(8)       Commitments and Contingencies

Litigation, Disputes, and Regulatory Matters

We are involved in various lawsuits, billing disputes, legal proceedings, and regulatory matters that have arisen from time to time in the normal course of business. While the ultimate results of these items cannot be predicted with certainty we do not expect, at this time, that the resolution of them will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity. In addition we are involved in the following matters:

• In September 2008, the FCC's Office of Inspector General initiated an investigation regarding Alaska DigiTel LLC's (“Alaska DigiTel”) compliance with program rules and requirements under the Lifeline Program. The request covered the period beginning January 1, 2004 through August 31, 2008 and related to amounts received for Lifeline service. Alaska DigiTel was an Alaska based wireless communications company of which we acquired an 81.9% equity interest on January 2, 2007 and the remaining 18.1% equity interest on August 18, 2008 and was subsequently merged with one of our wholly owned subsidiaries in April 2009. Prior to August 18, 2008, our control over the operations of Alaska DigiTel was limited as required by the FCC upon its approval of our initial acquisition completed in January 2007. We responded to this request on behalf of Alaska DigiTel and the GCI companies as affiliates. On January 18, 2011 we reached an agreement with the FCC and the Department of Justice to settle the matter, which required us to contribute $1.6 million to the United States Treasury and granted us a broad release of claims including those under the False Claims Act. The $1.6 million contribution was recognized in our 2008 through 2010 income statements and was paid in January 2011; and
• In August 2010, a GCI-owned aircraft was involved in an accident resulting in five fatalities and injuries to the remaining four passengers on board.  We had aircraft and liability insurance coverage in effect at the time of the accident. As of September 30, 2012, all claims paid out have been covered by insurance and were recorded net of these recoveries in our Consolidated Income Statements. Subsequent to September 30, 2012, final payments on all resolved claims were made and with the exception of any potential claims for environmental remediation, the claims related to the accident have been resolved within policy limits. We cannot predict the likelihood or nature of any potential claims for environmental remediation.

Universal Service

As an ETC, we receive support from the USF to provide wireline local access and wireless service in high cost areas. On November 29, 2011, the FCC published the High Cost Order which divided support to Alaska between Urban and Remote areas. CETCs serving Urban areas that generally include Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau will follow national reforms, had support per provider per service area capped as of January 1, 2012, and a five-step phase-down commenced on July 1, 2012. In addition to broader reforms, the FCC tailored revisions specifically for CETCs serving Remote Alaska, intended to address the unique challenges for serving these areas. Support to these locations is capped and is being distributed on a per-line basis until the later of July 1, 2014, or the last full month prior to the implementation of a successor funding mechanism. A further rulemaking to consider successor funding mechanisms is underway. We cannot predict at this time the outcome of this proceeding or its effect on Remote high cost support available to us, but our revenue for providing local services in these areas would be materially adversely affected by a substantial reduction of USF support.

Lifeline Support

On February 6, 2012, the FCC released its Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to comprehensively reform and modernize the USF's Lifeline program. The Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) and is designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income customers at affordable rates. We participate in the Lifeline program and recognized $3.3 million and $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and $11.3 million and $12.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Following are the significant reforms included in the order:

• The order adopted on an interim basis a flat rate of $9.25 to replace the support previously available under Tier I through Tier III support mechanisms as defined by USAC. The replacement support reduced the wireless subscriber per line support $0.75 and took effect in August 2012. This change did not have a material impact on our income statement, financial position or cash flows. The FCC intends to further investigate whether this support amount is reasonable over the long term in the further rulemaking.
• The order adopted a requirement for annual recertification of all Lifeline subscribers enrolled as of June 1, 2012, to be completed by the end of 2012. We have made significant progress toward completing the annual recertification process and do not expect this new rule to have a material impact on our income statement, financial position or cash flows.
• The order adopted a “one per household” rule with “household” defined as an “economic unit.” We do not expect this new rule to have a material impact on our income statement, financial position or cash flows.

The order adopted several other reforms but they are expected to have an insignificant or no impact on our income statement, financial position or cash flows.

In April 2012, the Office of Management and Budget rejected a requirement for biennial audits for all ETCs receiving more than $5.0 million annually from Lifeline.

As a related matter, in April 2012, the RCA issued a notice of inquiry to consider whether to modify the state-funded component of Lifeline support, which is currently $3.50 per month.   In May 2012, we responded in favor of preserving the current level of support. We cannot predict the outcome of the support review proceedings or the impact on our income statement, financial position or cash flows.

Wireless Acquisition

On June 4, 2012, we entered into an Asset Purchase and Contribution Agreement (“Wireless Agreement”) by and among Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“ACS”), GCI, ACS Wireless, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ACS (“ACS Member”), GCI Wireless Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, and The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC (“AWN”), a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, pursuant to which the parties have agreed to contribute the respective wireless network assets of GCI, ACS and their affiliates to AWN. We entered into this agreement to provide a robust, statewide network with the spectrum mix, scale, advanced technology and cost structure necessary to compete with Verizon and AT&T in Alaska. After the transaction closes AWN will provide wholesale services to GCI and ACS.  GCI and ACS will use the AWN network in order to continue to sell services to their respective retail customers. GCI and ACS will continue to compete against each other and other wireless providers in the retail market.

Under the terms of the Wireless Agreement, we agreed to purchase certain wireless network assets from ACS and its affiliates for $100.0 million and we will contribute the purchased assets, our wireless network assets and certain Indefeasible Right to Use (“IRU”) capacity to AWN. ACS also agreed to contribute its remaining wireless network assets and certain IRU capacity to AWN. Upon the contribution of assets to AWN, ACS Member will own one-third of AWN and we will own two-thirds of AWN. ACS Member will be entitled to receive preferential cash distributions totaling $190.0 million over the first four years of AWN's operations and we will be entitled to all remaining cash distributions during that period. We anticipate that the $190.0 million preferential distributions to ACS will constitute approximately $60.0 million in excess of the distributions otherwise attributable to their ownership percentage during such period. Following the initial four year period, we and ACS Member will receive distributions proportional to our ownership interests. We are evaluating the accounting treatment for this transaction.

The closing of the transactions is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental and third party consents and approvals and the expiration of any applicable waiting periods under competition laws, including the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. The transactions are expected to close by the second quarter of 2013.