Exhibit 10.2(d)(iii)
[ CenturyTel Letterhead ]
THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES
THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
May 7, 2004
FORM OF
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
UNDER THE CENTURYTEL, INC.
2002 DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN
[Name and Address of Recipient]
Dear ________________:
In consideration of your agreement to serve on the Board of Directors of CenturyTel, Inc. (the
“Company”), on May 7, 2004 you were granted an option (the “Option”) to purchase of 6,000 shares of
common stock of the Company, $1.00 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), under the CenturyTel, Inc.
2002 Directors Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan.
You hereby acknowledge that the Company has previously furnished you with a copy of the Plan and the
Memorandum/Prospectus for the Plan.
The Option exercise price is $29.70 per share (the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on
the date of grant) payable in full at the time of exercise, either in the form of cash, check, Common Stock held for
six months (unless otherwise permitted by the Compensation Committee) or through a broker-assisted exercise,
as described in the Plan. Under the terms of the Plan, your Option becomes exercisable beginning on May 7,
2005 and expires on May 7, 2014 unless it terminates earlier under the circumstances described in Sections 6.5
and 8.3 of the Plan. Appropriate adjustments will be made to the number and class of shares of Common Stock
subject to the Option and to the exercise price in certain situations described in Section 7 of the Plan. When you
wish to exercise an Option, in whole or in part, please refer to the provisions of the Plan dealing with the
procedures for exercise.
Upon exercise of your Option you will receive one preference share purchase right for each share of
Common Stock issued. These rights are described in more detail in the Memorandum/Prospectus for