UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
 
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013
 
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

 
Not Applicable
 
 
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report
 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) 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. x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.) x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer” and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer o
Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o

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

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's classes of common stock as of April 26, 2013, was:

38,106,619 shares of Class A common stock; and
3,166,314 shares of Class B common stock.

 
1

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
Page No.
           
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
3
           
Part I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
           
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements
     
           
   
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of March 31, 2013
 and December 31, 2012
   
4
           
   
Consolidated Income Statements (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
   
6
           
   
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)
for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
   
7
           
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012
   
8
           
   
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
   
9
           
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
      22
           
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
      33
           
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
      33
           
Part II.  OTHER INFORMATION
     
           
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
      34
           
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
      35
           
 
Other items are omitted, as they are not applicable.
   
           
SIGNATURES
      36

 
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 these 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 these 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 these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including those identified under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our December 31, 2012 annual report on Form 10-K.  Those factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any of our forward-looking statements. For these forward looking 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 the related 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 these 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
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
             
(Amounts in thousands)
           
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
ASSETS
 
2013
   
2012
 
             
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 30,773       24,491  
                 
Receivables
    163,999       150,436  
Less allowance for doubtful receivables
    2,890       3,215  
Net receivables
    161,109       147,221  
                 
Deferred income taxes
    12,897       12,897  
Prepaid expenses
    10,720       8,441  
Inventories
    12,688       12,098  
Other current assets
    1,162       1,678  
Total current assets
    229,349       206,826  
                 
Property and equipment in service, net of depreciation
    855,883       838,247  
Construction in progress
    73,514       94,418  
Net property and equipment
    929,397       932,665  
                 
Cable certificates
    191,635       191,635  
Goodwill
    77,294       77,294  
Wireless licenses
    25,967       25,967  
Restricted cash
    26,766       30,933  
Other intangible assets, net of amortization
    15,939       16,560  
Deferred loan and senior notes costs, net of amortization
  of $5,001 and $4,554 at March 31, 2013 and December
  31, 2012, respectively
    10,774       11,189  
Other assets
    13,185       13,453  
Total other assets
    361,560       367,031  
Total assets
  $ 1,520,306       1,506,522  
                 
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
 
                 
                 
                 
           
(Continued)
 

 
4

 


GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(Unaudited)
 
(Continued)
 
             
             
(Amounts in thousands)
           
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
2013
   
2012
 
             
Current liabilities:
           
Current maturities of obligations under long-term debt and
  capital leases
  $ 8,092       7,923  
Accounts payable
    37,868       52,384  
Deferred revenue
    25,543       25,218  
Accrued payroll and payroll related obligations
    20,684       19,440  
Accrued interest
    21,508       6,786  
Accrued liabilities
    15,288       15,242  
Subscriber deposits
    1,482       1,366  
Total current liabilities
    130,465       128,359  
                 
Long-term debt, net
    885,270       875,123  
Obligations under capital leases, excluding current maturities
    71,143       72,725  
Obligation under capital lease due to related party, excluding
  current maturity
    1,889       1,892  
Deferred income taxes
    126,690       123,661  
Long-term deferred revenue
    91,078       89,815  
Other liabilities
    25,675       25,511  
Total liabilities
    1,332,210       1,317,086  
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock (no par):
               
Class A. Authorized 100,000 shares; issued 38,396 and
               
38,534 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively; outstanding 38,297
and 38,357 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively
    16,598       22,703  
Class B. Authorized 10,000 shares; issued and
               
outstanding 3,167 and 3,169 shares at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively;
convertible on a share-per-share basis into Class A common stock
    2,675       2,676  
Less cost of 99 and 177 Class A common shares held
               
in treasury at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively
    (906 )     (1,617 )
Paid-in capital
    26,760       25,832  
Retained earnings
    110,828       107,584  
Total General Communication, Inc. stockholders' equity
    155,955       157,178  
Non-controlling interests
    32,141       32,258  
Total stockholders’ equity
    188,096       189,436  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 1,520,306       1,506,522  
                 
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
 

 
5

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
             
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Revenues
  $ 186,216       171,907  
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and
               
amortization shown separately below)
    64,610       56,860  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    64,547       62,982  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    33,999       32,380  
 Operating income
    23,060       19,685  
                 
Other expense:
               
Interest expense (including amortization of
  deferred loan fees)
    (16,904 )     (17,155 )
Other
    -       (129 )
 Other expense
    (16,904 )     (17,284 )
   Income before income tax expense
    6,156       2,401  
Income tax expense
    3,029       1,149  
   Net income
    3,127       1,252  
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests
    117       177  
  Net income attributable to General
   Communication, Inc.
  $ 3,244       1,429  
Basic net income attributable to General
  Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class A
  common share
  $ 0.08       0.03  
Basic net income attributable to General
  Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class B
  common share
  $ 0.08       0.03  
Diluted net income attributable to General
  Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class A
  common share
  $ 0.08       0.03  
Diluted net income attributable to General
  Communication, Inc. common stockholders per Class B
  common share
  $ 0.08       0.03  
                 
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
 

 
6

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 AND 2012
 
(Unaudited)
 
                                           
   
Class A
Common
Stock
   
Class B
Common
Stock
   
Class A
Shares
Held in
Treasury
   
Paid-in
Capital
   
Retained
Earnings
   
Non-
controlling
Interests
   
Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
 
(Amounts in thousands)
Balances at January 1, 2012
  $ 26,179       2,679       (2,225 )     32,795       97,911       16,308       173,647  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       1,429       (177 )     1,252  
Common stock repurchases
  and retirements
    (12,118 )     -       -       -       -       -       (12,118 )
Shares issued under stock
  option plan
    1,352       -       -       -       -       -       1,352  
Issuance of restricted stock
  awards
    10,266       -       -       (10,266 )     -       -       -  
Share-based compensation
  expense
    -       -       -       1,899       -       -       1,899  
Issuance of treasury shares
  related to deferred
  compensation payment
    -       -       511       69       -       -       580  
Other
    1       (1 )     8       -       -       -       8  
Balances at March 31, 2012
  $ 25,680       2,678       (1,706 )     24,497       99,340       16,131       166,620  
                                                         
Balances at January 1, 2013
  $ 22,703       2,676       (1,617 )     25,832       107,584       32,258       189,436  
Net income
    -       -       -       -       3,244       (117 )     3,127  
Common stock repurchases
  and retirements
    (6,804 )     -       90       -       -       -       (6,714 )
Shares issued under stock
  option plan
    301       -       -       -       -       -       301  
Issuance of restricted stock
  awards
    397       -       -       (397 )     -       -       -  
Share-based compensation
  expense
    -       -       -       1,325       -       -       1,325  
Issuance of treasury shares
  related to deferred
  compensation payment
    -       -       621       -       -       -       621  
Other
    1       (1 )     -       -       -       -       -  
Balances at March 31, 2013
  $ 16,598       2,675       (906 )     26,760       110,828       32,141       188,096  
                                                         
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
 

 
7

 

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 AND 2012
 
(Unaudited)
 
             
             
(Amounts in thousands)
           
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 3,127       1,252  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
   provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization expense
    33,999       32,380  
Deferred income tax expense
    3,029       1,149  
Share-based compensation expense
    1,259       1,730  
Other noncash income and expense items
    1,835       1,534  
Change in operating assets and liabilities
    (714 )     (3,902 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    42,535       34,143  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (38,316 )     (23,591 )
Purchases of other assets and intangible assets
    (1,065 )     (1,125 )
Other
    886       -  
Restricted cash
    -       1,106  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (38,495 )     (23,610 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Borrowing on Senior Credit Facility
    10,000       -  
Purchase of treasury stock to be retired
    (6,714 )     (12,118 )
Repayment of debt and capital lease obligations
    (1,949 )     (1,942 )
Borrowing of other long-term debt
    604       2,729  
Proceeds from stock option exercises
    301       1,352  
Other
    -       77  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    2,242       (9,902 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    6,282       631  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    24,491       29,387  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 30,773       30,018  
                 
See accompanying condensed notes to interim consolidated financial statements.
 


 
8

 
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)



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

(1)     Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Principles
In the following discussion, GCI and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are referred to as “we,” “us” and “our.”

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

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

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

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

 
 
9

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

ASU 2012-04, “Technical Corrections and Improvements” includes amendments that cover a wide range of topics in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). These amendments include technical corrections and improvements to the ASC and conforming amendments related to fair value measurements.  The amendments in this update will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2012-04 on January 1, 2013 did not have a material impact on our income statements, financial position or cash flows.

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

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

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

 
10

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
      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 March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Class A
   
Class B
 
Basic net income per share:
                       
Numerator:
                       
Allocation of undistributed earnings
  $ 2,996       248     $ 1,321       108  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Weighted average common shares
  outstanding
    38,264       3,167       38,741       3,171  
Basic net income attributable to GCI
  common stockholders per common share
  $ 0.08       0.08     $ 0.03       0.03  
                                 
Diluted net income per share:
                               
Numerator:
                               
Allocation of undistributed earnings for
  basic computation
  $ 2,996       248     $ 1,321       108  
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a
  result of conversion of Class B to Class A
  shares
    248       -       108       -  
Reallocation of undistributed earnings as a
  result of conversion of dilutive securities
    -       (4 )     -       (9 )
Effect of share based compensation that
  may be settled in cash or shares
    (34 )     -       (100 )     -  
Net income adjusted for allocation of
  undistributed earnings and effect of
  share based compensation that may be
  settled in cash or shares
  $ 3,210       244     $ 1,329       99  
                                 
Denominator:
                               
Number of shares used in basic computation
    38,264       3,167       38,741       3,171  
Conversion of Class B to Class A common
  shares outstanding
    3,167       -       3,171       -  
Unexercised stock options
    173       -       272       -  
Effect of share based compensation that may
  be settled in cash or shares
    91       -       158       -  
Number of shares used in per share computation
    41,695       3,167       42,342       3,171  
Diluted net income attributable to GCI
  common stockholders per common share
  $ 0.08       0.08     $ 0.03       0.03  

 
11

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
Weighted average shares associated with outstanding share awards for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, which have been excluded from the computations of diluted EPS, because the effect of including these share awards would have been anti-dilutive, consist of the following (shares, in thousands):

 
2013
   
2012
 
Shares associated with anti-dilutive unexercised stock options
    88       36  

Shares associated with contingent awards for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, which have been excluded from the computations of diluted EPS because the contingencies of these awards have not been met at March 31, 2013 and 2012, consist of the following (shares in thousands):

 
2013
   
2012
 
Shares associated with contingent awards
    58       8  

 
(g)
Common Stock
Following are the changes in issued common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (shares, in thousands):

   
Class A
   
Class B
 
Balances at December 31, 2011
    39,296       3,171  
Shares issued upon stock option exercises
    187       -  
Share awards issued
    316       -  
Shares retired
    (862 )     -  
Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax
  withholding requirements
    (289 )     -  
Balances at March 31, 2012
    38,648       3,171  
                 
Balances at December 31, 2012
    38,534       3,169  
Class B shares converted to Class A
    2       (2 )
Shares issued upon stock option exercises
    50       -  
Share awards issued
    621       -  
Shares retired
    (795 )     -  
Shares acquired to settle minimum statutory tax
  withholding requirements
    (14 )     -  
Other
    (2 )     -  
Balances at March 31, 2013
    38,396       3,167  

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

During the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, we repurchased 764,000, and 862,000 shares, respectively, of our Class A common stock under the stock buyback program at a cost of $6.6 million and $9.0 million, respectively.  Under this program we are currently authorized to make up to $99.7 million of repurchases as of March 31, 2013.  The repurchased stock was constructively retired as of March 31, 2013.

 
12

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
We expect to continue the repurchases for an indefinite period dependent on leverage, liquidity, company performance, and market conditions and subject to continued oversight by GCI’s Board of Directors. The open market repurchases have complied and will continue to comply with the restrictions of Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 
(h)
Revenue Recognition
We recorded high cost support revenue under the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) program of $10.6 million and $11.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  At March 31, 2013, we have $34.8 million in high cost accounts receivable.

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

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

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Surcharges reported gross
  $ 1,228       1,482  

(2)         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures
Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in thousands):

Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
   
2012
 
Increase in accounts receivable, net
  $ (14,243 )     (10,619 )
Increase in prepaid expenses
    (2,311 )     (1,520 )
Increase in inventories
    (590 )     (1,985 )
Decrease in other current assets
    516       104  
(Increase) decrease in other assets
    (107 )     1,152  
Decrease in accounts payable
    (333 )     (6,813 )
Increase in deferred revenues
    325       1,178  
Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and
  payroll related obligations
    1,210       (2,048 )
Increase in accrued liabilities
    667       3,120  
Increase in accrued interest
    14,722       14,686  
Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits
    116       (44 )
 
 
13

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
 Three Months Ended March 31,     2013            2012       
Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenue
    265       (281 )
Decrease in components of other
  long-term liabilities
    (951 )     (832 )
  Total change in operating assets and liabilities
  $ (714 )     (3,902 )

The following items are for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands):

Net cash paid or received:
 
2013
   
2012
 
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized
  $ 2,704       2,086  
                 
The following items are non-cash investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands):

   
2013
   
2012
 
Non-cash additions for purchases of property and
  equipment
  $ 8,322       2,868  
Asset retirement obligation additions to property and
  equipment
  $ 989       92  
Deferred compensation distribution denominated in
  shares
  $ 621       511  

(3)         Intangible Assets and Goodwill
In connection with our 2013 organizational realignment, it was necessary to reclassify goodwill to conform to the current period’s segment presentation.  See Note 6, “Segments” of this Form 10-Q for further discussion of our change in segments.  Goodwill will be re-allocated to the segments using a relative fair value approach which is not yet final.  Goodwill allocated to our Wireless and Wireline segments as of March 31, 2013 is preliminarily estimated at $15.7 million and $61.6 million, respectively.  Goodwill allocated to our Wireless and Wireline segments as of March 31, 2012 is preliminarily estimated at $15.7 million and $59.2 million, respectively.  Goodwill assigned to our Wireline segment increased in the fourth quarter of 2012 due to contingent payments to former shareholders of United Utilities, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary.  The amount recorded at December 31, 2012 was the final contingent payment under this agreement. 

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

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Amortization expense
  $ 1,456       1,300  

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,
     
2013 
  $ 5,392  
2014 
    4,557  
2015 
    3,229  
2016 
    1,630  
2017 
    734  

 
14

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
(4)         Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. At March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, the fair values of cash and cash equivalents, net receivables, inventories, accounts payable, accrued payroll and payroll related obligations, accrued interest, accrued liabilities, and subscriber deposits approximate their carrying value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The carrying amounts and approximate fair values of our financial instruments at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 follow (amounts in thousands):

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Carrying Amount
   
Fair Value
 
Current and long-term debt and
  capital lease obligations
  $ 966,394       970,071       957,663       979,594  
Other liabilities
    25,675       24,850       25,511       24,766  

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate fair values:

 
Current and long-term debt and capital lease obligations:  The fair values of the $325.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2021 issued by GCI, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, the $425.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.63% Senior Notes due 2019 issued by GCI, Inc., Rural Utilities Service debt, CoBank mortgage note payable, and capital leases are based upon quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on the current rates offered to us for the same remaining maturities.  The fair value of our Senior Credit Facility is estimated to approximate the carrying value because this instrument is subject to variable interest rates.

 
Other Liabilities:  Lease escalation liabilities are valued at the discounted amount of future cash flows using quoted market prices on current rates offered to us. Deferred compensation liabilities are carried at fair value, which is the amount payable as of the balance sheet date. Asset retirement obligations are recorded at their fair value and, over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period.

Fair Value Measurements
Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
 
   
Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using
 
March 31, 2013 Assets
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Deferred compensation plan assets
  (mutual funds)
  $ 1,916       -       -  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 1,916       -       -  
                         
 
 
15

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
     Fair Value Measurement at Reporting Date Using  
December 31, 2012 Assets
 
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
 
Deferred compensation plan assets
  (mutual funds)
  $ 1,758       -       -  
Total assets at fair value
  $ 1,758       -       -  

The valuation of our mutual funds is determined using quoted market prices in active markets utilizing market observable inputs.

(5)         Stockholders’ Equity

      Shared-Based Compensation
Our Amended and Restated 1986 Stock Option Plan ("Stock Option Plan"), provides for the grant of options and restricted stock awards (collectively "award") for a maximum of 15.7 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 award expires or terminates, the shares subject to the award will be available for further grants of awards under the Stock Option Plan. The Compensation Committee of GCI’s Board of Directors administers the Stock Option Plan. Substantially all restricted stock awards granted vest over periods of up to three years. Substantially all outstanding options vest in equal installments over a period of five years and expire ten years from the date of grant. There have been no options granted since 2010. The requisite service period of our awards is generally the same as the vesting period. Options granted pursuant to the Stock Option Plan are only exercisable if at the time of exercise the option holder is our employee, non-employee director, or a consultant or advisor working on our behalf. New shares are issued when restricted stock awards are granted or stock option agreements are exercised. We have 3.1 million shares available for grant under the Stock Option Plan at March 31, 2013.
 
The total fair value of options vesting during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, was $32,000 and $474,000, respectively. The total intrinsic values, determined as of the date of exercise, of options exercised in the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, were $134,000 and $768,000, respectively. We received $301,000 and $1.4 million in cash from stock option exercises in the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

A summary of nonvested restricted stock award activity under the Stock Option Plan for the three months ended March 31, 2013, follows (share amounts in thousands):

         
Weighted
 
         
Average
 
         
Grant Date
 
   
Shares
   
Fair Value
 
Nonvested at January 1, 2013
    1,127     $ 9.59  
Granted
    621     $ 8.17  
Vested
    (48 )   $ 5.81  
Forfeited
    (1 )   $ 9.84  
Nonvested at March 31, 2013
    1,699     $ 9.16  

 
16

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
       The following is a summary of our share-based compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 (amounts in thousands):

   
2013
   
2012
 
Share-based compensation expense
  $ 1,325       1,900  
Adjustment to fair value of liability classified awards
    (66 )     (170 )
  Total share-based compensation expense
  $ 1,259       1,730  

Share-based compensation expense is classified as Selling, General and Administrative Expense in our Consolidated Income Statements.  Unrecognized share-based compensation expense was $10.1 million relating to 1.7 million unvested restricted stock awards and $84,000 relating to 32,000 unvested stock options as of March 31, 2013. We expect to recognize share-based compensation expense over a weighted average period of 1.1 years for stock options and 2.3 years for restricted stock awards.

(6)         Segments

Effective January 1, 2013, we refocused our business and now have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline.  The Wireless segment’s revenue is derived from wholesale wireless services.  The Wireline segment’s revenue includes all of our other revenue, specifically a full range of retail wireless, data, video and voice services to residential, local, national and global businesses, governmental entities and public and private educational institutions; wholesale data and voice services to other common carrier customers; Internet, data network and managed services to rural schools and health organizations and regulated voice services to residential and commercial customers in 61 rural communities primarily in Southwest Alaska.  This change reflects our plan to strategically focus on our wireless network and is how our chief operating decision maker now measures performance and makes resource allocation decisions.  Prior to 2013 we had operated our business under five reportable segments – Consumer, Network Access, Commercial, Managed Broadband and Regulated Operations.  The historical segment data has been reclassified to conform to the revised reportable segments.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, are allocated to our segments using specific identification and is allocated to our Wireless segment based upon a shared services agreement.

We evaluate performance and allocate resources based on earnings before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense, income taxes, share-based compensation expense, accretion expense, loss attributable to non-controlling interests, and non-cash contribution adjustment (“Adjusted EBITDA”). Management believes that this measure is useful to investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating operating profitability as an analytical indicator of income generated to service debt and fund capital expenditures.  In addition, multiples of current or projected earnings before depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, and income taxes (“EBITDA”) are used to estimate current or prospective enterprise value.  The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in Note 1, “Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of this Form 10-Q.  Intersegment sales are recorded at cost plus an agreed upon intercompany profit.

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.

 
17

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
Summarized financial information for our reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012 follows (amounts in thousands):

   
Wireless
   
Wireline
   
Total Reportable Segments
 
2013 
                 
Revenues:
                 
Intersegment
  $ -       1,418       1,418  
External
    33,837       152,379       186,216  
Total revenues
    33,837       153,797       187,634  
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 15,189       43,460       58,649  
                         
2012 
                       
Revenues:
                       
Intersegment
  $ -       2,031       2,031  
External
    29,444       142,463       171,907  
Total revenues
    29,444       144,494       173,938  
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 13,073       41,756       54,829  

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

Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
   
2012
 
Reportable segment revenues
  $ 187,634       173,938  
Less intersegment revenues eliminated in
   consolidation
    1,418       2,031  
Consolidated revenues
  $ 186,216       171,907  

A reconciliation of reportable segment Adjusted EBITDA to consolidated income before income taxes follows (amounts in thousands):

Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2013
   
2012
 
Reportable segment Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 58,649       54,829  
Less depreciation and amortization
  expense
    (33,999 )     (32,380 )
Less share-based compensation
  expense
    (1,259 )     (1,730 )
Less non-cash contribution expense
    -       (800 )
Less net loss attributable to
  non-controlling interests
    (200 )     (177 )
Plus net loss (income) attributable to
  equity investment
    (4 )     131  
Less accretion expense
    (127 )     (188 )
Consolidated operating income
    23,060       19,685  
Less other expense
    (16,904 )     (17,284 )
Consolidated income before
  income tax expense
  $ 6,156       2,401  

 
18

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
(7)        Non-controlling Interests
We have entered into several arrangements under the New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) program with US Bancorp to help fund a $59.3 million project to extend terrestrial broadband service for the first time to rural Northwestern Alaska communities via a high capacity hybrid fiber optic and microwave network. When completed, the project, called TERRA-Northwest (“TERRA-NW”), will connect to the TERRA-Southwest (“TERRA-SW”) network and provide a high capacity backbone connection from the served communities to the Internet. The NMTC program was provided for in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (the “Act”) to induce capital investment in qualified lower income communities. The Act permits taxpayers to claim credits against their federal income taxes for up to 39% of qualified investments in the equity of community development entities (“CDEs”). CDEs are privately managed investment institutions that are certified to make qualified low-income community investments. On August 30, 2011, we entered into the first arrangement (“NMTC #1”). On October 3, 2012, we entered into the second arrangement (“NMTC #2”). On December 11, 2012, we entered into the third arrangement (“NMTC #3”)

US Bancorp is the sole investor in TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and TIF 3, and as such, is entitled to substantially all of the benefits derived from the NMTCs. All of the loan proceeds to Unicom, Inc. (“Unicom”), our wholly owned subsidiary, net of syndication and arrangement fees, are restricted for use on TERRA-NW. Restricted cash of $26.8 million and $30.9 million was held by Unicom at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, and is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We began construction on TERRA-NW in 2012 and expect to complete all current phases of the project in 2014. We began offering service on Phase 1 of this new facility on January 3, 2013.

These transactions include put/call provisions whereby we may be obligated or entitled to repurchase US Bancorp’s interests in TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and/or TIF 3. We believe that US Bancorp will exercise the put options in August 2018, October 2019 and December 2019, at the end of the compliance periods for NMTC #1, NMTC #2 and NMTC #3, respectively. The NMTCs are subject to 100% recapture for a period of seven years as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. We are required to be in compliance with various regulations and contractual provisions that apply to the NMTC arrangements. Non-compliance with applicable requirements could result in projected tax benefits not being realized by US Bancorp. We have agreed to indemnify US Bancorp for any loss or recapture of NMTCs until such time as our obligation to deliver tax benefits is relieved. There have been no credit recaptures as of March 31, 2013. The value attributed to the puts/calls is nominal.

We have determined that TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and TIF 3 are VIEs. The ongoing activities of the VIEs – collecting and remitting interest and fees and NMTC compliance – were all considered in the initial design and are not expected to significantly affect economic performance throughout the life of the VIEs. Management considered the contractual arrangements that obligate us to deliver tax benefits and provide various other guarantees to US Bancorp; US Bancorp’s lack of a material interest in the underlying economics of the project; and the fact that we are obligated to absorb losses of the VIEs. We concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of each and consolidated the VIEs in accordance with the accounting standard for consolidation.

US Bancorp’s contributions, net of syndication fees and other direct costs incurred in structuring the NMTC arrangements, are included in Non-controlling Interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Incremental costs to maintain the structure during the compliance period are recognized as incurred to selling, general and administrative expense.

 
19

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
       The following table summarizes the impact of the VIEs consolidated as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 (amounts in thousands):
 
March 31, 2013
Assets
 
Equity
Carrying Value
Classification
 
Carrying Value
Classification
$ 18,181  
Restricted cash1
  $ 32,141  
Non-controlling interests
  14,774  
Construction in progress
    814  
Retained earnings attributable to General Communication, Inc.
common stockholders
$ 32,955       $ 32,955    
                 
December 31, 2012
Assets
 
Equity
Carrying Value
Classification
 
Carrying Value
Classification
$ 22,348  
Restricted cash1
  $ 32,258  
Non-controlling interests
  10,607  
Construction in progress
    697  
Retained earnings attributable to General Communication, Inc.
common stockholders
$ 32,955       $ 32,955    
                 
1An additional $8.6 million in restricted cash is held at Unicom for use only on TERRA-NW.

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

Under the terms of the Wireless Agreement, we agreed to purchase certain wireless network assets from ACS and its affiliates for $100.0 million and we will contribute the purchased assets, our wireless network assets and certain rights to use capacity to AWN.  ACS also agreed to contribute its remaining wireless network assets and certain rights to use capacity to AWN.  Upon the contribution of assets to AWN, ACS Member will own one-third of AWN and we will own two-thirds of AWN.  ACS Member will be entitled to receive preferential cash distributions totaling $190.0 million over the first four years of AWN’s operations and we will be entitled to all remaining cash distributions during that period.  We anticipate that the $190.0 million preferential distributions to ACS will constitute approximately $80 million in excess of the distributions otherwise attributable to their ownership percentage during such period.  Following the initial four year period, we and ACS Member will receive distributions proportional to our ownership interests.  We are evaluating the accounting treatment for this transaction.

 
20

GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
 
The closing of the transactions is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental and third party consents and approvals and the expiration of any applicable waiting periods under competition laws.  The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired without any objections.  We hope to close the transactions in the second quarter of 2013.

TERRA-Northwest
As a requirement of NMTC #1, NMTC #2 and NMTC #3, we have guaranteed completion of TERRA-NW by December 31, 2014.  We plan to fund an additional $20.7 million for TERRA-NW.  We began construction in 2012 and expect to complete all current phases of the project in 2014.  We began offering service on Phase 1 of this new facility on January 3, 2013.

Denali Media Holdings
On November 9, 2012, we entered into asset purchase agreements, pursuant to which Denali Media Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Denali Media Anchorage, Corp. and Denali Media Southeast, Corp., agreed to purchase three Alaska broadcast stations: CBS affiliate KTVA-TV of Anchorage and NBC affiliates KATH-TV in Juneau and KSCT-TV of Sitka, for a total of $7.6 million (“Media Agreements”).  The Media Agreements are subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental approvals from the FCC.  The transactions are expected to close in the second half of 2013.

(9)         Subsequent Event
On April 30, 2013, GCI Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent, Union Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and Suntrust Bank, as documentation agent ("Amended Senior Credit Facility"). The Amended Senior Credit Facility provides up to $240.0 million in delayed draw term loans and a $150.0 million revolving credit facility. The Amended Senior Credit Facility replaced the Senior Credit Facility described in Note 6(c) of our December 31, 2012 annual report on Form 10-K. The interest rate under the Amended Senior Credit Facility is LIBOR plus a margin dependent upon our Total Leverage Ratio ranging from 2% to 3%. The Amended Senior Credit Facility will mature on April 30, 2018. The terms of the Amended Senior Credit Facility include customary representations and warranties, customary affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. At any time after the occurrence of an event of default under the Amended Senior Credit Facility, the lenders may, among other options, declare any amounts outstanding under the Amended Senior Credit Facility immediately due and payable and terminate any commitment to make further loans under the Amended Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the Amended Senior Credit Facility are secured by a security interest on substantially all of the assets of GCI Holdings, Inc. and the subsidiary guarantors, and on the stock of GCI Holdings, Inc.

 
21

 


Part I

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In the following discussion, General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”) 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 (“GAAP”). 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 the allowance for doubtful receivables, unbilled revenues, accrual of the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) high cost remote area program support, share-based compensation, inventory at lower of cost or market, reserve for future customer credits, liability for incurred but not reported medical insurance claims, valuation allowances for deferred income tax assets, depreciable and amortizable lives of assets, the carrying value of long-lived assets including goodwill, cable certificates and wireless licenses, our effective tax rate, purchase price allocations, deferred lease expense, asset retirement obligations, the accrual of cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization expense) ("Cost of Goods Sold"), depreciation, and accrual of 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.”

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 it has been for the last several years the national economy continues to see persistent unemployment and slow economic growth and even once stabilized is not expected to return quickly to a period of strong growth.  In addition, the automatic spending cuts enacted by Congress known as “sequestration” went into effect beginning March 1, 2013.  We are not able to predict the effect that sequestration or any form of additional federal spending cuts or tax reform will have on the national or Alaska economy or on us.  Should the national economy deteriorate further, it could lead to reductions in consumer spending which could impact our revenue growth.

We believe the Alaska economy continues to perform well compared to most other states at the current time.  On April 14, 2013, the Alaska Legislature approved a reduction to the state’s oil production taxes as a strategy to increase output from existing oil fields, which have been on the decline since 1988.  The State of Alaska has large cash reserves that should enable it to maintain its budget for at least the short-term.  This cash reserve is important for Alaska’s economy as the State is the largest employer and second largest source of gross state product.  The majority of our revenue is driven by the strength of the Alaska economy which appears to have weathered the economic pressures relatively well to date.  Nonetheless we cannot predict the impact the nation’s or the state’s future economic situation may have on us in the future.

 
22

 
Effective January 1, 2013, we refocused our business and now have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline.  The Wireless segment’s revenue is derived from wholesale wireless services.  The Wireline segment’s revenue includes all of our other revenue.  This change reflects our plan to strategically focus on our wireless network and is how our chief operating decision maker now measures performance and makes resource allocation decisions.  Prior to 2013, we had operated our business under five reportable segments – Consumer, Network Access, Commercial, Managed Broadband and Regulated Operations.  The historical segment data has been reclassified to conform to the revised reportable segments.

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

Under the terms of the Wireless Agreement, we agreed to purchase certain wireless network assets from ACS and its affiliates for $100.0 million and we will contribute the purchased assets, our wireless network assets and certain rights to use capacity to AWN.  ACS also agreed to contribute its remaining wireless network assets and certain rights to use capacity to AWN.  Upon the contribution of assets to AWN, ACS Member will own one-third of AWN and we will own two-thirds of AWN.  ACS Member will be entitled to receive preferential cash distributions totaling $190.0 million over the first four years of AWN’s operations and we will be entitled to all remaining cash distributions during that period.  We anticipate that the $190.0 million preferential distributions to ACS will constitute approximately $80.0 million in distributions over the distributions otherwise attributable to their ownership percentage during such period.  Following the initial four year period, we and ACS Member will receive distributions proportional to our ownership interests.  We are evaluating the accounting treatment for this transaction.

The closing of the transactions is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental and third party consents and approvals and the expiration of any applicable waiting periods under competition laws.  The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired without any objections.  We hope to close the transactions in the second quarter of 2013.

In November 2010, Verizon acquired a license for 700 MHz wireless spectrum covering Alaska.  Verizon began building a Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) network in 2012 and subsequently we expect they will be an additional competitor where our markets overlap.  We cannot predict the potential impact this new competition may have on us in the future.

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

               
Percentage
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Change1
 
   
March 31,
   
2013
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
vs. 2012
 
                   
Statements of Operations Data:
             
Revenues:
                 
Wireless segment
    18 %     17 %     15 %
Wireline segment
    82 %     83 %     7 %
Total revenues
    100 %     100 %     8 %
 
 
23

 
            Percentage  
    Three Months Ended       Change1  
    March 31,       2013  
      2013       2012       vs. 2012  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    35 %     37 %     2 %
Depreciation and amortization expense
    18 %     19 %     5 %
Operating income
    12 %     12 %     17 %
Other expense, net
    9 %     10 %     (2 %)
Income before income taxes
    3 %     1 %     156 %
Net income
    2 %     1 %     150 %
Net loss attributable to the non-controlling interest
    0 %     0 %     (34 %)
Net income attributable to GCI
    2 %     1 %     127 %
                         
Percentage change in underlying data
                 

We evaluate performance and allocate resources based on earnings before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense, income taxes, share-based compensation expense, accretion expense, loss attributable to non-controlling interest and non-cash contribution adjustment (“Adjusted EBITDA”).  Management believes that this measure is useful to investors and other users of our financial information in evaluating operating profitability as an analytical indicator of income generated to service debt and fund capital expenditures.  In addition, multiples of current or projected earnings before depreciation and amortization expense, net interest expense and income taxes (“EBITDA”) are used to estimate current or prospective enterprise value.  See note 6 in the "Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements" included in Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to consolidated income before income taxes.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 (“2013”) Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 (“2012”)

Overview of Revenues and Cost of Goods Sold
Total revenues increased 8% from $171.9 million in 2012 to $186.2 million in 2013.  There were revenue increases in both of our segments.  See the discussion below for more information by segment.

Total Cost of Goods Sold increased 14% from $56.9 million in 2012 to $64.6 million in 2013.  There were Cost of Goods Sold increases in both of our segments.  See the discussion below for more information by segment.

Wireless Segment Overview
Wireless segment revenue, representing 18% of 2013 consolidated revenues, is as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Wireless
  $ 33,837       29,444       15 %

Wireless segment Cost of Goods Sold, representing 22% of 2013 consolidated Cost of Goods Sold, is as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Wireless
  $ 14,412       12,571       15 %

 
24

 
Wireless segment Adjusted EBITDA, representing 26% of 2013 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, is as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Wireless segment Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 15,189       13,073       16 %

See note 6 in the "Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements" included in Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to consolidated income before income taxes.

Selected key performance indicators for our Wireless segment follow:

   
March 31,
   
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Lifeline wireless lines in service
    32,700       41,400       (21 %)
Non-Lifeline wireless lines in service
    108,900       98,600       10 %
Average monthly gross revenue per subscriber
  $ 68.58     $ 66.32       3 %
                         
 
A Lifeline wireless line in service is defined as a revenue generating wireless device that is eligible for Lifeline support.  The Universal Service Fund's Lifeline program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company and is designed to ensure that quality telecommunications services are available to low-income customers at affordable rates.
 
A non-Lifeline wireless line in service is defined as a revenue generating wireless device that is not eligible for Lifeline support.
 
Average monthly wireless revenues, excluding those from other common carrier customers, divided by the average of wireless subscribers at the beginning and end of each month in the period.  Revenue used for this calculation includes Wireline segment - Consumer - Wireless and Wireline segment - Business Services - Wireless revenues.
 

Wireless Segment Revenues
The increase in revenue is primarily due to the following:
·  
A $3.0 million or 83% increase in data roaming revenue primarily due to an increase in data usage by our roaming partners’ customers, and
·  
 A $2.1 million or 20% increase in revenue primarily due to our retail wireless subscribers’ selection of plans that offer more data and an increase in our retail non-Lifeline wireless subscribers.  The Wireless segment recognizes 70% of retail wireless plan fee revenue with the remaining 30% recognized in Wireline segment – Consumer or Wireline segment – Business Services depending on whether the revenue is generated by a residential or commercial subscriber.

These increases were partially offset by a $1.0 million or 24% decrease in Lifeline support revenue primarily due to decreased Lifeline wireless subscribers resulting from the Lifeline recertification program started in June 2012.  The Wireless segment recognizes 85% of Lifeline support revenue with the remaining 15% recognized in Wireline segment – Consumer.

Wireless Segment Cost of Goods Sold
The Cost of Goods Sold increase is primarily due to an increase in wireless handset equipment costs.  The Wireless segment provides a subsidy to Wireline segment – Consumer and Wireline segment – Business Services to offset the cost of handsets sold to retail wireless subscribers.  Our wireless handset equipment costs have increased because a higher percentage of our handsets sold have been premium smartphones which have a higher cost.

 
25

 
Wireless Segment Adjusted EBITDA
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to increased revenue as described above in “Wireless Segment Revenues.”  This increase was partially offset by increased Cost of Goods Sold as described above in “Wireless Segment Cost of Goods Sold.”

Wireline Segment Overview
Our Wireline segment offers services and products under three major customer groups as follows:

   
Customer Group
Wireline Segment Services and Products
Consumer
Business Services
Managed Broadband
         
Retail wireless
X
X
 
         
Data:
     
 
Internet
X
X
X
 
Data networks
 
X
X
 
Managed services
 
X
X
 
Managed broadband services
   
X
         
Video
X
X
 
         
Voice:
     
 
Long-distance
X
X
X
 
Local access
X
X
X

·  
Consumer – we offer a full range of retail wireless, data, video and voice services to residential customers.
·  
Business Services - we offer a full range of retail wireless, data, video and voice services to local, national and global businesses, governmental entities and public and private educational institutions and wholesale data and voice services to other common carrier customers.
·  
Managed Broadband – we offer Internet, data network and managed services to rural schools and health organizations and regulated voice services to residential and commercial customers in 61 rural communities primarily in Southwest Alaska.

Wireline segment revenue represented 82% of 2013 consolidated revenues. The components of Wireline segment revenue are as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Consumer
                 
Wireless
  $ 6,546       6,046       8 %
Data
    24,056       20,449       18 %
Video
    27,961       29,022       (4 %)
Voice
    9,530       11,260       (15 %)
                         
Business Services
                       
Wireless
    679       663       2 %
Data
    40,136       35,133       14 %
Video
    3,125       3,120       0 %
Voice
    12,327       12,204       1 %
                         
Managed Broadband
                       
Data
    22,680       19,029       19 %
 
 
26

 
                         
                     
Percentage
 
     
2013
      2012       
Change
 
Voice
    5,339       5,537       (4 %)
                         
Total Wireline segment revenue
  $ 152,379       142,463       7 %

Wireline segment Cost of Goods Sold represented 78% of 2013 consolidated Cost of Goods Sold.  The components of Wireline segment Cost of Goods Sold are as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Consumer
  $ 20,190       18,490       9 %
Business Services
    24,536       19,280       27 %
Managed Broadband
    5,472       6,519       (16 %)
Total Wireline segment Cost of Goods Sold
  $ 50,198       44,289       13 %

Wireline segment Adjusted EBITDA, representing 74% of 2013 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, is as follows (amounts in thousands):

         
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Wireline segment Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 43,460       41,756       4 %

See note 6 in the "Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements" included in Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, to consolidated income before income taxes.

Selected key performance indicators for our Wireline segment follow:

   
March 31,
   
Percentage
 
   
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Consumer
                 
Data:
                 
Cable modem subscribers
    117,000       110,700       6 %
Video:
                       
Basic subscribers
    122,000       124,200       (2 %)
Digital programming tier subscribers
    72,200       74,600       (3 %)
HD/DVR converter boxes
    90,300       90,300       0 %
Homes passed
    244,800       242,200       1 %
Average monthly gross revenue per subscriber
  $ 76.45     $ 77.72       (2 %)
Voice:
                       
Total local access lines in service
    68,000       76,100       (11 %)
Local access lines in service on GCI facilities
    63,300       70,700       (10 %)
Business Services
                       
Data:
                       
Cable modem subscribers
    13,400       11,300       19 %
Voice:
                       
Total local access lines in service
    50,400       51,900       (3 %)
Local access lines in service on GCI facilities
    30,400       29,900       2 %
 
 
27

 
                         
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 video basic subscribers though basic video service is not required to receive cable modem service.
 
A basic subscriber is defined as one basic tier of service delivered to an address or separate subunits thereof regardless of the number of outlets purchased.
 
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.
 
A high-definition/digital video recorder ("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.
 
Applicable average monthly video revenues divided by the average number of basic subscribers at the beginning and end of each month in the period.
 
A local access line in service is defined as a revenue generating circuit or channel connecting a customer to the public switched telephone network.
 

Wireline Segment Revenues

Consumer
The increase in data revenue is primarily due to a 19% increase in cable modem revenue to $21.1 million due to increased subscribers and our subscribers’ selection of plans that offer higher speeds.

Business Services
Business Services segment data revenue is comprised of monthly recurring charges for data services and charges billed on a time and materials basis largely for personnel providing on-site customer support.  This latter category can vary significantly based on project activity.

The increase in data revenue is primarily due to a $6.2 million or 54% increase in managed services project revenue due to special project work.

Managed Broadband
The increase in data revenue is primarily due to a $4.2 million increase in monthly contract revenue due to new ConnectMD® and SchoolAccess® customers and increased data network capacity purchased by our existing ConnectMD® and SchoolAccess® customers.

 
28

 
Wireline Segment Cost of Goods Sold

Consumer
The increase in Cost of Goods Sold is primarily due to the following:
·  
A $1.3 million or 101% increase in wireless handset equipment costs.  Our wireless handset equipment costs have increased because a higher percentage of our handsets sold have been premium smartphones which have a higher cost, and
·  
An $820,000 or 6% increase in video Cost of Goods Sold primarily due to programming changes.

Business Services
The increase in Cost of Goods Sold is primarily due to a $5.8 million or 66% increase in managed services project Cost of Goods Sold related to the increased revenue described above in “Wireline Segment Revenues – Business Services.”

Managed Broadband
The decrease in Cost of Goods Sold is primarily due to decreased transponder costs as a result of placing in service Phase 1 of our TERRA-Northwest facility on January 3, 2013.

Wireline Segment Adjusted EBITDA
The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is primarily due to increased revenue as described above in “Wireline Segment Revenues.”  This increase was partially offset by increased Cost of Goods Sold as described above in “Wireline Segment Cost of Goods Sold” and an increase in the selling, general and administrative expense that was allocated to our Wireline segment due to an increase in consolidated selling, general and administrative expense.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.6 million to $64.5 million in 2013.  Individually significant items contributing to the increase include:

·  
A $1.2 million increase in labor costs, and
·  
An $849,000 increase in contract labor related to non-capitalizable network projects for our ConnectMD® and SchoolAccess® customers.

These increases were partially offset by an $800,000 decrease in contribution expense due to the absence of new donated services to the University of Alaska that had occurred in 2012.

As a percentage of total revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 35% in 2013 from 37% in 2012, primarily due to increased revenues partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.6 million to $34.0 million in 2013 primarily due to new assets placed in service in the last nine months of 2012 and in 2013, partially offset by assets which became fully depreciated during the last nine months of 2012 and in 2013.

Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net of other income, decreased $380,000 to $16.9 million in 2013.

Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense totaled $3.0 million and $1.1 million in 2013 and 2012, respectively. Our effective income tax rate was 49% in 2013 and 48% in 2012.

At March 31, 2013, we have income tax net operating loss carryforwards of $290.4 million that will begin expiring in 2020 if not utilized, and alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of $1.9 million available to offset regular income taxes payable in future years.

We have recorded deferred tax assets of $119.4 million associated with income tax net operating losses that were generated from 2000 to 2011 and that expire from 2020 to 2031, respectively, and with charitable contributions that were converted to net operating losses in 2004 through 2007, and that expire in 2024 through 2027, respectively.

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 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 47% to 52% in the year ending December 31, 2013, primarily due to the large amount of permanent differences expected in 2013 as compared to our net income before income tax expense.

 
29

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

On April 30, 2013, GCI Holdings, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, as administrative agent, Union Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and Suntrust Bank, as documentation agent ("Amended Senior Credit Facility"). The Amended Senior Credit Facility provides up to $240.0 million in delayed draw term loans and a $150.0 million revolving credit facility. The Amended Senior Credit Facility replaced the Senior Credit Facility described in Note 6(c) of our December 31, 2012 annual report on Form 10-K. The interest rate under the Amended Senior Credit Facility is LIBOR plus a margin dependent upon our Total Leverage Ratio ranging from 2% to 3%. The Amended Senior Credit Facility will mature on April 30, 2018. The terms of the Amended Senior Credit Facility include customary representations and warranties, customary affirmative and negative covenants and customary events of default. At any time after the occurrence of an event of default under the Amended Senior Credit Facility, the lenders may, among other options, declare any amounts outstanding under the Amended Senior Credit Facility immediately due and payable and terminate any commitment to make further loans under the Amended Senior Credit Facility. The obligations under the Amended Senior Credit Facility are secured by a security interest on substantially all of the assets of GCI Holdings, Inc. and the subsidiary guarantors, and on the stock of GCI Holdings, Inc.

As discussed in the General Overview section of this Item 2, in June 2012 we entered into a Wireless Agreement with ACS.  Under the terms of the Wireless Agreement, we agreed to purchase certain wireless network assets from ACS and its affiliates for $100.0 million and we will contribute the purchased assets, our wireless network assets and certain rights to use capacity to AWN.  We have also agreed to provide AWN a $50.0 million working capital line of credit.

ACS Member will be entitled to receive preferential cash distributions totaling $190.0 million over the first four years of AWN’s operations and we will be entitled to all remaining cash distributions during that period.  We anticipate that the $190.0 million preferential distributions to ACS will constitute approximately $80.0 million in excess of the distributions otherwise attributable to their ownership percentage during such period.  Currently we do not expect the preference payments will result in a significant decrease in our liquidity but should the payments cause a significant decrease our non-wireless capital expenditures will likely be reduced, which would likely reduce future revenues.  Following the initial four year period, we and ACS Member will receive distributions proportional to our ownership interests.

We will manage AWN and receive a management fee of 4% of free cash flow as defined in the Wireless Agreement in the first two years of operations.  The management fee will increase to 6% in the third and fourth years of the agreement and 8% after the fourth year of the agreement.  The management fee will be paid before distributions to the owners.

We have entered into several financing arrangements under the New Markets Tax Credit (“NMTC”) program which have provided a total of $32.3 million in net cash to help fund the extension of terrestrial broadband service for the first time to rural Northwestern Alaska communities via a high capacity hybrid fiber optic and microwave network.  When completed, the project, called TERRA-NW, will connect to our TERRA-SW network and provide a high capacity backbone connection from the served communities to the Internet.  We began construction on TERRA-NW in 2012 and expect to complete all current phases of the project in 2014.  We placed into service Phase 1 of the TERRA-NW project on January 3, 2013.  The total net cash received under the NMTC program is recorded as Restricted Cash on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.  We have used $14.8 million of Restricted Cash to fund cumulative TERRA-NW capital expenditures through March 31, 2013.  We plan to fund an additional $20.7 million for TERRA-NW.

 
30

 
In November 2012 we entered into the Media Agreements pursuant to which we agreed to purchase three Alaska broadcast stations for a total of $7.6 million.  The Media Agreements are subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of required governmental approvals from the FCC.  The transactions are expected to close in the second half of 2013.

While our short-term and long-term financing abilities are believed to be adequate as a supplement to internally generated cash flows to fund capital expenditures and acquisitions as opportunities arise, turmoil in the global financial markets may negatively impact our ability to further access the capital markets in a timely manner and on attractive terms, which may have a negative impact on our ability to grow our business.

We monitor the third-party depository institutions that hold our cash and cash equivalents. Our emphasis is primarily on safety of principal and secondarily on maximizing yield on those funds.

Our net cash flows provided by and (used for) operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, are summarized as follows (amounts in thousands):

   
2013
   
2012
 
Operating activities
  $ 42,535       34,143  
Investing activities
    (38,495 )     (23,610 )
Financing activities
    2,242       (9,902 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,282       631  

Operating Activities
The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012, is due primarily to a decrease in accounts payable due to timing of payments.

Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities consists primarily of cash paid for capital expenditures.  Our most significant recurring investing activity has been capital expenditures and we expect that this will continue in the future.  A significant portion of our capital expenditures is based on the level of customer growth and the technology being deployed.

Our cash expenditures for property and equipment, including construction in progress, totaled $38.3 million and $23.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Our capital expenditures increased for the three months ended March 31, 2013, as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2012, primarily due to timing of payments on related accounts payable.  Depending on available opportunities and the amount of cash flow we generate during 2013, we expect our 2013 expenditures from unrestricted cash for property and equipment, including construction in progress, for our core and non-core operations, to total approximately $150.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively.

Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2013, consists primarily of proceeds from borrowing under the revolving portion of our Senior Credit Facility.  These proceeds were offset by repayments of Rural Utilities Service (“RUS”) debt and repurchases of our common stock.  Proceeds from borrowings fluctuate from year to year based on our liquidity needs.  We may use excess cash to make optional repayments on our debt or repurchase our common stock depending on various factors, such as market conditions.

Available Borrowings Under Senior Credit Facility
We have a facility which includes an $80.0 million term loan and a $75.0 million revolving credit facility with a $25.0 million sublimit for letters of credit (“Senior Credit Facility”).  The term loan is fully drawn at March 31, 2013.  Under the revolving portion of the Senior Credit Facility we have borrowed $20.0 million and have $456,000 of letters of credit outstanding, which leaves $54.5 million available for borrowing as of March 31, 2013.  A total of $100.0 million is outstanding as of March 31, 2013.

 
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Debt Covenants
We are subject to covenants and restrictions applicable to our $325.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2021, our $425.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 8.63% Senior Notes due 2019, our Senior Credit Facility, our RUS loans, and our CoBank loans.  We are in compliance with the covenants, and we believe that neither the covenants nor the restrictions in our indentures or loan documents will limit our ability to operate our business.

Share Repurchases
GCI’s Board of Directors has authorized a common stock buyback program for the repurchase of GCI Class A and Class B common stock in order to reduce the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B common stock.  Under this program, we are currently authorized to make up to $99.7 million of repurchases as of March 31, 2013.  We are authorized to increase our repurchase limit $5.0 million per quarter indefinitely and to use stock option exercise proceeds to repurchase additional shares.  If stock repurchases are less than the total approved quarterly amount the difference may be carried forward and applied against future stock repurchases.  During the three months ended March 31, 2013, we repurchased 764,000 shares of GCI common stock under the stock buyback program at a cost of $6.6 million.  The common stock buyback program is expected to continue for an indefinite period dependent on leverage, liquidity, company performance, and market conditions and subject to continued oversight by GCI’s Board of Directors. The open market repurchases have and will continue to comply with the restrictions of SEC Rule 10b-18.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our accounting and reporting policies comply with GAAP.  The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 GAAP.  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 2013 are revenue recognition related to revenues from the Remote high cost, rural health and schools and libraries USF programs, the allowance for doubtful receivables, impairment and useful lives of intangible assets and the valuation allowance for net operating loss deferred tax assets.  A complete discussion of our critical accounting policies can be found in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our December 31, 2012 annual report on Form 10-K.

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. A complete discussion of our significant accounting policies can be found in note 1 in the accompanying “Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements” and in Part II of our December 31, 2012 annual report on Form 10-K.

 
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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.  Our Senior Credit Facility carries interest rate risk.  Amounts borrowed under our Senior Credit Facility bear interest at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) plus 4.0% or less depending upon our Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Senior Credit Facility) for the revolving portion and LIBOR plus 2.5% for the term portion.  Should the LIBOR rate change, our interest expense will increase or decrease accordingly.  As of March 31, 2013, we have borrowed $100.0 million subject to interest rate risk.  On this amount, each 1% increase in the LIBOR interest rate would result in $1.0 million of additional gross interest cost on an annualized basis.  All of our other material borrowings have a fixed interest rate.  We do not hold derivatives.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized, accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure, and reported as specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 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 “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting", our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2013.

The certifications attached as Exhibits 31 and 32 to this report should be read in conjunction with the disclosures set forth herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) identified in connection with the evaluation of our controls performed during the quarter ended March 31, 2013, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.  A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Internal control over financial reporting has inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures.  Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override.  Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting.  However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process.  Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

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

 
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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 common stock during the quarter ended March 31, 2013:



     
(a) Total Number of Shares Purchased1
   
(b) Average Price Paid per Share
   
(c) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs2
   
(d) Maximum Number (or approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan or Programs3
 
January 1, 2013 to
                         
January 31, 2013
      299,356     $ 8.83       299,007     $ 103,513,868  
February 1, 2013 to
                                 
February 28, 2013
      242,862     $ 8.37       230,022     $ 101,591,561  
March 1, 2013 to
                                 
March 31, 2013
      235,880     $ 8.63       235,351     $ 99,673,765  
 
Total
    778,098                          
                                   
                                   
Consists of 764,380 shares from open market purchases made under our publicly announced repurchase plan and 13,718 shares from private purchases made to settle the minimum statutory tax-withholding requirements pursuant to restricted  stock award vesting.
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 for an indefinite period dependent on leverage, liquidity, company performance, market conditions and subject to continued oversight by our Board of Directors.
The total amount approved by our Board of Directors for repurchase under our publicly announced repurchase plan was $322.6 million through March 31, 2013, consisting of $317.3 million through December 31, 2012, and an additional $5.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2013.  We have made total repurchases under the program of $222.9 million through March 31, 2013.  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 approval.
             
             

 
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Item 6. Exhibits

Listed below are the exhibits that are filed as a part of this Report (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation S-K):

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 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 and Treasurer *
101 
The following materials from General Communication, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Consolidated Income Statements; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) Condensed Notes to Interim Consolidated Financial Statements *
 
       
* Filed herewith.
 
       

 
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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
 
May 3, 2013
Ronald A. Duncan
 
 (Principal Executive Officer)
   
         
/s/ John M. Lowber
 
 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
 
May 3, 2013
John M. Lowber
 
    Officer and Treasurer
 (Principal Financial Officer)
   
         
/s/ Lynda L. Tarbath
 
    Vice President, Chief Accounting
 
May 3, 2013
Lynda L. Tarbath
 
 Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
   



 
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