Verizon Communications Inc. reported a $2.0 billion loss in the fourth quarter due to the sluggish economy, lingering effects from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that damaged its telephone infrastructure and a huge charge for severance costs and investment writedowns. The telecommunications company said Thursday its loss amounted to 75 cents a share for the three months ended Dec. 31 compared to a profit of $1.9 billion, or 70 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The results reflected a charge of $4.1 billion, or $1.52 a share, that included severance costs for the elimination of about 10,000 jobs, writedowns in the value of several investments and charges for the sale or exit from non-strategic businesses. About 8,700 job cuts came in the fourth quarter, mostly resulting from a previously announced voluntary buyout, leaving a total work force of about 247,000, spokesman Bob Varettoni said. Excluding the charge, the New York-based company said it had a profit of 77 cents a share. That matched the lowered consensus forecast of Wall Street analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call. The company's quarterly revenues were $17.01 billion, compared with $16.87 billion a year ago.