") is inviting bids
from  certain investment banks ("Invited Bidders"), each of  whom
may  bid  either individually (a "Sole Bidder") or as part  of  a
group  of  bidders  for which the Invited Bidder  serves  as  the
representative of such group (the "Representative"),  subject  to
the terms and conditions stated herein, for the purchase from  it
of   $____,000,000  aggregate  principal  amount  of  its   ____%
Debentures, Series _, Due ____ (the "Debentures").

1.  Information Respecting the Company and the Debentures.

      Invited Bidders may examine, at the office of the Secretary
of  the Company, 600 Hidden Ridge, Irving, Texas 75038, or at the
office  of  GTE  Service Corporation, 10th  Floor,  One  Stamford
Forum, Stamford, Connecticut 06904 (Telephone (203) 965-2986), on
any business day between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., the following:

           (a)  the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (including
     the  Prospectus,  documents incorporated  by  reference  and
     exhibits), with respect to the Debentures;
     
           (b)   the  Restated Articles of Incorporation  of  the
     Company, as amended;
     
           (c)   a copy of the Indenture dated as of December  1,
     1993  and the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of April
     15,  1996 (the Indenture as so supplemented is herein called
     the  "Indenture")  under  which the  Debentures  are  to  be
     issued, together with the Form of New Debenture;
     
           (d)   the  form  of Purchase Agreement (including  the
     Standard  Purchase  Agreement  Provisions  (September   1997
     Edition)) to be used in submitting bids for the purchase  of
     the Debentures;
     
           (e)   the form of questionnaire to be provided by each
     of the bidders; and
     
           (f)  memoranda prepared by counsel to the Company with
     respect to the status of the Debentures under securities  or
     blue sky laws of certain jurisdictions.
     
      Copies  of said documents in reasonable quantities  (except
the  Restated  Articles  of Incorporation  of  the  Company,  the
Indenture, and other exhibits to the Registration Statement) will
be  supplied  upon  request, so long  as  available,  to  Invited
Bidders.

      The  Company  reserves the right to amend the  Registration
Statement  (including  exhibits thereto) and  Prospectus  and  to
supplement  the  Prospectus  in  such  manner  as  shall  not  be
unsatisfactory to Messrs. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley &  McCloy.   The
Company  will  make copies of any such amendments or  supplements
available  for  examination at the above offices  in  Irving  and
Stamford.

                                
                               -2-


2.   Information  Regarding the Bidders to be  Furnished  to  the
Company.

       In  the  case  of  a  bid  by  a  group  of  bidders,  the
Representative  shall  be  designated  and  authorized   as   the
representative  of  the several bidders  in  such  group  in  the
questionnaires filed by the members of the group.

       In  the  case  of  a  bid  by  a  group  of  bidders,  the
Representative shall provide to the Company in writing a list  of
the  names  of  any potential bidder in its group no  later  than
10:00  A.M.  on the business day immediately preceding  the  date
scheduled  for  the submission of bids.  No bid  by  a  group  of
bidders will be accepted by the Company if such group contains  a
member  to which the Company has objected prior to 5:00  P.M.  on
the business day immediately preceding the date scheduled for the
submission of bids. Additional members may be added to a group of
bidders   after  10:00  A.M.  on  the  business  day  immediately
preceding the date scheduled for the submission of bids only with
the consent of the Company.

      No bid will be considered unless the Sole Bidder, or in the
case of a group of bidders, each member of the group through  the
Representative,  shall have furnished to  the  Company,  and  the
Company  shall have received, two signed copies of  the  form  of
questionnaire referred to above, properly filled out by the  Sole
Bidder  or  by  each member of the group of bidders (the  Company
reserving,  however,  the  right  to  waive  the  form   of   the
questionnaire or any irregularity which it deems to be immaterial
in  any such questionnaire and to extend either generally  or  in
specific  instances  the time for furnishing questionnaires,  and
specifically  reserving the right to obtain all  required  bidder
information by telegraph or other means of communication).   Such
copies  shall  be furnished to the Company at the office  of  GTE
Service Corporation, 10th Floor, One Stamford Forum, Stamford, CT
06904, Attention: David S. Kauffman, Esq., before 5:00 P.M.,  New
York City time on the business day immediately preceding the date
scheduled  for the submission of bids (or on such later  date  as
may be determined pursuant to Section 5 hereof).  Notwithstanding
the  furnishing of such questionnaires to the Company,  any  Sole
Bidder,  or  the Representative on behalf of a group of  bidders,
thereafter  may determine, without liability to the Company,  not
to  bid, or any of the several members of a group (other than the
Representative) may withdraw therefrom at or before the  time  of
submission of the bid of such group.

3.  Obligations of a Representative to a Group of Bidders

      In the case of a group of bidders, the Representative shall
(i)  make available to the members of the group any due diligence
materials  received  by it from the Company  and  (ii)  upon  the
request of any member of such group, request from the Company and
deliver  to  such  member of the group copies  of  the  documents
listed in Section 1 hereof.

4.  Form and Contents of Bids.

     Each bid shall be for the purchase of all of the Debentures.

      In  case  the  bid of a group of bidders is  accepted,  the
obligations  of  the  members  of  the  group  to  purchase   the
respective principal amounts of Debentures indicated in  the  bid
shall  be several and not joint.  Such bidders shall act  through
the Representative, who shall be empowered to bind the bidders in
the  group.  No bidder may submit or participate in more than one
bid.
                                
                               -3-


5.  Submission of Bids and Delivery of Confirmation of Bids.

      All  bids  must be submitted by telephone and confirmed  in
writing  in  the  manner set forth in Exhibit A, Confirmation  of
Bid, attached, signed by the Sole Bidder or the Representative on
behalf  of  the  members of a group of bidders.   Each  bid  must
specify: (a) the interest rate, which shall be a multiple of  1/8
of 1% or 1/100 of 1%; and (b) the price to be paid to the Company
for  the Debentures, which shall be expressed as a percentage  of
the principal amount of the Debentures and shall not be less than
98%  thereof nor more than 100% thereof.  The Confirmation of Bid
shall  specify the same interest rate and price specified in  the
telephonic bid.

      The  Company reserves the right in its discretion from time
to  time to postpone the time and the date for submission of bids
for  an  aggregate period of not exceeding thirty days, and  will
give  notice  of  any such postponement to each  Invited  Bidder,
specifying in such notice the changes in the times and dates  set
forth  in the Purchase Agreement occasioned by such postponement.
In the event that any such postponement should be for a period of
more  than three full business days after the date of sending  or
delivering such notice, the time for filing of questionnaires  by
prospective  bidders under Section 2 hereof shall by such  notice
be  postponed to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, at the  place  of
delivery  specified  in Section 2 hereof,  on  the  business  day
immediately preceding the newly scheduled date for the submission
of bids.

6.  Acceptance or Rejection of Bids.

      The  Company may reject all bids, but if any  bid  for  the
Debentures  is  accepted the Company will accept that  bid  which
shall  result in the lowest "annual cost of money" to the Company
for  the  Debentures, and any bid not so accepted by the  Company
shall,  unless  such  bid  shall  be  involved  in  rebidding  as
hereinafter  provided,  be deemed to  have  been  rejected.   The
lowest  annual  cost of money to the Company for  the  Debentures
shall  be determined by the Company and such determination  shall
be final.  In case the lowest annual cost of money to the Company
is  provided  by  two or more such bids, the Company  (unless  it
shall  reject  all bids) will give the makers of  such  identical
bids an opportunity (the duration of which the Company may in its
sole  discretion determine) to improve their bids.   The  Company
will  accept,  unless it shall reject all bids, the improved  bid
providing  the Company with the lowest annual cost of  money  for
the Debentures.  If upon such rebidding the lowest annual cost of
money  to  the Company is again provided by two or more  improved
bids, the Company may without liability to the maker of any other
bid  accept any one of such improved bids in its sole discretion,
or  may  reject all bids. If no improved bid is made  within  the
time  fixed by the Company, the Company may without liability  to
the  maker  of  any  other bid accept any one  of  the  initially
submitted bids providing the lowest annual cost of money  to  the
Company, or may reject all bids.

      The Company further reserves the right to reject the bid of
any  Sole  Bidder  or  group of bidders if the  Company,  in  the
opinion  of its counsel, may not lawfully sell the Debentures  to
such  bidder or to any member of such group, unless, in the  case
of a group of bidders, prior to 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on
the  date on which the bids are submitted, the member or  members
to which, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, the Debentures
may  not  be lawfully sold have withdrawn from the group and  the
remaining  members have agreed to purchase the  Debentures  which
such withdrawing member or members had offered to purchase.
                                
                               -4-


7.  Purchase Agreement and Completion of Registration Statement.

      The Company will signify its acceptance of a bid by signing
the Purchase Agreement.  The Company shall, upon request, execute
the  acceptance  on additional number of copies of  the  Purchase
Agreement  as shall be reasonably requested by the Representative
of  the  successful bidders.  Upon the acceptance of a  bid,  the
successful  Sole Bidder, or, in the case of a bid by a  group  of
bidders,  the Representative on behalf of the successful bidders,
shall  furnish  to  the  Company,  in  writing,  all  information
regarding the bidder or bidders and the public offering, if  any,
of  the  Debentures  required in connection with  the  prospectus
supplement to the Registration Statement, any further information
regarding the bidders and the public offering, if any, to be made
by them, which may be required to complete the applications filed
by  the Company with public authorities having jurisdiction  over
the Company, and other information required by law in respect  of
the purchase or sale of the Debentures as herein contemplated.

8.  Delivery of the Debentures.

      The Debentures will be delivered in temporary or definitive
form,  at the election of the Company, to the purchasers  of  the
Debentures at the place, at
the  time  and in the manner indicated in the Purchase Agreement,
against payment of the purchase price therefor as provided in the
Purchase Agreement.

9.  Opinion of Counsel for the Purchasers.

      Messrs.  Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, 1 Chase Manhattan
Plaza,  New York, N.Y. 10005, have been requested by the  Company
to  act  as counsel for the successful bidder or bidders  of  the
Debentures  and to give to the purchasers an opinion as  outlined
in  the  Purchase Agreement.  Such counsel has reviewed  or  will
review,  from  the  standpoint  of  possible  purchasers  of  the
Debentures,  the  form  of  the Registration  Statement  and  the
Prospectus and competitive bidding papers, including the Purchase
Agreement,  and  has  reviewed  or  will  review  the   corporate
proceedings with respect to the issue and sale of the Debentures.
Invited Bidders may confer with Messrs. Milbank, Tweed, Hadley  &
McCloy  with  respect  to  any of the foregoing  matters  at  the
offices  of  said firm, 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, New  York,  N.Y.
10005, Attn.: Robert W. Mullen, Jr., Esq.  The successful bidders
are  to  pay the compensation and disbursements of such  counsel,
except  as  otherwise provided in the Purchase  Agreement.   Such
counsel will, on request, advise any Sole Bidder who has, or  the
Representative  of  any  group  of bidders  who  have,  furnished
questionnaires as provided in Section 2 hereof, of the amount  of
such   compensation  and  of  the  estimated   amount   of   such
disbursements.


                                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED







_________, 199_

CA:8-K:39

                                                       EXHIBIT A
                   GTE CALIFORNIA INCORPORATED
                         (the "Company")

                                
                     CONFIRMATION OF BID FOR

                                
        $___,000,000 ____% Debentures, Series E, Due 2009
                       (the "Debentures")

                              TERMS


Maturity:  _______, ____.

Interest   Payable:   Semi-annually  on  _______  and   _______,
commencing
               _______.

Redemption Provisions:

     [The Debentures will not be redeemable prior to maturity.]

                               OR

[The  New  Debentures will not be redeemable prior to  ________.
The  "initial  regular redemption price" of the  New  Debentures
will  be the initial public offering price as defined below plus
the rate of interest on the New Debentures; the redemption price
during  the  twelve-month period beginning ___  and  during  the
twelve-month periods beginning on each ______ thereafter through
the twelve-month period beginning ______, will be determined  by
reducing  the  initial regular redemption  price  by  an  amount
determined  by multiplying (a) 1/- of the amount by  which  such
initial regular redemption price exceeds 100% by (b) the  number
of  such  full  twelve-month periods which  shall  have  elapsed
between ______ and the date fixed for redemption; and thereafter
the  redemption prices during the twelve-month periods beginning
______  shall be 100%; provided, however, that all  such  prices
will be specified to the nearest 0.01% or if there is no nearest
0.01%, then to the next higher 0.01%.

For  the purpose of determining the redemption prices of the New
Debentures,  the  initial  public  offering  price  of  the  New
Debentures  shall  be  the  price, expressed  in  percentage  of
principal  amount (exclusive of accrued interest), at which  the
New  Debentures  are to be initially offered  for  sale  to  the
public; if there is not a public offering of the New Debentures,
the initial public offering price of the New Debentures shall be
deemed  to  be  the price, expressed in percentage of  principal
amount  (exclusive  of accrued interest),  to  be  paid  to  the
Company by the purchasers.]


NAME OF BIDDER:
_________________________________________________________

TELEPHONE NUMBER TO BE USED TO CALL IN BID:
_____________________________

TIME AND DATE BID RECEIVED:
_____________________________________________
  (to be completed by GTE Service Corporation on behalf of the
                            Company)


                               -2-


By  submitting  this bid, the bidder named above agrees  to  the
following terms and conditions:

o  Each bid shall be for the purchase of all of the Debentures.

o   Each  bid  may be made by a single bidder or by a  group  of
bidders.

o   The  bidder  acknowledges that it (and all  members  of  the
  bidding  group  it  represents) has received  a  copy  of  the
  Prospectus dated ________________.

o   If  the  bid  is made by a group of bidders, the undersigned
  represents  and  warrants that it is fully authorized  by  all
  bidders  in the group to act on their behalf and to bind  them
  to  the  terms  of  the  Purchase Agreement  relating  to  the
  Debentures.

o  Each bid shall specify:

        -   the  annual  interest rate on the Debentures,  which
        rate shall be a multiple of 1/8% or 0.01%;

        -     the  price (exclusive of accrued interest)  to  be
        paid  to  the  Company for the Debentures,  which  price
        shall  not  be less than 98% and not more than  100%  of
        the   principal  amount  of  the  Debentures,  and  that
        accrued interest on the Debentures from _______, to  the
        date  of  payment  of the Debentures  and  the  delivery
        thereof will be paid to the Company by the purchaser  or
        purchasers; and

        -   in the case of a bid by a group of bidders, the name
        of, and amount to be purchased by each bidder;

o   Bids must be received by 10:15 A.M., New York City time,  on
  _______,  or  such later time and/or date as the  Company  may
  specify (the "Bid Time").

o   Bids  shall  be irrevocable for one (1) hour after  the  Bid
  Time.

o   The winning bid shall be selected on the basis of the lowest
  "annual cost of money" to the Company.

o   Whether  or  not  this bid is accepted by  the  Company,  an
  executed  copy  of  this Confirmation  of  Bid  must  be  sent
  promptly by facsimile to GTE Service Corporation on behalf  of
  the Company at 203-965-2937 or 203-965-2830.

o   If  this  bid  is accepted, upon acceptance the  undersigned
  agrees  to  promptly furnish to the Company a signed  copy  of
  the  Purchase Agreement relating to the Debentures and a  copy
  of  all  information required to be included in the Prospectus
  relating to the Debentures.

o  Closing Date:  _______ at 10:00 A.M., New York City time.


                               -3-


BID:

  Interest Rate               ________________ %

  Price to be paid to the Company    ________________ %











___________________________________
                                       (Name of Bidder)




__________________________________
                                    (Authorized Signature)






























CA:8-K:42



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