Citizens Communications Completes Purchase of North Dakota Telephone Properties.

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2000

Citizens Communications (NYSE:CZN) announced today that it has completed the purchase of approximately 17,300 telephone access lines in North Dakota from Qwest Communications International, formerly U S WEST.

In 1999, Citizens agreed to purchase nearly 1 million telephone access lines from GTE and U S WEST. The North Dakota transaction is the third of these purchases to close, following transactions in Nebraska and Minnesota involving GTE operations. On July 12, 2000, Citizens agreed to purchase Frontier Telephone's 1.1 million access lines from Global Crossing Ltd. All of the remaining transactions are expected to be completed over the next 12 months.

About Citizens Communications

Citizens Communications serves 1.2 million access lines in 16 states. Citizens also owns 86 percent of Electric Lightwave, Inc. (NASDAQ:ELIX), a facilities-based, integrated communications provider that offers a broad range of services to telecommunications-intensive businesses throughout the United States. More information about Citizens can be found at www.czn.net.

This document contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. These and all forward-looking statements (including oral representations) are only predictions or statements of current plans that are constantly under review by the company. All forward-looking statements may differ from actual results because of, but not limited to, changes in the local and overall economy, changes in market conditions for debt and equity securities, the nature and pace of technological changes, the number and effectiveness of competitors in the company's markets, success in overall strategy, changes in legal or regulatory policy, changes in legislation, the company's ability to identify future markets and successfully expand existing ones, the mix of products and services offered in the company's target markets, the effects of acquisitions and dispositions and the ability to effectively integrate businesses acquired. These important factors should be considered in evaluating any statement contained herein and/or made by the company or on its behalf. The foregoing information should be read in conjunction with the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission including, but not limited to, reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. The company does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.