UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM 8-K 

CURRENT REPORT 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
 Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report:    December 7, 2001

CENTURYTEL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana
(State or other jurisdiction 
of incorporation) 

1-7784
(Commission 
File Number)

 72-0651161
 (IRS Employer 
Identification No.)

 100 CenturyTel Drive
Monroe, Louisiana 71203
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

 

(318) 388-9000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

Item 5.     Other Events. 

        To correct inaccurate press reports about CenturyTel's references to its guidance at the Lehman Brothers Telecom Conference held on Thursday, December 6, 2001, CenturyTel clarifies that the guidance referred to at the Conference was the same guidance provided by the Company in conjunction with its third quarter earnings release on October 31, 2001. The Company has not modified nor reaffirmed its guidance since October 31, 2001. 

 

SIGNATURES 

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 

 CENTURYTEL, INC.

 

 

By:            /s/ Neil A. Sweasy                  

Neil A. Sweasy
Vice President and Controller

 Dated: December 7, 2001