

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
                          -----------------------------

The Board of Directors
Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc.:


We consent to incorporation  by reference in the  Registration  Statements (No.
33-5836 and No. 33-48554) on Form S-8 of Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. of
our report dated June 12, 1998, relating to the statements of assets  available
for benefits  with fund  information  of Century  Telephone  Enterprises,  Inc.
Dollars and Sense  Plan as of  December  31,  1997 and 1996,  and the  related
statement of changes in assets available for benefits with fund information for
the year ended December 31, 1997, and related financial statement  schedules as
of and for the year ended  December  31,  1997,  which  report  appears  in the
December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 11-K of Century  Telephone  Enterprises,
Inc. Dollars and Sense Plan.



KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Shreveport, Louisiana
June 25, 1998
