UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 4
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
( ) Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16.
Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instructions 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person
   Leonard  Tow
   Three High Ridge Park
   CT, Stamford 06905
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
   Citizens Communications Company (CZN)

3. IRS or Social Security Number of Reporting Person (Voluntary)

4. Statement for Month/Day/Year
   5/16/2002
5. If Amendment, Date of Original (Month/Day/Year)
   5/16/2002
6. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)
   (X) Director ( ) 10% Owner (X) Officer (give title below) ( ) Other
   (specify below)
   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
7. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
   (X) Form filed by One Reporting Person
   ( ) Form filed by More than One Reporting Person


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 Table I -- Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                 |
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1. Title of Security|2.    |2A.   |3.    |4.Securities Acquired (A)         |5.Amount of        |6.Dir |7.Nature of Indirect       |
                    |Trans-|Exec- |Trans |  or Disposed of (D)              |  Securities       |ect   |  Beneficial Ownership     |
                    |action|ution |action|                                  |  Beneficially     |(D)or |                           |
                    |      |      |    | |                  | A/|           |  Owned Following  |Indir |                           |
                    |Date  | Date |Code|V|    Amount        | D |    Price  |  Reported Trans(s)|ect(I)|                           |
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Common Stock        |5/16/ |      |A   | |150000.00         |A  |           |2558601.00         |D     |                           |
                    |2002  |      |    | |                  |   |           |                   |      |                           |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |1946.00            |D     |IRA                        |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |88.00              |D     |Joint w/Spouse             |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |16369.00           |I     |401(k)                     |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |5394022.00         |I     |LLC 1                      |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |1586.00            |I     |Spousal IRA 2              |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |2860.00            |I     |Spouse 2                   |
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Common Stock        |      |      |    | |                  |   |           |32369.00           |I     |Spouse as Custodian 3      |
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 Table II -- Derivative Securitites Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned                                                   |
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1.Title of   |2.Con-  |3.     |3A.   |4.    |5.Number of De |6.Date Exer|7.Title and Amount  |8.Price|9.Number    |10.|11.Nature of|
  Derivative |version |Trans- |Deemed|Trans-| rivative Secu |cisable and|  of Underlying     |of Deri|of Deriva   |Dir|Indirect    |
  Security   |or Exer |action |      |action| rities Acqui  |Expiration |  Securities        |vative |tive        |ect|Beneficial  |
             |cise    |       |Execu-|      | red(A) or Dis |Date(Month/|                    |Secu   |Securities  |(D)|Ownership   |
             |Price of|       |ution |      | posed of(D)   |Day/Year)  |                    |rity   |Benefi      |or |            |
             |Deriva- |       |      |      |               |Date |Expir|                    |       |ficially    |Ind|            |
             |tive    |       |      |      |           | A/|Exer-|ation|   Title and Number |       |Owned Follow|ire|            |
             |Secu-   |(Month/|(Month|    | |           | D |cisa-|Date |   of Shares        |       |ing Reported|ct |            |
             |rity    |Day/   |/Day/ |Code|V|  Amount   |   |ble  |     |                    |       |Trans-      |(I)|            |
             |        |Year)  |Year) |    | |           |   |     |     |                    |       |action(s)   |   |            |
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Employee Stoc|9.52    |5/16/ 2|      |A   | |150000.00  |A  |4    |5/15/|Common Stock|150000.|       |            |D  |            |
k Option (Rig|        |002    |      |    | |           |   |     |2012 |            |00     |       |            |   |            |
ht to Buy)   |        |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Employee Stoc|9.52    |5/19/ 2|      |A   | |500000.00  |A  |05/16|5/15/|Common Stock|500000.|       |650000.00   |D  |            |
k Option (Rig|        |002    |      |    | |           |   |/2002|2012 |            |00     |       |            |   |            |
ht to Buy)   |        |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Formula Plan |10.6212 |1/1/ 20|      |A   | |5000.00    |A  |07/01|01/01|Common Stock|5000.00|       |5000.00     |I  |Spouse 2    |
Options (Righ|        |02     |      |    | |           |   |/2002|/2012|            |       |       |            |   |            |
t to Buy)    |        |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Phantom Stock|1 for 1 |       |      |    | |           |   |6    |6    |Common Stock|       |       |152227.64   |D  |            |
 Units       |5       |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Phantom Stock|1 for 1 |1/1/ 20|      |A   | |5000.00    |A  |7    |7    |Common Stock|5000.00|       |33671.56    |I  |Spouse 2    |
 Units       |        |02     |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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             |        |       |      |    | |           |   |     |     |            |       |       |            |   |            |
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Explanation of Responses:
1. Shares held directly by Lantern Investment Company LLC. Reporting Person is
the sole member.
2. Securities held directly by spouse.  Reporting Person disclaims any
beneficial ownership of securities and any direct or indirect control or voting
power over the securities.
3. Reporting Person's spouse is custodian for her minor grandchild.
4. Shares vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first
anniversary of the grant.
5. Acquired on various dates between January 31, and December 31, 2001,
pursuant to deferred compensation plan, at prices ranging from $8.89 to $15.46.
6. Shares of phantom stock are payable in cash following termination of the
Reporting Person's employment or at the end of the designated deferral period
of two, five or ten years.
7. Pursuant to Spouse's election to receive Director's Fees in units; units are
to be settled after Spouse's retirement.
SIGNATURE OF REPORTING PERSON
Leonard  Tow
Leonard Tow by L. Russell Mitten Under Power-of-Attorney