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
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0104
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Mead Daniel S.
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
10/01/2010
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC [VZ]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC., 140 WEST STREET
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP and Pres. & CEO - VZW JV
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 8,233
I
By 401(k)

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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 56,892 (1) $ (1) I By Deferred Compensation Plan
Restricted Stock Units - 2008 - 10 Award Cycle   (2)   (2) Common Stock 31,832 $ (2) D  
Restricted Stock Units - 2009 - 11 Award Cycle   (3)   (3) Common Stock 34,939 $ (3) D  
Restricted Stock Units - 2010 - 12 Award Cycle   (4)   (4) Common Stock 39,486 $ (4) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Mead Daniel S.
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.
140 WEST STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10007
      EVP and Pres. & CEO - VZW JV  

Signatures

William L. Horton, Jr., Attorney-in-fact for Mead, Daniel S. 10/05/2010
**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 198,243.550 units held as of October 1, 2010.
(2) Each Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) represents the right to receive a cash payment equal to the value of one share of common stock, plus accrued dividends, upon vesting. Subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, each RSU will vest on December 31, 2010, and the cash payment will be based on the closing stock price on the last trading day in December 2010.
(3) Each Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) represents the right to receive a cash payment equal to the value of one share of common stock, plus accrued dividends, upon vesting. Subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, each RSU will vest on December 31, 2011, and the cash payment will be based on the closing stock price on the last trading day in December 2011.
(4) Each Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) represents the right to receive a cash payment equal to the value of one share of common stock, plus accrued dividends, upon vesting. Subject to the terms of the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, each RSU will vest on December 31, 2012, and the cash payment will be based on the closing stock price on the last trading day in December 2012.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, See Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.