Exhibit 99.1

                                                         Citizens Communications
                                                         3 High Ridge Park
                                                         Stamford, CT 06905
                                                         203.614.5600
                                                         Web site: www.czn.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Financial Community:                          Media:
Alan H. Oshiki, Assistant Vice President      Brigid M. Smith, Assistant Vice
Investor Relations                            President Corporate Communications
(203) 614-5629                                (203) 614-5042
aoshiki@czn.com                               bsmith@czn.com


     Citizens Communications Completes Purchase of Nebraska Telephone Properties

STAMFORD,  Conn., June 30, 2000 - Citizens  Communications  (NYSE:CZN) announced
today that it has  completed  the purchase of 61,000  telephone  access lines in
Nebraska from GTE Corporation (NYSE:GTE).

In 1999,  Citizens agreed to purchase nearly one million  telephone access lines
from GTE and USWEST Inc. (NYSE:USW) in transactions valued at $2.8 billion.  The
Nebraska  transaction  is the first of these  purchases to close.  The remainder
will close over the next twelve months.

Citizens  Communications  provides  telecommunications  services  to more than 1
million  customers in 14 states.  Citizens also owns 82% 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.