<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of Verizon Communications Inc. (formerly known as Bell
Atlantic Corporation) of our report dated February 14, 2000, except for Note 24,
as to which the date is March 22, 2000, relating to the consolidated financial
statements and consolidated financial statement schedule of Bell Atlantic
Corporation which appears in Bell Atlantic Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
New York, New York
January 12, 2001
