CenturyTel Schedules Equity Units Conference Call.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

MONROE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2002

CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE:CTL) will host a call Monday May 6, at 3:30 CDT to discuss its recently completed issuance of Equity Units.

The conference call will be streamed live over the company's Web site at www.centurytel.com. Interested parties can also access the call by dialing [phone] five minutes prior to the start of the call. A digital recording of the call will be available beginning at 6:30 P.M. CDT on May 6, and ending May 8, at 6:30 P.M. CDT. The replay can be accessed by calling [phone] and entering the conference id number: 4099863. A replay of the call will also be available on the Web site after 6:30 P.M. CDT on May 6.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may only be made by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained when available from Goldman, Sachs & Co., at 85 Broad Street, New York, New York.

CenturyTel, Inc. provides integrated communications services including local exchange, wireless, long distance, Internet access and security monitoring services to more than three million customers in 21 states. The company, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL. CenturyTel is the eighth largest local exchange telephone company, based on access lines, in the United States.