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<body>

<font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12, 2001. Registration No. 333-______</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</font><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">UNITED STATES</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION</p>
<font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Washington, D.C. 20549</p>
</font></b>
<p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<b><font SIZE="4">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">FORM S-8</p>
</font><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">REGISTRATION STATEMENT</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">UNDER</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .75; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">__________</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .75; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">CenturyTel, Inc.</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)</p>
</i>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b>Louisiana </b></font></td>
    <i>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    </i>
    <td width="34%" align="center"><font SIZE="2"><b>72-0651161</b></font></td>
  </tr>
  <i>
  <tr>
    <td width="33%" align="center"><font SIZE="2"><i>(State or other
      jurisdiction<br>
      of incorporation or organization)</i></font></td>
    <td width="33%" align="center"></td>
    <td width="34%" align="center"><font SIZE="2"><i>(I.R.S. Employer<br>
      Identification No.)</i></font></td>
  </tr>
  </TABLE>
</i><i>
<p ALIGN="justify" style="line-height: .5; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</i><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">100 CenturyTel Drive</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Monroe, Louisiana
71203</p>
</b><i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Address, including
zip code, of</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Principal Executive
Offices)</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .5; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</i><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">CenturyTel Security
Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan</p>
</b><i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Full title of the
plan)</p>
</i></font>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .75; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><font size="2">__________</font></p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .75; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<b><font SIZE="2">
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Harvey P. Perry</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Executive Vice
President, Chief Administrative Officer,</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">General Counsel and
Secretary</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">CenturyTel, Inc.</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">100 CenturyTel Drive</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Monroe, Louisiana
71203</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(318) 388-9000</p>
</font></b><font SIZE="2"><i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Name, address,
including zip code, and telephone number,</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">including area code,
of agent for service)</p>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .5; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Copy to:</p>
<b><i>
<p ALIGN="center" style="line-height: .5; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
</i>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Margaret F. Murphy</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Jones, Walker,
Waechter, Poitevent, Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">201 St. Charles Avenue</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">New Orleans, Louisiana
70170-5100</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">CALCULATION OF
REGISTRATION FEE</p>
</b>
<div align="center">
  <center>
<table BORDER="1" CELLSPACING="2" CELLPADDING="7" WIDTH="100%">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="bottom"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Title of
      securities</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">to be registered<sup>(1)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="bottom"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Amount</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">to be</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">registered<sup>(2)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="bottom"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Proposed maximum</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">offering price</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">per share</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="bottom"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Proposed maximum</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">aggregate</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">offering price</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="bottom"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Amount of</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">registration</p>
      <p ALIGN="center" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">fee</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>Common Stock</p>
      </font></td>
    <td WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT">100,000 Shares</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$30.675<sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$30,067,500<sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT">$766.88<sup>(3)</sup></font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="29%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p>Preference Share Purchase Rights</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="RIGHT">100,000 Rights</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="19%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p align="right">- <sup>(4)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="20%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p align="right">- <sup>(4)</sup></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="17%" VALIGN="TOP"><font SIZE="2">
      <p align="right">- <sup>(4)</sup></font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
    </center>
  </div>
<font SIZE="1">

  <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"><br>
</p>
<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify">
<font SIZE="1">
(1)&nbsp;

</font></td>
    <td width="96%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify">
<font SIZE="1">
 In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) of the Securities
  Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount
  of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan
  described herein.<br>
<br>

</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify"><font SIZE="1">(2)&nbsp;

</font></td>
    <td width="96%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify">
<font SIZE="1">
 Upon a future stock split, stock dividend or similar
  transaction involving Common Stock of the Company and during the effectiveness
  of this Registration Statement, the number of securities registered shall be
  automatically increased to cover the additional securities in accordance with
  Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.<br>
<br>

</font></td>
  </tr>

</font>
</font>

  <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify"><font size="1">(3)</font></td>
    <td width="96%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify"><font size="1"> Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
  registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
  based on the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock
  on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange - Listed Stocks on July 6,
  2001.<br>

      <br>

      </font></td>
  </tr>
<font SIZE="2">
<font SIZE="1">

  <tr>
    <td width="4%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify"><font SIZE="1">(4)

</font></td>
    <td width="96%" valign="top">
      <p align="justify"><font SIZE="1"> Preference Share Purchase Rights are attached to and
  trade with the Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such
  Rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because
  no separate consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for
  such securities is included in the fee for such Common Stock.<br>
      <br>

</font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>

</font><b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">PART I</b>&nbsp;</p>
  <p ALIGN="CENTER">Not Applicable.<br>
  </p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">PART II&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</b></p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The following documents, which have been filed by CenturyTel,
Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
&quot;Commission&quot;), are incorporated herein by reference:</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;);</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated
January 30, 2001 and filed on February 7, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated April
26, 2001 and filed on May 10, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(e)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in Amendment No. 2 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration Statement on Form
8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the Exchange Act relating to
the Common Stock of the Company;</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(f)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(g)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The description of the Preference Share Purchase Rights
of the Company included in Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the
Exchange Act relating to the Preference Share Purchase Rights of the Company.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
All documents filed by the Company and the Plan with the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment hereto that indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall,
except to the extent otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule
promulgated by the Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently
filed or incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Description of Securities.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Not applicable.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Not applicable.</p>




        <b>
        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 6.</b>&nbsp;<b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        <b>Indemnification of Directors and
        Officers.</p>
        </b>




<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Section 83 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law provides
in part that the Company may indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees
or agents against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding to which he is or was a party or is
threatened to be made a party (including any action by or in the right of the
Company) if such action arises out of his acts on the Company's behalf, and he
acted in good faith not opposed to the Company's best interests, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful. The Company has the power to obtain and maintain
insurance, or to create a form of self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is
or was acting for the Company, regardless of whether the Company has the legal
authority to indemnify the insured person against such liability.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Article II, Section 10 of the Company's by-laws (the
&quot;indemnification by-law&quot;) provides for mandatory indemnification for
its current or former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Louisiana law.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Company's Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company
to enter into contracts with its directors and officers providing for
indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company has entered
into indemnification contracts providing its directors and officers the
procedural and substantive rights to indemnification currently set forth in the
indemnification by-law (&quot;indemnification contracts&quot;). The right to
indemnification provided by an indemnification contract applies to all covered
claims, whether such claims arose before or after the effective date of the
contract.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Company maintains an insurance policy covering the
liability of its directors and officers for actions taken in their official
capacity. The indemnification contracts provide that, to the extent insurance is
reasonably available, the Company will maintain comparable insurance coverage
for each contracting party as long as he serves as an officer or director and
thereafter for so long as he is subject to possible personal liability for
actions taken in such capacities. The indemnification contracts also provide
that if the Company does not maintain comparable insurance, the Company will
hold harmless and indemnify a contracting party to the full extent of the
coverage that would otherwise have been provided for his benefit.</p>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">
<b>
Item 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exemption From Registration Claimed.</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Not applicable.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 8.</b>&nbsp;<b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>Exhibits.</p>
</b>
<table border="0" width="711" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td width="24" valign="top"></td>
    <td width="33" valign="top"><font SIZE="2">5.1&nbsp;
</font>

    </td>
    <td width="662" valign="top">




        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="2"> Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P.<br>
        <br>
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="24" valign="top"></td>
    <td width="33" valign="top"><font SIZE="2">5.2&nbsp;
</font>

    </td>
    <td width="662" valign="top">
        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="2"> In lieu of filing an opinion of counsel as to
        compliance of the Plan with ERISA or an Internal Revenue Service
        determination letter that the Plan is qualified under Section 401 of the
        Internal Revenue Code, the undertaking permitted by Item 8.(b) of Form
        S-8 is included in Item 9.(d) of this Registration Statement.<br>
        <br>
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="24" valign="top"></td>
    <td width="33" valign="top"><font SIZE="2">23.1&nbsp;
</font>

    </td>
    <td width="662" valign="top">
        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="2"> Consent of KPMG LLP.<br>
        <br>
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="24" valign="top"></td>
    <td width="33" valign="top"><font SIZE="2">23.2&nbsp;
</font>

    </td>
    <td width="662" valign="top">
        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="2"> Consent of Jones, Walker, Waechter,
        Poitevent,
        Carr&#232;re &amp; Den&#232;gre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).<br>
        <br>
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
        <b>
        <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Item 9.</b>&nbsp;<b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
        <b>Undertakings.</p>
        </b>




<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(a)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(1)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(2)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(3)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(b)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(c)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.</p>
<p ALIGN="justify">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The registrant will submit the Plan, as amended and restated, to the
Internal Revenue Service for a determination of qualification under Section 401
of the Internal Revenue Code in a timely manner and will make all changes
required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan.</p>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURES</p>
</b>
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</b> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
<b>The Registrant.</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Monroe, State of
Louisiana, on June 29, 2001.</p>
<table border="0" width="711" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
  <tr>
    <td width="400"></td>
</font>

    <td width="295">
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font size="2">CENTURYTEL, INC.</font><font SIZE="2"><br>
<br>
<br>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="400"></td>
    <td width="295">
<p><font SIZE="2">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
/s/ Glen F. Post, III&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</u>
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="400"></td>
    <td width="295">
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Glen F. Post, III<br>
Vice Chairman of the Board,<br>
President and Chief Executive Officer
</font>

      </p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td width="400"></td>
    <td width="295"></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<b>
<p ALIGN="CENTER"><font size="2">POWER OF ATTORNEY</font></p>
</b>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Clarke M. Williams, Glen F. Post, III, and Harvey P.
Perry, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and
agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.</font></p>
<p align="justify"><font size="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.</font></p>
<table CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="624">
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="26"><u><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Signature</font></u></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="26"><u><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Title</font></u></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="TOP" HEIGHT="26"><u><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Date</font></u></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0" align="center">_____________________________</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Clarke M. Williams</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director and Chairman of the Board</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Glen F. Post, III</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Glen F. Post, III</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and
      Chief Executive Officer</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Principal Executive Officer)</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Executive Vice President and</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chief Financial Officer</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">(Principal Financial Officer and</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Principal Accounting Officer)</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">

      <p ALIGN="left" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p><u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Harvey P. Perry</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Harvey P. Perry</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director, Executive Vice President,</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Chief Administrative Officer,</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">General Counsel and Secretary</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ William R. Boles, Jr.</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">William R. Boles, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Virginia Boulet</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Virginia Boulet</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Ernest Butler, Jr.</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Ernest Butler, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Calvin Czeschin</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Calvin Czeschin</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">_____________________________</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">James B. Gardner</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></p>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ W. Bruce Hanks</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">W. Bruce Hanks</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ R. L. Hargrove, Jr.</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">R.L. Hargrove, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Johnny Hebert</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Johnny Hebert</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ F. Earl Hogan</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">F. Earl Hogan</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ C. G. Melville, Jr.</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">C.G. Melville, Jr.</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</font></td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td WIDTH="38%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">/s/ Jim D. Reppond</p>
      </u>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Jim D. Reppond</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="40%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">Director</font></td>
    <td WIDTH="22%" VALIGN="baseline" HEIGHT="26"><font SIZE="2">
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">June 29, 2001</p>
      <p ALIGN="CENTER" style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></font></td>
  </tr>
</TABLE>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><font size="2"><b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Plan.</b>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Retirement Committee, as administrator of the Plan, has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana, on June 29, 2001.</font></p>
    <table border="0" width="711" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" height="113">
      <tr>
        <td width="367" height="62"></td>
        <td width="328" height="62">
<p ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font SIZE="2">CENTURYTEL SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. 401(k) PLAN<br>
<br>
<br>
</font>

          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="367" height="19"></td>
        <td width="328" height="19"><font SIZE="2">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
          /s/ Harvey P. Perry&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</u>
</font>

        </td>
      </tr>
      <tr>
        <td width="367" height="32"></td>
        <td width="328" height="32">
<p align="center"><font SIZE="2">Harvey P. Perry<br>
Member of the Retirement Committee
</font>

          </p>
        </td>
      </tr>
    </TABLE>
<b>
<p ALIGN="RIGHT">&nbsp;</p>
<p ALIGN="RIGHT">&nbsp;</p>
</b>

</body>

</HTML>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "ctls8401k.htm", "secsgml_size_bytes": 43240}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "CENTURYTEL INC", "cik": "0000018926", "assigned-sic": "4813", "irs-number": "720651161", "state-of-incorporation": "LA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-65004", "film-number": "1680206"}, "business-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 4065", "street2": "100 CENTURY PARK DR", "city": "MONROE", "state": "LA", "zip": "71203", "phone": "3183889000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "100 CENTURY PARK DR", "street2": "P O BOX 4065", "city": "MONROE", "state": "LA", "zip": "71203"}, "former-company": [{"former-conformed-name": "CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}, {"former-conformed-name": "CENTRAL TELEPHONE & ELECTRONICS CORP", "date-changed": "19720512"}]}
As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 12, 2001. Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
__________
CenturyTel, Inc.
(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
Louisiana
72-0651161
(State or other
      jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
100 CenturyTel Drive
Monroe, Louisiana
71203
(Address, including
zip code, of
Principal Executive
Offices)
CenturyTel Security
Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan
(Full title of the
plan)
__________
Harvey P. Perry
Executive Vice
President, Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and
Secretary
CenturyTel, Inc.
100 CenturyTel Drive
Monroe, Louisiana
71203
(318) 388-9000
(Name, address,
including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code,
of agent for service)
Copy to:
Margaret F. Murphy
Jones, Walker,
Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
201 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana
70170-5100
CALCULATION OF
REGISTRATION FEE
Title of
      securities
to be registered
(1)
Amount
to be
registered
(2)
Proposed maximum
offering price
per share
Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price
Amount of
registration
fee
Common Stock
100,000 Shares
$30.675
(3)
$30,067,500
(3)
$766.88
(3)
Preference Share Purchase Rights
100,000 Rights
-
(4)
-
(4)
-
(4)
(1)
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(c) of the Securities
  Act of 1933, this registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount
  of interests to be offered or sold pursuant to the employee benefit plan
  described herein.
(2)
Upon a future stock split, stock dividend or similar
  transaction involving Common Stock of the Company and during the effectiveness
  of this Registration Statement, the number of securities registered shall be
  automatically increased to cover the additional securities in accordance with
  Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933.
(3)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the
  registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933,
  based on the average of the high and low price per share of the Common Stock
  on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange - Listed Stocks on July 6,
  2001.
(4)
Preference Share Purchase Rights are attached to and
  trade with the Common Stock of the Company. The value attributable to such
  Rights, if any, is reflected in the market price of such Common Stock. Because
  no separate consideration is paid for such Rights, the registration fee for
  such securities is included in the fee for such Common Stock.
PART I
Not Applicable.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.            
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents, which have been filed by CenturyTel,
Inc. (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), are incorporated herein by reference:
(a)        The Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");
(b)        The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
quarter ended March 31, 2001 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;
(c)        The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated
January 30, 2001 and filed on February 7, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the
Exchange Act;
(d)        The Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company dated April
26, 2001 and filed on May 10, 2001 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act;
(e)        The description of the Common Stock of the Company
included in Amendment No. 2 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration Statement on Form
8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the Exchange Act relating to
the Common Stock of the Company;
(f)        The Plan's Annual Report on Form 11-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000 filed pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and
(g)        The description of the Preference Share Purchase Rights
of the Company included in Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A to the Registration
Statement on Form 8-A of the Company filed on November 19, 1999 under the
Exchange Act relating to the Preference Share Purchase Rights of the Company.
All documents filed by the Company and the Plan with the
Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment hereto that indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall,
except to the extent otherwise provided by Regulation S-K or any other rule
promulgated by the Commission, be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statements contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other document subsequently
filed or incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4.            
Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5.            
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and
        Officers.
Section 83 of the Louisiana Business Corporation Law provides
in part that the Company may indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees
or agents against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with any action, suit or proceeding to which he is or was a party or is
threatened to be made a party (including any action by or in the right of the
Company) if such action arises out of his acts on the Company's behalf, and he
acted in good faith not opposed to the Company's best interests, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful. The Company has the power to obtain and maintain
insurance, or to create a form of self-insurance, on behalf of any person who is
or was acting for the Company, regardless of whether the Company has the legal
authority to indemnify the insured person against such liability.
Article II, Section 10 of the Company's by-laws (the
"indemnification by-law") provides for mandatory indemnification for
its current or former directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Louisiana law.
The Company's Articles of Incorporation authorize the Company
to enter into contracts with its directors and officers providing for
indemnification to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company has entered
into indemnification contracts providing its directors and officers the
procedural and substantive rights to indemnification currently set forth in the
indemnification by-law ("indemnification contracts"). The right to
indemnification provided by an indemnification contract applies to all covered
claims, whether such claims arose before or after the effective date of the
contract.
The Company maintains an insurance policy covering the
liability of its directors and officers for actions taken in their official
capacity. The indemnification contracts provide that, to the extent insurance is
reasonably available, the Company will maintain comparable insurance coverage
for each contracting party as long as he serves as an officer or director and
thereafter for so long as he is subject to possible personal liability for
actions taken in such capacities. The indemnification contracts also provide
that if the Company does not maintain comparable insurance, the Company will
hold harmless and indemnify a contracting party to the full extent of the
coverage that would otherwise have been provided for his benefit.
Item 7.             Exemption From Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits.
5.1
Opinion of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent,
        Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P.
5.2
In lieu of filing an opinion of counsel as to
        compliance of the Plan with ERISA or an Internal Revenue Service
        determination letter that the Plan is qualified under Section 401 of the
        Internal Revenue Code, the undertaking permitted by Item 8.(b) of Form
        S-8 is included in Item 9.(d) of this Registration Statement.
23.1
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2
Consent of Jones, Walker, Waechter,
        Poitevent,
        Carrère & Denègre, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
Item 9.
Undertakings.
(a)        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)        To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement.
(2)        That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3)        To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of
the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b)        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceedings) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
(d)        The registrant will submit the Plan, as amended and restated, to the
Internal Revenue Service for a determination of qualification under Section 401
of the Internal Revenue Code in a timely manner and will make all changes
required by the IRS in order to qualify the Plan.
SIGNATURES
The Registrant.
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds
to believe that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Monroe, State of
Louisiana, on June 29, 2001.
CENTURYTEL, INC.
By:
/s/ Glen F. Post, III
Glen F. Post, III
Vice Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Clarke M. Williams, Glen F. Post, III, and Harvey P.
Perry, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and
agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent
or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
_____________________________
Clarke M. Williams
Director and Chairman of the Board
/s/ Glen F. Post, III
Glen F. Post, III
Director, Vice Chairman of the Board, President and
      Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
June 29, 2001
/s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
June 29, 2001
/s/ Harvey P. Perry
Harvey P. Perry
Director, Executive Vice President,
Chief Administrative Officer,
General Counsel and Secretary
June 29, 2001
/s/ William R. Boles, Jr.
William R. Boles, Jr.
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ Virginia Boulet
Virginia Boulet
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ Ernest Butler, Jr.
Ernest Butler, Jr.
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ Calvin Czeschin
Calvin Czeschin
Director
June 29, 2001
_____________________________
James B. Gardner
Director
/s/ W. Bruce Hanks
W. Bruce Hanks
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ R. L. Hargrove, Jr.
R.L. Hargrove, Jr.
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ Johnny Hebert
Johnny Hebert
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ F. Earl Hogan
F. Earl Hogan
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ C. G. Melville, Jr.
C.G. Melville, Jr.
Director
June 29, 2001
/s/ Jim D. Reppond
Jim D. Reppond
Director
June 29, 2001
The Plan.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
the Retirement Committee, as administrator of the Plan, has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Monroe, State of Louisiana, on June 29, 2001.
CENTURYTEL SECURITY SYSTEMS, INC. 401(k) PLAN
By:
/s/ Harvey P. Perry
Harvey P. Perry
Member of the Retirement Committee