SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

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                                CenturyTel, Inc.
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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Supplemental Information on Corporate Governance



MONROE, La. ... April 21, 2004 ... CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE:CTL/CTL.A) would like
to highlight certain provisions of its corporate governance programs and to
further clarify its position regarding Board independence.

As disclosed in its recent Proxy Statement, the Company has adopted an
independence standard that is more exacting than the independence criteria
established by the New York Stock Exchange. Under the Company's independence
standard, a director who receives any non-director compensation cannot be
considered independent, even if the amount of such compensation is less than the
amounts permitted to be received by independent directors under the New York
Stock Exchange's rules.

CenturyTel's board of directors is currently majority independent under New York
Stock Exchange and internal standards. The Company is not, however, necessarily
in compliance with the independence standards established by each governance
commentator or proxy advisory service provider who may express opinions on
governance issues. Nevertheless, the Company's previously disclosed governance
programs have the Company on a path to achieve a degree of independence that
will not only maintain compliance with internal and New York Stock Exchange
standards, but also to increase the degree of board independence during the
coming twelve months.

More specifically, the Company wishes to restate its prior commitment to appoint
two independent directors to fill the board vacancies being created by the
retirement of two directors at the Company's 2005 annual meeting. These
appointments will ensure continued compliance with internal and New York Stock
Exchange standards, as well as putting the Company in compliance with the
independence standards established by leading proxy advisory service providers
and other governance commentators. The Company is committed to ensuring that
future board appointments will, at a minimum, maintain this level of
independence once achieved.

The foregoing may be deemed "soliciting materials" within the meaning of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations issued
thereunder.