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                           Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                     Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                 )
                                )
CenturyTel, Inc.                 )
                                )    File No. EB-03-TC-121
                                )    NAL Acct. No. 200632170001
Compliance with the              )    FRN: 0003740651
Commission's                     )
Rules and Regulations Governing  )
Advertising the Availability of  )
Lifeline and
Link-Up

                              ORDER

Adopted: November 17, 2005                                          
Released: November 22, 2005 

By the Chief, Enforcement Bureau:

     1.   In this Order, we adopt the attached Consent Decree 
entered into between the Enforcement Bureau and CenturyTel, Inc. 
(``CenturyTel'').  The Consent Decree terminates an investigation 
initiated by the Enforcement Bureau regarding CenturyTel's 
compliance with section 214(e)(1)(B) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended (the ``Act''), and sections 54.405(b) and 
54.411(d) of the Commission's rules,1 as it relates to the duty 
to publicize Lifeline and Link-Up programs to low-income 
residents on tribal lands. 

     2.   The Enforcement Bureau and CenturyTel have negotiated 
the terms of a Consent Decree that would resolve this matter and 
terminate the investigation.  A copy of the Consent Decree is 
attached hereto and incorporated by reference.

     3.   After reviewing the terms of the Consent Decree, we 
find that the public interest would be served by adopting the 
Consent Decree and terminating the investigation.  We also 
conclude that, in the absence of material new information not 
previously disclosed to the Bureau, the matters raised in the 
investigation do not raise any substantial and material questions 
of fact regarding CenturyTel's qualifications to be a Commission 
licensee.  

     4.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 4(i) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,2 and the authority 
delegated by sections 0.111 and 0.311 of the Commission's rules,3 
that the attached Consent Decree IS ADOPTED.
     5.   IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the above-captioned 
investigation IS TERMINATED. 


                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                         Kris Anne Monteith
                         Chief, Enforcement Bureau
                         Before the
              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                   Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                 )                
                                 )
CenturyTel, Inc.                 )      File  No.  EB-03-TC-
121
                                 )      NAL     Acct.    No. 
200632170001
Compliance with the Commission's )      FRN:  0003740651
Rules and Regulations Governing  ) 
Advertising the Availability of Lifeline and )
Link-Up                          ) 


                       CONSENT DECREE

I.  INTRODUCTION

     6.   The Enforcement Bureau (``Bureau'') of the Federal 
Communications Commission (the ``FCC'' or ``Commission'') 
and CenturyTel, Inc. (``CenturyTel''), by their authorized 
representatives, hereby enter into this Consent Decree for 
the purpose of terminating the Bureau's investigation (the 
``Investigation'') regarding CenturyTel's compliance with 
section 214(e)(1)(B) of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended (the ``Act''), and sections 54.405(b) and 54.411(d) 
of the Commission's rules,4 as it relates to the duty to 
publicize Lifeline and Link-Up programs to low-income 
residents on tribal lands. 

 II. BACKGROUND

     2.   CenturyTel is an eligible telecommunications 
carrier (``ETC''), i.e., a telephone company eligible to 
receive universal service support under section 214 of the 
Act.5  CenturyTel serves numerous tribal lands in the 22-
state area in which it operates as an incumbent Local 
Exchange Carrier.  

     3.   The Bureau sent a Letter of Inquiry (``LOI'') to 
CenturyTel on October 7, 2003,6 stating that it was 
investigating whether CenturyTel was satisfying its 
obligations under sections 54.405(b) and 54.411(d) of the 
Commission's rules to publicize the availability of Lifeline 
and Link-Up services to low-income residents on tribal lands 
``in a manner reasonably designed to reach those likely to 
qualify'' for those services.  The Bureau sent a 
supplemental LOI on April 6, 2004.7  The LOIs directed 
CenturyTel to describe actions it had taken to satisfy 
sections 54.405(b) and 54.411(d) of the Commission's rules 
and to support its responses with pertinent documentation 
and affidavits.

     4.   During the course of the Investigation, CenturyTel 
provided written responses to the LOIs on November 17, 
2003,8 and April 26, 2004.9  After meeting with 
representatives of CenturyTel on October 28, 2004, the 
Bureau sent a follow-up letter on November 9, 2004.10  
CenturyTel provided supplemental responses on November 19, 
2004,11 January 14, 2005,12 and January 26, 2005.13  In 
recent meetings with the Bureau, CenturyTel stated that it 
provides Lifeline and Link-Up services to low-income 
residents on tribal lands in 12 states within its 22-state 
incumbent region.  CenturyTel asserted that it conducted 
outreach to low-income residents on tribal lands within its 
region and provided some evidence to support its 
contention.14  

III. DEFINITIONS

     5.   For purposes of this Consent Decree, the following 
definitions shall apply:

          1.a.      ``Act'' means the Communications Act of 
             1934, as amended.

          1.b.      ``Bureau'' means the Enforcement Bureau 
             of the Federal Communications Commission.

          1.c.      ``CenturyTel'' means CenturyTel, Inc. 
             and any affiliate, d/b/a, predecessor-in-
             interest, parent companies and any direct or 
             indirect subsidiaries of such parent companies, 
             or other affiliated companies or businesses and 
             their successors and assigns.

          1.d.      ``CenturyTel Tribal Land'' means that 
             portion of the tribal land described in the 
             Commission's report, ``Telephone Subscribership 
             on American Indian Reservations and Off-
             Reservation Trust Lands,'' released May 2003, 
             and any subsequent such report, for which 
             CenturyTel is an ETC.  

          1.e.       ``Commission'' means the Federal 
             Communications Commission. 

          1.f.      ``Effective Date'' means fourteen (14) 
             days from the date on which the Bureau releases 
             the Adopting Order.

          1.g.      ``Investigation'' means the 
             investigation commenced by the Bureau's Letter 
             of Inquiry, dated October 7, 2003, to 
             CenturyTel regarding CenturyTel's possible 
             noncompliance with section 214(e)(1)(B) of the 
             Act and sections 54.405(b) and 54.411(d) of the 
             Commission's rules and possible noncompliance 
             with the Bureau's directives in the October 7, 
             2003 and April 6, 2004 LOIs.

          1.h.      ``Order'' or ``Adopting Order'' means an 
             Order of the Bureau adopting the terms and 
             conditions of this Consent Decree without 
             change, addition, or modification, and formally 
             terminating the above-captioned Investigation.

          1.i.      ``Parties'' means CenturyTel and the 
             Bureau.

          1.j.      ``CenturyTel's Field Team'' means Area 
             Supervisors, Public Relations Managers and Area 
             Operations Managers responsible for Lifeline 
             and Link-Up outreach to their respective 
             CenturyTel Tribal Land.  Each CenturyTel Field 
             Team member will report directly to 
             CenturyTel's External Communications Manager 
             regarding all Lifeline and Link-Up outreach 
             efforts.  

IV. AGREEMENT

     6.   CenturyTel agrees that the Commission and its 
          delegated authority, the Bureau, have jurisdiction 
          over it and the subject matter contained in this 
          Consent Decree and the authority to enter into and 
          adopt this Consent Decree.  

     7.   The Parties agree and acknowledge that this 
Consent Decree shall constitute a final settlement of the 
Investigation.  In express reliance on the covenants and 
representations contained herein, and to avoid the potential 
expenditure of additional public resources, the Bureau 
agrees to terminate the Investigation.  In consideration for 
the termination of this Investigation and in accordance with 
the terms of this Consent Decree, CenturyTel agrees to the 
terms, conditions, and procedures contained herein.

     8.   The Parties agree that this Consent Decree does 
not constitute either an adjudication on the merits or a 
factual or legal finding or determination regarding any 
compliance or noncompliance by CenturyTel with the 
requirements of the Act or the Commission's rules or orders.  
The Parties agree that this Consent Decree is for settlement 
purposes only.

     9.   In consideration for the termination of the 
Investigation in accordance with the terms of this Consent 
Decree, CenturyTel agrees to make a voluntary contribution 
to the United States Treasury, without further protest or 
recourse to a trial de novo, in the amount of seventy-five 
thousand dollars ($75,000) within thirty (30) days after the 
Effective Date.  The payment must be made by check or 
similar instrument, payable to the order of the Federal 
Communications Commission.  The payment must include the 
Acct. No. and FRN No. referenced above.  Payment by check or 
money order may be mailed to Forfeiture Collection Section, 
Finance Branch, Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 
73482, Chicago, IL, 60673-7482.  Payment by overnight mail 
may be sent to Bank One/LB 73482, 525 West Monroe, 8th Floor 
Mailroom, Chicago, IL 60661.  Payment by wire transfer may 
be made to ABA Number 071000013, receiving bank Bank One, 
and account number 1165259. 

     10.  To resolve and terminate the Investigation, and to 
ensure compliance with the Commission's Lifeline and Link-Up 
outreach rules, CenturyTel agrees to implement a Lifeline 
and Link-Up Outreach Plan to low-income residents on 
CenturyTel Tribal Lands, that CenturyTel has identified in 
submissions to the Bureau, consisting of the components 
delineated below in paragraphs 10 through 13.  In the event 
that, after the Effective Date, CenturyTel becomes an ETC on 
at least a portion of a tribal land appearing in the 
Commission's report, ``Telephone Subscribership on American 
Indian Reservations and Off-Reservation Trust Lands,'' 
released May 2003, and any subsequent such report, it shall 
extend the outreach programs described herein to those 
portions of the newly served tribal lands and such areas 
shall become CenturyTel Tribal Lands for the remainder of 
the duration of this Consent Decree.  In the event that, 
after the Effective Date, CenturyTel ceases to be an ETC in 
any portion of the CenturyTel Tribal Lands, such areas shall 
cease to be CenturyTel Tribal Lands as of the date on which 
CenturyTel's ETC designation ceased to be effective.  In 
either case, CenturyTel will notify the Bureau of the 
addition to or deletion from the CenturyTel Tribal Lands, 
and provide a map or other description of such area and the 
affected American Indian Reservations or Off-Reservation 
Trust Lands affected.

     A.   Individual Tribal Outreach

             i)     Individualized Tribal Plans.  CenturyTel 
               will develop and submit to the Bureau an 
               individualized Lifeline and Link-Up outreach 
               plan for each CenturyTel Tribal Land not 
               later than three months after the Effective 
               Date.  These individualized outreach plans 
               will incorporate various types of outreach 
               efforts designed to reach that specific tribe 
               in the most effective manner and will consist 
               of at least some of the specific outreach 
               efforts, in CenturyTel's judgment most likely 
               to be effective, described in paragraphs 
               10(A)(iii) through 10(A)(vii) below.  The 
               outreach efforts to be incorporated into the 
               individualized tribal plans will be 
               determined by CenturyTel personnel within the 
               state who have experience with the specific 
               tribes.  CenturyTel will also make good faith 
               efforts to work in conjunction with tribal 
               liaisons, described in paragraph 10(A)(ii) 
               below, to develop the outreach plan for their 
               particular tribe.  

             ii)    Tribal Liaisons.  CenturyTel will make 
               good faith efforts to identify and contact 
               tribal liaisons for all CenturyTel Tribal 
               Lands not later than thirty days after the 
               Effective Date.  Efforts to contact the 
               various tribal liaisons may include in-person 
               visits, direct mail, and/or telephone 
               contact.  CenturyTel's Field Team will confer 
               with the tribal liaisons in order to 
               determine the most effective outreach efforts 
               to publicize Lifeline and Link-Up to their 
               particular tribe.  CenturyTel will also 
               provide tribal liaisons with Lifeline and 
               Link-Up posters, flyers, and applications 
               that they can distribute to members of their 
               tribe.  CenturyTel will notify the FCC's 
               Enforcement Bureau and the Consumer and 
               Governmental Affairs Bureau of any CenturyTel 
               Tribal Land that CenturyTel is unsuccessful 
               in contacting.  

             iii)   Distribution of Individualized 
               Materials.  CenturyTel will conduct personal 
               outreach to inform residents living on 
               CenturyTel Tribal Lands about the 
               availability of Lifeline and Link-Up.  
               CenturyTel will work with tribal liaisons to 
               obtain the names and/or location information 
               for tribal residents for tribes that provide 
               a list of residents. CenturyTel will 
               distribute individualized materials directly 
               to the identified residents on CenturyTel 
               Tribal Lands once a year.  These materials 
               will clearly explain the application 
               procedures and eligibility criteria to 
               receive Lifeline and Link-Up services.  Where 
               tribal liaisons do not provide specific names 
               of tribal members and how they can be 
               reached, CenturyTel will not be responsible 
               for making personal contact.  The personal 
               outreach will be conducted within thirty days 
               of receiving a list from the tribal liaisons.

             iv)    Public Service Announcements.  
               CenturyTel will distribute public service 
               announcements (``PSAs'') to radio stations 
               that reach CenturyTel Tribal Lands.  The PSAs 
               will include a CenturyTel customer service 
               telephone number staffed by trained customer 
               service representatives who can help 
               interested customers apply for the Lifeline 
               and Link-Up programs.  These PSAs will be 
               disseminated four times a year and will 
               clearly describe both the Enhanced and the 
               non-Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up programs 
               and the availability of such programs to 
               those living on tribal lands.

             v)     Newspaper Advertisements.  CenturyTel 
               will identify tribal newspapers serving 
               CenturyTel Tribal Lands.  CenturyTel will 
               place paid advertisements in these tribal 
               newspapers twice yearly.  All advertisements 
               will specifically mention both the Enhanced 
               and the non-Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up 
               programs and provide further information on 
               eligibility criteria and application 
               instructions.  

             vi)    Press Releases.  CenturyTel will send 
               newspapers in-depth press releases that 
               contain information about both the Enhanced 
               and the non-Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up 
               services offered by CenturyTel, eligibility 
               criteria and application instructions.  These 
               press releases will be sent to the tribal 
               newspapers identified in 10 (A)(v) above two 
               times a year.

             vii)   Social Service Agencies.  CenturyTel 
               will make good faith efforts to identify 
               social service agencies that provide outreach 
               to tribal residents on CenturyTel Tribal 
               Lands not later than two months after the 
               Effective Date.  Not later than three months 
               after the Effective Date, CenturyTel will 
               provide printed posters, flyers, and 
               applications to these social service agencies 
               for dissemination to those interested in 
               learning more about both the Enhanced and the 
               non-Enhanced Lifeline and Link-Up programs.  
               Twice yearly, the social service agencies 
               will receive either a personal visit, 
               telephone call or an explanatory letter that 
               describes the programs in detail, including 
               eligibility criteria and applications 
               instructions.

     B.   Service-Area Wide Outreach

     In addition to the outreach efforts described in 
paragraph 10(A) above, CenturyTel will take each of the 
following steps to publicize the Lifeline and Link-Up 
programs to all CenturyTel Tribal Lands.

             i)Training.  CenturyTel will provide training 
               materials to all appropriate employees, as 
               determined by the CenturyTel Field Team, in 
               CenturyTel Tribal Lands at least once yearly.  
               The training materials will clearly explain 
               the importance of the programs, eligibility 
               criteria and application instructions.  These 
               training materials will also be integrated 
               into present Lifeline and Link-Up information 
               in all customer service representatives' 
               handbooks. 

             ii)    Bill Messages.  CenturyTel will continue 
               to publish Lifeline and Link-Up bill messages 
               on a twice yearly basis.  The bill messages 
               will alert existing customers about the 
               opportunity to receive help with their phone 
               bills if they meet the eligibility 
               requirements.  The bill messages will also 
               promote ``word of mouth'' advertising aimed 
               at reaching those residents without telephone 
               service.  This ``word of mouth'' advertising 
               should encourage existing customers to tell a 
               friend, neighbor or family member without 
               telephone service about Lifeline and Link-Up.  
               CenturyTel will also publish similar ``word 
               of mouth'' ads or messages in all of the 
               telephone directories it distributes within 
               CenturyTel Tribal Lands.

             iii)   Website.  Within 60 days of the 
               Effective Date, CenturyTel will include an 
               informative page on its website, 
               www.centurytel.com, which explains the 
               Lifeline and Link-Up programs.  The page will 
               include information on the eligibility 
               requirements, the sign-up procedures, and a 
               phone number by which interested customers 
               can receive further information. Existing 
               customers will be able to request an 
               application be mailed to them using the 
               MyAccount function on the site.  Those who 
               are not customers will be offered a toll-free 
               (8YY) number through which they will be able 
               to request an application.  This page will 
               provide a link to the appropriate state 
               website, where state law requires.  
               CenturyTel will also offer to work with the 
               tribal liaisons for those tribes with 
               websites to include a link to CenturyTel's 
               Lifeline and Link-Up information page on the 
               tribal websites, providing such tribal 
               liaisons are willing to participate.  
               CenturyTel will include the URL address for 
               the Lifeline and Link-Up information page in 
               its outreach advertising.

             iv)    State and Local Officials.  CenturyTel 
               will provide outreach information about 
               Lifeline and Link-Up service to state and 
               local officials and a contact person to whom 
               such officials can refer individuals with 
               questions about Lifeline and Link-Up.  This 
               effort will be undertaken twice yearly.

             v)Other.  CenturyTel will make good faith 
               efforts to promote Lifeline and Link-Up to 
               all tribes within its service areas.  When 
               CenturyTel encounters a tribe that is 
               particularly hard to reach or receives a 
               request for service from a customer on 
               CenturyTel Tribal Land to which CenturyTel 
               cannot get access, CenturyTel will notify the 
               FCC's Enforcement Bureau and Consumer and 
               Governmental Affairs Bureau.  

     11.  CenturyTel will assess its outreach efforts 
periodically to determine whether they are effective, as 
follows:

              (a)   CenturyTel will conduct a survey of 
                tribal liaisons once a year to determine 
                whether the outreach efforts for the past 
                year have been effective in reaching the 
                residents of CenturyTel Tribal Lands and 
                informing them of the Lifeline and Link-Up 
                programs.  

              (b)   CenturyTel will assess whether any 
                CenturyTel Tribal Land is within the 
                coverage area of any newspaper, radio, or 
                other media outlet (that CenturyTel is not 
                already using pursuant to paragraph 10 
                above) that CenturyTel can use to promote 
                Lifeline and Link-Up.

              (c)   CenturyTel will track Lifeline and Link-
                Up applications and chart increases in 
                Lifeline and Link-Up customers over time, 
                by CenturyTel Tribal Land.  This assessment 
                will be done relative to October 1, 2005.  
                This assessment will occur twice during the 
                period covered by this Plan, the first 
                assessment to be completed not later than 
                twelve months after October 1, 2005 and the 
                second not later than eighteen months from 
                October 1, 2005.  

              (d)   If CenturyTel learns that certain 
                outreach efforts are ineffective to reach a 
                particular tribe, CenturyTel will adjust 
                the outreach effort in response to the 
                assessment.  In such cases, CenturyTel will 
                also provide the Bureau with a revised 
                individualized tribal outreach plan to 
                reflect the adjustment in the outreach 
                effort for the particular tribe.

     12.  CenturyTel will implement the following record-
keeping mechanisms to document each outreach effort 
undertaken to promote Lifeline and Link-Up.

              1.j)a.     CenturyTel will maintain a record 
                of all individuals trained.

              1.j)b.     CenturyTel will maintain logs of 
                all radio PSAs and press releases that it 
                distributes to radio stations and 
                newspapers for a period of two years.  
                CenturyTel will also request confirmation 
                from both broadcasters and newspapers of 
                when PSAs and press releases were aired or 
                printed.

              1.j)c.     Each of CenturyTel's Field Team 
                members will keep a log of all of the 
                efforts undertaken within their service 
                areas to promote Lifeline and Link-Up to 
                those living on CenturyTel Tribal Lands.  
                CenturyTel will submit the logs for each 
                state to the Bureau with its written report 
                of compliance (described in paragraph 13 
                below) as supporting documentation.  The 
                logs will show the contact date, contact 
                person, the outreach method used, the 
                targeted tribe, and the targeted tribal 
                land. 

              1.j)d.     CenturyTel will retain copies of 
                all written material used in newspaper 
                advertisements, press releases, posters, 
                flyers, and other outreach efforts for two 
                years.  The field logs will contain 
                documentation of when and where these 
                materials were distributed.  For newspaper 
                advertisements, CenturyTel will require 
                confirmation from the media sources of when 
                they were published.  Dated copies of the 
                published newspaper advertisements may 
                serve as such confirmation.

              1.j)e.     CenturyTel will maintain records of 
                all invoices for advertisements as well as 
                any other expenditure that CenturyTel 
                incurs for the promotion of Lifeline and 
                Link-Up to those living on CenturyTel 
                Tribal Lands for two years.

              1.j)f.     CenturyTel will retain copies of 
                all bill messages sent out to customers on 
                CenturyTel Tribal Lands for two years.  
                CenturyTel will also maintain copies of 
                directory pages that contain printed 
                information about the Lifeline and Link-Up 
                programs for two years.

     13.  CenturyTel will submit written reports to the 
Bureau describing its compliance with this Consent Decree 
twelve and eighteen months after the Effective Date.  The 
reports shall address in detail CenturyTel's compliance with 
each separate term and provision of this Consent Decree.  
CenturyTel must mail its reports to Colleen Heitkamp, Chief, 
Telecommunications Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W. 
Room 4-C244, Washington, D.C. 20554, and must include the 
file number listed above.  CenturyTel will also send an 
electronic copy of its reports to Mark Stone, Deputy Chief, 
Telecommunications Consumers Division, at Mark.Stone@fcc.gov 
and Donna Cyrus, Senior Attorney Advisor, Telecommunications 
Consumers Division, at Donna.Cyrus@fcc.gov.

     14.  The Bureau agrees that, in the absence of new 
material evidence related to this matter, it will not use 
the facts developed in this Investigation through the 
Effective Date or the existence of this Consent Decree to 
initiate, on its own motion, any new proceeding, formal or 
informal, or take any action on its own motion against 
CenturyTel, including any other enforcement action, nor will 
the Bureau seek on its own motion any administrative or 
other penalties from CenturyTel, concerning the matters that 
were the subject of the Investigation.  The Bureau also 
agrees that it will not use the facts developed in the 
Investigation through the Effective Date or the existence of 
this Consent Decree to initiate, on its own motion, any 
proceeding, formal or informal, or take any action on its 
own motion against CenturyTel with respect to CenturyTel's 
basic qualifications, including its character 
qualifications, to be a Commission licensee or authorized 
common carrier.  Consistent with the foregoing, nothing in 
this Consent Decree limits the Commission's authority to 
consider and adjudicate any complaint that may be filed 
pursuant to section 208 of the Act, 47 U.S.C. § 208, and to 
take any action in response to such complaint.  The 
Commission's adjudication of any such complaint will be 
based solely on the record developed in that proceeding.  
The Bureau agrees that, to the extent consistent with 
paragraph 21, CenturyTel's compliance with all the terms of 
this Consent Decree constitutes compliance with the 
Commission's Lifeline and Link-Up outreach rules during the 
period in which the Consent Decree is effective.  

     15.  CenturyTel's decision to enter into this Consent 
Decree is expressly contingent upon the Bureau's issuance of 
an Adopting Order.

     16.  Provided the Bureau issues an Adopting Order, 
CenturyTel waives any and all rights it may have to seek 
administrative or judicial reconsideration, review, appeal 
or stay, or to otherwise challenge or contest the validity 
of this Consent Decree and the Adopting Order.

     17.  If either Party (or the United States on behalf of 
the Commission) brings a judicial action to enforce the 
terms of the Adopting Order, neither CenturyTel nor the 
Commission shall contest the validity of the Consent Decree 
or the Adopting Order, and CenturyTel and the Commission 
will waive any statutory right to a trial de novo with 
respect to the issuance of the Adopting Order and shall 
consent to a judgment incorporating the terms of this 
Consent Decree.

     18.  In the event that this Consent Decree is rendered 
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall 
become null and void and may not be used in any manner in 
any legal proceeding.

     19.  By this Consent Decree, CenturyTel neither waives 
nor alters its right to assert and seek protection from 
disclosure of any privileged or otherwise confidential and 
protected documents and information, or to seek appropriate 
safeguards of confidentiality for any competitively 
sensitive or proprietary information.

     20.  CenturyTel agrees that any violation of the Order 
or of this Consent Decree shall constitute a separate 
violation of a Commission order, entitling the Commission to 
exercise any rights and remedies attendant to the 
enforcement of a Commission order. 

     21.  The Parties agree that if any provision of this 
Consent Decree conflicts with any subsequent rule or order 
adopted by the Commission (except an order specifically 
intended to revise the terms of this Consent Decree to which 
CenturyTel does not consent), that provision will be 
superseded by such Commission rule or order.

     22.  The Parties agree that the requirements of this 
Consent Decree shall expire eighteen (18) months from the 
Effective Date.

     23.  This Consent Decree may be signed in counterparts.

For:  CenturyTel, Inc.                       For:  
Enforcement Bureau                                                  
Federal Communications Commission

__________     _______________________       __________     
______________________
Date      (CenturyTel Signature)             Date      Kris 
Anne Monteith 
                                             Chief, 
Enforcement Bureau
_________________________

147 U.S.C. § 214(e)(1)(B); 47 C.F.R. §§ 54.405(b), 54.411(d).

247 U.S.C. § 154(i).

347 C.F.R. §§ 0.111, 0.311.

447 U.S.C. § 214(e)(1)(B); 47 C.F.R. §§ 54.405(b), 
   54.411(d).

547 U.S.C. § 214.

6See  Letter  of  Inquiry   from  Colleen  Heitkamp,  Chief, 
Telecommunications  Consumers Division,  Enforcement Bureau, 
to  John  F.  Jones,   Vice  President,  Federal  Government 
Relations, CenturyTel, Inc. (October 7, 2003).

7See  Letter  of  Inquiry   from  Colleen  Heitkamp,  Chief, 
Telecommunications  Consumers Division,  Enforcement Bureau, 
to   John  F.  Jones,  Vice  President,  Federal  Government 
Relations, CenturyTel, Inc. (April 6, 2004).

8See Letter from Terrance Hinkston, Compliance Specialist, 
CenturyTel, Inc., to Lynn Vermillera, Attorney, 
Telecommunications Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau 
(November 17, 2003) (``November 17, 2003 Response'').

9See Letter from Robert D. Shannon, Federal Government 
Relations, CenturyTel, Inc. to Cynthia Bryant, Attorney, 
Telecommunications Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau 
(April 26, 2004) (``April 26, 2004 Response'').

10See Letter from Mark Stone, Deputy Chief, 
Telecommunications Consumers Division, Enforcement Bureau, 
to Karen Brinkmann, Latham and Watkins, LLP, and John F. 
Jones, Vice President, Federal Government Relations, 
CenturyTel, Inc. (November 9, 2004).

11See Letter from Karen Brinkmann and Manu Gayatrinath, 
Latham & Watkins, LLP, and John F. Jones, Director, Federal 
Government Relations, CenturyTel, Inc., to Mark Stone and 
Donna Cyrus, Telecommunications Consumers Division, 
Enforcement Bureau (November 19, 2004) (``November 19, 2004 
Response'').

12See Letter from Karen Brinkmann and Manu Gayatrinath, 
Latham & Watkins, LLP, and John F. Jones, Director, Federal 
Government Relations, CenturyTel, Inc. to Mark Stone and 
Donna Cyrus, Telecommunications Consumers Division, 
Enforcement Bureau (January 14, 2005) (``January 14, 2005 
Response'').

13See Letter from Karen Brinkmann and Manu Gayatrinath, 
Latham & Watkins, LLP, and John F. Jones, Director, Federal 
Government Relations, CenturyTel, Inc. to Mark Stone and 
Donna Cyrus, Telecommunications Consumers Division, 
Enforcement Bureau (January 26, 2005) (``January 26, 2005 
Response'').

14See the November 17, 2003 Response, April 26, 2004 
Response, November 19, 2004 Response, January 14, 2005 
Response, and the January 26, 2005 Response.