Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. They should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2013, as part of our annual report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for an entire year or any other period.

 

(1) Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles

In the following discussion, GCI and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are referred to as “we,” “us” and “our.”

 

(a)       Business

GCI, an Alaska corporation, was incorporated in 1979. We offer the following services primarily in Alaska:

 

  • Postpaid and prepaid wireless telephone services and sale of wireless telephone handsets and accessories,
  • Video services,
  • Internet access services,
  • Wireless roaming for certain wireless carriers and origination and termination of wireline traffic for certain common carriers,
  • Local and long-distance voice services,
  • Data network services,
  • Broadband services, including our SchoolAccess® offering to rural school districts, our ConnectMD® offering to rural hospitals and health clinics, and managed video conferencing,
  • Managed services to certain commercial customers,
  • Sales and service of dedicated communications systems and related equipment, and
  • Lease, service arrangements and maintenance of capacity on our fiber optic cable systems used in the transmission of services within Alaska and between Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries.

 

(b)       Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of GCI and its wholly owned subsidiaries, as well as four variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for which we are the primary beneficiary after providing certain loans and guarantees. These VIEs are Terra GCI Investment Fund, LLC (“TIF”), Terra GCI 2 Investment Fund, LLC (“TIF 2”), Terra GCI 2-USB Investment Fund, LLC (“TIF 2-USB”) and Terra GCI 3 Investment Fund, LLC (“TIF 3”). TIF became a VIE on August 30, 2011. TIF 2 and TIF 2-USB became VIEs on October 3, 2012. TIF 3 became a VIE on December 11, 2012.  We also include in our consolidated financial statements non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries for which our ownership is less than 100 percent.  All significant intercompany transactions between non-regulated affiliates of our company are eliminated.   Intercompany transactions generated between regulated and non-regulated affiliates of our company are not eliminated in consolidation.

 

(c)       Non-controlling Interests

Non-controlling interests represent the equity ownership interests in consolidated subsidiaries not owned by us.  Non-controlling interests are adjusted for contributions, distributions, and loss attributable to the non-controlling interest partners of the consolidated entities.  Income and loss is allocated to the non-controlling interests based on the respective governing documents.

 

(d)       Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2012-02, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment” allows an entity to assess qualitative factors (such as changes in management, key personnel, strategy, key technology or customers) to determine if it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired and thus whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test in accordance with GAAP.  The adoption of ASU 2012-02 on January 1, 2013 did not have a material impact on our income statements, financial position or cash flows.

 

ASU 2012-04, “Technical Corrections and Improvements” includes amendments that cover a wide range of topics in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). These amendments include technical corrections and improvements to the ASC and conforming amendments related to fair value measurements. The adoption of ASU 2012-04 on January 1, 2013 did not have a material impact on our income statements, financial position or cash flows.

 

(e)       Regulatory Accounting

We account for our regulated operations in accordance with the accounting principles for regulated enterprises. This accounting recognizes the economic effects of rate regulation by recording cost and a return on investment as such amounts are recovered through rates authorized by regulatory authorities. Accordingly, plant and equipment is depreciated over lives approved by regulators and certain costs and obligations are deferred based upon approvals received from regulators to permit recovery of such amounts in future years. Our cost studies and depreciation rates for our regulated operations are subject to periodic audits that could result in a change to recorded revenues.

 

(f)       Earnings per Common Share

We compute net income per share of Class A and Class B common stock using the “two class” method. Therefore, basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common and dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. The computation of the dilutive net income per share of Class A common stock assumes the conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, while the dilutive net income per share of Class B common stock does not assume the conversion of those shares. Additionally, in applying the “two-class” method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both common shares and participating securities. Our restricted stock grants are entitled to dividends and meet the criteria of a participating security.

 

Undistributed earnings for each year are allocated based on the contractual participation rights of Class A and Class B common shares as if the earnings for the year had been distributed. In accordance with our Articles of Incorporation, if and when dividends are declared on our common stock in accordance with Alaska corporate law, equivalent dividends shall be paid with respect to the shares of Class A and Class B common stock. Both classes of common stock have identical dividend rights and would therefore share equally in our net assets in the event of liquidation. As such, we have allocated undistributed earnings on a proportionate basis.

 

Earnings per common share (“EPS”) and common shares used to calculate basic and diluted EPS consist of the following (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

          Three Months Ended June 30,
          2013   2012
          Class A   Class B   Class A   Class B
  Basic net income per share:              
  Numerator:              
    Allocation of undistributed earnings $ 3,862   318   $ 3,679   303
                       
  Denominator:              
    Weighted average common shares outstanding 37,979   3,132   38,516   3,171
        Basic net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.10   0.10   $ 0.10   0.10
                       
  Diluted net income per share:              
  Numerator:              
    Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation $ 3,862   318   $ 3,679   303
    Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 318   -   303   -
    Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities -   (6)   -   (4)
    Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares (60)   -   (33)   -
      Net income adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares $ 4,120   312   $ 3,949   299
                       
  Denominator:              
    Number of shares used in basic computation 37,979   3,132   38,516   3,171
    Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 3,132   -   3,171   -
    Unexercised stock options 164   -   304   -
    Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 90   -   158   -
  Number of shares used in per share computation 41,365   3,132   42,149   3,171
        Diluted net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.10   0.10   $ 0.09   0.09

          Six Months Ended June 30,
          2013   2012
          Class A   Class B   Class A   Class B
  Basic net income per share:              
  Numerator:              
    Allocation of undistributed earnings $ 6,855   569   $ 5,001   410
                       
  Denominator:              
    Weighted average common shares outstanding 38,117   3,167   38,629   3,171
        Basic net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.18   0.18   $ 0.13   0.13
                       
  Diluted net income per share:              
  Numerator:              
    Allocation of undistributed earnings for basic computation $ 6,855   569   $ 5,001   410
    Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of Class B to Class A shares 569   -   410   -
    Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a result of conversion of dilutive securities -   (10)   -   (10)
    Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares (94)   -   (118)   -
      Net income adjusted for allocation of undistributed earnings and effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares $ 7,330   559   $ 5,293   400
                       
  Denominator:              
    Number of shares used in basic computation 38,117   3,167   38,629   3,171
    Conversion of Class B to Class A common shares outstanding 3,167   -   3,171   -
    Unexercised stock options 168   -   272   -
    Effect of share based compensation that may be settled in cash or shares 90   -   158   -
  Number of shares used in per share computation 41,542   3,167   42,230   3,171
        Diluted net income attributable to GCI common stockholders per common share $ 0.18   0.18   $ 0.13   0.13

Weighted average shares associated with outstanding share awards for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, which have been excluded from the computations of diluted EPS, because the effect of including these share awards would have been anti-dilutive, consist of the following (shares, in thousands):

      Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
      2013   2012   2013   2012  
  Shares associated with anti-dilutive unexercised stock options   88   35   88   13  

Shares associated with contingent awards for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, which have been excluded from the computations of diluted EPS because the contingencies of these awards have not been met at June 30, 2013 and 2012, consist of the following (shares, in thousands):

      Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
      2013   2012   2013   2012  
  Shares associated with contingent awards   50   58   50   58  

(g)       Common Stock

Following are the changes in issued common stock for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 (shares, in thousands):

      Class A   Class B  
    Balances at December 31, 2011 39,296   3,171  
  Shares issued upon stock option exercises 188   -  
  Share awards issued 520   -  
  Shares retired (869)   -  
  Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax withholding requirements (291)   -  
  Other   (1)   -  
    Balances at June 30, 2012 38,843   3,171  
             
    Balances at December 31, 2012 38,534   3,169  
  Class B shares converted to Class A 2   (2)  
  Shares issued upon stock option exercises 51   -  
  Share awards issued 664   -  
  Shares retired (1,538)   -  
  Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax withholding requirements (17)   -  
  Other (2)   -  
    Balances at June 30, 2013 37,694   3,167  

GCI's Board of Directors has authorized a common stock buyback program for the repurchase of GCI's Class A and Class B common stock in order to reduce the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. We are authorized to increase our repurchase limit $5.0 million per quarter indefinitely and to use stock option exercise proceeds to repurchase additional shares. If stock repurchases are less than the total approved quarterly amount the difference may be carried forward and used to repurchase additional shares in future quarters. The cost of the repurchased common stock reduced Common Stock on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, we repurchased 735,000 and 6,000 shares, respectively, of our Class A common stock under the stock buyback program at a cost of $6.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, we repurchased 1.5 million, and 869,000 shares, respectively, of our Class A common stock under the stock buyback program at a cost of $12.9 million and $9.0 million, respectively. Under this program we are currently authorized to make up to $98.4 million of repurchases as of June 30, 2013. The repurchased stock was constructively retired as of June 30, 2013.

 

We expect to continue the repurchases for an indefinite period dependent on leverage, liquidity, company performance, and market conditions and subject to continued oversight by GCI's Board of Directors. The open market repurchases have complied and will continue to comply with the restrictions of Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

(h)       Revenue Recognition

We recorded high cost support revenue under the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) program of $10.5 million and $10.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $21.1 million for each of the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. At June 30, 2013, we have $33.7 million in high cost accounts receivable.

 

(i)       Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful receivables, unbilled revenues, accrual of the USF high cost remote area program support, share-based compensation, inventory at lower of cost or market, reserve for future customer credits, liability for incurred but not reported medical insurance claims, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, depreciable and amortizable lives of assets, the carrying value of long-lived assets including goodwill, cable certificates and wireless licenses, our effective tax rate, purchase price allocations, deferred lease expense, asset retirement obligations, the accrual of cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense) (“Cost of Goods Sold”), depreciation and the accrual of contingencies and litigation. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

(j)       Classification of Taxes Collected from Customers

We report sales, use, excise, and value added taxes assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between us and a customer on a net basis in our Consolidated Income Statements. The following are certain surcharges reported on a gross basis in our Consolidated Income Statements (amounts in thousands):

      Three Months Ended June 30,   Six Months Ended June 30,  
      2013   2012   2013   2012  
  Surcharges reported gross $ 1,205   1,399   2,432   2,880