Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
June 29, 1999                         Media:  Patricia Cameron (318) 388-9674
                                        patricia.cameron@centurytel.com
                                      Investors: Jeffrey S. Glover (318)388-9648
                                        jeff.glover@centurytel.com

            CenturyTel signs definitive agreement to purchase GTE's
                     local exchange properties in Arkansas

Monroe,  LA. . .CenturyTel,  Inc. (NYSE Symbol:  CTL) signed a definitive  asset
purchase agreement today to purchase GTE's local exchange assets in Arkansas. In
exchange,  CenturyTel will pay GTE $843.35  million in cash,  subject to certain
adjustments that are not expected to be material. The transaction is expected to
close in the first quarter 2000, pending regulatory  approvals and certain other
closing conditions.

CenturyTel  anticipates that at the time of closing these markets will encompass
230,000  access  lines.  In addition,  CenturyTel  expects  these  properties to
generate  annualized  revenues  of  approximately  $165.3  million,  and produce
annualized cash flow of nearly $92.5 million during the first year of operation.

"This acquisition  represents another important step in executing our strategies
to geographically  cluster our operations and to acquire properties that provide
opportunities  for synergies and revenue  growth," Glen F. Post, III,  President
and CEO of CenturyTel,  said. "These properties complement CenturyTel's existing
local  telephone and wireless  operations in the state,  and will position us to
offer additional communications services to our customers."

Long-term  financing  plans  are not yet  complete  and will be  dependent  upon
CenturyTel's  review  of its  alternatives  and  market  conditions.  CenturyTel
currently  expects to fund the  purchase  price  initially  through  bank credit
facilities. Assuming that 50% of the purchase price is financed with convertible
debt  securities  and using  current  interest  rates,  CenturyTel  believes the
acquisition  will be one or two cents  dilutive to 2000  earnings and  accretive
thereafter.

The  transaction  will boost  CenturyTel's  access line ownership in Arkansas to
more than 275,000 lines as it becomes CenturyTel's second largest state in terms
of access lines served.

"CenturyTel  has  operated  in  Arkansas  for  more  than  30  years,  and  this
transaction will allow us to further build upon our strong brand identity in the
state,"  Post said.  "We  believe our  positive  relationships  with  customers,
employees and regulators will benefit CenturyTel as we pursue the value-creating
opportunities  brought about by this acquisition.  The GTE properties serve some
excellent markets in the state,  including  Russellville,  Jacksonville,  Siloam
Springs and others,  many of which are near thriving cities such as Little Rock,
Fayetteville, Bentonville and Fort Smith."


Customers  will see no changes in their area codes,  telephone  numbers or local
calling  areas.  At this time, we anticipate  that rates will remain the same as
GTE's current rates.

GTE employees who serve these areas will be offered  positions with  CenturyTel.
Additional  employment  opportunities  will also be created  to replace  certain
functions currently handled by non-Arkansas GTE units.

In  addition  to  historical   information,   this  release   includes   certain
forward-looking  statements that are subject to  uncertainties  that could cause
the Company's  actual results to differ  materially from such  statements.  Such
uncertainties  include but are not limited to:  changes in  prevailing  interest
rates or in the  capital  markets;  the effects of ongoing  deregulation  in the
telecommunications industry; the effects of greater than anticipated competition
in the  Company's  markets;  possible  changes in the  demand for the  Company's
products and  services;  the  Company's  ability to  successfully  introduce new
offerings  on a timely and  cost-effective  basis;  the risks  inherent in rapid
technological  change;  the Company's ability to effectively  manage its growth,
including  integrating newly acquired properties into the Company's  operations;
the  success  and  expense of the  remediation  efforts of the  Company  and its
vendors in achieving year 2000 compliance; any similar efforts, changes or other
factors impacting the GTE properties to be sold; and the effects of more general
factors  such  as  changes  in  overall  market  or  economic  condition  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,  1998.  Any public
offering of convertible debt securities or other equity linked  securities which
the Company may make in connection with the acquisition will be effected only by
means of a prospectus.  This press release does not  constitute an offer to sell
or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any such securities.

CenturyTel,  Inc. provides  integrated  communications  services including local
exchange,  wireless,  long  distance,  Internet  access and security  monitoring
services  to  more  than  two  million  customers  in 21  states.  The  company,
headquartered in Monroe,  La., is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol CTL.  CenturyTel is the ninth largest local exchange  telephone
company,  based on access lines, and the 10th largest cellular company, based on
population equivalents owned, in the United States. Visit CenturyTel's corporate
website at (www.centurytel.com).