8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K 

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

March 26, 2007 

CenturyTel, Inc. 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Louisiana	1-7784	72-0651161
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

100 CenturyTel Drive, Monroe, Louisiana         71203

(Address of principal executive offices)          (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

 (318) 388-9000

____________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240. 14a-12)
[ ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01.       Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

            On March 26, 2007, we entered into an Underwriting Agreement with Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC and the other underwriters named in Schedule 1 thereto (the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell to the Underwriters $750 million of our debt securities, consisting of $500 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 and $250 million aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (collectively, the “Notes”).

            We completed the sale of the Notes on March 29, 2007.  The net proceeds to us from the sale of the Notes, after deducting the Underwriters’ discount and our estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $741.5 million.  For additional information on our offering, please see our press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report. 

            Certain underwriters or their affiliates may engage, or have engaged, in various general financing and banking transactions from time to time with us or our affiliates for which they have received, or will receive, customary compensation.  Affiliates of most of the underwriters are lenders under our existing $750 million revolving credit facility, and each of these lenders or their affiliates act as either joint bookrunners, co-lead arrangers, administrative agents, syndication agents or co-documentation agents under this facility.  For additional information on these relationships and the terms of the Notes, see our prospectus supplement, dated March 26, 2007, which we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Notes were offered and sold pursuant to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-84276, dated March 14, 2002.  A copy of the Underwriting Agreement and the related Price Determination Agreement are filed as Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2 to this Report.

            The Notes are governed by and issued pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2007 to Indenture dated March 31, 1994, between us and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee.   A copy of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, including the forms of Notes, is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Report.

Item 2.03.       Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

            The information set forth above under Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)        Exhibits

Exhibit No.     Description

1.1                 Underwriting Agreement dated, March 26, 2007, by and among us and the Underwriters.

1.2                 Price Determination Agreement, dated March 26, 2007, by and among us and the Underwriters.

4.1                 Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 26, 2007, to Indenture dated March 31, 1994, by and between us and Regions Bank, as trustee.

4.2                 Form of the Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1 above).

99.1               Press Release issued March 29, 2007, announcing the completion of the offering.

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.

                                                                                          0;         By:    /s/ Neil A. Sweasy

                                                                                                          Neil A. Sweasy

                                                                                                          Vice President and Controller

Dated:  March 29, 2007

EX-1

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION COPY

CENTURYTEL, INC.

$500,000,000 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017

$250,000,000 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

March 26, 2007

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

c/o	Banc of America Securities LLC
	9 West 57th Street
	New York, New York 10019
	J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
	270 Park Avenue
	New York, New York 10017
	Lehman Brothers Inc.
	745 Seventh Avenue
	New York, New York 10019
	Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
	One Wachovia Center
	DC-7, 301 South College Street
	Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

Ladies and Gentlemen:

CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to you (individually, an “Underwriter” and collectively, the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of $500,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 (the “Series N Notes”) and an aggregate of $250,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (the “Series O Notes” and, together with the Series N Notes, the “Securities”) to be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 31, 1994, between the Company and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented to the date hereof, and as will be further supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of March 26, 2007 relating to the Securities (the “Indenture”).

The purchase price for the Securities to be paid by the Underwriters shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters and such agreement shall be set forth in a separate written instrument substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Price Determination Agreement”). The Price Determination Agreement may take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written communication among the Company and the Underwriters and shall specify such applicable information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto. The offering of the Securities will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the Price Determination Agreement. From and after the date of the execution and delivery of the Price Determination Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed to incorporate, and, unless the context otherwise indicates, all references contained herein or in the exhibits hereto to “this Agreement”, the “Underwriting Agreement” and to the phrase “herein” shall be deemed to include the Price Determination Agreement.

The Company confirms as follows its agreements with the several Underwriters.

1.Agreement to Sell and Purchase.  (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, the principal amount of the Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, plus such additional principal amount of Securities which any Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 8 hereof, all at the purchase price, to be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with Section 1(b) and as set forth in the Price Determination Agreement.

(b)The purchase price for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be agreed upon and set forth in the Price Determination Agreement, which shall be dated the Execution Date (as hereinafter defined).

2.Delivery and Payment.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Underwriters for the account of each Underwriter in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) against payment of the purchase price therefor by such Underwriter or on its behalf therefor by wire transfer in same day funds to the Company or its order at the office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, New York, New York or at such other location as the parties may agree. Such payment shall be made at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third business day following the date of this Agreement or at such time on such other date, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriters (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”).

The Securities of each series to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more registered global Securities in book-entry form, which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with DTC or its designated custodian. The certificates for the Securities will be made available for examination and packaging by Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters (the “Representatives”), in New York City not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

The cost of original issue tax stamps, if any, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company to the respective Underwriters shall be borne by the Company. The Company will pay and save each Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Securities harmless from any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying federal and state stamp and other issuance taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the original issuance or sale to such Underwriter of the Securities.

3.Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and covenants with the several Underwriters, that:

(a)The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-84276), including a prospectus (the “Basic Prospectus”), relating to, among other securities, the debt securities to be issued from time to time by the Company. The Company has also filed, or proposes to file, with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a prospectus supplement dated the date hereof specifically relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”).

    The registration statement, at the Effective Time (as defined herein), including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of such effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Prospectus” means the Basic Prospectus as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities and the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 26, 2007 specifically relating to the Securities together with the Basic Prospectus. References herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein as of the Effective Time with respect to the Registration Statement or the date of the Preliminary Prospectus or the date of the Prospectus, as the case may be. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) subsequent to the date of this Agreement which are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Effective Time” means the effective date of the Registration Statement with respect to the offering of Securities, as determined for the Company pursuant to Section 11 of the Securities Act and Item 512 of Regulation S-K, as applicable. The term “Execution Date” means the date that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, as reflected on the first page hereof.

   At or prior to the Time of Sale (as defined in the Price Determination Agreement), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the “Time of Sale Information”): the Preliminary Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined herein) listed on Schedule III hereto.

(b)The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purposeor pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering has been initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the Effective Time, the Registration Statement complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”), and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(c)The Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in the Time of Sale Information in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

(d)The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below), an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Schedule III to this Agreement as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications, in the case of clause (v) approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with each such other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(e)The documents which are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f)The Company is not an ineligible issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and was not an ineligible issuer at the times specified in Rule 164(h) under Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(g)Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries listed on Schedule II hereto (the “Subsidiaries”) is, and at the Closing Date will be, a corporation, limited liability company or partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. The Subsidiaries are the Company’s only “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act). Each of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries has, and at the Closing Date will have, full power and authority to conduct all the activities conducted by it, to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. Each of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries is, and at the Closing Date will be, duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or limited liability company in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not have a material adverse affect on the business, properties, business prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Affect”). For purposes of this Agreement, “subsidiaries” shall mean (a) the Company’s direct and indirect majority-owned corporate subsidiaries (b) the Company’s direct and indirect majority owned limited liability companies and (c) the partnerships, joint ventures and other entities of which the Company or any subsidiary is the majority owner or managing general partner. Complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation and of the by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries and all amendments thereto have been made available to the Underwriters, and no changes therein will be made subsequent to the Time of Sale and prior to the Closing Date.

(h)The Securities have been duly and validly authorized and, when authenticated by the Trustee and issued, delivered and sold in accordance with this Agreement and the Indenture, will have been duly and validly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture except (i) that such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(i)The description of the Securities in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus is, and at the Closing Date will be, complete and accurate in all material respects and, insofar as such description contains statements constituting a summary of the legal matters or documents referred to therein, such description fairly summarizes the information referred to therein.

(j)The financial statements and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the respective periods covered thereby, all in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the entire period involved, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. The selected consolidated financial data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus present fairly as of the dates thereof the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. No other financial statements or schedules of the Company are required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to be included in or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus. KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), who has audited certain financial statements and schedules incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof, are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company, as required by the Securities Act.

(k)Neither the Companynor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Companyor any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(l)The Company is not, and after giving effect to the issuance and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Time of Sale Information, will not be, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(m)Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers in their capacity as such, before or by any federal or state court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, that is likely to have a Material Adverse Affect. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, all actions, suits or proceedings now pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers in their capacities as such, before any Federal or state court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, if decided or resolved in a manner unfavorable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would not be likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Affect.

(n)The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has and, at the Closing Date, will have (i) such franchises, certificates, authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, other than those the absence of which would not be likely to have a Material Adverse Affect, and neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any written notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such franchise, certificate, authority or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would be likely to have a Material Adverse Affect, (ii) complied in all material respects with all laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders or decrees of any court, governmental body or regulatory authority or administrative agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary (including, without limitation, any such laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders or decrees with respect to environmental protection or the release, handling, treatment, storage or disposal of hazardous substances or toxic wastes), the failure to comply with which would be likely to have a Material Adverse Affect, and (iii) performed in all material respects all of its obligations required to be performed by it under any material contract or other instrument to which it is a party or by which its property is bound or affected, and is not, and at the Closing Date, will not be, in default under any such contract or instrument the effect of which would be likely to have a Material Adverse Affect. To the best knowledge of the Company, no other party under any material contract or other instrument to which it or any Subsidiary is a party is in default in any respect thereunder, except for any such defaults (alone or collectively) that would not be likely to have a Material Adverse Affect; provided that it is understood and agreed that neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has undertaken any special investigation to determine compliance by such other parties under any such contract or other instrument. The Company is not, and at the Closing Date will not be, in violation of any provision of its articles of incorporation or by-laws or in default in any material respect under any agreement or instrument evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money. The Subsidiaries are not, and at the Closing Date, will not be, in violation of any material provision of their respective articles of incorporation or by-laws (or comparable organizational documents) or in default under any agreement or instrument evidencing indebtedness for borrowed money (A) as a result of the failure to make one or more payments in excess of $5 million in the aggregate that are due and owed thereunder, or (B) otherwise in any respect which is likely to have a Material Adverse Affect.

(o)No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or any filing, registration, qualification or declaration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required for (i) the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the Securities or the Supplemental Indenture by the Company, (ii) the authorization, offer, issuance, transfer, sale or delivery of the Securities by the Company in accordance with this Agreement or (iii) the consummation by the Company of the transactions on its part contemplated herein and by the Indenture, except such as may have been obtained, or on or prior to the Closing Date will be obtained, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under foreign or state securities or blue sky laws or the by-laws and rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.

(p)The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Underwriters, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company and will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms hereof, except (i) that such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to creditors’ rights generally, (ii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought and (iii) rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state laws relating to securities or the policies underlying such laws. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) that such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.

(q)The issue and sale of the Securities, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of any of the terms or provisions of the articles of incorporation or by-laws (or comparable instruments) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or (ii) violate or conflict with any franchise or any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any other party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is or are bound or affected (the “applicable agreements”), other than with respect to this clause (iii) any breaches, violations, defaults, terminations or accelerations with respect to any applicable agreement that will not, or are not likely to, have a Material Adverse Affect.

(r)The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all franchises, properties and assets owned by it, which are material to the business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (including without limitation the stock or other equity interests of all subsidiaries), free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except such as are described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and except immaterial liens which do not affect the operations or financial condition of the Company. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties leased by it, with such exceptions as would not materially interfere with the business or operations of the Company and it subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(s)All existing material contracts described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or such Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or such Subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof, except (i) that such enforcement may be subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. Such described contracts are the only contracts required to be described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus by the Securities Act.

(t)No statement, representation, warranty or covenant made by the Company in this Agreement or the Indenture or made in any certificate or document required by this Agreement to be delivered to the Underwriters was or will be, when made, inaccurate, untrue or incorrect in any material respect.

(u)No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement or the offering and sale of the Securities.

(v)No action has been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order has been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body that prevents the issuance of the Securities, suspends the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, prevents or suspends the use of the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, or suspends the sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 4(i) below, provided, however, that to the extent this representation relates to state securities or blue sky laws and laws of jurisdictions other than the United States and its political subdivisions, it shall be limited to the knowledge of the Company. No injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction has been issued and served on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would prevent or suspend the issuance or sale of the Securities, the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or the use of the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 4(i) below.

(w)The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities in any jurisdiction referred to in Section 4(i) below in contravention of applicable law, provided that no representation is made herein as to the activities of any Underwriter.

(x)The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain (x) systems of internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; and (iii) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (y) disclosure controls and procedures as defined in, and that comply with the requirements of, Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act.

(y)The Company is, to its knowledge, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective and the rules and regulations of the Commission that have been adopted and are effective thereunder.

4.Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:

(a)The Company will file each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriters with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act not later than the close of business on the second business day following the date of first use, with respect to the Preliminary Prospectus, and the date of determination of the public offering price of the Securities, with respect to the Prospectus or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act.  The Company will prepare final term sheets in a form approved by the Representatives and attached hereto as Exhibit D-1 and Exhibit D-2 (the “Final Term Sheets”) and will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Final Term Sheets) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will promptly furnish copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(b)The Company will not, from the Time of Sale until the end of such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by an Underwriter or dealer, file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, unless a draft thereof shall first have been submitted to the Underwriters within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Underwriters shall not have objected thereto in good faith.

(c)The Company will notify the Underwriters promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act, (iv) until the end of such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by an Underwriter or dealer, of the happening of any event that in the judgment of the Company requires the Company to file an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and (v) of receipt by the Company, or any representatives or attorney of the Company, of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the offering of the Securities. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment.

(d)If and to the extent not already furnished, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, one complete copy of the Registration Statement and of any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), and will upon request make available to the Underwriters, without charge, additional copies of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits and documents incorporated by reference therein.

(e)The Company will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall be in writing for any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus other than the Final Term Sheets.

(f)The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(g)The Company will comply with all the provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.

(h)At the Time of Sale, and thereafter from time to time, the Company will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any supplement thereto, as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by the Underwriters and by all dealers to whom the Securities may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and for any period of time thereafter during which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection therewith. If during such period of time, any event shall occur which in the judgment of the Company or counsel to the Underwriters should be set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus in order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made when delivered, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate supplement thereto or a document under the Exchange Act deemed to be incorporated therein, and will deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies thereof as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company shall not file any document under the Exchange Act before the termination of the offering of the Securities by the Underwriters if such document would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, unless a draft thereof shall first have been submitted to the Underwriters within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Underwriters shall not have objected thereto in good faith.

(i)The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such United States jurisdictions and similar laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request, and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process or general taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

(j)During the period of five years commencing at the Time of Sale, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, if requested, copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company may from time to time distribute generally to the holders of any class of its capital stock, and will furnish to the Underwriters, if requested, a copy of each annual or other report it shall be required to file with the Commission.

(k)The Company will make generally available to holders of its securities as soon as may be practicable but in no event later than the last day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the calendar quarter in which the Execution Date falls, an earning statement (which need not be audited but shall be in reasonable detail) for a period of 12 months ended commencing after the Time of Sale, within the meaning of and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including Rule 158 thereunder).

(l)Unless otherwise agreed by the parties hereto, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay, or reimburse if paid by the Underwriters, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities, (iii) the printing of this Agreement, any agreement among underwriters, any dealer agreements and any underwriters’ questionnaire, (iv) furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) such copies of the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Securities may be sold, (v) any filings required to be made by the Underwriters with the NASD, and the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith, (vi) the registration or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such United States jurisdictions and similar laws of such foreign jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 4(i) hereof, including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith, and the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final blue sky memoranda, (vii) counsel to the Company, (viii) the rating of the Securities by one or more rating agencies and (ix) the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities.

(m)Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, if this Agreement shall be terminated for any reason by the Company pursuant to any of the provisions hereof (other than pursuant to Section 8 hereof) or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Underwriters) reasonably incurred by them in connection herewith.

(n)The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action described in Section 3(w) hereof.

(o)Until thirty (30) days from the Execution Date, the Company will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, by public offering, or announce the public offering of, any other debt securities of the Company other than (i) the Securities and (ii) the incurrence of indebtedness under the Company’s credit facilities or through commercial paper issuances.

5.Agreements of the Underwriters.

Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a)It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) a Free Writing Prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such Underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule III to this Agreement or prepared pursuant to Section 3(d) or Section 4(b) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any Free Writing Prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing.

(b)It will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of, and comply with any legending requirements applicable to, each free writing prospectus used or referred to by it, in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(c)It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated prior to the end of such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by an Underwriter or dealer).

6.Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.  In addition to the execution and delivery of the Price Determination Agreement, the obligations of the Underwriters shall be subject to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Companyset forth hereinare, at and as of the Closing Date, true and correct, the condition that the Companyshall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions, unless any such condition is waived in writing by the Underwriters:

(a)(i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall be in effect and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act shall be pending or threatened by the Commission, (ii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities with respect to the offering of the Securities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities, (iii) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and shall have made all other filings (including, without limitation, the Final Term Sheets) required by Rule 424 or Rule 433 under the Securities Act within the time periods required by such rules and (iv) after the Time of Sale, no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Underwriters and the Underwriters did not object thereto in good faith, and the Underwriters shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date and signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (who may, as to proceedings threatened, rely upon the best of their information and belief), to the effect of clauses (i) and (ii).

(b)Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) (i) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Companyor any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Companyand its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the effect of which any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(c)On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”);(ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities by the NYSE; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or elsewhere; or (v) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other international or national calamity or crisis, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v), in the Representatives’ judgment, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(d)On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities or preferred stock by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities.

(e)At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received satisfactory evidence to the effect that the ratings applicable to the Securities are BBB or better by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services and Baa2 or better by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

(f)Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Information, there shall have been no litigation or other proceeding instituted against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, in which litigation or proceeding an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding would have a Material Adverse Affect.

(g)On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, and satisfactory in form and substance to counsel for the Underwriters, from Stacey W. Goff, Esq., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, and from Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P., special counsel to the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B and Exhibit C hereto, respectively.

(h)On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, from Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require. In giving such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of Louisiana, upon the opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, and certificates of public officials.

(i)On the date hereof and at the Closing Date, KPMG, who has audited certain of the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus shall have furnished to the Underwriters a letter, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(j)At the Closing Date, there shall be furnished to the Underwriters a certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed on behalf of the Company by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, to the effect that:

(i)Each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and (A) the Registration Statement, as of the Effective Time (including any Rule 430 Information), is true and correct in all material respects and does not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading, (B) the Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale, is true and correct in all material respects and does not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (C) the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date, is true and correct in all material respects and does not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not untrue or misleading (it being understood that to the extent a statement in the Registration Statement, Prospectus or Time of Sale Information, including any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, refers to and speaks as of a specific date, each signer of such certificate only represents with respect to such statement that it was true and correct in all material respects as of such date) and (D) since the Time of Sale, no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to supplement the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not untrue or misleading in any material respect and there has been no document required to be filed under the Exchange Act that upon such filing would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus that has not been so filed.

(ii)Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement were, when originally made, and are, at the time such certificate is delivered, true and correct.

(iii)Each of the covenants required herein to be performed by the Company on or prior to the delivery of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully complied with.

(k)The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters such certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the Underwriters may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at the Closing Date of any statement in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, or any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information as to the accuracy at the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder.

7.Indemnification.  (a)  The Companywill indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in any prior registration statement to which the Prospectus, as a combined prospectus under Rule 429 of the Securities Act, may relate) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any other prospectus relating to the Securities (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b)Each Underwriter, severally, but not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.

(c)Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation unless (i) the Company and such indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the employment of such counsel, or (ii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the Company and such indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that a conflict of interest between the Company and such indemnified party may arise and for this reason it is not desirable for the same counsel to represent both the indemnifying party and also the indemnified party (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for all such indemnified parties), in which case the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other from the offering of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Companyand the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the applicable Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint.

(e)The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act.

8.Substitution of Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any of the Securities which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase, in the proportions which the principal amount of Securities which they have respectively agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities which all such non-defaulting Underwriters have so agreed to purchase, or in such other proportions as such non-defaulting Underwriters may specify; provided that in no event shall the maximum principal amount of Securities which any Underwriter has become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 8 by more than one-ninth of the principal amount of Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter without the prior written consent of such Underwriter. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities and arrangements satisfactory to any non-defaulting Underwriter and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company for the purchase or sale of any Securities under this Agreement. In any such case either the Underwriters or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken pursuant to this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

9.Termination. Until the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters by giving notice as hereinafter provided to the Company if (i) the Company will have failed, refused or been unable, at or prior to the Closing Date, to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder or (ii) any condition to the Underwriters’ obligations hereunder is not fulfilled at or prior to the Closing. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9 will be without liability on the part of the Company or any Underwriter, except as otherwise provided in Sections 4(l), 4(m) and 7 hereof.

10.Miscellaneous.  Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed or delivered (a) if to the Company, at the office of the Company, 100 CenturyTel Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71203, Attention: Stacey W. Goff, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary or (b) if to the Underwriters, to Banc of America Securities LLC, 40 West 57th Street, NY1-040-27-03, New York, New York 10019, Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal, to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NewYork 10017, Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk - 8^th Floor, to Lehman Brothers Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Media/Telecommunications Group and to Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, One Wachovia Center, DC-7, 301 South College Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28288, Attention: High Grade Debt Syndicate Desk. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under this Section 10 may be made by telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing.

The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters and the Company and of the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 7, and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser, as such purchaser, of Securities from any of the several Underwriters.

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES TO THIS UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT MIGHT CALL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

IN CASE ANY PROVISION IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE INVALID, ILLEGAL OR UNENFORCEABLE, THE VALIDITY, LEGALITY AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THE REMAINING PROVISIONS SHALL NOT IN ANY WAY BE AFFECTED OR IMPAIRED THEREBY.

The Company and the Underwriters each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

11.No Fiduciary Duty.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters named in this Agreement are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to any offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, no such Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and such Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by such Underwriters named in this Agreement of the Company, the transactions contemplated thereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

  Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters.

Very truly yours,
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By:	/s/ R. Stewart Ewing Jr.
	Name: R. Stewart Ewing Jr.
	Title: EVP & Chief Financial Officer

Confirmed as of the date first

above mentioned:

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

By:	BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:	/s/ Peter J. Carbone
	Name: Peter J. Carbone
	Title: Vice President

By:	J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
By:	/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner
	Name: Stephen L. Sheiner
	Title: Vice President

By:	LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By:	/s/ Martin Ragde
	Name: Martin Ragde
	Title: Managing Director

By:	WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:	/s/ Jim Stenson
	Name: Jim Stenson
	Title: Managing Director

SCHEDULE I

CENTURYTEL, INC.

Name of Underwriter	Principal Amount of Series N Notes		Principal Amount of Series O Notes
Banc of America Securities LLC	$	95,000,000	$	47,500,000
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.		95,000,000		47,500,000
Lehman Brothers Inc.		95,000,000		47,500,000
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC		95,000,000		47,500,000
Goldman, Sachs & Co.		60,000,000		30,000,000
Barclays Capital Inc.		10,000,000		5,000,000
Lazard Capital Markets LLC		10,000,000		5,000,000
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.		10,000,000		5,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated		10,000,000		5,000,000
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.		10,000,000		5,000,000
The Williams Capital Group, L.P.		10,000,000		5,000,000
Total	$	500,000,000	$	250,000,000

SCHEDULE II

SUBSIDIARIES

Name

CenturyTel Arkansas Holdings, Inc.

CenturyTel of Evangeline, LLC (successor to Evangeline Telephone Company)

CenturyTel of Mountain Home, Inc. (formerly named Mountain Home Telephone Co., Inc.)

CenturyTel Midwest-Michigan, Inc. (formerly named Century Telephone Midwest, Inc.)

CenturyTel of Alabama, LLC

CenturyTel of Washington, Inc.

CenturyTel of Midwest-Kendall, LLC

CenturyTel of Montana, Inc.

CenturyTel of Central Arkansas, LLC

CenturyTel Holdings, Inc.

CenturyTel of the Midwest-Wisconsin, LLC

CenturyTel of the Northwest, Inc.

CenturyTel Service Group, LLC

CenturyTel Holdings Alabama, Inc.

CenturyTel Holdings Missouri, Inc.

CenturyTel Long Distance, LLC

CenturyTel Broadband Services, LLC

CenturyTel of Missouri, LLC

SCHEDULE III

·    Final Term Sheet relating to the Series N Notes, dated March 26, 2007.

·    Final Term Sheet relating to the Series O Notes, dated March 26, 2007.

EXHIBIT A

CENTURYTEL, INC.

PRICE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT

March 26, 2007

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

c/o	Banc of America Securities LLC
	9 West 57th Street
	New York, New York 10019
	J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
	270 Park Avenue
	New York, New York 10017
	Lehman Brothers Inc.
	745 Seventh Avenue
	New York, New York 10019
	Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
	One Wachovia Center
	DC-7, 301 South College Street
	Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 26, 2007 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Company”) and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”). The Underwriting Agreement provides for the sale to the Underwriters, and the purchase by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, from the Company, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 (the “Series N Notes”) and $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (the “Series O Notes” and, together with the Series N Notes, the “Securities”) to be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 31, 1994 between the Company and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee, as supplemented to the date hereof, and as will be supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2007 related to the Securities. This Agreement is the Price Determination Agreement referred to in the Underwriting Agreement.

For all purposes of the Underwriting Agreement, “Time of Sale” means 4:40 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Price Determination Agreement.

Pursuant to Section 1 of the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned agree with the several Underwriters that (i) the purchase price for the Series N Notes to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 98.734% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series N Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule I attached thereto and (ii) the purchase price for the Series O Notes to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 99.268% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series O Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule I attached thereto.

The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters that the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 of the Underwriting Agreement are accurate as though expressly made at and as of the date hereof.

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES TO THIS PRICE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT MIGHT CALL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

This Price Determination Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of the agreement among the several Underwriters and the Company, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument along with all counterparts and together with the Underwriting Agreement shall be a binding agreement among the several Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

Very truly yours,
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By:	_________________________
	Name:
	Title:

Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned:

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

By:	BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:	_______________________
	Name:
	Title

By:	J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
By:	/s/_____________________
	Name:
	Title:

By:	LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By:	/s/ ____________________
	Name:
	Title:

By:	WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:	/s/ ____________________
	Name:
	Title:

EXHIBIT B

Exhibit B intentionally omitted.

EXHIBIT C

Exhibit C intentionally omitted.

EXHIBIT D-1

CenturyTel, Inc.

$500,000,000 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017

Pricing Term Sheet

Date: March 26, 2007

Issuer:	CenturyTel, Inc.
Principal Amount:	$500,000,000
Security:	$500,000,000 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017
Maturity:	April 1, 2017
Coupon:	6.0%
Issue Price:	99.384%
Yield to maturity:	6.083%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:	1.50%
Benchmark Treasury:	T 4.625% due February 15, 2017
Benchmark Treasury Yield:	4.583%
Interest Payment Dates:	April 1 and October 1, commencing October 1, 2007
Interest Calculation Convention:	30/360
Denominations:	$2,000 minimum x $1,000
Optional Redemption:	At any time at greater of Par and Make-Whole at discount rate of Treasuryplus 25 basis points.
Settlement Date:	T+3; March 29, 2007
Anticipated Ratings:	BBB by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Joint Book-Running Managers:	Banc of America Securities LLC J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Lehman Brothers Inc. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Senior Co-Manager:	Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Co-Managers:	Barclays Capital Inc. Lazard Capital Markets LLC Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Banc of America Securities LLC toll free at 1-800-294-1322, J.P Morgan Securities Inc. collect at 212-834-4533, Lehman Brothers Inc. toll free at 1-888-603-5847, or Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC at 1-866-289-1262.

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

EXHIBIT D-2

CenturyTel, Inc.

$250,000,000 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013

Pricing Term Sheet

Date: March 26, 2007

Issuer:	CenturyTel, Inc.
Principal Amount:	$250,000,000
Security:	$250,000,000 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013
Maturity:	April 1, 2013
Coupon:	5.50%
Issue Price:	99.868%
Yield to maturity:	5.526%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:	1.05%
Benchmark Treasury:	T 4.625% due February 29, 2012
Benchmark Treasury Yield:	4.476%
Interest Payment Dates:	April 1 and October 1, commencing October 1, 2007
Interest Calculation Convention:	30/360
Denominations:	$2,000 minimum x $1,000
Terms:	Except as otherwise contemplated by this pricing term sheet, the 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 will be governed by the terms applicable to the Company’s Senior Notes, Series N, described under the caption “Description of the Notes” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 26, 2007 relating to the offer of the Company’s Senior Notes, Series N.
Optional Redemption:	At any time at greater of Par and Make-Whole at discount rate of Treasury plus15 basis points.
No Special Mandatory Redemption:	CenturyTel, Inc. will not be required to redeem the 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 on the terms described under the caption “Description of the Notes¾Special Mandatory Redemption” in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated March 26, 2007 relating to the offer of the Company’s Senior Notes, Series N.
Settlement Date:	T+3; March 29, 2007
Anticipated Ratings:	BBB by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services Baa2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.
Joint Book-Running Managers:	Banc of America Securities LLC J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Lehman Brothers Inc. Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
Senior Co-Manager:	Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Co-Managers:	Barclays Capital Inc. Lazard Capital Markets LLC Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Banc of America Securities LLC toll free at 1-800-294-1322, J.P Morgan Securities Inc. collect at 212-834-4533, Lehman Brothers Inc. toll free at 1-888-603-5847, or Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC at 1-866-289-1262.

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

EX-1.2

Exhibit 1.2

EXECUTION COPY

CENTURYTEL, INC.

PRICE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT

March 26, 2007

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

c/o	Banc of America Securities LLC
	9 West 57th Street
	New York, New York 10019
	J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
	270 Park Avenue
	New York, New York 10017
	Lehman Brothers Inc.
	745 Seventh Avenue
	New York, New York 10019
	Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC
	One Wachovia Center
	DC-7, 301 South College Street
	Charlotte, North Carolina 28288

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated March 26, 2007 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Company”) and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (the “Underwriters”). The Underwriting Agreement provides for the sale to the Underwriters, and the purchase by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, from the Company, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, of $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 (the “Series N Notes”) and $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (the “Series O Notes” and, together with the Series N Notes, the “Securities”) to be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of March 31, 1994 between the Company and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee, as supplemented to the date hereof, and as will be supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 26, 2007 related to the Securities. This Agreement is the Price Determination Agreement referred to in the Underwriting Agreement.

For all purposes of the Underwriting Agreement, “Time of Sale” means 4:40 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of this Price Determination Agreement.

Pursuant to Section 1 of the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned agree with the several Underwriters that (i) the purchase price for the Series N Notes to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 98.734% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series N Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule I attached thereto and (ii) the purchase price for the Series O Notes to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 99.268% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series O Notes set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule I attached thereto.

The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters that the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3 of the Underwriting Agreement are accurate as though expressly made at and as of the date hereof.

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE PARTIES TO THIS PRICE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT SHALL, PURSUANT TO NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401, BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT MIGHT CALL FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE LAW OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

This Price Determination Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of the agreement among the several Underwriters and the Company, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument along with all counterparts and together with the Underwriting Agreement shall be a binding agreement among the several Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms and the terms of the Underwriting Agreement.

Very truly yours,
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By:	/s/ R. Stewart Ewing Jr.
	Name: R. Stewart Ewing Jr.
	Title: EVP & Chief Financial Officer

Confirmed as of the date first

above mentioned:

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Lehman Brothers Inc.

Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

Barclays Capital Inc.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated

SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc.

The Williams Capital Group, L.P.

By:	BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:	/s/ Peter J. Carbone
	Name: Peter J. Carbone
	Title: Vice President

By:	J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
By:	/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner
	Name: Stephen L. Sheiner
	Title: Vice President

By:	LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
By:	/s/ Martin Ragde
	Name: Martin Ragde
	Title: Managing Director

By:	WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:	/s/ Jim Stenson
	Name: Jim Stenson
	Title: Managing Director

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

_______________

Fourth Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of March 26, 2007

to

Indenture dated as of March 31, 1994 by and between

CenturyTel, Inc. and Regions Bank, as Trustee

_______________

6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017

5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013

_______________

TABLE OF CONTENTS¹

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions 1

ARTICLE 2

6.00% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES N, DUE 2017

Section 2.01	Establishment	5
Section 2.02	Stated Maturity; Payment of Principal and Interest	6
Section 2.03	Denominations	7
Section 2.04	Global Series N Notes	7

ARTICLE 3

5.50% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES O, DUE 2013

Section 3.01	Establishment	7
Section 3.02	Stated Maturity; Payment of Principal and Interest	8
Section 3.03	Denominations	9
Section 3.04	Global Series O Notes	9

ARTICLE 4

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

Section 4.01	Optional Redemption Procedures for Series N Notes	10
Section 4.02	Optional Redemption Procedures for Series O Notes	11
Section 4.03	Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event	12
Section 4.04	Special Mandatory Redemption Procedures for Series N Notes	13
Section 4.05	No Sinking Fund	14

ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 5.01	Paying Agents; Transfer Agents; Place of Payment	14
Section 5.02	Recitals by Corporation	14
Section 5.03	Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture	15
Section 5.04	Executed in Counterparts	15

_________________________

¹ This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture or have any bearing upon the interpretation of any of its terms and provisions.

THIS FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE is made as of the 26th day of March 2007, by and between CENTURYTEL, INC., a Louisiana corporation, having its principal office at 100 CenturyTel Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71203 (the “Corporation”), and REGIONS BANK (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), an Alabama state banking corporation, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

WITNE  ;SSETH :

WHEREAS, the Corporation has heretofore entered into an Indenture, dated as of March 31, 1994 (the “Original Indenture”), with the Trustee;

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture is incorporated herein by this reference and the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented to the date hereof, including by this Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is herein called the “Indenture”;

WHEREAS, under Section 2.01 of the Original Indenture, a new series of Securities may at any time be established in accordance with the provisions of the Original Indenture and the terms of such series may be described in a supplemental indenture executed by the Corporation and the Trustee;

WHEREAS, the Corporation proposes to create under the Original Indenture two new series of Securities;

WHEREAS, additional Securities of other series hereafter established, except as may be limited in the Original Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified, may be issued from time to time pursuant to the Original Indenture as at the time supplemented and modified; and

WHEREAS, all conditions necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Fourth Supplemental Indenture and to make it a valid and binding obligation of the Corporation have been done or performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

    ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01           Definitions  The following defined terms used herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings specified below.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Original Indenture.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s properties or assets and the properties or assets of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation; (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Corporation’s Voting Stock; or (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Corporation’s board of directors are not Continuing Directors.

“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

“Clearing Agency” means The Depository Trust Company or another organization registered as a “Clearing Agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as a depositary with respect to the Global Series N Notes or the Global Series O Notes and in whose name, or in the name of a nominee of that organization, shall be registered a global security evidencing the respective rights and obligations of holders in respect of the Global Series N Notes or the Global Series O Notes and which shall undertake to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Global Series N Notes or the Global Series O Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (the “Remaining Life”) of the Series N Notes or the Series O Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Series N Notes or Series O Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Corporation’s board of directors who (1) was a member of such board of directors on March 29, 2007; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Global Series N Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.

“Global Series O Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.04.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Corporation appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

“Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).

“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of S&P); and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Corporation.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

“Notes” means, collectively, the Series N Notes and the Series O Notes. 

“Original Issue Date” means <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />March 29, 2007.

“Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.

“Proposed Acquisition” means the Corporation’s proposed acquisition of Madison River Communications Corp. as contemplated under the Stock Purchase Agreement.

“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Corporation’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-l(e)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Corporation (as certified by a resolution of the Corporation’s board of directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

“Rating Category” means (i) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); (ii) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (iii) the equivalent of any such category of S&P or Moody’s used by another Rating Agency. In determining whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories (+ and − for S&P; 1, 2 and 3 for Moody’s; or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB − to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).

"Rating Date” means the date which is 90 days prior to the earlier of (i) a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control.

“Ratings Event” means the occurrence of the events described in (a) or (b) below on, or within 90 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Series N Notes or Series O Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies): (a) in the event the Series N Notes or Series O Notes are rated by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of the Series N Notes or Series O Notes, as applicable, shall be reduced so that such series of Notes is rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies, or (b) in the event the Series N Notes or Series O Notes (1) are rated Investment Grade by one Rating Agency and below Investment Grade by the other Rating Agency on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series N Notes or Series O Notes, as applicable, by either Rating Agency shall be decreased so that such series of Notes is then rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies or (2) are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series N Notes or Series O Notes, as applicable, by either Rating Agency shall be decreased by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories, as well as between Rating Categories). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in Rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event set forth in this Section 1.01) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in Rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. and their respective successors, and at least one other primary U.S. Government Securities dealer in New York City selected by Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, or any other firm that is a primary U.S. Government Securities dealer (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) which the Corporation specifies from time to time; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Corporation will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Regular Record Date” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Date for the Notes, the March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

“Series N Notes” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

“Series O Notes” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

“Special Mandatory Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.04.

“Special Mandatory Redemption Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.04.

“Stated Maturity of the Series N Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

“Stated Maturity of the Series O Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(a).

“Stock Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.04.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to: (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life of the Series N Notes or the Series O Notes to be redeemed, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

“Voting Stock”of any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

ARTICLE 2

6.00% SENIOR NOTES, SERIES N, DUE 2017

Section 2.01     Establishment.  There is hereby established a new series of Securities to be issued under the Original Indenture, to be designated as the Corporation’s 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 (the “Series N Notes”). 

There are to be initially authenticated and delivered $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series N Notes.  Additional Series N Notes, without limitation as to amount, and without the consent of the holders of the then Outstanding Series N Notes, but with the same terms as such Outstanding Series N Notes (except the issue price and the issue date), may be authenticated and delivered in the manner provided in Section 2.01 of the Original Indenture and such additional Series N Notes would constitute a single series with such Outstanding Series N Notes.  In addition, additional Series N Notes may be authenticated and delivered except as expressly provided to the contrary in the Original Indenture.  The Series N Notes may be issued from time to time pursuant to a written order of the Corporation delivered to the Trustee for the authentication and delivery of Series N Notes pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.  The Series N Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

The Series N Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and the form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for the Series N Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

Each Series N Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the Original Issue Date thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

Section 2.02           Stated Maturity; Payment of Principal and Interest.

(a)        The date upon which the principal of the Series N Notesshall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, is <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />April 1, 2017 (the “Stated Maturity of the Series N Notes”).

(b)        Each Series N Note will bear interest at the rate of 6.00% per annum, from the Original Issue Date or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment, and at the same rate per annum on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest, payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2007, to the person in which name such Series N Note or any predecessor Series N Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date. 

(c)        The amount of interest payable on any Series N Notes for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or the Stated Maturity of the Series N Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, such redemption date or the Stated Maturity of the Series N Notes, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on that next succeeding Business Day.

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series N Notes shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series N Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for such purpose as described in Section 5.01 below; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register; and, provided, further that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, such Series N Notes are first surrendered to the Paying Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as the Series N Notes are represented by Global Series N Notes pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof, payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series N Notes will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee as the initial Securityholder of the Series N Notes.

Section 2.03           Denominations.  The Series N Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 2.04     Global Series N Notes.  The Series N Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more global securities (the “Global Series N Notes”), without interest coupons, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or such other Clearing Agency as the Corporation may from time to time designate or its nominee.  Unless and until they are exchanged for Series N Notes in definitive registered form as described below, such Global Series N Notes may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Clearing Agency or a nominee of the Clearing Agency, or to a successor Clearing Agency selected or approved by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Clearing Agency. 

If at any time (i) the Clearing Agency notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Clearing Agency for the Global Series N Notes and no successor Clearing Agency shall have been appointed within 90 days after such notification, (ii) the Clearing Agency at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at any time the Clearing Agency is required to be so registered to act as such Clearing Agency and no successor Clearing Agency shall have been appointed within 90 days after the Corporation’s becoming aware of the Clearing Agency’s ceasing to be so registered or (iii) the Corporation, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Series N Notes shall be so exchangeable, the Corporation will execute, and, subject to Article II of the Original Indenture, the Trustee, upon receipt of a written order therefor, will authenticate and deliver the Series N Notes in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Series N Notes in exchange for such Global Series N Notes.  Upon exchange of the Global Series N Notes for such Series N Notes in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Series N Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee.  Such Series N Notes in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Series N Notes shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Clearing Agency, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.  The Trustee shall deliver such Series N Notes to the Clearing Agency for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Series N Notes are so registered.

ARTICLE 3

5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013

Section 3.01           Establishment.  There is hereby established a new series of Securities to be issued under the Original Indenture, to be designated as the Corporation’s 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (the “Series O Notes”). 

There are to be initially authenticated and delivered $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Series O Notes.  Additional Series O Notes, without limitation as to amount, and without the consent of the holders of the then Outstanding Series O Notes, but with the same terms as such Outstanding Series O Notes (except the issue price and the issue date), may be authenticated and delivered in the manner provided in Section 2.01 of the Original Indenture and such additional Series O Notes would constitute a single series with such Outstanding Series O Notes.  In addition, additional Series O Notes may be authenticated and delivered except as expressly provided to the contrary in the Original Indenture.  The Series O Notes may be issued from time to time pursuant to a written order of the Corporation delivered to the Trustee for the authentication and delivery of Series O Notes pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.  The Series O Notes shall be issued in fully registered form without coupons.

The Series O Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto, and the form of the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for the Series O Notes shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

Each Series O Note shall be dated the date of authentication thereof and shall bear interest from the Original Issue Date thereof or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for.

Section 3.02           Stated Maturity; Payment of Principal and Interest.

(a)        The date upon which the principal of the Series O Notesshall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, is April 1, 2013 (the “Stated Maturity of the Series O Notes”).

(b)        Each Series O Note will bear interest at the rate of 5.50% per annum, from the Original Issue Date or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for until the principal thereof is paid or made available for payment, and at the same rate per annum on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) on any overdue installment of interest, payable on each Interest Payment Date, commencing on October 1, 2007, to the person in which name such Series O Note or any predecessor Series O Note is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date. 

(c)        The amount of interest payable on any Series O Notes for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or the Stated Maturity of the Series O Notes falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, such redemption date or the Stated Maturity of the Series O Notes, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on that next succeeding Business Day.

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series O Notes shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series O Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for such purpose as described in Section 5.01; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register; and, provided, further that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, such Series O Notes are first surrendered to the Paying Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as the Series O Notes are represented by Global Series O Notes pursuant to Section 3.04 hereof, payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Series O Notes will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee as the initial Securityholder of the Series O Notes.

Section 3.03           Denominations.  The Series O Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 3.04           Global Series O Notes.  The Series O Notes will be issued initially in the form of one or more global securities (the “Global Series O Notes”), without interest coupons, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or such other Clearing Agency as the Corporation may from time to time designate or its nominee.  Unless and until they are exchanged for Series O Notes in definitive registered form as described below, such Global Series O Notes may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to the Clearing Agency or a nominee of the Clearing Agency, or to a successor Clearing Agency selected or approved by the Corporation or to a nominee of such successor Clearing Agency. 

If at any time (i) the Clearing Agency notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Clearing Agency for the Global Series O Notes and no successor Clearing Agency shall have been appointed within 90 days after such notification, (ii) the Clearing Agency at any time ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at any time the Clearing Agency is required to be so registered to act as such Clearing Agency and no successor Clearing Agency shall have been appointed within 90 days after the Corporation’s becoming aware of the Clearing Agency’s ceasing to be so registered or (iii) the Corporation, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Series O Notes shall be so exchangeable, the Corporation will execute, and, subject to Article II of the Original Indenture, the Trustee, upon receipt of a written order therefor, will authenticate and deliver the Series O Notes in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Series O Notes in exchange for such Global Series O Notes.  Upon exchange of the Global Series O Notes for such Series O Notes in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Series O Notes shall be cancelled by the Trustee.  Such Series O Notes in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Series O Notes shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Clearing Agency, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.  The Trustee shall deliver such Series O Notes to the Clearing Agency for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Series O Notes are so registered.

ARTICLE 4

REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE

Section 4.01           Optional Redemption Procedures for Series N Notes.

The Series N Notes are redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the Corporation’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

(a)        100% of the principal amount of the Series N Notes to be redeemed; and

(b)        the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Series N Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the then current Treasury Rate applicable to the Series N Notes plus 25 basis points. 

In each case the Corporation will pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Series N Notes being redeemed to the date of redemption. 

The Corporation will mail notice of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the Series N Notesto be redeemed at its registered address.  The notice of redemption for the Series N Noteswill state, among other things, the amount of Series N Notesto be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Series N Notesto be redeemed.  Unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any Series N Notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date.

If less than all of the Series N Notes are redeemed, the Trustee will be notified at least 45 days before giving notice of redemption, or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee, of the aggregate principal amount of Series N Notesto be redeemed and the redemption date. The Trustee will select by lot, or in such other manner it deems fair and appropriate, the Series N Notesto be redeemed in part.

If the Corporation gives notice as provided in the Original Indenture, and funds for the redemption of any Series N Notes(or any portion thereof) called for redemption will have been made available on the redemption date referred to in such notice, those Series N Notes(or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on that redemption date and the only right of the holders of those Series N Noteswill be to receive payment of the redemption price.

The Corporation will notify the Trustee of the redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.  Neither the Corporation nor the Trustee shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange the Series N Notes redeemed pursuant to this Section 4.01.

Section 4.02           Optional Redemption Procedures for Series O Notes.

The Series O Notes are redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the Corporation’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

(a)        100% of the principal amount of the Series O Notes to be redeemed; and

(b)        the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Series O Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the then current Treasury Rate applicable to the Series O Notes plus 15 basis points. 

In each case the Corporation will pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Series O Notes being redeemed to the date of redemption. 

The Corporation will mail notice of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the Series O Notesto be redeemed at its registered address.  The notice of redemption for the Series O Noteswill state, among other things, the amount of Series O Notesto be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Series O Notesto be redeemed.  Unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any Series O Notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date.

If less than all of the Series O Notes are redeemed, the Trustee will be notified at least 45 days before giving notice of redemption, or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee, of the aggregate principal amount of Series O Notesto be redeemed and the redemption date.  The Trustee will select by lot, or in such other manner it deems fair and appropriate, the Series O Notesto be redeemed in part.

If the Corporation gives notice as provided in the Original Indenture, and funds for the redemption of any Series O Notes(or any portion thereof) called for redemption will have been made available on the redemption date referred to in such notice, those Series O Notes(or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on that redemption date and the only right of the holders of those Series O Noteswill be to receive payment of the redemption price.

The Corporation will notify the Trustee of the redemption price promptly after the calculation thereof, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for such calculation.  Neither the Corporation nor the Trustee shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange the Series O Notes redeemed pursuant to this Section 4.02.

Section 4.03     Purchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

(a)        If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Corporation is required (only in the case of the Series N Notes) or has exercised its right to redeem the Notes in accordance with this Article 4, it will make an offer to each Securityholder to repurchase all or any part (in excess of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000) of that Securityholder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase. 

(b)        Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Corporation’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Corporation will mail a notice to each Securityholder, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and (i) offering to repurchase the Notes on the repurchase date specified in the notice, which date will be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, (ii) indicating that all Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment and any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iii) specifying the CUSIP numbers for the Notes, (iv) stating that, unless the Corporation defaults in its payment in connection with the Change of Control Repurchase Event, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Corporation’s offer to repurchase such Notes will cease to accrue interest after such repurchase, (v) stating that Securityholders electing to have any Notes repurchased by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 4.03 will be required to surrender such Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the repurchase date, (vi) stating that Securityholders will be entitled to withdraw their election made pursuant to this Section 4.03 if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the repurchase date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Securityholder, the principal amount of Notes delivered for repurchase, and a statement that such Securityholder is withdrawing his election to have the Notes repurchased and (vii) stating that Securityholders whose Notes of any series are being repurchased only in part will be issued new notes of such series equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(c)        The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Corporation’s offer to repurchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the repurchase date specified in the notice.  The Corporation will cause its offer to purchase to remain open for at least 20 Business Days or such longer period as is required by applicable law. The Corporation will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e‑1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes set forth in this Section 4.03, the Corporation will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.03 by virtue of such conflict.

(d)        On the repurchase date following a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Corporation will, to the extent lawful:

(i)      accept for payment all the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Corporation’s offer;

(ii)     deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate repurchase price in respect of all the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered; and

(iii)    deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Corporation.

(e)        The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Securityholder of Notes properly tendered the repurchase price for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Securityholder a new Note of the same series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Corporation will publicly announce the results of its offer to repurchase the Notes on or as soon as practicable after the repurchase date.

(f)         The Corporation will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.03 applicable to an offer made by the Corporation and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such third party’s offer.

Section 4.04           Special Mandatory Redemption Procedures for Series N Notes. 

The Series N Notes shall be redeemable by the Corporation upon the earlier to occur of (i) August 15, 2007 if the Proposed Acquisition has not been completed on or prior to July 31, 2007, or (ii) the 30th day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter) following the termination of the Stock Purchase Agreement among Madison River Communications Corp., Madison River Telephone Company, LLC and the Corporation, dated as of December 17, 2006 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) for any reason prior to the consummation of the Proposed Acquisition (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Date”) at a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series N Notes together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the date of initial issuance to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”) in the event that, for any reason,

(a)        the Proposed Acquisition is not completed on or prior to July 31, 2007; or

(b)        the Stock Purchase Agreement is terminated (without the Proposed Acquisition being completed) on or prior to July 31, 2007.

Notice of a special mandatory redemption will be mailed promptly after the occurrence of the event triggering redemption to each Securityholder of Series N Notes at its registered address. If funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price (including any accrued and unpaid interest) of all Series N Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date are deposited with the Paying Agent on or before such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, on and after such Special Mandatory Redemption Date the Series N Notes will cease to bear interest.

Section 4.05           No Sinking Fund.  The Notes are not subject to, and do not have the benefit of, any sinking fund.

ARTICLE 5

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 5.01           Paying Agents; Transfer Agents; Place of Payment. 

(a)        The paying agent for the Notes shall initially be the Trustee (in such capacity, the “Paying Agent”), and the place of payment for the Notes shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, which as of the date hereof for such purpose is located at 1500 North 18^th Street, Monroe, Louisiana.  Principal of, premium, if any, and interest with respect to certificated Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for such purpose in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana or the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York.  The Trustee shall also serve as security registrar for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers or exchanges of Notes.

(b)        The Corporation may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment or may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange in accordance with Section 4.02 of the Original Indenture; provided that the Corporation shall at all times maintain a Paying Agent and an office or agency where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, in each case in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana or the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

Section 5.02           Recitals by Corporation.  The recitals in this Fourth Supplemental Indenture are made by the Corporation only and not by the Trustee, and all of the provisions contained in the Original Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the Series N Notes and Series O Notes and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.

 Section 5.03           Ratification and Incorporation of Original Indenture.  As supplemented hereby, the Original Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Original Indenture and this Fourth Supplemental Indenture shall be read and construed as one and the same instrument.

Section 5.04           Executed in Counterparts.  This Fourth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each party hereto has caused this Fourth Supplemental Indenture to be signed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                                         CENTURYTEL, INC.

By:      /s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.

           Name: R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.

           Title: Executive Vice President and Chief

                     Financial Officer

By:      /s/ Stacey W. Goff

           Name: Stacey W. Goff

           Title: Senior Vice President, General

                     Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Attest:

/s/ Stacey W. Goff                               

Name: Stacey W. Goff

Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and

         Corporate Secretary

REGIONS BANK,

as Trustee

By:    /s/ John C. Shiroda

         Name: John C. Shiroda

      Title: Vice President and Corporate Trust

                  Officer

     EXHIBIT A

(Form of Face of Series N Note)

If the Series N Note is to be a Global Series N Note, insert: THIS SERIES N NOTE IS A GLOBAL SERIES N NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SERIES N NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SERIES N NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SERIES N NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SERIES N NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE CLEARING AGENCY TO A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY TO THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR TO A SUCCESSOR CLEARING AGENCY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

UNLESS THIS SERIES N NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND ANY SERIES N NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

CUSIP No. 156700AL0

ISIN US156700AL08

COMMON CODE 029435294

$

No.

CENTURYTEL, INC.
6.00% SENIOR NOTE, SERIES N, DUE 2017

CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Corporation,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to___________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______________ DOLLARS ($____________), on April 1, 2017 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Stated Maturity”), and to pay interest on said principal sum, from March 29, 2007 or from the next most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2007, at the rate of 6.00% per annum until the principal hereof shall have been paid or duly made available for payment and, to the extent permitted by law, to pay interest compounded semi-annually, on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum.  

The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or the Stated Maturity falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that payment was due and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, such redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on that next succeeding Business Day.

The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Series N Note (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close of business on the first day of the month in which such Interest Payment Date falls.  Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, shall forthwith cease to be payable to the holders at the close of business on such Regular Record Date and may be paid by the Corporation to the Person in whose name this Series N Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall not be more than 15 or less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of such proposed payment, and notice of which shall be given to the holders of the Series N Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Series N Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. 

Principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Series N Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for that purpose in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana, or the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register; and provided further, that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, this Series N Note is first surrendered to the Paying Agent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as this Series N Note is represented by a Global Series N Note, payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Series N Note will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee as the initial holder of this Series N Note.

The indebtedness evidenced by this Series N Note is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, senior and unsecured and will rank in right of payment on parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Corporation.

REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SERIES N NOTE SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Series N Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

CENTURYTEL, INC.

By:                                                                  

      Name:

      Title:

By:                                                                  

      Name:

      Title:

Attest:

Name:

Title:

Dated: March 29, 2007

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

By:                                                                  

            Authorized Officer

Dated:  March 29, 2007

 This Series N Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Corporation (the “Securities”) issued and issuable in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 31, 1994, as supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of March 26, 2007 (collectively, the “Indenture”), between the Corporation and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof as 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 (the “Series N Notes”).  Such series is being initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 The Series N Notes are redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the Corporation’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater (a) of 100% of the principal amount of the Series N Notes to be redeemed; and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Series N Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the then current Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points.  In each case the Corporation will pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption. 

 The Corporation will mail notice of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the Series N Notes to be redeemed at its registered address.  The notice of redemption for the Series N Notes will state, among other things, the amount of Series N Notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Series N Notes to be redeemed. Unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any Series N Notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date.

 If less than all of the Series N Notes are redeemed, the Trustee will be notified at least 45 days before giving notice of redemption, or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee, of the aggregate principal amount of Series N Notes to be redeemed and the redemption date. The Trustee will select by lot, or in such other manner it deems fair and appropriate, the Series N Notes to be redeemed in part.

 If the Corporation gives notice as provided in the Indenture, and funds for the redemption of any Series N Notes (or any portion thereof) called for redemption will have been made available on the redemption date referred to in such notice, those Series N Notes (or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on that redemption date and the only right of the holders of those Series N Notes will be to receive payment of the redemption price.

 The Series N Notes are redeemable on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price in the event that, for any reason, (a) the Proposed Acquisition has not been completed on or prior to July 31, 2007; or (b) the Stock Purchase Agreement is terminated (without the Proposed Acquisition being completed) on or prior to July 31, 2007.

 Notice of a special mandatory redemption will be mailed promptly after the occurrence of the event triggering redemption to each holder of Series N Notes at its registered address. If funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price (including any accrued and unpaid interest) of all Series N Notes to be redeemed on the Special Mandatory Redemption Date are deposited with the Paying Agent on or before such Special Mandatory Redemption Date, on and after such Special Mandatory Redemption Date the Series N Notes will cease to bear interest.

 If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Corporation is required or has exercised its right to redeem the Series N Notes as described above, it will make an offer to each holder of Series N Notes to repurchase all or any part (in excess of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000) of such holder’s Series N Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Series N Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such Series N Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

 Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Corporation’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Corporation will mail a notice to each holder of Series N Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and (i) offering to repurchase the Series N Notes on the repurchase date specified in the notice, which date will be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, (ii) indicating that all Series N Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment and any Series N Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iii) specifying the CUSIP numbers for the Series N Notes, (iv) stating that, unless the Corporation defaults in its payment in connection with the Change of Control Repurchase Event, all Series N Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Corporation’s offer to repurchase such Series N Notes will cease to accrue interest after such repurchase, (v) stating that holders electing to have any Series N Notes repurchased by the Corporation will be required to surrender such Series N Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the repurchase date, (vi) stating that holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the repurchase date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder of Series N Notes, the principal amount of Series N Notes delivered for repurchase, and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have the Series N Notes repurchased and (vii) stating that holders whose Series N Notes are being repurchased only in part will be issued new Series N Notes in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Series N Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Corporation’s offer to repurchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the repurchase date specified in the notice.  The Corporation will cause its offer to purchase to remain open for at least 20 Business Days or such longer period as is required by applicable law. The Corporation will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e‑1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Series N Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Series N Notes, the Corporation will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 4.03 of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 On the repurchase date following a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Corporation will, to the extent lawful: (a) accept for payment all the Series N Notes or portions of the Series N Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Corporation’s offer; (b) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate repurchase price in respect of all the Series N Notes or portions of the Series N Notes properly tendered; and (c) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Series N Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Series N Notes being purchased by the Corporation.

 The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each holder of Series N Notes properly tendered the repurchase price for such Series N Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new Series N Note of the same series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Series N Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Series N Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Corporation will publicly announce the results of its offer to repurchase the Series N Notes on or as soon as practicable after the repurchase date.

 The Corporation will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Series N Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements applicable to an offer made by the Corporation and such third party purchases all Series N Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such third party’s offer. 

 As used herein:

 “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:  (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s properties or assets and the properties or assets of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation; (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Corporation’s Voting Stock; or (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Corporation’s board of directors are not Continuing Directors.

 “Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

 “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (the “Remaining Life”) of the Series N Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Series N Notes.

 “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 “Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Corporation’s board of directors who (1) was a member of such board of directors on March 29, 2007; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Corporation appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

 “Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of S&P); and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Corporation.

 “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

 “Proposed Acquisition” means the Corporation’s proposed acquisition of Madison River Communications Corp. contemplated under the Stock Purchase Agreement.

 “Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Series N Notes or fails to make a rating of the Series N Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Corporation’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-l(e)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Corporation (as certified by a resolution of the Corporation’s board of directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

 “Rating Category” means (i) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories:  BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); (ii) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (iii) the equivalent of any such category of S&P or Moody’s used by another Rating Agency. In determining whether the rating of the Series N Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories (+ and − for S&P; 1, 2 and 3 for Moody’s; or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB − to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).

 “Rating Date” means the date which is 90 days prior to the earlier of (i) a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control.

 “Ratings Event” means the occurrence of the events described in (a) or (b) below on, or within 90 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Series N Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies): (a) in the event the Series N Notes are rated by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of the Series N Notes shall be reduced so that the Series N Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies, or (b) in the event the Series N Notes (1) are rated Investment Grade by one Rating Agency and below Investment Grade by the other Rating Agency on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series N Notes by either Rating Agency shall be decreased so that the Series N Notes are then rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies or (2) are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series N Notes by either Rating Agency shall be decreased by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories, as well as between Rating Categories).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in Rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event set forth above) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in Rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).

 “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. and their respective successors, and one other firm that is a primary U.S. Government Securities dealer (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) which the Corporation specifies from time to time; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Corporation will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 “Regular Record Date” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Date for the Series N Notes, the March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 “Special Mandatory Redemption Date” means the earlier to occur of (a) August 15, 2007 if the Proposed Acquisition has not been completed on or prior to July 31, 2007, or (b) the 30th day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the first Business Day thereafter) following the termination of the Stock Purchase Agreement for any reason prior to the consummation of the Proposed Acquisition.

 “Special Mandatory Redemption Price” means a redemption price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Series N Notes together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon from the date of initial issuance to but excluding the Special Mandatory Redemption Date.

 “Stock Purchase Agreement” means that certain Stock Purchase Agreement among Madison River Communications Corp., Madison River Telephone Company, LLC and the Corporation, dated as of December 17, 2006.

 “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to: (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life of the Series N Notesto be redeemed, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.  The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 The Series N Notes are not subject to, the benefit of, and do not have, any sinking fund.

 In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to the Series N Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of the Series N Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected at the time Outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating and of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities, provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities or any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the holders of Securities of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and of any Security issued in exchange hereof or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Series N Noteor of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Series N Note at the times and place and at the rate and in the currency herein prescribed.

 As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Series N Note is registrable in the security register, upon surrender of this Series N Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the security registrar and duly executed by, the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Series N Notes, of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the holder of this Series N  Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Series N Notes, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Series N Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Series N Notes at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity.  The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the holder of this Series N Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 Prior to due presentment of this Series N Note for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any security registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Series N Note is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Series N Note be overdue and notwithstanding the notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the security registrar, and neither the Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or any premium or the interest on this Series N Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, shareholder, affiliate, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Corporation or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

 The Series N Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations therein set forth, Series N Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Series N Notes of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Series N Note or Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Corporation.

 This Series N Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Louisiana.

EXHIBIT B

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

By:                                                                  

            Authorized Officer

Dated:  March 29, 2007

EXHIBIT C

(Form of Face of Series O Note)

 If the Series O Note is to be a Global Series O Note, insert:  THIS SERIES O NOTE IS A GLOBAL SERIES O NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SERIES O NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SERIES O NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SERIES O NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SERIES O NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE CLEARING AGENCY TO A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY TO THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR TO A SUCCESSOR CLEARING AGENCY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 UNLESS THIS SERIES O NOTE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND ANY SERIES O NOTE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

CUSIP No. 156700AK2

ISIN US156700AK25

COMMON CODE 029435103

$

No.

CENTURYTEL, INC.
5.50% SENIOR NOTE, SERIES O, DUE 2013

 CenturyTel, Inc., a Louisiana corporation (the “Corporation,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to___________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of ______________ DOLLARS ($____________), on April 1, 2013 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Stated Maturity”), and to pay interest on said principal sum, from March 29, 2007 or from the next most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears, on April 1 and October 1 of each year (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on October 1, 2007, at the rate of 5.50% per annum until the principal hereof shall have been paid or duly made available for payment and, to the extent permitted by law, to pay interest compounded semi-annually, on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum.

 The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or the Stated Maturity falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if made on the date that payment was due and no interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, such redemption date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, to the date of that payment on that next succeeding Business Day.

 The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Series O Note (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close of business on the first day of the month in which such Interest Payment Date falls.  Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, shall forthwith cease to be payable to the holders at the close of business on such Regular Record Date and may be paid by the Corporation to the Person in whose name this Series O Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall not be more than 15 or less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of such proposed payment, and notice of which shall be given to the holders of the Series O Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange, if any, on which the Series O Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. 

 Principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Series O Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the Corporation maintained for that purpose in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana, or the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register; and provided further, that, in the case of payments of principal and premium, if any, this Series O Note is first surrendered to the Paying Agent.

 Notwithstanding the foregoing, as long as this Series O Note is represented by a Global Series O Note, payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Series O Note will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to The Depository Trust Company or its nominee as the initial holder of this Series O Note.

 The indebtedness evidenced by this Series O Note is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, senior and unsecured and will rank in right of payment on parity with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Corporation.

 REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE TO THE FURTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS SERIES O NOTE SET FORTH ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES HEREOF, WHICH FURTHER PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS IF SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

 Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Series O Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

CENTURYTEL, INC.

By:                                                                  

      Name:

      Title:

By:                                                                  

      Name:

      Title:

Attest:

Name:

Title:

Dated: March 29, 2007

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

By:                                                                  

            Authorized Officer

Dated:  March 29, 2007

 This Series O Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Corporation (the “Securities”) issued and issuable in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 31, 1994, as supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) dated as of March 26, 2007 (collectively, the “Indenture”), between the Corporation and Regions Bank (successor-in-interest to First American Bank & Trust of Louisiana and Regions Bank of Louisiana), as trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Corporation, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities issued thereunder and of the terms upon which said Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof as 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013 (the “Series O Notes”).  Such series is being initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000.  Capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture.

 The Series O Notes are redeemable, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the Corporation’s option, at a redemption price equal to the greater (a) of 100% of the principal amount of the Series O Notes to be redeemed; and (b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Series O Notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the then current Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points.  In each case the Corporation will pay any accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount being redeemed to the date of redemption. 

 The Corporation will mail notice of redemption at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of record of the Series O Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of redemption for the Series O Notes will state, among other things, the amount of Series O Notes to be redeemed, the redemption date, the redemption price and the place or places that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of Series O Notes to be redeemed. Unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any Series O Notes that have been called for redemption at the redemption date.

 If less than all of the Series O Notes are redeemed, the Trustee will be notified at least 45 days before giving notice of redemption, or such shorter period as is satisfactory to the Trustee, of the aggregate principal amount of Series O Notes to be redeemed and the redemption date. The Trustee will select by lot, or in such other manner it deems fair and appropriate, the Series O Notes to be redeemed in part.

 If the Corporation gives notice as provided in the Indenture, and funds for the redemption of any Series O Notes (or any portion thereof) called for redemption will have been made available on the redemption date referred to in such notice, those Series O Notes (or any portion thereof) will cease to bear interest on that redemption date and the only right of the holders of those Series O Notes will be to receive payment of the redemption price.

 If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Corporation has exercised its right to redeem the Series O Notes as described above, it will make an offer to each holder of Series O Notes to repurchase all or any part (in excess of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000) of such holder’s Series O Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Series O Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on such Series O Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

 Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Corporation’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Corporation will mail a notice to each holder of Series O Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and (i) offering to repurchase the Series O Notes on the repurchase date specified in the notice, which date will be a Business Day no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, (ii) indicating that all Series O Notes validly tendered will be accepted for payment and any Series O Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest, (iii) specifying the CUSIP numbers for the Series O Notes, (iv) stating that, unless the Corporation defaults in its payment in connection with the Change of Control Repurchase Event, all Series O Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Corporation’s offer to repurchase such Series O Notes will cease to accrue interest after such repurchase, (v) stating that holders electing to have any Series O Notes repurchased by the Corporation will be required to surrender such Series O Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the repurchase date, (vi) stating that holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day preceding the repurchase date, a facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder of Series O Notes, the principal amount of Series O Notes delivered for repurchase, and a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to have the Series O Notes repurchased and (vii) stating that holders whose Series O Notes are being repurchased only in part will be issued new Series O Notes in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Series O Notes surrendered, which unpurchased portion will be equal to $2,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Corporation’s offer to repurchase is conditioned on a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the repurchase date specified in the notice.  The Corporation will cause its offer to purchase to remain open for at least 20 Business Days or such longer period as is required by applicable law. The Corporation will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e‑1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Series O Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Series O Notes, the Corporation will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under Section 4.03 of the Supplemental Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 On the repurchase date following a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Corporation will, to the extent lawful: (a) accept for payment all the Series O Notes or portions of the Series O Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Corporation’s offer; (b) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate repurchase price in respect of all the Series O Notes or portions of the Series O Notes properly tendered; and (c) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Series O Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Series O Notes being purchased by the Corporation.

 The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each holder of Series O Notes properly tendered the repurchase price for such Series O Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new Series O Note of the same series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Series O Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Series O Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Corporation will publicly announce the results of its offer to repurchase the Series O Notes on or as soon as practicable after the repurchase date.

 The Corporation will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Series O Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements applicable to an offer made by the Corporation and such third party purchases all Series O Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under such third party’s offer.

 As used herein:

 “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:  (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s properties or assets and the properties or assets of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation; (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Corporation’s Voting Stock; or (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Corporation’s board of directors are not Continuing Directors.

 “Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Ratings Event.

 “Comparable Treasury Issue” means the U.S. Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (the “Remaining Life”) of the Series O Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Series O Notes.

 “Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 “Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Corporation’s board of directors who (1) was a member of such board of directors on March 29, 2007; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination or election.

 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Corporation appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time.

 “Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor Rating Categories of S&P); and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional Rating Agency or Rating Agencies selected by the Corporation.

 “Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service Inc.

 “Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Series O Notes or fails to make a rating of the Series O Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Corporation’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3‑l(e)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Corporation (as certified by a resolution of the Corporation’s board of directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be.

 “Rating Category” means (i) with respect to S&P, any of the following categories:  BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); (ii) with respect to Moody’s, any of the following categories: Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and (iii) the equivalent of any such category of S&P or Moody’s used by another Rating Agency. In determining whether the rating of the Series O Notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories (+ and − for S&P; 1, 2 and 3 for Moody’s; or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB+ to BB, as well as from BB − to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).

 “Rating Date” means the date which is 90 days prior to the earlier of (i) a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or of the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control.

 “Ratings Event” means the occurrence of the events described in (a) or (b) below on, or within 90 days after the earlier of, (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control or (ii) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Corporation’s intention to effect a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Series O Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies): (a) in the event the Series O Notes are rated by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of the Series O Notes shall be reduced so that the Series O Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies, or (b) in the event the Series O Notes (1) are rated Investment Grade by one Rating Agency and below Investment Grade by the other Rating Agency on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series O Notes by either Rating Agency shall be decreased so that the Series O Notes are then rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies or (2) are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on the Rating Date, the rating of the Series O Notes by either Rating Agency shall be decreased by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories, as well as between Rating Categories).   Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Ratings Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in Rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Ratings Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event set forth above) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in Rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Ratings Event).

 “Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. and their respective successors, and one other firm that is a primary U.S. Government Securities dealer (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”) which the Corporation specifies from time to time; provided, however, that if any of them ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Corporation will substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

 “Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

 “Regular Record Date” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Date for the Series O Notes, the March 15 and September 15 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 “Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to: (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15(519)” or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that, if no maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life of the Series O Notesto be redeemed, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.

 The Series O Notes are not subject to, the benefit of, and do not have, any sinking fund.

 In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, with respect to the Series O Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of the Series O Notes may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected at the time Outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating and of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities, provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities or any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the holders of Securities of such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series.  Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and of any Security issued in exchange hereof or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Series O Noteor of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Corporation, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Series O Note at the times and place and at the rate and in the currency herein prescribed.

 As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Series O Note is registrable in the security register, upon surrender of this Series O Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Corporation for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the security registrar and duly executed by, the holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Series O Notes, of this series, of authorized denominations and of like tenor and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the holder of this Series O  Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Series O Notes, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Series O Notes at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Series O Notes at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity.  The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the holder of this Series O Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 Prior to due presentment of this Series O Note for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any security registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name this Series O Note is registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Series O Note be overdue and notwithstanding the notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the security registrar, and neither the Corporation, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or any premium or the interest on this Series O Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, shareholder, affiliate, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Corporation or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

 The Series O Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the limitations therein set forth, Series O Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Series O Notes of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Series O Note or Notes to be exchanged at the office or agency of the Corporation.

 This Series O Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Louisiana.

EXHIBIT D

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

REGIONS BANK, as Trustee

By:                                                                  

            Authorized Officer

Dated:  March 29, 2007

EX-99

               ;                     Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

March 29, 2007                                                                 Tony Davis (318) 388-9525

                                                                                          tony.davis@centurytel.com

CenturyTel Completes Public Sale of $750 million of Senior Notes

MONROE, La…. CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) today announced that it has publicly sold $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.00% Senior Notes, Series N, due 2017 and $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.50% Senior Notes, Series O, due 2013.  The Series N Notes were priced to yield 6.083% to maturity, and the Series O Notes were priced to yield 5.526% to maturity. 

After payment of expenses, net proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately $741.5 million.  The Company anticipates using these net proceeds, together with additional borrowings, to pay the approximately $830 million of cash that it expects to need to complete its previously-announced acquisition of Madison River Communications Corp. and to retire Madison River’s bank indebtedness.  Subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, the Company expects to complete this acquisition no later than the end of April 2007.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities described herein in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.  Offers and sales of these debt securities may be made only by means of CenturyTel’s prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, which the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  This press release includes certain forward-looking statements.  Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to the possibility of unforeseen near-term cash requirements or delays in satisfying the conditions to the consummation of the Company’s pending acquisition of Madison River.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. 

CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) is a leading provider of communications, high speed Internet and entertainment services in small-to-mid-size cities through our broadband and fiber transport networks.  Included in the S&P 500 Index, CenturyTel delivers advanced communications with a personal touch to customers in 25 states.  Visit us at http://www.centurytel.com.