Verizon faces the potential of a proposal from Legal & General calling for an independent chair of its board. Verizon, in a Dec. 28 letter, asked the SEC to exclude the proposal, according to communication provide by Mr. Hitchcock, representing Legal & General. On Jan. 11, Mr. Hitchcock, in a letter, asked the SEC to reject Verizon's request. The issue is still pending. Robert A. Varettoni, Verizon executive director media relations, said company executives "have had productive discussions" with Mr. Hitchcock but no resolution yet.