March 20, 2006

To Our Shareholders:

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Verizon cordially invites you to attend the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Verizon Communications Inc. on Thursday, May 4, 2006. The Annual Meeting will be held at the Overland Park Marriott Hotel, 10800 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas. The Annual Meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and we anticipate that it will end no later than 12 noon.

The attached Proxy Statement describes the matters that we expect to act upon at the Annual Meeting. Shareholders who attend the Annual Meeting will have the opportunity to ask questions of broad interest to Verizon‘s shareholders. You will need an admission ticket to attend the Annual Meeting, and specific information about obtaining your admission ticket can be found in the Notice of Annual Meeting that appears on the next page. Directions to the Annual Meeting are printed on the back inside cover of the Proxy Statement and on the admission ticket.

Your vote is important and we hope that you will vote your shares as soon as possible. Please review the instructions on the proxy card for voting on the Internet, by telephone or by mailing your written proxy.

Sincerely,