Verizon to Complete Sale of Local Telephone Properties in Missouri to CenturyTel on Aug. 31

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Verizon expects to complete the sale to CenturyTel of approximately 370,000 telephone access lines serving 98 exchanges in Missouri on Aug. 31. The companies announced the sales agreement Oct. 22, 2001.

Under the terms of the agreement, CenturyTel will assume ownership of all former Verizon local telephone exchanges in Missouri on Sept. 1, and about 525 Verizon employees in Missouri will become employees of CenturyTel.

The sale will have no impact on local telephone service or rates. All local telephone customer accounts will automatically transfer to CenturyTel, and customers will receive bills from CenturyTel in September.

Verizon will continue to provide long-distance, wireless, dial-up Internet and directory publishing services to Missouri customers.

The following exchanges in Missouri will be acquired by CenturyTel: Alton, Ashland, Augusta, Ava, Belle, Bland, Blue Eye, Bourbon, Bradleyville, Branson (2), Buffalo, Cabool, Cape Fair, Cassville, Caulfield, Cedar Creek, Centralia, Chamois, Clark, Columbia (3), Conway, Crane, Cross Timbers, Cuba, Dardenne, Defiance, Dora, Elkland, Exeter, Foley, Fordland, Foristell, Forsyth, Gainesville, Galena, Hallsville, Hawk Point, Hermann, Hermitage, High Hill, Highlandville, Holstein, Hurley, Jamestown, Jenkins, Jonesburg, Kimberling City, Koshkonong, Leasburg, Louisburg, Mano, Mansfield, Marshfield, Marthasville, Morrison, Moscow Mills, Mount Sterling, Mountain View, New Melle, Niangua, O'Fallon, Old Monroe, Ozark, Pittsburg, Prairie Home, Preston, Protem, Reeds Springs, Rocheport, Rockaway Beach, Safe, Seymour, Shell Knob, Sparta, St. James, St. Peters, Sturgeon, Summersville, Thayer, Theodosia, Thomasville, Troy, Truxton, Urbana, Vichy, Warrenton, Washburn, Wasola, Wentzville, West Plains, Wheatland, Willow Springs, Winfield, Woolridge, and Wright City.

Customers can reach CenturyTel for repair, billing, residential and business services at these numbers:

• Residential telephone service: 800-201-4099 (7 a.m.-6 p.m., CDT, M-F)

• Business telephone service: 800-201-4102 (7 a.m.-5 p.m., CDT, M-F)

• Collections and late payments: 888-646-0004 (7 a.m.-9 p.m., CDT, M-F)

• Telephone Repair: 800-824-2877 (24 hours/seven days a week)

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.1 million access line equivalents and 30.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and approximately 241,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

CenturyTel, Inc. provides communications services including local exchange, long distance, Internet access and data services to more than three million customers in 22 states. The company, headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL. CenturyTel is the 8th largest local exchange telephone company, based on access lines, in the United States. Visit CenturyTel's corporate Web site at www.centurytel.com.

# # #