CenturyTel, Inc. is an integrated communications company engaged primarily in providing local exchange, long distance, Internet access and broadband services.

As of December 31, 2004, the Company's local exchange telephone subsidiaries operated approximately 2.3 million telephone access lines, primarily in rural areas and small to mid-size cities in 22 states, with over 70% of these lines located in Wisconsin, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas and Washington.

The Company also provides local exchange carrier, security monitoring and other communications and business information services in certain local and regional markets, and has entered into agreements to provide co-branded satellite television service and to resell wireless service as part of its bundled product and service offerings.