U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                 FORM 12B-25
                                                          SEC FILE NUMBER
          NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING                          1-7784


               (CHECK ONE):


[ ]  Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB [ ] Form 20-F [X] Form 11-K [ ] Form 10-Q
        and Form 10-QSB [  ] Form N-SAR

     For Period Ended:     DECEMBER 31, 1999
                      --------------------------------------------------
     [  ]  Transition Report on Form 10-K
     [  ]  Transition Report on Form 20-F
     [  ]  Transition Report on Form 11-K
     [  ]  Transition Report on Form 10-Q
     [  ]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR
     For the Transition Period Ended:     N/A
                                     -----------------------------------
_______________________________________________________________________________

 READ ATTACHED INSTRUCTION SHEET BEFORE PREPARING FORM.  PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE.
          Nothing  in  this  form  shall  be  construed  to  imply  that  the
     Commission has verified any information contained herein.
_______________________________________________________________________________

    If the notification relates to a portion of  the  filing  checked  above,
identify  the Item(s) to which the notification relates:       NOT APPLICABLE
                                                         ----------------------
_______________________________________________________________________________



PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION



    Full Name of Plan  CENTURYTEL,  INC.  DOLLARS  AND  SENSE  PLAN
                      ---------------------------------------------------------

    Full Name of Issuer of Plan Securities  CENTURYTEL,   INC.
                                          -------------------------------------

    Former Name of Issuer if Applicable  CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.
                                        ---------------------------------------

       100 CENTURY PARK DRIVE
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Address of Principal Executive Office (STREET AND NUMBER)

       MONROE, LOUISIANA   71203
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      City, State and Zip Code

_______________________________________________________________________________

PART II - RULES 12B-25 (B) AND (C)
_______________________________________________________________________________


If  the  subject  report  could not be filed without unreasonable effort or
expense and the registrant  seeks  relief  pursuant  to Rule 12b-25(b), the
following should be completed.  (Check box if appropriate)

[X] (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of this form
    could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;


[X] (b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition report on
    Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion  thereof  will  be
    filed  on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed
    due date;  or the subject quarterly report or transition report on Form
    10-Q, or portion  thereof will be filed on or before the fifth calendar
    day following the prescribed due date; and


[  ](c) The accountant's  statement  or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-
    25(c) has been attached if applicable.

_______________________________________________________________________________

PART III - NARRATIVE
_______________________________________________________________________________


State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Form 10-K and Form 10-KSB,
20-F,  11-K,  10-Q and Form 10-QSB, N-SAR,  or  the  transition  report  or
portion thereof could not be filed within the prescribed period.

The  CenturyTel,   Inc.  Dollars  and  Sense  Plan  is  administered  by  a
third-party plan trustee.  Notwithstanding repeated requests from the plan,
the trustee has been  tardy  in  supplying information necessary to prepare
the plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K  for the year ended December 31, 1999
(the "Report") and still has not supplied  certain  financial data relating
to cash contributed to the plan which is necessary to  complete  the plan's
financial  statements  for the year ended December 31, 1999 (the "Financial
Statements").  The plan  expects  to  receive  all  necessary data from the
trustee  to permit it to prepare and file the Report and  the  accompanying
Financial Statements prior to the date indicated in Part II(b) above.


                                            (Attach Extra Sheets if Needed)


_______________________________________________________________________________

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION
_______________________________________________________________________________


    (1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard to this
        notification

            NEIL A. SWEASY                (318)               388-9817
  _____________________________________________________________________________
               (Name)                  (Area Code)       (Telephone Number)


    (2) Have all other periodic reports required  under section 13 or 15(d)
of  the  Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or section 30  of  the  Investment
Company Act  of  1940  during  the  preceding 12 months or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required  to file such report(s) been filed?
If the answer is no, identify report(s).
                                                        [X] Yes     [  ] No


    (3)  Is  it  anticipated  that any significant  change  in  results  of
operations from the corresponding  period  for the last fiscal year will be
reflected by the earnings statements to be included  in  the subject report
or portion thereof?
                                       Not Applicable  [  ] Yes     [  ] No


    If   so:  attach  an  explanation  of  the  anticipated  change,   both
narratively  and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why
a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made.


                  CENTURYTEL, INC. DOLLARS AND SENSE PLAN
             -----------------------------------------------------
                      (Name of Plan filing this Form)


has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf  by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.


Date  JUNE 28, 2000         By
    ----------------------    ------------------------------------
                                    R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                 Retirement Committee Member
                                   and Executive Officer of
                                  Issuer of Plan Securities


INSTRUCTION:   The  form  may  be  signed  by  an  executive officer of the
registrant or by any other duly authorized representative.   The  name  and
title  of the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the
signature.   If  the  statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an
authorized representative  (other  than  an executive officer), evidence of
the representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be
filed with the form.

_______________________________________________________________________________

                                 ATTENTION


    Intentional  misstatements  or omissions  of  fact  constitute  Federal
Criminal Violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001).
_______________________________________________________________________________