-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PBEIWOQU8+y0/4wuyG1Y4R4cGYf1nS6rPoesbFjJIdYZ5MGRd7rJPJENomQoWJCq
 2RuAyftuxA5LuIzo7AeLcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179209-03-000086.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0001179209-03-000086.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528145220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179209-03-000086
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOTWINIK NORMAN I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001179502

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11001
		FILM NUMBER:		03721444

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HIGH RIDGE PARK
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000020520
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				060619596
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGH RIDGE PK BLDG 3
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2036145600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HIGH RIDGE PARK BLDG NO 3
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06905

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CITIZENS UTILITIES CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-05-27</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000020520</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CZN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001179502</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOTWINIK NORMAN I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>2011.51</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>11.90</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>18001.39</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.00</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>62354.75</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>62354.75</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2011.51</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>0.00</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>2011.51</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionValue>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionValue>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-05-27</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>1988-08-08</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>2011.51</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0.00</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">The Phantom Stock Units convert one for one share of common stock upon the Reporting Person's retirement.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to Reporting Person's irrevocable election, stock units to be paid in cash upon retirement.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Reporting Person retired 05/13/2003, payment of Phantom Stock Units on 05/27/2003.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Norman I. Botwinik</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Norman I. Botwinik by L. Russe</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----