-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 MkQhVvRQs/XLIPTzQ65z0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-06-017579.txt : 20060313
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-06-017579.hdr.sgml : 20060313
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060313150438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-06-017579
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060313
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060313

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC /NEW/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000310433
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				232093008
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CTE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 800
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18612-9799
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7176742700

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	C TEC CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860501

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAMAHA JAMES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239540

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11053
		FILM NUMBER:		06681890

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERP INC
		STREET 2:		100 CTE DRIVE
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			18612
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5706313483
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd110955.xml
<DESCRIPTION>2006 EXECUTIVE AWARDS
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239540</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAMAHA JAMES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 CTE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24251</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted shares issued pursuant to the CTE Equity Incentive Plan held in escrow and vesting in equal installments over a four (4) year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mary Covine Baltes for James Samaha by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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