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

(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 20162017
 
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.: 000-09881


shenimagea01.jpg
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

VIRGINIA 54-1162807
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

500 Shentel Way, Edinburg, Virginia    22824
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

(540) 984-4141
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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.days.  Yes ☑   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).   Yes  ☑   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, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company”company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.Act.

Large accelerated filer ☑Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐
company☐
Emerging growth company☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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

The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding on April 20, 201626, 2017 was 48,768,965.

49,109,626. 


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
INDEX
Page
Numbers
PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.Financial Statements
3-4
5
6
7-8
9-14
Item 2.15-25
Item 3.26
Item 4.27
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1A.28
Item 2.28
Item 6.29
30
31

2
  
Page
Numbers
PART I.FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
     
Item 1.Financial Statements   
     
 -
     
 
     
 
     
 -
     
 -
     
Item 2.-
     
Item 3.
     
Item 4.
     
PART II.OTHER INFORMATION   
     
Item 1A.
     
Item 2.
     
Item 6.
     
 
     
 



Index



SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

ASSETS 
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
       
Current Assets      
Cash and cash equivalents $89,160  $76,812 
Accounts receivable, net  27,012   29,778 
Income taxes receivable  712   7,694 
Materials and supplies  4,450   4,183 
Prepaid expenses and other  7,623   8,573 
Deferred income taxes  -   907 
Total current assets  128,957   127,947 
         
Investments, including $2,706 and $2,654 carried at fair value
  10,860   10,679 
         
Property, plant and equipment, net  410,949   410,018 
         
Other Assets        
Intangible assets, net  67,283   66,993 
Deferred charges and other assets, net  11,323   11,514 
Other assets, net  78,606   78,507 
Total assets $629,372  $627,151 
ASSETS March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
     
Current Assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $39,927
 $36,193
Accounts receivable, net 68,709
 69,789
Inventory, net 24,855
 39,043
Prepaid expenses and other 16,989
 16,440
Total current assets 150,480
 161,465
     
Investments, including $3,058 and $2,907 carried at fair value 10,607
 10,276
     
Property, plant and equipment, net 689,948
 698,122
     
Other Assets  
  
Intangible assets, net 443,308
 454,532
Goodwill 144,001
 145,256
Deferred charges and other assets, net 14,645
 14,756
Total assets $1,452,989
 $1,484,407



(Continued)


3


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY 
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
       
Current Liabilities      
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees 
$
22,508  
$
22,492 
Accounts payable  10,720   13,009 
Advanced billings and customer deposits  11,981   11,674 
Accrued compensation  2,037   5,915 
Accrued liabilities and other  7,767   7,639 
Total current liabilities  55,013   60,729 
         
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees  171,535   177,169 
         
Other Long-Term Liabilities        
Deferred income taxes  71,767   74,868 
Deferred lease payable  8,349   8,142 
Asset retirement obligations  7,412   7,266 
Other liabilities  12,027   9,039 
Total other long-term liabilities  99,555   99,315 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
Shareholders’ Equity        
Common stock  33,274   32,776 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes  (633)  415 
Retained earnings  270,628   256,747 
Total shareholders’ equity  303,269   289,938 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $629,372  $627,151 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
     
Current Liabilities    
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $38,124
 $32,041
Accounts payable 25,390
 72,810
Advanced billings and customer deposits 21,029
 20,427
Accrued compensation 3,678
 9,465
Income taxes payable 3,958
 435
Accrued liabilities and other 18,174
 29,085
Total current liabilities 110,353
 164,263
     
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees 810,873
 797,224
     
Other Long-Term Liabilities  
  
Deferred income taxes 149,763
 151,837
Deferred lease payable 19,230
 18,042
Asset retirement obligations 19,386
 15,666
Retirement plan obligations 17,892
 17,738
Other liabilities 26,057
 23,743
Total other long-term liabilities 232,328
 227,026
     
Commitments and Contingencies 

 

     
Shareholders’ Equity  
  
Common stock 46,083
 45,482
Retained earnings 245,965
 243,624
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes 7,387
 6,788
Total shareholders’ equity 299,435
 295,894
     
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $1,452,989
 $1,484,407

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

  
Three Months
 Ended March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
       
Operating revenues $92,571  $84,287 
         
Operating expenses:        
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and  amortization shown separately below  31,762   30,691 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  
21,758
   
18,733
 
Depreciation and amortization  17,739   16,337 
Total operating expenses  71,259   65,761 
Operating income  21,312   18,526 
         
Other income (expense):        
Interest expense  (1,619)  (1,915)
Gain on investments, net  88   102 
Non-operating income, net  468   432 
Income before income taxes  20,249   17,145 
         
Income tax expense  6,368   6,859 
Net income $13,881  $10,286 
         
Other comprehensive income:        
Unrealized loss on interest rate hedge, net of tax  (1,048)  (907)
Comprehensive income $12,833  $9,379 
         
Earnings per share:        
Basic $0.29  $0.21 
Diluted $0.28  $0.21 
         
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic  48,563   48,306 
         
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted  49,249   48,902 

  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2017 2016
     
Operating revenues $153,880
 $92,571
     
Operating expenses:  
  
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 53,761
 31,762
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 40,153
 21,426
Integration and acquisition expenses 4,489
 332
Depreciation and amortization 44,804
 17,739
Total operating expenses 143,207
 71,259
Operating income 10,673
 21,312
     
Other income (expense):  
  
Interest expense (9,100) (1,619)
Gain on investments, net 120
 88
Non-operating income, net 1,255
 468
Income before income taxes 2,948
 20,249
     
Income tax expense 607
 6,368
Net income 2,341
 13,881
     
Other comprehensive income (loss):  
  
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedge, net of tax 599
 (1,048)
Comprehensive income $2,940
 $12,833
     
Earnings per share:  
  
Basic $0.05
 $0.29
Diluted $0.05
 $0.28
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic 49,050
 48,563
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted 49,834
 49,249
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

  Shares  
Common
Stock
  
Retained
Earnings
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
  Total 
Balance, December 31, 2014  48,265  $29,712  $227,512  $1,122  $258,346 
                     
Net income  -   -   40,864   -   40,864 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax  -   -   -   (707)  (707)
Dividends declared ($0.24 per share)  -   -   (11,629)  -   (11,629)
Dividends reinvested in common stock  22   544   -   -   544 
Stock based compensation  -   2,719   -   -   2,719 
Common stock issued through exercise of incentive stock  options  
87
   
996
   
-
   
-
   
996
 
Common stock issued for share awards  212   -   -   -   - 
Common stock issued  1   11   -   -   11 
Common stock repurchased  (111)  (1,885)  -   -   (1,885)
Net excess tax benefit from stock options exercised  
-
   
679
   
-
   
-
   
679
 
                     
Balance, December 31, 2015  48,475  $32,776  $256,747  $415  $289,938 
                     
Net income  -   -   13,881   -   13,881 
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax  -   -   -   (1,048)  (1,048)
Stock based compensation  -   1,215   -   -   1,215 
Stock options exercised  298   2,806   -   -   2,806 
Common stock issued for share awards  156   -   -   -   - 
Common stock issued  1   3   -   -   3 
Common stock repurchased  (161)  (3,526)  -   -   (3,526)
Balance, March 31, 2016  48,769  $33,274  $270,628  $(633) $303,269 
   
 
Shares
 
Common
Stock
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income,
net of tax
 Total
Balance, December 31, 2015 48,475
 $32,776
 $256,747
 $415
 $289,938
           
Net loss 
 
 (895) 
 (895)
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax 
 
 
 6,373
 6,373
Dividends declared ($0.25 per share) 
 
 (12,228) 
 (12,228)
Dividends reinvested in common stock 19
 524
 
 
 524
Stock based compensation 
 3,506
 
 
 3,506
Stock options exercised 371
 3,359
 
 
 3,359
Common stock issued for share awards 190
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued 2
 14
 
 
 14
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos 76
 10,400
 
 
 10,400
Common stock repurchased (198) (5,097) 
 
 (5,097)
           
Balance, December 31, 2016 48,935
 $45,482
 $243,624
 $6,788
 $295,894
Net income 
 
 2,341
 
 2,341
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax 
 
 
 599
 599
Stock based compensation 
 1,822
 
 
 1,822
Common stock issued for share awards 129
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued 1
 5
 
 
 5
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos 76
 
 
 
 
Common stock repurchased (43) (1,226) 
 
 (1,226)
Balance, March 31, 2017 49,098
 $46,083
 $245,965
 $7,387
 $299,435

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2017 2016
Cash Flows From Operating Activities    
Net income $2,341
 $13,881
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:  
  
Depreciation 37,878
 17,454
Amortization reflected as operating expense 6,926
 285
Amortization reflected as contra revenue 4,978
 
Amortization reflected as rent expense 258
 
Provision for bad debt 420
 345
Straight line adjustment to management fee revenue 4,206
 
Stock based compensation expense 1,566
 1,048
Deferred income taxes (2,910) (1,489)
Net gain on disposal of equipment (28) (15)
Unrealized gain on investments (120) (16)
Net gains from patronage and equity investments (200) (210)
Amortization of long term debt issuance costs 1,202
 132
Other 
 3,039
Changes in assets and liabilities:  
  
(Increase) decrease in:  
  
Accounts receivable 1,629
 2,470
Inventory, net 14,188
 (267)
Other assets (190) 988
Increase (decrease) in:  
  
Accounts payable (39,399) 1,895
Income taxes payable 3,523
 6,981
Deferred lease payable 1,331
 208
Other deferrals and accruals (13,101) (3,559)
Net cash provided by operating activities 24,498
 43,170
     
Cash Flows From Investing Activities  
  
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (38,587) (20,537)
Proceeds from sale of equipment 117
 145
Cash distributions from investments 3
 45
Additional contributions to investments (14) 
Cash disbursed for acquisition 
 (2,480)
Net cash used in investing activities (38,481) (22,827)

(Continued)


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
       
Cash Flows From Operating Activities      
Net income $13,881  $10,286 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation  17,454   15,931 
Amortization  285   406 
Provision for bad debt  345   321 
Stock based compensation expense  1,048   825 
Excess tax benefits on stock awards  -   (357)
Deferred income taxes  (1,489)  (1,610)
Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment  (15)  11 
Unrealized gains on investments  (16)  (38)
Net gains from patronage and equity investments  (210)  (202)
Amortization of long term debt issuance costs  132   146 
Other  3,039   226 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
(Increase) decrease in:        
Accounts receivable  2,470   1,773 
Materials and supplies  (267)  (1,467)
Income taxes receivable  6,981   9,319 
Other assets  988   (3,896)
Increase (decrease) in:        
Accounts payable  1,895   (5,827)
Deferred lease payable  208   249 
Other deferrals and accruals  (3,559)  (2,275)
Net cash provided by operating activities $43,170  $23,821 
         
Cash Flows From Investing Activities        
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment $(20,537) $(9,500)
Proceeds from sale of equipment  145   24 
Cash distributions from investments  45   - 
Cash disbursed for acquisition  (2,480)  - 
Net cash used in investing activities 
$
(22,827) 
$
(9,476)
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2017 2016
Cash Flows From Financing Activities    
Principal payments on long-term debt $(6,062) $(5,750)
Amounts borrowed under debt agreements 25,000
 
Cash paid for debt issuance costs 
 (1,528)
Repurchases of common stock (1,226) (3,526)
Proceeds from issuances of common stock 5
 2,809
Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities 17,717
 (7,995)
     
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 3,734
 12,348
     
Cash and cash equivalents:  
  
Beginning 36,193
 76,812
Ending $39,927
 $89,160
     
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information  
  
Cash payments for:  
  
Interest, net of capitalized interest of $577 and $146, respectively $8,380
 $1,632
     
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received $
 $876

 (Continued)Non-cash investing and financing activities:
 
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
       
Cash Flows From Financing Activities      
Principal payments on long-term debt $(5,750) $(5,750)
Cash paid for debt issuance costs  (1,528)  - 
Excess tax benefits on stock awards  -   357 
Repurchases of common stock  (3,526)  (763)
Proceeds from issuances of common stock  2,809   46 
Net cash used in financing activities $(7,995) $(6,110)
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $12,348  $8,235 
         
Cash and cash equivalents:        
Beginning  76,812   68,917 
Ending $89,160  $77,152 
         
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information        
Cash payments for:        
         
Interest $1,632  $1,905 
         
Income taxes paid (refunded) $876  $(850)

At March 31, 20162017 and 2015,2016, accounts payable included approximately $1.2$6.4 million and $2.2$1.2 million, respectively, associated with capital expenditures. Cash flows for accounts payable and acquisition of property, plant and equipment exclude this activity.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an increase in the fair value of interest rate swaps of $972 thousand, an increase in deferred tax liabilities of $373 thousand, and an increase to accumulated other comprehensive income of $599 thousand.

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

8


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.Basis of Presentation

The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company and Subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the interim results have been reflected therein.  All such adjustments were of a normal and recurring nature.  Prior year amounts have been reclassified in some cases to conform to the current year presentation. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.2016.  The accompanying balance sheet information at December 31, 20152016 was derived from the audited December 31, 20152016 consolidated balance sheet. Operating revenues and income (loss) from operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire year.

2.Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. and Exchange with Sprint

On May 6, 2016, the Company completed its previously announced acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. (“nTelos”) for $667.8 million, net of cash acquired.  The acquisition was entered into to improve shareholder value through the expansion of the Company's Wireless service area and customer base while strengthening our relationship with Sprint Corporation ("Sprint"). The purchase price was financed by a credit facility arranged by CoBank, ACB, Royal Bank of Canada, Fifth Third Bank, Bank of America, N.A., Capital One, National Association, Citizens Bank N.A., and Toronto Dominion (Texas) LLC.  The Company has accounted for the acquisition of nTelos under the acquisition method of accounting, in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations”, and has accounted for measurement period adjustments under Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-16, “Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement Period Adjustments”.  Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total purchase price is allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition based on their estimated fair values.

The preliminary allocation of the purchase price was based upon management’s preliminary valuation of the fair value of tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed of nTelos, with the excess recorded as goodwill. During the first quarter of 2017, the Company made adjustments to the preliminary estimates of fair value resulting in immaterial changes to previously estimated fair values of fixed assets, asset retirement obligation liabilities, accounts receivable and deferred taxes. These adjustments resulted in a $1.3 million reduction to goodwill as shown in the table below. The Company continues to review certain tax positions acquired in the nTelos acquisition.

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2017 are shown below (in thousands):
 December 31,
2016
Purchase Accounting AdjustmentsMarch 31,
2017
Goodwill - Wireline segment$10
$
$10
Goodwill - Cable segment104

104
Goodwill - Wireless segment145,142
(1,255)143,887
Goodwill as of March 31, 2017$145,256
$(1,255)$144,001

Following are the unaudited pro forma results of the Company for the period ended March 31, 2016, as if the acquisition of nTelos had occurred at the beginning of the period. (in thousands)

  March 31,
2016
Operating revenues $173,248
Income before income taxes $16,905


In connection with these transactions, the Company incurs costs which include the nTelos back office staff and support functions until the nTelos legacy customers are migrated to the Sprint billing platform; costs of the handsets to be provided to

nTelos legacy customers as they migrate to the Sprint billing platform; severance costs for back office and other former nTelos employees who will not be retained permanently; and costs to shut down certain cell sites and related backhaul contracts. We have incurred $7.1 million of these costs in the three months ended March 31, 2017, including $0.1 million reflected in cost of goods and services and $2.5 million reflected in selling, general and administrative costs in the three months ended March 31, 2017.

3.Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

  
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
Plant in service $736,146  $718,503 
Plant under construction  36,981   36,600 
   773,127   755,103 
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation  362,178   345,085 
Net property, plant and equipment $410,949  $410,018 
  March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Plant in service $1,124,446
 $1,085,318
Plant under construction 61,980
 73,759
  1,186,426
 1,159,077
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation 496,478
 460,955
Net property, plant and equipment $689,948
 $698,122

3.
4.Earnings per share

Basic net income per share was computed on the weighted average number of shares outstanding.  Diluted net income per share was computed under the treasury stock method, assuming the conversion as of the beginning of the period, for all dilutive stock options.  Of 991 913 thousand and 1,443991 thousand shares and options outstanding at March 31, 2017 and 2016, and 2015, respectively, 136125 thousand and 168136 thousand were anti-dilutive, respectively.  These shares and options have been excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share for their respective period. There were no adjustments to net income for either period.

4.
5.Investments Carried at Fair Value

Investments include $2.7$3.1 million and $2.9 million of investments carried at fair value at bothas of March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 2015,2016, respectively, consisting of equity, bond and money market mutual funds.  Investments carried at fair value were acquired under a rabbi trust arrangement related to the Company’s nonqualified Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”). The Company purchases investments in the trust to mirror the investment elections of participants in the SERP; gains and losses on the investments in the trust are reflected as increases or decreases in the liability owed to the participants. During the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, the Company recognized $64$32 thousand in dividend and interest income from investments, and recorded net unrealized gains of $16$120 thousand on these investments. Fair values for these investments held under the rabbi trust were determined by Level 1 quoted market prices for the underlying mutual funds.

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, other investments, comprised of equity securities which do not have readily determinable fair values, consist of the following:

 3/31/2017 12/31/2016
Cost method:(in thousands)
CoBank$6,296
 $6,177
Other – Equity in other telecommunications partners740
 742
 7,036
 6,919
Equity method:   
Other513
 450
Total other investments$7,549
 $7,369



5.
6.Financial Instruments

Financial instruments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets that approximate fair value include:  cash and cash equivalents, receivables, investments carried at fair value, payables, accrued liabilities, interest rate swaps and variable rate long-term debt.

9

6.
7.
Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activities and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to cash flows and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective,these objectives, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate swaps (both those designated as cash flow hedges as well as those not designated as cash flow hedges) involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

The Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap of $174.6 million of notional principal in September 2012.  This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge.  The total outstanding notional amount of thethis cash flow hedge was $148.4 $131.0 million as of March 31, 2016.2017.  The outstanding notional amount decreases based upon scheduled principal payments on the 2012 debt.

In May 2016, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap of $256.6 million of notional principal with three counterparties.   This interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge.  The outstanding notional amount of this cash flow hedge was $302.4 million as of March 31, 2017.  The outstanding notional amount increases based upon draws expected to be made under a portion of the Company's Term Loan A-2 debt and as the 2012 interest rate swap's notional principal decreases, and will decrease as the Company makes scheduled principal payments on the 2016 debt.  In combination with the swap entered into in 2012 described above, the Company is hedging approximately 50% of the expected outstanding debt.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The Company uses its derivatives to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable-rate debt. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized directly in earnings through interest expense. No hedge ineffectiveness was recognized during any of the periods presented.

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swapswaps designated and that qualifiesqualified as a cash flow hedge, are reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. As of March 31, 2016,2017, the Company estimates that $0.8 million$237 thousand will be reclassified as an increase toa reduction of interest expense during the next twelve months due to the interest rate swap since the hedge interest rate exceeds the variable interest rate on the debt.months.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instrument as well as its classification on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 20162017 and December 31, 20152016 (in thousands):

 Derivatives 
   Fair Value as of 
Balance Sheet
Location
 
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
       
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:      
Interest rate swap      
Accrued liabilities and other $(822) $(682)
Other liabilities  (243)  - 
Deferred charges and other assets, net  -   1,370 
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments $(1,065) $688 
   Derivatives
  Fair Value as of
  
Balance Sheet
Location
 March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:      
Interest rate swap    
  
  Prepaid expenses and other $237
 $
  Deferred charges and other assets, net 11,958
 12,118
  Accrued liabilities and other 
 (895)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments   $12,195
 $11,223

The fair value of interest rate swaps is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market (level 2 fair value inputs).
10



The table below presents change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 (in thousands):

  
Gains and
(Losses) on
Cash Flow
Hedges
  
Income
Tax
(Expense)
Benefit
  
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015 $688  $(273) $415 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications  (2,020)  812   (1,208)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense)  267   (107)  160 
Net current period other comprehensive loss  (1,753)  705   (1,048)
Balance as of March 31, 2016 $(1,065) $432  $(633)
  
Gains on
Cash Flow
 Hedges
 
Income
Tax
 Expense
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
Balance as of December 31, 2016 $11,223
 $(4,435) $6,788
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications 541
 (208) 333
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (to interest expense) 431
 (165) 266
Net current period other comprehensive income 972
 (373) 599
Balance as of March 31, 2017 $12,195
 $(4,808) $7,387


8. Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets consist of the following at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:
 March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Non-amortizing intangibles:      
Cable franchise rights$64,334
 $
 $64,334
 $64,334
 $
 $64,334
Railroad crossing rights97
 
 97
 97
 
 97
 64,431
 
 64,431
 64,431
 
 64,431
            
Finite-lived intangibles:
Affiliate contract expansion284,102
 (19,008) 265,094
 284,102
 (14,030) 270,072
Acquired subscribers – wireless120,855
 (25,387) 95,468
 120,855
 (18,738) 102,117
Favorable leases - wireless16,950
 (1,531) 15,419
 16,950
 (1,130) 15,820
Acquired subscribers – cable25,265
 (24,802) 463
 25,265
 (24,631) 634
Other intangibles3,230
 (797) 2,433
 2,212
 (754) 1,458
Total finite-lived intangibles450,402
 (71,525) 378,877
 449,384
 (59,283) 390,101
Total intangible assets$514,833
 $(71,525) $443,308
 $513,815
 $(59,283) $454,532


9.Accrued and Other liabilities

Accrued liabilities and other includes the following (in thousands):

  
March 31,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
Sales and property taxes payable $4,742
 $6,628
Severance accrual, current portion 3,553
 4,267
Asset retirement obligations, current portion 884
 5,841
Other current liabilities 8,995
 12,349
Accrued liabilities and other $18,174
 $29,085


Other liabilities include the following (in thousands):

   March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Non-current portion of deferred revenues $7,735
 $8,933
Straight-line management fee waiver 16,180
 11,974
Other 2,142
 2,836
Other liabilities $26,057
 $23,743

10. Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit

Total debt at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consists of the following:
(In thousands) March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
Term loan A-1 $466,813
 $472,875
Term loan A-2 400,000
 375,000
  866,813
 847,875
Less: unamortized loan fees 17,816
 18,610
Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees $848,997
 $829,265
     
Current maturities of long term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $38,124
 $32,041
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees $810,873
 $797,224

As of March 31, 2017, our indebtedness totaled $866.8 million in term loans with an annualized effective interest rate of approximately 3.91% after considering the impact of the interest rate swap contract and unamortized loan costs.  The balance consists of the $466.8 million Term Loan A-1 at a variable rate (3.73% as of March 31, 2017) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75%, and the $400 million Term Loan A-2 at a variable rate (3.98% as of March 31, 2017) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%.  The Term Loan A-1 requires quarterly principal repayments of $6.1 million through June 30, 2017, then increasing to $12.1 million quarterly through June 30, 2020, with further increases at that time through maturity in June 30, 2021.  The Term Loan A-2 requires quarterly principal repayments of $10.0 million beginning on September 30, 2018 through March 31, 2023, with the remaining balance due June 30, 2023.

The Company is subject to certain financial covenants to be measured on a trailing twelve month basis each calendar quarter unless otherwise specified.  These covenants include:

a limitation on the Company’s total leverage ratio, defined as indebtedness divided by earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, of less than or equal to 3.75 to 1.00 from the closing date through December 30, 2018, then 3.25 to 1.00 through December 30, 2019, and 3.00 to 1.00 thereafter;

a minimum debt service coverage ratio, defined as EBITDA minus certain cash taxes divided by the sum of all scheduled principal payments on the Term Loans and scheduled principal payments on other indebtedness plus cash interest expense, greater than 2.00 to 1.00;
the Company must maintain a minimum liquidity balance, defined as availability under the revolver facility plus unrestricted cash and cash equivalents on deposit in a deposit account for which a control agreement has been delivered to the administrative agent under the 2016 credit agreement, of greater than $25 million at all times.

These ratios are generally less restrictive than the covenant ratios the Company had been required to comply with under its previously existing debt arrangements.  As shown below, as of March 31, 2017, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants in its credit agreements.
7.
ActualCovenant Requirement
Total Leverage Ratio2.883.75 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio4.562.00 or Higher
Minimum Liquidity Balance$113 million$25 million or Higher

11.Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker.  The Company has three reportable segments, which the Company operates and manages as strategic business units organized by lines of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline.   A fourth segment, Other, primarily includes Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the parent holding company.

ThePrior to the recent acquisition of nTelos, the Wireless segment provideshad provided digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate. With the recent acquisition, the Company's wireless service has expanded to include south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio. This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers.

The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout southern Virginia and West Virginia. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video and cable modem services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of central and southern Pennsylvania.

Three months ended March 31, 2016

(in thousands)

  Wireless  Cable  Wireline  Other  Eliminations  
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues                  
Service revenues $52,179  $24,340  $4,960  $-  $-  $81,479 
Other  3,203   1,846   6,043   -   -   11,092 
Total external revenues  55,382   26,186   11,003   -   -   92,571 
Internal revenues  1,136   260   7,376   -   (8,772)  - 
Total operating revenues  56,518   26,446   18,379   -   (8,772)  92,571 
                         
Operating expenses                        
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  16,578   14,647   8,643   -   (8,106)  31,762 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  11,514   5,108   1,605   4,197   (666)  21,758 
Depreciation and amortization  8,494   6,095   3,033   117   -   17,739 
Total operating expenses  36,586   25,850   13,281   4,314   (8,772)  71,259 
Operating income (loss) $19,932  $596  $5,098  $(4,314) $-  $21,312 
11


Three months ended March 31, 2015

2017 
(in thousands)
  Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations 
Consolidated
Totals
External revenues            
Service revenues $108,186
 $26,411
 $5,048
 $
 $
 $139,645
Other 6,042
 2,035
 6,158
 
 
 14,235
Total external revenues 114,228
 28,446
 11,206
 
 
 153,880
Internal revenues 1,235
 567
 7,948
 
 (9,750) 
Total operating revenues 115,463
 29,013
 19,154
 
 (9,750) 153,880
             
Operating expenses  
  
  
  
  
  
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 38,318
 15,228
 9,273
 
 (9,058) 53,761
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 28,464
 4,858
 1,676
 5,847
 (692) 40,153
Integration and acquisition expenses 3,792
 
 
 697
 
 4,489
Depreciation and amortization 35,752
 5,788
 3,132
 132
 
 44,804
Total operating expenses 106,326
 25,874
 14,081
 6,676
 (9,750) 143,207
Operating income (loss) $9,137
 $3,139
 $5,073
 $(6,676) $
 $10,673

  Wireless  Cable  Wireline  Other  Eliminations  
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues                  
Service revenues $48,375  $21,401  $4,750  $-  $-  $74,526 
Other  3,030   1,762  ��4,969   -   -   9,761 
Total external revenues  51,405   23,163   9,719   -   -   84,287 
Internal revenues  1,104   148   5,866   -   (7,118)  - 
Total operating revenues  52,509   23,311   15,585   -   (7,118)  84,287 
                         
Operating expenses                        
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  16,187   13,618   7,334   17   (6,465)  30,691 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  9,052   4,892   1,498   3,944   (653)  18,733 
Depreciation and amortization  7,831   5,480   2,924   102   -   16,337 
Total operating expenses  33,070   23,990   11,756   4,063   (7,118)  65,761 
Operating income (loss) $19,439  $(679) $3,829  $(4,063) $-  $18,526 
Three months ended March 31, 2016
 (in thousands)
  Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations 
Consolidated
Totals
External revenues            
Service revenues $52,179
 $24,340
 $4,960
 $
 $
 $81,479
Other 3,203
 1,846
 6,043
 
 

 11,092
Total external revenues 55,382
 26,186
 11,003
 
 
 92,571
Internal revenues 1,136
 260
 7,376
 

 (8,772) 
Total operating revenues 56,518
 26,446
 18,379
 
 (8,772) 92,571
             
Operating expenses  
  
  
  
  
  
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 16,578
 14,647
 8,643
 
 (8,106) 31,762
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 11,514
 5,108
 1,605
 3,865
 (666) 21,426
Integration and acquisition expenses 
 
 
 332
 
 332
Depreciation and amortization 8,494
 6,095
 3,033
 117
 
 17,739
Total operating expenses 36,586
 25,850
 13,281
 4,314
 (8,772) 71,259
Operating income (loss) $19,932
 $596
 $5,098
 $(4,314) $
 $21,312



A reconciliation of the total of the reportable segments’ operating income (loss) to consolidated income (loss) before taxes is as follows:

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Total consolidated operating income $21,312  $18,526 
Interest expense  (1,619)  (1,915)
Non-operating income, net  556   534 
Income before taxes $20,249  $17,145 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Total consolidated operating income $10,673
 $21,312
Interest expense (9,100) (1,619)
Non-operating income, net 1,375
 556
Income before income taxes $2,948
 $20,249

The Company’s assets by segment are as follows:

 
(in thousands)
 
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
 
Wireless $197,989  $205,718 
Cable  209,992   209,132 
Wireline  107,334   105,369 
Other  481,886   463,390 
Combined totals  997,201   983,609 
Inter-segment eliminations  (367,829)  (356,458)
Consolidated totals $629,372  $627,151 
 
(in thousands)
 March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
Wireless $1,039,211
 $1,101,716
Cable 220,519
 218,471
Wireline 116,390
 115,282
Other 1,070,204
 1,059,898
Combined totals 2,446,324
 2,495,367
Inter-segment eliminations (993,335) (1,010,960)
Consolidated totals $1,452,989
 $1,484,407

8.
12.Income Taxes

The Company files U.S. federal income tax returns and various state and local income tax returns.  With few exceptions, years prior to 20122013 are no longer subject to examination.examination; net operating losses acquired in the nTelos acquisition are open to examination from 2002 forward. The Company is not subject to any state or federal income tax audits as of March 31, 2016.2017.

12

9.
13.Adoption of New Accounting Principles

Effective inDuring the first quarter of 2016,2017, the Company adopted three recentone new accounting principles,principle: Accounting Standards Update 2015-03, “Interest – Imputation("ASU") No. 2015-11, "Inventory: Simplifying the Measurement of Interest” (ASU 2015-03),Inventory". This ASU 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classificationchanges the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of Deferred Taxes”,cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-based Payment Accounting”.

ASU 2015-03 requires that premiums, discounts, and loan fees and costs associated with long term debt be reflected as a reduction of the outstanding debt balance.  Previous guidance had treated such loan fees and costs as a deferred charge on the balance sheet.  As a result of implementing ASU 2015-03, the Company reclassified $1.6 million of unamortized loan fees and costs included in deferred charges and other assets as of December 31, 2015 to long-term debt.  Approximately $0.5 million was allocated to current maturities of long-term debt, and $1.1 million to long term debt.  Total assets, as well as total liabilities and shareholders’ equity, were also reduced by the same $1.6 million.  There was no impact on the statements of income or cash flows.

ASU 2015-17 simplifies accounting for deferred taxes by eliminating the requirement to present deferred tax assets and liabilities as current and non-current in a classified balance sheet.  Due to the immaterial balance of current deferred tax assets ($0.9 million as of December 31, 2015), the Company has elected to apply this guidance prospectively, and thus prior periods have not been retrospectively adjusted.

ASU 2016-09 simplifies certain provisions related to the accounting for the tax effects of stock-based compensation transactions.  In particular for the Company, it eliminates the requirement for entities to determine for each award whether the difference between book compensation and tax compensation results inconsider replacement cost or net realizable value less an excess tax benefit orapproximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. The adoption of this ASU did not have a tax deficiency, which generally speaking, result in an entry to additional paid-in-capital.  Under the new guidance, all tax effects for exercised or vested awards are recognized as discrete items in income tax expense.  The new guidance also allows an employer to withhold shares to cover more than the minimum statutory withholding taxes (but not more than the maximum statutory withholding requirements) without causing an equity-classified award to become a liability classified award.  The other provisions of the new guidance are either not applicable or have no significant impact on the Company’s accounting for stock-based compensation transactions.  The Company has elected to early adopt the new guidance and apply it prospectively to tax effects on share-based compensation transactions.our financial statements.

10.Acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corporation
14. Subsequent Events

On August 11, 2015, the Company announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NTELOS Holdings Corporation ("nTelos") for $9.25 per share in cash for a total equity value of approximately $208 million, after including shares expected to vest on change of control. At closing, the Company will pay off nTelos' outstanding debt, which was $520 million at December 31, 2015. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will acquire all of nTelos' stock and operations including wireless network assets, retail stores and approximately 298,000 retail subscribers in the nTelos Western Markets. The Company will complete nTelos' plans to close down its Eastern Markets.

Concurrent with the signing of the agreement with nTelos,March 9, 2017, the Company and Sprint Corporation ("Sprint") entered into a series of agreements, including an Addendum XX to the Shentel AffiliateSprint PCS Management Agreement. Addendum XX provides for (i) an expansion of the Company’s “Service Area” (as defined in the Sprint PCS Management Agreement) to include certain areas in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia (the “Expansion Area”), (ii) certain network build out requirements in the Expansion Area over the next three years, (iii) the Company’s provision of prepaid field sales support to Sprint and its affiliates in the Service Area, (iv) Sprint’s provision of spectrum use to the Company in the Expansion Area, (v) the addition of Horizon Personal Communications, LLC, as a party to the Sprint PCS Management Agreement and related agreements, wherebythe Sprint PCS Services Agreement (collectively, the “Affiliate Agreements”) and (vi) certain other amendments to the Affiliate Agreements.
In connection with the execution of Addendum XX, on March 9, 2017, the Company and certain affiliates of Sprint will,entered into an agreement to, among other things, exchangetransfer to Sprint certain assetscustomers in the nTelos Western Markets. The Company will convert nTelos’ retail wireless customers into Sprint branded affiliate customers.  Sprint willExpansion Area and the underlying customer agreements, and to transition its existing retail wireless operationsthe provision of network coverage in the nTelos footprint, includingExpansion Area from Sprint to the Company. The expanded territory includes approximately 280,000500 thousand market POPs and approximately 21 thousand Sprint retail customers homed in the nTelos footprint, to Sprint branded affiliate customers. These existing Sprint retail customers, in combination with the nTelos customers, will enable the Company to serve approximately 570,000 additional customers under its affiliate arrangement with Sprint.

As part of the transaction, theThe Company and Sprint have also agreed to extend their Affiliate relationship by five years through 2029. Sprint will receive certain spectrum assets of nTelos, and has agreed to reduce the 8% and 6% Management Fee portions of the retained revenues that would otherwise be due to Sprint under the Affiliate Agreement by $252 million over an expected period of five to six years.

Onclosed on this transaction on April 15, 2016, the transaction received its remaining regulatory approval from the Federal Communications Commission.  The Company, Sprint and nTelos expect that closing will take place in May 2016.6, 2017.
13

The Company will finance the nTelos acquisition and network upgrade with $960 million in credit facilities (including term loans totaling $885 million and a revolver of $75 million) from a syndicate of lenders. Proceeds will be used to finance the transaction and refinance the Company’s existing outstanding indebtedness. This commitment is fully underwritten by CoBank, ACB; Royal Bank of Canada; and Fifth Third Bank. Upon the closing of the merger, the Company expects to have total long-term debt outstanding of approximately $785 million. The revolver and an additional $100 million in a delayed draw term loan are not expected to be drawn at close.

During the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company has incurred $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of expenses associated with the planned acquisition of nTelos.
14

ITEM 2.MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This management’s discussion and analysis includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions as they relate to Shenandoah Telecommunications Company or its management are intended to identify these forward-looking statements.  All statements regarding Shenandoah Telecommunications Company’s expected future financial position and operating results, business strategy, financing plans, forecasted trends relating to the markets in which Shenandoah Telecommunications Company operates and similar matters are forward-looking statements.  We cannot assure you that the Company’s expectations expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements will turn out to be correct.  The Company’s actual results could be materially different from its expectations because of various factors, including those discussed below and under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.2016.  The following management’s discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2015,2016, including the financial statements and related notes included therein.

General

Overview. Overview:Shenandoah Telecommunications Company is a diversified telecommunications company providing both regulated and unregulated telecommunications services through its wholly owned subsidiaries.  These subsidiaries provide wireless personal communications services (as a Sprint PCS affiliate), local exchange telephone services, video, internet and data services, long distance services, fiber optics facilities, and leased tower facilities. The Company hasWe have three reportable segments, which the Company operateswe operate and managesmanage as strategic business units organized by lines of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline.

*The Wireless segment provideshas historically provided digital wireless service as a Sprint PCS Affiliate to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia.  Following the acquisition of nTelos on May 6, 2016, the Company’s wireless service area expanded to include south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio.  In this area, the Company isthese areas, we are the exclusive provider of Sprint-branded wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 800 MHz, 1900 MHz and 2.5 GHz bands under the Sprint brand.  bands.  This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers.

*The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in franchise areas in portions of Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout its service area. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

*The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video and cable modem internet access services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of central and southern Pennsylvania.

A fourth segment, Other, primarily includes Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the parent holding company.company, and includes corporate costs of executive management, information technology, legal, finance, and human resources. This segment also includes certain acquisition and integration costs primarily consisting of severance accruals for short-term nTelos employees to be separated as integration activities wind down and transaction related expenses such as investment advisor, legal and other professional fees.

15Acquisition of nTelos and Exchange with Sprint: On May 6, 2016, we completed our previously announced acquisition of NTELOS Holdings Corp. (“nTelos”) for $667.8 million, net of cash acquired.  The purchase price was financed by a credit facility arranged by CoBank, ACB.  We have included the operations of nTelos for financial reporting purposes for periods subsequent to the acquisition.


The Company expects to incur approximately $23 million of integration and acquisition expenses associated with this transaction in 2017, in addition to the $54.7 million of such costs incurred during 2016.  We have incurred $7.1 million of these costs in the three months ended March 31, 2017. These costs include $0.1 million reflected in cost of goods and services and $2.5 million reflected in selling, general and administrative costs in the three month period ended March 31, 2017. In addition to the approximately $78 million of incurred and expected expenses described above, the Company also incurred

approximately $23 million of debt issuance costs in 2015 and 2016 relating to this transaction, for a total expected cost of $101 million.
Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20152016

The Company’sOur consolidated results for the first quarter of 20162017 and 20152016 are summarized as follows:

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  Change 
(in thousands) 2016  2015  $   % 
Operating revenues $92,571  $84,287  $8,284   9.8 
Operating expenses  71,259   65,761   5,498   8.4 
Operating income  21,312   18,526   2,786   15.0 
                 
Interest expense  1,619   1,915   (296)  (15.5)
Other income, net  556   534   22   4.1 
Income before taxes  20,249   17,145   3,104   18.1 
Income tax expense  6,368   6,859   (491)  (7.2)
Net income $13,881  $10,286  $3,595   35.0 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands) 2017 2016 $ %
Operating revenues $153,880
 $92,571
 $61,309
 66.2
Operating expenses 143,207
 71,259
 71,948
 101.0
Operating income 10,673
 21,312
 (10,639) (49.9)
         
Interest expense (9,100) (1,619) (7,481) 462.1
Other income, net 1,375
 556
 819
 147.3
Income before taxes 2,948
 20,249
 (17,301) (85.4)
Income tax expense 607
 6,368
 (5,761) (90.5)
Net income $2,341
 $13,881
 $(11,540) (83.1)

Operating revenues

For the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, operating revenues increased $8.3$61.3 million, or 9.8%66.2%. Wireless segment revenues increased $4.0$58.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2015. Net postpaid service revenue increased $3.3 million, primarily due to2016; nearly all of this increase was a reduction, effective January 1, 2016, inresult of the net service fee charged by Sprint.  The net service fee decreased from 14%acquisition of net billed revenue to 8.6% of net billed revenue. The reduction in the net service fee was accompanied by separately settling certain expenses, as discussed below.  Prepaid net service revenue increased $.5 million, or 4.3%, from 2015, primarily due to changes in the mix of subscribers to higher rate plans.nTelos on May 6, 2016. Cable segment revenues grew $3.1$2.6 million primarily as a result of 6.2%2.2% growth in average subscriber counts and an increase in revenue per subscriber.  Wireline segment revenues increased $1.3$0.8 million, net of eliminations of intersegment activities, primarily due to increases in fiber sales.

Operating expenses

Total operating expenses were $71.3$143.2 million in the first quarter of 20162017 compared to $65.8$71.3 million in the prior year period.  CostOperating expenses in the first quarter of goods2017 included $4.5 million of integration and services sold increased $1.1acquisition costs associated with the nTelos acquisition, including $3.8 million overall.on the Wireless segment cost of goods increased $0.4 million, primarily due to $1.2and $0.7 million in incremental separately settled postpaid wireless expenses for handsets sold through Sprint’s national channels, previously settled as part of the net service fee as described above.  On-going costs for postpaid handsets sold through our channels decreased $1.4 million as sales of subsidized handsets continued to decline, while prepaid handset subsidies decreased $0.3 million on fewer gross adds and upgrades as well as lower rates.  Cable segment cost of goods sold increased $1.0 million, due to increased cable programming and network costs.

Other segment.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $3.0 million overall, with $2.5 million incurredand cost of goods and services in the Wireless segment.  This includes $2.4segment included an additional $2.6 million in incremental separately settled postpaid wirelessof nTelos-related customer care and other back office costs related to supporting the nTelos legacy customers until the migration of these customers is completed. Wireless segment operating expenses for national commissions.
Depreciationincreased $63.3 million (excluding the $6.4 million of customer care, integration and amortization expense increased $1.4 million,acquisition expenses described above), primarily due to ongoing projectson-going costs associated with the acquired nTelos operations including $27.3 million of incremental depreciation and amortization expenses.  All other operating expenses increased $2.2 million, net of eliminations of intersegment activities.

Acquisition and integration costs on the Other segment primarily consisted of transaction related expenses such as legal and other professional fees.  On the Wireless segment, such costs included handsets provided to expandnTelos subscribers who needed a new phone to transition to the Sprint billing platform, costs associated with terminating duplicative cell site leases and upgradebackhaul circuits, and personnel costs associated with short-term nTelos employees required to migrate former nTelos customers to the wireless, cableSprint back-office.

Interest expense

Interest expense has increased primarily as a result of the incremental borrowings associated with closing the nTelos acquisition and fiber networks.the effect of two interest rate increases implemented by the Federal Reserve in late 2016 and early 2017. The impact of the interest rate increases has been offset by a swap that covers 50% of the outstanding principal under the new debt. Other changes include increased debt cost amortization reflecting the incremental costs of entering into the new debt, partially offset by increased capitalization of interest to capital projects.


Income tax expense

The Company’sCompany's actual effective income tax rate decreased from 40.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2015 to 31.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  This decrease2016 to 20.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The difference for both periods between the actual effective income tax rate and the statutory income tax rate results primarily resulted from discreteexcess tax benefits resulting from the change in accounting fordeductions on share grant vestings and certain stock option exercises, and share award distributionswhich are recognized as incurred. The Company recognized $1.7 million in excess deductions in the first quarterthree months ended March 2017 compared to $4.5 million in excess deductions in the same period of 20162016; however, the March 31, 2017 excess deductions represented a larger share of pre-tax income, reducing the effective rate more in accordance with ASU 2016-09.  In prior periods, such tax benefits were recorded directly to equity.in the three months ended March 31, 2017 than the three months ended March 31, 2016.
Net income

For the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, net income increased $3.6decreased $11.5 million, or 35.0%,83.1% over March 31, 2016, primarily reflecting revenue growth inincreased depreciation and amortization, straight-lining of certain Sprint fee credits, and higher interest on the Wireline and Cable segments andincreased balance of outstanding debt as a result of the reduction in income tax expense for the tax benefitsnTelos acquisition, net of stock compensation transactions in the first quarter of 2016.taxes.


Wireless

The Company’sOur Wireless segment provideshistorically provided digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, through Shenandoah Personal Communications, LLC (“PCS”), a Sprint PCS Affiliate.  Following the acquisition of nTelos in May 2016, our wireless service territory expanded to include south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio.  Through Shenandoah Mobile, LLC (“Mobile”), this segment also leases land on which it builds Company-owned cell towers, which it leases to affiliatedaffiliates and non-affiliated wireless service providers, throughout the same four-statemulti-state area described above.

PCS receives revenues from Sprint for subscribers that obtain service in PCS’s network coverage area.  PCS relies on Sprint to provide timely, accurate and complete information to record the appropriate revenue for each financial period.  Postpaid revenues received from Sprint are recorded net of certain fees retained by Sprint.  Through December 31, 2015, these fees totaled 22% of postpaid net billed revenue (gross customer billings net of credits and adjustments to customer accounts, and write-offs of uncollectible accounts), as defined by the Affiliate Agreement with Sprint.  EffectiveSince January 1, 2016, the fees chargedretained by Sprint declined toare 16.6%, and certain revenue and expense items previously included in these fees became separately settled.  The overall effect of these changes was an increase of $4.9 million of revenue, partially offset by increased expenses totaling $3.6 million.

The CompanyWe also offersoffer prepaid wireless products and services in itsour PCS network coverage area.  Sprint retains a Management Fee equal to 6% of prepaid customer billings.  Prepaid revenues received from Sprint are reported net of the cost of this fee.  Other fees charged on a per unit basis are separately recorded as expenses according to the nature of the expense.  The Company paysWe pay handset subsidies to Sprint for the difference between the selling price of prepaid handsets and their cost, recorded as a net cost in cost of goods sold.  The revenue and expense components reported to us by Sprint are based on Sprint’s national averages for prepaid services, rather than being specifically determined by customers assigned to our geographic service areas.

The following tables show selected operating statistics of the Wireless segment as of the dates shown:

  
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
  
March 31,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
 
Retail PCS Subscribers – Postpaid  315,231   312,512   291,078   287,867 
Retail PCS Subscribers – Prepaid  142,539   142,840   147,783   145,162 
PCS Market POPS (000) (1)  2,437   2,433   2,418   2,415 
PCS Covered POPS (000) (1)  2,230   2,224   2,210   2,207 
CDMA Base Stations (sites)  556   552   542   537 
Towers Owned  157   158   154   154 
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases  202   202   199   198 
   March 31,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 March 31, 2016 
December 31,
2015
Retail PCS Subscribers – Postpaid 717,150
 722,562
 315,231
 312,512
Retail PCS Subscribers – Prepaid 243,557
 236,138
 142,539
 142,840
PCS Market POPS (000) (1) 5,536
 5,536
 2,437
 2,433
PCS Covered POPS (000) (1) 4,836
 4,807
 2,230
 2,224
CDMA Base Stations (sites) 1,476
 1,467
 556
 552
Towers Owned 196
 196
 157
 158
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases 206
 202
 202
 202

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2016  2015 
       
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions - Postpaid  17,356   17,105 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions - Postpaid  2,719   3,211 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions - Prepaid  21,231   23,620 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions - Prepaid  (301)  2,621 
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Postpaid (2)  1.56%  1.60%
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Prepaid (2)  5.05%  4.76%
The changes from March 31, 2016 to December 31, 2016 shown above include the effects of the nTelos acquisition and the exchange with Sprint on May 6, 2016.


   Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
  2017 2016 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Postpaid 38,701
 17,356
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Postpaid (5,412) 2,719
 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Prepaid 42,168
 21,231
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Prepaid 7,419
 (301) 
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Postpaid (2) 2.05% 1.56% 
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Prepaid (2) 4.86% 5.05% 

1)POPS refers to the estimated population of a given geographic area and is based on information purchased from third party sources.  Market POPS are those within a market area which the Company iswe are authorized to serve under itsour Sprint PCS affiliate agreements, and Covered POPS are those covered by the Company’sour network.
2)PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn is the average of the monthly subscriber turnover, or churn, calculations for the period.


17

Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20152016

(in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
Change
 
  2016  2015  $   % 
Segment operating revenues             
Wireless service revenue $52,179  $48,375  $3,804   7.9 
Tower lease revenue  2,750   2,570   180   7.0 
Equipment revenue  1,454   1,481   (27)  (1.8)
Other revenue  135   83   52   62.7 
Total segment operating revenues  56,518   52,509   4,009   7.6 
Segment operating expenses                
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  
16,578
   
16,187
   391   2.4 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  
11,514
   
9,052
   2,462   27.2 
Depreciation and amortization  8,494   7,831   663   8.5 
Total segment operating expenses  36,586   33,070   3,516   10.6 
Segment operating income $19,932  $19,439  $493   2.5 
(in thousands)
 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
  2017 2016 $ %
Segment operating revenues        
Wireless service revenue $108,186
 $52,179
 $56,007
 107.3
Tower lease revenue 2,882
 2,750
 132
 4.8
Equipment revenue 3,145
 1,454
 1,691
 116.3
Other revenue 1,250
 135
 1,115
 NM
Total segment operating revenues 115,463
 56,518
 58,945
 104.3
Segment operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 38,318
 16,578
 21,740
 131.1
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 28,464
 11,514
 16,950
 147.2
Integration and acquisition expenses 3,792
 
 3,792
 NM
Depreciation and amortization 35,752
 8,494
 27,258
 320.9
Total segment operating expenses 106,326
 36,586
 69,740
 190.6
Segment operating income $9,137
 $19,932
 $(10,795) (54.2)

Operating revenues
Index

Service Revenues

Wireless service revenue increased $3.8$56.0 million, or 7.9%107.3%, for the three months ended March 31, 2016,2017, compared to the comparable 2015March 31, 2016, period. Effective January 1,See table below.

(in thousands)
 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
Service Revenues 2017 2016 $ %
Postpaid net billings (1)
 $92,989
 $45,638
 $47,351
 103.8
Sprint fees      
  
Management fee (7,383) (3,651) (3,732) 102.2
Net service fee (7,200) (3,934) (3,266) 83.0
Waiver of management fee 7,383
 
 7,383
 NM
  (7,200) (7,585) 385
 (5.1)
Prepaid net billings  
  
  
  
Gross billings 25,945
 13,083
 12,862
 98.3
Sprint management fee (1,557) (785) (772) 98.3
Waiver of management fee 1,557
 
 1,557
 NM
  25,945
 12,298
 13,647
 111.0
Travel and other revenues 5,636
 1,828
 3,808
 208.3
Accounting adjustments      
  
Amortization of expanded affiliate agreement (4,978) 
 (4,978) NM
Straight-line adjustment - management fee waiver (4,206) 
 (4,206) NM
  (9,184) 
 (9,184) NM
Total Service Revenues $108,186
 $52,179
 $56,007
 107.3

(1) Postpaid net billings are defined under the terms of the affiliate contract with Sprint to be the gross billings to customers within our service territory less billing credits and adjustments and allocated write-offs of uncollectible accounts.

Operating revenues

The changes in Wireless segment service revenues shown in the table above are almost exclusively a result of the nTelos acquisition in May 2016. Postpaid subscribers have increased by 402 thousand from March 31, 2016 to March 31, 2017 with 387 thousand of them in the fees retainedformer nTelos service area as of March 31, 2017. Prepaid subscribers have increased by Sprint and deducted from postpaid revenues decreased from 22% overall101 thousand over the same time period. There were 110 thousand prepaid subscribers in the former nTelos service area as of March 31, 2017.

In addition to 16.6%, accompanied by separately settling a number of revenue and expense items.  The fee reduction and the new revenue components added $4.4 million to wireless postpaid service revenue, while prepaid service revenue increased $0.5 million, principally on improved mix of customers to higher-rate service offerings. These increases were partially offset by continuing reductions in postpaid billed revenue, down $1.1 million primarilysubscribers acquired as a result of lower servicethe acquisition, we recorded an asset related to the changes to the Sprint affiliate agreement, including the right to serve new subscribers in the nTelos footprint, as previously described.  That asset is being amortized through the expiration of the current initial term of that contract in 2029 and, as a result, we recorded $5.0 million in amortization in the first quarter of 2017.   Sprint agreed to waive certain management fees that they would otherwise be entitled to under the affiliate agreement in exchange for our commitment to buy nTelos, upgrade its network and support the former nTelos and Sprint customers.  The fees waived are being recognized on a straight-line basis over the remainder of the initial term of the contract through 2029 and, as a result, we recorded an adjustment of $4.2 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Other operating revenues

The increases in equipment revenue asand other revenue also resulted primarily from the nTelos acquisition, with the increase in other revenue primarily representing regulatory recovery revenues related to billings to customers finance their handsets through installmentbefore migration to the Sprint billing system, whereas Sprint retains the billing and leasing programs.  Under these programs, the Company receives less service revenue from the subscriber, while the equipment revenue from the subscriberrelated expenses and the handset expense become Sprint’s responsibility and are not recorded by the Company.liabilities under our affiliate agreement.

Index

Cost of goods and services

Cost of goods and services increased $0.4$21.7 million, or 2.4%131.1%, in 20162017 from the first quarter of 2015. Postpaid handset2016. The increase results primarily from increases in cell site rent, power, maintenance and backhaul costs continued to decrease, down $1.4for the incremental 868 cell sites in the nTelos territory of $19.3 million, as handset expenses associated with financing and leasing plans are Sprint’s responsibility and are not recorded by the Company.  Prepaid handset subsidies decreased $0.3 million due to fewer gross adds and upgrades as well as lower rates charged by Sprint.  Network costs increased $0.9 million, with backhaul costs, cell site rentsthe related growth in the cost of network technicians to service and other network costs all increasing. Finally, separately settled national channel handset costs added $1.2 million to postpaid costmaintain these sites of $1.1 million.   Cost of goods and services in the first quarteralso included $0.1 million of 2016.costs to support nTelos legacy billing operations until customers migrate to Sprint’s back office systems.

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative costs increased $2.5$16.9 million, or 27.2%147.2%, in the first quarter of 20162017 from the comparable 2015 period.  Separately2016 period, again primarily due to the acquisition of nTelos in May 2016.  Increases include $3.2 million of incremental separately settled costs for commissions on national channel postpaid net addscommissions, $4.7 million related to incremental stores acquired as a result of the nTelos acquisition, $0.9 million in incremental sales and upgrades added $2.4marketing efforts to communicate with and migrate the remaining nTelos legacy customers over to the Sprint platforms, and $1.3 million in other administrative costs related to 2016’s costs.the acquired operations. Costs associated with prepaid wireless offerings increased $4.3 million.  Selling, general and administrative costs also included $2.5 million of costs to support nTelos legacy billing operations until customers migrate to Sprint’s back office systems.

Integration and acquisition
18

Integration and acquisition expenses of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 include approximately $3.7 million for replacement handsets issued to former nTelos subscribers migrated to the Sprint billing platform and $0.7 million in other expenses, partially offset by $0.6 million in reductions of previously estimated costs to terminate duplicative cell site leases and backhaul contracts.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased $0.7$27.3 million, or 8.5%321%, in the first quarter of 20162017 over the comparable 20152016 period, due primarily to ongoing investments$20.0 million in wireless network coverageincremental depreciation largely on the acquired fixed assets, and capacity.$6.7 million in amortization of customer based intangibles recorded in the acquisition. 





























Index

Cable

The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in franchise areas in portions of Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout its service area. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
On January 1, 2016, the Company acquired the assets of Colane Cable Company. With the acquisition, the Company acquired 3,299 video customers, 1,405 high-speed internet customers, and 302 voice customers. These customersVirginia, which are included in the Wireline segment. Increases in homes passed, available homes and video customers between December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016, totals shown below.resulted from the Colane acquisition on January 1, 2016.

  
March 31,
2016
  
December 31,
2015
  
March 31,
2015
  
December 31,
2014
 
Homes Passed (1)  181,375   172,538   172,022   171,589 
Customer Relationships (2)                
Video customers  50,195   48,184   49,662   49,247 
Non-video customers  26,895   24,550   22,530   22,051 
Total customer relationships  77,090   72,734   72,192   71,298 
Video                
Customers (3)  52,468   50,215   51,708   52,095 
Penetration (4)  28.9%  29.1%  30.1%  30.4%
Digital video penetration (5)  74.8%  77.9%  69.9%  65.9%
High-speed Internet                
Available Homes (6)  180,814   172,538   172,022   171,589 
Customers (3)  58,273   55,131   52,508   50,686 
Penetration (4)  32.2%  32.0%  30.5%  29.5%
Voice                
Available Homes (6)  178,077   169,801   169,285   168,852 
Customers (3)  20,786   20,166   19,112   18,262 
Penetration (4)  11.7%  11.9%  11.3%  10.8%
Total Revenue Generating Units (7)  131,527   125,512   123,328   121,043 
Fiber Route Miles  2,955   2,844   2,836   2,834 
Total Fiber Miles (8)  80,727   76,949   73,294   72,694 
Average Revenue Generating Units  129,604   124,054   121,998   117,744 
  March 31,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
 March 31, 2016 
December 31,
2015
Homes Passed (1) 184,819
 184,710
 181,375
 172,538
Customer Relationships (2)        
Video customers 47,160
 48,512
 50,195
 48,184
Non-video customers 30,765
 28,854
 26,895
 24,550
Total customer relationships 77,925
 77,366
 77,090
 72,734
Video        
Customers (3) 49,384
 50,618
 52,468
 50,215
Penetration (4) 26.7% 27.4% 28.9% 29.1%
Digital video penetration (5) 77.1% 77.4% 74.8% 77.9%
High-speed Internet        
Available Homes (6) 183,935
 183,826
 180,814
 172,538
Customers (3) 61,815
 60,495
 58,273
 55,131
Penetration (4) 33.6% 32.9% 32.2% 32.0%
Voice        
Available Homes (6) 181,198
 181,089
 178,077
 169,801
Customers (3) 21,647
 21,352
 20,786
 20,166
Penetration (4) 11.9% 11.8% 11.7% 11.9%
Total Revenue Generating Units (7) 132,846
 132,465
 131,527
 125,512
Fiber Route Miles 3,233
 3,137
 2,955
 2,844
Total Fiber Miles (8) 100,799
 92,615
 80,727
 76,949
Average Revenue Generating Units 132,419
 131,218
 129,604
 124,054

1)Homes and businesses are considered passed (“homes passed”) if we can connect them to our distribution system without further extending the transmission lines.  Homes passed is an estimate based upon the best available information.
2)Customer relationships represent the number of customers who receive at least one of our services.
3)Generally, a dwelling or commercial unit with one or more television sets connected to our distribution system counts as one video customer.  Where services are provided on a bulk basis, such as to hotels and some multi-dwelling units, the revenue charged to the customer is divided by the rate for comparable service in the local market to determine the number of customer equivalents included in the customer counts shown above. During the first quarter of 2016, the Company modified the way it counts subscribers when a commercial customer upgrades its internet service via a fiber contract. The Company retroactively applied the new count methodology to prior periods, and applied similar logic to certain bulk customers; the net result was reductions in internet subscriber counts of 559, 687 and 673 subscribers to December 31, 2015, March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 totals, respectively.
4)Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of customers by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
19

5)Digital video penetration is calculated by dividing the number of digital video customers by total video customers.  Digital video customers are video customers who receive any level of video service via digital transmission.  A dwelling with one or more digital set-top boxes or digital adapters counts as one digital video customer.
6)Homes and businesses are considered available (“available homes”) if we can connect them to our distribution system without further extending the transmission lines and if we offer the service in that area.
7)Revenue generating units are the sum of video, voice and high-speed internet customers.
8)Fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance.  For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles.


Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20152016

(in thousands) 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  Change 
  2016  2015  $     % 
              
Segment operating revenues             
Service revenue $24,340  $21,401  $2,939   13.7 
Other revenue  2,106   1,910   196   10.3 
Total segment operating revenues  26,446   23,311   3,135   13.4 
                 
Segment operating expenses                
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  14,647   13,618   1,029   7.6 
Selling, general, and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  5,108   4,892   216   4.4 
Depreciation and amortization  6,095   5,480   615   11.2 
Total segment operating expenses  25,850   23,990   1,860   7.8 
Segment operating income (loss) $596  $(679) $1,275   187.8 
(in thousands) Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
  2017 2016 $ %
Segment operating revenues         
Service revenue $26,411
 $24,340
 $2,071
 8.5
Other revenue 2,602
 2,106
 496
 23.6
Total segment operating revenues 29,013
 26,446
 2,567
 9.7
Segment operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 15,228
 14,647
 581
 4.0
Selling, general, and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 4,858
 5,108
 (250) (4.9)
Depreciation and amortization 5,788
 6,095
 (307) (5.0)
Total segment operating expenses 25,874
 25,850
 24
 0.1
Segment operating income $3,139
 $596
 $2,543
 426.7

Operating revenues

Cable segment service revenues increased $2.9$2.1 million, or 13.7%8.5%, due to a 6.2%2.2% increase in average revenue generating units, video rate increases in January 20162017 to offset increases in programming costs, and new and existing customers selecting higher-speed data (HSD) access packages.

Other revenue grew $0.2$0.5 million, primarily due to new fiber contracts to towers, schools and libraries.

Operating expenses

Cable segment cost of goods and services increased $1.0$0.6 million, or 7.6%4.0%, in the first quarter of 20162017 over the comparable 20152016 period. Video programming costs, including retransmission fees, increased $0.6 million, primarily due to the increase in subscribers.  The remainder of the increase resulted from higher network and maintenance costs.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.2decreased $0.3 million against the prior year quarter due to higherlower advertising and commission costs.























Wireline

The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video and cable modem internet access services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of Pennsylvania.

20

   March 31,
2017
 
Dec. 31,
2016
 March 31, 2016 
Dec. 31,
2015
Telephone Access Lines (1) 18,160
 18,443
 19,682
 20,252
Long Distance Subscribers 9,134
 9,149
 9,377
 9,476
Video Customers (2) 5,201
 5,264
 5,232
 5,356
DSL and Cable Modem Subscribers (1) 14,527
 14,314
 14,200
 13,890
Fiber Route Miles 1,997
 1,971
 1,744
 1,736
Total Fiber Miles (3) 145,060
 142,230
 125,559
 123,891
  
March 31,
2016
  
Dec. 31,
2015
  
March 31,
2015
  
Dec. 31,
2014
 
Telephone Access Lines (1)  19,682   20,252   21,669   21,612 
Long Distance Subscribers  9,377   9,476   9,533   9,571 
Video Customers (2)  5,232   5,356   5,599   5,692 
DSL and Cable Modem Subscribers (3)  14,200   13,890   13,227   13,094 
Fiber Route Miles  1,744   1,736   1,559   1,556 
Total Fiber Miles (4)  125,559   123,891   99,523   99,387 

1)Effective October 1, 2015, the Companywe launched cable modem services on itsour cable plant, and ceased the requirement that a customer have a telephone access line to purchase DSLinternet service. As of March 31, 2017, 1,226 customers have purchased cable modem service received via the coaxial cable network.
2)The Wireline segment’s video service passes approximately 16,00016,500 homes.
3)2016 and December 2015 totals include 624 and 420 customers, respectively, served via the coaxial cable network.  During first quarter 2016, the Company modified the way it counts subscribers when a commercial customer upgrades its internet service via a fiber contract. The Company retroactively applied the new count methodology to prior periods and the net result was increases in internet subscriber counts of and 804, 402 and 352 subscribers to December 31, 2015, March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 totals, respectively.
4)3)Fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance.  For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles. Fiber counts were revised following a review of fiber records in the first quarter of 2015.


Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20152016

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
Change
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015  $     % 
Segment operating revenues             
Service revenue $5,537  $5,294  $243   4.6 
Carrier access and fiber revenues  11,969   9,527   2,442   25.6 
Other revenue  873   764   109   14.3 
Total segment operating revenues  18,379   15,585   2,794   17.9 
                 
Segment operating expenses                
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  8,643   7,334   1,309  17.8 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below  1,605   1,498   107   7.1 
Depreciation and amortization  3,033   2,924   109   3.7 
Total segment operating expenses  13,281   11,756   1,525   13.0 
Segment operating income $5,098  $3,829  $1,269   33.1 
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands) 2017 2016 $ %
Segment operating revenues        
Service revenue $5,602
 $5,537
 $65
 1.2
Carrier access and fiber revenues 12,665
 11,969
 696
 5.8
Other revenue 887
 873
 14
 1.6
Total segment operating revenues 19,154
 18,379
 775
 4.2
         
Segment operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 9,273
 8,643
 630
 7.3
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below 1,676
 1,605
 71
 4.4
Depreciation and amortization 3,132
 3,033
 99
 3.3
Total segment operating expenses 14,081
 13,281
 800
 6.0
Segment operating income $5,073
 $5,098
 $(25) (0.5)

Operating revenues

Total operating revenues in the quarter ended March 31, 20162017 increased $2.8$0.8 million, or 17.9%4.2%, against the comparable 2015 period. Carrier access and fiber revenues increased $2.4 million due to2016 period, as a result of increases in fiber and access contracts.  The increase in service revenues primarily results from higher revenues for high-speed data services.


21



Operating expenses

Operating expenses overall increased $1.5$0.8 million, or 13.0%6.0%, in the quarter ended March 31, 2016,2017, compared to the 20152016 quarter. The $1.3$0.6 million increase in cost of goods and services primarily resulted from costs to support the increase in carrier access and fiber revenues shown above.


Non-GAAP Financial MeasureMeasures

In managing our business and assessing our financial performance, management supplements the information provided by financial statement measures prepared in accordance with GAAP with adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA, which isare considered a “non-GAAP financial measure”measures” under SEC rules.

Adjusted OIBDA is defined by us as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of:  certain non-recurring transactions;transactions, impairment of assets;assets, gains and losses on asset sales;sales, straight-line adjustments for the waived management fee by Sprint, amortization of the affiliate contract expansion intangible reflected as a contra revenue, actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans, and share-based compensation expense.  Adjusted OIBDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance.  Continuing OIBDA is defined by us as Adjusted OIBDA, less the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint over the next approximately six-year period, showing Sprint's support for our acquisition and our commitments to enhance the network.

In a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications, management believes that adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and the associated percentage margin calculations are meaningful measures of our operating performance.  We use adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as a supplemental performance measuremeasures because management believes it facilitatesthey facilitate comparisons of our operating performance from period to period and comparisons of our operating performance to that of other companies by excluding potential differences caused by the age and book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expenses) as well as the other items described above for which additional adjustments were made.  In the future, management expects that the Company may again report adjustedAdjusted and Continuing OIBDA excluding these items and may incur expenses similar to these excluded items.  Accordingly, the exclusion of these and other similar items from our non-GAAP presentation should not be interpreted as implying these items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual.

While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent the current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods, and accordingly may obscure underlying operating trends for some purposes.  By isolating the effects of these expenses and other items that vary from period to period without any correlation to our underlying performance, or that vary widely among similar companies, management believes adjustedAdjusted and Continuing OIBDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, which are used by management for business planning purposes, and also facilitates comparisons of our performance relative to that of our competitors.  In addition, we believe that adjustedAdjusted and Continuing OIBDA and similar measures are widely used by investors and financial analysts as measures of our financial performance over time, and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry.

Adjusted and Continuing OIBDA hashave limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.  These limitations include the following:

it doesthey do not reflect capital expenditures;
many of the assets being depreciated and amortized will have to be replaced in the future and adjusted OIBDA doesmany of the assets being depreciated and amortized will have to be replaced in the future and Adjusted and Continuing OIBDA do not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;
it doesthey do not reflect costs associated with share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
it doesthey do not reflect interest expense necessary to service interest or principal payments on indebtedness;
it doesthey do not reflect gains, losses or dividends on investments;
it doesthey do not reflect expenses incurred for the payment of income taxes; and
other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate adjustedother companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted and Continuing OIBDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

In light of these limitations, management considers adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as a financial performance measure that supplements but does not replace the information reflected in our GAAP results.

The following table shows adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015.

  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Adjusted OIBDA $40,416  $35,839 
22

2016.


  Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Adjusted OIBDA $73,541
 $40,416
Continuing OIBDA $64,601
 $40,416

The following table reconciles adjustedAdjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015:2016:

Consolidated:   
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Operating income $21,312  $18,526 
Plus depreciation and amortization  17,739   16,337 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales  (15)  11 
Plus share based compensation expense  1,048   825 
Plus nTelos acquisition related expenses  332   140 
Adjusted OIBDA $40,416  $35,839 
Consolidated: 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Operating income $10,673
 $21,312
Plus depreciation and amortization 44,804
 17,739
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales (28) (15)
Plus share based compensation expense 1,566
 1,048
Plus straight line adjustment to management fee waiver 4,206
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue 4,978
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in rent expense 258
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration (1)
 2,595
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses 4,489
 332
Adjusted OIBDA $73,541
 $40,416
Less waived management fee (8,940) 
Continuing OIBDA $64,601
 $40,416
(1) Once former nTelos customers migrate to the Sprint back office, the Company incurs certain postpaid fees retained by Sprint that would offset a portion of these savings. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, these offsets were estimated at $0.8 million.


The following tables reconcile adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income by major segment for the three months ended March 31, 20162017 and 2015:

Wireless Segment:   
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Operating income $19,932  $19,439 
Plus depreciation and amortization  8,494   7,831 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales  13   25 
Plus share based compensation expense  271   186 
Adjusted OIBDA $28,710  $27,481 

Cable Segment:   
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Operating income (loss) $596  $(679)
Plus depreciation and amortization  6,095   5,480 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales  (13)  (13)
Plus share based compensation expense  358   290 
Adjusted OIBDA $7,036  $5,078 
Wireline Segment:   
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands) 2016  2015 
Operating income $5,098  $3,829 
Plus depreciation and amortization  3,033   2,924 
Plus loss on asset sales  -   9 
Plus share based compensation expense  169   144 
Adjusted OIBDA $8,300  $6,906 
2016:
23

Wireless Segment: 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Operating income $9,137
 $19,932
Plus depreciation and amortization 35,752
 8,494
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales (24) 13
Plus share based compensation expense 725
 271
Plus straight line adjustment to management fee waiver 4,206
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue 4,978
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in rent expense 258
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration 2,593
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses 3,792
 
Adjusted OIBDA $61,417
 $28,710
Less waived management fee (8,940) 
Continuing OIBDA $52,477
 $28,710


Cable Segment:
 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Operating income $3,139
 $597
Plus depreciation and amortization 5,788
 6,095
Less gain on asset sales (23) (13)
Plus share based compensation expense 364
 358
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA $9,268
 $7,037
Wireline Segment: 
 Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2017 2016
Operating income $5,073
 $5,098
Plus depreciation and amortization 3,132
 3,033
Plus loss on asset sales 30
 
Plus share based compensation expense 146
 169
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA $8,381
 $8,300

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company has fourWe have three principal sources of funds available to meet the financing needs of itsour operations, capital projects, debt service, investments and potential dividends.  These sources include cash flows from operations, existing balances of cash and cash equivalents, the liquidation of investments and borrowings.  Management routinely considers the alternatives available to determine what mix of sources are best suited for the long-term benefit of the Company.

Sources and Uses of Cash. The CompanyWe generated $43.2$24.5 million of net cash from operations in the first three months of 2016,2017, compared to $23.8$43.2 million in the first three months of 2015.2016. The increase was driven primarily by higher net income and byprimary change included the timing of cash receipts and disbursements in early 2017 for prepaid assets, accounts payable and deferred revenues.inventories acquired in late 2016.

Indebtedness.  As of March 31, 2016, the Company’s2017, our indebtedness totaled $194.0$866.8 million in term loans with an annualized effective interest rate of approximately 3.48%3.91% after considering the impact of the interest rate swap contract and unamortized loan costs.  The balance consists of the $466.8 million Term Loan FacilityA-1 at a variable rate (2.68%(3.73% as of March 31, 2016)2017) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a basemargin of 2.75%, and the $400 million Term Loan A-2 at a variable rate (3.98% as of 2.25% currently.March 31, 2017) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%.  The Term Loan FacilityA-1 requires quarterly principal repayments of $5.75$6.1 million until the remaining expected balancethrough June 30, 2017, then increasing to $12.1 million quarterly through June 30, 2020, with further increases at that time through maturity in June 30, 2021.  The Term Loan A-2 requires quarterly principal repayments of approximately $120.75$10.0 million is due at maturitybeginning on September 30, 2019.2018 through March 31, 2023, with the remaining balance due June 30, 2023.
 
The Company isWe are bound by certain financial covenants under its Credit Agreement.the 2016 credit agreement. Noncompliance with any one or more of the debt covenants may have an adverse effect on our financial condition or liquidity in the event such noncompliance cannot be cured or should we be unable to obtain a waiver from the lenders. As of March 31, 2016, the Company was2017, we were in compliance with all debt covenants, and ratios at March 31, 20162017 were as follows:

  Actual 
Covenant Requirement at
March 31, 20162017
Total Leverage Ratio 2.881.27
 2.003.75 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 4.564.36
 2.502.00 or Higher
Equity to Assets RatioMinimum Liquidity Balance $113 million48.2%
35.0%$25 million or Higher

In accordance with the Credit Agreement, the total leverage and debt service coverage ratios noted above are based on consolidated EBITDA, cash taxes, scheduled principal payments and cash interest expense for the twelve months ended nine month period ending

March 31, 2016.2017, divided by three and multiplied by four, all as defined under the Credit Agreement. In addition to the covenants above, the Company iswe are required to supply the lenderlenders with quarterly financial statements and other reports as defined by the Credit Agreement. The Company was2016 credit agreement. We were in compliance with all reporting requirements at March 31, 2016.2017.

The Company hasWe had no off-balance sheet arrangements (other than operating leases) and hashave not entered into any transactions involving unconsolidated, limited purpose entities or commodity contracts.

Capital Commitments. CapitalThe Company budgeted $152.3 million in capital expenditures budgeted for 2016 total $218.5 million,2017, including $120.3$86.4 million in the Wireless segment for upgrades and expansion of the nTelos wireless network.  In addition, $21.2 million is budgeted for information technology upgrades, new and renovated buildings and other projects, $24.2 million for additional network capacity, and $36.4network; $28.1 million for network expansion including new fiber routes, new cell towers, and cable market expansion. Approximately $13.1expansion; $27.0 million of the budget is success-based,for additional network capacity; and will be scaled back if not supported by customer growth$10.8 million for information technology upgrades, new and renovated buildings and other projects. .

For the first three months of 2016, the Company2017, we spent $20.5$38.6 million on capital projects, compared to $9.5$20.5 million in the comparable 20152016 period.  Spending related to Wireless projects accounted for $9.4$25.3 million in the first three months of 2016,2017, primarily for upgrades of former nTelos sites and additional network capacity and technology upgrades.cell sites to expand coverage in the former nTelos territory. Cable capital spending of $5.7$5.2 million related to network and cable market expansion. Wireline capital projects cost $4.0$7.6 million, driven primarily by fiber builds.  Other projects totaled $1.4$0.5 million, largely related to information technology projects.

The Company believesWe believe that cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings expected to be available under the Company’sour existing credit facilities will provide sufficient cash to enable the Companyus to complete the pending acquisition of nTelos, fund planned capital expenditures, make scheduled principal and interest payments, meet itsour other cash requirements and maintain compliance with the terms of itsour financing agreements for at least the next twelve months.  Thereafter, capital expenditures will likely continue to be required to continue planned capital upgrades to the acquired wireless network and provide increased capacity to meet the Company’sour expected growth in demand for itsour products and services. The actual amount and timing of the Company’sour future capital requirements may differ materially from the Company’sour estimate depending on the demand for itsour products and new market developments and opportunities.

The Company’sOur cash flows from operations could be adversely affected by events outside the Company’sour control, including, without limitation, changes in overall economic conditions, regulatory requirements, changes in technologies, demand for itsour products, availability of labor resources and capital, changes in the Company’sour relationship with Sprint, and other conditions.  The Wireless segment’s operations are dependent upon Sprint’s ability to execute certain functions such as billing, customer care, and collections; the subsidiary’sour ability to develop and implement successful marketing programs and new products and services; and the subsidiary’sour ability to effectively and economically manage other operating activities under the Company'sour agreements with Sprint.  The Company'sOur ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base, particularly in the acquired cable markets, is also critical to itsour ability to maintain a positive cash flow from operations.  The foregoing events individually or collectively could affect the Company’sour results.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, also known as Topic 606, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective.  In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, delaying the effective date of ASU 2014-09.  Three other amendments have been issued during 2016 modifying the original ASU. As amended, the new standard is effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. Early application is2018, using either a retrospective basis or a modified retrospective basis with early adoption permitted, but not permitted. The standard permitsearlier than the useoriginal effective date beginning after December 15, 2016. We have formed a project team to evaluate and implement the new standard. As part of eitherour work to date, we have begun documentation and are nearing completion of contract review. We currently plan to adopt this guidance using the modified retrospective ortransition approach, which would result in an adjustment to retained earnings for the cumulative effect, transition method. The Companyif any, of applying this standard. Additionally, this guidance requires us to provide additional disclosures of the amount by which each financial statement line item is evaluatingaffected in the current reporting period during 2018 as compared to the guidance that was in effect that ASU 2014-09before the change. We continue to assess the impact this new standard will have on its consolidatedour financial statementsposition, results of operations and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has it determined the effect of the standard on its ongoing financial reporting.cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases”, also known as Topic 842, which requires the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities by lessees for those leases classified as operating leases under previous generally accepted accounting principles.  This change will result in an increase to recorded assets and liabilities on lessees’ financial statements, as well as changes in the categorization of rental costs, from rent expense to interest and depreciation expense.  Other effects may occur depending on the types of leases and the specific terms of them utilized by particular lessees.  The ASU is effective for the Companyus on January 1, 2019, and early application is permitted.  Modified retrospective application is required.  The Company isWe are currently evaluating the effectASU, but expect that ASU 2016-02it will have a material impact on itsour consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.statements.

25


ITEM 3.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company’s market risks relate primarily to changes in interest rates on instruments held for other than trading purposes.  The Company’s interest rate risk generally involves three components.  The first component is outstanding debt with variable rates.  As of March 31, 2016,2017, the Company had $195.5$866.8 million of variable rate debt outstanding (excluding unamortized loan fees and costs of $1.5$17.8 million), bearing interest at a weighted average rate of 2.68%3.85% as determined on a monthly basis. An increase in market interest rates of 1.00% would add approximately $1.9$8.7 million to annual interest expense, excluding the effect of the interest rate swap.  In 2012,May 2016, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap agreement that coverswith three counterparties totaling $256.6 of notional principal (subject to change based upon expected draws under the delayed draw term loan and principal payments due under our debt agreements).  This swap, combined with the swap purchased in 2012, cover notional principal equal to approximately 76%50% of the expected outstanding variable rate debt through maturity in 2019, requiring the2023. The Company is required to pay a combined fixed rate of 1.13%approximately 1.16% and receive a variable rate based on one month LIBOR (0.43%(0.98% as of March 31, 2016)2017), to manage a portion of its interest rate risk. Changes in the net interest paid or received under the 2012 swapswaps would offset approximately 76%50% of the change in interest expense on the variable rate debt outstanding. The 2012 swap agreements currently addsadd approximately $0.8 million to annual interest expense, based on the spread between the fixed rate and the variable rate currently in effect on our debt.

The second component of interest rate risk consists of temporary excess cash, which can be invested in various short-term investment vehicles such as overnight repurchase agreements and Treasury bills with a maturity of less than 90 days. As of March 31, 2016,2017, the cash is invested in a combination of a commercial checking account that has limited interest rate risk, and three money market mutual funds that contain a total investment of $40.1 million.risk. Management continually evaluates the most beneficial use of these funds.

The third component of interest rate risk is marked increases in interest rates that may adversely affect the rate at which the Company may borrow funds for growth in the future.  If the Company should borrow additional funds under any Incremental Term Loan Facility to fund its capital investment needs, repayment provisions would be agreed to at the time of each draw under the Incremental Term Loan Facility.  If the interest rate margin on any draw exceeds by more than 0.25% the applicable interest rate margin on the Term Loan Facility, the applicable interest rate margin on the Term Loan Facility shall be increased to equal the interest rate margin on the Incremental Term Loan Facility.  If interest rates increase generally, or if the rate applied under the Company’s Incremental Term Loan Facility causes the Company’s outstanding debt to be repriced, the Company’s future interest costs could increase.

Management views market risk as having a potentially significant impact on the Company's results of operations, as future results could be adversely affected if interest rates were to increase significantly for an extended period, or if the Company’s need for additional external financing resulted in increases to the interest rates applied to all of its new and existing debt.  As of March 31, 2016,2017, the Company has $47.1$433.4 million of variable rate debt with no interest rate protection.  The Company’s investments in publicly traded stock and bond mutual funds under the rabbi trust, which are subject to market risks and could experience significant swings in market values, are offset by corresponding changes in the liabilities owed to participants in the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.  General economic conditions affected by regulatory changes, competition or other external influences may pose a higher risk to the Company’s overall results.

As of March 31, 2016, the Company had $8.2 million of cost and equity method investments.  Approximately $2.7 million is invested in privately held companies through investments with portfolio managers.  Most of the companies are in an early stage of development and significant increases in interest rates could have an adverse impact on their results, ability to raise capital and viability.  The Company’s market risk is limited to the funds previously invested.
26


ITEM 4.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management, with the participation of our President and Chief Executive Officer, who is the principal executive officer, and the Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, who is the principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Based
As disclosed in our Annual Report on this evaluation,Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the Company's principal executive officerapplicable remedial controls operate for a sufficient period of time and its principal financial officermanagement has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively. As remediation has not yet been completed our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company'sour disclosure controls and procedures were effectivecontinued to be ineffective as of March 31, 2016.2017.
Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, management has concluded that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly state, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented.
Remediation Efforts
In response to the material weaknesses identified in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, we expect to:
Seek, train and retain individuals that have the appropriate skills and experience related to financial reporting and internal control related to (i) complex, significant non-routine transactions; (ii) the preparation of the consolidated statements of cash flows; and (iii) the Company’s internal audit function.
Evaluate and develop where necessary policies and procedures to ensure our personnel are sufficiently knowledgeable about the design, operation and documentation of internal controls over financial reporting related to (i) complex, significant non-routine transactions; (ii) accounting for income taxes; and (iii) the preparation of the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Enhance the design of existing control activities and implement additional control activities to ensure management review controls and other controls (including controls that validate the completeness and accuracy of information, data and assumptions) related to complex, significant non-routine transactions and accounting for income taxes, are properly designed and documented.
Evaluate and enhance the Company’s policies, procedures and control activities over communicating with the Company’s third party experts to ensure complete and accurate information is communicated.
Evaluate and enhance the Company’s monitoring activities to ensure the components of internal control are present and functioning related to (i) complex, significant non-routine transactions; (ii) accounting for income taxes; and (iii) the preparation of the consolidated statements of cash flows.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the first quarterThe acquisition of 2016, there were no changes in the Company'snTelos was completed on May 6, 2016. Our Company’s management has extended its oversight and monitoring processes that support internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, itsinclude the operations of nTelos. Our management is continuing to integrate the acquired operations into our overall internal control financial reporting process, expected to be complete in 2017.
Except as noted above, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2017, that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to material affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Other Matters Relating to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Under the Company’s agreements with Sprint, Sprint provides the Company with billing, collections, customer care, certain network operations and other back-office services for the PCS operation. As a result, Sprint remits to the Company approximately 57%a substantial portion of the Company’s total operating revenues.revenues, which will increase as legacy nTelos subscribers migrate to the Sprint billing platform in the future. Due to this relationship, the Company necessarily relies on Sprint to provide accurate, timely and sufficient data and information to properly record the Company’s revenues and accounts receivable, which underlie a substantial portion of the Company’s periodic financial statements and other financial disclosures.

Information provided by Sprint includes reports regarding the subscriber accounts receivable in the Company’s markets. Sprint provides the Company with monthly accounts receivable, billing and cash receipts, average national costs to acquire and support a prepaid customer, certain national channel commission and handset subsidy costs, and travel revenue information on a market level, rather than a subscriber level. The Company reviews these various reports to identify discrepancies or errors. Under the Company’s agreements with Sprint, the Company is entitled to only a portion of the receipts, net of items such as taxes, government surcharges, certain allocable write-offs and the 16.6% of postpaid and 6% of prepaid revenue currently retained by Sprint.Sprint (before the effect of fee waivers). Sprint reports directly billed costs and revenues to the Company. Because of the Company’s reliance on Sprint for financial information, the Company must depend on Sprint to design adequate internal controls with respect to the processes established to provide this data and information to the Company and Sprint’s other Sprint PCS affiliate network partners. To address this issue, Sprint engages an independent registered public accounting firm to perform a periodic evaluation of these controls and to provide a “Report on Controls Placed in Operation and Tests of Operating Effectiveness” under guidance provided in Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 (“SSAE 16”). The report is provided to the Company on an annual basis and covers a nine-month period. The most recent report covered the period from January 1, 20152016 to September 30, 2015.2016. The most recent report indicated there were no material issues which would adversely affect the information used to support the recording of the revenues provided by Sprint related to the Company’s relationship with them.

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PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A.Risk Factors

As previously discussed,We discuss in our actual results could differ materially from our forward-looking statements. There have been no material changes in the risk factors  from those described in Part 1, Item 1A of  the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K forvarious risks that may materially affect our business. We use this section to update this discussion to reflect material developments since our Form 10-K was filed. As of March 31, 2017, the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015.Company has not identified any needed updates to the risk factors included in our most recent Form 10-K.



ITEM 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The Company maintains a dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) for the benefit of its shareholders.  When shareholders remove shares from the DRIP, the Company issues a certificate for whole shares, pays out cash for any fractional shares, and cancels the fractional shares purchased.  In conjunction with exercises of stock options and distributions of vested share awards, the Company periodically repurchases shares from recipients to satisfy some of the exercise price of the options being exercised or taxes payable associated with the distribution of shares.  The following table provides information about the Company’s repurchases of shares during the three months ended March 31, 2016:2017:

  
Number of Shares
Purchased
  
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
January 1 to January 31  644  $22.14 
February 1 to February 29  116,225  $21.42 
March 1 to March 31  43,932  $27.06 
         
Total  160,801  $22.96 
28

  
Number of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
January 1 to January 31 43,044
 $28.48
February 1 to February 28 
 $
March 1 to March 31 
 $
     
Total 43,044
 $28.48


ITEM 6.Exhibits

(a)The following exhibits are filed with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

3.3Amended
10.54
Addendum XX to Sprint PCS Management Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2017, by and Restated Bylaws ofamong Shenandoah TelecommunicationsPersonal Communications, LLC, Sprint Spectrum L.P., Sprint Communications Company, effective April 15, 2016,L.P., SprintCom, Inc. and Horizon Personal Communications, LLC, filed as Exhibit 3.310.1 to the Company’sCompany's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 8, 2016.
10.50First Amendment to the Credit Agreement with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and the various financial institutions thereto, effective filed
March 29, 2016, filed as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 4, 2016.15, 2017.
  
31.1Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
31.2Certification of Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
32Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
  
(101)Formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language)

 101.INSXBRL Instance Document
   
 101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
 101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
 101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
 101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
 101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

29


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.

 SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
 (Registrant)

 
/s/Adele M. Skolits
 Adele M. Skolits
 Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer
 Date: April 29, 2016May 4, 2017

30


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Exhibit
  
10.543.3AmendedAddendum XX to Sprint PCS Management Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2017, by and Restated Bylaws ofamong Shenandoah TelecommunicationsPersonal Communications, LLC, Sprint Spectrum L.P., Sprint Communications Company, effective April 15, 2016,L.P., SprintCom, Inc. and Horizon Personal Communications, LLC, filed as Exhibit 3.310.1 to the Company’sCompany's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 8, 2016.filed March 15, 2017.
  
10.50First Amendment to the Credit Agreement with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and the various financial institutions thereto, effective March 29, 2016, filed as Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 4, 2016.
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
Certification of Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
  
Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
  
(101)Formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language)

 101.INSXBRL Instance Document
   
 101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
 101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
 101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
 101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
 101.PREXBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document



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