UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A

(Amendment #1)

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from           to

Commission File No. 0-15279

 

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.

 

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

State of Alaska

 

92-0072737

 

 

(State or other Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S Employer

 

 

Incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

2550 Denali Street

 

 

 

 

 

Suite 1000

 

 

 

 

 

Anchorage, Alaska

 

99503

 

 

(Address of Principal Executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (907) 868-5600

 

Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (l) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o

Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's classes of common stock as of October 31, 2006 was:

49,884,728 shares of Class A common stock; and

3,380,257 shares of Class B common stock.

 

 

 

1

 


Explanatory Notes

 

This report was initially filed on November 14, 2006 before our independent registered public accounting firm was able to complete its review of our interim financial statements for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006. The changes included in this Form 10-Q/A are to eliminate references to the lack of independent registered public accounting firm review from the Explanatory Note and the certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to reflect the immaterial error corrections of share based compensation expense for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006, and restricted cash as of September 30, 2006 as described in note 1(l) to the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this report, to update certain disclosures contained in note 6 in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this report and contained in the accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part I, Item 2 of this report, and to update Controls and Procedures contained in the accompanying Part I, Item 4 of this report.

 

We previously disclosed in a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2006 that we expected to file an amendment to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 to restate our 2005 quarterly unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contained therein. The restatement is described further in note 7 to the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this report. We no longer expect to file that amended Form 10-Q and will instead restate 2005 quarterly unaudited interim information contained in our 2006 Form 10-K.

 

 

 

1a

 


 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.

FORM 10-Q/A

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page No.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item I.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

(unaudited) and December 31, 2005

 

 

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months

 

 

 

 

 

ended September 30, 2006 (unaudited) and 2005 (unaudited, as restated)

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months

 

 

 

 

 

ended September 30, 2006 (unaudited) and 2005 (unaudited)

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2006 (unaudited) and 2005 (unaudited)

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

and Results of Operations

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

 

54

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

 

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

 

57

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other items are omitted, as they are not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

58


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 


 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

You should carefully review the information contained in this Quarterly Report, but should particularly consider any risk factors that we set forth in this Quarterly Report and in other reports or documents that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In this Quarterly Report, in addition to historical information, we state our future strategies, plans, objectives or goals and our beliefs of future events and of our future operating results, financial position and cash flows. In some cases, you can identify those so-called “forward-looking statements” by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “project,” or “continue” or the negative of those words and other comparable words. All forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, achievements, plans and objectives to differ materially from any future results, performance, achievements, plans and objectives expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In evaluating those statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A), and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Those factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any of our forward-looking statements. For these statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

 

You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement, and such risks, uncertainties and other factors speak only as of the date on which they were originally made and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations with regard to those statements or any other change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict what factors will arise or when. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3


 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

ASSETS

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

33,864

 

44,362

 

Restricted cash

 

3,000

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

89,463

 

78,279

 

Less allowance for doubtful receivables

 

5,070

 

5,317

 

Net receivables

 

84,393

 

72,962

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes, net

 

19,205

 

19,596

 

Prepaid expenses

 

4,831

 

8,347

 

Notes receivable from related parties

 

2,729

 

922

 

Inventories

 

2,693

 

1,556

 

Property held for sale

 

2,315

 

2,312

 

Other current assets

 

4,815

 

2,572

 

Total current assets

 

157,845

 

152,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and equipment in service, net of depreciation

 

432,752

 

453,008

 

Construction in progress

 

36,710

 

8,337

 

Net property and equipment

 

469,462

 

461,345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable certificates

 

191,565

 

191,565

 

Goodwill

 

42,181

 

42,181

 

Other intangible assets, net of amortization

 

7,672

 

6,201

 

Deferred loan and senior notes costs, net of amortization of $2,204 and $1,451 at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

7,258

 

8,011

 

Notes receivable from related parties

 

85

 

2,544

 

Other assets

 

6,926

 

9,299

 

Total other assets

 

255,687

 

259,801

 

Total assets

$

882,994

 

873,775

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4

(Continued)

 


 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Continued)

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current maturities of obligations under long-term debt and capital leases

 

$

 

1,901

 

1,769

 

Accounts payable

 

 

 

29,684

 

23,217

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

 

15,657

 

16,439

 

Accrued payroll and payroll related obligations

 

 

 

12,468

 

17,925

 

Accrued liabilities

 

 

 

7,863

 

6,814

 

Accrued interest

 

 

 

2,907

 

9,588

 

Subscriber deposits

 

 

 

454

 

361

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

 

70,934

 

76,113

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

 

 

473,048

 

474,115

 

Obligations under capital leases, excluding current maturities

 

 

 

2,215

 

 

Obligation under capital lease due to related party, excluding current maturity

 

 

 

580

 

628

 

Deferred income taxes, net of deferred income tax benefit

 

 

 

82,295

 

69,753

 

Other liabilities

 

 

 

12,313

 

9,546

 

Total liabilities

 

 

 

641,385

 

630,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock (no par):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class A. Authorized 100,000 shares; issued 50,179 and 51,200 shares at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

 

 

160,080

 

178,351

 

Class B. Authorized 10,000 shares; issued 3,380 and 3,843 shares at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively; convertible on a share-per-share basis into Class A common stock

 

 

 

2,855

 

3,247

 

Less cost of 290 and 291 Class A and Class B common shares held in treasury at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively

 

 

 

(1,724

)

(1,730

)

Paid-in capital

 

 

 

18,816

 

16,425

 

Notes receivable with related parties issued upon stock option exercise

 

 

 

(1,296

)

(1,722

)

Retained earnings

 

 

 

62,878

 

49,049

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

241,609

 

243,620

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

 

882,994

 

873,775

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

5

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 

 

2006

 

 

(As restated)

2005

 

Revenues

 

$

125,821

 

 

113,761

 

 

356,863

 

 

330,936

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

41,283

 

 

36,345

 

 

116,065

 

 

107,590

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

41,722

 

 

38,620

 

 

123,144

 

 

113,819

 

Restructuring charge

 

 

---

 

 

1,894

 

 

---

 

 

1,894

 

Bad debt expense (recovery)

 

 

767

 

 

31

 

 

2,606

 

 

(128

)

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

20,390

 

 

18,510

 

 

60,723

 

 

54,562

 

Operating income

 

 

21,659

 

 

18,361

 

 

54,325

 

 

53,199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(8,995

)

 

(9,013

)

 

(26,245

)

 

(25,748

)

Loss on termination of capital lease

 

 

---

 

 

(2,797

)

 

---

 

 

(2,797

)

Amortization and write-off of loan and senior note fees

 

 

(251

)

 

(2,224

)

 

(753

)

 

(3,155

)

Interest income

 

 

759

 

 

266

 

 

1,398

 

 

557

 

Other

 

 

181

 

 

---

 

 

350

 

 

---

 

Other expense, net

 

 

(8,306

)

 

(13,768

)

 

(25,250

)

 

(31,143

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before income tax expense and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

13,353

 

 

4,593

 

 

29,075

 

 

22,056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

6,282

 

 

2,308

 

 

13,348

 

 

9,824

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

7,071

 

 

2,285

 

 

15,727

 

 

12,232

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

64

 

 

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

7,071

 

 

2,285

 

 

15,791

 

 

12,232

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excess of the price paid to redeem Series B redeemable preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

2,358

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

148

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

7,071

 

 

2,285

 

 

15,791

 

 

9,726

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income available to common shareholders per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

$

0.13

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.29

 

 

0.18

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

0.13

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.29

 

 

0.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income available to common shareholders per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

$

0.13

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.28

 

 

0.17

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

Net income available to common shareholders

 

$

0.13

 

 

0.04

 

 

0.28

 

 

0.17

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

6

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Class A Common Stock

 

 

Class B Common Stock

 

 

Class A Shares Held in Treasury

 

 

Paid-in Capital

 

Notes Receivable with Related Parties

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

Balances at December 31, 2004

$

186,883

 

 

3,248

 

 

(1,702

)

 

14,957

 

(3,016

)

 

33,900

 

234,270

 

Net income

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

12,232

 

12,232

 

Tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

737

 

---

 

 

---

 

737

 

Common stock repurchases

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

(10,688

)

(10,688

)

Common stock retirements

 

(8,994

)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

8,994

 

---

 

Shares issued under stock option plan

 

2,876

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

---

 

2,876

 

Excess of the price paid to redeem Series B redeemable preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

(2,358

)

(2,358

)

Stock based compensation expense

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

151

 

---

 

 

---

 

151

 

Issuance of stock awards

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

22

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

---

 

22

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(34

)

 

---

 

---

 

 

---

 

(34

)

Payment received on note receivable issued to related party upon stock option exercise

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

38

 

 

---

 

38

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

(148

)

(148

)

Balances at September 30, 2005

$

180,765

 

 

3,248

 

 

(1,714

)

 

15,845

 

(2,978

)

 

41,932

 

237,098

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

7

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

Class A Common Stock

 

 

Class B Common Stock

 

 

Class A Shares Held in Treasury

 

 

Paid-in Capital

 

 

Notes Receivable with Related Parties

 

 

Retained Earnings

 

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity

 

Balances at December 31, 2005

$

178,351

 

 

3,247

 

 

(1,730

)

 

16,425

 

 

(1,722

)

 

49,049

 

 

243,620

 

Net income

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

15,791

 

 

15,791

 

Cumulative effect adjustment upon implementation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123(R)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(191

)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(191

)

Common stock repurchases

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(2

)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(29,315

)

 

(29,317

)

Common stock retirements

 

(26,984

)

 

(369

)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

27,353

 

 

---

 

Shares issued under stock option plan

 

8,472

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

8,472

 

Class B shares converted to Class A

 

23

 

 

(23

)

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

Issuance of stock granted under the Director Compensation Plan

 

218

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

218

 

Payments received on notes receivable issued to related parties upon stock option exercise

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

443

 

 

---

 

 

443

 

Stock based compensation expense

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

2,582

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

2,582

 

Issuance of stock awards

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

8

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

8

 

Other

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

---

 

 

(17

)

 

---

 

 

(17

)

Balances at September 30, 2006

$

160,080

 

 

2,855

 

 

(1,724

)

 

18,816

 

 

(1,296

)

 

62,878

 

 

241,609

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

8

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006 AND 2005

(Unaudited)

 

(Amounts in thousands)

 

 

2006

 

 

2005

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

15,791

 

 

12,232

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities, net of acquisition:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

60,723

 

 

54,562

 

Deferred income tax expense

 

 

12,864

 

 

9,824

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

 

4,408

 

 

151

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net

 

 

(64

)

 

---

 

Amortization and write-off of loan and senior note fees

 

 

753

 

 

3,155

 

Deferred compensation

 

 

357

 

 

640

 

Bad debt expense (recovery)

 

 

(199

)

 

1,000

 

Loss on disposal of property and equipment

 

 

31

 

 

178

 

Loss on termination of capital lease

 

 

---

 

 

2,797

 

Other noncash income and expense items

 

 

926

 

 

879

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities

 

 

(15,001

)

 

(18,691

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

80,589

 

 

66,727

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

 

(64,352

)

 

(65,838

)

Restricted cash

 

 

(3,000

)

 

---

 

Purchases of other assets and intangible assets

 

 

(2,621

)

 

(2,470

)

Notes receivable payments from related parties

 

 

649

 

 

---

 

Other

 

 

(6

)

 

(230

)

Proceeds from sales of assets

 

 

---

 

 

1,995

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(69,330

)

 

(66,543

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock to be retired

 

 

(29,315

)

 

(10,484

)

Proceeds from common stock issuance

 

 

8,472

 

 

2,876

 

Repayment of Senior Credit Facility

 

 

(1,325

)

 

(400

)

Payments received on notes receivable from related parties issued upon stock option exercise

 

 

443

 

 

---

 

Repayments of capital lease obligations

 

 

(30

)

 

---

 

Purchase of treasury stock to be held for general corporate purposes

 

 

(2

)

 

(34

)

Redemption of Series B redeemable preferred stock

 

 

---

 

 

(6,607

)

Payment of preferred stock dividends

 

 

---

 

 

(237

)

Borrowing on Senior Credit Facility

 

 

---

 

 

38,832

 

Repayment of capital lease obligations

 

 

---

 

 

(38,981

)

Payment upon early termination of capital lease

 

 

---

 

 

(2,797

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

---

 

 

(1,085

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(21,757

)

 

(18,917

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(10,498

)

 

(18,733

)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

44,362

 

 

31,452

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

33,864

 

 

12,719

 

 

See accompanying notes to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

9

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”) and its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. They should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005, filed as part of our annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) below, these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A). 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.

 

(l)

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)

Restatement

The Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 reflects restated balances as a result of the adjustments described in note 7. Accordingly, those financial statements should no longer be relied upon. Our amended Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2005 will be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A.

 

 

(b)

Business

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

 

Long-distance telephone service between Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries,

 

Cable television services throughout Alaska,

 

Facilities-based competitive local access services in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, Alaska,

 

Internet access services,

 

Origination and termination of traffic in Alaska for certain common carriers,

 

Private line and private network services,

 

Managed services to certain commercial customers,

 

Broadband services, including our SchoolAccess® offering to rural school districts and a similar offering to rural hospitals and health clinics,

 

Sales and service of dedicated communications systems and related equipment,

 

Lease and sales of capacity on our fiber optic cable systems used in the transmission of interstate and intrastate private line, switched message long-distance and Internet services within Alaska and between Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries,

 

Distribution of white and yellow pages directories to residential and business customers in certain markets we serve and on-line directory products, and

 

Resale of wireless telephone services and sale of wireless telephone handsets and accessories.

 

 

10

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

(c)

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of GCI and its wholly owned subsidiaries with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated.

 

 

(d)

Earnings per Common Share

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 September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

Income (Num-

erator)

Shares (Denom-

inator)

 

Per-share Amounts

 

Income

(Num-

erator)

Shares (Denom-

inator)

 

Per-share Amounts

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$ 7,071

53,345

$ 0.13

 

$ 2,285

54,677

$ 0.04

Effect of Dilutive Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unexercised stock options

---

1,529

---

 

---

1,304

---

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

$ 7,071

54,874

$ 0.13

 

$ 2,285

55,981

$ 0.04

 

 

 

11

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005 (as restated)

 

Income (Num-

erator)

Shares (Denom-

inator)

 

Per-share Amounts

 

Income

(Num-

erator)

Shares (Denom-

inator)

 

Per-share Amounts

Basic EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

$ 15,727

54,030

$ 0.29

 

$ 12,232

54,765

$ 0.18

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

64

54,030

0.00

 

---

54,765

0.00

Net income

15,791

54,030

0.29

 

12,232

54,765

0.18

Less excess of the price paid to redeem Series B redeemable preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock

---

 

 

 

2,358

 

 

Less Series B preferred stock dividends

 

---

 

 

 

 

148

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

$ 15,791

54,030

$ 0.29

 

$  9,726

54,765

$ 0.18

Effect of Dilutive Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unexercised stock options

 

1,518

 

 

 

1,190

 

Diluted EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

$ 15,727

55,548

$ 0.28

 

$ 12,232

55,955

$ 0.17

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

64

55,548

0.00

 

---

55,955

0.00

Net income

15,791

55,548

0.28

 

12,232

55,955

0.17

Less excess of the price paid to redeem Series B redeemable preferred stock over the carrying amount of the preferred stock

---

 

 

 

2,358

 

 

Less Series B preferred stock dividends

 

---

 

 

 

 

148

 

 

Net income available to common shareholders

$ 15,791

55,548

$ 0.28

 

$  9,726

55,955

$ 0.17

 

EPS are presented in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 128, “Earnings Per Share.” The dilutive effect of share-based compensation arrangements are computed using the treasury stock method. In applying the treasury stock method, assumed proceeds are computed as the sum of (a) the amount, if any, the employee must pay upon exercise, (b) the amount

 

 

12

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

of compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized, and (c) the amount of excess tax benefits, if any, that would be credited to additional paid-in capital assuming exercise of the options.

 

Stock options for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, which have been excluded in the computations of diluted EPS because the effect of including these stock options would have been anti-dilutive, consist of the following (shares, in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Weighted average shares associated with outstanding stock options

 

 

1,748

 

 

126

 

 

1,372

 

 

230

 

 

Series B redeemable preferred stock common equivalent shares outstanding of 413,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 is not included in the diluted EPS calculation because they are anti-dilutive for purposes of calculating EPS.

 

We have not issued securities other than common stock that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings when, and if, we declare dividends on our common stock and, therefore, we do not apply the two-class method of calculating earnings per share.

 

 

(e)

Common Stock

Following are the changes in issued common stock for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (shares, in thousands):

 

 

Class A

 

Class B

 

Balances at December 31, 2004

 

51,825

 

 

3,862

 

Class B shares converted to Class A

 

17

 

 

(17

)

Shares issued under stock option plan

 

480

 

 

---

 

Shares retired

 

(936

)

 

---

 

Balances at September 30, 2005

 

51,386

 

 

3,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2005

 

51,200

 

 

3,843

 

Class B shares converted to Class A

 

27

 

 

(27

)

Shares issued under stock option plan

 

1,270

 

 

---

 

Shares issues under the Director Compensation Plan

 

17

 

 

---

 

Shares retired

 

(2,335

)

 

(436

)

Balances at September 30, 2006

 

50,179

 

 

3,380

 

 

Our Board of Directors has authorized a common stock buyback program for the repurchase of our Class A and Class B common stock in order to reduce our outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. Our Board of Directors authorized us and we obtained permission from our lenders for up to $55.0 million of repurchases through September 30, 2006. We are authorized to continue our stock repurchases of up to $5.0 million per quarter indefinitely and to use stock option exercise proceeds to repurchase additional shares as described further in note 4. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 we repurchased 2,463,000 and 1,175,000 shares of our Class A and B common stock at a cost of approximately $29.3 million and $10.7 million, respectively. The cost of the repurchased common stock is included in Retained Earnings on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

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. We expect to continue the repurchases for an indefinite period subject to the availability of free cash flow, availability

 

 

13

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

under our credit facilities, and the price of our Class A and Class B common stock. The repurchases have and will continue to comply with the restrictions of SEC Rule 10b-18.

 

 

(f)

Asset Retirement Obligations

Following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending aggregate carrying amount of our asset retirement obligations at September 30, 2006 and 2005 (amounts in thousands):

 

Balance at December 31, 2004

$

2,971

 

 

 

 

Accretion expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2005

 

148

 

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2005

$

3,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2005

$

3,210

 

 

 

 

Accretion expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2006

 

129

 

 

 

 

Liability Settled

 

(4

)

 

 

 

Balance at September 30, 2006

$

3,335

 

 

 

 

 

Our asset retirement obligations are included in Other Liabilities.

 

 

(g)

Share-based Payment Arrangements

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” and related interpretations, to account for share-based compensation using the modified prospective transition method and therefore will not restate our prior period results. SFAS 123(R) supersedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and revises guidance in SFAS 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Among other things, SFAS 123(R) requires that compensation expense be recognized in the financial statements for share-based awards based on the grant date fair value of those awards. The modified prospective transition method applies to (a) unvested stock options under our 1986 Stock Option Plan (“Stock Option Plan”) that were outstanding as of December 31, 2005 based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the pro forma provisions of SFAS 123, and (b) any new share-based awards granted subsequent to December 31, 2005, based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123(R). Additionally, share-based compensation expense includes an estimate for pre-vesting forfeitures and is recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards on a straight-line basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting term. We have recorded $2,582,000 of share-based compensation expense for our equity-based awards, net of estimated forfeitures, during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as a result of our adoption of SFAS 123(R). See note 4 for information on the assumptions we used to calculate the fair value of share-based compensation.

 

Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for all awards under our Stock Option Plan in accordance with APB No. 25 and related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation expense for a stock option grant was recognized only if the exercise price was less than the market value of our common stock on the grant date. Prior to our adoption of SFAS 123(R), as required under the disclosure provisions of SFAS 123, as amended, we provided pro forma net income and income per common share for each period as if we had applied the fair value method to measure share-based compensation expense.

 

SFAS 123(R) requires the benefits associated with tax deductions in excess of recognized compensation cost to be reported as a financing cash flow rather than as an operating cash flow as previously required.

 

 

14

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The table below shows the effect of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) on selected items and what those items would have been under previous guidance under APB No. 25 and SFAS No. 123 for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

As Reported

 

Under APB No. 25

 

Under SFAS 123

 

Operating income

$

 

54,325

 

56,772

 

 

54,325

 

Net income before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

29,075

 

31,522

 

 

29,075

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense of $44

 

 

64

 

---

 

 

---

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 

 

15,791

 

17,168

 

 

15,727

 

Cash flow from operating activities 1

 

 

80,589

 

80,589

 

 

80,589

 

Cash flow from financing activities 1

 

 

(21,757

)

(21,757

)

 

(21,757

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

$

 

0.29

 

0.32

 

 

0.29

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

---

 

Net income

$

 

0.29

 

0.32

 

 

0.29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

$

 

0.28

 

0.31

 

 

0.28

 

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

 

 

---

 

---

 

 

---

 

Net income

$

 

0.28

 

0.31

 

 

0.28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we did not record any excess tax benefit generated from stock option exercises since we are in a net operating loss position and the income tax deduction will not yet reduce income taxes payable.

 

 

The table below summarizes the impact on our results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of outstanding stock options recognized under the provisions of SFAS 123(R) (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

 

2006

 

 

Share-based employee compensation expense

$

2,582

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

1,062

 

 

Net decrease in income

$

1,520

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in EPS:

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

0.03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted

$

0.03

 

 

 

The following illustrates the effect on net income and EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 as if we had applied the fair value method to measure share-based compensation, as required under the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

15

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months

 

 

(As restated)

Nine Months

 

 

 

 

Ended

 

 

Ended

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

2005

 

Net income available to common shareholders, as reported

$

 

2,285

 

 

9,726

 

Total share-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects

 

 

172

 

 

245

 

Less share-based employee compensation expense determined under the SFAS 123 fair value method, net of related tax effects

 

 

(390

)

 

(1,327

)

Pro forma net income available to common shareholders

$

 

2,067

 

 

8,644

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic – as reported

$

 

0.04

 

 

0.18

 

Diluted – as reported

$

 

0.04

 

 

0.17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic – pro forma

$

 

0.04

 

 

0.16

 

Diluted – pro forma

$

 

0.04

 

 

0.15

 

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 we have recorded $1,818,000, including $1,141,000 to correct an immaterial error further described in note 1 (l), of share-based compensation expense for our liability-based award to recognize the cost of options granted pursuant to a lease agreement with a related party. These options are measured at fair value with changes in fair value included in Selling, General and Administrative Expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

 

 

(h)

Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets

The cost of a nonmonetary asset or service acquired in exchange for another nonmonetary asset or service is based upon the fair value of the asset surrendered to obtain it unless the fair value is not determinable, the transaction is an exchange of a product or property held for sale in the ordinary course of business for a product or property to be sold in the same line of business to facilitate sales to customers other than the parties to the exchange, or the exchange lacks commercial substance. If the exceptions apply we value the transaction using the recorded amount (after reduction, if appropriate, for an indicated impairment of value) of the nonmonetary asset or service relinquished. A gain or loss may be recognized on the exchange.

 

 

(i)

Rental Costs Incurred During a Construction Period

We recognize rental costs associated with ground or building operating leases that are incurred during a construction period as rental expense in income from continuing operations.

 

 

(j)

Reporting of Accounting Changes and Error Corrections

On January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections—a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Statement No. 3.” SFAS 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” and FASB Statement No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements,” and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. SFAS 154 applies to all voluntary changes in accounting principle. It also applies to changes required by an accounting pronouncement in the unusual instance that the pronouncement does not include

 

 

16

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

specific transition provisions. When a pronouncement includes specific transition provisions, those provisions should be followed.

 

 

(k)

New Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2006, the FASB issued Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 06-03, “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)” which includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes. EITF No. 06-03 states that the presentation of taxes within its scope on either a gross (included in revenues and costs) or a net (excluded from revenues) basis is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed in a company’s financial statements. In addition, for any such taxes that are reported on a gross basis, a company should disclose the amounts of those taxes in interim and annual financial statements for each period for which an income statement is presented if those amounts are significant. The disclosure of those taxes can be done on an aggregate basis. We will begin application of EITF No. 06-03 on January 1, 2007 and do not expect it to have a material effect on the components of our statements of operations.

 

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. We will begin application of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. In addition, this statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies when other accounting pronouncements require fair value measurement; it does not require new fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We will begin application of SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. (“SAB 108”) which provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. We will implement the guidance in the fourth quarter of 2006. We are evaluating the impact, if any, that SAB No. 108 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

 

(l)

Reclassifications and Immaterial Error Corrections

Reclassifications have been made to the 2005 financial statements to make them comparable with the 2006 presentation.

 

In the quarter ended September 30, 2006 we corrected an immaterial error related to the accounting for a non-employee share-based compensation award. During 2001 we issued a stock option award in association with a lease agreement. The lease agreement was later amended in 2002 to provide a cash settlement feature and we erroneously did not record this award at its fair value at each reporting period following such amendment. Upon implementation of SFAS 123(R) on January 1, 2006, we inappropriately recorded the $1,141,000 fair value of this award as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2006 we have reclassified this $1,141,000 expense from cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle to selling, general and administrative expenses. The

 

 

17

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

reclassification increased selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $39,614,000 to $40,755,000 and for the cumulative six months ended June 30, 2006 from $80,281,000 to $81,422,000. We have also reclassified the related $469,000 income tax benefit from cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle to income tax expense. The reclassification decreased income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $3,679,000 to $3,210,000 and for the cumulative six months ended June 30, 2006 from $7,535,000 to $7,066,000. As a result of these reclassifications the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and the cumulative six months ended June 30, 2006 changed from $(608,000) to $64,000, respectively.

 

Additionally, during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 we reclassified a $3,000,000 bank depository account pledged in March 2006 as collateral for a term loan from Cash and Cash Equivalents to Restricted Cash. The reclassification decreased Cash and Cash Equivalents at March 31, 2006 from $43,031,000 to $40,031,000 and at June 30, 2006 from $45,686,000 to $42,686,000. The reclassification increased cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 from $14,970,000 to $17,970,000 and for the cumulative six months ended June 30, 2006 from $37,709,000 to $40,709,000.

 

(2)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition, consist of (amounts in thousands):

 

Nine month period ended September 30,

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

Increase in accounts receivable

$

 

(11,180

)

 

(12,027

)

 

Decrease in prepaid expenses

 

 

1,716

 

 

149

 

 

(Increase) decrease in inventories

 

 

(1,137

)

 

161

 

 

(Increase) decrease in other current assets

 

 

(30

)

 

79

 

 

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

 

6,353

 

 

(3,533

)

 

Decrease in deferred revenues

 

 

(782

)

 

(1,837

)

 

Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations

 

 

(5,457

)

 

1,332

 

 

Increase in accrued liabilities

 

 

1,734

 

 

1,097

 

 

Decrease in accrued interest

 

 

(6,681

)

 

(5,135

)

 

Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits

 

 

93

 

 

(60

)

 

Increase in components of other long-term liabilities

 

 

370

 

 

1,083

 

 

 

$

 

(15,001

)

 

(18,691

)

 

 

We paid interest totaling approximately $32.8 million and $30.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Income tax refunds received totaled $0 and $202,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We paid income taxes of $312,000 and $133,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

We recorded a net cumulative effect adjustment (benefit) of $64,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 for share-based compensation instruments outstanding at December 31, 2005 for which the requisite service is not expected to be rendered. We recorded $737,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 in paid-in capital in recognition of the income tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 we financed $2.2 million for the acquisition of two buildings through capital lease obligations.

 

 

18

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

We retired common stock shares in the amount of $27.4 million and $9.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

(3)

Intangible Assets

In November 2006, we decided to close an operating subsidiary and in connection with the closure we began to evaluate whether software for a Managed Broadband services segment product offering with a net book value of $789,000 at September 30, 2006 will continue to be marketed and supported in the future. We currently have one customer using the software. The alternatives at this time are to continue software development, to seek a buyer for the software, or to abandon the current software upon the purchase of another software package if one is found to be more cost-effective. Depending on which decision is made, an impairment in the value of the software resulting in a write-down to net realizable value may be necessary. We expect to complete our evaluation in January 2007 at which time we will be better able to determine if an impairment in value exists, and if so, the amount of the net realizable value. There have been no other events or circumstances that indicate the recoverability of the carrying amounts of indefinite-lived and definite-lived intangible assets has changed as of September 30, 2006. The remaining useful lives of our cable certificates and goodwill were evaluated as of September 30, 2006 and events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life. We reviewed the useful lives assigned to our definite-lived intangible assets and believe the lives continue to be appropriate as of September 30, 2006.

 

Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets was as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2006

 

2005

 

Amortization expense

$

 

560

 

 

307

 

 

1,348

 

 

913

 

 

Amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets for each of the five succeeding fiscal years is estimated to be (amounts in thousands):

 

Years Ending December 31,

 

 

 

2006

$

1,823

 

2007

 

1,768

 

2008

 

1,517

 

2009

 

1,193

 

2010

 

672

 

 

(4)

Share-Based Compensation

Our Stock Option Plan, as amended, provides for the grant of options for a maximum of 13.2 million shares of GCI Class A common stock, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, consolidations or certain other changes in corporate structure or capitalization. If an option expires or terminates, the shares subject to the option will be available for further grants of options under the Stock Option Plan. Substantially all stock options granted vest in equal installments over a period of five years, and expire ten years from the date of grant. New shares are issued when stock option agreements are exercised, unless the stock option agreements are settled in cash. We are under no obligation to settle stock option agreements in cash. Our share repurchase program as described in note 11 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) above, these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A) may include the purchase of shares issued pursuant to stock option agreement exercise transactions. We discontinued offering a cash-settlement exercise option to employees on October 23, 2006 and do not intend to cash-settle option exercises in the future.

 

 

19

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

We use a Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to estimate the fair value of share-based awards under SFAS 123(R), which is the same valuation technique we previously used for pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123. The Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model incorporates various and highly subjective assumptions, including expected term and expected volatility. We have reviewed our historical pattern of option exercises and have determined that meaningful differences in option exercise activity existed among employee job categories. Therefore, for all stock options granted after January 1, 2006, we have categorized these awards into two groups of employees for valuation purposes, which is the same technique we previously used for pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123.

 

We estimated the expected term of options granted by evaluating the vesting period of stock option awards, employee’s past exercise and post-vesting employment departure behavior, and expected volatility of the price of the underlying shares.

 

We estimated the expected volatility of our common stock at the grant date using the historical volatility of our common stock over the most recent period equal to the expected stock option term and evaluated the extent to which available information indicated that future volatility may differ from historical volatility. Beginning January 1, 2006, we calculated historical volatility using the closing price of our common stock whereas previously we used the average of the day’s high and low prices of our common stock.

 

The risk-free interest rate assumption was determined using the Federal Reserve nominal rates for U.S. Treasury zero-coupon bonds with maturities similar to those of the expected term of the award being valued. We have never paid any cash dividends on our common stock and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, we assumed an expected dividend yield of zero.

 

The following table shows our assumptions used to compute the share-based compensation expense and pro forma information in note 1(g) for stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

2006

2005

 

Expected term (years)

4.6 – 8.0

4.5 – 5.2

 

Volatility

43.3% – 61.4%

43.5% – 45.5%

 

Risk-free interest rate

4.6% – 5.1%

3.7% – 4.2%

 

 

SFAS 123(R) requires us to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures at the time of grant and periodically revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We record share-based compensation expense only for those awards expected to vest using an estimated forfeiture rate based on our historical pre-vesting forfeiture data. Previously, we accounted for forfeitures as they occurred under the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123 for periods prior to 2006. The transition impact of adopting SFAS No. 123(R), attributed to accruing for expected forfeitures on outstanding share-based awards, totaled $108,000, which was reduced by income tax expense of $44,000 and is reported as cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.

 

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $6.43 per share and $4.71 per share, respectively. The total fair value of options vesting during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was approximately $2.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

 

Unrecognized share-based compensation expense was approximately $12.0 million as of September 30, 2006, relating to a total of 3.0 million unvested stock options. We expect to recognize this share-based compensation expense over a weighted average period of approximately 3.1 years.

 

 

20

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

The following is a summary of our Stock Option Plan activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding at December 31, 2005

6,550,777

 

$7.27

 

 

 

 

Granted

971,450

 

$12.09

Exercised

(1,269,363

)

$6.68

Forfeited

(55,250

)

$8.78

Outstanding at September 30, 2006

6,197,614

 

$8.14

 

 

 

 

Available for grant at September 30, 2006

454,615

 

 

 

The following is a summary of activity for stock options granted not pursuant to the Stock Option Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2006:

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price

Outstanding at December 31, 2005 and
   September 30, 2006

250,000

 

$6.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available for grant at September 30, 2006

---

 

 

 

 

The following is a summary of all outstanding stock options at September 30, 2006:

 

Options Outstanding

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

Remaining

 

Aggregate

Range of

 

Contractual Life

Weighted Average

Intrinsic Value

Exercise Prices

Shares

(years)

Exercise Price

(thousands)

$3.11-$6.00

980,851

4.67

$5.48

$6,875

$6.01-$6.35

52,000

4.28

$6.13

$324

$6.36-$6.50

1,270,529

3.78

$6.50

$7,604

$6.51-$7.00

201,234

3.44

$7.00

$1,104

$7.01-$7.25

1,125,000

5.44

$7.25

$5,889

$7.26-$8.40

659,593

5.92

$8.03

$2,938

$8.41-$9.75

764,180

8.09

$9.41

$2,348

$9.76-$11.50

966,227

9.14

$10.88

$1,554

$11.51-$12.63

55,500

9.78

$11.76

$41

$12.64-$13.11

372,500

9.67

$13.11

$---

$3.11-$13.11

6,447,614

6.12

$8.07

$28,677

 

 

 

21

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

 

Options Vested

 

 

Weighted Average

 

 

 

 

Remaining

 

Aggregate

Range of

 

Contractual Life

Weighted Average

Intrinsic Value

Exercise Prices

Shares

(years)

Exercise Price

(thousands)

$3.11-$6.00

770,551

4.23

$5.36

$5,487

$6.01-$6.35

51,200

4.25

$6.13

$322

$6.36-$6.50

1,168,129

3.54

$6.50

$6,991

$6.51-$7.00

200,834

3.43

$7.00

$1,102

$7.01-$7.25

559,995

5.45

$7.25

$2,932

$7.26-$8.40

419,793

4.92

$7.83

$1,955

$8.41-$9.75

213,333

7.27

$9.29

$682

$9.76-$11.50

54,577

6.33

$10.71

$97

$11.51-$12.63

6,000

9.58

$11.59

$5

$12.64-13.11

---

---

$---

$---

$3.11-$13.11

3,444,412

4.46

$6.80

$19,573

 

The total intrinsic values, determined as of the date of exercise, of options exercised in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 were $6.4 million and $2.0 million, respectively. We received $8.5 million and $2.9 million in cash from stock option exercises in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We used cash of $5.5 million and $0 to settle stock option agreements in the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

(5)

Industry Segments Data

Our reportable segments are business units that offer different products. The reportable segments are each managed separately and serve distinct types of customers.

 

Beginning January 1, 2006, we reorganized to more efficiently meet the demands of technological and product convergence by realigning along customer lines rather than product lines. Our four reportable segments became Consumer, Network Access, Commercial and Managed Broadband, replacing the Long-distance, Cable, Local Access and Internet services segments.

 

Reportable segment data and All Other Category data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 have been reclassified for comparability purposes, as follows:

 

 

Revenue and cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense) (“Cost of Goods Sold”) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 were reclassified to conform to the new segment organizational structure. A combination of specific identification and general allocations were employed to reclassify amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Allocated amounts were generally determined using segment revenue or customer counts derived from first quarter of 2006 segment data. We believe the first quarter of 2006 division of revenue and customers by segment is representative of the customer composition for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 for purposes of reclassifying revenue and Cost of Goods Sold amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 were reclassified to conform to the new segment organizational structure. A combination of specific and general allocations was employed to reclassify amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, as follows:

 

 

o

Certain SG&A expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were directly charged to each new reportable segment. The

 

 

22

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

amount of comparable SG&A directly charged to each segment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 based upon our new organizational structure is not practicable to calculate. We believe the 2006 amounts are representative of the amounts allocable during the same period of 2005, and therefore allocated such amounts to each reportable segment in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

 

o

The remaining SG&A expenses, consisting of corporate related expenses further described below, were allocated to each segment using the percentage of each segment’s margin for the year ended December 31, 2004 to total margin for the same period.

 

 

Bad debt expense (recovery) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was reclassified to conform to the new segment organizational structure. A combination of specific identification and general allocations based upon segment revenue for the year ended December 31, 2005 were employed to reclassify bad debt recovery for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 is no longer allocated to reportable segments as our Chief Operating Decision Maker now evaluates each segments’ performance based upon its earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and income tax expense.

 

A description of our four reportable segments follows:

 

Consumer - We offer a full range of voice, video, data and wireless services to residential customers.

 

Network Access - We offer a full range of voice and data services to common carrier customers.

 

Commercial - We offer a full range of voice, video, data and wireless services to business and governmental customers.

 

Managed Broadband - We offer data services to rural school districts, rural hospitals and health clinics through our SchoolAccess® and Rural Health initiatives.

 

Corporate related expenses including engineering, operations and maintenance of our core network, information technology, accounting, legal and regulatory, human resources, and other general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 are allocated to our segments using segment margin for the year ended December 31, 2005. Bad debt expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 is allocated to our segments using a combination of specific identification and allocations based upon segment revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006.

 

We evaluate performance and allocate resources based on earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense and income tax expense. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies in note 1 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) above, these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A). Intersegment sales are recorded at cost plus an agreed upon intercompany profit.

 

 

23

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

We earn all revenues through sales of services and products within the United States. All of our long-lived assets are located within the United States of America, except approximately 82% of our undersea fiber optic cable systems which transit international waters and all of our satellite transponders.

 

 

24

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Summarized financial information for our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 follows (amounts in thousands):

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Consumer

 

Network Access

 

Commer-cial

 

Managed Broadband

 

Total Reportable Segments

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intersegment

$

---

 

---

 

1,257

 

---

 

1,257

External

 

45,243

 

45,639

 

28,511

 

6,428

 

125,821

Total revenues

$

45,243

 

45,639

 

29,768

 

6,428

 

127,078

Earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and income taxes

 

 

 

$

8,170

 

26,343

 

5,070

 

2,647

 

42,230

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intersegment

$

15

 

1,667

 

6,231

 

19

 

7,932

External

 

40,442

 

40,024

 

27,048

 

6,247

 

113,761

Total revenues

$

40,457

 

41,691

 

33,279

 

6,266

 

121,693

Earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and income taxes

$

5,815

 

23,162

 

7,185

 

709

 

36,871

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

Consumer

 

 

Network Access

 

 

Commer-cial

 

 

Managed Broadband

 

Total Reportable Segments

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intersegment

$

---

 

---

 

3,981

 

---

 

3,981

External

 

132,129

 

124,839

 

80,652

 

19,243

 

356,863

Total revenues

$

132,129

 

124,839

 

84,633

 

19,243

 

360,844

Earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and income taxes

 

 

 

$

23,747

 

68,569

 

16,654

 

6,428

 

115,398

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intersegment

$

44

 

5,107

 

18,220

 

58

 

23,429

External

 

120,984

 

111,074

 

78,813

 

20,065

 

330,936

Total revenues

$

121,028

 

116,181

 

97,033

 

20,123

 

354,365

Earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization, net interest expense and income taxes

$

20,995

 

62,012

 

19,910

 

4,844

 

107,761

 

 

 

25

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

A reconciliation of reportable segment revenues to consolidated revenues follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2006

2005

 

2006

2005

Reportable segment revenues

$

127,078

121,693

 

360,844

354,365

Less intersegment revenues eliminated in consolidation

 

1,257

7,932

 

3,981

23,429

Consolidated revenues

$

125,821

113,761

 

356,863

330,936

 

A reconciliation of reportable segment earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense and income taxes to consolidated net income before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2006

2005

 

2006

2005

Reportable segment earnings from operations before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense and income taxes

 

 

$

42,230

36,871

 

115,398

107,761

Less depreciation and amortization expense

 

 

20,390

18,510

 

60,723

54,562

Less other income

 

181

---

 

350

---

Consolidated operating income

 

21,659

18,361

 

54,325

53,199

Less other expense, net

 

8,306

13,768

 

25,250

31,143

Consolidated net income before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

$

13,353

4,593

 

29,075

22,056

 

(6)

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 the resolution of them to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

Capital Lease Obligation

On March 31, 2006, through our subsidiary GCI Communication Corp. (“GCC”) we entered into an agreement to lease transponder capacity on Intelsat, Ltd.’s (“Intelsat” acquired PanAmSat Corporation on June 30, 2006) Galaxy 18 spacecraft that is expected to be launched during 2007. We will also lease capacity on the Horizons 1 satellite, which is owned jointly by Intelsat and JSAT International, Inc. The leased capacity is expected to replace our existing transponder capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 10R satellite when it reaches its end of life.

 

We will lease C-band and Ku-Band transponders over an expected term of approximately 14 years once the satellite is placed into commercial operation in its assigned orbital location, and the transponders meet specific performance specifications and are made available for our use. The present value of the lease payments, excluding telemetry, tracking and command services and back-up protection, is expected to total $77.0 million to $82.0 million. We will record the capital lease obligation

 

 

26

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

and the addition to our Property and Equipment when the satellite is made available for our use which is expected to occur approximately one month after the expected September 2007 launch.

 

A summary of estimated future minimum lease payments for this lease follows (amounts in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31:

 

 

 

2006

$

---

 

2007

 

2,292

 

2008

 

9,168

 

2009

 

9,168

 

2010

 

9,168

 

2011 and thereafter

 

98,556

 

Total minimum lease payments

$

128,352

 

 

In exchange for payment of a monthly fee we had the option to terminate the lease of the C-band transponders through June 1, 2007 for additional consideration. We cancelled our termination option effective August 31, 2006 and are no longer obligated to continue paying the monthly fee.

 

 

Telecommunication Services Agreement and Capacity Leases

We leased a portion of our 800-mile fiber optic system capacity that extends from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez via Fairbanks, and provided management and maintenance services for this capacity to a significant customer. The lessee signed a contract with a competitor in March 2005, started the transition of its circuits from our fiber optic cable system to our competitor’s microwave system in June 2006, and expects to complete the transition during the first quarter of 2007. In November 2006, we signed an agreement with our competitor to lease capacity on our fiber optic cable system and provide certain other services in association with their contract. We expect this transition to result in a $9.5 million annual decrease in the data component of Commercial Services segment revenue when it is completed with a decrease of approximately one-half the annual decrease in the year ended December 31, 2006 depending upon the pace of the transition.

 

The following summary of minimum future service revenues reflects the termination of our contract and includes the expected revenue from the new agreement we expect to sign with our competitor in addition to our other operating lease agreements included in the summary in note 16 included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) above, these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A) (amounts in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31,

 

 

 

2006

$

19,601

 

2007

 

11,694

 

2008

 

10,734

 

2009

 

8,154

 

2010

 

5,574

 

2011 and thereafter

 

52,700

 

Total minimum future service revenues

$

108,457

 

 

Anchorage Unbundled Network Elements Arbitration

On June 25, 2004, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) issued a comprehensive decision setting forth new rates for unbundled network elements (“UNE”), resale, and terms and conditions for interconnection in the Anchorage arbitration. Significantly, the RCA raised the loop rate in Anchorage to $19.15 but subsequently reduced the loop rate on reconsideration to $18.64. The RCA also issued other various arbitration rulings adverse to us, including adopting Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.’s (“ACS”) non-recurring and collocation cost models. On December 7, 2004, the Commission issued a final order approving an interconnection agreement. We have appealed various Commission arbitration rulings, and ACS cross-appealed concerning certain interim rate decisions.

 

27

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

We received a decision from the U.S. district court on November 21, 2006. The court affirmed the RCA's decision in all respects, thus denying both our appeal on the final rate calculation and ACS' cross-appeal on the interim rate calculation. We now have until December 21, 2006 to decide whether to file an appeal of the district court’s decision with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

 

On September 30, 2005, the ACS subsidiary serving Anchorage filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), seeking forbearance from the requirement that it provide access to UNEs, and that to the extent it voluntarily did so, that the pricing provisions of the Act would not apply. We filed our opposition on January 9, 2006 and our reply on February 23, 2006. The FCC is required under statute to issue a decision by December 28, 2006. If a decision is not issued within the required timeframe, the petition is deemed granted. The ability to obtain UNEs is an important element of our local exchange and exchange access services business, and the outcome of this proceeding could result in a change in our ability to access segments of the Anchorage market via the facilities of the ILEC and the cost of doing so. We cannot predict at this time the outcome of this proceeding or its impact on us; however, our net cost of providing local telephone services in Anchorage could be materially adversely affected by an adverse decision.

 

On May 22, 2006, the ACS subsidiary serving Anchorage filed a petition with the FCC, seeking forbearance from regulation of interstate broadband and access services. We filed a motion to dismiss on July 17, 2006 and our opposition to the petition on August 11, 2006. The FCC is required under statute to issue a decision by May 22, 2007, which it may extend by an additional 90 days at its discretion. We cannot predict at this time the outcome of this proceeding or its impact on us.

 

Alaska DigiTel, LLC (“Alaska DigiTel”) Investment

We agreed to invest approximately $29.5 million in exchange for a majority equity interest in Alaska DigiTel, a small Alaska Personal Communication Services (“PCS”) provider. The existing owners will retain a minority ownership interest and voting control of Alaska DigiTel. The exact percentage and dollar amounts for our interest in Alaska DigiTel will vary in proportion to the amount the existing owners elect to retain, but we expect to own between 75% and 85% after completion of the transaction. The transaction is based on a post closing enterprise valuation of $37.0 million for Alaska DigiTel. We will fund the transaction from cash on hand, by drawing down additional debt, or a combination of the two. In June 2006, we entered into a Reorganization Agreement with the members of Alaska DigiTel and certain other parties setting forth the formal terms and conditions the principal terms of which are the same as those in the superseded memorandum of understanding. GCI, Denali PCS, LLC and Alaska DigiTel (“Alaska DigiTel Applicants”) jointly filed applications with the FCC seeking the requisite regulatory consent to the parties’ transaction. Matanuska Telephone Association filed a Petition to Deny the applications with the FCC in February 2006. ACS Wireless, Inc. filed an objection to the applications with the FCC in July 2006. The Alaska DigiTel Applicants are opposing these adverse filings. It is uncertain when the FCC will act upon the contested applications. We are uncertain when this transaction will close.

 

We have provided a $3.0 million bank depository account as collateral for a term loan from a bank secured by Alaska DigiTel. The amount is classified as Restricted Cash on our September 30, 2006 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

Indefeasible Right of Use (“IRU”) Commitment

On July 31, 2006, through our subsidiary GCC we entered into an agreement to purchase an IRU in the Kodiak-Kenai Cable Company, LLC’s marine-based fiber optic cable system linking Anchorage to Kenai, Homer, Kodiak and Seward, Alaska. The new system is under construction and we anticipate it will be placed into service in the first quarter of 2007. We have committed to purchase a minimum of $8.0 million to $8.5 million in IRU capacity in three installments through 2011.

 

 

28

(Continued)

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

(7)

Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements  

The Audit Committee of GCI’s Board of Directors and GCI management concluded that previously reported audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 would need to be restated. The restatement is necessary because an error was made regarding the interpretation and application of generally accepted accounting principles as they relate to a May 25, 2005 transaction in which we repurchased from Toronto Dominion Securities (“TD”) the remaining 4,314 shares of our Series B preferred stock owned by TD for a total purchase price of $6,607,027 (which transaction was reported in a Form 8-K filing made by us on May 26, 2005).

The purchase of the preferred stock from TD should have had an effect on our net income per common share calculations. The amount that we paid for the preferred stock in excess of the carrying amount of the shares on our balance sheet should have reduced the amount of net income available to common shareholders used to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share. This error has no other effect on our consolidated statements of operations, and has no effect on the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, or consolidated statements of cash flows. 2005 net income available to common shareholders and basic and diluted net income per common share are the only items affected by the restatements.

The effect of the corrections on net income available to common shareholders and net income per common share for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 follows (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2005

 

Net income available to common shareholders, as reported

 

$

12,084

 

Adjustment

 

 

(2,358)

 

Net income available to common shareholders, as restated

 

$

9,726

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share, as reported

 

$

0.22

 

Adjustment

 

 

(0.04)

 

Basic net income per common share, as restated

 

$

0.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share, as reported

 

$

0.22

 

Adjustment

 

 

(0.05)

 

Diluted net income per common share, as restated

 

$

0.17

 

 

 

 

29

 


PART I.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

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

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the 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. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to unbilled revenues, Cost of Goods Sold accruals, allowance for doubtful accounts, share-based compensation expense, depreciation, amortization and accretion periods, intangible assets, income taxes, and contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. See also our “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Audit Committee of GCI’s Board of Directors and GCI management concluded that previously reported audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2005 would need to be restated. The restatement is necessary because an error was made regarding the interpretation and application of generally accepted accounting principles as they relate to a May 25, 2005 transaction in which we repurchased from TD the remaining 4,314 shares of our Series B preferred stock owned by TD for a total purchase price of $6,607,027 (which transaction was reported in a Form 8-K filing made by us on May 26, 2005).

The purchase of the preferred stock from TD should have had an effect on our net income per common share calculations. The amount that we paid for the preferred stock in excess of the carrying amount of the shares on our balance sheet should have reduced the amount of net income available to common shareholders used to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share. This error has no other effect on our consolidated statements of operations, and has no effect on the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity, or consolidated statements of cash flows. 2005 net income available to common shareholders and basic and diluted net income per common share are the only items affected by the restatements.

 

30

 


The effect of the corrections on net income available to common shareholders and net income per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 follows (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

Nine
Months Ended
September 30,
2005

 

Net income available to common shareholders, as reported

 

$

12,084

 

Adjustment

 

 

(2,358)

 

Net income available to common shareholders, as restated

 

$

9,726

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per common share:

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share, as reported

 

$

0.22

 

Adjustment

 

 

(0.04)

 

Basic net income per common share, as restated

 

$

0.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share, as reported

 

$

0.22

 

Adjustment

 

 

(0.05)

 

Diluted net income per common share, as restated

 

$

0.17

 

 

The prior period consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q/A have been restated to reflect the adjustments described above. We will file an amendment to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A. As a result of the restatement, the financial statements contained in our prior filings with the SEC, including our Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2005, and Forms 10-Q for the periods ending June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005, should no longer be relied upon.

 

General Overview

 

Through our focus on long-term results, acquisitions, and strategic capital investments, we strive to consistently grow our revenues and expand our margins. We have historically met our cash needs for operations, regular capital expenditures and maintenance capital expenditures through our cash flows from operating activities. Historically, cash requirements for significant acquisitions and major capital expenditures have been provided largely through our financing activities.

 

As of January 1, 2006 we were reorganized under Consumer, Network Access, Commercial and Managed Broadband reportable segments, replacing the Long-distance, Cable, Local Access and Internet services reportable segments. The realignment along customer lines rather than product lines allows us to more efficiently meet the demands of technological and product convergence.

 

Segment and All Other category data for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 have been reclassified to reflect the organizational changes for comparability purposes. A combination of specific identification and general allocations were employed to reclassify 2005 balances. Allocated amounts were generally determined using segment revenue or customer counts derived from first quarter of 2006 segment data. We believe the first quarter of 2006 division of revenue and customers by segment is representative of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 customer composition for purposes of reclassifying 2005 revenue and Cost of Goods Sold balances.

 

 

31


 

The Network Access segment provides services to other common carrier customers and the Managed Broadband segment provides services to rural school districts and rural hospitals and health clinics. Following are our segments and the services and products each offers to its customers:

 

 

Reportable Segments

Services and Products

Consumer

Network Access

Commercial

Managed Broadband

Voice

X

X

X

 

Video

X

 

X

 

Data

X

X

X

X

Wireless

X

 

X

 

 

An overview of our services and products follows.

 

Voice Services and Products

Long-distance Services

We generate long-distance services revenues from monthly plan fees and usage charges.

 

Factors that have the greatest impact on year-to-year changes in long-distance services revenues include the rate per minute charged to customers and usage volumes expressed as minutes of use.

 

Common carrier traffic routed to us for termination in Alaska is largely dependent on traffic routed to our common carrier customers by their customers. Pricing pressures, new program offerings, and market and business consolidations continue to evolve in the markets served by our other common carrier customers. If, as a result, their traffic is reduced, or if their competitors’ costs to terminate or originate traffic in Alaska are reduced, our traffic will also likely be reduced, and our pricing may be reduced to respond to competitive pressures, consistent with federal law. Additionally, disruption in the economy resulting from terrorist attacks and other attacks or acts of war could affect our carrier customers. We are unable to predict the effect on us of such changes. However, given the materiality of other common carrier revenues to us, a significant reduction in traffic or pricing could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and liquidity.

 

Due in large part to the favorable synergistic effects of our bundling strategy focused on consumer and commercial customers, long-distance services continues to be a significant contributor to our overall performance, although the migration of traffic from our voice products to our data and wireless products continues.

 

Our long-distance service faces significant competition from ACS, AT&T Alascom, long-distance resellers, and other local telephone companies that have entered the long-distance market. We believe our approach to developing, pricing, and providing long-distance services and bundling different business segment services will continue to allow us to be competitive in providing those services.

 

Local Access Services

We generate local access services revenues from three primary sources: (1) basic dial tone services; (2) private line and special access services; and (3) features and other charges, including voice mail, caller ID, distinctive ring, inside wiring and subscriber line charges.

 

The primary factors that contribute to year-to-year changes in local access services revenues include the average number of subscribers to our services during a given reporting period, the average monthly rates charged for non-traffic sensitive services, the number and type of additional premium features selected, the traffic sensitive access rates charged to carriers and the Universal Service Program.

 

We estimate that our September 30, 2006 and 2005 total lines in service represent a statewide market share of approximately 26% and 25%, respectively. At September 30, 2006 and 2005 approximately 86% of our lines are provided on our own facilities and leased local loops. At September 30, 2006 and 2005 approximately 7% of our lines are provided using the UNE platform delivery method.

 

Our local access service faces significant competition in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau from ACS, which is the largest incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”) in Alaska, and from AT&T Alascom, Inc. (“Alascom”)

 

 

32

 


in Anchorage for Consumer services. Alascom has received certification from the RCA to provide local access services in Fairbanks and Juneau. We believe our approach to developing, pricing, and providing local access services and bundling different services will allow us to be competitive in providing those services.

 

On September 23, 2005, February 2, 2006 and July 18, 2006, the RCA issued orders granting us certification to serve the service areas of Ketchikan Public Utilities (“KPU”), Cordova Telephone Cooperative, Copper Valley Telephone Cooperative (“CVTC”), Matanuska Telephone Cooperative, the Glacier State area served by ACS of the Northland, Alaska Telephone Company, Interior Telephone Company, United-KUC and Mukluk Telephone Company. The affected rural local exchange carriers have appealed various aspects of the certification rulings.

 

We plan to offer service in these new areas using a combination of methods. To a large extent, we plan to use our existing cable network to deliver local services. Where we do not have cable plant, we may use wireless technologies and resale of other carrier’s services. We may lease portions of an existing carrier’s network or seek wholesale discounts, but our application is not dependent upon access to either UNEs of the ILEC network or wholesale discount rates for resale of ILEC services.

 

On May 2, 2005, we tendered an interconnection request to the City of Ketchikan d/b/a KPU, which had been authorized by the RCA to provide video programming services through its KPU CommVision division on April 26, 2005. Under the terms of Section 251(f)(1)(C) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“Act”), KPU’s current rural exemption from negotiation will be forfeited if, and when, KPU commences offering video programming. On June 3, 2005, we entered into a stipulation with KPU recognizing that KPU will forfeit its rural exemption and that negotiations for interconnection would commence when KPU commences offering video programming. Negotiations began in December 2005 and culminated in a contract in June 2006. The Ketchikan City Council approved the contract in June 2006 and the contract was submitted to the RCA for final approval on August 21, 2006. We received an order from the RCA on November 14, 2006 approving the interconnection agreement.

 

On May 17, 2006, we tendered an interconnection request to CVTC. Based on our request, the RCA opened an inquiry for the purpose of determining whether or not to terminate the rural exemption of CVTC. In July 2006 we entered into a settlement with CVTC under which interconnection negotiations would take place, followed by private arbitration if necessary, under Sections 251(a) and (b) of the Act. On July 13, 2006, we filed a formal Notice of Withdrawal of the rural exemption inquiry. Negotiations for an interconnection agreement with CVTC have commenced.

 

We plan to have deployed more than 30,000 digital local phone service (“DLPS”) lines which utilize our Anchorage coaxial cable facilities by December 31, 2006. This service delivery method allows us to utilize our own cable facilities to provide local access service to our customers and avoid paying local loop charges to the ILEC.

 

Directory Advertising

We sell advertising in our yellow pages directories to commercial customers and distribute white and yellow pages directories to customers in certain markets we serve. We also sell on-line directory products.

 

Video Services and Products

We generate cable services revenues from three primary sources: (1) digital and analog programming services, including monthly basic and premium subscriptions, pay-per-view movies and one-time events, such as sporting events; (2) equipment rentals; and (3) advertising sales.

 

Our cable systems serve 40 communities and areas in Alaska, including the state's four largest population centers, Anchorage, Fairbanks, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley and the Kenai Peninsula.

 

The primary factors that contribute to period-to-period changes in cable services revenues include average monthly subscription rates and pay-per-view buys, the mix among basic, premium and digital tier services, the average number of cable television subscribers during a given reporting period, set-top box utilization and related rates, revenues generated from new product offerings, and sales of cable advertising services.

 

We increased rates charged for certain cable services in eleven communities, including three of the state's four largest population centers, Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, and Fairbanks. The rate

 

 

33

 


increases were primarily effective in January 2006 and increased approximately 5% for those customers who experienced an adjustment.

 

Data Services and Products

Internet Services

We generate Internet services revenues from two primary sources: (1) access product services, including cable modem and dial-up access; and (2) network management services.

 

The primary factors that contribute to year-to-year changes in Internet services revenues include the average number of subscribers to our services during a given reporting period, the average monthly subscription rates, the amount of bandwidth purchased by large commercial customers, and the number and type of additional premium features selected.

 

Marketing campaigns continue to be deployed featuring bundled products. Our Internet offerings are bundled with various combinations of our long-distance, cable, and local access services and provide free or discounted basic or premium Internet services. Value-added premium Internet features are available for additional charges.

 

We compete with a number of Internet service providers in our markets. We believe our approach to developing, pricing, and providing Internet services allows us to be competitive in providing those services.

 

Private Line and Private Network Services

We generate private line and private network services revenue from two primary sources: (1) leasing capacity on our facilities that utilize voice and data transmission circuits, dedicated to particular subscribers, which link a device in one location to another in a different location and (2) through the sale of Internet Protocol based data services on a secured shared network to businesses linking multiple enterprise locations. The factor that has the greatest impact on year-to-year changes in private line and private network services revenues is the number of private lines and private networks in use. We compete against Alascom, ACS and other local telecommunication service providers.

 

Managed Services

We design, sell, install, service and operate, on behalf of certain customers, communications and computer networking equipment and provide field/depot, third party, technical support, communications consulting and outsourcing services. We also supply integrated voice and data communications systems incorporating interstate and intrastate digital private lines, point-to-point and multipoint private network and small earth station services. There are a number of competing companies in Alaska that actively sell and maintain data and voice communications systems.

 

Our ability to integrate communications networks and data communications equipment has allowed us to maintain our market position based on “value added” support services rather than price competition. These services are blended with other transport products into unique customer solutions, including managed services and outsourcing.

 

Broadband Services

We generate broadband services revenue through our SchoolAccess® and Rural Health initiatives. Our customers may purchase end-to-end broadband services solutions blended with other transport and software products such as video conferencing and unique web content services. There are several competing companies in Alaska that actively sell broadband services.

 

Our ability to provide end-to-end broadband services solutions has allowed us to maintain our market position based on “value added” products and services rather than solely based on price competition. These services are blended with other transport and software products into unique customer solutions, including SchoolAccess® and Rural Health applications such as video conferencing and unique web content services.

 

Wireless Services and Products

We generate wireless services and equipment revenues from four primary sources: (1) monthly plan fees; (2) usage and roaming charges; (3) wireless Internet access; and (4) handset and accessory sales.

 

 

34

 


We offer wireless services by reselling Dobson Communications Corporation’s (“Dobson”) services. We provide limited wireless local access and Internet services using our own facilities. We compete against Dobson, ACS, Alaska DigiTel, and resellers of those services in Anchorage and other markets.

 

We have 25,900 and 14,300 combined Consumer and Commercial wireless lines in service at September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. A wireless line in service is defined as a revenue generating wireless device. Our average wireless revenue per combined Consumer and Commercial subscriber is $53.41 and $52.61 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, calculated by dividing our combined Consumer and Commercial usage revenues by our combined Consumer and Commercial subscriber count.

 

We have reached a definitive agreement to invest $29.5 million in Alaska DigiTel. In exchange for the investment, we will receive a majority equity interest in Alaska DigiTel but will not own voting control of the venture. We view our investment as an incremental way to participate in future growth of the wireless industry in Alaska. Our existing distribution agreement with Dobson remains in full effect and our existing wireless products will continue to compete with Alaska DigiTel in the Alaska market. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including documentation and regulatory approvals. The Alaska DigiTel Applicants jointly filed applications with the FCC seeking the requisite regulatory consent to the parties’ transaction. Matanuska Telephone Association filed a Petition to Deny the applications with the FCC in February 2006. ACS Wireless, Inc. filed an objection to the applications with the FCC in July 2006. The Alaska DigiTel Applicants are opposing these adverse filings. It is uncertain when the FCC will act upon the contested applications. We are uncertain when this transaction will close.

 

 

35

 


Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth selected Statements of Operations data as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated (underlying data rounded to the nearest thousands):

 

 

 

Percent­age Change 1

 

 

Percent­age Change 1

 

Three Months Ended

2006

Nine Months Ended

2006

 

September 30,

vs.

September 30,

vs.

(Unaudited)

2006

2005

2005

2006

2005

2005

Statements of Operations Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer services segment

36.0%

35.5%

11.9%

37.0%

36.5%

9.2%

Network Access services segment

36.3%

35.2%

14.0%

35.0%

33.6%

12.4%

Commercial services segment

22.6%

23.8%

5.4%

22.6%

23.8%

2.3%

Managed Broadband services segment

5.1%

5.5%

2.9%

5.4%

6.1%

(4.1%)

Total revenues

100.0%

100.0%

10.6%

100.0%

100.0%

7.8%

Selling, general and administrative expenses

33.2%

34.0%

8.0%

34.5%

34.4%

8.2%

Bad debt expense (recovery)

0.6%

0.0%

2,374.2%

0.7%

(0.0%)

2,135.9%

Restructuring charge

0.0%

1.7%

NM

0.0%

0.6%

NM

Depreciation and amortization expense

16.2%

16.3%

10.2%

17.0%

16.5%

11.3%

Operating income

17.2%

16.1%

18.0%

15.2%

16.1%

2.1%

Other expense, net

6.6%

12.1%

(39.7%)

7.1%

9.4%

(18.9%)

Net income before income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

10.6%

4.0%

190.7%

8.1%

6.7%

31.8%

Net income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

5.6%

2.0%

209.5%

4.4%

3.7%

28.6%

Net income

5.6%

2.0%

209.5%

4.4%

3.7%

29.1%

________________________________

 

 

1  

Percentage change in underlying data.

 

NM – Not meaningful.

________________________________

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 (“third quarter of 2006”) Compared To Three Months Ended September 30, 2005 (“third quarter of 2005”)

 

Overview of Revenues and Cost of Goods Sold

Total revenues increased 10.6% from $113.8 million in the third quarter of 2005 to $125.8 million in the third quarter of 2006. Revenue increased in our Consumer, Network Access, Commercial and Managed Broadband segments. See the discussion below for more information by segment.

 

Total Cost of Goods Sold increased 13.6% from $36.3 million in the third quarter of 2005 to $41.3 million in the third quarter of 2006. Increases in the Consumer, Network Access and Commercial segments’ Cost of Goods Sold were partially off-set by decreased Cost of Goods Sold in our Managed Broadband segment. See the discussion below for more information by segment.

 

 

36

 


Consumer Services Segment Overview

Consumer services segment revenue in the third quarter of 2006 represented 36.0% of consolidated revenues. The components of Consumer services segment revenue are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

11,679

 

11,512

 

1.5%

Video

 

22,486

 

20,983

 

7.2%

Data

 

7,450

 

6,328

 

17.7%

Wireless

 

3,628

 

1,619

 

124.1%

Total Consumer services segment revenue

$

45,243

 

40,442

 

11.9%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Consumer services segment follow:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total local access lines in service1

 

67,400

 

67,700

 

(0.4%)

DLPS local access lines in service1

 

27,200

 

16,100

 

68.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic subscribers2

 

121,800

 

121,000

 

0.7%

Digital programming tier subscribers3

 

56,500

 

51,300

 

10.1%

HD/DVR converter boxes4

 

22,800

 

9,100

 

150.6%

Homes passed

 

218,100

 

213,100

 

2.3%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable modem subscribers5

 

76,800

 

68,100

 

12.8%

 

 

1 A local access line in service is defined as a revenue generating circuit or channel connecting a customer to the public switched telephone network.

2 A basic cable subscriber is defined as one basic tier of service delivered to an address or separate subunits thereof regardless of the number of outlets purchased.

3 A digital programming tier subscriber is defined as one digital programming tier of service delivered to an address or separate subunits thereof regardless of the number of outlets or digital programming tiers purchased. Digital programming tier subscribers are a subset of basic subscribers.

4 An HD/DVR converter box is defined as one box rented by a digital programming or basic tier subscriber. A digital programming or basic tier subscriber is not required to rent an HD/DVR converter box to receive service.

5 A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber. Cable modem subscribers may also be basic subscribers though basic cable service is not required to receive cable modem service.

 

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

34.3

 

39.6

 

(13.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average monthly gross revenue per subscriber1

 

$61.66

 

$59.34

 

3.9%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Quarter-to-date average monthly consumer video revenues divided by the average of consumer video basic subscribers at the beginning and ending of the period.

 

 

 

We have 91,200 Consumer long-distance customers at September 30, 2006. A long-distance customer is defined as a customer account that is invoiced a monthly long-distance plan fee or has made a long-distance

 

 

37

 


call during the month. Due to our implementation of a new unified billing system on September 1, 2005 this statistic is not available for September 30, 2005.

 

Consumer Services Segment Revenues

The 1.5% increase in voice revenue is primarily due a $860,000 increase in support from the Universal Service Program. The increase is partially off-set by a decrease in long-distance minutes carried for these customers.

 

The 7.2% increase in video revenue is primarily due to the following:

 

 

A 53.4% increase in equipment rental revenue to $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 primarily resulting from increased average revenue per customer and the increased use of digital distribution technology, and

 

A 2.1% increase in programming services revenue to $18.8 million in the third quarter of 2006 primarily resulting from an increase in digital programming tier subscribers in the third quarter of 2006 and increased average revenue per customer.

 

The 17.7% increase in data revenue is primarily due to a 16.7% increase in cable modem revenue to $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2006. The increase in cable modem revenue is primarily due to the increase in subscribers.

 

The 124.1% increase in wireless revenue is primarily due to the increase in wireless subscribers.

 

Consumer Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Consumer services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 6.3% to $16.4 million from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to increased video and wireless Cost of Goods Sold resulting from increased revenue. The increase in Cost of Goods Sold is partially off-set by decreased voice Cost of Goods Sold primarily due to cost savings resulting from the increased deployment of DLPS lines in the last three months of 2005 and the first nine months of 2006.

 

Network Access Services Segment Overview

Network access services segment revenue in the third quarter of 2006 represented 36.3% of consolidated revenues. The components of Network Access services segment revenue are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

32,512

 

26,652

 

22.0%

Data

 

13,127

 

13,372

 

(1.8%)

Total Network Access services segment revenue

$

45,639

 

40,024

 

14.0%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Network Access services segment follow:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Internet service provider access lines in service1

 

3,100

 

3,500

 

(11.4%)

 

 

1 An Internet service provider access line in service is defined as a revenue generating circuit or channel connecting a customer to the public switched telephone network.

 

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

373.6

 

301.8

 

23.8%

 

 

 

38

 


Network Access Services Segment Revenues

The 22.0% increase in voice revenue is primarily due to the increase in minutes carried for our other common carrier customers partially off-set by a 1.1% decrease in our rate per minute on minutes carried for other common carriers. The average rate per minute decrease is primarily due to a 3.0% rate decrease mandated by federal law which will result in annual rate decreases of 3.0% per year, partially off-set by a change in the composition of traffic carried.

 

Network Access Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Network Access services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 25.9% to $9.9 million from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to increased voice minutes carried.

 

Commercial Services Segment Overview

Commercial services segment revenue in the third quarter of 2006 represented 22.6% of consolidated revenues. The components of Commercial services segment revenue are as follow (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

8,204

 

8,273

 

(0.8%)

Video

 

2,122

 

1,857

 

14.3%

Data

 

17,523

 

16,600

 

5.6%

Wireless

 

662

 

318

 

108.2%

Total Commercial services segment revenue

$

28,511

 

27,048

 

5.4%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Commercial services segment follow:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total local access lines in service1

 

41,700

 

40,700

 

2.5%

DLPS local access lines in service1

 

1,100

 

500

 

120.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable modem subscribers2

 

7,200

 

6,200

 

16.1%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 A local access line in service is defined as a revenue generating circuit or channel connecting a customer to the public switched telephone network.

2 A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber.

 

 

 

 

 

Third Quarter

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

33.8

 

35.2

 

(4.0%)

 

We have 11,500 Commercial long-distance accounts at September 30, 2006. A long-distance account is defined as a customer account that is invoiced a monthly long-distance plan fee or has made a long-distance call during the month. Due to our implementation of a new unified billing system on September 1, 2005 this statistic is not available for September 30, 2005.

 

We leased a portion of our 800-mile fiber optic system capacity that extends from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez via Fairbanks, and provided management and maintenance services for this capacity to a significant customer. The lessee signed a contract with a competitor in March 2005, started the transition of their circuits from our fiber optic cable system to our competitor’s microwave system in June 2006, and expects to complete the transition during the first quarter of 2007. In November 2006, we signed an agreement with our competitor to lease capacity on our fiber optic cable system and provide certain other services in association with their contract. We expect this transition to result in a $9.5 million annual decrease in the data component of

 

 

39

 


Commercial Services segment revenue when it is completed with a decrease of approximately one-half the annual decrease in the year ended December 31, 2006 depending upon the pace of the transition.

 

Commercial Services Segment Revenues

The 14.3% increase in video revenue is primarily due to a 32.6% increase in cable advertising revenue to $1.4 million due to increased local political advertising in the third quarter of 2006.

 

The 5.6% increase in data revenue is primarily due to the following:

 

 

A $801,000 increase to $4.2 million in private line and private network services due to an increase in the number of circuits sold, and

 

A $384,000 or 4.3% increase in managed services revenue primarily due to $2.3 million in revenue recognized for a special project completed in the third quarter of 2006 partially off-set by a $1.9 million or 53.6% decrease in revenue earned from the lease and provision of management and maintenance services on a portion of our 800-mile fiber optic system capacity that extends from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez via Fairbanks as described above.

 

Commercial Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Commercial services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 16.2% to $13.9 million from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to $2.3 million in Cost of Goods Sold recognized for a special project completed in the third quarter of 2006 and a $403,000 or 136.6% increase in wireless Cost of Goods Sold resulting from increased revenue.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Overview

Managed Broadband services segment revenue in the third quarter of 2006 represented 5.1% of consolidated revenues. Managed Broadband services segment revenue, which includes data products only, increased $180,000 to $6.4 million in the third quarter of 2006 as compared to the third quarter of 2005.

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Managed Broadband services segment follow:

 

 

 

September 30,

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Managed Broadband services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

SchoolAccess® customers

 

48

 

45

 

6.7%

Rural health customers

 

22

 

20

 

10.0%

 

In November 2006, we decided to close an operating subsidiary and in connection with the closure we began to evaluate whether software for a Managed Broadband services segment product offering with a net book value of $789,000 at September 30, 2006 will continue to be marketed and supported in the future. We currently have one customer using the software. The alternatives at this time are to continue software development, to seek a buyer for the software, or to abandon the current software upon the purchase of another software package if one is found to be more cost-effective. Depending on which decision is made, an impairment in the value of the software resulting in a write-down to net realizable value may be necessary. We expect to complete our evaluation in January 2007 at which time we will be better able to determine if an impairment in value exists, and if so, the amount of the net realizable value.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Revenues

The increase in Managed Broadband services segment revenue is primarily due to an increase in our multi-site and single-site SchoolAccess® customers, an increase in circuits purchased by our rural health customers, and an increase in single-site rural health customers in the third quarter of 2006 as compared to 2005.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Managed Broadband services segment Cost of Goods Sold decreased $13,000 to $1.1 million from the third quarter of 2005 to the third quarter of 2006.

 

 

40

 


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 8.0% to $41.7 million in the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to a $1.1 million increase in certain promotion expenses and a $701,000 increase in our share-based compensation expense mostly resulting from our adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006. In the third quarter of 2006 we recognized $1.0 million in share-based compensation expense which was allocated to our reportable segments as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Reportable Segments

 

Consumer

Network Access

Commercial

Managed Broadband

Total

Share-based compensation expense

$ 341

354

231

81

1,007

 

The increase is partially off-set by a $1.2 million decrease in labor costs primarily resulting from a decreased number of employees as a result of our reorganization discussed below.

 

As a percentage of total revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased from 34.0% in the third quarter of 2005 to 33.2% in the third quarter of 2006, primarily due to an increase in revenues without a proportional increase in selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

Bad Debt Expense

Bad debt expense increased $736,000 to a net expense of $767,000 in the third quarter of 2006 as compared to the third quarter of 2005. The increase is primarily due to the following:

 

 

A $1.4 million realization of a recovery from MCI, Inc. (merged with Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”) in January 2006) through a reduction to bad debt expense that did not recur in the third quarter of 2006, and

 

A $457,000 increase in bad debt expense primarily resulting from an increase in the allowance for our long-distance, local service and Internet invoices generated by the unified order management and fulfillment, billing, customer service, cash application, and credit and collection system to which we converted on September 1, 2005. The allowance increase is due to an increase in the age of certain invoices as we resolve billing issues.

 

The increase in bad debt expense described above is partially off-set by a $1.4 million decrease in bad debt expense for Managed Broadband services resulting from increases in allowances established for certain Managed Broadband services customers in the third quarter of 2005 and decreases in allowances established for certain Managed Broadband services customers in the third quarter of 2006.

 

Restructuring Charge

On August 22, 2005 we committed to a reorganization plan to more efficiently meet the demands of technological and product convergence by realigning along customer lines rather than product lines. Effective January 1, 2006 we reorganized under Consumer, Commercial, Carrier and Managed Broadband segments, replacing the Long Distance, Cable, Local Access and Internet services segments. The reorganization plan included integration of several functions resulting in the layoff of 76 employees by November 30, 2005. In the third quarter of 2005 we recognized a restructuring charge of approximately $1.9 million for workforce reduction costs across all functions. Total costs incurred under this plan were $2.1 million.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 10.2% to $20.4 million in the third quarter of 2006. The increase is primarily due to our $95.3 million investment in equipment and facilities placed into service during 2005 for which a full year of depreciation will be recorded in 2006 and the $39.1 million investment in equipment and facilities placed into service during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 for which a partial year of depreciation will be recorded in 2006.

 

 

41

 


Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net of other income, decreased 39.7% to $8.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to the following:

 

 

In August 2005, we finalized a $215.0 million Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility (“Amended Senior Credit Facility”) to replace our May 21, 2004 Senior Credit Facility resulting in the following third quarter of 2005 expenses:

 

o

We recognized a $2.8 million Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt in the third quarter of 2005 resulting from termination of our Satellite Transponder Capital Lease, and

 

o

We recognized approximately $1.8 million in Amortization and Write-off of Loan and Senior Notes Fees in the third quarter of 2005 because a portion of the Amended Senior Credit Facility was a substantial modification of the May 21, 2004 Senior Credit Facility.

 

A $493,000 increase in interest income to $759,000 in 2006 resulting from an increase in our average cash and cash equivalents balance in 2006 as compared to 2005.

 

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense totaled $6.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 and $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2005. Our effective income tax rate decreased from 50.3% in the third quarter of 2005 to 47.0% in the third quarter of 2006 primarily due to adjustments to deferred tax assets in 2005.

 

At September 30, 2006, we have (1) tax net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $143.4 million that will begin expiring in 2011 if not utilized, and (2) alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of approximately $2.6 million available to offset regular income taxes payable in future years. We estimate that we will utilize net operating loss carryforwards of $25.0 million to $30.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2006. Our utilization of certain net operating loss carryforwards is subject to limitations pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 382.

 

We have recorded deferred tax assets of approximately $58.7 million associated with income tax net operating losses that were generated from 1996 to 2006, and that expire from 2011 to 2026.

 

Tax benefits associated with recorded deferred tax assets are considered to be more likely than not realizable through future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards. The amount of deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced which would result in additional income tax expense. We estimate that our effective annual income tax rate for financial statement purposes will be 44% to 47% in the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 (“2006”) Compared To Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 (“2005”)

 

Overview of Revenues and Cost of Goods Sold

Total revenues increased 7.8% from $330.9 million in 2005 to $356.9 million in 2006. Revenue increases in our Consumer, Network Access and Commercial segments were partially off-set by decreased revenue in our Managed Broadband segment. See the discussion below for more information by segment.

 

Total Cost of Goods Sold increased 7.9% from $107.6 million in 2005 to $116.1 million in 2006. Cost of Goods Sold increases in our Consumer, Network Access and Commercial segments were partially off-set by decreased Cost of Goods Sold in our Managed Broadband segment. See the discussion below for more information by segment.

 

 

42

 


Consumer Services Segment Overview

Consumer services segment revenue in 2006 represented 37.0% of consolidated revenues. The components of Consumer services segment revenue are as follow (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

34,443

 

35,101

 

(1.9%)

Video

 

66,816

 

63,120

 

5.9%

Data

 

21,669

 

18,894

 

14.7%

Wireless

 

9,201

 

3,869

 

137.8%

Total Consumer services segment revenue

$

132,129

 

120,984

 

9.2%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Consumer services segment follow:

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

107.1

 

120.9

 

(11.4%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average monthly gross revenue per subscriber1

 

$60.94

 

$59.27

 

2.8%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Year-to-date average monthly consumer video revenues divided by the average of consumer video basic subscribers at the beginning and ending of the period.

 

 

 

Please refer to our three-month results of operations discussion for additional selected key performance indicators as of September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

Consumer Services Segment Revenues

The 1.9% decrease in voice revenue is primarily due to the decrease in long-distance minutes carried for these customers. The decrease is partially off-set by a $358,000 increase in support from the Universal Service Program in 2006 as compared to 2005 and an approximately $300,000 increase in local service revenue in 2006 as compared to 2005 due to the implementation of the monthly network access fee in April 2005.

 

The 5.9% increase in video revenue is primarily due to the following:

 

A 31.3% increase in equipment rental revenue to $9.7 million in 2006 primarily resulting from increased average revenue per customer and the increased use of digital distribution technology, and

 

A 2.9% increase in programming services revenue to $56.1 million in 2006 primarily resulting from an increase in digital programming tier subscribers in 2006 and increased average revenue per customer.

 

The 14.7% increase in data revenue is primarily due to a 7.8% increase in cable modem revenue to $18.2 million and a 91.3% increase to $1.3 million in revenue earned from our customers’ use of our Internet facilities in excess of that allowed by their plan in 2006 as compared to 2005. The increase in cable modem revenue is primarily due to the increase in subscribers.

 

The 137.8% increase in wireless revenue is primarily due to the increase in wireless subscribers.

 

Consumer Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Consumer services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 7.3% to $49.5 million from 2005 to 2006 primarily due to increased video and wireless Cost of Goods Sold resulting from increased revenue. The increase in Cost of Goods Sold is partially off-set by decreased voice Cost of Goods Sold primarily due to cost savings resulting from the increased deployment of DLPS lines in the last three months of 2005 and the first nine months of 2006 and the decrease in voice minutes carried.

 

 

43

 


Network Access Services Segment Overview

Network access services segment revenue in 2006 represented 35.0% of consolidated revenues. The components of Network Access services segment revenue are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

84,840

 

71,560

 

18.6%

Data

 

39,999

 

39,514

 

1.2%

Total Network Access services segment revenue

$

124,839

 

111,074

 

12.4%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Network Access services segment follow:

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

993.2

 

799.7

 

24.2%

 

Please refer to our three-month results of operations discussion for additional selected key performance indicators as of September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

Network Access Services Segment Revenues

The 18.6% increase in voice revenue is primarily due to the increase in minutes carried for our other common carrier customers partially off-set by a 3.0% decrease in our rate per minute on minutes carried for other common carriers. The average rate per minute decrease is due a 3.0% rate decrease mandated by federal law which will result in annual rate decreases of 3.0%.

 

Network Access Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Network Access services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 17.2% to $27.5 million from 2005 to 2006 primarily due to increased voice minutes carried.

 

Commercial Services Segment Overview

Commercial services segment revenue in 2006 represented 22.6% of consolidated revenues. The components of Commercial services segment revenue are as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice

$

24,324

 

25,851

 

(5.9%)

Video

 

5,781

 

5,390

 

7.3%

Data

 

48,833

 

46,812

 

4.3%

Wireless

 

1,714

 

760

 

125.5%

Total Commercial services segment revenue

$

80,652

 

78,813

 

2.3%

 

Selected key performance indicators for our Commercial services segment follow:

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Change

Voice:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-distance minutes carried (in millions)

 

103.2

 

106.3

 

(2.9%)

 

Please refer to our three-month results of operations discussion for additional selected key performance indicators as of September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

Commercial Services Segment Revenues

The 5.9% decrease in voice revenue is primarily due to the decrease in minutes carried for our Commercial customers.

 

 

44

 


The 4.3% increase in data revenue is primarily due to the following:

 

 

A $1.4 million increase to $12.5 million in private line and private network services due to an increase in the number of circuits sold,

 

$2.3 million in revenue recognized for a special project completed in 2006, and

 

A $1.0 million or 8.5% increase in other special project revenues.

 

The increase is partially off-set by a $2.2 million or 20.9% decrease in revenue earned from the lease and provision of management and maintenance services on a portion of our 800-mile fiber optic system capacity that extends from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez via Fairbanks as described above.

 

The 125.5% increase in wireless revenue is primarily due to the increase in wireless subscribers.

 

Commercial Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Commercial services segment Cost of Goods Sold increased 4.2% to $35.9 million from 2005 to 2006 primarily due to $2.3 million in Cost of Goods Sold recognized for a special project completed in 2006, a $1.2 million or 163.9% increase in wireless Cost of Goods Sold resulting from increased revenue, and a 12.5% increase in managed services Cost of Goods Sold to $10.7 million primarily due to increased managed services revenue in 2006 as compared to 2005. The increase in Cost of Goods Sold is partially off-set by cost savings resulting from the increased deployment of DLPS lines in the last three months of 2005 and the first nine months of 2006 and decreased voice minutes carried.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Overview

Managed Broadband services segment revenue in 2006 represented 5.4% of consolidated revenues. Managed Broadband services segment revenue, which includes data products only, decreased 4.1% to $19.2 million in 2006 as compared to 2005.

 

Please refer to our three-month results of operations discussion for selected key performance indicators as of September 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Revenues

The decrease in Managed Broadband services segment revenue is primarily due to a decrease in our multi-site SchoolAccess® customers in the first six months of 2006 as compared to 2005 and a decrease in the rate charged for certain circuits purchased by our rural health customers in 2006 as compared to 2005. The decrease is partially off-set by an increase in our multi-site and single-site SchoolAccess® customers, an increase in circuits purchased by our rural health customers, and an increase in single-site rural health customers in the third quarter of 2006.

 

Managed Broadband Services Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Managed Broadband services segment Cost of Goods Sold decreased $344,000 to $3.2 million from 2005 to 2006 primarily due to a reduction in the satellite capacity cost allocated to Managed Broadband in 2006.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 8.2% to $123.1 million in 2006 primarily due to the following:

 

 

A $4.0 million increase in our share-based compensation expense due to the recognition of $2.6 million in share-based compensation expense following our adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006, a $1.1 million immaterial error correction as described in note 1(l) to the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this report, and a $676,000 increase in fair value of our share-based liability award. The $4.4 million in share-based compensation expense was allocated to our reportable segments as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

Reportable Segments

 

Consumer

Network Access

Commercial

Managed Broadband

Total

Share-based compensation expense

$ 1,490

1,620

969

329

4,408

 

 

 

45

 


 

 

A $1.9 million increase in health insurance costs primarily resulting from a decrease in our reserve for incurred but not reported health insurance claims in 2005 in order to reflect historical experience that was not repeated in 2006 and an increase in our medical claims in 2006, and

 

A $1.1 million increase in certain promotion expenses.

 

The selling, general and administrative expenses increase is partially off-set by a $1.1 million decrease in contract labor in 2006 primarily due to a reduction in the number of contractors supporting our information technology systems.

 

As a percentage of total revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 34.5% in 2006 from 34.4% in 2005, primarily due to an increase in share based compensation expense without a proportional increase in revenues.

 

Bad Debt Expense (Recovery)

Bad debt expense (recovery) increased $2.7 million to a net expense of $2.6 million in 2006 primarily due to the following:

 

 

A $3.0 million decrease in the realization of a recovery from Verizon through a reduction to bad debt expense in 2006 as compared to 2005, and

 

A $1.3 million increase in the allowance for our long-distance, local service and Internet invoices generated by the unified order management and fulfillment, billing, customer service, cash application, and credit and collection system to which we converted on September 1, 2005. The allowance increase is due to an increase in the age of certain invoices as we resolve billing issues.

 

The increase described above is partially off-set by a $1.5 million decrease in bad debt expense for Managed Broadband services resulting from increases in allowances established for certain Managed Broadband services customers in 2005 and decreases in allowances established for certain Managed Broadband services customers in 2006.

 

Restructuring Charge

Please refer to our discussion in the three-month results of operations for information about the restructuring charge.

 

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization expense increased 11.3% to $60.7 million in 2006. The increase is primarily due to our $95.3 million investment in equipment and facilities placed into service during 2005 for which a full year of depreciation will be recorded in 2006 and the $39.1 million investment in equipment and facilities placed into service during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 for which a partial year of depreciation will be recorded in 2006.

 

Other Expense, Net

Other expense, net of other income, decreased 18.9% to $25.3 million in 2006 primarily due to the following:

 

 

In August 2005, we finalized a $215.0 million Amended Senior Credit Facility to replace our May 21, 2004 Senior Credit Facility resulting in the following 2005 expenses:

 

o

We recognized a $2.8 million Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt in 2005 resulting from termination of our Satellite Transponder Capital Lease, and

 

o

We recognized $1.8 million in Amortization and Write-off of Loan and Senior Notes Fees in 2005 because a portion of the Amended Senior Credit Facility was a substantial modification of the May 21, 2004 Senior Credit Facility.

 

Amortization of deferred loan fees for our Amended Senior Credit Facility decreased after the August 2005 amendment resulting in decreased amortization expense of approximately $462,000 in 2006 as compared to 2005, and

 

A $841,000 increase in interest income to $1.4 million in 2006 resulting from an increase in our average cash and cash equivalents balance in 2006 as compared to 2005.

 

 

46

 


Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense totaled $13.3 million in 2006 and $9.8 million in 2005. Our effective income tax rate increased from 44.5% in 2005 to 45.9% in 2006 primarily due to adjustments to deferred tax assets in 2006.

 

Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Principle

On January 1, 2006 we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS 123(R) requires us to estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures at the time of grant and periodically revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We record share-based compensation expense only for those awards expected to vest using an estimated forfeiture rate based on our historical pre-vesting forfeiture data. Previously, we accounted for forfeitures as they occurred under the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123 for periods prior to 2006. The transition impact (benefit) of adopting SFAS No. 123(R) attributed to accruing for expected forfeitures on outstanding share-based awards totaled $108,000, which was reduced by income tax expense of $44,000, and is reported as cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the accompanying September 30, 2006 Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

Multiple System Operator (“MSO”) Operating Statistics

Our operating statistics include capital expenditures and customer information from our Consumer and Commercial services segments which offer services utilizing our cable services’ facilities.

 

Our capital expenditures by standard reporting category for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 follows (amounts in thousands):

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Line extensions

$

12,712

 

2,620

 

Customer premise equipment

 

9,869

 

12,330

 

Upgrade/rebuild

 

3,743

 

10,291

 

Support capital

 

890

 

685

 

Scalable infrastructure

 

634

 

2,315

 

Commercial

 

55

 

270

 

Sub-total

 

27,903

 

28,511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remaining reportable segments capital expenditures

 

 

36,449

 

 

37,327

 

 

$

64,352

 

65,838

 

 

The standardized definition of a customer relationship is the number of customers that receive at least one level of service utilizing our cable services segment’s facilities, encompassing voice, video, and data services, without regard to which services customers purchase. At September 30, 2006 and 2005 we had 123,700 and 124,300 customer relationships, respectively.

 

The standardized definition of a revenue generating unit is the sum of all primary analog video, digital video, high-speed data, and telephony customers, not counting additional outlets. At September 30, 2006 and 2005 we had 248,600 and 227,400 revenue generating units, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash flows from operating activities totaled $80.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to $66.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

Other sources of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included $8.5 million from the issuance of our Class A common stock. Other uses of cash during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included expenditures of $64.4 million for property and equipment, including construction in progress and the purchase of $29.3 million of common stock to be retired.

 

Working capital totaled $86.9 million at September 30, 2006, a $10.4 million increase as compared to $76.5 million at December 31, 2005. The increase is primarily due to a $2.6 million reclassification of a long-term deposit to current assets and a $2.5 million reclassification of the current portion of Notes Receivable from Related Parties from non-current assets at September 30, 2006 as compared to December 31, 2005.

 

 

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Net receivables increased $11.4 million from December 31, 2005 to September 30, 2006 primarily due to the timing of payments on trade receivables from several large customers and a seasonal increase in trade receivables for Managed Broadband services provided to hospitals and health clinics.

 

Senior Notes

We were in compliance with all Senior Notes loan covenants at September 30, 2006.

 

Senior Credit Facility

We were in compliance with all Senior Credit Facility loan covenants at September 30, 2006.

 

Capital Lease Obligation

On March 31, 2006, through our subsidiary GCC we entered into an agreement to lease transponder capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 18 spacecraft that is expected to be launched during 2007. We will also lease capacity on the Horizons 1 satellite, which is owned jointly by Intelsat and JSAT International, Inc. The leased capacity is expected to replace our existing transponder capacity on Intelsat’s Galaxy 10R satellite when it reaches its end of life.

 

We will lease C-band and Ku-Band transponders over an expected term of approximately 14 years once the satellite is placed into commercial operation in its assigned orbital location, and the transponders meet specific performance specifications and are made available for our use. The present value of the lease payments, excluding telemetry, tracking and command services and back-up protection, is expected to total $77.0 million to $82.0 million. We will record the capital lease obligation and the addition to our Property and Equipment when the satellite is made available for our use which is expected to occur approximately one month after the expected September 2007 launch.

 

A summary of estimated future minimum lease payments for this lease follows (amounts in thousands):

 

Years ending December 31:

 

 

 

2006

$

---

 

2007

 

2,292

 

2008

 

9,168

 

2009

 

9,168

 

2010

 

9,168

 

2011 and thereafter

 

98,556

 

Total minimum lease payments

$

128,352

 

 

In exchange for payment of a monthly fee we had the option to terminate the lease of the C-band transponders through June 1, 2007 for additional consideration. We cancelled our termination option effective August 31, 2006 and are no longer obligated to continue paying the monthly fee.

 

Capital Expenditures

Our expenditures for property and equipment, including construction in progress, totaled $64.4 million and $65.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Our capital expenditures requirements in excess of approximately $25.0 million per year are largely success driven and are a result of the progress we are making in the marketplace. We expect our 2006 expenditures for property and equipment for our core operations, including construction in progress, to total $80.0 million to $90.0 million, depending on available opportunities and the amount of cash flow we generate during 2006.

 

Share Repurchases

GCI’s Board of Directors has authorized a common stock buyback program for the repurchase of our Class A and Class B common stock in order to reduce our outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock. Our Board of Directors authorized us and we obtained permission from our lenders for up to $55.0 million of repurchases through September 30, 2006. We are authorized to continue our stock repurchases of up to $5.0 million per quarter indefinitely and to use stock option exercise proceeds, in our discretion, 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. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006 we repurchased 2,463,000 shares of our common stock at a cost of approximately $29.3 million. We expect to continue the repurchases for an indefinite period subject to the

 

 

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availability of free cash flow, availability under our credit facilities, and the price of our Class A and Class B common stock. The repurchases have and will continue to comply with the restrictions of SEC Rule 10b-18.

 

Other Expenditures

We agreed to invest approximately $29.5 million in exchange for a majority equity interest in Alaska DigiTel, a small Alaska PCS provider. The existing owners will retain a minority ownership interest and voting control of Alaska DigiTel. The exact percentage and dollar amounts for our interest in Alaska DigiTel will vary in proportion to the amount the existing owners elect to retain, but we expect to own between 75% and 85% after completion of the transaction. The transaction is based on a post closing enterprise valuation of $37.0 million for Alaska DigiTel. We will fund the transaction from cash on hand, by drawing down additional debt, or a combination of the two. In June 2006 we entered into a Reorganization Agreement with the members of Alaska DigiTel and certain other parties setting forth the formal terms and conditions for the investment, the principal terms of which are the same as those in the superseded memorandum of understanding. The Alaska DigiTel Applicants jointly filed applications with the FCC seeking the requisite regulatory consent to the parties’ transaction. Matanuska Telephone Association filed a Petition to Deny the applications with the FCC in February 2006. ACS Wireless, Inc. filed an objection to the applications with the FCC in July 2006. The Alaska DigiTel Applicants are opposing these adverse filings. It is uncertain when the FCC will act upon the contested applications. We are uncertain when this transaction will close.

 

We have provided a $3.0 million bank depository account as collateral for a term loan from a bank secured by Alaska DigiTel. The amount is classified as Restricted Cash on our September 30, 2006 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

On July 31, 2006, through our subsidiary GCC we entered into an agreement to purchase an IRU in the Kodiak-Kenai Cable Company, LLC’s marine-based fiber optic cable system linking Anchorage to Kenai, Homer, Kodiak and Seward, Alaska. The new system is under construction and we anticipate it will be placed into service in the first quarter of 2007. We have committed to purchase a minimum of $8.0 million to $8.5 million in IRU capacity in three installments through 2011.

 

The long-distance, local access, cable, Internet and wireless services industries continue to experience substantial competition, regulatory uncertainty, and continuing technological changes. Our future results of operations will be affected by our ability to react to changes in the competitive and regulatory environment and by our ability to fund and implement new or enhanced technologies. We are unable to determine how competition, economic conditions, and regulatory and technological changes will affect our ability to obtain financing under acceptable terms and conditions.

 

We believe, but can provide no assurances, that we will be able to meet our current and long-term liquidity and capital requirements and fixed charges through our cash flows from operating activities, existing cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, credit facilities, and other external financing and equity sources.  Should cash flows be insufficient to support additional borrowings and principal payments scheduled under our existing credit facilities, capital expenditures will likely be reduced.

 

 

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Schedule of Certain Known Contractual Obligations

 

The following table details future projected payments associated with certain known contractual obligations as of December 31, 2005, the date of our most recent fiscal year-end balance sheet. Our schedule of certain known contractual obligations has been updated to reflect our transponder capacity capital lease obligation discussed above, assuming such lease payments commence in September 2007.

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

Total

Less than 1 Year

1 to 3

Years

4 to 5

Years

More Than 5 Years

 

 

(Amounts in thousands)

Long-term debt

$

479,550

1,725

3,425

3,200

471,200

Interest on long-term debt

 

265,599

33,714

68,170

67,695

96,020

Capital lease obligations, including interest

 

129,830

252

11,976

18,852

98,750

Operating lease commitments

 

79,532

19,359

24,254

15,875

20,044

Purchase obligations

 

26,322

15,753

10,569

---

---

Other

 

29,500

29,500

---

---

---

Total contractual obligations

$

1,010,333

100,303

118,394

105,622

686,014

 

For long-term debt included in the above table, we have included principal payments on our Senior Credit Facility and on our Senior Notes. Interest on amounts outstanding under our Senior Credit Facility is based on variable rates. We used the current rate paid on the Senior Credit Facility to estimate our future interest payments. Our Senior Notes require semi-annual interest payments of $11.6 million through February 2014. For a discussion of our Senior Notes and Senior Credit Facility see note 7 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A).

 

For a discussion of our capital and operating leases, see note 16 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A) and note 6 in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.”

 

Purchase obligations include a remaining commitment to purchase a certain number of outdoor, network powered multi-media adapters, indoor multi-media adapters, cable modems, and cable modem termination systems of $6.9 million and a remaining $10.8 million commitment for our Alaska Airlines agreement as further described in note 16 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A). The contracts associated with these commitments are non-cancelable. Purchase obligations also include open purchase orders for goods and services for capital projects and normal operations totaling $8.6 million which are not included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2005, because the goods had not been received or the services had not been performed at December 31, 2005. The open purchase orders are cancelable.

 

Other consists of our commitment to acquire a substantial equity interest in Alaska DigiTel for approximately $29.5 million as further described above.

 

New Accounting Standards

 

In June 2006, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 06-03, “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)” which includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a

 

 

50

 


revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes. EITF No. 06-03 states that the presentation of taxes within its scope on either a gross (included in revenues and costs) or a net (excluded from revenues) basis is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed in a company’s financial statements. In addition, for any such taxes that are reported on a gross basis, a company should disclose the amounts of those taxes in interim and annual financial statements for each period for which an income statement is presented if those amounts are significant. The disclosure of those taxes can be done on an aggregate basis. We will begin application of EITF No. 06-03 on January 1, 2007 and do not expect it to have a material effect on the components of our statements of operations.

 

In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. We will begin application of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.”  SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. In addition, this statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement applies when other accounting pronouncements require fair value measurement; it does not require new fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We will begin application of SFAS No. 157 on January 1, 2008 and do not expect it to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial position, and cash flows.

 

In September 2006, the SEC issued SAB 108 which provides interpretive guidance on how the effects of the carryover or reversal of prior year misstatements should be considered in quantifying a current year misstatement. We will implement the guidance in the fourth quarter of 2006. We are evaluating the impact, if any, that SAB No. 108 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our accounting and reporting policies comply with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions. The financial position and results of operations can be affected by these estimates and assumptions, which are integral to understanding reported results. Critical accounting policies are those policies that management believes are the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results, and require management to make estimates that are difficult, subjective or complex. Most accounting policies are not considered by management to be critical accounting policies. Several factors are considered in determining whether or not a policy is critical in the preparation of financial statements. These factors include, among other things, whether the estimates are significant to the financial statements, the nature of the estimates, the ability to readily validate the estimates with other information including third parties or available prices, and sensitivity of the estimates to changes in economic conditions and whether alternative accounting methods may be utilized under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. For all of these policies, management cautions that future events rarely develop exactly as forecast, and the best estimates routinely require adjustment. Management has discussed the development and the selection of critical accounting policies with our Audit Committee.

 

Those policies considered to be critical accounting policies for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are described below.

 

 

We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. We also maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts based on our assessment of the likelihood that our customers will satisfactorily comply with rules necessary to obtain supplemental funding from the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) for

 

 

51

 


services provided by us under our packaged communications offerings to rural hospitals, health clinics and school districts. We base our estimates on the aging of our accounts receivable balances, financial health of specific customers, regional economic data, changes in our collections process, regulatory requirements, and our customers’ compliance with USAC rules. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate or if they are unable to emerge from reorganization proceedings, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. If their financial condition improves or they emerge successfully from reorganization proceedings, allowances may be reduced. Such allowance changes could have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

We record all assets and liabilities acquired in purchase acquisitions, including goodwill and other intangibles, at fair value as required by SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.” Goodwill and indefinite-lived assets such as our cable certificates are not amortized but are subject, at a minimum, to annual tests for impairment and quarterly evaluations of whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life as required by SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method, and are subject to impairment if events or circumstances indicate a possible inability to realize the carrying amount as required by SFAS No. 142. The initial goodwill and other intangibles recorded and subsequent impairment analysis requires management to make subjective judgments concerning estimates of the applicability of quoted market prices in active markets and, if quoted market prices are not available and/or are not applicable, how the acquired asset will perform in the future using a discounted cash flow analysis. Estimated cash flows may extend beyond ten years and, by their nature, are difficult to determine over an extended timeframe. Events and factors that may significantly affect the estimates include, among others, competitive forces, customer behaviors and attrition, changes in revenue growth trends, cost structures and technology, and changes in discount rates, performance compared to peers, material and ongoing negative economic trends, and specific industry or market sector conditions. In determining the reasonableness of cash flow estimates, we review historical performance of the underlying asset or similar assets in an effort to improve assumptions utilized in our estimates. In assessing the fair value of goodwill and other intangibles, we may consider other information to validate the reasonableness of our valuations including third-party assessments. These evaluations could result in a change in useful lives in future periods and could result in write-down of the value of intangible assets. Our cable certificate and goodwill assets are our only indefinite-lived intangible assets and because of the significance of our cable certificate and goodwill assets to our consolidated balance sheet, our annual and quarterly impairment analyses and quarterly evaluations of remaining useful lives are critical. Any changes in key assumptions about the business and its prospects, changes in market conditions or other externalities, or recognition of previously unrecognized intangible assets for impairment testing purposes could result in an impairment charge and such a charge could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations.

 

 

We estimate unbilled long-distance services Cost of Goods Sold based upon minutes of use carried through our network and established rates. We estimate unbilled costs for new circuits and services, and network changes that result in traffic routing changes or a change in carriers. Carriers that provide service to us regularly make network changes that can lead to new, revised or corrected billings. Such estimates are revised or removed when subsequent billings are received, payments are made, billing matters are researched and resolved, tariffed billing periods lapse, or when disputed charges are resolved. Revisions to previous estimates could either increase or decrease costs in the year in which the estimate is revised which could have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

Our income tax policy provides for deferred income taxes to show the effect of temporary differences between the recognition of revenue and expenses for financial and income tax reporting purposes and between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” We have recorded deferred tax assets of approximately $58.7 million associated with income tax net operating losses that were generated from 1996 to 2006, and that expire from 2011 to 2026. Pre-acquisition income tax net operating losses associated with acquired companies are subject to additional deductibility limits. We have recorded deferred tax assets of approximately $2.6 million associated with alternative minimum tax credits that do not expire. Significant management judgment is required in

 

 

52

 


developing our provision for income taxes, including the determination of deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances that may be required against the deferred tax assets. In conjunction with certain 1996 acquisitions, we determined that approximately $20.0 million of the acquired net operating losses would not be utilized for income tax purposes, and elected with our December 31, 1996 income tax returns to forego utilization of such acquired losses. Deferred tax assets were not recorded associated with the foregone losses and, accordingly, no valuation allowance was provided. We have not recorded a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2006 based on management’s belief that future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and estimated future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards, will, more likely than not, be sufficient to realize the benefit of these assets over time. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or if our historical trends change, we may be required to record a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Other significant accounting policies, not involving the same level of measurement uncertainties as those discussed above, are nevertheless important to an understanding of the financial statements. Policies related to revenue recognition, share-based payments, and financial instruments require difficult judgments on complex matters that are often subject to multiple sources of authoritative guidance. Certain of these matters are among topics currently under reexamination by accounting standards setters and regulators. No specific conclusions reached by these standard setters appear likely to cause a material change in our accounting policies, although outcomes cannot be predicted with confidence. A complete discussion of our significant accounting policies can be found in note 1 in “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part II of our December 31, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K (as described further in note 1(a) in the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” these audited consolidated financial statements will be restated in connection with the Form 10-K/A to be filed subsequent to the filing of this Form 10-Q/A).

 

Geographic Concentration and the Alaska Economy

 

We have one major customer, Verizon. Our remaining customers are located primarily throughout Alaska. Because of this geographic concentration, our growth and operations depend upon economic conditions in Alaska. The economy of Alaska is dependent upon the natural resources industries, and in particular oil production, as well as tourism, government, and United States military spending. Any deterioration in these markets could have an adverse impact on us. All of the federal funding and the majority of investment revenues are dedicated for specific purposes, leaving oil revenues as the primary source of general operating revenues. Tourism, air cargo, and service sectors have helped offset the prevailing pattern of oil industry downsizing that has occurred during much of the last several years.

 

No assurance can be given that the driving forces in the Alaska economy, and in particular, oil production, will continue at appropriate levels to provide an environment for expanded economic activity.

 

No assurance can be given that oil companies doing business in Alaska will be successful in discovering new fields or further developing existing fields which are economic to develop and produce oil with access to the pipeline or other means of transport to market. We are not able to predict the effect of changes in the price and production volumes of North Slope oil on Alaska’s economy or on us.

 

PART I.

ITEM 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of business, including the impact of interest rate changes. We do not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

 

Our Senior Credit Facility carries interest rate risk. Amounts borrowed under this Agreement bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.50% or less depending upon our Total Leverage Ratio (as defined). Should the LIBOR rate change, our interest expense will increase or decrease accordingly. As of September 30, 2006, we have borrowed $158.0 million subject to interest rate risk. On this amount, each 1% increase in the LIBOR interest rate would result in $1,580,000 of additional gross interest cost on an annualized basis.

 

 

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PART I.

ITEM 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) Rules 13a - 15(e)) under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer.

 

Based on that evaluation and as described below under “Changes in Internal Controls” (Item 4(b)), we have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f)). Because of this material weakness, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2006.

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b) Changes in Internal Controls

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of our controls performed during the quarter ended September 30, 2006 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Subsequent to September 30, 2006 we determined that an additional material weakness existed at December 31, 2005 associated with inadequately designed internal controls in our financial reporting process related to the interpretation and application of generally accepted accounting principles. Specifically, the Company’s policies and procedures did not consistently provide for effective analysis and implementation of accounting pronouncements as applied to non-routine transactions. As a result, there was an error in the Company’s earnings per share calculation at December 31, 2005 with respect to premiums paid on a preferred stock redemption. See Restatement of Consolidated Financial Statements in the accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part I, Item 2 of this report for more information.

 

The Company’s management has identified the steps necessary to address this material weakness, including:

 

 

Ensuring that policies and procedures are adequately designed and implemented to provide for effective analysis and implementation of accounting pronouncements; and

 

Involving internal personnel assisted by external advisors, as deemed necessary, early in the analysis process, particularly in complex or non-routine transactions, to obtain additional guidance as to the application of generally accepted accounting principles to any such proposed transaction.

 

The Company began to execute the remediation plans identified above in the fourth quarter of 2006, and we believe our controls and procedures will continue to improve as a result of the further implementation of these actions.

 

We cannot assure you that these remediation efforts will be successful or that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives all of the time.

 

We may enhance, modify, and supplement internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures based on experience.

 

 

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Internal controls are a system designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of its financial statements. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

PART II.

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Information regarding material pending legal proceedings to which we are a party is included in note 6 to the accompanying “Notes to Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements” in Part I, Item 1 of this report, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

55

 


 

 

PART II.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

 

(a)

Not applicable.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

(c)

The following table provides information about repurchases of shares of our Class A and Class B common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2006:

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period

(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased

(b) Average Price Paid per Share

(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs (1)

(d) Maximum Number (or approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (2)

July 1, 2006 to
July 31, 2006

316,300 (3)

 

$12.04

 

4,161,035

 

$10,191,000

August 1, 2006 to
August 31, 2006

7,450 (4)

 

$12.39

 

4,168,485

 

$10,099,000

September 1, 2006 to
September 30, 2006

281,712 (3)

 

$12.58

 

4,450,197

 

$6,555,000

Total

605,462     

 

 

 

 

(1)

The repurchase plan was publicly announced on November 3, 2004. Our plan does not have an expiration date, however transactions pursuant to the plan are subject to periodic approval by our Board of Directors. We expect to continue the repurchases indefinitely subject to the availability of free cash flow, availability under our credit facilities, and the price of our Class A and Class B common stock.

 

(2)

The total amount approved for repurchase was $55.0 million through September 30, 2006 consisting of $30.0 million through December 31, 2005 and $25.0 million from January 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006. 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, subject to Board of Directors approval.

 

(3)

Open-market purchases and private party transactions made under our publicly announced repurchase plan.

 

(4)

Private party transactions made under our publicly announced repurchase plan.

 

 

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PART II.

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.

Description

31.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by our President and Director

31.2

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

32.1

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by our President and Director

32.2

Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by our Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.

 

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald A. Duncan

 

President and Director

 

November 30, 2006

Ronald A. Duncan

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John M. Lowber

 

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial

 

November 30, 2006

John M. Lowber

 

Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Alfred J. Walker

 

Vice President, Chief Accounting

 

November 30, 2006

Alfred J. Walker

 

Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

58