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, 20172018
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.  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, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☑Accelerated filer ☐Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting 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 26, 201727, 2018 was 49,109,626.49,539,170. 
 

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
INDEX

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



Index



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

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)


Index

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

 March 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
ASSETS    
Current Assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents $49,448
 $78,585
Accounts receivable, net 51,095
 54,184
Income taxes receivable 8,360
 17,311
Inventory, net 8,161
 5,704
Prepaid expenses and other 64,200
 17,111
Total current assets 181,264
 172,895
Investments, including $3,268 and $3,279 carried at fair value 11,717
 11,472
Property, plant and equipment, net 672,017
 686,327
Other Assets:  
  
Intangible assets, net 413,537
 380,979
Goodwill 146,497
 146,497
Deferred charges and other assets, net 33,934
 13,690
Total assets $1,458,966
 $1,411,860
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
    
    
Current Liabilities    
Current Liabilities:    
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $38,124
 $32,041
 $74,486
 $64,397
Accounts payable 25,390
 72,810
 27,194
 28,953
Advanced billings and customer deposits 21,029
 20,427
 6,919
 21,153
Accrued compensation 3,678
 9,465
 4,534
 9,167
Income taxes payable 3,958
 435
Accrued liabilities and other 18,174
 29,085
 17,471
 13,914
Total current liabilities 110,353
 164,263
 130,604
 137,584
    
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees 810,873
 797,224
 736,387
 757,561
    
Other Long-Term Liabilities  
  
Other Long-Term Liabilities:  
  
Deferred income taxes 149,763
 151,837
 115,809
 100,879
Deferred lease payable 19,230
 18,042
Deferred lease 19,543
 15,782
Asset retirement obligations 19,386
 15,666
 21,164
 21,211
Retirement plan obligations 17,892
 17,738
 13,236
 13,328
Other liabilities 26,057
 23,743
 13,787
 15,293
Total other long-term liabilities 232,328
 227,026
 183,539
 166,493
    
Commitments and Contingencies 

 

    
Shareholders’ Equity  
  
Common stock 46,083
 45,482
Shareholders’ Equity:  
  
Common stock, no par value, authorized 96,000 shares; issued and outstanding 49,539 shares in 2018 and 49,328 shares in 2017. 45,075
 44,787
Retained earnings 245,965
 243,624
 352,069
 297,205
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes 7,387
 6,788
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes 11,292
 8,230
Total shareholders’ equity 299,435
 295,894
 408,436
 350,222
    
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $1,452,989
 $1,484,407
 $1,458,966
 $1,411,860

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Index

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOMEOPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
  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
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2018 2017
     
Service revenues and other $134,153
 $150,521
Equipment revenues 17,579
 3,359
Total operating revenues 151,732
 153,880
     
Operating expenses:  
  
Cost of services 49,342
 48,776
Cost of goods sold 15,805
 4,985
Selling, general and administrative 28,750
 40,153
Acquisition, integration and migration expenses 
 4,489
Depreciation and amortization 43,487
 44,804
Total operating expenses 137,384
 143,207
Operating income (loss) 14,348
 10,673
     
Other income (expense):  
  
Interest expense (9,332) (9,100)
Gain (loss) on investments, net (32) 120
Non-operating income (loss), net 1,021
 1,255
Income (loss) before income taxes 6,005
 2,948
     
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,176
 607
Net income (loss) 4,829
 2,341
     
Other comprehensive income (loss):  
  
Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate hedge, net of tax 3,062
 599
Comprehensive income (loss) $7,891
 $2,940
     
Earnings (loss) per share:  
  
Basic $0.10
 $0.05
Diluted $0.10
 $0.05
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic 49,474
 49,050
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted 50,024
 49,834
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Index

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,
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
   Shares of Common Stock (no par value) Additional Paid in Capital 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
 Total
Balance, December 31, 2017 49,328
 $44,787
 $297,205
 $8,230
 $350,222
          

Change in accounting principle - adoption of accounting standard (Note 2) 
 
 50,035
 
 50,035
Net income (loss) 
 
 4,829
 
 4,829
Other comprehensive gain (loss), net of tax of $1.1 million 
 
 
 3,062
 3,062
Stock based compensation 177
 2,037
 
 
 2,037
Stock options exercised 15
 104
 
 
 104
Common stock issued 
 5
 
 
 5
Shares retired for settlement of employee taxes upon issuance of vested equity awards (57) (1,858) 
 
 (1,858)
Common stock issued to acquire non-controlling interests of nTelos 76
 
 
 
 
Balance, March 31, 2018 49,539
 $45,075
 $352,069
 $11,292
 $408,436

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Index

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)

Index

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

  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

Non-cash investing and financing activities:
At March 31, 2017 and 2016, accounts payable included approximately $6.4 million and $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.
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2018 2017
Cash Flows From Operating Activities    
Net income (loss) $4,829
 $2,341
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:  
  
Depreciation 36,634
 37,878
Amortization reflected as operating expense 6,853
 6,926
Amortization reflected as rent expense 81
 258
Bad debt expense 369
 420
Stock based compensation expense, net of amount capitalized 2,037
 1,566
Waived Management Fee 9,048
 9,184
Deferred income taxes (4,336) (2,910)
Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment (4) (28)
(Gain) loss on investments 33
 (120)
Net (gain) loss from patronage and equity investments (830) (200)
Amortization of long-term debt issuance costs 1,129
 1,202
Accrued interest on long-term debt 296
 93
Changes in assets and liabilities:  
  
Accounts receivable 3,271
 1,629
Inventory, net (2,457) 14,188
Income taxes receivable 8,950
 
Other assets (4,076) (190)
Accounts payable 216
 (39,399)
Income taxes payable 
 3,523
Deferred lease 736
 1,331
Other deferrals and accruals (1,919) (13,194)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $60,860
 $24,498
Cash Flows From Investing Activities  
  
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (24,382) (38,587)
Proceeds from sale of assets 263
 117
Cash distributions (contributions) from investments 1
 (11)
Sprint expansion (52,000) 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities $(76,118) $(38,481)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities    
Principal payments on long-term debt $(12,125) $(6,062)
Proceeds from credit facility borrowings 
 25,000
Proceeds from revolving credit facility borrowings 15,000
 
Principal payments on revolving credit facility (15,000) 
Taxes paid for equity award issuances (1,754) (1,226)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 
 5
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities $(13,879) $17,717
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $(29,137) $3,734
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 78,585
 36,193
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $49,448
 $39,927
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information    
Cash payments for:    
Interest, net of capitalized interest of $309 and $577, respectively $8,513
 $8,380
Income tax refunds received, net of taxes paid $(3,439) $
Capital expenditures payable $5,279
 $6,366

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

Index

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

1.Basis of Presentation
Note 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 weretherein in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") for interim financial reporting and as required by Rule 10-01 of a normalRegulation S-X. Accordingly, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements may not include all of the information and recurring nature.  Prior year amounts have been reclassified in some cases to conform to the current year presentation. Thesenotes required by GAAP for audited financial statementsstatements. The information contained herein should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notesincluded in the Company’sCompany's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.  2017.

Adoption of New Accounting Principles

There have been no developments related to recently issued accounting standards, including the expected dates of adoption and estimated effects on the Company's unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and note disclosures, from those disclosed in the Company's 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, that would be expected to impact the Company except for the topics discussed below.

The accompanyingCompany adopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”), and all related amendments, effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method as discussed in Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of applying the new revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance sheetof retained earnings. The comparative information at December 31,has not been retrospectively modified and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms greater than 12 months. The standard also requires disclosures by lessees and lessors about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases, 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 Company on January 1, 2019, and early application is permitted.  Modified retrospective application is required.   In September 2017 and January 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-13, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842), and ASU No. 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842), Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which provided additional implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU. Management has not yet completed its assessment of the impact of the new standard on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company is in the early stages of implementation and currently believes that the most notable impact to its financial statements upon the adoption of this ASU will be the recognition of a material right-of-use asset and a lease liability for its real estate and equipment leases.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, "Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income" (ASU 2018-02). Under existing U.S. GAAP, the effects of changes in tax rates and laws on deferred tax balances are recorded as a component of income tax expense in the period in which the law was derivedenacted. When deferred tax balances related to items originally recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income are adjusted, certain tax effects become stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income. The amendments in ASU 2018-02 allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the audited2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The amendments in this ASU also require certain disclosures about stranded tax effects. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2016 consolidated balance sheet. Operating revenues15, 2018, and income (loss) from operations forinterim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption in any interim period are not necessarily indicativeis permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the timing and impact of results that may be expected for the entire year.adopting ASU 2018-02.

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




Index

nTelos legacyNote 2. Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company earns revenue primarily through the sale of our wireless telecommunications services, wireless equipment, and business, residential, and enterprise cable and wireline services that include video, internet, voice, and data services as follows:
(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Consolidated
Wireless service $89,760
 $
 $
 $89,760
Wireless equipment 17,374
 
 
 17,374
Business, residential and enterprise 
 29,131
 10,691
 39,822
Tower 2,896
 1,046
 5,665
 9,607
Other 368
 1,534
 3,351
 5,253
Total revenue 110,398
 31,711
 19,707
 161,816
Internal revenues (1,239) (1,031) (7,814) (10,084)
Total operating revenue $109,159
 $30,680
 $11,893
 $151,732

Wireless service
The majority of the Company's revenue is earned through providing network access to Sprint under the affiliate agreement, which represents approximately 59% of consolidated revenues. Wireless service revenue is variable based on billed revenues to Sprint’s subscribers in the Company's affiliate area, less applicable fees retained by Sprint. The Company's fee related to Sprint’s postpaid customers is the amount Sprint bills its subscribers that is reduced by customer credits, write-offs of subscriber receivables, and an 8% management and 8.6% service fee retained by Sprint. The Company is also charged for the costs of subsidized handsets sold through Sprint’s national channels as they migratewell as commissions paid by Sprint to third-party resellers in the Company's service territory. 

The Company's fee related to Sprint’s prepaid customers is the amount Sprint billing platform; severance costsbills its customer less certain charges to acquire and support the customer, based on national averages for back office and other former nTelos employees who will not be retained permanently;Sprint’s prepaid programs. Sprint retains a 6% management fee on prepaid wireless revenues, and costs to shut down certain cell sitesprovide support to Sprint’s prepaid customers.

The Company considers Sprint, rather than Sprint's subscribers, to be the customer under the new revenue standard and related backhaul contracts. We have incurred $7.1 millionthe Company's performance obligation is to provide Sprint a series of continuous network access services. Under Topic 606, the Company's revenues are variable based on the amount Sprint bills its customer each month reduced by the retained management and service fees. The reimbursement to Sprint for the costs of subsidized handsets sold through Sprint’s national channels, as well as commissions paid by Sprint to third-party resellers in our service territory represent consideration payable to a customer that is not in exchange for a distinct service under Topic 606. Therefore, these reimbursements result in increases to our contract asset position that are subsequently recognized as a reduction of revenue over the average subscriber life of approximately two years which is the period the Company expects those payments to result in increased revenues. Historically, under ASC 605 the customer was considered the Sprint subscriber rather than Sprint and as a result, reimbursement payments to Sprint for costs of subsidized handsets and commissions were recorded as operating expenses in the period incurred. During 2017, these costs in the three months ended March 31, 2017, including $0.1totaled $63.5 million reflectedrecorded in cost of goods and services, and $2.5$16.9 million reflectedrecorded in selling, general and administrative costs incosts. On January 1, 2018, upon adoption, the Company recorded a wireless contract asset of approximately $42.8 million. During the three monthsmonth period ended March 31, 2017.
2018, payments that increased the wireless contract asset balance totaled $13.8 and amortization reflected as a reduction of revenue totaled approximately $13.4 million. The wireless contract asset balance as of March 31, 2018 was approximately$43.2 million.

3.Property, Plant and Equipment
Wireless equipment
The Company owns and operates Sprint-branded retail stores within their geographic territory from which the Company sells equipment, primarily wireless handsets, and service to Sprint subscribers. Equipment is generally purchased from Sprint and resold to subscribers under subsidized plans or under equipment financing plans. The equipment financing plans are operated by Sprint who purchases equipment from the Company and resells the equipment to subscribers under financing plans. Historically, under ASC 605, the Company concluded that the Company was the agent in these equipment financing transactions and recorded revenues net of related handset costs which were approximately $63.8 million in 2017. Under Topic 606 the Company concluded that the Company is the principal in the transaction as the Company controls the inventory prior to sale and accordingly revenues and handset costs are recorded on a gross basis.

Property, plantBusiness, residential and enterprise
The Company earns revenue in the cable and wireline segments from business, residential, and enterprise customers where the performance obligations are to provide cable and telephone network services, sell and lease equipment consistedand wiring services, and
Index

lease fiber-optic cable strands. The Company's arrangements are generally composed of contracts that are cancellable at the customer’s discretion without penalty at any time. As there are multiple performance obligations in these arrangements, the Company recognizes revenue based on the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service. The Company generally recognized these revenues over time as customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits of the following (in thousands):service, with the exception of equipment sales and home wiring which are recognized as revenue at a point in time when control transfers and when installation is complete, respectively.

Under Topic 606, the Company concluded that installation services do not represent a separate performance obligation. Accordingly, installation fees are allocated to services and are recognized ratably over the longer of the contract term or the period the unrecognized portion of the fee remains material to the contract, typically 10 and 11 months for cable and wireline customers, respectively. Historically, the Company deferred these fees over the estimated customer life of 42 months. Additionally, the Company incurs commission and installation costs related to in-house and third-party vendors that were previously expensed as incurred. Under Topic 606, the Company capitalizes and amortizes these commission and installation costs over the expected benefit period which is approximately 44 months, 72 months, and 46 months, for cable, wireline, and enterprise business, respectively.

Tower / Other
Tower revenues consist primarily of tower space leases accounted for under Topic 840, Leases, and Other revenues include network access-related charges to for service provided to customers across all three operating segments.

The cumulative effect of the changes made to our consolidated January 1, 2018 balance sheet for the adoption of the new revenue standard were as follows:
(in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2017 Adjustments due to Topic 606 Balance at January 1, 2018
Assets      
Prepaid expenses and other $17,111
 $36,577
 $53,688
Deferred charges and other 13,690
 16,107
 29,797
Liabilities      
Advanced billing and customer deposits $21,153
 $(14,302) $6,851
Deferred income taxes 100,879
 18,151
 119,030
Other long-term liabilities 15,293
 (1,200) 14,093
Retained earnings 297,205
 50,035
 347,240

In accordance with the new revenue standard requirements, the disclosure of the impact of adoption on our consolidated income statement and balance sheet was as follows:
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in thousands) As Reported Balances without Adoption of Topic 606 Effect of Change Higher/(Lower)
Operating revenues $151,732
 $155,871
 $(4,139)
Operating expenses:      
   Cost of services 49,342
 49,199
 143
   Cost of goods sold 15,805
 6,118
 9,687
   Selling, general and administrative 28,750
 42,968
 (14,218)

Index

  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
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
(in thousands) As Reported Balances without Adoption of Topic 606 Effect of Change Higher/(Lower)
Assets      
Prepaid expenses and other 64,200
 27,086
 37,114
Deferred charges and other 33,934
 18,115
 15,819
Liabilities      
Deferred income taxes 115,809
 97,591
 18,218
Advanced billing and customer deposits 6,919
 21,221
 (14,302)
Other long-term liabilities 13,787
 14,987
 (1,200)
Retained earnings 352,069
 301,852
 50,217
Remaining performance obligations and transaction price allocated
On March 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $2.5 million of transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations, which is exclusive of contracts with original expected duration of one year or less. The Company expects to recognize approximately $0.5 million of this amount as revenue during the remaining three quarters of 2018, $0.5 million in 2019, an additional $0.4 million by 2020, and the balance thereafter.
Contract acquisition costs and costs to fulfill contracts
Capitalized contract costs represent contract fulfillment costs and contract acquisition costs which include commissions and installation costs in our cable and wireline segments. Capitalized contract costs are amortized on a straight line basis over the contract term plus expected renewals. The Company applies the practical expedient to expense contract acquisition costs when incurred if the amortization period would be twelve months or less. The amortization of these costs is included in cost of services, and selling, general and administrative expenses. Amounts capitalized were approximately $9.7 million as of March 31, 2018 of which $4.6 million is presented as prepaid expenses and other and $5.1 million is presented as deferred charges and other assets, net. Amortization recognized during the three-month period ended at March 31, 2018 was approximately $1.3 million. There was no impairment loss in relation to the costs capitalized.

4.Earnings per share
Note 3. Acquisition

Sprint Territory Expansion: Effective February 1, 2018, the Company signed an expansion agreement with Sprint to expand our wireless service area to include certain areas in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, (the “Expansion Area”). The agreement includes certain network build out requirements in the Expansion Area, and the ability to utilize Sprint’s spectrum in the Expansion Area. Pursuant to the expansion agreement, Sprint agreed to, among other things, transition the provision of network coverage in the Expansion Area from Sprint to the Company. The Expansion Agreement required a payment of $52.0 million for the right to service the Expansion Area pursuant to the Affiliate Agreements plus an optional payment of up to $5.0 million for certain equipment at the Sprint cell sites in the Expansion Area. The option is exercisable at the Company's discretion. The acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition.

The Company recorded the following in the wireless segment:
($ in thousands) Estimated Useful Life February 1, 2018
Affiliate Contract Expansion 12 $45,148
Option to acquire tangible assets  6,497
Off-market leases - favorable 16.5* 3,665
Off-market leases - unfavorable 4.2* (3,310)
Total   $52,000
*Estimated useful lives are approximate and represent the average of the remaining useful lives of the underlying leases.

The options to acquire tangible assets are classified as "Prepaid expenses and other" within current assets on the Company's balance sheet. The option is exercisable at any time and expires in two years. The option was measured for fair value using a cost approach on a recurring basis and using Level 3 inputs. The off-market leases - favorable and off-market leases - unfavorable, are classified as "Intangible assets, net" and "Deferred lease", respectively, on the Company's balance sheet. Refer to Note 6, Fair Value Measurements, and Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for additional information.
Index

Note 4. Customer Concentration

Significant Contractual Relationship
In 1999, the Company executed a Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Sprint whereby the Company committed to construct and operate a PCS network using CDMA air interface technology.  Under the Agreement, the Company was the exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint providing wireless mobility communications network products and services on the 1900 MHz band in its territory across a multi-state area covering large portions of central and western Virginia, south-central Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and portions of Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio. Since then, the Company’s wireless service area has expanded to include new portions of south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio. The Company is authorized to use the Sprint brand in its territory, and operate its network under Sprint’s radio spectrum licenses.  As an exclusive PCS Affiliate of Sprint, the Company has the exclusive right to build, own and maintain its portion of Sprint’s nationwide PCS network, in the aforementioned areas, to Sprint’s specifications.  The term of the Agreement was initially set for 20 years and was automatically renewable for three 10-year options, unless terminated by either party under provisions outlined in the Agreement.  Upon non-renewal by either party, the Company has the obligation to sell the business at 90% of “Entire Business Value” (“EBV”) as defined in the Agreement.  EBV is defined as i) the fair market value of a going concern paid by a willing buyer to a willing seller; ii) valued as if the business will continue to utilize existing brands and operate under existing agreements; and, iii) valued as if Manager (Shentel)  owns the spectrum.  Determination of EBV is made by an independent appraisal process. The Agreement has been amended numerous times.

Amendment to the Affiliate agreement related to the acquisition of Expansion Area: Effective with the acquisition of Expansion Area on February 1, 2018, the Company amended its Agreement with Sprint to expand our wireless service area to include certain areas in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The agreement includes certain network build out requirements in the Expansion Area, and the ability to utilize Sprint’s spectrum in the Expansion Area along with certain other amendments to the Affiliate Agreements. Pursuant to the Expansion Agreement, Sprint agreed to, among other things, transition the provision of network coverage in the Expansion Area from Sprint to us.

Note 5. Earnings (Loss) Per Share ("EPS")

Basic EPS was computed by dividing net income per share was computed onor loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.of common stock outstanding during the period.  Diluted net income (loss) 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 913 thousandDiluted EPS was computed by dividing net income by the sum of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding and 991 thousandpotentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period under the treasury stock method. Potentially dilutive securities include stock options and restricted stock units and shares and options outstanding at March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, 125 thousand and 136 thousand were anti-dilutive, respectively.  These shares and options have been excluded fromthat the computationsCompany is contractually obligated to issue in the future.

The following table indicates the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for their respective period. There were no adjustments to net income for either period.

5.Investments

Investments include $3.1 million and $2.9 million of investments carried at fair value as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 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, 2017, the Company recognized $32 thousand in dividend2018 and interest income from investments, and recorded net unrealized gains of $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.2017:
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands, except per share amounts) 2018 2017
Calculation of net income (loss) per share:    
Net income (loss) $4,829
 $2,341
Weighted average shares outstanding 49,474
 49,050
Basic income (loss) per share $0.10
 $0.05
     
Effect of stock options outstanding:    
Basic weighted average shares outstanding 49,474
 49,050
Effect from dilutive shares and options outstanding 550
 784
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 50,024
 49,834
Diluted income (loss) per share $0.10
 $0.05

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, other investments, comprisedThe computation of equity securities which dodiluted EPS does not include certain unvested awards, on a weighted average basis, because their inclusion would have readily determinable fair values, consistan anti-dilutive effect on EPS. The awards excluded because of the following:their anti-dilutive effect are as follows:
Index

 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
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2018 2017
Awards excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive 141
 125
Note 6. Fair Value Measurements

The following tables present the hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
(in thousands) March 31, 2018
Balance sheet location: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Cash Equivalents:        
    Money market funds $151
 $
 $
 $151
Prepaid expenses & other:        
    Interest rate swaps 
 3,673
 
 3,673
    Option to acquire tangible assets     6,497
 6,497
Deferred charges & other assets, net:        
    Interest rate swaps 
 13,692
 
 13,692
Total $151
 $17,365
 $6,497
 $24,013

(in thousands) December 31, 2017
Balance sheet location: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
Cash Equivalents:        
    Money market funds $150
 $
 $
 $150
Prepaid expenses & other:        
    Interest rate swaps 
 2,411
 
 2,411
Deferred charges & other assets, net:        
    Interest rate swaps 
 10,776
 
 10,776
Total $150
 $13,187
 $
 $13,337

 The following table presents our financial instruments measured at fair value using unobservable inputs (Level 3):
  Fair Value Measurements Using Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
   March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Balance, beginning of period $
 $
Sprint Territory Expansion (Note 3):    
     Option to acquire tangible assets 6,497
 
Balance, end of period $6,497
 $

The option is exercisable at any time and expires in two years. The option was measured for fair value using a cost approach on a recurring basis and using Level 3 inputs including the cost of the underlying assets to be acquired and the contractual selling price of those assets.

Index

6.Financial Instruments

Financial instruments on the condensed consolidated balance sheets that approximate fair value include:  cashNote 7. Property, Plant and cash equivalents, receivables, investments carried at fair value, payables, accrued liabilities, interest rate swaps and variable rate long-term debt.Equipment

7.
Derivative Instruments, Hedging Activitiesand Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to cash flowsProperty, plant and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish 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 lifeequipment consisted 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 outstanding notional amount of this cash flow hedge was $131.0 million as of March 31, 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 swaps designated and qualified 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, 2017, the Company estimates that $237 thousand will be reclassified as a reduction of interest expense during the next twelve 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, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (in thousands): following:
   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).

Index

The table below presents change in accumulated other comprehensive income by component for the three months ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands):

  
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
(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Plant in service $1,245,079
 $1,219,185
Plant under construction 57,005
 62,202
  1,302,084
 1,281,387
Less accumulated amortization and depreciation 630,067
 595,060
Net property, plant and equipment $672,017
 $686,327

Note 8. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

8. Intangible Assets, NetGoodwill consisted of the following:
(in thousands)March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Goodwill - Wireless$146,383
 $146,383
Goodwill - Cable104
 104
Goodwill - Wireline10
 10
Goodwill$146,497
 $146,497

Intangible assets consist of the following at March 31, 20172018 and December 31, 2016:2017:
March 31, 2017 December 31, 2016March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
(in thousands)
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net 
Gross
Carrying
Amount
 
Accumulated
Amortization
 Net
Non-amortizing intangibles:Non-amortizing intangibles:                 
Cable franchise rights$64,334
 $
 $64,334
 $64,334
 $
 $64,334
$64,334
 $
 $64,334
 $64,334
 $
 $64,334
Railroad crossing rights97
 
 97
 97
 
 97
141
 
 141
 141
 
 141
64,431
 
 64,431
 64,431
 
 64,431
64,475
 
 64,475
 64,475
 
 64,475
                      
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
Affiliate contract expansion - wireless455,306
 (121,808) 333,498
 410,157
 (105,964) 304,193
Favorable leases - wireless16,950
 (1,531) 15,419
 16,950
 (1,130) 15,820
16,768
 (1,589) 15,179
 13,103
 (1,222) 11,881
Acquired subscribers – cable25,265
 (24,802) 463
 25,265
 (24,631) 634
Acquired subscribers - cable25,265
 (25,138) 127
 25,265
 (25,100) 165
Other intangibles3,230
 (797) 2,433
 2,212
 (754) 1,458
463
 (205) 258
 463
 (198) 265
Total finite-lived intangibles450,402
 (71,525) 378,877
 449,384
 (59,283) 390,101
497,802
 (148,740) 349,062
 448,988
 (132,484) 316,504
Total intangible assets$514,833
 $(71,525) $443,308
 $513,815
 $(59,283) $454,532
$562,277
 $(148,740) $413,537
 $513,463
 $(132,484) $380,979

Affiliate contract expansion is amortized over the expected benefit period and is further reduced by the amount of waived management fees received from Sprint which totaled $69.7 million since May 6, 2016, the date of the non-monetary exchange.






Note 9. Other Assets and Accrued Liabilities

Prepaid expenses and other, classified as current assets, included the following:
Index

9.Accrued and Other liabilities
(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Prepaid rent $9,687
 $10,519
Prepaid maintenance expenses 4,282
 3,062
Interest rate swaps 3,673
 2,411
Deferred contract and other costs 46,558
 1,119
Prepaid expenses and other $64,200
 $17,111
Deferred contract and other costs include amounts reimbursed to Sprint for commissions and device costs, and commissions and installation costs in the Company’s Cable and Wireline segments. The deferred contract and other costs increased due to the adoption of Topic 606. Refer to Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for additional information.

Deferred charges and other assets, classified as long-term assets, included the following:
(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Interest rate swaps $13,692
 $10,776
Deferred contract and other costs 20,242
 2,914
Deferred charges and other assets, net $33,934
 $13,690
Deferred contract and other costs include amounts reimbursed to Sprint for commissions and device costs, and commissions and installation costs in the Company’s Cable and Wireline segments. The deferred contract and other costs increased due to the adoption of Topic 606. Refer to Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, for additional information.

Accrued liabilities and other, includesclassified as current liabilities, included the following (in thousands):

following:
 
March 31,
2017
 
December 31,
2016
(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Sales and property taxes payable $4,742
 $6,628
 $4,969
 $3,872
Severance accrual, current portion 3,553
 4,267
Asset retirement obligations, current portion 884
 5,841
Severance accrual 261
 1,028
Asset retirement obligations 923
 492
Accrued programming costs 3,029
 2,805
Other current liabilities 8,995
 12,349
 8,289
 5,717
Accrued liabilities and other $18,174
 $29,085
 $17,471
 $13,914

Other liabilities, includeclassified as long-term liabilities, included the following (in thousands):

following:
 March 31,
2017
 December 31,
2016
(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Non-current portion of deferred revenues $7,735
 $8,933
 $12,523
 $14,030
Straight-line management fee waiver 16,180
 11,974
Other 2,142
 2,836
 1,264
 1,263
Other liabilities $26,057
 $23,743
 $13,787
 $15,293

The Company's asset retirement obligations are included in the balance sheet caption "Asset retirement obligations" and "Accrued liabilities and other". The Company records the fair value of an asset retirement obligation as a liability in the period in which it incurs a legal obligation associated with the retirement and removal of leasehold improvements or equipment.  The Company also records a corresponding asset, which is depreciated over the life of the leasehold improvement or equipment.  Subsequent to the initial measurement of the asset retirement obligation, the obligation is adjusted at the end of each period to reflect the passage of time and changes in the estimated future cash flows underlying the obligation.  The terms associated with its operating leases, and applicable zoning ordinances of certain jurisdictions, define the Company’s obligations which are estimated and vary based on the size of the towers.





Note 10. Long-Term Debt and Revolving Lines of Credit

Total debt at March 31, 20172018 and December 31, 20162017 consists of the following:
Index
(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

(in thousands) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017
Term loan A-1 $424,375
 $436,500
Term loan A-2 400,000
 400,000
  824,375
 836,500
Less: unamortized loan fees 13,502
 14,542
Total debt, net of unamortized loan fees $810,873
 $821,958
     
Current maturities of long term debt, net of unamortized loan fees $74,486
 $64,397
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees $736,387
 $757,561

As of March 31, 2017, our2018, the Company's indebtedness totaled $866.8approximately $824.4 million, in term loansexcluding unamortized loan fees of $13.5 million, with an annualized effectiveoverall weighted average interest rate of approximately 3.91% after considering4.02%. As of March 31, 2018, the impact of the interest rate swap contract and unamortized loan costs.  The balance consists of the $466.8 million Term Loan A-1 bears interest at a variable rate (3.73% as of March 31, 2017) that resets monthly based on one monthone-month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75%2.25%, andwhile the $400 million Term Loan A-2 bears interest at a variable rate (3.98% as of March 31, 2017) that resets monthly based on one monthone-month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%2.50%. At March 31, 2018, one-month LIBOR was 1.88%. LIBOR resets monthly.

The Term Loan A-1 requires quarterly principal repayments of $6.1 million, which began on September 30, 2016 and continued through June 30, 2017, then increasing to $12.1 million quarterly from September 30, 2017 through June 30, 2020; then increasing to $18.2 million quarterly from September 30, 2020 through March 31, 2021, with further increases at that time through maturity inthe remaining balance due 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 2016 credit agreement also required the Company to enter into one or more hedge agreements to manage its exposure to interest rate movements.  The Company elected to hedge the minimum required under the 2016 credit agreement, and entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable swap on 50% of the aggregate expected principal balance of the term loans outstanding.  The Company will receive one month LIBOR and pay a fixed rate of 1.16%, in addition to the 2.25% initial spread on Term Loan A-1 and the 2.50% initial spread on Term Loan A-2.

The 2016 credit agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customary to secured credit facilities, including covenants restricting the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries, subject to negotiated exceptions, to incur additional indebtedness and additional liens on their assets, engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets, pay dividends or make other distributions, voluntarily prepay other indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliated persons, make investments, and change the nature of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ businesses.

Indebtedness outstanding under any of the facilities may be accelerated by an Event of Default, as defined in the 2016 credit agreement.

The Facilities are secured by a pledge by the Company of its stock and membership interests in its subsidiaries, a guarantee by the Company’s subsidiaries other than Shenandoah Telephone Company, and a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors.

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;
Index

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 of greater than $25 million. The balance is 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.agreement.

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, 2017,2018, the Company was in compliance with the financial covenants in its credit agreements.
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.

Prior to the recent acquisition of nTelos, the Wireless segment had 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.

Index

Three months ended March 31, 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
  Actual Covenant Requirement
Total Leverage Ratio 2.95
 3.75 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 3.58
 2.00 or Higher
Minimum Liquidity Balance (in thousands) $122,834
 $25 million or Higher

Three months ended March 31, 2016Credit Facility Modification:
 (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


Index

A reconciliation On February 16, 2018, the Company, entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent of its Credit Agreement and the totalvarious financial institutions party thereto (the “Lenders”), which modifies the Credit Agreement by (i) reducing the interest rate paid by the Company by approximately 50 basis points with respect to certain loans made by the Lenders to the Company under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) allowing the Company to make charitable contributions to the Shentel Foundation, a Virginia nonstock corporation, of the reportable segments’ operating income (loss)up to consolidated income (loss) before taxes is as follows:
  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,
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
$1.5 million in any fiscal year.

12.Income Taxes
Note 11. 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 20132014 are no longer subject to 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, 2017.2018.

The effective tax rate has fluctuated in recent periods due to the minimal base of pre-tax earnings or losses and has been further impacted by share based compensation tax benefits which are recognized as incurred under the provisions of ASC 740, "Income Taxes".
13.Adoption of New Accounting Principles

During the first quarter ofOn December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “2017 Tax Act”) was enacted, substantially changing the U.S. tax system. The 2017 Tax Act includes a number of changes to existing U.S. tax laws that impact the Company, adopted one new accounting principle:most notably a reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. The 2017 Tax Act also provides immediate expensing for certain qualified assets acquired and placed into service after September 27, 2017 as well as prospective changes beginning in 2018, including acceleration of tax revenue recognition, additional limitations on deductibility of executive compensation and limitations on the deductibility of interest.

On December 22, 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Standards Update ("ASU")Bulletin No. 2015-11, "Inventory: Simplifying118 (SAB 118) to address the Measurementapplication of Inventory". This ASU changes the measurement principle for inventory from the lower of cost or market to lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU also eliminates the requirement for entities to consider replacement cost or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit marginU.S. GAAP in situations when measuring inventory. The adoption of this ASU dida registrant does not have a significant impact on ourthe necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act. The Company recognized the income tax effects of the 2017 Tax Act in its 2017 consolidated financial statements.statements in accordance with SAB No. 118.

As of March 31, 2018, the Company is continuing to evaluate the provisional amounts recorded related to the 2017 Tax Act at December 31, 2017, and has not recognized any additional adjustments to such provisional amounts.

14. Subsequent Events

On












Note 12. Segment Reporting
Three Months Ended March 9, 2017, the Company and Sprint entered into Addendum XX to the Sprint PCS Management Agreement. Addendum XX provides for (i) an expansion31, 2018 
Index

(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations 
Consolidated
Totals
External revenues            
Service revenues $89,759
 $28,471
 $5,308
 $
 $
 $123,538
Equipment revenues 17,374
 159
 46
 
 
 17,579
Other 2,026
 2,050
 6,539
 
 
 10,615
Total external revenues 109,159
 30,680
 11,893
 
 
 151,732
Internal revenues 1,239
 1,031
 7,814
 
 (10,084) 
Total operating revenues 110,398
 31,711
 19,707
 
 (10,084) 151,732
             
Operating expenses  
  
  
  
  
  
Costs of services 33,750
 15,156
 9,802
 
 (9,366) 49,342
Costs of goods sold 15,727
 56
 22
 
 
 15,805
Selling, general & administrative 12,135
 4,948
 1,717
 10,668
 (718) 28,750
Acquisition, integration & migration expenses 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation & amortization 33,925
 6,024
 3,394
 144
 
 43,487
Total operating expenses 95,537
 26,184
 14,935
 10,812
 (10,084) 137,384
Operating income (loss) $14,861
 $5,527
 $4,772
 $(10,812) $
 $14,348

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017:
 (in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations 
Consolidated
Totals
External revenues            
Service revenues $108,186
 $26,411
 $5,048
 $
 $
 $139,645
Equipment revenues 3,145
 182
 32
 
 
 3,359
Other 2,897
 1,853
 6,126
 
 
 10,876
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 services 33,423
 15,178
 9,233
 
 (9,058) 48,776
Costs of goods sold 4,895
 50
 40
 
 
 4,985
Selling, general & administrative 28,464
 4,858
 1,676
 5,847
 (692) 40,153
Acquisition, integration & migration expenses 3,792
 
 
 697
 
 4,489
Depreciation & 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

Index

A reconciliation of the Company’s “Service Area” (as defined intotal of the Sprint PCS Management Agreement)reportable segments’ operating income (loss) 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,consolidated income (loss) before taxes is as a party to the Sprint PCS Management Agreement and the Sprint PCS Services Agreement (collectively, the “Affiliate Agreements”) and (vi) certain other amendments to the Affiliate Agreements.follows:
In connection with the execution of Addendum XX, on March 9, 2017, the Company and certain affiliates of Sprint entered into an agreement to, among other things, transfer to Sprint certain customers in the Expansion Area and the underlying customer agreements, and to transition the provision of network coverage in the Expansion Area from Sprint to the Company. The expanded territory includes approximately 500 thousand market POPs and approximately 21 thousand Sprint customers.
The Company and Sprint closed on this transaction on April 6, 2017.
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
(in thousands) 2018 2017
Total consolidated operating income (loss) $14,348
 $10,673
Interest expense (9,332) (9,100)
Non-operating income, net 989
 1,375
Income (loss) before income taxes $6,005
 $2,948




Index

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, 2016.2017.  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, 2016,2017, including the consolidated financial statements and related notes included therein.

General

Overview:Overview. Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, (the "Company", "we", "our", or "us"), is a diversified telecommunications company providing integrated voice, video and data communication services including both regulated and unregulated telecommunications services through its wholly owned subsidiaries. These subsidiaries provide wireless personal communications services (asas a Sprint PCS affiliate),affiliate, and local exchange telephone services, video, internet and data services, long distance services, fiber optics facilities and leased tower facilities. We have threeorganize and strategically manage our operations under the Company's reportable segments which we operatethat include: Wireless, Cable, Wireline, and manage as strategic business units organized by linesOther. See Note 16, Segment Reporting, included with the notes to our consolidated financial statements provided within our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information regarding our segments.
Basis of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline.

*The Wireless segment has 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 these 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.  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, 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.

Presentation
Acquisition 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 millionadopted ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”), effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective method as discussed in Note 2, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The following table identifies the impact that the application of integration and acquisition expenses associated with this transaction in 2017, in addition toTopic 606 had on the $54.7 million of such costs incurred during 2016.  We have incurred $7.1 million of these costs inCompany for the three months ended March 31, 2017. These2018:
($ in thousands, except per share amounts)
Topic 606 Impact

Prior to Adoption of Topic 606Changes in Presentation (1)Equipment Revenue (2)Deferred Costs (3)3/31/2018
As reported
Service revenues and other$153,812
$(20,014)$
$355
$134,153
Equipment revenues2,059

15,520

17,579
   Total operating revenues155,871
(20,014)15,520
355
151,732
Cost of services49,199


143
49,342
Cost of goods sold6,118
(5,833)15,520

15,805
Selling, general & administrative42,967
(14,181)
(36)28,750
Depreciation and amortization43,487



43,487
   Total operating expenses141,771
(20,014)15,520
107
137,384
   Operating income14,100


248
14,348
Other income (expense)(8,343)


(8,343)
Income tax expense1,110


66
1,176
   Net income$4,647
$
$
$182
$4,829






Earnings per share




   Basic$0.09






$0.10
   Diluted$0.09






$0.10
Weighted average shares o/s, basic49,474






49,474
Weighted average shares o/s, diluted50,024






50,024

1) Amounts payable to Sprint for the reimbursement of costs include $0.1incurred by Sprint in their national sales channel for commissions and device costs, and to provide on-going support to their prepaid customers in our territory were historically recorded as expense when incurred. Under Topic 606, these amounts represent consideration payable to our customer, Sprint, and are recorded as a reduction of revenue. In 2017, these amounts were approximately $44.8 million reflectedfor the national commissions, previously recorded in selling, general and administrative, $18.7 million for national
Index

device costs previously recorded in cost of goods and services, and $2.5$16.9 million reflectedfor the on-going service to Sprint's prepaid customers, previously recorded in selling, general and administrative.

2) Costs incurred by the Company for the sale of devices under Sprint’s device financing and lease programs were previously recorded net against revenue. Under Topic 606, the revenue from device sales is recorded gross as equipment revenue and the device costs are recorded gross and reclassified to cost of goods and services. These amounts were approximately $63.8 million in 2017.

3) Amounts payable to Sprint for the reimbursement of costs incurred by Sprint in their national sales channel for commissions and device costs, which historically have been expensed when incurred, are deferred and amortized against revenue over the expected period of benefit of approximately 21 to 24 months. In Cable and Wireline, installation revenues are recognized over a shorter period of benefit. The deferred balance as of March 31, 2018 is approximately $52.9 million and is classified on the balance sheet as current and non-current assets, as applicable.
Recent Developments
Credit Facility Modification: On February 16, 2018, the Company, entered into a Second Amendment to Credit Agreement (the “Second Amendment”) with CoBank, ACB, as administrative costsagent of its Credit Agreement, described more fully in Note 10, Long-Term Debt, and the various financial institutions party thereto (the “Lenders”), which modifies the Credit Agreement by (i) reducing the interest rate paid by the Company by approximately 50 basis points with respect to certain loans made by the Lenders to the Company under the Credit Agreement, and (ii) allowing the Company to make charitable contributions to Shentel Foundation, a Virginia nonstock corporation, of up to $1.5 million in any fiscal year.
Sprint Territory Expansion: Effective February 1, 2018, we signed the Expansion Agreement with Sprint to expand our wireless service area to include certain areas in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, (the “Expansion Area”), effectively  adding a population (POPs) of approximately 1.1 million. The agreement includes certain network build out requirements in the three month period ended March 31, 2017. In additionExpansion Area, and the ability to utilize Sprint’s spectrum in the Expansion Area along with certain other amendments to the approximately $78Affiliate Agreements. Pursuant to the Expansion Agreement, Sprint agreed to, among other things, transition the provision of network coverage in the Expansion Area from Sprint to us. The Expansion Agreement required a payment of $52.0 million to Sprint for the right to service the Expansion Area pursuant to the Affiliate Agreements plus an additional payment of incurred and expected expenses described above,up to $5.0 million for certain equipment at the Company also incurredSprint cell sites in the Expansion Area. The option is exercisable at the Company's discretion. A map of our territory, reflecting the new expansion area, is provided below:

shentelexpansionmap1804v2fin.jpg
Index

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, 20172018 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017

Our consolidated results for the first quarter of 20172018 and 20162017 are summarized as follows:

  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)
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands) 2018 2017 $ %
Operating revenues $151,732
 $153,880
 $(2,148) (1.4)
Operating expenses 137,384
 143,207
 (5,823) (4.1)
Operating income (loss) 14,348
 10,673
 3,675
 34.4
         
Interest expense (9,332) (9,100) (232) 2.5
Other income (expense), net 989
 1,375
 (386) (28.1)
Income (loss) before taxes 6,005
 2,948
 3,057
 103.7
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,176
 607
 569
 93.7
Net income (loss) $4,829
 $2,341
 $2,488
 106.3

Operating revenues

For the three months ended March 31, 2017,2018, operating revenues increased $61.3decreased $2.1 million, or 66.2%.1.4% to $151.7 million. Excluding the impacts of adopting Topic 606 revenues would have increased $2.0 million, driven by the Cable and Wireline operations, partially offset by Wireless segment revenues increased $58.9 million compared to the first quarter of 2016; nearly all of this increase was a result of the acquisition of nTelos on May 6, 2016. Cable segment revenues grew $2.6 million primarily as a result of 2.2% growth in average subscriber counts and an increase in revenue per subscriber.  Wireline segment revenues increased $0.8 million, primarily due to increases in fiber sales.operations.

Operating expenses

Total operating expenses were $143.2decreased $5.8 million or 4.1% to $137.4 million in the first quarter of 2017three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $71.3with $143.2 million in the prior year period.  OperatingExcluding the impacts of adopting Topic 606, operating expenses inwould have decreased $1.4 million, primarily due to the first quarterelimination of the 2017 included $4.5 million ofacquisition, integration and acquisition costs associated with the nTelos acquisition, including $3.8 million on the Wireless segment and $0.7 million in the Other segment.  Selling, general and administrative expenses and cost of goods and services in the Wireless segment included an additional $2.6 million of nTelos-related customer care and other back officemigration costs related to supportingthe completion of the transformation of the nTelos legacy customers until the migration of these customers is completed. Wireless segment operating expenses increased $63.3 million (excluding the $6.4 million of customer care, integration and acquisition expenses described above), primarily due to on-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.network.

Acquisition and integration costs on theAdditionally, our Other segment primarily consisted of transaction related expenses such as legal and other professional fees.  Onincludes the Wireless segment, such costs included handsets provided to nTelos subscribers who needed a new phone to transition toCompany's stock compensation expense for 2018. In prior years this expense was allocated among the Sprint billing platform, costs associatedCompany's operating segments. Stock compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was approximately $2.0 million compared with terminating duplicative cell site leases and backhaul circuits, and personnel costs associated with short-term nTelos employees required to migrate former nTelos customers toapproximately $1.6 million for the Sprint back-office.three months ended March 31, 2017.

Interest expense

Interest expense has increased primarily as a result of the incremental borrowings associated with closing the nTelos acquisitionfunding of the Company's strategic initiatives and the effect of two interest rate increases implemented byin the Federal Reserve in late 2016 and early 2017.London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). The impact of the interestLIBOR rate increases hashave 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 capitalizationan amendment to the Credit Facility Agreement that reduced the base rate of interest to capital projects.the Credit Facility by 50 basis points.

Other income, net
Index
Other income, net has decreased $0.4 million primarily as a result of lower interest income derived from our investments.

Income tax expense

The Company's actual effective income tax rate decreased from 31.4% forDuring the three months ended March 31, 2016 to 20.6%2018, income tax expense was approximately $1.2 million, compared with $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The difference for both periods between the actual effectiveOur income tax rate andexpense increased consistent with the statutoryincrease in income before taxes. The Company’s effective tax rate results primarilydecreased from excess tax deductions on share grant vestings and certain stock option exercises, which are recognized as incurred.20.6% in 2017 to 19.6% in 2018. The Company recognized $1.7 million in excess deductionsdecrease in the three months ended Marcheffective tax rate is primarily attributable to the changes in federal tax regulations related to the 2017 compared to $4.5 million in excess deductions in the same period of 2016; however, the March 31, 2017 excess deductions represented a larger share of pre-tax income, reducing the effective rate more in 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, 2017, net income decreased $11.5 million, or 83.1% over March 31, 2016, primarily reflecting increased depreciation and amortization, straight-lining of certain Sprint fee credits, and higher interest on the increased balance of outstanding debt as a result of the nTelos acquisition, net of taxes.

Tax Act that was enacted during December 2017.

Wireless

Our Wireless segment historically 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 affiliates and non-affiliated wireless service providers, throughout the same multi-state area described above.

PCS receivesearns revenues from Sprint for their postpaid and prepaid subscribers that obtain serviceusage of our Wireless network in PCS’sour Wireless 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 recordedarea, net of certain fees retained by Sprint.  Since January 1, 2016, the fees retained by Sprint are 16.6%,customer credits, account write offs and certain revenue and expense items previously included in these fees became separately settled.other billing adjustments. 

We also offer prepaid wireless products and services in our 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.  We 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,
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

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.

Index




The following table identifies the impact of Topic 606 on the Company's Wireless operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018:
   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% 
($ in thousands)
Topic 606 Impact - Wireless

Prior to Adoption of Topic 606Changes in Presentation (1)Equipment Revenue (2)Deferred Costs (3)3/31/2018
As reported
Service revenues and other$112,683
$(20,014)$
$355
$93,024
Equipment revenues1,854

15,520

17,374
   Total operating revenues114,537
(20,014)15,520
355
110,398
Cost of services33,750



33,750
Cost of goods sold6,040
(5,833)15,520

15,727
Selling, general & administrative26,316
(14,181)

12,135
Depreciation and amortization33,925



33,925
   Total operating expenses100,031
(20,014)15,520

95,537
   Operating income14,506


355
14,861

1) Amounts payable to Sprint for the reimbursement of costs incurred by Sprint in their national sales channel for commissions and device costs, and to provide on-going support to their prepaid customers in our territory were historically recorded as expense when incurred. Under Topic 606, these amounts represent consideration payable to our customer, Sprint, and are recorded as a reduction of revenue. In 2017, these amounts were approximately $44.8 million for the national commissions, previously recorded in selling, general and administrative, $18.7 million for national device costs previously recorded in cost of goods and services, and $16.9 million for the on-going service to Sprint's prepaid customers, previously recorded in selling, general and administrative.

2) Costs incurred by the Company for the sale of devices under Sprint’s device financing and lease programs were previously recorded net against revenue. Under Topic 606, the revenue from device sales is recorded gross as equipment revenue and the device costs are recorded gross and reclassified to cost of goods and services. These amounts were approximately $63.8 million in 2017.

3) Amounts payable to Sprint for the reimbursement of costs incurred by Sprint in their national sales channel for commissions and device costs, which historically have been expensed when incurred, are deferred and amortized against revenue over the expected period of benefit of approximately 21 to 24 months. The deferred balance as of March 31, 2018 is approximately $43.2 million and is classified on the balance sheet as current and non-current assets, as applicable.

Under our amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the Management Fees charged on both postpaid and prepaid revenues, up to approximately $4.2 million per month, until the total amount waived reaches approximately $255.6 million, which is expected to occur in 2022. The cash flow savings of the waived management fee waiver has been incorporated into the fair value of the affiliate contract expansion intangible, which is reduced, in part, as credits are received from Sprint.

The following tables indicate selected operating statistics of Wireless, including Sprint subscribers, as of the dates shown:
   
March 31,
2018
(3)
 
December 31,
2017
(4)
 March 31,
2017
 December 31, 2016
Retail PCS Subscribers – Postpaid 774,861
 736,597
 717,150
 722,562
Retail PCS Subscribers – Prepaid (1)
 250,191
 225,822
 214,771
 206,672
PCS Market POPS (000) (2)
 7,023
 5,942
 5,536
 5,536
PCS Covered POPS (000) (2)
 5,889
 5,272
 4,836
 4,807
CDMA Base Stations (sites) 1,742
 1,623
 1,476
 1,467
Towers Owned 193
 192
 196
 196
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases 192
 192
 206
 202

1)As of September 2017, the Company is no longer including Lifeline subscribers to be consistent with Sprint's policy. Historical customer counts have been adjusted accordingly.
2)"POPS" refers to the estimated population of a given geographic area.  Market POPS are those within a market area which we are authorized to serve under our Sprint PCS affiliate agreements, and Covered POPS are those covered by our network. As of December 31, 2017, the data source for POPS is U.S. census data. Historical periods previously referred to other third party population data and have been recast to refer to U.S. census data.
3)Beginning March 31, 2018 includes Richmond Expansion Area.
Index

4)Beginning December 31, 2017 includes Parkersburg Expansion Area.

   Three Months Ended
March 31,
  2018 2017
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Postpaid 81,420
 38,701
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Postpaid 38,264
 (5,412)
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Prepaid (1)
 55,802
 39,445
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Prepaid (1)
 24,369
 8,099
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Postpaid (2)
 1.89% 2.05%
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Prepaid (1)
 4.42% 5.01%

1)The Company is no longer including Lifeline subscribers to be consistent with Sprint's policy. Historical customer counts and churn % have been adjusted accordingly.
2)PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn is the average of the monthly subscriber turnover, or churn, calculations for the period.

The subscriber statistics shown above include the following:
 February 1, 2018 April 6, 2017 May 6, 2016
 Richmond Expansion Area (3) Parkersburg Expansion Area nTelos Area
PCS Subscribers - Postpaid38,343
 19,067
 404,965
PCS Subscribers - Prepaid15,691
 5,962
 154,944
Acquired PCS Market POPS (000) (1)
1,082
 511
 3,099
Acquired PCS Covered POPS (000) (1)
602
 244
 2,298
Acquired CDMA Base Stations (sites) (2)
105
 
 868
Towers
 
 20
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases
 
 10

1)POPS refers to the estimated population of a given geographic area and is based on information purchased from third party sources.area.  Market POPS are those within a market area which we are authorized to serve under our Sprint PCS affiliate agreements, and Covered POPS are those covered by our network.
2)PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn is
As of March 31, 2018 we have shut down 107 overlap sites associated with the average of the monthly subscriber turnover, or churn, calculations for the period.nTelos Area.

3)Excludes Assurance subscribers.

Three Months Ended March 31, 20172018 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 20162017

(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)
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands)
 
 2018 2017 $ %
Wireless operating revenues        
Wireless service revenue $89,759
 $108,186
 $(18,427) (17.0)
Tower lease revenue 2,896
 2,882
 14
 0.5
Equipment revenue 17,374
 3,145
 14,229
 452.4
Other revenue 369
 1,250
 (881) (70.5)
Total Wireless operating revenues 110,398
 115,463
 (5,065) (4.4)
Wireless operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services 49,477
 38,318
 11,159
 29.1
Selling, general and administrative 12,135
 28,464
 (16,329) (57.4)
Acquisition, integration and migration expenses 
 3,792
 (3,792) (100.0)
Depreciation and amortization 33,925
 35,752
 (1,827) (5.1)
Total Wireless operating expenses 95,537
 106,326
 (10,789) (10.1)
Wireless operating income (loss) $14,861
 $9,137
 $5,724
 62.6

Index

Service Revenues

Operating Revenues
Wireless service revenue increased $56.0operating revenues decreased $5.1 million or 107.3%,4.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, comparedprimarily due to the adoption of Topic 606. Excluding the impacts of Topic 606, wireless revenues decreased $0.9 million. This decrease was driven by a decline in average revenue per subscriber, offset by an increase in Sprint customers, including the new territory acquired from Sprint. The decline in average revenue per subscriber was driven by additional discounts and promotions.

As a result of the adoption of Topic 606 and in the three months ended March 31, 2016, period. See2018, wireless service revenues were reduced by approximately $20.0 million of expenses payable to Sprint, our customer, related to the reimbursement to Sprint for costs incurred in their national sales channel for commissions and device costs, and to provide ongoing support to their prepaid customers in our territory. Commissions were previously recorded as expenses within selling, general and administrative. Additionally, we recorded $15.5 million of equipment revenue and cost of goods sold for the sale of devices under Sprint’s device financing and lease programs. Equipment costs were historically netted and presented within equipment revenue.

The table below.

below provides additional detail in the settlement with Sprint impacting service revenues.
(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


Three Months Ended
March 31,

Change
(in thousands)
 

2018
2017
$
%
Wireless Service Revenues:











Postpaid net billings (1)

$93,290

$92,989

$301

0.3
Amortization of deferred contract & other costs (3)
 (6,871) 
 (6,871) *
Management fee
(7,400)
(7,383)
(17)
0.2
Net service fee
(7,955)
(7,200)
(755)
10.5
  Total Postpaid Service Revenue
71,064

78,406

(7,342)
(9.4)


 

 

 

 
Prepaid net billings (2)

26,341

25,202

1,139

4.5
Amortization of deferred contract & other costs (3)
 (12,788) 
 (12,788) *
Sprint management fee
(1,649)
(1,557)
(92)
5.9
  Total Prepaid Service Revenue
11,904

23,645

(11,741)
(49.7)













Travel and other revenues
6,791

6,135

656

10.7
Total Service Revenues
$89,759

$108,186

$(18,427)
(17.0)


(1)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 territorywireless network coverage area less billing credits and adjustments and allocated write-offs of uncollectible accounts.

2) The Company includes Lifeline subscribers revenue within travel and other revenues to be consistent with Sprint. The above table reflects the reclassification of the related Assurance Wireless prepaid revenue from prepaid gross billings to travel and other revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
Operating revenues3) Due to the adoption of Topic 606, costs reimbursed to Sprint for commission and acquisition cost incurred in their national sales channel are recorded as reduction of revenue and amortized over the period of benefit. Additionally, costs reimbursed to Sprint for the support of their prepaid customer base are recorded as a reduction of revenue. These costs were previously recorded in cost of goods sold, and selling, general and administrative.

The changesdecline in Wireless segmentpostpaid service revenues shown inrevenue was primarily the table above are almost exclusively a result of the reclassification of approximately $6.9 million of costs reimbursed to Sprint for commissions and acquisition costs incurred in their national sales channel which were previously classified as operating expenses, driven by the adoption of Topic 606. Excluding the impact of Topic 606, postpaid service revenues would have decreased $0.5 million. The decrease in postpaid service revenue was due to a decline in postpaid in Sprint’s average revenue per postpaid customer that was driven by discounts and promotions. Postpaid service revenue was further reduced by approximately $0.8 million due to an increase in net service fee as nTelos acquisition in May 2016. Postpaid subscribers have increased by 402 thousand from March 31, 2016were migrated to March 31, 2017 with 387 thousandSprint’s billing and back-office systems. The migration of themthese subscribers resulted in the formerelimination of costs to run the nTelos service area asback office system which were recorded in selling, general and administrative. Partially offsetting these impacts was an increase in subscribers of March 31, 2017. Prepaid57 thousand subscribers have increased by 101 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 the subscribers acquired as a result of the 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 and 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 before migration to the Sprint billing system, whereas Sprint retains the billing and related expenses and liabilities under our affiliate agreement.acquired territories

Index

The decline in prepaid service revenues was primarily the result of the reclassification of approximately $12.8 million of costs reimbursed to Sprint for expenses commissions and acquisition costs incurred in their national sales channel and costs to support their subscriber base, which were previously classified as operating expenses, driven to the adoption of Topic 606. Excluding the impact of Topic 606, prepaid service revenues would have increased $1.0 million. This increase in service revenue was driven by an increase in subscribers of 35 thousand, including 21 thousand in the acquired territories.

Cost of goods and services

Cost of goods and services increased $21.7$11.2 million, or 131.1%29.1%, in 2017 from the first quarter of 2016.2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017. Excluding the impact of the adoption of Topic 606, the increase would have been $1.5 million. The increase results primarily from increases in cell site rent, power, maintenanceadditional network costs related to the completion of our 4G roll-out and backhaul costs for the incremental 868 cell sites in the nTelos territoryexpansion of $19.3 million, as well as the related growth in the cost ofour wireless network technicians to service and maintain these sites of $1.1 million.   Cost of goods and services also included $0.1 million of costs to support nTelos legacy billing operations until customers migrate to Sprint’s back office systems.coverage area.

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative costs increased $16.9decreased $16.3 million, or 147.2%57.4%, in the first quarter of 20172018 from the comparable 20162017 period again primarily due to the reclassification of approximately $14.2 million of commissions and subscriber acquisition costs to reductions of revenue as required by the adoption of Topic 606. Excluding the impact of Topic 606, the decrease would have been $2.1 million and was primarily due to a reduction of back office expenses required to support former nTelos subscribers that migrated to the Sprint back office during 2017.

Acquisition, integration and migration
Acquisition and integration costs were not incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2018, as the completion of integration and migration activities related to the acquisition of nTelos in May 2016.  Increases include $3.2 million of incremental separately settled national channel commissions, $4.7 million related to incremental stores acquired as a result of the nTelos acquisition, $0.9 million in incremental saleswas completed during 2017. Acquisition, integration and marketing efforts to communicate with and migrate the remaining nTelos legacy customers over to the Sprint platforms, and $1.3 million in other administrativemigration costs related to the acquired operations. Costs associated with prepaid wireless offerings increased $4.3 million.  Selling, general and administrative costs also included $2.5 millionprimarily consisted of costs to support nTelos legacy billing operations until customers migrate to Sprint’s back office systems.

Integration and acquisition

Integration and acquisition expenses of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 include approximately $3.7 million for replacement handsets issuedprovided to former nTelos subscribers migratedwho required a new phone to transition to the Sprint billing platform, and $0.7personnel costs associated with nTelos employees retained on a short-term basis who were necessary in the efforts required to migrate former nTelos customers to the Sprint back-office billing platform. Acquisition, integration and migration costs for the three months ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $6.3 million, in other expenses, partially offset by $0.6and were comprised of $2.6 million in reductionsclassified as cost of previously estimated costs to terminate duplicative cell site leasesgoods and backhaul contracts.services and selling, general and administrative and approximately $3.7 million classified as acquisition, integration and migration.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization increased $27.3decreased $1.8 million, or 321%5.1%, in the first quarter of 20172018 over the comparable 20162017 period, due primarily to $20.0 million in incremental depreciation largely on theas assets acquired fixed assets, and $6.7 million in amortization of customer based intangibles recorded in the acquisition. 





























Index
nTelos acquisition were retired.

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, which are included in the Wireline segment. Increases in homes passed, available homes and video customers between December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016, resulted from the Colane acquisition on January 1, 2016.

  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. 
4)Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of customers by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
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.

Index

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(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 $2.1 million, or 8.5%, due to a 2.2% increase in average revenue generating units, video rate increases in January 2017 to offset increases in programming costs, and new and existing customers selecting higher-speed data (HSD) access packages.

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

Operating expenses

Cable segment cost of goods and services increased $0.6 million, or 4.0%, in the first quarter of 2017 over the comparable 2016 period. The increase resulted from higher network and maintenance costs.

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

Wireline.





















Index

Wireline


The following tables indicate selected operating statistics of Cable, as of the dates shown:
  March 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
 March 31,
2017
 December 31, 2016
Homes Passed (1)
 184,975
 184,910
 184,819
 184,710
Customer Relationships (2)
        
Video users 43,264
 44,269
 47,160
 48,512
Non-video customers 35,133
 33,559
 30,765
 28,854
Total customer relationships 78,397
 77,828
 77,925
 77,366
Video        
Users (3)
 45,555
 46,613
 49,384
 50,618
Penetration (4)
 24.6% 25.2% 26.7% 27.4%
Digital video penetration (5)
 75.8% 76.2% 77.1% 77.4%
High-speed Internet        
Available Homes (6)
 184,975
 184,910
 183,935
 183,826
Users (3)
 65,141
 63,918
 61,815
 60,495
Penetration (4)
 35.2% 34.6% 33.6% 32.9%
Voice        
Available Homes (6)
 184,975
 182,379
 181,198
 181,089
Users (3)
 22,743
 22,555
 21,647
 21,352
Penetration (4)
 12.3% 12.4% 11.9% 11.8%
Total Revenue Generating Units (7)
 133,439
 133,086
 132,846
 132,465
Fiber Route Miles 3,371
 3,356
 3,233
 3,137
Total Fiber Miles (8)
 124,701
 122,011
 100,799
 92,615
Average Revenue Generating Units 132,865
 132,759
 132,419
 131,218

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 billed 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. 
4) Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of users by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
5) Digital video penetration is calculated by dividing the number of digital video users by total video users.  Digital video users 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 user.
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 users.
8) Total 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.

Index

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands) 2018 2017 $ %
Cable operating revenues         
Service revenue $28,471
 $26,411
 $2,060
 7.8
Other revenue 3,240
 2,602
 638
 24.5
Total Cable operating revenues 31,711
 29,013
 2,698
 9.3
Cable operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services 15,212
 15,228
 (16) (0.1)
Selling, general, and administrative 4,948
 4,858
 90
 1.9
Depreciation and amortization 6,024
 5,788
 236
 4.1
Total Cable operating expenses 26,184
 25,874
 310
 1.2
Cable operating income (loss) $5,527
 $3,139
 $2,388
 76.1

Operating revenues
Cable service revenues increased approximately $2.1 million, or 7.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to increases in high speed data and voice subscribers, video rate increases, and customers selecting or upgrading to higher-speed data access packages.

Other revenue grew approximately $0.6 million, primarily due to new fiber contracts.

Operating expenses
Cable cost of goods and services for the three months ended March 31, 2018, remained consistent with the comparable 2017 period.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2018, remained consistent with the comparable 2017 period.

The impact of the adoption of Topic 606, which deferred incremental commission and installation costs over the life of the customer, did not have a significant impact on operating expenses.

Wireline segment

Wireline 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 alsoAlso, Wireline 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.

 March 31,
2017
 
Dec. 31,
2016
 March 31, 2016 
Dec. 31,
2015
 March 31,
2018
 December 31,
2017
 March 31,
2017
 December 31, 2016
Telephone Access Lines (1) 18,160
 18,443
 19,682
 20,252
 17,765
 17,933
 18,160
 18,443
Long Distance Subscribers 9,134
 9,149
 9,377
 9,476
 8,980
 9,078
 9,134
 9,149
Video Customers (2)(1) 5,201
 5,264
 5,232
 5,356
 4,912
 5,019
 5,201
 5,264
DSL and Cable Modem Subscribers (1)(2) 14,527
 14,314
 14,200
 13,890
 14,695
 14,665
 14,527
 14,314
Fiber Route Miles 1,997
 1,971
 1,744
 1,736
 2,078
 2,073
 1,997
 1,971
Total Fiber Miles (3) 145,060
 142,230
 125,559
 123,891
 155,188
 154,165
 145,060
 142,230

1)Effective October 1, 2015, we launched cable modem services on our cable plant, and ceased the requirement that a customer have a telephone access line to purchase internet service. As of March 31, 2017, 1,226 customers have purchased cable modemWireline’s video service received via the coaxial cable network.passes approximately 16,500 homes.
2)The Wireline segment’s videoDecember 2017 and December 2016 totals include 2,105 and 1,072 customers, respectively, served via the coaxial cable network.  During 2016, we modified the way we count subscribers when a commercial customer upgrades its internet service passes approximately 16,500 homes.via a fiber contract.
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.
Index


Three Months Ended March 31, 20172018 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

2017
  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)
  Three Months Ended
March 31,
 Change
(in thousands) 2018 2017 $ %
Wireline operating revenues        
Service revenue $5,890
 $5,602
 $288
 5.1
Carrier access and fiber revenues 12,854
 12,665
 189
 1.5
Other revenue 963
 887
 76
 8.6
Total Wireline operating revenues 19,707
 19,154
 553
 2.9
         
Wireline operating expenses  
  
  
  
Cost of goods and services 9,824
 9,273
 551
 5.9
Selling, general and administrative 1,717
 1,676
 41
 2.4
Depreciation and amortization 3,394
 3,132
 262
 8.4
Total Wireline operating expenses 14,935
 14,081
 854
 6.1
Wireline operating income (loss) $4,772
 $5,073
 $(301) (5.9)

Operating revenues

Total operating revenues in the quarter ended March 31, 20172018 increased $0.8$0.6 million, or 4.2%2.9%, against the comparable 20162017 period, primarily as a result of increases in fiber and access contracts.



Index

Operating expenses

Operating expenses overall increased $0.8$0.9 million, or 6.0%6.1%, in the quarter ended March 31, 2017,2018, compared to the 20162017 quarter. The $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.

contracts. The $0.3 million increase in depreciation and amortization primarily resulted from the expansion of the underlying network assets necessary to support the growth in fiber revenue. The impact of the adoption of Topic 606, which deferred incremental commission and installation costs over the life of the customer, did not have a significant impact on operating expenses.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In managing our business and assessing our financial performance, management supplements the information provided by the financial statement measures prepared in accordance with GAAP with Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA, which are considered “non-GAAP financial 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, straight-line adjustments for the waived management fee by Sprint, amortization of the affiliate contract expansion intangible reflected as a contra revenue,sales; actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans,plans; and share-based compensation expense.expense, amortization of deferred costs related to the adoption of Topic 606, and adjusted to include the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint. Continuing OIBDA is defined as Adjusted OIBDA, less the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint. Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing 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 Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and the associated percentage margin calculations are meaningful measures of our operating performance.  We use Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as supplemental performance measures because management believes theythese measures facilitate comparisons of our operating performance from period to period and comparisons of our operating performance to that of our peers and 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 Adjusted OIBDA 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.

Index

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 Adjusted OIBDA 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 Adjusted OIBDA 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 OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA have 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:

they do not reflect capital expenditures;
many 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;
they do not reflect costs associated with share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
they do not reflect interest expense necessary to service interest or principal payments on indebtedness;
they do not reflect gains, losses or dividends on investments;
they do not reflect expenses incurred for the payment of income taxes; and
other 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 Adjusted 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 showsadoption of the new revenue recognition standard did not impact Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.
Index


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

The following table reconcilestables reconcile Adjusted 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, 2017 and 2016:measure:

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, 2017 and 2016:
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
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (in thousands)

Wireless
Cable
Wireline
Other
Consolidated
Operating income
$14,861

$5,527

$4,772

$(10,812)
$14,348
Deferral of costs due to Topic 606 (354)
141

(35)


(248)
Plus depreciation and amortization
33,925

6,024

3,394

144

43,487
Plus share based compensation expense






2,037

2,037
Plus the benefit received from the waived management fee (1)

9,048







9,048
Plus amortization of intangibles netted in rent expense
81







81
Less actuarial (gains) losses on pension plans






(82)
(82)
Adjusted OIBDA
57,561

11,692

8,131

(8,713)
68,671
Less waived management fee
(9,048)






(9,048)
Continuing OIBDA
$48,513

$11,692

$8,131

$(8,713)
$59,623

Index

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
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 (in thousands)

Wireless
Cable
Wireline
Other
Consolidated
Operating income
$9,137

$3,139

$5,073

$(6,676)
$10,673
Plus depreciation and amortization
35,752

5,788

3,132

132

44,804
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
(24)
(23)
30

(11)
(28)
Plus share based compensation expense
725

364

146

331

1,566
Plus the benefit received from the waived management fee (1)
 9,184
 
 
 
 9,184
Plus amortization of intangibles netted in rent expense
258







258
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration (2)

2,593





2

2,595
Plus acquisition, integration and migration related expenses
3,792





697

4,489
Adjusted OIBDA
61,417

9,268

8,381

(5,525)
73,541
Less waived management fee
(8,940)






(8,940)
Continuing OIBDA
$52,477

$9,268

$8,381

$(5,525)
$64,601

1) Under our amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the Management Fees charged on both postpaid and prepaid revenues, up to $4.2 million per month, until the total amount waived reaches approximately $255.6 million, which is expected to occur in 2022.
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
2) Represents back office expenses required to support former nTelos subscribers that migrated to the Sprint back office.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have three principal sources of funds available to meet the financing needs of our operations, capital projects, debt service, 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. WeThe Company generated $24.5approximately $60.9 million of net cash from operations in the first three months of 2017, compared to $43.22018, an increase from approximately $24.5 million in the first three months of 2016. The primary change included the timing of cash disbursements in early 2017 for inventories acquired in late 2016.2017.

Indebtedness.  As of March 31, 2017, our2018, the Company’s gross indebtedness totaled $866.8$824.4 million, in term loans with an estimated annualized effective interest rate of approximately 3.91%4.02% after considering the impact of the interest rate swap contractcontracts and unamortized loan costs.costs, and is inclusive of the Credit Facility Modification that (a) was effective February 16, 2018 and (b) reduced the base rate of each term loan and the revolving facility by 50 basis points.  The balance consistsconsisted of the $466.8$424.4 million Term Loan A-1 at a variable rate (3.73%(3.88% as of March 31, 2017)2018) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.75%2.25%, and the $400$400.0 million Term Loan A-2 at a variable rate (3.98%(4.13% as of March 31, 2017)2018) that resets monthly based on one month LIBOR plus a margin of 3.00%2.50%.  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.
 
We are bound byThe Company is subject to certain financial covenants 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 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. Noncompliance with any one or moreagreement, 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. greater than $25 million at all times.

Index

As of March 31, 2017, we were2018, the Company was in compliance with all debtthe financial covenants in its credit agreements, and ratios at March 31, 20172018 were as follows:

  Actual 
Covenant Requirement at
March 31, 2017
31,2018
Total Leverage Ratio 2.882.95
 3.75 or Lower
Debt Service Coverage Ratio 4.563.58
 2.00 or Higher
Minimum Liquidity Balance (in thousands)
 $113 million
122,834
 $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 nine month period ending
Index

March 31, 2017, divided by three and multiplied by four, all as defined under the Credit Agreement. In addition to the covenants above, we are required to supply the lenders with quarterly financial statements and other reports as defined by the 2016 credit agreement. We were in compliance with all reporting requirements at March 31, 2017.

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

Capital Commitments. The CompanyCapital expenditures budgeted $152.3for 2018 are approximately $163 million, in capital expenditures for 2017, including $86.4$103 million in the Wireless segment primarily for upgrades and expansion of the nTelos wireless network; $28.1network.  In addition, $29 million is budgeted primarily for cable network expansion including new fiber routes new cell towers, and cable market expansion; $27.0expansion, $22 million for additional network capacity; and $10.8 million for information technology upgrades, new and renovated buildingsin Wireline projects including fiber builds in Pennsylvania and other areas, and $9 million primarily for IT projects.

ForThe Company spent $24.4 million on capital projects in the first three months of 2017, we spent $38.6 million on capital projects,2018, compared to $20.5$38.6 million in the comparable 20162017 period.  Spending related to Wireless projects accounted for $25.3$14.8 million in the first three months of 2017,2018, primarily for upgrades of former nTelos sitesto the recently acquired expansion areas and additional cell sites to expandcontinued expansion of coverage in the former nTelos territory. Cable capital spending of $5.2$5.0 million related to network and cable market expansion. Wireline capital projects cost $7.6$3.6 million, driven primarily by fiber builds.  Other projects totaled $0.5builds and increased capacity projects.  The remaining $1.0 million of capital expenditures is largely related to information technology projects.projects and fleet vehicles.

We believe that cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings expected to be available under our existing credit facilities will provide sufficient cash to enable us to fund planned capital expenditures, make scheduled principal and interest payments, meet our other cash requirements and maintain compliance with the terms of our financing agreements for at least the next twelve months.  There can be no assurance that we will continue to generate cash flows at or above current levels or that we will be able to maintain our ability to borrow under our credit facilities. 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 our expected growth in demand for our products and services. The actual amount and timing of our future capital requirements may differ materially from our estimate depending on the demand for our products, and new market developments and expansion opportunities.

Our cash flows from operations could be adversely affected by events outside our control, including, without limitation, changes in overall economic conditions, regulatory requirements, changes in technologies, demand for our products, availability of labor resources and capital, changes in our 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; our ability to develop and implement successful marketing programs and new products and services; and our ability to effectively and economically manage other operating activities under our agreements with Sprint.   Our ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base, particularly in the acquired cable markets, is also critical to our ability to maintain a positive cash flow from operations.  The foregoing events individually or collectively could affect our results.

Critical Accounting Policies

Critical accounting policies are those policies that affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. For a more detailed discussion of our critical accounting policies, please refer to our 2017 Form 10-K.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the FASBRecently issued 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, using either a retrospective basis or a modified retrospective basis with early adoption permitted, but not earlier than the original effective date beginning after December 15, 2016. We have formed a project team to evaluateaccounting standards and implement the new standard. As part of our 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 transition approach, which would result in an adjustment to retained earnings for the cumulative effect,their expected impact, if any, are discussed in Note 1, Basis of applying this standard. Additionally, this guidance requires us to provide additional disclosures Presentation, of the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period during 2018 as comparednotes to the guidance that was in effect before the change. We continue to assess the impact this new standard will have on our financial position, results of operations and 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 us on January 1, 2019, and early application is permitted.  Modified retrospective application is required.  We are currently evaluating the ASU, but expect that it will have a material impact on ourunaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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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 threetwo components.  The first component is outstanding debt with variable rates.  As of March 31, 2017,2018, the Company had $866.8$824.4 million of variable rate debt outstanding, (excludingexcluding unamortized loan fees and costs of $17.8 million),$13.5 million, bearing interest at a weighted average rate of 3.85%4.02% as determined on a monthly basis. An increase in market interest rates of 1.00% would add approximately $8.7$8.0 million to annual interest expense, excluding the effect of the interest rate swap.  In May 2016, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-variable interest rate swap with 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,These swaps, combined with the swap purchased in 2012, cover notional principal equal to approximately 50% of the expected outstanding variable rate debt through maturity in 2023. The Company is required to pay a combined fixed rate of approximately 1.16% and receive a variable rate based on one month LIBOR (0.98%(1.88% as of March 31, 2017)2018), to manage a portion of its interest rate risk. Changes in the net interest paid or received under the swaps would offset approximately 50% of the change in interest expense on the variable rate debt outstanding. The swap agreements currently add approximately $0.8 million toreduce annual interest expense by approximately $3.7 million, 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, 2017, the cash is invested in a commercial checking account that has limited interest rate 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, 2017,2018, the Company has $433.4$412.2 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.

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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 Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, who is the principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as(as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.1934), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,2017, we identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. The material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the applicable remedialenhanced controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management 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 Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures continued to be ineffective as of March 31, 2017.2018.
Notwithstanding the material weaknesses, management has concluded that the unaudited 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.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act)  as of March 31, 2018, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to material affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Remediation Efforts
In responseManagement is continuing to implement the material weaknesses identifiedremediation plans as disclosed in theour Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016,2017. We believe that these actions and the improvements we expect to:
Seek, trainto achieve will effectively remediate the material weaknesses. However, these material weaknesses will not be considered remediated until the enhanced controls operate for a sufficient period of time 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
The acquisition of nTelos was completed on May 6, 2016. Our Company’s management has extended its oversight and monitoring processesconcluded that support internal control over financial reporting to include 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 a substantial portion of the Company’s total operating 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.
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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 (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, 2016 to September 30, 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.

are operating effectively.
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PART II.OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A.Risk Factors

We discuss in our Annual Report on Form 10-K various 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, 2017,2018, the 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”) forUnregistered Sales of Equity Securities

None.

Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities

None.

Purchases of Equity Securities by 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 exercisedIssuer or taxes payable associated with the distribution of shares.  Affiliated Purchasers

The following table provides information about the Company’s repurchasesshares surrendered for the settlement of sharespayroll taxes and exercise prices for options as related to equity award vesting and exercise events, during the three months ended March 31, 2017:

2018:
 
Number of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
 
Number of Shares
Purchased
 
Average Price
Paid per Share
January 1 to January 31 43,044
 $28.48
 23,057
 $32.80
February 1 to February 28 
 $
 31,318
 $31.69
March 1 to March 31 
 $
 2,950
 $36.85
       

Total 43,044
 $28.48
 57,325
 $32.40



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ITEM 6. Exhibits

(a)The following exhibits are filed with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:
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10.5410.50
Addendum XX
Second Amendment to Sprint PCS ManagementCredit Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2017,February 16, 2018, by and among Shenandoah Personal Communications, LLC, Sprint Spectrum L.P., Sprint CommunicationsTelecommunications Company, L.P., SprintCom, Inc.as Borrower, CoBank, ACB, ACB, as Administrative Agent, and Horizon Personal Communications, LLC, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed
March 15, 2017.
various other lenders named therein.
 
 
31.131.1*
Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
31.231.2*
Certification of Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
3232**
Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
 
 
(101)(101)Formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language)
   
 101.INS101.INS*XBRL Instance Document
   
 101.SCH101.SCH*XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
 101.CAL101.CAL*XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
 101.DEF101.DEF*XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
 101.LAB101.LAB*XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
 101.PRE101.PRE*XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

*    Filed herewith
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SIGNATURES

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

**SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
(Registrant)This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or the Exchange Act.

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

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.Exhibit
  
10.54Addendum XXSecond Amendment to Sprint PCS ManagementCredit Agreement, dated as of March 9, 2017,February 16, 2018, by and among Shenandoah Personal Communications, LLC, Sprint Spectrum L.P., Sprint CommunicationsTelecommunications Company, L.P., SprintCom, Inc.as Borrower, CoBank, ACB, ACB, as Administrative Agent, and Horizon Personal Communications, LLC, filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 15, 2017.various other lenders named therein.
  
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.
  
32**
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
*    Filed herewith
**This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or the Exchange Act.


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SIGNATURES

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

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

/s/JAMES F. WOODWARD
James F. Woodward
Senior Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 3, 2018


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