Obtain the latest two AT&T and Verizon Annual Reports in order to calculate the times interest earned ratios for the latest two fiscal years ending. Show the bases of your calculations at the start of your response for both companies. What is AT&T's trend for the times interest earned ratio for the past two years versus what is Verizon’s trend for the times interest earned ratio for the past two years?

Compare the trends in the times interest earned ratios for AT&T and Verizon to each other over the past two years, what do the trends tell us? Are there any specific reason(s) the ratios are different?