SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 9, 2002




                        CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


            Delaware                      001-11001              06-0619596
  (State or other jurisdiction          (Commission           (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)                File Number)         Identification No.)

                                3 High Ridge Park
                           Stamford, Connecticut 06905
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                                 (203) 614-5600
               (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



                           No Change Since Last Report
                 ----------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

<PAGE>

Item 5.   Other Events.

          Citizens  Communications  today  provided  2002 guidance for its rural
          local exchange  carrier (RLEC) and competitive  local exchange carrier
          (CLEC) operations.

Item 7.   Financial Statements, Exhibits

          (c) Exhibits

          99.1 Press Release of Citizens Communicaitons Company released January
          9, 2002 providing  2002 guidance for its rural local exchange  carrier
          (RLEC) and competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) operations.


<PAGE>


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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Donald B. Armour
Vice President, Finance
(203) 614-5124
darmour@czn.com

               CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR 2002

STAMFORD,  Conn., Jan. 9, 2002 - Citizens  Communications (NYSE: CZN, CZB) today
provided  2002  guidance  for  its  rural  local  exchange  carrier  (RLEC)  and
competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) operations. Guidance for the company's
2.5-million  access  lines RLEC  business is revenue of $2.1  billion;  Adjusted
EBITDA   (operating   income  plus   depreciation  and   amortization),   before
restructuring  expenses,  of  $1.09  billion;  capital  expenditures  of  $437.5
million;  interest  expense  of  $420.0  million;  and free  cash flow of $232.5
million.

For Electric Lightwave,  Inc. (NASDAQ: ELIX), a CLEC that is 85 percent owned by
Citizens  Communications,  2002 guidance is revenue of $250.0 million;  Adjusted
EBITDA of $22.0 million; and capital expenditures of $75.0 million.

About Citizens Communications
Citizens  Communications serves 2.5 million telephone access lines in 24 states.
Citizens  owns  approximately  85  percent  of  Electric   Lightwave,   Inc.,  a
facilities-based,  integrated  communications provider that offers a broad range
of  services  to  telecommunications-intensive  businesses  in  the  West.  More
information  on Citizens can be found at  www.czn.net.  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  because of, but not limited to, changes in the local
and  overall  economy,   changes  in  market  conditions  for  debt  and  equity
securities,  the  nature  and pace of  technological  changes,  the  number  and
effectiveness  of  competitors  in the  company's  markets,  success  in overall
strategy,  changes in legal or regulatory  policy,  changes in legislation,  the
company's  ability to identify future markets and  successfully  expand existing
ones, the mix of products and services  offered in the company's target markets,
the effects of  acquisitions  and  dispositions  and the ability to  effectively
integrate businesses  acquired.  These important factors should be considered in
evaluating any statement  contained herein and/or made buy the company or on its
behalf.  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. ###



<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------




Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




                         CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
                         -------------------------------
                                  (Registrant)




                         By: /s/   Donald Armour
                            -----------------------
                            Donald Armour
                            Vice President, Finance and Treasurer



Date: January 9, 2002