Exhibit 99.1


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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Michael Bromley
203.614.5218
mbromley@czn.com

           Citizens Communications Reports 2006 First-Quarter Results

Stamford,  Conn.,  May 3,  2006  --  Citizens  Communications  (NYSE:CZN)  today
reported  first quarter 2006  revenues of $506.9  million;  operating  income of
$157.3  million;  and net  income of $50.5  million.  The  results  of  Electric
Lightwave  are  classified  as  discontinued  operations  and  therefore are not
reflected in revenue or operating income.

First quarter 2006 revenue  increased 1.0 percent  compared to the first quarter
of 2005.  The increase is due primarily to growth in data and internet  services
revenue and higher access service.  Data and internet services revenue increased
30.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Operating  expenses  included a pre-tax  charge of $3.7  million  for  severance
payments  associated  with  an  early  retirement  program  offered  to  certain
employees  during  the  first  quarter  of 2006.  The  program  resulted  in the
reduction  of 62  employees.  The  company  expects to realize  annualized  cost
savings of approximately $3.9 million from this headcount reduction.

Depreciation  expense for the first quarter of 2006  decreased  $12.1 million as
compared to the first quarter of 2005. The decrease is due to a declining  asset
base and changes in the remaining  useful lives of certain  assets as determined
by an independent study. We expect that our depreciation expense will decline in
2006 to approximately $350.0 million or by 11 percent compared to 2005.

The company added 19,400  high-speed  internet  customers during the quarter and
had 330,800  high-speed  data  subscribers  at March 31, 2006. The number of the
company's  high-speed internet  subscribers has increased by more than 88,000 or
36.3 percent from a year ago.

Operating  income for the first quarter of 2006 was $157.3 million and operating
income margin was 31.0 percent,  compared to $144.5  million and 28.8 percent in
the first quarter of 2005. Capital expenditures for the Frontier operations were
$43.8 million for the first quarter of 2006.


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Free  cash  flow was  $159.5  million  during  the first  quarter  of 2006.  The
company's  dividend  represents a payout of 51.8  percent of first  quarter 2006
free cash flow.

During the first  quarter,  the company  repurchased  $37.9 million or 2,802,900
shares of its common stock and  exchanged  $47.5 million of debt due in 2008 for
debt that matures in 2031.

The company received approximately $64.6 million in cash upon the liquidation of
the Rural  Telephone  Bank  during  April  2006.  In  addition,  the  previously
announced sale of Electric  Lightwave,  LLC (ELI) for $247.0 million  (including
$243.0 million in cash) is expected to close during the third quarter of 2006.

The  company  uses  certain  non-GAAP   financial  measures  in  evaluating  its
performance.  These include free cash flow. A reconciliation  of the differences
between free cash flow and the most comparable  financial measure calculated and
presented in  accordance  with GAAP is included in the tables that  follow.  The
non-GAAP  financial  measures  are  by  definition  not  measures  of  financial
performance  under  generally  accepted   accounting   principles  and  are  not
alternatives  to operating  income or net income  reflected in the  statement of
operations  or to cash flow as reflected in the  statement of cash flows and are
not  necessarily  indicative of cash available to fund all cash flow needs.  The
non-GAAP  financial  measures  used  by the  company  may not be  comparable  to
similarly titled measures of other companies.

The company believes that presentation of non-GAAP  financial  measures provides
useful information to investors  regarding the company's financial condition and
results of operations  because these  measures,  when used in  conjunction  with
related GAAP financial measures,  (i) together provide a more comprehensive view
of the company's core operations and ability to generate cash flow, (ii) provide
investors with the financial  analytical  framework upon which  management bases
financial,  operational, compensation and planning decisions, and (iii) presents
measurements that investors and rating agencies have indicated to management are
useful  to  them  in  assessing  the  company  and its  results  of  operations.
Management  uses these  non-GAAP  financial  measures  to plan and  measure  the
performance of its core  operations and its divisions  measure  performance  and
report to  management  based upon  these  measures.  In  addition,  the  company
believes that free cash flow, as the company defines it, can assist in comparing
performance from period to period, without taking into account factors affecting
cash flow reflected in the statement of cash flows, including changes in working
capital and the timing of purchases and payments.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to (i) assist in analyzing the
company's underlying financial  performance from period to period, (ii) evaluate
the  financial  performance  of its business  units,  (iii) analyze and evaluate
strategic and operational  decisions,  (iv) establish  criteria for compensation
decisions,  and (v) assist  management in understanding the company's ability to
generate cash flow and, as a result,  to plan for future capital and operational
decisions. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with
related  GAAP  financial  measures.  The  company  believes  that  the  non-GAAP
financial measures are meaningful and useful for the reasons outlined above.

While the company  utilizes  these non-GAAP  financial  measures in managing and
analyzing its business and  financial  condition and believes they are useful to
management  and to investors for the reasons  described  above,  these  non-GAAP
financial measures have certain shortcomings. In particular, free cash flow does


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not represent the residual cash flow available for  discretionary  expenditures,
since items such as debt  repayments  and  dividends  are not deducted from such
measure.  Management  compensates  for the  shortcomings  of these  measures  by
utilizing them in conjunction with their comparable GAAP financial measures. The
information  in this  press  release  should  be read in  conjunction  with  the
financial  statements and footnotes  contained in our documents to be filed with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.



About Citizens Communications
More information about Citizens can be found at www.czn.net.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to
the safe harbor  provisions of The Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of
1995.  These  statements  are  made  on the  basis  of  management's  views  and
assumptions  regarding  future  events and business  performance.  Words such as
"believe,"  "anticipate,"  "expect," and  similar  expressions  are  intended to
identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements (including oral
representations)  involve risks and uncertainties  that may cause actual results
to differ  materially  from any  future  results,  performance  or  achievements
expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties are based
on a number of factors, including but not limited to: our ability to effectively
manage our operations,  costs and capital spending;  our ability to successfully
introduce new product offerings, including bundled service packages; our ability
to sell  enhanced  services;  our  ability  to  comply  with  federal  and state
regulations;  changes in the number of our revenue generating units; general and
local economic and employment conditions;  the effects of ongoing changes in the
regulation   of   the   communications   industry;   overall   changes   in  the
telecommunications   market;  and  greater  than  anticipated  competition  from
wireless or wireline carriers.  In addition,  we may be unable to implement some
of our current  business  initiatives  if we fail to  recognize  the benefits we
expect to receive from certain  transactions,  including but not limited to, the
anticipated  sale of ELI and the liquidation of Rural Telephone Bank.  These and
other  uncertainties  related to our business are described in greater detail in
our filings with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  including our reports
on Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly  update or revise
any forward-looking  statement or to make any other forward-looking  statements,
whether  as a result  of new  information,  future  events or  otherwise  unless
required to do so by securities laws.




                                       ###


TABLES TO FOLLOW

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Citizens Communications Company
                         Consolidated Financial Data (1)
                                   (unaudited)

                                                                                    For the quarter ended
                                                                    -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                      March 31,          March 31,                %
(Amounts in thousands, except per-share amounts)                        2006               2005                 Change
                                                                    ---------------    ---------------   ----------------

Income Statement Data
<S>                                                                      <C>                <C>                   <C>
      Revenue                                                            $ 506,861          $ 502,334             1%
      Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)         40,218             39,722             1%
      Other operating expenses                                             184,624            181,772             2%
      Stock based compensation                                               2,677              2,265            18%
      Depreciation and amortization                                        122,004            134,094            -9%
      Operating income                                                     157,338            144,481             9%
      Investment and other income (loss), net                               (1,351)             3,968          -134%
      Interest expense (includes interest on convertible debt)              85,393             83,725             2%
      Income tax expense                                                    26,607             25,216             6%
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax                              6,496              3,126           108%
Net income attributable to common shareholders                              50,483             42,634            18%

Weighted average shares outstanding                                        327,132            338,450            -3%

Basic net income per share attributable to common shareholders (2)       $    0.15          $    0.13            15%

Other Financial Data
Capital expenditures                                                     $  43,765          $  49,414           -11%
Free cash flow (3)                                                         159,490            152,686             4%

</TABLE>

(1)  In February  2006, we entered into a definitive  agreement to sell Electric
     Lightwave,  LLC (ELI),  our competitive  local exchange  carrier  business.
     Additionally,  our conferencing  business was sold on March 15, 2005. Prior
     periods have been restated to present ELI and our conferencing  business as
     discontinued operations and to reflect the consolidation of Mohave Cellular
     Limited Partnership in accordance with EITF No. 04-5.
(2)  Calculated based on weighted average shares outstanding.
(3)  A  reconciliation  to the most  comparable GAAP measure is presented at the
     end of these tables.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Citizens Communications Company
                        Financial and Operating Data (1)
                                   (unaudited)

                                                                                For the quarter ended
                                                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                                                    March 31,           March 31,         %
(Amounts in thousands, except operating data)                          2006               2005          Change
                                                                  ---------------     --------------   ---------

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Select Income Statement Data
Revenue
<S>                                                                   <C>                <C>                 <C>
     Access services                                                  $  160,968         $  156,824          3%
     Local services                                                      203,566            209,957         -3%
     Long distance services                                               39,158             43,750        -10%
     Data and internet services                                           50,358             38,609         30%
     Directory services                                                   28,797             27,963          3%
     Other                                                                24,014             25,231         -5%
Total revenue                                                            506,861            502,334          1%

Expenses
     Network access expense                                               40,218             39,722          1%
     Other operating expenses                                            184,624            181,772          2%
     Stock based compensation                                              2,677              2,265         18%
     Depreciation and amortization                                       122,004            134,094         -9%
Total expenses                                                           349,523            357,853         -2%

Operating Income
     Frontier                                                         $  157,338         $  144,481          9%

Other Financial and Operating Data
     Frontier capital expenditures                                    $   43,758         $   49,357        -11%
     Frontier access lines                                             2,192,265          2,298,510         -5%
     Frontier high-speed internet subscribers                            330,832            242,768         36%
     Frontier switched access minutes of use (in millions)                 2,654              2,882         -8%
     Frontier average monthly revenue per average access line         $    76.62         $    72.49          6%
     Frontier average monthly revenue per average RGU (2)             $    66.86         $    66.00          1%

</TABLE>

(1)  See footnote (1) on the first page.
(2)  RGUs are access lines plus high-speed internet subscribers.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Citizens Communications Company
                  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet Data (1)

(Dollars in thousands)                                       (unaudited)
                                                            March 31, 2006     December 31, 2005
                                                          -------------------  -------------------

                                ASSETS
                                ------
Current assets:
<S>                                                              <C>                  <C>
      Cash and cash equivalents                                  $   284,437          $   268,917
      Accounts receivable and other current assets                   233,608              253,634
      Assets of discontinued operations                              159,868              162,716
                                                          -------------------  -------------------
         Total current assets                                        677,913              685,267

Property, plant and equipment, net                                 3,011,649            3,058,312

Other long-term assets                                             2,654,554            2,689,156
                                                          -------------------  -------------------
             Total assets                                        $ 6,344,116          $ 6,432,735
                                                          ===================  ===================

                        LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
                        ----------------------
Current liabilities:
      Long-term debt due within one year                         $   227,695          $   227,693
      Accounts payable and other current liabilities                 321,099              372,968
      Liabilities of discontinued operations                          43,065               46,266
                                                          -------------------  -------------------
         Total current liabilities                                   591,859              646,927

Deferred income taxes and other liabilities                          782,902              748,869
Long-term debt                                                     3,975,470            3,995,130
Shareholders' equity                                                 993,885            1,041,809
                                                          -------------------  -------------------
             Total liabilities and equity                        $ 6,344,116          $ 6,432,735
                                                          ===================  ===================

</TABLE>

   (1) See footnote (1) on the first page.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Citizens Communications Company
                    Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Data (1)
                                   (unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)
                                                                    For the three months ended March 31,
                                                                   ---------------------------------------
                                                                         2006                2005
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
<S>                                                                       <C>                   <C>
Net income                                                                $  50,483             $  42,634
     Deduct: Gain on sale of discontinued operations                              -                (1,167)
             Income from discontinued operations                             (6,496)               (1,959)
Adjustments to reconcile income to net cash provided
   by operating activities:
     Depreciation and amortization expense                                  122,004               134,094
     Gain on expiration/settlement of customer advances                           -                   (80)
     Stock based compensation                                                 2,677                 2,265
     Other                                                                   (4,055)               20,809
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities                        164,613               196,596

Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from sales of assets, net of selling expenses                       -                 1,112
     Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations                                -                43,565
     Capital expenditures                                                   (43,765)              (49,414)
     Other assets (purchased) distributions received, net                       324                (1,103)
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------
Net cash used by investing activities                                       (43,441)               (5,840)

Cash flows from financing activities:
     Debt issuance costs                                                          -                  (385)
     Long-term debt payments                                                   (240)                 (259)
     Issuance of common stock                                                 9,452                 5,552
     Dividends paid                                                         (82,633)              (85,081)
     Shares repurchased                                                     (37,916)                    -
     Other                                                                     (473)               (1,237)
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------
Net cash used by financing activities                                      (111,810)              (81,410)

Cash flows of discontinued operations:
     Operating activities                                                     8,580                 8,458
     Investing activities                                                    (2,422)               (2,776)
     Financing activities                                                         -                   (48)
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------
                                                                              6,158                 5,634

Increase in cash and cash equivalents                                        15,520               114,980
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1,                                     268,917               171,797
                                                                   -----------------  --------------------

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31,                                    $ 284,437             $ 286,777
                                                                   =================  ====================

Cash paid during the period for:
     Interest                                                             $  95,079             $  71,336
     Income taxes (refunds)                                               $    (133)            $  (1,859)

(1)  See footnote (1) on the first page.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    Schedule A

    Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures (1)
    (unaudited)
                                                          For the quarter ended March 31,
                                                      -----------------------------------------
    (Dollars in thousands)                                   2006                  2005
                                                      -------------------    ------------------

    Net Income to Free Cash Flow;
    -----------------------------
       Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
       -----------------------------------------

<S>                                                           <C>                  <C>      <C>
    Net income                                                $   50,483              $ 42,634

     Add back:
       Depreciation and amortization                             122,004               134,094

       Income tax expense                                         26,607                25,216

       Stock based compensation                                    2,677                 2,265

    Subtract:
       Cash refunded for income taxes                               (133)               (1,859)

       Investment and other income (loss), net                    (1,351)                3,968

       Capital expenditures                                       43,765                49,414

                                                      -------------------    ------------------
    Free cash flow                                               159,490               152,686

     Add back:
       Deferred income taxes                                      24,163                25,109

       Noncash (gains)/losses, net                                 7,039                 2,564

       Investment and other income (loss), net                    (1,351)                3,968

       Cash refunded for income taxes                               (133)               (1,859)

       Capital expenditures                                       43,765                49,414

    Subtract:
       Changes in current assets and liabilities                  32,580                 4,679

       Income tax expense                                         26,607                25,216

       Stock based compensation                                    2,677                 2,265

       Gain on sale of discontinued operations                         -                 1,167

       Income from discontinued operations                         6,496                 1,959

                                                      -------------------    ------------------
     Net cash provided by operating activities                $   164,613             $ 196,596
                                                      ===================    ==================


</TABLE>

(1) See footnote (1) on the first page.