Exhibit 99.1


                                                       Citizens Communications
                                                       3 High Ridge Park
                                                       Stamford, CT 06905
                                                       203.614.5600
                                                       Web site: www.czn.net
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Michael Bromley
Investor Relations
203.614.5218
MBromley@czn.com



                    CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS APPOINTS NEW CFO


Stamford,  Conn., March 22, 2006: Citizens Communications Company (NYSE: CZN) is
pleased to announce  that Donald R.  Shassian will join the company on April 17,
2006 as Chief Financial  Officer.  He succeeds Jerry Elliott,  who was appointed
President of Citizens Communications Company in December 2005.

Since  2001,  Mr.   Shassian  has  been  providing  M&A  consulting  to  several
communications  companies  including AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications) and
Consolidated  Communications  Inc., and most recently  served as the CFO for the
Northeast region of Health Net, Inc., a managed healthcare company.

In 1999 and 2000, Mr. Shassian was with RSL Communications, Ltd., a $1.6 billion
international voice and data communications  provider in 22 countries. He joined
RSL in 1999 as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial  Officer and was
later promoted to Chief Operating Officer.

Prior to 1999, Mr.  Shassian was the Senior Vice  President and Chief  Financial
Officer for Southern New England  Telecommunications  Corp. (SNET),  which was a
provider of communications,  information and entertainment  services in southern
New England with more than $2 billion in revenues and 10,000  employees.  He was
responsible  for the successful  negotiation,  sale and integration of SNET into
SBC Communications in 1998.

Prior to joining SNET in December  1993, Mr.  Shassian was with Arthur  Andersen
for more than 16 years. His last position there was as the  Partner-in-Charge of
the Telecommunications Industry Practice in North America.

A graduate of Bucknell  University with a B.S. in Business  Administration,  Mr.
Shassian is also a C.P.A.  He will report to Maggie  Wilderotter,  Chairman  and
CEO. Ms. Wilderotter  remarked,  "I am delighted to welcome Don to Citizens.  We
value his experience in the communications industry, his integrity and his track
record  as a  results-driven  decision  maker  who  offers  sound  business  and
financial  solutions.  I look  forward  to working  closely  with him and to his
joining our Senior Leadership Team."
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About Citizens Communications
As of December 31, 2005, the company had 2.5 million  revenue  generating  units
(RGUs), which consist of access lines plus high-speed Internet subscribers.  The
company operates in 23 states under the brand name of Frontier. The company also
offers television in partnership with EchoStar's DISH Network, ESPN360 streaming
video,  security  solutions  and  other  communications  services  and  products
including  bundled  services for families,  small businesses or home offices and
more. For more information, visit www.czn.net and www.frontier.myway.com

This document contains forward-looking  statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties  that could cause actual results to differ  materially  from those
expressed or implied in the statements. These and all forward-looking statements
(including oral  representations)  are only predictions or statements of current
plans that are  constantly  under  review by the  company.  All  forward-looking
statements may differ from actual results.  The foregoing  information should be
read in  conjunction  with the company's  filings with the U.S.  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  including,  but not limited to,  reports on Forms 10-K and
10-Q.  The  company  does not intend to update or revise  these  forward-looking
statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

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