MONROE, La. and OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 2 /PRNewswire- FirstCall/ -- CenturyTel, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) and EMBARQ Corporation (NYSE: EQ) today announce the selection of CenturyLink as the name of their combined company.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090602/ DA26511LOGO)

The company will begin operating under the corporate name CenturyLink immediately upon the closing of the transaction. CenturyLink expects to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CTL, the current symbol of CenturyTel, Inc. and will be found on the Internet at www.centurylink.com.

"Our new brand name was selected because our customers and employees told us it reflected a company that is forward-looking and committed to linking the country together," said Glen F. Post III, who will be chief executive officer of CenturyLink.

"CenturyLink is a company that embodies the idea of 'moving forward'--helping its customers and employees enjoy the benefit of the latest technologies and excellent customer service through the company's determination, accessibility and value delivery," Post said.

Full deployment of the brand is expected to occur in the months following closing. As markets are converted to the new brand, customers will receive advance notification and CenturyLink will begin to appear on building signage, company vehicles and marketing materials.

To support the new name, Post added that a new logo had been selected to represent the power of connecting people and businesses to each other and to new opportunities, both locally and nationally.

The closing of the merger of the two companies remains subject to the required and pending federal regulatory approval.

Monigle Associates, a brand consulting agency based in Denver, Colo., was a key partner in the development of the brand strategy, name and logo.

About CenturyTel

CenturyTel (NYSE: CTL) is a leading provider of communications, high-speed Internet and entertainment services in small-to-mid-size cities through our broadband and fiber transport networks. Included in the S&P 500 Index, CenturyTel delivers advanced communications with a personal touch to customers in 25 states. Visit us at www.centurytel.com.

About EMBARQ

Embarq Corporation (NYSE: EQ), headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, offers a complete suite of communications services. EMBARQ has operations in 18 states and is in the Fortune 500(R) list of America's largest corporations. For consumers, EMBARQ offers an innovative portfolio of services that includes reliable local and long distance home phone service, high-speed Internet, wireless, and satellite TV from DISH Network(R) -- all on one monthly bill.