Exhibit 23




                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
Citizens Communications Company:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statement (No.
33-52873) on Form S-3, in the Registration Statement (No. 33-63615) on Form S-3,
in the  Registration  Statement (No.  333-7047) on Form S-3, in the Registration
Statement  (No.  33-60729)  on Form  S-3,  in the  Registration  Statement  (No.
333-71821) on Form S-8, in the  Registration  Statement (No.  333-71597) on Form
S-8,  in  the  Registration  Statement  (No.  333-71029)  on  Form  S-8,  in the
Registration Statement (No. 33-42972) on Form S-8, in the Registration Statement
(No. 33-48683) on Form S-8, and in the Registration  Statement (No. 33-54376) on
Form S-8 of Citizens  Communications  Company of our report dated March 8, 2001,
relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Citizens  Communications  Company
and  subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the related  consolidated
statements  of income  (loss) and  comprehensive  income  (loss),  shareholders'
equity,  and cash  flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period  ended
December 31, 2000,  which report  appears in the December 31, 2000 annual report
on Form 10-K of Citizens Communications Company.



                                                           KPMG LLP

New York, New York
March 8, 2001