Shenandoah PCS Company, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, provides digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The Company receives revenues from Sprint Nextel for subscribers that obtain service in the Company’s network coverage area. The Company relies on Sprint Nextel to provide timely, accurate and complete information for the Company to record the appropriate revenue for each financial period.
The Company had 352 PCS base stations in service at March 31, 2008, compared to 334 base stations in service at March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had 54 EVDO sites operating, covering approximately 1.2 million potential customers; the Company anticipates bringing on-line an additional 53 EVDO sites by year end 2008, covering an additional 0.4 million potential customers. This is expected to bring EVDO coverage to over 80% of our network’s currently covered population.
The Company’s average PCS retail customer turnover, or churn rate, was 2.0% in the first quarter of 2008, compared to 2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 1.8% in the first quarter of 2007. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had 194,105 retail PCS subscribers compared to 165,148 subscribers at March 31, 2007. The PCS operation added 6,802 net retail customers in the first quarter of 2008 compared to 11,645 net retail subscribers added in the first quarter of 2007.
For the 2008 three month period, wireless service revenue totaled $21.1 million, an increase of $2.9 million or 15.8% over the comparable 2007 period. Gross billings totaled $31.4 million, an increase of $5.2 million or 19.9%, consistent with the 19.7% increase in average subscribers. Deductions from gross revenue increased $2.3 million compared to 2007, particularly allocated write-offs (which increased $1.3 million, or 110%), continuing a trend first noted in the third quarter of 2007. All other deductions increased $1.0 million, or approximately 14.6%, in 2008 compared to 2007.
Equipment revenue increased $0.2 million, as a result of increased sales of handsets to new and upgrading customers.
Overall PCS operating expenses increased $4.5 million, or 36.4%, from $12.4 million in the first quarter of 2007 to $16.9 million in the 2008 period. Recognizing the declining market share of Sprint Nextel’s national distribution channels and the lower rates of churn related to customers acquired through Company-owned PCS sales channels, the
Company has since 2007 undertaken a program to expand its points of distribution and invest in retention of its existing customers. These changes account for $3.2 million of the total change in operating expenses, with non-recurring reductions of expense (totaling $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2007 resulting from the changes in the Company’s management Agreement with Sprint Nextel) accounting for most of the remainder of the year over year increase in operating expenses.
Since the first quarter of 2007, the Company has increased its retail store network by 13 to 22 stores currently, at an increased cost of $0.7 million for the new stores, reflected in selling, general and administrative expense below. Relationships with local dealers have been expanded, increasing these dealer doors from 28 at March 31, 2007, to 46 as of March 31, 2008. As a result, the percentage of customers added through Company-controlled channels has increased from 40% in the first quarter of 2007 to 58% in 2008. Sprint Nextel is responsible for the handset and commission costs for customers acquired through its national and regional channels, while the Company is responsible for these costs through local distribution that it controls. Primarily as a result of this shift, the cost of handsets and commissions has grown from approximately $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2007 to $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2008. Commissions are categorized in selling, general and administrative expenses, and represented half of the increase in costs reflected in the prior sentence. Customer retention costs, principally costs of handsets used for upgrades, warranty and insurance replacements and included in cost of goods and services, increased $1.0 million from the 2007 comparable period, contributing to a reduction in churn from fourth quarter 2007’s 2.3% to 2.0% in the first quarter of 2008. Finally, expansion of our PCS network capacity, coverage, and the addition of EVDO (high speed wireless data/internet) service, added approximately $0.4 million to network costs (included in cost of goods and services) and $0.3 million to depreciation expense.
Cost of goods and services
Cost of goods and services increased $2.7 million in 2008 from the first quarter of 2007. Changes in distribution channels, efforts to reduce churn, costs of the expanded network, and adjustments resulting from the amendment in 2007 to the Agreement with Sprint Nextel, accounted for the increase.
The shift from Sprint Nextel national and regional distribution channels to local distribution for which the Company is responsible, as described above, resulted in a $0.4 million increase in handset costs for sales of new handsets to customers.
Customer churn was 1.8% in the first quarter of 2007. Churn has decreased from 2.3% in the fourth quarter of 2007 to 2.0% in the first quarter of 2008. Cost of customer retention, which aided in this drop in churn (including the costs of handsets used for upgrades, warranty and insurance replacements) increased by $1.0 million, from $1.1 million in 2007 to $2.1 million in the 2008 first quarter.
Cost of goods and services also includes line costs, up $0.4 million due to additional capacity to support EVDO high speed internet traffic. Such costs are expected to increase in future periods as additional EVDO sites are brought on-line, and as new towers and base stations are added to expand our network coverage. Cost of goods sold in 2007 also included $0.6 million in non-recurring expense reductions related to the 2007 amendment to the Agreement with Sprint Nextel.
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million in 2008 from the first quarter of 2007, consisting of approximately $0.7 million in rent and personnel costs associated with 13 retail stores acquired from Sprint Nextel in May 2007, and approximately $0.4 million in higher commissions in 2008 over 2007. In addition, 2007 first quarter results included a non-recurring benefit of $0.5 million due to the elimination of the bad debt reserve, no longer necessary under the 2007 amendment to the Agreement with Sprint Nextel.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization increased approximately $0.3 million in 2008 over 2007, due to the 13 retail stores acquired in 2007 and capital projects for EVDO capability and new cell sites placed in service mostly in the fourth quarter of 2007.
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Telephone
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(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | Change | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | $ | | % | |
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Segment operating revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service revenue – wireline | | $ | 1,677 | | $ | 1,698 | | $ | (21 | ) | | (1.2 | ) |
Access revenue | | | 3,036 | | | 3,223 | | | (187 | ) | | (5.8 | ) |
Facilities lease revenue | | | 2,081 | | | 1,758 | | | 323 | | | 18.4 | |
Equipment revenue | | | 4 | | | 5 | | | (1 | ) | | (20.0 | ) |
Other revenue | | | 929 | | | 935 | | | (6 | ) | | (0.6 | ) |
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Total segment operating revenues | | | 7,727 | | | 7,619 | | | 108 | | | 1.4 | |
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Segment operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 1,581 | | | 2,372 | | | (791 | ) | | (33.3 | ) |
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 1,056 | | | 1,851 | | | (795 | ) | | (42.9 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,509 | | | 1,177 | | | 332 | | | 28.2 | |
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Total segment operating expenses | | | 4,146 | | | 5,400 | | | (1,254 | ) | | (23.2 | ) |
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Segment operating income | | $ | 3,581 | | $ | 2,219 | | $ | 1,362 | | | 61.4 | |
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Shenandoah Telephone Company provides both regulated and unregulated telephone services and leases fiber optic facilities primarily throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley, and into the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, DC.
Over past periods, the trend amongst regulated local telephone service providers has been a decline in subscribers, principally due to competition from cable companies and other competitive providers, and consumer migration to wireless and DSL services eliminating second and often the primary access lines. The construction of new homes within Shenandoah County, combined with Shentel’s ownership of the overlapping cable franchise (which does not offer internet or voice service), appeared to have mitigated this trend. In the first quarter of 2008, access lines declined by 106, compared to a decline of 36 in the first quarter of 2007. Based on industry experience, the Company anticipates that the long-term trend toward declining telephone subscriber counts will continue for the foreseeable future.
Operating revenues
Access revenue decreased $0.2 million, or 5.8%, due to adjustments to NECA settlements.
Facilities lease revenue increased $0.3 million, or 18.4%, due to additional circuits leased during 2007.
Cost of goods and services
Cost of goods and services decreased in 2008 by $0.8 million, or 33.3%, due to a portion of the early retirements and severances allocated to the Telephone segment in 2007 ($0.6 million), combined with a gain of $0.1 million in 2008 on asset disposals.
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative costs decreased $0.8 million, or 42.9%, due primarily to the remaining portion of the cost of the early retirements and severances allocated to the Telephone segment in 2007 ($0.7 million).
Depreciation and amortization
In late 2007, the Company accelerated depreciation on certain network assets scheduled for replacement over the next year. As a result, depreciation and amortization expense increased $0.3 million.
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Converged Services
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| | Three Months Ended March 31, | | Change | |
(in thousands) | | 2008 | | 2007 | | $ | | % | |
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Segment operating revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service revenue | | $ | 2,868 | | $ | 2,532 | | $ | 336 | | | 13.3 | |
Other revenue | | | 180 | | | 151 | | | 29 | | | 19.2 | |
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Total segment operating revenues | | | 3,048 | | | 2,683 | | | 365 | | | 13.6 | |
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Segment operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 2,186 | | | 1,909 | | | 277 | | | 14.5 | |
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 1,207 | | | 975 | | | 232 | | | 23.8 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 1,277 | | | 1,480 | | | (203 | ) | | (13.7 | ) |
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Total segment operating expenses | | | 4,670 | | | 4,364 | | | 306 | | | 7.0 | |
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Segment operating (loss) | | $ | (1,622 | ) | $ | (1,681 | ) | $ | 59 | | | (3.5 | ) |
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The Converged Services segment provides local and long distance voice, data and video services on an exclusive and non-exclusive basis to MDU communities throughout the southeastern United States including Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, Delaware and Washington, DC.
The number of MDU properties served increased by eight net properties, to 113 at March 31, 2008 from 105 as of the end of the first quarter of 2007. One property was added during the first quarter of 2008, while three properties were added during the first quarter of 2007.
Operating revenues
Service revenue increased $0.3 million, or 13.3%. Service revenues consist of voice, video and data services at MDU properties in the southeastern United States. Video and data service revenues each increased $0.2 million, partly offset by $0.1 million in declining voice revenue, as college students migrate to wireless phone service.
Cost of goods and services
Cost of goods and services increased in 2008 by $0.3 million, or 14.5%, compared to the first quarter of 2007. Cost of goods and services reflects the cost of purchasing video and voice services, the network costs to provide Internet services to customers and network maintenance and repair. Network costs increased $0.2 million, while video programming costs increased $0.1 million, primarily due to costs at new properties opened since December 31, 2006.
Selling, general and administrative
Selling, general and administrative expense increased in 2008 by $0.2 million, or 23.8%, primarily due to professional fees incurred in connection with proposed FCC rulings on exclusive access contracts.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $0.2 million, or 13.7%, compared to the first quarter of 2007, as certain phone system assets became fully depreciated at the end of 2007.
19
Mobile
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(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | Change | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | $ | | % | |
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Segment operating revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Tower lease revenue-affiliate | | $ | 595 | | $ | 435 | | $ | 160 | | | 36.8 | |
Tower lease revenue-non-affiliate | | | 987 | | | 880 | | | 107 | | | 12.2 | |
Other revenue | | | 44 | | | 92 | | | (48 | ) | | (52.2 | ) |
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Total segment operating revenues | | | 1,626 | | | 1,407 | | | 219 | | | 15.6 | |
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Segment operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 449 | | | 461 | | | (12 | ) | | (2.6 | ) |
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 206 | | | 204 | | | 2 | | | 1.0 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 218 | | | 232 | | | (14 | ) | | (6.0 | ) |
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Total segment operating expenses | | | 873 | | | 897 | | | (24 | ) | | (2.7 | ) |
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Segment operating income | | $ | 753 | | $ | 510 | | $ | 243 | | | 47.6 | |
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The Mobile segment provides tower rental space to affiliated and non-affiliated companies in the Company’s PCS markets and paging services throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley.
At March 31, 2008, the Mobile segment had 114 towers and 169 non-affiliate tenants compared to 113 towers and 148 non-affiliate tenants at March 31, 2007.
Operating revenues
The increase in tower lease revenue - affiliate, resulted from adjustments made in the second quarter of 2007 to better reflect market rents for tower space. The increase in non-affiliate tower lease revenue resulted primarily from additional leases.
The decrease in other revenue resulted primarily from lease termination fees received in early 2007 following the AT&T- BellSouth merger.
20
Cable Television
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(in thousands) | | Three Months Ended March 31, | | Change | |
| | 2008 | | 2007 | | $ | | % | |
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Segment operating revenues | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Service revenue | | $ | 1,206 | | $ | 1,130 | | $ | 76 | | | 6.7 | |
Equipment and other revenue | | | 127 | | | 118 | | | 9 | | | 7.6 | |
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Total segment operating revenues | | | 1,333 | | | 1,248 | | | 85 | | | 6.8 | |
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Segment operating expenses | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 910 | | | 1,156 | | | (246 | ) | | (21.3 | ) |
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below | | | 317 | | | 449 | | | (132 | ) | | (29.4 | ) |
Depreciation and amortization | | | 257 | | | 271 | | | (14 | ) | | (5.2 | ) |
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Total segment operating expenses | | | 1,484 | | | 1,876 | | | (392 | ) | | (20.9 | ) |
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Segment operating loss | | $ | (151 | ) | $ | (628 | ) | $ | 477 | | | (76.0 | ) |
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The Cable Television segment provides analog, digital and high-definition television signals under franchise agreements within Shenandoah County, Virginia. As of March 31, 2008, it served 8,277 subscribers, down 26 from December 31, 2007 and down 143 from March 31, 2007. Increases in digital subscribers were offset by losses in basic customers.
Operating revenues
Service revenue increased slightly in 2008 from 2007 due to a rate increase for both basic and digital customers in late 2007. Rates for these two categories increased approximately 9%.
Cost of goods and services
Cost of goods and services decreased due to higher costs incurred in 2007 associated with the new high-definition television service launch, as well as a portion of this segment’s share of early retirement costs ($0.1 million) incurred in early 2007.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.1 million due to the remaining portion of the Cable segment’s share of early retirement costs recognized in the first quarter of 2007.
21
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has four principal sources of funds available to meet the financing needs of its operations, capital projects, debt service, investments and potential dividends. These sources include cash flows from operations, cash and cash equivalents, the liquidation of investments and borrowings. Management routinely considers the alternatives available to determine what mix of sources are best suited for the long-term benefit of the Company.
Sources and Uses of Cash. The Company generated $14.3 million of net cash from operations in the 2008 three month period, compared to $11.3 million in the 2007 three month period. Changes in accounts receivable and accounts payable during 2007 related to the changes in the settlement process with Sprint Nextel that resulted in certain revenues and expenses being netted into a fee that is now reported net within revenue, with corresponding changes in receivables and payables.
Indebtedness. As of March 31, 2008, the Company’s indebtedness totaled $20.9 million, with an annualized overall weighted average interest rate of approximately 7.5%. As of March 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with the covenants in its credit agreements.
The Company utilized a revolving reducing credit facility to fund the Converged Services acquisition in 2004. No balances are currently outstanding on this facility, and the Company has the ability to borrow approximately $11.0 million as of March 31, 2008.
The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements and has not entered into any transactions involving unconsolidated, limited purpose entities or commodity contracts.
Capital Commitments. Capital expenditures budgeted for 2008 total approximately $65 million, including approximately $28.9 million for 60 additional PCS base stations and towers to expand our network coverage and capacity (principally in Pennsylvania), 53 new EVDO sites to provide EVDO service over more of our network, and additional switch capacity to handle the additional growth. The Company had slowed PCS capital spending until the uncertainty regarding its relationship with Sprint Nextel was eliminated by the new Agreement in 2007. Approximately $17.7 million is budgeted for Converged Services’ network upgrades, new apartment complex build outs, improvements and replacements; approximately $9.6 million for telephone network operations and fiber projects; and approximately $8.7 million for back office technology upgrades, to add capacity and redundancy to our fiber networks in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, and other capital needs. Capital spending may shift amongst these priorities as opportunities arise.
For the 2008 three month period, the Company spent $7.8 million on capital projects, compared to $3.5 million in 2007. Spending related to PCS accounted for $3.2 million of the increase, as the Company continued to expand its network coverage. Spending on fiber projects accounted for $0.4 million of the growth, with the remainder spread amongst numerous other projects.
The Company believes that cash on hand, cash flow from operations and borrowings expected to be available under the Company’s existing revolving credit facility will provide sufficient cash to enable the Company to fund its planned capital expenditures, make scheduled principal and interest payments, meet its other cash requirements and maintain compliance with the terms of its financing agreements for at least the next 12 months. Thereafter, capital expenditures will likely continue to be required to provide increased capacity to meet the Company’s expected growth in demand for its products and services. The actual amount and timing of the Company’s future capital requirements may differ materially from the Company’s estimate depending on the demand for its products and new market developments and opportunities. The Company currently expects that it will fund its future capital expenditures primarily with cash from operations and with borrowings, although there are events outside the control of the Company that could have an adverse impact on cash flows from operations.
These events include, but are not limited to: changes in overall economic conditions, regulatory requirements, changes in technologies, availability of labor resources and capital, changes in the Company’s relationship with Sprint Nextel, cancellations or non-renewal of Converged Services contracts and other conditions. The PCS subsidiary’s operations are dependent upon Sprint Nextel’s ability to execute certain functions such as billing, customer care, and collections; the subsidiary’s ability to develop and implement successful marketing programs and new products and services, and the subsidiary’s ability to effectively and economically manage other operating activities under the Company’s agreements with Sprint Nextel. The Company’s ability to attract and maintain a sufficient customer base is also critical
22
to its ability to maintain a positive cash flow from operations. The foregoing events individually or collectively could affect the Company’s results.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
There were no recently issued accounting standards, not adopted by the Company as of March 31, 2008, that are expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.
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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 three components. The first component is outstanding debt with variable rates. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had no variable rate debt outstanding. All of the Company’s outstanding debt has fixed rates through maturity. A 10.0% increase in interest rates would decrease the fair value of the Company’s total debt by approximately $0.3 million, while the estimated fair value of the fixed rate debt was approximately $21.5 million as of March 31, 2008.
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. The cash is currently invested in an institutional cash management fund that has limited interest rate risk. Management continues to evaluate 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. Management does not believe that this risk is currently significant because the Company’s existing sources of liquidity are adequate to provide cash for operations, payment of debt and near-term capital projects.
Management does not view market risk as having a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, although future results could be adversely affected if interest rates were to increase significantly for an extended period and the Company were to require external financing. The Company’s investments in publicly traded equity 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 Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan. General economic conditions affected by regulatory changes, competition or other external influences may pose a higher risk to the Company’s overall results.
As of March 31, 2008, the Company has $7.0 million invested in privately held companies directly or through investments with portfolio managers. Most of the companies are in an early stage of development and significant increases in interest rates could have an adverse impact on their results, ability to raise capital and viability. The Company’s market risk is limited to the funds previously invested and an additional $0.7 million committed under contracts the Company has signed with portfolio managers.
23
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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 Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, who is the principal financial officer, conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined by Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2008.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During the first quarter of 2008, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting.
Other Matters Relating to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Under the Company’s agreements with Sprint Nextel, Sprint Nextel provides the Company with billing, collections, customer care, certain network operations and other back office services for the PCS operation. As a result, Sprint Nextel remits to the Company approximately 60% of the Company’s total operating revenues. Due to this relationship, the Company necessarily relies on Sprint Nextel to provide accurate, timely and sufficient data and information to properly record the Company’s revenues, and accounts receivable, which underlie a substantial portion of the Company’s periodic financial statements and other financial disclosures.
Information provided by Sprint Nextel includes reports regarding the subscriber accounts receivable in the Company’s markets. Sprint Nextel provides the Company with monthly accounts receivable, billing and cash receipts 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 Nextel, 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 16.8% of revenue retained by Sprint Nextel. Because of the Company’s reliance on Sprint Nextel for financial information, the Company must depend on Sprint Nextel to design adequate internal controls with respect to the processes established to provide this data and information to the Company and Sprint Nextel’s other Sprint PCS affiliate network partners. To address this issue, Sprint Nextel 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 for Affiliates” under guidance provided in Statement of Auditing Standards No. 70 (“SAS 70 reports”). The report is provided to the Company on a semi-annual basis and covers a nine-month period. The most recent report covers the period from January 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007. 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 Nextel related to the Company’s relationship with them.
24
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PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
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ITEM 1. | Legal Proceedings |
The Company had no material legal proceedings as of the date of this report.
As previously discussed, our actual results could differ materially from our forward looking statements. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes in the risk factors from those described in Part 1, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
The intellectual property rights utilized by us, our suppliers and service providers may infringe on intellectual property rights owned by others. We purchase products from suppliers, including handset device suppliers, and utilize service providers to provide services including billing and customer care functions, that incorporate or utilize intellectual property. Some of our suppliers and service providers have received, and may receive in the future, assertions and claims from third parties that the products or software utilized by us or our suppliers and service providers infringe on the patents or other intellectual property rights of these third parties. These claims could require us or an infringing supplier or service provider to cease certain activities or to cease selling the relevant products and services. Such claims and assertions also could subject us to costly litigation and significant liabilities for damages or royalty payments, or require us to cease certain activities or to cease selling certain products and services.
All suppliers of our CDMA handsets license intellectual property from QUALCOMM. Some of this QUALCOMM intellectual property has been found to infringe on certain patents owned by Broadcom Corporation. The International Trade Commission has found that QUALCOMM infringes certain of Broadcom’s intellectual property, and a United States district court recently enjoined QUALCOMM from further infringement of other patents and from certain other activities. Although that injunction is effective immediately, the ruling contains a sunset provision for certain QUALCOMM products, which expires on January 31, 2009, that provides time for QUALCOMM to modify its infringing products to avoid infringement. If QUALCOMM does not modify its products so as to avoid infringement of Broadcom’s patents at issue by January 31, 2009, QUALCOMM will be unable to sell or support those products that were found to infringe and we may be unable to use CDMA handsets that are the subject of these claims, including handsets that utilize QUALCOMM’s QChat technology, which we intend to use in the future to provide push-to-talk services on our network.
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ITEM 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
The Company maintains a dividend reinvestment plan (the “DRIP”) for the benefit of its shareholders. When shareholders remove shares from the DRIP, the Company issues a certificate for whole shares, pays out cash for any fractional shares, and cancels the fractional shares purchased. The following table provides information about the Company’s repurchases of fractional shares during the three months ended March 31, 2008:
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| | Number of Shares Purchased | | Average Price Paid per Share | |
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January 1 to January 31 | | | 4 | | | $ | 21.61 | |
February 1 to February 28 | | | 2 | | | $ | 18.28 | |
March 1 to March 31 | | | 1 | | | $ | 15.10 | |
| |
|
| | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total | | | 7 | | | $ | 19.98 | |
| |
|
| | | | | |
25
| |
(a) The following exhibits are filed with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q: |
| |
31.1 | Certification of President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| |
31.2 | 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. |
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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) |
| | |
| /s/Adele M. Skolits |
|
|
| Adele M. Skolits, Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: May 6, 2008 |
27
EXHIBIT INDEX
28