CenturyTel to Participate in Analyst Conferences

    Business Editors
    Smith Barney Citigroup Fifteenth Annual Entertainment, Media and
    Telecommunications Conference
    Raymond James 26th Annual Institutional Investors Conference
    Merrill Lynch Communications Forum

    MONROE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2005--CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE:CTL) announces that it is scheduled to participate in the following analyst conferences:

Smith Barney Citigroup Fifteenth Annual Entertainment, Media and Monday Telecommunications Conference January 10

Raymond James & Associates Monday 26th Annual Institutional Investors Conference March 7

Merrill Lynch Wednesday Communications Forum March 9

    Conference hosts may provide webcast availability in some cases. For information regarding specific presentation times and webcast availability, please visit CenturyTel's Web site at www.centurytel.com, Investor Relations, Calendar of Events. Participation in these conferences is subject to change due to unforeseen events. Therefore, please check the company's Investor Relations Calendar of Events prior to each conference.
    CenturyTel, Inc. provides communications services including local, long distance, Internet access and data services to customers in 22 states. The company, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL, and is included in the S&P 500 Index. CenturyTel is the 8th largest local exchange telephone company, based on access lines, in the United States. Visit CenturyTel at www.centurytel.com.

--30--JS/na*

CONTACT: CenturyTel Inc., Monroe Media: Patricia Cameron, 318-388-9674 patricia.cameron@centurytel.com or Investors: Tony Davis, 318-388-9525 tony.davis@centurytel.com

KEYWORD: LOUISIANA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING INTERNET E-COMMERCE TRADESHOW CONFERENCE CALLS SOURCE: CenturyTel, Inc.

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