Exhibit 99 (a)

                                November 14, 2002



Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The certification set forth below is being submitted to the Securities
and Exchange Commission solely for the purpose of complying with Section 1350 of
Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

         Michael J. Mahoney, the Chief Executive Officer and Donald P. Cawley,
the Chief Accounting Officer of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., each
certifies that, to the best of their knowledge, based on a review of the
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2002 (the
"Report"):

         1. such Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.

                                             /s/ Michael J. Mahoney
                                             -----------------------------
                                             Michael J. Mahoney
                                             Chief Executive Officer
                                             (Principal Executive Officer)

                                             /s/ Donald P. Cawley
                                             -----------------------------
                                             Donald P. Cawley
                                             Chief Accounting Officer
                                             (Principal Financial Officer and
                                             Principal Accounting Officer)