EXHIBIT 23.1
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                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
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The Board of Directors
CenturyTel, Inc.:


We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement (No.
33-46562) on Form S-8 of CenturyTel, Inc. of our report dated June 6, 2003
relating to the statements of net assets available for benefits of CenturyTel
Union Retirement Savings Plan and Trust as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and
the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the
year ended December 31, 2002, and related financial statement schedule as of
December 31, 2002, which report appears in the December 31, 2002 annual report
on Form 11-K of CenturyTel, Inc. Union Retirement Savings Plan and Trust.

KPMG LLP

/s/ KPMG LLP

Shreveport, Louisiana
June 26, 2003