<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000310433</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Brown Rita M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 CTE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP &amp; General Mgr CTSI, LLC</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6644.836</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.625000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-02-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.0625000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-03-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5566</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>34.0625000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-03-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-03-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>434</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.790000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>38.790000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares issued pursuant to the CTE Equity Incentive Plan, held in escrow and vesting in equal installments over a four (4) year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These Shares were credited to the Reporting Person's account under the Company's Executive Stock Purchase Plan (&quot;ESPP&quot;) in transactions exempt under Rule 16-3.  Under the ESPP, participants who defer current compensation are credited with share units.  The value of a share unit is based on the value of the Company's Common Stock.  The Company also credits each participant's matching account under the ESPP with 100% of the number of share units credited based on the participant's elective contributions.  Share united credited to the participant's elective contribution account are fullly and immediately vested.  Share units credited to the participant's matching account generally vest on the third anniversary of the date they are credited.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options generally vest in five (5) equal amount over a five (5) year period.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">2,400 options vest on 2/05/03, 2,400 options vest on 2/05/04, 2,400 options vest on 2/05/05, 2,400 options vest on 2/05/06 and 2.400 options vest on 2/05/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">1,113.2 options vest on 3/02/02, 1,113.2 options vest on 3/02/03, 1,113.2 options vest on 3.02/04, 1,113.2 options vest on 3/02/05 and 1,113.2 options vest on 3/02/06.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">86.8 options vest on 3/02/02, 86.8 options vest on 3/02/03, 86.8 options vest on 3/02/04, 86.8 options vest on 3/02/05 and 86.8 options vest on 3/02/06.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">960 options vest on 3/05/03, 960 options vest on 3/05/04, 960 options vest on 3/05/05, 960 options vest on 3/05/06 and 960 options vest on 3/05/07.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">240 options vest on 3/05/03, 240 options vest on 3/05/04, 240 options vest on 3/05/05, 240 options vest on 3/05/06 and 240 options vest on 3/05/07.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary Covine Baltes for Rita M. Brown by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

