SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| (Mark one) | ||
| ý | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
| For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 | ||
| OR | ||
| ¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to | |
Commission file number: 1-8606
Verizon Communications Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 23-2259884 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York | 10036 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 395-1000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| Common Stock, $.10 par value | New York Stock Exchange The NASDAQ Global Select Market | |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ☐ Yes ☒ No
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 every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a 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. (Check one):
| 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 Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
At June 30, 2018, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $207,844,016,206.
At January 31, 2019, 4,132,045,883 shares of the registrant’s common stock were outstanding, after deducting 159,387,763 shares held in treasury.
Documents Incorporated By Reference:
Portions of the registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the year ended December 31, 2018 (Parts I and II).
Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in connection with the registrant’s 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Part III).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Item No. | Page | |
| PART I | ||
| Item 1. | ||
| Item 1A. | ||
| Item 1B. | ||
| Item 2. | ||
| Item 3. | ||
| Item 4. | ||
| PART II | ||
| Item 5. | ||
| Item 6. | ||
| Item 7. | ||
| Item 7A. | ||
| Item 8. | ||
| Item 9. | ||
| Item 9A. | ||
| Item 9B. | ||
| PART III | ||
| Item 10. | ||
| Item 11. | ||
| Item 12. | ||
| Item 13. | ||
| Item 14. | ||
| PART IV | ||
| Item 15. | ||
| Certifications | ||
| PART I |
| Item 1. Business |
General
Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon or the Company) is a holding company that, acting through its subsidiaries, is one of the world’s leading providers of communications, information and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses and governmental agencies. With a presence around the world, we offer voice, data and video services and solutions on our networks that are designed to meet customers’ demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity, security and control. Formerly known as Bell Atlantic Corporation (Bell Atlantic), we were incorporated in 1983 under the laws of the State of Delaware. We began doing business as Verizon on June 30, 2000 following our merger with GTE Corporation. We have a highly diverse workforce of approximately 144,500 employees.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 (telephone number 212-395-1000).
We have two reportable segments, Wireless and Wireline, which we operate and manage as strategic business units and organize by products and services, and customer groups, respectively.
| Wireless | Wireless’ communications products and services include wireless voice and data services and equipment sales, which are provided to consumer, business and government customers across the United States (U.S.). |
| Wireline | Wireline’s communications products and enhanced services include video and data services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services and local and long distance voice services. We provide these products and services to consumers in the U.S., as well as to carriers, businesses and government customers both in the U.S. and around the world. |
In November 2018, we announced a strategic reorganization of our business. We are modifying our internal and external reporting processes, systems and internal controls to accommodate the new structure and expect to transition to the new segment reporting structure during the second quarter of 2019. We continue to report operating results to our chief operating decision maker under our current operating segments.
Additional discussion of our reportable segments is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders under the headings "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Overview and - Segment Results of Operations" and in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. and subsidiaries, which are incorporated by reference into this report.
Wireless
Background
Our Wireless segment, doing business as Verizon Wireless, provides wireless communications products and services across one of the most extensive wireless networks in the U.S. Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless service provider in the U.S. as measured by retail connections and revenue. At December 31, 2018, Verizon Wireless had 118.0 million retail connections and 2018 revenues of approximately $91.7 billion, representing approximately 70% of Verizon’s aggregate revenues.
Cellco Partnership (Cellco), which originally held the wireless assets of Bell Atlantic, began operating as "Verizon Wireless" in April 2000 with both Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone) and Bell Atlantic as partners, following Vodafone’s contribution of its U.S. wireless assets into Cellco. We acquired all of Vodafone’s indirect 45% interest in Verizon Wireless in 2014, which resulted in full ownership of Verizon Wireless.
Wireless Service and Product Offerings
Our wireless services are available to our customers receiving service under the Verizon Wireless brand, customers that obtain wireless products and services that operate on our network from resellers that purchase network access from us on a wholesale basis and customers that utilize Internet of Things (IoT) services via our network.
Wireless Services
We offer our customers a wide variety of wireless services accessible on a broad range of devices. Customers can obtain our wireless services on a postpaid or prepaid basis. Retail (non-wholesale) postpaid accounts primarily represent retail customers with Verizon Wireless that are directly served and managed by Verizon Wireless and use its branded services. A single account may include monthly wireless services for a variety of connected devices. A retail postpaid connection represents an individual line of service for a wireless device for which a customer is generally billed one month in advance for a monthly access charge in return for access to and usage of network services. Approximately 96% of our total retail connections were postpaid connections as of December 31, 2018. Our prepaid service enables individuals to obtain wireless services without credit verification by paying for all services in advance.
We offer various postpaid account service plans, including unlimited plans, shared data plans, single connection plans and other plans tailored to the needs of our customers. Our unlimited plans, available to our consumer and business customers, offer, among other things, unlimited domestic voice, data and texting. Our unlimited plans allow customers to mix and match plans by line, with different benefits and inclusions beyond just traditional data access, voice and text. Our shared data plans typically feature unlimited domestic voice, unlimited domestic and
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international text, video and picture messaging, and a single data allowance that can be shared among the wireless devices on a customer’s account. This allowance will vary from time to time as part of promotional offers or in response to market circumstances. Customers on certain fixed-data plans may carry over unused data allowances to the next billing period, or stay online at a reduced data speed after using all of a data allowance for a billing period. Our unlimited and shared data plans include High Definition (HD) Voice and Video Calling on compatible devices, and certain plans offer additional services, such as Mobile Hotspot services and free roaming in Canada and Mexico on compatible devices. Our HD Voice services, enabled by Voice over LTE (VoLTE), deliver calls over our fourth-generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, and our Video Calling service combines an HD Voice call with real-time video. Our Mobile Hotspot service enables a customer to activate a personal Wi-Fi hotspot that can provide Internet access to multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices. Our unlimited plans provide customers the ability to stream DVD or HD quality videos, based on the service plan. We also offer various voice and shared data plans for business customers.
As of January 2017, we no longer offer consumers new fixed-term subsidized service plans for phones; however, we continue to offer subsidized plans to our business customers, and we also continue to service existing fixed-term subsidized plans for consumers who have not yet purchased and activated devices under the Verizon device payment program.
We also offer prepaid connection service plans that feature domestic unlimited voice and unlimited domestic and international text. We have both single line and multi-line family options, with individual line data plan selections ranging from 500 megabytes per month to unlimited data. Family prepaid accounts include a line discount based on the number of total lines. On compatible devices, our prepaid plans also feature video and picture messaging, HD Voice and Video Calling. Our metered prepaid plans include Mobile Hotspot services and allow customers to continue to access our data services at reduced data speeds after using their monthly allowance for 4G LTE high speed data. None of our prepaid plans require an annual contract or credit check.
Our international travel wireless services allow our customers to access voice, text and data services on many of our "World" smartphones, tablets or basic phones from various international destinations, dependent upon the customer's wireless plan. With TravelPass, customers are able to use their domestic talk, text and data allowances while traveling in Mexico, Canada and other countries where TravelPass is available for a flat rate per day.
Access to the Internet is available on all smartphones and nearly all basic phones. In addition, our customers can access the Internet at broadband speeds on notebook computers and tablets that are either wireless enabled or that are used in conjunction with separate dedicated devices that provide a mobile Wi-Fi connection.
We also provide network access needed to deliver various IoT products and services. We work with various companies that purchase network access from us to connect their Open Development certified devices, bundled together with their own solutions, which they sell to end-users.
Wireless Equipment
We offer several categories of wireless equipment, including a variety of smartphone and other handsets, wireless-enabled Internet devices, such as tablets, laptop computers and netbooks and other wireless enabled connected devices, such as smart watches and other wearables, and our Hum product.
Distribution
We use a combination of direct, indirect and alternative distribution channels to market and distribute our products and services.
Our direct channel includes our business-to-business sales operations and systems organization and is focused on supporting the wireless communications needs of consumers and local, regional and national business customers. Company-operated stores are a core component of our distribution strategy. Our "Next Gen Design" retail stores focus on our customer's evolving digital lifestyle.
Our indirect channel includes agents that sell our postpaid and prepaid wireless products and services at retail locations throughout the U.S., as well as through the Internet. The majority of these agents sell both our postpaid and prepaid products and services and do so under exclusive selling arrangements with us. We also have relationships with high-profile national retailers, which sell our postpaid and prepaid wireless products and services, and with various convenience store chains, which sell our prepaid products and services.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive industry. We compete against other national wireless service providers, including AT&T Inc., Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile USA, Inc., as well as various regional wireless service providers. We also compete for retail activations with resellers that buy bulk wholesale service from wireless service providers for resale, including resellers that buy from us. Competition remains intense as a result of high rates of smartphone penetration in the wireless market, increased network investment by our competitors, the development and deployment of new technologies, the introduction of new products and services, offerings that include additional premium content, new market entrants, the availability of additional spectrum, both licensed and unlicensed and regulatory changes. Competition may also increase as smaller, stand-alone wireless service providers merge or transfer licenses to larger, better capitalized wireless service providers and as mobile virtual network operators resell wireless communication services.
The wireless industry also faces competition from other communications and technology companies seeking to increase their brand recognition and capture customer revenue with respect to the provision of wireless products and services, in addition to non-traditional offerings in mobile data. For example, Microsoft Corporation, Google Inc., Apple Inc. and others are offering alternative means for making wireless voice calls that, in certain cases, can be used in lieu of the wireless provider’s voice service, as well as alternative means of accessing video content.
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We believe that the following are the most important competitive factors in our industry:
| • | Network reliability, capacity and coverage. We consider a wireless network that consistently provides high-quality and reliable service to be a key differentiator in the U.S. market and driver of customer satisfaction. Lower prices, improved service quality and new wireless service offerings, which in many cases include video content, have led to increased customer usage of wireless services, which, in turn, puts pressure on network capacity. In order to compete effectively, wireless service providers must keep pace with network capacity needs and offer highly reliable national coverage through their networks. We believe that the depth and breadth of our network provides our fundamental strength and is the basis for our competitive advantage in the wireless marketplace. |
| • | Pricing. Service and equipment pricing play an important role in the wireless competitive landscape, with plans that address both the postpaid and prepaid customer. As the demand for wireless services continues to grow, we and other wireless service providers are offering service plans at competitive prices that include voice services, data access and text messaging, in some cases on an unlimited basis. Many other wireless service providers have also bundled wireless service offerings with other products while others offer promotional pricing and incentives targeted specifically to customers of Verizon Wireless. We and other wireless service providers, as well as equipment manufacturers, also offer device payment options, which provide consumers with the ability to pay for their device over a period of time, and device leasing arrangements. In addition, aggressive device promotions have also become more common in a highly penetrated market in order to gain share of subscribers interested in changing carriers. |
| • | Customer service. We believe that high-quality customer service is a key factor in retaining customers and attracting new customers, including those of other wireless providers. Our customer service, retention and satisfaction programs are based on providing customers with convenient and easy-to-use products and services and focusing on their needs in order to promote long-term relationships and minimize churn. To promote long-term relationships with our customers, we launched the Verizon Up program, which offers a variety of rewards to customers in exchange for points they earn in connection with their account-related transactions with Verizon Wireless. The program offers customers discounts on products, services and access to experiences, such as sporting events, shows and concerts. |
| • | Product and service development. As wireless technologies develop and wireless broadband networks proliferate, continued customer and revenue growth will be increasingly dependent on the development of new and enhanced data products and services. We continue to pursue the development and rapid deployment of new and innovative wireless products and services both independently and in collaboration with application and content providers. We also collaborate with various device manufacturers in the development of distinctive smartphones and other wireless devices that can access the growing array of data applications and content available over the Internet. We continue to focus on increasing the penetration of smartphones, tablets and other connected devices throughout our customer base. In addition, as the price for smartphones has continued to increase in the market, our device protection services have grown in importance for consumers. |
| • | Sales and distribution. A key to achieving sales success in the wireless industry is the reach and quality of sales channels and distribution points. We believe that attaining the optimal combination of varying distribution channels is important to achieving industry-leading profitability, as measured by operating income. We strive to increase sales through our company-operated stores, outside sales teams and telemarketing, web-based sales and fulfillment capabilities, our extensive indirect distribution network of retail outlets and prepaid replenishment locations, and through manufacturers of laptops and netbooks that can access the Internet on our network at broadband speeds. In addition, we sell network access to both traditional resellers, which resell network services to their end-users, and to various companies to enable wireless communications for their IoT devices or services. |
| • | Capital resources. In order to expand the capacity and coverage of their networks and introduce new products and services, wireless service providers require significant capital resources. We generate significant cash flow from operations to enable continued investment. |
Our success will depend on our ability to anticipate and respond to various factors affecting the wireless industry. These include the factors described above, as well as new technologies, new business models, changes in customer preferences, regulatory changes, demographic trends, economic conditions and pricing strategies that bundle the services of wireless and cable competitors.
Strategic Transaction
During March 2015, we completed a transaction with American Tower Corporation (American Tower) pursuant to which American Tower acquired the exclusive rights to lease and operate approximately 11,300 of our wireless towers and corresponding ground leases for an upfront payment of $5.0 billion. We have subleased capacity on the towers from American Tower for a minimum of 10 years at current market rates, with options to renew. Under the terms of the lease agreements, American Tower has exclusive rights to lease and operate towers over an average term of approximately 28 years. As the leases expire, American Tower has fixed-price purchase options to acquire these towers based on their anticipated fair market values at the end of the lease terms. As part of this transaction, we also sold 162 towers for $0.1 billion.
See "Network and Technology - Spectrum" for additional information regarding the NextLink Wireless LLC (NextLink) and Straight Path Communications Inc. (Straight Path) strategic transactions related to the Wireless segment.
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Wireline
Background
Our Wireline segment provides communications products and enhanced services, including video and data services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services and local and long distance voice services. We provide these products and services to consumers in the U.S., as well as to carriers, businesses and government customers both in the U.S. and around the world. In 2018, Wireline revenues were $29.8 billion, representing approximately 23% of Verizon’s aggregate revenues.
To compensate for the shrinking market for traditional copper-based products (such as voice services), we continue to build our Wireline business around a fiber-based network supporting data, video and advanced business services - areas where demand for reliable high-speed connections is growing. We continue to seek ways to increase revenue, further realize operating and capital efficiencies and maximize profitability across the segment. We are reinventing our network architecture around a common fiber platform that will support both our wireless and wireline businesses. We expect our "multi-use fiber" Intelligent Edge Network initiative will create opportunities to generate revenue from fiber-based services in our Wireline business.
Wireline Service and Product Offerings
We organize our service and product offerings by the primary customer groups targeted by these offerings - Consumer Markets, Enterprise Solutions, Partner Solutions and Business Markets.
Consumer Markets
Consumer Markets provides residential fixed connectivity solutions, including Internet, TV and voice services. We provide these services over our 100% fiber-optic network under the brand "Fios" and over a traditional copper-based network to customers who are not served by Fios. In 2018, Consumer Markets revenues were $12.6 billion, representing approximately 42% of Wireline’s aggregate revenues.
Internet services. We offer our Fios customers fast and reliable 100% fiber-optic Internet connectivity. As customers connect more devices in their home and stream more high definition video, the need for a fast and reliable Internet connection is growing. In 2017, we introduced our Gigabit Connection in the marketplace, offering speeds of up to 940 Mbps on download and 880 Mbps on upload. As additional cloud-based applications are introduced, we believe that customers will place an increasing value on upstream bandwidth performance that matches what they already receive for download. In other areas of our footprint where Fios service is not available, we offer high speed Internet (HSI) using Digital Subscriber Line technology.
Video services. We offer video service over our fiber-optic network. As of December 31, 2018, Fios video services were available to homes across 9 states, as well as the District of Columbia. We have several offerings available to our Fios TV customers, including
| • | Fios Custom TV, which provides customers with seven distinct package offerings. Each package includes the local versions of the major broadcast stations and other similar local content and then adds on more than 45 specialty channels driven by popular viewership choices; |
| • | Fios Traditional TV, which provides customers with a variety of package offerings. The most basic package offering includes more than 15 channels including core networks while the other packages all include access to more than 280 channels. |
| • | Fios on Demand, which gives Fios customers the ability to watch content virtually anytime and anywhere, on any compatible device. Customers who subscribe to Fios Internet and video services also have the ability to upload their photos, music and videos to their personal Fios on Demand Library, which gives them access to this content via various data-capable devices. |
| • | Fios Multi-Room DVR, which provides customers the ability to record up to 12 shows at once and control live TV from any room in their home. |
We continue to develop and enhance our video platform to maintain driving engagement and improving the customer experience.
Voice services. We offer voice services on our fiber and copper networks, providing local, long distance, and calling features.
Enterprise Solutions
Enterprise Solutions helps customers transform their businesses to compete in the digital economy, with solutions that adapt to increasingly dynamic needs for connectivity, security and collaboration. With the accelerating pace of digital transformation, mitigating risk, maintaining business continuity, and capitalizing on data to create personalized experiences are key priorities for global enterprise companies. Enterprise Solutions offers traditional circuit-based network products and services and advanced networking solutions, including Private Internet Protocol (IP), Ethernet, and Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN), and cyber security services, along with our traditional voice services, and advanced workforce productivity and customer contact center solutions. In 2018, Enterprise Solutions revenues were $8.8 billion, representing approximately 30% of Wireline’s aggregate revenues.
Networks. We offer a robust portfolio of network connectivity products to help our enterprise and business customers connect with their employees, partners, vendors, customers and, for our government customers, their constituents.
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| • | Internet. We offer our enterprise and business customers the ability to connect to the Internet via our Fios Internet and our dedicated Internet access services, which provide extensive bandwidth, configuration and billing options designed to address specific business needs. |
| • | Private Networks. Our private networking services connect multiple business locations securely through our Private IP and Ethernet services, generally via fiber-optic based connectivity. Point to point connectivity via Ethernet or Wavelength is also available. |
| • | Virtual and Software Defined Networks. We provide our enterprise and business customers with the ability to leverage the power of Software Defined Networking technologies, such as SD-WAN or Virtual Network Services (VNS), with easily ordered and deployed "on demand" capabilities. These services can function "over the top" of our network or those of other carriers, enabling significant customer flexibility, advanced security options and digital/software enablement of their network. |
Advanced Communications Services. We offer a suite of services to our enterprise and business customers to help them communicate with their employees, partners, vendors, constituents and customers.
| • | Voice over IP (VoIP). Our VoIP services enable communications via our managed IP based communications services for enterprise and business customers that seek a hosted IP communications/phone system or an IP based telephony service for on-premise phone systems or private branch exchanges (PBX). |
| • | Unified Communications & Collaboration (UC&C). Our UC&C services, an expansion of our VoIP services, provide our business customers with unified tools for communications and collaboration, such as instant messaging and presence, and audio, video and web conferencing. |
| • | Customer Experience/Contact Center. We offer our business customers the ability to deliver integrated support services to their own customers, employees or constituents. Hosted and on-premise versions are available, which include the ability to support remote agents and integration with our business customer’s back office systems and tools. |
Security services. We offer a suite of management and data security services to help our enterprise, business and government customers protect, detect and respond to security threats to their networks, data, applications and infrastructure.
Core services. Core services include core voice and data services, which consist of a comprehensive portfolio of domestic and global solutions utilizing traditional telecommunications technology. Voice services include local exchange, regional, long distance and toll-free calling along with voice messaging services, conferencing and contact center solutions. Core data includes private line and data access networks. Core services also include the provision of customer premises equipment, and installation, maintenance and site services. We continue to transition customers out of copper-based legacy voice and data services to fiber services, including IP and Ethernet.
Partner Solutions
Partner Solutions provides communications services including data, voice, local dial tone and broadband services primarily to local, long distance, and wireless carriers that use our facilities to provide services to their customers. In 2018, Partner Solutions revenues were $4.7 billion, representing approximately 16% of Wireline’s aggregate revenues. A portion of Partner Solutions revenues are generated by a few large telecommunications companies, most of which compete directly with us.
Partner Solutions provides the following key services to both Wireless and Wireline carriers:
Data services. We offer a robust portfolio of data services with varying speeds and options to enhance our wholesale customers’ networks and provide connections to their end-users and subscribers. Our data services include high-speed digital data offerings, such as Ethernet and Wavelength services, as well as core time-division multiplexing (TDM) data circuits, such as DS1s and DS3s. In addition, we receive revenue from data services that is generated from carriers that buy dedicated local exchange capacity to support their private networks. We have also launched a dark fiber product for wireless carriers as demand for wireless data continues to grow and dark fiber plays a larger role in their network architecture.
Voice services. We provide switched access services that allow carriers to complete their end-user calls that originate or terminate within our territory. In addition, we provide originating and terminating voice services throughout the U.S. and globally utilizing our TDM and VoIP networks.
Local services. We offer an array of local dial tone and broadband services to competitive local exchange carriers, some of which are offered to comply with telecommunications regulations. In addition, we offer services such as colocation, resale and unbundled network elements in compliance with applicable regulations.
Business Markets
Business Markets offers tailored voice and networking products, Fios services, IP Networking, advanced voice solutions, security, and managed information technology (IT) services to U.S.-based small and medium businesses, state and local governments, and educational institutions. In 2018, Business Markets revenues were $3.4 billion, representing approximately 11% of Wireline’s aggregate revenues.
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In addition to the traditional voice and networking products and Fios services noted in the Consumer Markets section above, Business Markets also offers traditional circuit-based network products and services, advanced networking solutions, advanced communications services, and security services, as noted in the Enterprise Solutions section above.
Competition
The wireline telecommunications industry is highly competitive. We expect competition to intensify further with traditional and non-traditional participants seeking increased market share. Current and potential competitors include cable companies, wireless service providers, domestic and foreign telecommunications providers, satellite television companies, Internet service providers, over-the-top providers and other companies that offer network services and managed enterprise solutions.
In addition, companies with a global presence increasingly compete with our wireline businesses. A relatively small number of telecommunications and integrated service providers with global operations serve customers in the global enterprise market and, to a lesser extent, the global wholesale market. We compete with these providers for large contracts to provide integrated services to global enterprises. Many of these companies have strong market presence, brand recognition and existing customer relationships, all of which contribute to intensifying competition that may affect our future revenue growth.
We believe the following are the most important competitive factors and trends in the wireline industry:
| • | Bandwidth (speed) and network reliability. Consumers and small business customers seek fast and reliable connections for entertainment, communications and productivity. As Internet use increases, so do bandwidth requirements, both downstream and upstream. We and other network-based providers must ensure that our networks can meet these increasing bandwidth requirements. In addition, network reliability and security are increasingly important competitive factors for our Enterprise Solutions and Business Markets customers, which include state and local government and education (SLED) customers and small and medium business (SMB) customers. We continue to invest in our network to be able to meet growing bandwidth demand and provide reliable and secure networks. |
| • | Pricing. Cable operators, telecommunications companies and integrated service providers use pricing to capture market share from incumbents. Pricing is also a significant factor as non-traditional modes of providing communication services emerge and new entrants compete for customers. For example, VoIP and portal-based voice and video calling is free or nearly free to customers and is often supported by advertising revenues. |
| • | Customer service. Customers expect industry-leading service from their service providers. As technologies and services evolve, the ability to excel in this area is important for customer acquisition and retention. For our Consumer Markets and Business Markets customers, we compete in this area through our service representatives and online support. We provide our Enterprise Solutions customers with ready access to their system and performance information and we conduct proactive testing of our network to identify issues before they affect their customers. In our Partner Solutions business, service improvement is achieved through continued system automation initiatives. |
| • | Product differentiation. As a result of pricing pressures, providers need to differentiate their products and services. Customers are shifting their focus from access to applications and are seeking ways to leverage their broadband and video connections. Converged features, such as integrated wireless and wireline functionality, are becoming similarly important, driven by both customer demand and technological advancement. |
| • | Innovation. The delivery of new and innovative products and services has been accelerating. To compete effectively, providers need to continuously review, improve and refine their product portfolio and customer service experience and develop and rapidly deploy new products and services tailored to the needs of customers. |
In the Consumer Markets business, cable operators are significant competitors. Cable operators have increased the size and capacity of their networks in order to deliver digital products and services. We continue to market competitive bundled offerings that include Fios Internet, TV, and voice services and we have introduced market offers targeted to our Verizon Wireless customers. Several major cable operators also offer bundles with wireless services through strategic relationships.
Customers have more choices for obtaining video content from various online services and that content can be accessed on a TV, computer, tablet or mobile phone. We expect the market will continue to shift from traditional linear video to over-the-top offerings.
We expect customer migration from traditional voice services to wireless services to continue as a growing number of customers place greater value on mobility and wireless companies position their services as a landline alternative. We also face increasing competition from cable operators and other providers of VoIP services as well as Internet portal providers.
In the Enterprise Solutions market, competition remains high, primarily as a result of increased industry focus on technology convergence. We compete in this area with system integrators, carriers, and hardware and software providers. In addition, some of the largest IT services companies are making strategic acquisitions, divesting non-strategic assets or forging new alliances to improve cost structure and focus on solutions which are growth catalysts for technology spending. Many new alliances and acquisitions have focused on emerging fields, such as cloud computing, software delivery, communication applications and other computing tasks via the network, rather than by the use of in-house machines. Carriers have also utilized acquisitions to make significant inroads into enterprise outsourcing markets that have long been dominated by the major IT outsourcers.
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Our Partner Solutions business competes with traditional carriers for long-haul, voice and IP services. In addition, mobile video and data needs are driving a greater need for wireless backhaul. Network providers, cable companies and niche players are competitors for this new revenue opportunity.
In Business Markets, customer purchasing behaviors and preferences continue to evolve. Solution speed and simplicity with a consumer-like "look and feel" are becoming key differentiators for both our SMB and SLED customers. SMB customers are seeking full life-cycle offers that simplify the process of starting, running and growing their businesses, while SLED customers want similar services that are high quality and secure, and that enable material improvement in citizen outreach, public safety and city infrastructure performance.
Strategic Transactions
In April 2016, we completed the sale (Access Line Sale) of our local exchange business and related landline activities in California, Florida and Texas, including Fios Internet and video customers, switched and special access lines and high-speed Internet service and long distance voice accounts in these three states to Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier) for approximately $10.5 billion (approximately $7.3 billion net of income taxes), subject to certain adjustments and including the assumption of $0.6 billion of indebtedness from Verizon by Frontier. The transaction, which included the acquisition by Frontier of the equity interests of Verizon’s incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) in California, Florida and Texas, did not involve any assets or liabilities of Verizon Wireless.
The transaction resulted in Frontier acquiring approximately 3.3 million voice connections, 1.6 million Fios Internet subscribers, 1.2 million Fios video subscribers and the related ILEC businesses from Verizon. Approximately 9,300 Verizon employees who served customers in California, Florida and Texas continued employment with Frontier.
In December 2016, we entered into a definitive agreement, which was subsequently amended in March 2017, with Equinix, Inc. (Equinix) pursuant to which we agreed to sell 23 customer-facing data center sites in the U.S. and Latin America for approximately $3.6 billion, subject to certain adjustments (Data Center Sale). The transaction closed in May 2017.
In February 2016, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire XO Holdings' wireline business (XO), which owned and operated one of the largest fiber-based IP and Ethernet networks in the U.S. Concurrently, we entered into a separate agreement to utilize certain wireless spectrum from a wholly-owned subsidiary of XO Holdings, NextLink, that held its wireless spectrum. The agreement included an option, subject to certain conditions, to buy NextLink. In February 2017, we completed our acquisition of XO for total cash consideration of approximately $1.5 billion, of which $0.1 billion was paid in 2015.
In April 2017, we exercised our option to buy NextLink for approximately $0.5 billion, subject to certain adjustments, of which $0.3 billion was prepaid in the first quarter of 2017. The transaction closed in January 2018. The acquisition of NextLink was accounted for as an asset acquisition, as substantially all of the value related to the acquired spectrum. Upon closing, we recorded approximately $0.7 billion of wireless licenses, $0.1 billion of a deferred tax liability and $0.1 billion of other liabilities. The spectrum acquired as part of the transaction will be used for our 5G technology deployment.
In August 2017, we entered into a definitive agreement to purchase certain fiber-optic network assets in the Chicago market from WideOpenWest, Inc. (WOW!), a leading provider of communications services. The transaction closed in December 2017. In addition, the parties entered into a separate agreement pursuant to which WOW! will complete the build-out of the network assets in 2019. The total cash consideration for the transactions is approximately $0.3 billion, of which $0.2 billion was received in December 2017.
Additional information regarding these strategic transactions is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference into this report.
Network and Technology
Wireless
Our primary network technology platform is 4G LTE, which provides higher data throughput performance for data services at a lower cost compared to that offered by 3G technologies. In addition, over the past several years, we have been leading the development of 5G wireless technology industry standards and the ecosystems for fixed and mobile 5G wireless services.
Our 4G LTE network is available in approximately 500 markets covering approximately 331 million people, including those in areas served by our LTE in Rural America partners. Under this program, we have collaborated with wireless carriers in rural areas to build and operate a 4G LTE network using each carrier’s network assets and our core 4G LTE equipment and 700 megahertz (MHz) C Block and Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) spectrum. We currently have 21 LTE in Rural America partners that provide 4G LTE coverage to an area covering approximately three million people.
We use HD Calling, enabled by VoLTE, in addition to 3G Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology, to provide voice calling services to our customers.
We consider the reliability, coverage and speed of our wireless network as key factors for our continued success and we strive to provide our customers with the highest network reliability for their wireless services. We believe that steady and consistent network and platform investments provide the foundation for innovative products and services that will fuel profitable growth.
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We design and deploy our network in an efficient manner that we believe maximizes the number of successful data sessions, including video, permitting the completion of large file downloads and uploads while delivering on our advertised throughput speeds, and also maximizes the number of calls that are connected on the first attempt and completed without being dropped. We have been densifying our 4G LTE network by utilizing small cell technology, in-building solutions and distributed antenna systems. Network densification not only enables us to add capacity to address increasing mobile video consumption and the growing demand for IoT products and services, but also positions us for the deployment of 5G technology. We are also utilizing existing network capabilities to handle increased traffic without interrupting the quality of the customer experience. We have and will continue to deploy advanced technologies to increase both network capacity and data rates.
Our network includes various elements of redundancy designed to enhance the reliability of our service. To mitigate the impact of power disruptions on our operations, we have battery backup at every switch and every macrocell in our network. We also utilize backup generators at a majority of our macrocells and at every switch location. In addition, we have a fleet of portable backup generators that can be deployed, if needed. We further enhance reliability by using a fully redundant Multiprotocol Label Switching backbone network in critical locations.
In addition to our own network coverage, we have roaming agreements with a number of wireless service providers to enable our customers to receive wireless service in nearly all other areas in the U.S. where wireless service is available. We also offer a variety of international wireless voice and data services to our customers through roaming arrangements with wireless service providers outside of the U.S. Certain of our roaming agreements can be terminated at will by either party upon several months’ notice; however, we do not believe that the termination of any of these at-will agreements would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Spectrum
The spectrum licenses we hold can be used for mobile wireless voice, video and data communications services. We are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to provide these wireless services on portions of the 800 MHz band, also known as cellular spectrum, the 1800-1900 MHz band, also known as Personal Communication Services (PCS) spectrum, portions of the 700 MHz upper C band and AWS 1 and 3 spectrum in the 1700 and 2100 MHz bands, in areas that, collectively, cover nearly all of the population of the U.S. This spectrum is collectively called low and mid-band spectrum.
In addition to our low and mid-band spectrum, we have spectrum licenses in the 28 and 39 Gigahertz (GHz) band, collectively called millimeter-wave spectrum. In 2017, we entered into transactions to acquire NextLink and Straight Path, each of which held millimeter-wave spectrum licenses. The NextLink acquisition closed in January 2018 and the Straight Path acquisition closed in February 2018. The spectrum acquired as part of these transactions is being used for our 5G technology deployment.
In January 2015, the FCC completed an auction of 65 MHz of spectrum in the AWS-3 band. We participated in that auction and were the high bidder on 181 spectrum licenses, for which we paid cash of approximately $10.4 billion. The FCC granted us these spectrum licenses in April 2015.
We are aggressively refarming 3G bands on 800 MHz and PCS bands for 4G LTE use. We anticipate that we will need additional spectrum to meet future demand. This increasing demand is driven by growth in customer connections and the increased usage of wireless broadband services that use more bandwidth and require faster rates of speed, as well as the wider deployment of 5G mobile and fixed services. We can meet our future 4G and 5G spectrum needs by acquiring licenses or leasing spectrum from other licensees, or by acquiring new spectrum licenses from the FCC, if and when future FCC spectrum auctions occur. On November 14, 2018, the FCC started two sequential millimeter wave auctions. Verizon is an applicant in the FCC's Auction 101 and Auction 102 relating to millimeter wave spectrum. On January 24, 2019, the FCC announced that Auction 101 had concluded with a total of approximately $702.6 million in bids received for the licenses that were won. The FCC has stated that it will not, and it will not permit any applicant to, disclose the winning bidders of any of the licenses in Auction 101 until Auction 102 concludes. In addition, the FCC has indicated that a third millimeter wave auction will begin in the second half of 2019, and the auction for Priority Access Licenses in the Citizens’ Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz band may also begin in 2019. In addition to spectrum, we believe that future demand will also be met as we increase the density of our networks and deploy advanced technologies.
From time to time we have exchanged spectrum licenses with other wireless service providers through secondary market swap transactions. We expect to continue to pursue similar opportunities to trade spectrum licenses in order to meet capacity and expansion needs in the future. In certain cases, we have entered into intra market spectrum swaps designed to increase the amount of contiguous spectrum within frequency bands in a specific market. Contiguous spectrum improves network performance and efficiency. These swaps, as well as any spectrum purchases, require us to obtain governmental approvals.
Additional information regarding spectrum license transactions is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference into this report.
5G Deployment
We believe 5G technology can provide users with eight capabilities, or currencies. The eight currencies are peak data rates, mobile data volumes, mobility, connected devices, energy efficiency, service deployment, latency and reliability. In late 2015, we launched the Verizon 5G Technology Forum with key industry partners to develop 5G requirements and standards and conduct testing to accelerate the introduction of 5G technologies. We expect that 5G technology will provide higher throughput than the current 4G LTE technology, lower latency and enable our network to handle more traffic as the number of Internet-connected devices grows. During 2018, we commercially launched 5G Home, our alternative to wired home broadband, on proprietary standards in four U.S. markets; Sacramento, Los Angeles, Houston and Indianapolis. We are the first
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company to bring 5G broadband Internet service to consumers and we expect to expand coverage as we transition to global standards equipment in 2019. In addition, we expect to launch mobile 5G services in 2019 as compatible devices become available.
Network Equipment and Build-Out
As we continue to build and upgrade our existing 4G LTE network and deploy our 5G network, we must complete a variety of steps, including securing rights to a large number of sites as well as obtaining zoning and other governmental approvals and fiber facilities for both our macro and small cells. As we densify our network, we follow a similar process for small cells, in-building systems and antennas and related radio equipment that comprise distributed antenna systems. We have relationships with a wide variety of vendors that supply various products and services that support our network operations. We utilize tower site management firms as lessors or managers of a portion of our existing leased and owned tower sites.
Wireline
Fios
Residential broadband service has seen significant growth in bandwidth demand over the past several years, and we believe that demand will continue to grow. The continued emergence of new video services, new data applications and the proliferation of IP devices in the home will continue to drive new network requirements for increased data speeds and throughput. We believe that the Passive Optical Network (PON) technology underpinning Fios makes us well positioned to meet these demands in a cost-effective and efficient manner. Our PON technology provides the flexibility to adapt our network to deliver increased data speeds and new services without major overhauls or replacements to the fiber-optic infrastructure.
While deployed initially as a consumer broadband network, our PON infrastructure is also finding more widespread application in the enterprise sector, especially as businesses increasingly migrate to Ethernet-based access services.
Global IP
Verizon owns and operates one of the largest global fiber networks in the world, providing connectivity to business customers in more than 150 countries. Our global IP network includes long-haul, metro and submarine assets that span over 1 million route miles and enable and support international operations.
Global business is rapidly evolving to an "everything-as-a-service" model in which business customers seek cloud-based, converged enterprise solutions delivered securely via managed and professional services. With the continued deployment of packet optical transport strategy, Verizon is creating a single, high-capacity global network platform that combines optical transport with advanced packet switching technology. The result is a global IP network that can offer powerful solutions to these service demands.
We believe that our continued focus on enhancing our domestic and global fiber-based networks, and achieving cost efficient solutions through new technology deployments, will help Verizon advance its position as a provider of choice to residential, SMB, government and enterprise customers.
Intelligent Edge Network
We are evolving our network architecture to a next-generation multi-use platform, providing improved efficiency, increased automation and opportunities for edge computing services that will support both our fiber-based and radio access network technologies. We call this the Intelligent Edge Network. We expect that the new network architecture will simplify operations by eliminating legacy network elements, improve our 4G LTE coverage, speed the deployment of 5G technology, deliver high-speed Fios broadband to homes and businesses, and create new enterprise opportunities in the business market.
Media
Background
Verizon has been investing in emerging technology that taps into the market shift to digital content and advertising. Our Media business, Verizon Media, which operated in 2018 under the "Oath" brand, includes diverse media and technology brands that serve the global community using powerful technology, trusted content and differentiated data. Our strategy is built on providing consumers with owned and operated search properties and finance, news, sports and entertainment offerings and providing other businesses and partners access to consumers through digital advertising platforms. We have been investing in video assets and capabilities with a goal of building a global platform and developing new business models for reaching the digital video customer. We believe the growth in video consumption using mobile devices provides us with an opportunity for revenue growth. Through various acquisitions and investments, we are expanding the ways in which we can deliver content to our customers.
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Verizon Media Group Products and Solutions
Ad Platform
Our Verizon Media Ad Platform creates value for advertisers with a simplified suite of intelligent advertising, video and broadcast publishing solutions across all devices (desktop, mobile and television). Verizon Media's data content (i.e. finance, news, sports and entertainment), communication services and programmatic algorithms connect advertisers with their target audiences. Verizon Media’s business is comprised primarily of search advertising, display advertising and subscriptions.
| • | Search Platforms. Our search properties serve as a guide for users to discover the information on the Internet that matters to them the most. Verizon Media serves click-based search advertisements generated by proprietary algorithmic technology, as well as advertisements from partners. Verizon Media provides the underlying search products that facilitate user searches within Verizon Media and third party partner properties. In December 2018, we entered into an exclusive search advertising agreement with Microsoft whereby Verizon Media will exclusively send traffic to Microsoft in event of an ad call, commencing the first quarter of 2019. |
| • | Display Advertising. Display advertising is made up of both graphical and performance-based advertising and takes the form of impression-based contracts, time-based contracts and performance-based contracts. Verizon Media display ads leverage a comprehensive set of proprietary data signals to identify and engage the right users on Verizon Media properties and across the web. Through Verizon Media platforms, we provide advertisers the ability to programmatically buy and measure advertising across all screens and advertising formats using self-serve technology or our managed services; and to buy advertising inventory using traditional advertising sales methods. |
| • | Subscription Memberships. Our paid subscription offerings include services such as privacy and security solutions and computer protection. |
Verizon Digital Media Services
As the digital platform reshapes the delivery of media and entertainment content, there is an increasing need for a stable, high-quality video delivery platform. Verizon Digital Media Services (VDMS) offers a scalable platform for delivering content, including live broadcasts, video on demand, games, software and websites, to our customers on their devices at any time. This platform is targeted at media and entertainment companies and other businesses focused on delivering their digital products and services through the Internet. We also expect, through the VDMS platform, to support video initiatives and offerings, such as Fios and wireless, across the business.
We have invested in converging technologies and services involving content delivery networks, video streaming and related consumer hardware to leverage new content models. Our wireless network enables us to move towards a unified video strategy that positions us to take advantage of this growth opportunity. We began using Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) technology to develop our LTE Multicast service. MBMS has the potential to enhance our network efficiency and provide our customers with access to high-quality live streaming video content.
Internet of Things and Telematics
The adoption of IoT technology continues to grow as companies across a wide range of industries are leveraging IoT technologies to increase efficiency, gain better customer insights, facilitate compliance and build new business models. IoT growth is expanding broadly, and adoption is particularly strong in the telematics and transportation industries in addition to the fields of smart communities, healthcare, utilities and energy management. We are building IoT capabilities by leveraging business models that monetize usage on our network at the connectivity, platform and solution layers. We have developed IoT solutions that address key market needs for electric and other utilities and pharmaceutical companies and others with complex supply chains. In addition, our IoT customers can turn the data that our solutions provide into actionable opportunities to develop new services and create revenue growth and manage costs.
Our IoT services offer end-to-end solutions for various IoT vertical markets, such as:
| • | Fleet management and telematics. We provide in-vehicle solutions that enable vehicle navigation, GPS tracking, engine diagnostic monitoring and maintenance alerts, driver behavior analysis and safety solutions functionality such as crash notification and roadside assistance; |
| • | Energy. We offer solutions targeted to providing the energy sector with greater visibility into energy usage and the ability to remotely monitor devices used to track energy usage; and |
| • | Smart Communities. Our solutions enable localities to collect data from IoT and connected machine technologies with the goal of improving public safety, managing traffic, reducing pollution, identifying revenue generation opportunities, making efficient use of limited resources and attracting businesses, residents and workers. |
Our telematics business, branded Verizon Connect, provides a full array of solutions to both businesses and consumers that combine location-based software, services and data intelligence. Our solutions enable our customers to track, safeguard and optimize vehicles, equipment and data. Verizon Connect’s commercial telematics business was formed by combining our Networkfleet business with the telematics companies acquired in 2016 - Fleetmatics Group PLC, a global provider of fleet and mobile workforce management solutions, and Telogis, Inc., a global, cloud-based mobile enterprise management software business.
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Verizon Connect provides our enterprise and SMB customers with advanced solutions and scale in distribution, research and development, and customer support. Our software solutions support fleet tracking management, compliance management, field service management, asset tracking and other types of mobile resource management business needs.
Our Verizon Connect consumer offering is anchored by our Hum product. Hum is an aftermarket vehicle technology and subscription service that provides consumers with diagnostic technology in their vehicles, access to live assistance and roadside assistance with GPS accuracy. Our Hum service also offers the ability to connect with a certified mechanic to diagnose potential problems and offer solutions. We also offer end-to-end solutions to automotive OEMs in support of connected vehicle programs that provide value to consumers.
Strategic Transactions
In June 2015, we completed our acquisition of AOL Inc. (AOL), a leader in digital content and advertising. AOL’s business model aligns with our approach, and we believe that its combination of owned and operated content properties plus a digital advertising platform enhances our ability to further develop future revenue streams.
In June 2017, we completed our acquisition of the operating business of Yahoo! Inc. (Yahoo), a leader in search, communications, digital content and advertising. Additional discussion of the transaction is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference into this report.
We have established relationships with leading sports leagues to bring compelling content to our customers across our digital platforms. In December 2017, we entered into a multi-year partnership with the National Football League (NFL) in which Verizon’s portfolio of premium digital and mobile media properties, such as Yahoo Sports, stream in-market and national games, including national pre-season, regular season and playoff games, and the Super Bowl, to mobile phones. In January 2018, we entered into an innovative, multi-year partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) that will deliver one of the most comprehensive video streaming offerings of NBA content - from live out-of-market games via NBA League Pass to highlights, fantasy basketball, original programming and more via Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Fantasy and across Verizon’s family of media brands. As part of the partnership, the NBA and Verizon will unveil a series of innovative collaborations leveraging Verizon's leading network and technology to deliver premium NBA content and unique fan experiences. Verizon also has rights to deliver leading soccer games, including La Liga and Liga MX, to its customers.
We have also entered into content partnerships to realize synergies available within the marketplace. In April 2018, we entered into an agreement with Samsung in which our Gemini advertising platform became the exclusive provider of native digital advertising on Samsung mobile products on the Verizon network. In May 2018, Verizon selected Amazon Web Services, Inc. as its preferred public cloud provider. Also, in January 2019, Verizon Media entered into a multi-year global native advertising deal with Microsoft to provide marketers access to 20 percent more native advertising inventory through our Ad Platforms; and an exclusive search advertising partnership in which all search advertising across Verizon Media properties will be served by Microsoft Bing.
Patents, Trademarks and Licenses
We own or have licenses to various patents, copyrights, trademarks, domain names and other intellectual property rights necessary to conduct our business. We actively pursue the filing and registration of patents, copyrights, domain names, trademarks and service marks to protect our intellectual property rights within the United States and abroad. We also actively grant licenses, in exchange for appropriate fees or other consideration and subject to appropriate safeguards and restrictions, to other companies that enable them to utilize certain of our intellectual property rights and proprietary technology as part of their products and services. Such licenses enable the licensees to take advantage of the results of Verizon’s research and development efforts. While these licenses result in valuable consideration being paid to us, we do not believe that the loss of such consideration, or the expiration of any of our intellectual property rights, would have a material effect on our results of operations.
We periodically receive offers from third parties to purchase or obtain licenses for patents and other intellectual property rights in exchange for royalties or other payments. We also periodically receive notices alleging that our products or services infringe on third-party patents or other intellectual property rights. These claims, whether against us directly or against third-party suppliers of products or services that we, in turn, sell to our customers, if successful, could require us to pay damages or royalties, or cease offering the relevant products or services.
Acquisitions and Divestitures
Information about our acquisitions and divestitures is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders under the heading "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Acquisitions and Divestitures" and in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements of Verizon Communications Inc. and subsidiaries, which is incorporated by reference into this report.
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Regulatory and Competitive Trends
Regulatory and Competitive Landscape
Verizon operates in a regulated and highly competitive market. Current and potential competitors include other voice and data service providers such as other wireless companies, traditional telephone companies, cable companies, Internet service providers, software and application providers, and other non-traditional companies. Many of these companies have strong market presence, brand recognition and existing customer relationships, all of which contribute to intensifying competition that may affect our future revenue growth. Some of our competitors also are subject to fewer regulatory constraints than Verizon. For many services offered by Verizon, the FCC is our primary regulator. The FCC has jurisdiction over interstate telecommunications services and other matters under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act). Other Verizon services are subject to state and local regulation.
Federal Regulation
Wireless Services
The FCC regulates several aspects of our wireless operations. Generally, the FCC has jurisdiction over the construction, operation, acquisition and transfer of wireless communications systems. All wireless services require use of radio frequency spectrum, the assignment and distribution of which is subject to FCC oversight. Verizon anticipates that it will need additional spectrum to meet future demand. We can meet our needs for licensed spectrum by purchasing licenses or leasing spectrum from others, or by participating in a competitive bidding process to acquire new spectrum from the FCC. Those processes are subject to certain reviews, approvals and potential conditions.
Today, Verizon holds FCC spectrum licenses that allow it to provide a wide range of mobile and fixed communications services, including both voice and data services. FCC spectrum licenses typically have a term of 10 years, at which time they are subject to renewal. While the FCC has routinely renewed all of Verizon’s wireless licenses, challenges could be raised in the future. If a wireless license was revoked or not renewed, Verizon would not be permitted to provide services on the spectrum covered by that license. Some of our licenses require us to comply with so-called "open access" FCC regulations, which generally require licensees of particular spectrum to allow customers to use devices and applications of their choice, subject to certain technical limitations. The FCC has also imposed certain specific mandates on wireless carriers, including construction and geographic coverage requirements, technical operating standards, provision of enhanced 911 services, roaming obligations and requirements for wireless tower and antenna facilities.
Broadband
Verizon offers many different broadband services. Traditionally, the FCC recognized broadband Internet access services as "information services" subject to a "light touch" regulatory approach rather than to the traditional, utilities-style regulations. In 2015, the FCC declared that broadband Internet access services are "telecommunications services" subject to common carriage regulation under Title II of the Communications Act. In December 2017, the FCC adopted an order reversing the 2015 Title II Order to return to "light touch" regulation of broadband Internet access services. This order is currently being challenged in the courts. Regardless of regulation, Verizon remains committed to the open Internet, which provides consumers with competitive choices and unblocked access to lawful websites and content when, where, and how they want, and our commitment to our customers can be found on our website at http://responsibility.verizon.com/broadband-commitment.
Wireline Voice
Verizon offers many different wireline voice services, including traditional telephone service and other services that rely on technologies such as VoIP. For regulatory purposes, legacy telephone services are generally considered to be "common carrier" services. Common carrier services are subject to heightened regulatory oversight with respect to rates, terms and conditions and other aspects of the services. The FCC has not decided the regulatory classification of VoIP but has said VoIP service providers must comply with certain rules, such as 911 capabilities and law enforcement assistance requirements.
Video
Verizon offers a multichannel video service that is regulated like traditional cable service. The FCC has a body of rules that apply to cable operators, and these rules also generally apply to Verizon. In areas where Verizon offers its facilities-based multichannel video services, Verizon has typically been required to obtain a franchise from local authorities.
Privacy and Data Security
We are subject to federal, state and international laws and regulations relating to privacy and data security that impact all parts of our business, including wireline, wireless, broadband and the development and roll out of new products, such as those in the media and IoT space. At the federal level, our voice business is subject to the FCC's privacy requirements. Oversight of broadband Internet access privacy and data security, which had shifted from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to the FCC following the FCC's adoption of its 2015 Title II Order, returned to the FTC as a result of the FCC's repeal of the 2015 Title II Order. Generally, attention to privacy and data security requirements is increasing at both the state and federal level, and several privacy-related bills have been introduced or are under considerations at each level. In addition, a new data protection regulation went into effect in Europe in May 2018 that includes significant penalties for non-compliance, and a new privacy law is scheduled to take effect in California in 2020. These laws could have a significant impact on certain of our businesses.
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Public Safety and Cybersecurity
The FCC has played a role in addressing public safety concerns by regulating emergency communications services and mandating widespread availability of both media (broadcast/cable) and wireless emergency alerting services. In response to cyber attacks that have occurred or could occur in the future, however, the FCC or other regulators may attempt to increase regulation of the cybersecurity practices of providers.
Intercarrier Compensation and Network Access
The FCC regulates some of the rates that carriers pay each other for the exchange of voice traffic (particularly traditional wireline traffic) over different networks and other aspects of interconnection for some voice services. The FCC also regulates some of the rates and terms and conditions for certain wireline "business data services" and other services and network facilities. Verizon is both a seller and a buyer of these services, and both makes and receives interconnection payments. In April 2017, the FCC issued an order, which is currently under appeal, that revised the regulatory structure for business data services, eliminating tariffing obligations and ex ante price regulations in markets the FCC determined to be competitive. The FCC has focused in recent years on whether changes in the rates, terms and conditions for both the exchange of traffic and for business data services may be appropriate.
State Regulation and Local Regulation
Wireless Services
The Act generally preempts regulation by state and local governments of the entry of, or the rates charged by, wireless carriers. The Act does not prohibit states from regulating the other "terms and conditions" of wireless service. For example, some states attempt to regulate wireless customer billing matters and impose reporting requirements. Several states also have laws or regulations that address safety issues (e.g., use of wireless handsets while driving) and taxation matters. In addition, wireless tower and antenna facilities are often subject to state and local zoning and land use regulation, and securing approvals for new or modified facilities is often a lengthy and expensive process.
Wireline Services
State public utility commissions regulate Verizon’s telephone operations with respect to certain telecommunications intrastate matters. Verizon operates as an "incumbent local exchange carrier" in nine states and the District of Columbia. These incumbent operations are subject to various levels of pricing flexibility and other state oversight and requirements. Verizon also has other wireline operations that are more lightly regulated. In addition, as a video services operator in many states, Verizon has been required to obtain a cable franchise from local government entities, or in some cases a state-wide franchise, and comply with certain one-time and ongoing obligations, as a result.
Environmental Matters
Reserves have been established to cover environmental matters relating to discontinued businesses and past telecommunications activities. These reserves include funds to address contamination at the site of a former Sylvania facility in Hicksville, NY, which had processed nuclear fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s. In September 2005, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accepted the site into its Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. As a result, the ACE has taken primary responsibility for addressing the contamination at the site. An adjustment to the reserves may be made after a cost allocation is conducted with respect to the past and future expenses of all of the parties. Adjustments to the environmental reserve may also be made based upon the actual conditions found at other sites requiring remediation.
Executive Officers
See Part III, Item 10. "Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance" of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information about our executive officers.
Employees
As of December 31, 2018, Verizon and its subsidiaries had approximately 144,500 employees. Labor unions represent approximately 23% of our employees.
Information on Our Internet Website
We make available, free of charge on our website, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports at http://www.verizon.com/about/investors as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Website references in this report are provided as a convenience and do not constitute, and should not be viewed as, incorporation by reference of the information contained on, or available through, the websites. Therefore, such information should not be considered part of this report.
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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
In this report we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "hopes" or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We undertake no obligation to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
The following important factors, along with those discussed elsewhere in this report and in other filings with the SEC, could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:
| • | adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies; |
| • | the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate; |
| • | material changes in technology or technology substitution; |
| • | disruption of our key suppliers’ provisioning of products or services; |
| • | changes in the regulatory environment in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our ability to operate our networks; |
| • | breaches of network or information technology security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or acts of war or significant litigation and any resulting financial impact not covered by insurance; |
| • | our high level of indebtedness; |
| • | an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or availability of further financing; |
| • | material adverse changes in labor matters, including labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational impact; |
| • | significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns on plan assets; |
| • | changes in tax laws or treaties, or in their interpretation; |
| • | changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; |
| • | the inability to implement our business strategies; and |
| • | the inability to realize the expected benefits of strategic transactions. |
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| Item 1A. Risk Factors |
The following discussion of "Risk Factors" identifies the most significant factors that may adversely affect our business, operations, financial condition or future performance. This information should be read in conjunction with "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements and related notes. The following discussion of risks is not all-inclusive but is designed to highlight what we believe are important factors to consider when evaluating our business and expectations. These factors could cause our future results to differ materially from our historical results and from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements.
Operational Risks
Cyber attacks impacting our networks or systems could have an adverse effect on our business.
Cyber attacks, including through the use of malware, computer viruses, dedicated denial of services attacks, credential harvesting, social engineering and other means for obtaining unauthorized access to or disrupting the operation of our networks and systems and those of our suppliers, vendors and other service providers, could have an adverse effect on our business. Cyber attacks may cause equipment failures, loss of information, including sensitive personal information of customers or employees or valuable technical and marketing information, as well as disruptions to our or our customers’ operations. Cyber attacks against companies, including Verizon, have increased in frequency, scope and potential harm in recent years. Further, the perpetrators of cyber attacks are not restricted to particular groups or persons. These attacks may be committed by company employees or external actors operating in any geography, including jurisdictions where law enforcement measures to address such attacks are unavailable or ineffective, and may even be launched by or at the behest of nation states. Cyber attacks may occur alone or in conjunction with physical attacks, especially where disruption of service is an objective of the attacker. While, to date, we have not been subject to cyber attacks which, individually or in the aggregate, have been material to Verizon's operations or financial condition, the preventive actions we take to reduce the risks associated with cyber attacks, including protection of our systems and networks, may be insufficient to repel or mitigate the effects of a major cyber attack in the future.
The inability to operate or use our networks and systems or those of our suppliers, vendors and other service providers as a result of cyber attacks, even for a limited period of time, may result in significant expenses to Verizon and/or a loss of market share to other communications providers. The costs associated with a major cyber attack on Verizon could include expensive incentives offered to existing customers and business partners to retain their business, increased expenditures on cybersecurity measures and the use of alternate resources, lost revenues from business interruption and litigation. The potential costs associated with these attacks could exceed the insurance coverage we maintain. Further, certain of Verizon’s businesses, such as those offering security solutions and infrastructure and cloud services to business customers, could be negatively affected if our ability to protect our own networks and systems is called into question as a result of a cyber attack. Moreover, our increasing presence in the IoT industry with offerings of telematics products and services, including vehicle telematics, could also increase our exposure to potential costs and expenses and reputational harm in the event of cyber attacks impacting these products or services. In addition, a compromise of security or a theft or other compromise of valuable information, such as financial data and sensitive or private personal information, could result in lawsuits and government claims, investigations or proceedings. Any of these occurrences could damage our reputation, adversely impact customer and investor confidence, and could further result in a material adverse effect on Verizon’s results of operation or financial condition.
Natural disasters, terrorist acts or acts of war could cause damage to our infrastructure and result in significant disruptions to our operations.
Our business operations are subject to interruption by natural disasters, power outages, terrorist attacks, other hostile acts and events beyond our control. Such events could cause significant damage to our infrastructure upon which our business operations rely, resulting in degradation or disruption of service to our customers. While we maintain insurance coverage for some of these events, the potential liabilities associated with these events could exceed the insurance coverage we maintain. Our system redundancy may be ineffective or inadequate, and our disaster recovery planning may not be sufficient for all eventualities. These events could also damage the infrastructure of the suppliers that provide us with the equipment and services that we need to operate our business and provide products to our customers. A natural disaster or other event causing significant physical damage could cause us to experience substantial losses resulting in significant recovery time and expenditures to resume operations. In addition, these occurrences could result in lost revenues from business interruption as well as damage to our reputation.
We depend on key suppliers and vendors to provide equipment that we need to operate our business.
We depend on various key suppliers and vendors to provide us, directly or through other suppliers, with equipment and services, such as fiber, switch and network equipment, smartphones and other wireless devices that we need in order to operate our business and provide products to our customers. For example, our smartphone and other device suppliers often rely on one vendor for the manufacture and supply of critical components, such as chipsets, used in their devices. If these suppliers or vendors fail to provide equipment or service on a timely basis or fail to meet our performance expectations, we may be unable to provide products and services as and when requested by our customers. We also may be unable to continue to maintain or upgrade our networks. Because of the cost and time lag that can be associated with transitioning from one supplier to another, our business could be substantially disrupted if we were required to, or chose to, replace the products or services of one or more major suppliers with products or services from another source, especially if the replacement became necessary on short notice. Any such disruption could increase our costs, decrease our operating efficiencies and have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The suppliers and vendors on which we rely may also be subject to litigation with respect to technology on which we depend, including litigation involving claims of patent infringement. Such claims are frequently made in the communications industry. We are unable to predict whether our
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business will be affected by any such litigation. We expect our dependence on key suppliers to continue as we develop and introduce more advanced generations of technology.
A significant portion of our workforce is represented by labor unions, and we could incur additional costs or experience work stoppages as a result of the renegotiation of our labor contracts.
As of December 31, 2018, approximately 23% of our workforce was represented by labor unions. While we have labor contracts in place with these unions, with subsequent negotiations we could incur additional costs and/or experience work stoppages, which could adversely affect our business operations. In addition, while less than 1% of the workforce of our wireless and other businesses outside of wireline is represented by unions, we cannot predict what level of success unions may have in further organizing this workforce or the potentially negative impact it would have on our operations.
Economic and Strategic Risks
We face significant competition that may reduce our profits.
We face significant competition in our industries. The rapid development of new technologies, services and products has eliminated many of the traditional distinctions among wireless, cable, Internet, local and long distance communication services and brought new competitors to our markets, including other telephone companies, cable companies, wireless service providers, satellite providers, application and device providers and providers of VoIP services. While these changes have enabled us to offer new types of products and services, they have also allowed other providers to broaden the scope of their own competitive offerings. If we are unable to compete effectively, we could experience lower than expected revenues and earnings. A projected sustained decline in any of our reporting units' revenues and earnings could have a significant impact on its fair value and cause us to record goodwill impairment charges in the future. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2018, we recognized a $4.6 billion ($4.5 billion after-tax) goodwill impairment charge on our Media reporting unit. The amount of any impairment charge could be significant and could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations for the period in which the charge is taken. In addition, wireless service providers are significantly altering the financial relationships with their customers through commercial offers that vary service and device pricing, promotions, incentives and levels of service provided – in some cases specifically targeting Verizon Wireless customers. Our ability to compete effectively will depend on, among other things, our network quality, capacity and coverage, the pricing of our products and services, the quality of our customer service, our development of new and enhanced products and services, the reach and quality of our sales and distribution channels and our capital resources. It will also depend on how successfully we anticipate and respond to various factors affecting our industries, including new technologies and business models, changes in consumer preferences and demand for existing services, demographic trends and economic conditions. If we are not able to respond successfully to these competitive challenges, we could experience reduced profits.
If we are not able to adapt to changes and disruptions in technology and address changing consumer demand on a timely basis, we may experience a decline in the demand for our services, be unable to implement our business strategy and experience reduced profits.
Our industries are rapidly changing as new technologies are developed that offer consumers an array of choices for their communications needs and allow new entrants into the markets we serve. In order to grow and remain competitive, we will need to adapt to future changes in technology, enhance our existing offerings and introduce new offerings to address our customers’ changing demands. If we are unable to meet future challenges from competing technologies on a timely basis or at an acceptable cost, we could lose customers to our competitors. We may not be able to accurately predict technological trends or the success of new services in the market. In addition, there could be legal or regulatory restraints on our introduction of new services. If our services fail to gain acceptance in the marketplace, or if costs associated with the implementation and introduction of these services materially increase, our ability to retain and attract customers could be adversely affected.
In addition to introducing new offerings and technologies, such as 5G technology, we must phase out outdated and unprofitable technologies and services. If we are unable to do so on a cost-effective basis, we could experience reduced profits. In addition, there could be legal or regulatory restraints on our ability to phase out current services.
Adverse conditions in the U.S. and international economies could impact our results of operations.
Unfavorable economic conditions, such as a recession or economic slowdown in the U.S. or elsewhere, could negatively affect the affordability of and demand for some of our products and services. In difficult economic conditions, consumers may seek to reduce discretionary spending by forgoing purchases of our products, electing to use fewer higher margin services, dropping down in price plans or obtaining lower-cost products and services offered by other companies. Similarly, under these conditions, the business customers that we serve may delay purchasing decisions, delay full implementation of service offerings or reduce their use of services. In addition, adverse economic conditions may lead to an increased number of our consumer and business customers that are unable to pay for services. If these events were to occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
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Legal and Regulatory Risks
Changes in the regulatory framework under which we operate could adversely affect our business prospects or results of operations.
Our domestic operations are subject to regulation by the FCC and other federal, state and local agencies, and our international operations are regulated by various foreign governments and international bodies. These regulatory regimes frequently restrict or impose conditions on our ability to operate in designated areas and provide specified products or services. We are frequently required to maintain licenses for our operations and conduct our operations in accordance with prescribed standards. We are often involved in regulatory and other governmental proceedings or inquiries related to the application of these requirements. It is impossible to predict with any certainty the outcome of pending federal and state regulatory proceedings relating to our operations, or the reviews by federal or state courts of regulatory rulings. Without relief, existing laws and regulations may inhibit our ability to expand our business and introduce new products and services. Similarly, we cannot guarantee that we will be successful in obtaining the licenses needed to carry out our business plan or in maintaining our existing licenses. For example, the FCC grants wireless licenses for terms generally lasting 10 years, subject to renewal. The loss of, or a material limitation on, certain of our licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
New laws or regulations or changes to the existing regulatory framework at the federal, state and local, or international level, such as those described below, could restrict the ways in which we manage our wireline and wireless networks and operate our Media and Telematics businesses, impose additional costs, impair revenue opportunities and potentially impede our ability to provide services in a manner that would be attractive to us and our customers.
| • | Privacy and data protection - we are subject to federal, state and international laws related to privacy and data protection. A new data protection regulation, which went into effect in Europe in May 2018, includes significant penalties for non-compliance. A new privacy law scheduled to take effect in California in 2020, also could have a significant impact on certain of our businesses. |
| • | Regulation of broadband Internet access services - In its 2015 Title II Order, the FCC nullified its longstanding "light touch" approach to regulating broadband Internet access services and "reclassified" these services as telecommunications services subject to utilities-style common carriage regulation. The FCC repealed the 2015 Title II Order in December 2017, and returned to its traditional light-touch approach for these services. The 2017 order has been appealed to the D.C. Circuit; the outcome and timing of this appeal or any other challenge remains uncertain. Several states have also adopted or are considering adopting laws or executive orders that would impose net neutrality and other requirements on some of our services (in some cases different from the FCC’s 2015 rules). The enforceability and effect of these state rules is uncertain. |
| • | "Open Access" - we hold certain wireless licenses that require us to comply with so-called "open access" FCC regulations, which generally require licensees of particular spectrum to allow customers to use devices and applications of their choice. Moreover, certain services could be subject to conflicting regulation by the FCC and/or various state and local authorities, which could significantly increase the cost of implementing and introducing new services. |
The further regulation of broadband, wireless and our other activities and any related court decisions could restrict our ability to compete in the marketplace and limit the return we can expect to achieve on past and future investments in our networks.
We are subject to a significant amount of litigation, which could require us to pay significant damages or settlements.
We are subject to a substantial amount of litigation, including, from time to time, shareholder derivative suits, patent infringement lawsuits, antitrust class actions, wage and hour class actions, personal injury claims, property claims, and lawsuits relating to our advertising, sales, billing and collection practices. In addition, our wireless business also faces personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits relating to alleged health effects of wireless phones or radio frequency transmitters. We may incur significant expenses in defending these lawsuits. In addition, we may be required to pay significant awards or settlements.
Financial Risks
Verizon has significant debt, which could increase further if Verizon incurs additional debt in the future and does not retire existing debt.
As of December 31, 2018, Verizon had approximately $103.0 billion of outstanding unsecured indebtedness, as well as approximately $9.4 billion of unused borrowing capacity under its existing credit facility. Verizon’s debt level and related debt service obligations could have negative consequences, including:
| • | requiring Verizon to dedicate significant cash flow from operations to the payment of principal, interest and other amounts payable on its debt, which would reduce the funds Verizon has available for other purposes, such as working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions; |
| • | making it more difficult or expensive for Verizon to obtain any necessary future financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, debt refinancing, acquisitions or other purposes; |
| • | reducing Verizon’s flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in its industries and market conditions; |
| • | making Verizon more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in its business; and |
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| • | exposing Verizon to increased interest rate risk to the extent that its debt obligations are at variable interest rates. |
Adverse changes in the credit markets could increase our borrowing costs and the availability of financing.
We require a significant amount of capital to operate and grow our business. We fund our capital needs in part through borrowings in the public and private credit markets. Adverse changes in the credit markets, including increases in interest rates, could increase our cost of borrowing and/or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for our operations or refinance existing indebtedness. In addition, our borrowing costs can be affected by short- and long-term debt ratings assigned by independent rating agencies, which are based, in significant part, on our performance as measured by customary credit metrics. A decrease in these ratings would likely increase our cost of borrowing and/or make it more difficult for us to obtain financing. A severe disruption in the global financial markets could impact some of the financial institutions with which we do business, and such instability could also affect our access to financing.
Increases in costs for pension benefits and active and retiree healthcare benefits may reduce our profitability and increase our funding commitments.
With approximately 144,500 employees and approximately 195,000 retirees as of December 31, 2018 eligible to participate in Verizon’s benefit plans, the costs of pension benefits and active and retiree healthcare benefits have a significant impact on our profitability. Our costs of maintaining these plans, and the future funding requirements for these plans, are affected by several factors, including the legislative and regulatory uncertainty regarding the potential modification of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, increases in healthcare costs, decreases in investment returns on funds held by our pension and other benefit plan trusts and changes in the discount rate and mortality assumptions used to calculate pension and other postretirement expenses. If we are unable to limit future increases in the costs of our benefit plans, those costs could reduce our profitability and increase our funding commitments.
| Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
| Item 2. Properties |
Our principal properties do not lend themselves to simple description by character and location. Our total gross investment in property, plant and equipment was approximately $253 billion at December 31, 2018 and $246 billion at December 31, 2017, including the effect of retirements, but before deducting accumulated depreciation. Our gross investment in property, plant and equipment consisted of the following:
| At December 31, | 2018 | 2017 | |||
| Network equipment | 78.0 | % | 78.3 | % | |
| Land, buildings and building equipment | 12.4 | % | 12.1 | % | |
| Furniture and other | 9.6 | % | 9.6 | % | |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||
| Our properties as a percentage of total properties are as follows: | |||||
| At December 31, | 2018 | 2017 | |||
| Wireline | 51.2 | % | 50.7 | % | |
| Wireless | 46.5 | % | 47.1 | % | |
| Other | 2.3 | % | 2.2 | % | |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||
Network equipment consists primarily of cable (aerial, buried, underground or undersea) and the related support structures of poles and conduit, wireless plant, switching equipment, network software, transmission equipment and related facilities. Land, buildings and building equipment consists of land and land improvements, central office buildings or any other buildings that house network equipment, and buildings that are used for administrative and other purposes. Substantially all the switching centers are located on land and in buildings we own due to their critical role in the network and high set-up relocation costs. We also maintain facilities throughout the U.S. comprised of administrative and sales offices, customer care centers, retail sales locations, garage work centers, switching centers, cell sites and data centers. Furniture and other consists of telephone equipment, furniture, data processing equipment, office equipment, motor vehicles, plant under construction and leasehold improvements.
| Item 3. Legal Proceedings |
In October 2013, the California Attorney General’s Office notified certain Verizon companies of potential violations of California state hazardous waste statutes primarily arising from the disposal of electronic components, batteries and aerosol cans at certain California facilities. We are cooperating with this investigation and continue to review our operations relating to the management of hazardous waste. While penalties relating to the alleged violations could exceed $100,000, we do not expect that any penalties ultimately incurred will be material.
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| Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures |
None.
| PART II |
| Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
The principal market for trading in the common stock of Verizon is the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VZ". As of December 31, 2018, there were 630,756 shareholders of record.
Stock Repurchases
In March 2017, the Verizon Board of Directors authorized a share buyback program to repurchase up to 100 million shares of the Company's common stock. The program will terminate when the aggregate number of shares purchased reaches 100 million, or at the close of business on February 28, 2020, whichever is sooner. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated transactions and on the open market, including through plans complying with Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act. The timing and number of shares purchased under the program, if any, will depend on market conditions and the Company’s capital allocation priorities.
During the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, Verizon did not repurchase any shares of Verizon’s common stock under our authorized share buyback programs. At December 31, 2018, the maximum number of shares that could be purchased by or on behalf of Verizon under our share buyback program was 100 million.
For other information required by this item, see the section entitled "Stock Performance Graph" in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 6. Selected Financial Data |
Information required by this item is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders under the heading "Selected Financial Data," which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
Information required by this item is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders under the heading "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
Information required by this item is included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders under the heading "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Risk," which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
Information required by this item is included in the consolidated financial statements and related notes of Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
None.
| Item 9A. Controls and Procedures |
Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, that ensure that information relating to the registrant which is required to be disclosed in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within required time periods using the criteria for effective internal control established in Internal Control–Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2018.
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In the ordinary course of business, we routinely review our system of internal control over financial reporting and make changes to our systems and processes that are intended to ensure an effective internal control environment. During the fourth quarter of 2018, we implemented certain internal controls in connection with the new lease accounting standard, which we adopted effective January 1, 2019. Other than the above-noted change, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and the attestation report of Verizon’s independent registered public accounting firm are included in the 2018 Verizon Annual Report to Shareholders and are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9B. Other Information |
None.
| PART III |
| Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance |
Set forth below is information with respect to our executive officers.
| Name | Age | Office | Held Since | ||||
| Hans Vestberg | 53 | Chief Executive Officer (1) | 2018 | ||||
| Ronan Dunne | 55 | Executive Vice President and President - Verizon Consumer Group (2) | 2019 | ||||
| Matthew D. Ellis | 47 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | 2016 | ||||
| Tami A. Erwin | 54 | Executive Vice President and President - Verizon Business Group (3) | 2019 | ||||
K. Guru Gowrappan | 38 | Executive Vice President and CEO - Verizon Media Group | 2018 | ||||
| Kyle Malady | 51 | Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer | 2019 | ||||
| Rima Qureshi | 54 | Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer | 2017 | ||||
| Marc C. Reed | 60 | Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer | 2012 | ||||
| Craig L. Silliman | 51 | Executive Vice President of Public Policy and General Counsel | 2015 | ||||
| Anthony T. Skiadas | 50 | Senior Vice President and Controller | 2013 | ||||
(1) Effective March 8, 2019, Hans Vestberg will be the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. | |||||||
(2) Until April 1, 2019, Ronan Dunne leads the Wireless segment. | |||||||
(3) Until April 1, 2019, Tami A. Erwin leads the Wireline segment. | |||||||
Prior to serving as an executive officer, each of the above officers has held high-level managerial positions with the Company or one of its subsidiaries for at least five years, with the exception of Hans Vestberg, who has been with the Company since 2017, Ronan Dunne, who has been with the Company since 2016, K. Guru Gowrappan, who has been with the Company since 2018 and Rima Qureshi, who has been with the Company since 2017. Officers are not elected for a fixed term of office and may be removed from office at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Hans Vestberg is the Chief Executive Officer of Verizon. Mr. Vestberg joined the Company in April 2017 as Executive Vice President and President - Global Networks and Technology. He began serving in his current role in August 2018. Prior to joining Verizon, Mr. Vestberg served for six years as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson, a multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company headquartered in Sweden that provides 35 percent of the world's 2G, 3G and 4G mobile network infrastructures.
Ronan Dunne is the Executive Vice President and President - Verizon Consumer Group. Mr. Dunne joined the Company in September 2016 as Executive Vice President and President of Verizon Wireless. Prior to joining Verizon, Mr. Dunne served for eight years as Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica UK Limited (O2), the second largest wireless operator in the United Kingdom.
K. Guru Gowrappan is the Executive Vice President and CEO - Verizon Media Group. Mr. Gowrappan joined the Company in April 2018 as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Oath. He began serving in his current role in October 2018. Prior to joining Verizon, Mr. Gowrappan served as the Global Managing Director of Alibaba Inc. from 2015 to 2018 and as the Chief Operating Officer for Quixey, a mobile search engine, from 2012 to 2015.
Rima Qureshi is Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Verizon. Ms. Qureshi joined the Company in November 2017. Prior to joining Verizon, Ms. Qureshi served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ericsson North America from 2016 to 2017 and as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer and head of mergers and acquisitions of Ericsson from 2014 to 2016. Ms. Qureshi also served as Vice President of Ericsson’s CDMA Mobile Systems Group, Senior Vice President of Strategic Projects, Chairman of Ericsson’s Northern Europe, Russia and Central Asia Group and Chairman of Ericsson’s Modem division before becoming Chief Strategy Officer.
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For other information required by this item, see the sections entitled "Governance — Where to find more information on governance at Verizon and — Business conduct and ethics," "Item 1: Election of Directors — Nominees for election," "Board and Committees — Board committees — Audit Committee " and "Stock Ownership — Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 11. Executive Compensation |
For information with respect to executive compensation, see the sections entitled "Director Compensation" and "Executive Compensation — Compensation Discussion and Analysis, — Compensation Committee Report and — Compensation Tables" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which are incorporated by reference herein. There were no relationships to be disclosed under paragraph (e)(4) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K.
| Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
For information with respect to the security ownership of the Directors and Executive Officers, see the section entitled "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the SEC and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the following table provides other equity compensation plan information:
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2018 for (i) all equity compensation plans previously approved by the Company’s shareholders, and (ii) all equity compensation plans not previously approved by the Company’s shareholders. From May 9, 2009 until May 4, 2017, the Company only issued awards under the 2009 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan and, after May 4, 2017, the Company only issued awards under the 2017 Verizon Communications. Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (2017 LTIP). Each of these plans provides for awards of stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units and other equity-based hypothetical stock units to employees of Verizon and its subsidiaries. No new awards are permitted to be issued under any equity compensation plan other than the 2017 LTIP. In accordance with SEC rules, the table does not include outstanding awards that are payable solely in cash by the terms of the award, and such awards do not reduce the number of shares remaining for issuance under the 2017 LTIP.
| Plan Category | Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) | Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) | Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | |||||||
| Equity compensation plans approved by security holders | 10,570,146 | (1) | $ | — | (2) | 89,179,103 | (3) | |||
| Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders | 158,284 | (4) | — | — | ||||||
| Total | 10,728,430 | $ | — | 89,179,103 | ||||||
(1) This amount includes: 10,568,119 shares of common stock subject to outstanding restricted stock units and performance stock units, and 2,027 shares subject to outstanding deferred stock units, in each case including dividend equivalents accrued on such awards through December 31, 2018. This does not include performance stock units, deferred stock units and deferred share equivalents payable solely in cash.
(2) Verizon’s outstanding restricted stock units, performance stock units and deferred stock units do not have exercise prices associated with the settlement of these awards.
(3) This number reflects the number of shares of common stock that remained available for future issuance under the 2017 LTIP.
(4) This number reflects shares subject to deferred stock units credited to the Verizon Income Deferral Plan, which were awarded in 2002 under the Verizon Communications Broad-Based Incentive Plan. No new awards are permitted to be issued under this plan.
| Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence |
For information with respect to certain relationships and related transactions and Director independence, see the sections entitled "Governance — Related person transactions" and "Item 1: Election of Directors — Independence" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which are incorporated by reference.
| Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services |
For information with respect to principal accounting fees and services, see the section entitled "Audit Matters — Item 2: Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and delivered to shareholders in connection with our 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which are incorporated by reference.
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| PART IV |
| Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) Documents filed as part of this report:
| Page | |||||
| (1 | ) | Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting | * | ||
| (2 | ) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting | * | ||
| (3 | ) | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Financial Statements | * | ||
| Financial Statements covered by Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm: | |||||
| Consolidated Statements of Income | * | ||||
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | * | ||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | * | ||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | * | ||||
| Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity | * | ||||
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | * | ||||
| * Incorporated herein by reference to the appropriate portions of the registrant’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. (See Part II.) | |||||
| (4 | ) | Financial Statement Schedule | |||
| II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts | 28 | ||||
| (5 | ) | Exhibits Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the SEC, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto. Unless otherwise indicated, all exhibits so incorporated are from File No. 1-8606. | |||
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Exhibit Number | Description | |||
| Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) (filed as Exhibit 3a to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference). | ||||
| Bylaws of Verizon, as amended and restated, effective as of November 1, 2018 (filed as Exhibit 3b to Form 8-K filed on November 2, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference). | ||||
| Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of December 1, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Global Funding Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-64792, Exhibit 4.1). | ||||
| First Supplemental Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of May 15, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Global Funding Corp.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-67412, Exhibit 4.2). | ||||
| Second Supplemental Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of September 29, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2006, Exhibit 4.1). | ||||
| Third Supplemental Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of February 1, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Form 8-K filed on February 9, 2006, Exhibit 4.2). | ||||
| Fourth Supplemental Indenture between Verizon, both individually and as successor in interest to Verizon Global Funding Corp., and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee to Wachovia Bank, National Association, formerly known as First Union National Bank, as Trustee, dated as of April 4, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Verizon Communications Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 333-212307, Exhibit 4.5). | ||||
| Except for Exhibits 4a – 4e above, no other instrument which defines the rights of holders of long-term debt of Verizon and its consolidated subsidiaries is filed herewith pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this regulation, Verizon hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon request. | ||||
| NYNEX Directors’ Charitable Award Program (filed as Exhibit 10i to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| 2009 Verizon Long-Term Incentive Plan, As Amended and Restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix D of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement included in Schedule 14A filed on March 18, 2013).** | ||||
| Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement 2016-2018 Award Cycle (filed as Exhibit 10a to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement 2016-2018 Award Cycle (filed as Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of 2017 Performance Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2009 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan. (filed as Exhibit 10a to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of 2017 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2009 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| 2017 Special Performance Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2009 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan for J. Stratton (filed as Exhibit 10c to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement included in Schedule 14A filed on March 20, 2017).** | ||||
| Form of 2017 Performance Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan. (filed as Exhibit 10a to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of 2017 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| 2017 Special Restricted Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10c to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
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| Form of 2017 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (cash-settled) pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10c(iv) to form 10-K for period ended December 31,2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of 2018 Performance Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10a to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)** | ||||
Form of 2018 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan. (filed as Exhibit 10b to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)** | ||||
| 2018 Special Performance Stock Unit Agreement pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan for H. Vestberg (filed as Exhibit 10 to Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference)** | ||||
| 2018 Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for G. Gowrappan pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Special Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for R. Dunne pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Special Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for G. Gowrappan pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Amendment to Special Performance Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for G. Gowrappan pursuant to the 2017 Verizon Communications Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Verizon Short-Term Incentive Plan, As Amended and Restated (incorporated by reference to Appendix C of the Registrant’s Proxy Statement included in Schedule 14A filed on March 23, 2009).** | ||||
| Verizon Executive Deferral Plan (filed as Exhibit 10e to Form 10-K for period ended December 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Verizon Income Deferral Plan (filed as Exhibit 10f to Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Description of Amendment to Plan (filed as Exhibit 10o(i) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Verizon Excess Pension Plan (filed as Exhibit 10p to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Description of Amendment to Plan (filed as Exhibit 10p(i) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| GTE’s Executive Salary Deferral Plan, as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to GTE’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 1-2755 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Bell Atlantic Senior Management Long-Term Disability and Survivor Protection Plan, as amended (filed as Exhibit 10h to Form SE filed on March 27, 1986 and Exhibit 10b(ii) to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| GTE Executive Retiree Life Insurance Plan (filed as Exhibit 10q to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Verizon Executive Life Insurance Plan, As Amended and Restated September 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10s to Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Form of Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10l to Form 10-K for year ended December 31,2017 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| NYNEX Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (filed as Exhibit 10iii 5a to NYNEX’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-8608 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| Verizon Senior Manager Severance Plan (filed as Exhibit 10d to Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).** | ||||
| AOL Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Founders’ Grant Unit Agreement for T. Armstrong pursuant to the AOL Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed herewith. | ||||
| Portions of Verizon’s Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed herewith. Only the information incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K is included in the exhibit. | ||||
| List of principal subsidiaries of Verizon, filed herewith. | ||||
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| Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, filed herewith. | ||||
| Powers of Attorney, filed herewith. | ||||
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith. | ||||
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith. | ||||
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith. | ||||
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith. | ||||
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document. | |||
| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. | |||
| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Presentation Linkbase Document. | |||
| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Calculation Linkbase Document. | |||
| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase Document. | |||
| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. | |||
| ** | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. | |||
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Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries
For the Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016
| (dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Additions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Balance at Beginning of Period | Charged to Expenses | Charged to Other Accounts(a) | Deductions(b) | Balance at End of Period(c) | |||||||||||||||
| Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2018 | $ | 1,199 | $ | 776 | $ | 216 | $ | 1,261 | $ | 930 | ||||||||||
| Year 2017 | 1,146 | 1,167 | 205 | 1,319 | 1,199 | |||||||||||||||
| Year 2016 | 1,037 | 1,420 | 150 | 1,461 | 1,146 | |||||||||||||||
| Additions | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Description | Balance at Beginning of Period | Charged to Expenses | Charged to Other Accounts(d) | Deductions(e) | Balance at End of Period | |||||||||||||||
| Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Year 2018 | $ | 3,293 | $ | 251 | $ | 112 | $ | 915 | $ | 2,741 | ||||||||||
| Year 2017 | 2,473 | 765 | 273 | 218 | 3,293 | |||||||||||||||
| Year 2016 | 3,414 | 146 | 47 | 1,134 | 2,473 | |||||||||||||||
(a) | Charged to Other Accounts primarily includes amounts previously written off which were credited directly to this account when recovered. |
(b) | Deductions primarily include amounts written off as uncollectible or transferred to other accounts or utilized. |
(c) | Allowance for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable includes approximately $165 million, $260 million and $301 million at December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively, related to long-term device payment plan receivables. |
(d) | Valuation Allowance for Deferred Tax Assets includes current year increase to valuation allowance charged to equity and reclassifications from other balance sheet accounts. |
(e) | Reductions to valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets. |
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| Signatures |
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
| VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Anthony T. Skiadas | Date: February 15, 2019 |
Anthony T. Skiadas Senior Vice President and Controller | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Principal Executive Officer: | ||
| /s/ Hans E. Vestberg | Chief Executive Officer | February 15, 2019 |
| Hans E. Vestberg | ||
| Principal Financial Officer: | ||
| /s/ Matthew D. Ellis | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | February 15, 2019 |
| Matthew D. Ellis | ||
| Principal Accounting Officer: | ||
| /s/ Anthony T. Skiadas | Senior Vice President and Controller | February 15, 2019 |
| Anthony T. Skiadas | ||
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| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Lowell C. McAdam | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Hans E. Vestberg | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Shellye L. Archambeau | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Mark T. Bertolini | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Richard L. Carrión | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Melanie L. Healey | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| M. Frances Keeth | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Clarence Otis, Jr. | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Daniel H. Schulman | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Rodney E. Slater | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Kathryn A. Tesija | ||
| * | Director | February 15, 2019 |
| Gregory G. Weaver | ||
| * By: /s/ Anthony T. Skiadas | ||
| Anthony T. Skiadas | ||
| (as attorney-in-fact) | ||
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