SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                   FORM 12b-25

                                               Commission File Number 1-7784

     NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING


(Check One):   [_] Form 10-K    [X] Form 11-K    [_] Form 20-F    [_] Form 10-Q
               [_] Form N-SAR

          For Period Ended:          DECEMBER 31, 2000
                                     -----------------
     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 20-F

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 11-K

     [_]  Transition Report on Form 10-Q

     [_]  Transition Report on Form N-SAR

          For the Transition Period Ended:  N/A
                                            ---
     Read attached instruction sheet before preparing form. Please print or
type.

     Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
verified any information contained herein.

     If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above,
identify the item(s) to which the notification relates:     N/A
                                                         ----------



PART I -    REGISTRANT INFORMATION


Full Name of Plan -     CENTURYTEL, INC. DOLLARS AND SENSE PLAN
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

Full Name of Registrant -    CENTURYTEL, INC.
                           -----------------------------------------------------

Address of principal executive office - 100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE, MONROE, LA. 71203
                                        ----------------------------------------


PART II - RULE 12b-25(b) AND (c)

     If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable effort or
expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the
following should be completed. (Check box if appropriate.)

 [X] |    (a)  The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this
     |         form  could  not be  eliminated  without  unreasonable  effort or
     |         expense;
     |
 [X] |    (b)  The subject annual report,  semi-annual report, transition report
     |         on Form 10-K,  20-F,  11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof will
     |         be filed  on or  before  the  15th  calendar  day  following  the
     |         prescribed  due  date;  or  the  subject   quarterly   report  or
     |         transition  report on Form 10-Q, or portion thereof will be filed
     |         on or before the fifth  calendar day following the prescribed due
     |         date; and
     |
     |    (c)  The  accountant's  statement  or other  exhibit  required by Rule
     |         12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.


PART III - NARRATIVE

     State below in reasonable detail why the Form 10-K, 11-K, 20-F, 10-Q, N-SAR
or the transition report portion thereof could not be filed within the
prescribed time period. (Attach extra sheets if needed.)

          The  CenturyTel,  Inc.  Dollars  and Sense Plan is  administered  by a
     third-party plan trustee.  The plan changed trustees effective September 1,
     2000.  The  non-discrimination  testing  that  must be  performed  prior to
     completion  of the  plan's  Annual  Report on Form 11-K for the year  ended
     December 31, 2000 (the "Report") has been delayed due to the plan initially
     receiving incorrect data from the previous plan trustee. The corrected data
     has been  received  by the  plan  and it is  currently  in the  process  of
     performing the non-discrimination testing. The plan expects to complete the
     required   non-discrimination   testing   and  file  the   Report  and  the
     accompanying Financial Statements prior to the date indicated in Part II(b)
     above.

PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION

(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
     notification

        NEIL A. SWEASY                             (318) 388-9817
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            (Name)                         (Area Code) (Telephone Number)

(2)  Have all other periodic reports required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment Company Act
     of 1940 during the preceding 12 months or for such shorter period that the
     registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed? If the answer is
     no, identify report(s).
                                                                [X] Yes  [_] No

(3)  Is it anticipated that any significant change in results of operations from
     the corresponding period for the last fiscal year will be reflected by the
     earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion
     thereof?
                                             N/A                [_] Yes  [_] No

     If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both narratively
and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable
estimate of the results cannot be made.


               CENTURYTEL, INC. DOLLARS AND SENSE PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name of Plan filing this Form)

Has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.


Date  JUNE 29, 2001                By   /s/ R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
    -------------------            ---------------------------------------------
                                        R. Stewart Ewing, Jr.
                                        Retirement Committee Member and
                                         Executive Officer of CenturyTel, Inc.


          INSTRUCTION: The form may be signed by an executive officer of the
     registrant or by any other duly authorized representative. The name and
     title of the person signing the form shall be typed or printed beneath the
     signature. If the statement is signed on behalf of the registrant by an
     authorized representative (other than an executive officer), evidence of
     the representative's authority to sign on behalf of the registrant shall be
     filed with the form.


                                    ATTENTION

     Intentional  misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal Criminal
Violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001).