Ownership Submission
FORM 3
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Chestnutt Roy H
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2013
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC [VZ]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., 140 WEST STREET, 29TH FLOOR
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP - Strat, Dev and Plng
5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

NEW YORK, NY 10007
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)
3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 238
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)
4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)
6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Phantom Stock (unitized)   (1)   (1) Common Stock 1,121 $ (1) I By Deferred Compensation Plan
Restricted Stock Units - 2011 - 13 Award Cycle   (2)   (2) Common Stock 8,612 $ (2) D  
Restricted Stock Units - 2012 - 14 Award Cycle   (3)   (3) Common Stock 13,653 $ (3) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Chestnutt Roy H
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
140 WEST STREET, 29TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10007
      EVP - Strat, Dev and Plng  

Signatures

William L. Horton, Jr. attorney-in-fact for Roy H Chestnutt 01/07/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Each share of phantom stock is the economic equivalent of a portion of one share of common stock and is settled in cash. The shares of phantom stock become payable upon events established by the reporting person in accordance with the deferred compensation plan. The number of shares is based upon 3,920.258 units held as of January 1, 2013.
(2) Each Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) represents the right to receive one share of common stock, plus accrued dividends in the form of stock, upon vesting. Subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, each RSU will vest on December 31, 2013.
(3) Each Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) represents the right to receive one share of common stock, plus accrued dividends in the form of stock, upon vesting. Subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, each RSU will vest on December 31, 2014.

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