FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
February 2, 2006	Media: Patricia Cameron 318.388.9674
	patricia.cameron@centurytel.com
	Investors: Tony Davis 318.388.9525
	tony.davis@centurytel.com

CenturyTel Reports Fourth Quarter 2005 Earnings

MONROE, La... CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) announces operating results for fourth quarter 2005 that exceeded First Call consensus estimates.

·   Operating revenues increased to $620.5 million from $606.2 million in fourth quarter 2004.

·   Operating cash flow (as defined in the attached financial schedules) was $308.2 million.

·   Net income, excluding nonrecurring items, was $82.2 million compared to $85.1 million in fourth quarter 2004. Net income, reported under GAAP, was $78.3 million compared to $84.5 million in fourth quarter 2004.

·   Diluted earnings per share, excluding nonrecurring items, was $.61 in fourth quarter 2005 compared to $.62 in fourth quarter 2004, while GAAP diluted earnings per share was $.59 in fourth quarter 2005 and $.62 in fourth quarter 2004.

·   Free cash flow (as defined in the attached financial schedules), excluding nonrecurring items, was $85.0 million in fourth quarter 2005.

Fourth Quarter Highlights (Excluding nonrecurring items) (In thousands, except per share amounts and customer data)	Quarter Ended 12/31/05		Quarter Ended 12/31/04		% Change
Operating Revenues Operating Cash Flow (1) Net Income Diluted Earnings Per Share Average Diluted Shares Outstanding Capital Expenditures	$ $ $ $ $	620,472 308,197 82,184 .61 135,917 132,914	$ $ $ $ $	606,234 318,920 85,105 .62 138,368 131,719	2.3% (3.4)% (3.4)% (1.6)% (1.8)% 0.9%
Telephone Access Lines DSL Customers		2,214,149 248,706		2,313,626 142,575	(4.3)% 74.4%

(1)   Operating Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of this item to comparable GAAP measures is included in the attached financial schedules.

“CenturyTel achieved strong cash flows during 2005, generating more than $463 million of free cash flow for the year,” Glen F. Post, III, chairman and chief executive officer, said. “Our continued focus on owning the broadband connection to our customers drove the addition of nearly 29,000 high-speed Internet subscribers during the fourth quarter and more than 106,000 for the full year 2005, an increase of nearly 75% since year end 2004.”

Operating revenues rose to $620.5 million in fourth quarter 2005 from $606.2 million in fourth quarter 2004. Revenue increases resulted primarily from $13.9 million of revenues generated by the metro fiber assets acquired June 30, 2005 and $15.3 million of aggregate revenues related to increased DSL subscribers, continued growth in our fiber transport business and increased enhanced calling feature penetration. These increases more than offset anticipated revenue declines of $14.3 million attributable to lower access revenues, reduced universal service funding, and access line losses.

Operating expenses increased 7.5% to $448.1 million from $416.6 million in fourth quarter 2004, due primarily to costs associated with the metro fiber assets acquired June 30, 2005, DSL subscriber growth and expenses associated with our new video and wireless reseller initiatives.

“During 2005, we continued to position CenturyTel for the future by expanding and strengthening our broadband capabilities, acquiring strategic metro fiber assets, launching satellite television service to most of our markets and introducing wireless and switched digital television services in select markets,” Post said.

Operating cash flow for fourth quarter 2005 was $308.2 million. CenturyTel achieved an operating cash flow margin of 49.7% during the quarter versus 52.6% in fourth quarter 2004. This margin decline was expected due to the growth in lower margin revenues versus the anticipated decline in higher margin revenues discussed above.

Net income, excluding nonrecurring items, was $82.2 million compared to $85.1 million in fourth quarter 2004. Diluted earnings per share, excluding nonrecurring items, was $.61 in fourth quarter 2005 and $.62 in fourth quarter 2004.

For the year 2005, operating revenues, excluding nonrecurring items, increased to $2.479 billion from $2.411 billion in 2004, a 2.8% increase. Operating cash flow, excluding nonrecurring items, was $1.274 billion for 2005 compared to $1.258 billion a year ago. Net income, excluding nonrecurring items, increased 4.0% to $346.3 million from $332.8 million in 2004, while diluted earnings per share increased to $2.58 from $2.38 in 2004.

Under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), net income for fourth quarter 2005 was $78.3 million compared to $84.5 million for fourth quarter 2004. Diluted earnings per share for fourth quarter 2005 was $.59 compared to $.62 for fourth quarter 2004. Fourth quarter 2005 and fourth quarter 2004 results reflect after-tax charges of $3.9 million and $.6 million, respectively, related to the impairment of certain non-operating investments.

For the year 2005, prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company reported net income of $334.5 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, compared to net income of $337.2 million, or $2.41 per diluted share, for the year 2004. See the accompanying financial schedules for detail of the Company’s nonrecurring items for the years 2005 and 2004.

Outlook for 2006. As previously announced, CenturyTel expects 2006 diluted earnings per share to be negatively impacted by $.14 to $.18 due to settlement revenues recognized in 2005 that are not expected to occur in 2006 and positively impacted by $.03 to $.05 from lower 2006 interest expense. We also anticipate our satellite entertainment, wireless and digital television service initiatives will negatively impact 2006 diluted earnings per share an additional $.03 to $.05. CenturyTel believes the Company can continue to drive revenue growth primarily from the further penetration of its bundled offerings and continued expansion in its fiber business. Giving effect to these items, the anticipation of access line declines of 4.5% to 5.5% in 2006, the $.04 to $.06 negative impact of expected lower universal service funding and the estimated $.02 to $.03 negative impact from the change in accounting for stock options, CenturyTel expects 2006 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.20 to $2.35.

CenturyTel expects first quarter 2006 total revenues of $605 to $615 million and diluted earnings per share of $.52 to $.56. The anticipated decline in revenues from fourth quarter 2005 is primarily due to access line declines and anticipated lower universal service funding.

The Company expects a reduction in its capital expenditures in 2006 to approximately $325 million, a $90 million decrease from 2005. Subject to incremental investments related to new initiatives that drive growth or efficiencies, CenturyTel expects to maintain capital expenditures at a similar level beyond 2006. CenturyTel also anticipates receiving approximately $120 million in cash on a pre-tax basis in the first half of 2006 from the redemption of its Rural Telephone Bank stock.

These 2006 outlook figures exclude nonrecurring items, future share repurchase initiatives, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures or other similar business transactions.

Reconciliation to GAAP. This release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including but not limited to operating cash flow, free cash flow and adjustments to GAAP measures to exclude the effect of nonrecurring items. In addition to providing key metrics for management to evaluate the Company’s performance, we believe these measurements assist readers in their understanding of period-to-period operating performance and in identifying historical and prospective trends. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measures are included in the attached financial statements. Reconciliations of additional non-GAAP financial measures that may be discussed during the earnings call described below will be available in the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s Web site at www.centurytel.com. Investors are urged to consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not in substitution for, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Investor Call. As previously announced, CenturyTel’s management will host a conference call at 10:30 a.m. Central Time today. Interested parties can access the call by dialing 866.261.7147. The call will be accessible for replay through February 8, 2006, by calling 888.266.2081 and entering the conference ID number 836323. Investors can also listen to CenturyTel’s earnings conference call and replay by accessing the Investor Relations portion of the Company’s Web site at www.centurytel.com prior to February 23, 2006.

In addition to historical information, this release includes certain forward-looking statements, estimates and projections that are based on current expectations only, and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to: the timing, success and overall effects of competition from a wide variety of competitive providers; the risks inherent in rapid technological change; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry; the Company’s ability to effectively manage its growth, including integrating newly-acquired businesses into the Company’s operations and hiring adequate numbers of qualified staff; possible changes in the demand for, or pricing of, the Company’s products and services; the Company’s ability to successfully introduce new product or service offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis; the Company’s ability to collect its receivables from financially troubled communications companies; the Company’s ability to successfully negotiate collective bargaining agreements on reasonable terms without work stoppages; the effect of adverse weather; other risks referenced from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the effects of more general factors such as changes in interest rates, in tax rates, in accounting policies or practices, in operating, medical or administrative costs, in general market, labor or economic conditions, or in legislation, regulation or public policy. These and other uncertainties related to the Company’s business are described in greater detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004. You should be aware that new factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to identify all such factors, nor can it predict the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any one or more factors may cause actual results to differ from those reflected in any forward-looking statements. You are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. The information contained in this release is as of February 2, 2006. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements for any reason.

CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) delivers advanced communications with a personal touch. The Company, included in the S&P 500 Index, is a leading provider of consumer and business communications solutions in rural areas and small to mid-size cities in 26 states. Visit CenturyTel at www.centurytel.com.

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CenturyTel, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND 2004
(UNAUDITED)
	Three months ended December 31, 2005										Three months ended December 31, 2004
								As adjusted										As adjusted						Increase
				Less				excluding						Less				excluding						(decrease)
				non-				non-						non-				non-			Increase			excluding
	As			recurring				recurring			As			recurring				recurring			(decrease)			nonrecurring
In thousands, except per share amounts	reported			items				items			reported			items				items			as reported			items
OPERATING REVENUES
Local service	$	172,081							172,081			178,035							178,035			(3.3	%)		(3.3	%)
Network access		232,570							232,570			242,017							242,017			(3.9	%)		(3.9	%)
Long distance		48,126							48,126			46,938							46,938			2.5	%		2.5	%
Data		80,904							80,904			72,410							72,410			11.7	%		11.7	%
Fiber transport and CLEC		37,214							37,214			19,543							19,543			90.4	%		90.4	%
Other		49,577							49,577			47,291							47,291			4.8	%		4.8	%
		620,472			-				620,472			606,234			-				606,234			2.3	%		2.3	%
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products		212,339							212,339			192,638							192,638			10.2	%		10.2	%
Selling, general and administrative		99,936							99,936			94,676							94,676			5.6	%		5.6	%
Depreciation and amortization		135,778							135,778			129,304							129,304			5.0	%		5.0	%
		448,053			-				448,053			416,618			-				416,618			7.5	%		7.5	%
OPERATING INCOME		172,419			-				172,419			189,616			-				189,616			(9.1	%)		(9.1	%)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense		(49,625	)						(49,625	)		(53,245	)						(53,245	)		(6.8	%)		(6.8	%)
Income from unconsolidated cellular entity		1,603							1,603			953							953			68.2	%		68.2	%
Other income (expense)		(283	)		(6,250	)	(1)		5,967			(268	)		(1,000	)	(3)		732			5.6	%		715.2	%
Income tax expense		(45,780	)		2,400		(2)		(48,180	)		(52,567	)		384		(4)		(52,951	)		(12.9	%)		(9.0	%)
NET INCOME	$	78,334			(3,850	)			82,184			84,489			(616	)			85,105			(7.3	%)		(3.4	%)
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	0.60			(0.03	)			0.63			0.63			-				0.64			(4.8	%)		(1.6	%)
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	0.59			(0.03	)			0.61			0.62			-				0.62			(4.8	%)		(1.6	%)
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		130,730							130,730			133,324							133,324			(1.9	%)		(1.9	%)
Diluted		135,917							135,917			138,368							138,368			(1.8	%)		(1.8	%)
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.06							0.06			0.0575							0.0575			4.3	%		4.3	%
NONRECURRING ITEMS
(1) - Impairment of nonoperating investment.
(2) - Tax effect of item (1).
(3) - Impairment of  separate nonoperating investment.
(4) - Tax effect of item (3).

CenturyTel, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND 2004
(UNAUDITED)
	Twelve months ended December 31, 2005										Twelve months ended December 31, 2004
								As adjusted										As adjusted						Increase
				Less				excluding						Less				excluding						(decrease)
				non-				non-						non-				non-			Increase			excluding
	As			recurring				recurring			As			recurring				recurring			(decrease)			nonrecurring
In thousands, except per share amounts	reported			items				items			reported			items				items			as reported			items
OPERATING REVENUES
Local service	$	702,400							702,400			716,028							716,028			(1.9	%)		(1.9	%)
Network access		959,838							959,838			966,011			(3,091	)	(5)		969,102			(0.6	%)		(1.0	%)
Long distance		189,872							189,872			186,997							186,997			1.5	%		1.5	%
Data		318,770							318,770			275,777			(422	)	(5)		276,199			15.6	%		15.4	%
Fiber transport and CLEC		115,454							115,454			74,409							74,409			55.2	%		55.2	%
Other		192,918							192,918			188,150							188,150			2.5	%		2.5	%
		2,479,252			-				2,479,252			2,407,372			(3,513	)			2,410,885			3.0	%		2.8	%
OPERATING EXPENSES
Cost of services and products		821,929			5,853		(1)		816,076			755,413							755,413			8.8	%		8.0	%
Selling, general and administrative		388,989							388,989			397,102							397,102			(2.0	%)		(2.0	%)
Depreciation and amortization		531,931							531,931			500,904			(13,221	)	(5)		514,125			6.2	%		3.5	%
		1,742,849			5,853				1,736,996			1,653,419			(13,221	)			1,666,640			5.4	%		4.2	%
OPERATING INCOME		736,403			(5,853	)			742,256			753,953			9,708				744,245			(2.3	%)		(0.3	%)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Interest expense		(201,801	)		(1,196	)	(2)		(200,605	)		(211,051	)						(211,051	)		(4.4	%)		(4.9	%)
Income from unconsolidated cellular entity		4,910							4,910			7,067							7,067			(30.5	%)		(30.5	%)
Other income (expense)		(1,742	)		(14,253	)	(3)		12,511			(2,597	)		(2,500	)	(6)		(97	)		(32.9	%)		(12,997.9	%)
Income tax expense		(203,291	)		9,511		(4)		(212,802	)		(210,128	)		(2,767	)	(7)		(207,361	)		(3.3	%)		2.6	%
NET INCOME	$	334,479			(11,791	)			346,270			337,244			4,441				332,803			(0.8	%)		4.0	%
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	2.55			(0.09	)			2.64			2.45			0.03				2.42			4.1	%		9.1	%
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	2.49			(0.09	)			2.58			2.41			0.03				2.38			3.3	%		8.4	%
AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
Basic		130,841							130,841			137,215							137,215			(4.6	%)		(4.6	%)
Diluted		136,087							136,087			142,144							142,144			(4.3	%)		(4.3	%)
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.24							0.24			0.23							0.23			4.3	%		4.3	%
NONRECURRING ITEMS
(1) - Expenses associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
(2) - Write-off of unamortized deferred debt costs associated with purchasing and retiring approximately $400 million of Series J notes.
(3) - Includes (i) a $16.2 million impairment of nonoperating investment and a $4.8 million debt extinguishment charge related to purchasing and retiring approximately $400 million of Series J notes, net of (ii) a $3.5 million gain on sale of nonoperating investment and $3.2 million of interest income related to the settlement of various income tax audits.
(4) - Includes (i) $1.3 million tax benefit related to the settlement of various income tax audits and (ii) $8.2 million net tax benefit of items (1), (2) and (3).
(5) - Adjustment for overdepreciated assets, including related revenue effect.
(6) - Impairment of separate nonoperating investment.
(7) - Tax effect of items (5) and (6).

CenturyTel, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2005 AND DECEMBER 31, 2004
(UNAUDITED)
	December 31,			December 31,
	2005			2004
	(in thousands)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	158,846			167,215
Other current assets		264,170			252,632
Total current assets		423,016			419,847
NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment		7,801,377			7,431,017
Accumulated depreciation		(4,496,891	)		(4,089,616	)
Net property, plant and equipment		3,304,486			3,341,401
GOODWILL AND OTHER ASSETS
Goodwill		3,432,649			3,433,864
Other		602,556			601,841
Total goodwill and other assets		4,035,205			4,035,705
TOTAL ASSETS	$	7,762,707			7,796,953
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current maturities of long-term debt	$	276,736			249,617
Other current liabilities		469,494			442,001
Total current liabilities		746,230			691,618
LONG-TERM DEBT		2,376,070			2,762,019
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES		1,023,134			933,551
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		3,617,273			3,409,765
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	7,762,707			7,796,953

CenturyTel, Inc.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)
	Three months ended December 31, 2005										Three months ended December 31, 2004
								As adjusted										As adjusted
				Less				excluding						Less				excluding
				non-				non-						non-				non-
In thousands	As			recurring				recurring			As			recurring				recurring
	reported			items				items			reported			items				items
Operating cash flow and cash flow margin
Operating income	$	172,419			-				172,419			189,616			-				189,616
Add: Depreciation and amortization		135,778			-				135,778			129,304			-				129,304
Operating cash flow	$	308,197			-				308,197			318,920			-				318,920
Revenues	$	620,472			-				620,472			606,234			-				606,234
Operating income margin (operating income divided by revenues)		27.8	%						27.8	%		31.3	%						31.3	%
Operating cash flow margin (operating cash flow divided by revenues)		49.7	%						49.7	%		52.6	%						52.6	%
Free cash flow (prior to debt service requirements and dividends)
Net income	$	78,334			(3,850	)	(1)		82,184			84,489			(616	)	(2)		85,105
Add: Depreciation and amortization		135,778			-				135,778			129,304			-				129,304
Less: Capital expenditures		(132,914	)		-				(132,914	)		(131,719	)		-				(131,719	)
Free cash flow	$	81,198			(3,850	)			85,048			82,074			(616	)			82,690
Free cash flow	$	81,198										82,074
Income from unconsolidated cellular entity		(1,603	)									(953	)
Deferred income taxes		36,112										(1,034	)
Changes in current assets and current liabilities		(2,366	)									12,430
Increase in other noncurrent assets		(1,177	)									(8,185	)
Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent liabilities		142										(1,524	)
Retirement benefits		(30,804	)									3,954
Other, net		(1,467	)									1,556
Add: Capital expenditures		132,914										131,719
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	212,949										220,037
NONRECURRING ITEMS
(1) - Impairment of nonoperating investment (presented on an after-tax basis).
(2) - Impairment of separate nonoperating investment (presented on an after-tax basis).

CenturyTel, Inc.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(UNAUDITED)
	Twelve months ended December 31, 2005										Twelve months ended December 31, 2004
								As adjusted										As adjusted
				Less				excluding						Less				excluding
				non-				non-						non-				non-
In thousands	As			recurring				recurring			As			recurring				recurring
	reported			items				items			reported			items				items
Operating cash flow and cash flow margin
Operating income	$	736,403			(5,853	)	(1)		742,256			753,953			9,708		(3)		744,245
Add: Depreciation and amortization		531,931			-				531,931			500,904			(13,221	)	(3)		514,125
Operating cash flow	$	1,268,334			(5,853	)			1,274,187			1,254,857			(3,513	)			1,258,370
Revenues	$	2,479,252			-				2,479,252			2,407,372			(3,513	)	(3)		2,410,885
Operating income margin (operating income divided by revenues)		29.7	%						29.9	%		31.3	%						30.9	%
Operating cash flow margin (operating cash flow divided by revenues)		51.2	%						51.4	%		52.1	%						52.2	%
Free cash flow (prior to debt service requirements and dividends)
Net income	$	334,479			(11,791	)	(2)		346,270			337,244			4,441		(4)		332,803
Add: Depreciation and amortization		531,931			-				531,931			500,904			(13,221	)	(3)		514,125
Less: Capital expenditures		(414,872	)		-				(414,872	)		(385,316	)		-				(385,316	)
	$	451,538			(11,791	)			463,329			452,832			(8,780	)			461,612
Free cash flow	$	451,538										452,832
Income from unconsolidated cellular entity		(4,910	)									(7,067	)
Deferred income taxes		69,530										74,374
Changes in current assets and current liabilities		27,001										58,322
Increase in other noncurrent assets		(5,384	)									(34,740	)
Increase (decrease) in other noncurrent liabilities		2,638										(6,220	)
Retirement benefits		(16,815	)									26,954
Other, net		7,848										6,060
Add: Capital expenditures		414,872										385,316
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	946,318										955,831
NONRECURRING ITEMS
(1) - Expenses associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (presented on a pre-tax basis).
(2) - Includes (i) a $10.0 million after-tax impairment of nonoperating investment, a $3.7 million after-tax expense related to purchasing and retiring approximately $400 million of Series J notes and a $3.6 million after-tax expense associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, net of (ii) a $3.3 million net benefit related to  the settlement of various income tax audits and a $2.2 million after-tax gain on sale of nonoperating investment.
(3) - Adjustment for overdepreciated assets, including related revenue effect (presented on a pre-tax basis).
(4) - Adjustment for overdepreciated assets, including related revenue effect, and impairment of separate nonoperating investment (presented on an after-tax basis).