UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_____________________
FORM 10-Q
_____________________
(Mark one)
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999
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 1-7368
BELL ATLANTIC - WASHINGTON, D.C., INC.
A New York Corporation I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 53-0046277
1710 H Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006
Telephone Number (202) 392-9900
_________________________
THE REGISTRANT, A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF BELL ATLANTIC CORPORATION, MEETS
THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q AND
IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT PURSUANT TO GENERAL
INSTRUCTION H(2).
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 X No
----- -----
Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
-------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1999 1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING REVENUES (including $34,583,
$32,543, $101,938 and $103,419 from affiliates) $169,940 $155,400 $494,739 $476,850
-------------------------------------------
OPERATING EXPENSES
Employee costs, including benefits and taxes 21,741 20,185 63,505 62,287
Depreciation and amortization 43,469 39,432 132,503 115,273
Other (including $33,194, $38,450,
$102,742 and $109,948 to affiliates) 61,732 59,573 180,989 174,381
-------------------------------------------
126,942 119,190 376,997 351,941
-------------------------------------------
OPERATING INCOME 42,998 36,210 117,742 124,909
OTHER INCOME, NET(including $10, $0,
$33, and $2 from affiliates) 45 95 637 14,434
INTEREST EXPENSE (including $1,390,
$541, $4,122 and $1,327 to affiliate) 3,981 4,039 12,301 12,884
-------------------------------------------
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 39,062 32,266 106,078 126,459
AND EXTRAORDINARY ITEM
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 15,935 13,326 43,528 52,073
-------------------------------------------
INCOME BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEM 23,127 18,940 62,550 74,386
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM
Early extinguishment of debt, net of tax --- (983) --- (983)
-------------------------------------------
NET INCOME $ 23,127 $ 17,957 $ 62,550 $ 73,403
===========================================
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
ASSETS
------
September 30, December 31,
1999 1998
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT ASSETS
Short-term investments $ --- $ 6,690
Accounts receivable:
Trade and other, net of allowances for
uncollectibles of $7,261 and $7,688 140,078 157,946
Affiliates 19,988 20,979
Material and supplies 868 1,131
Prepaid expenses 6,144 3,045
Deferred income taxes 3,825 3,484
-------------------------------------------
170,903 193,275
-------------------------------------------
PLANT, PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT 1,859,115 1,783,372
Less accumulated depreciation 1,002,900 943,000
-------------------------------------------
856,215 840,372
OTHER ASSETS 14,105 6,511
-------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS $1,041,223 $1,040,158
===========================================
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNER'S INVESTMENT
---------------------------------------
September 30, December 31,
1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Debt maturing within one year:
Note payable to affiliate $ 91,269 $ 99,458
Other --- 14
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
Affiliates 86,500 104,976
Other 88,455 80,007
Advance billings and customer deposits 14,210 14,551
--------------------------------------
280,434 299,006
--------------------------------------
LONG-TERM DEBT 164,311 168,200
--------------------------------------
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS 106,428 118,139
--------------------------------------
DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Deferred income taxes 64,178 49,813
Unamortized investment tax credits 3,158 3,336
Other 12,214 14,741
--------------------------------------
79,550 67,890
--------------------------------------
SHAREOWNER'S INVESTMENT
Common stock - one share, owned by parent, at stated value 191,968 191,968
Capital surplus 28,549 28,549
Reinvested earnings 190,029 166,452
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (46) (46)
--------------------------------------
410,500 386,923
--------------------------------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNER'S INVESTMENT $1,041,223 $1,040,158
======================================
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in Thousands)
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
------------------------------------------------
1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ 193,305 $ 128,492
------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net change in short-term investments 6,690 6,077
Additions to plant, property and equipment (155,461) (152,030)
Other, net 6,138 12,110
------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (142,633) (133,843)
------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal repayment of borrowings and capital lease obligations (15) (20,146)
Early extinguishment of debt --- (60,000)
Net change in note payable to affiliate (8,189) 94,369
Dividends paid (39,000) (8,000)
Net change in outstanding checks drawn
on controlled disbursement accounts (3,468) (872)
------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (50,672) 5,351
------------------------------------------------
NET CHANGE IN CASH --- ---
CASH, BEGINNING OF PERIOD --- ---
------------------------------------------------
CASH, END OF PERIOD $ --- $ ---
================================================
See Notes to Condensed Financial Statements.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell
Atlantic Corporation (Bell Atlantic). The accompanying unaudited condensed
financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange
Commission rules that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. These
financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair
presentation of results of operations and financial position for the interim
periods shown including normal recurring accruals. The results for the interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. For a more
complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other
information, you should refer to the financial statements included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.
We have reclassified certain amounts from the prior year's data to conform to
the 1999 presentation.
2. Dividend
On November 1, 1999, we declared and paid a dividend in the amount of
$9,700,000 to Bell Atlantic.
3. New Accounting Standards
Costs of Computer Software
Effective January 1, 1999, we adopted Statement of Position (SOP) No. 98-1,
"Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for
Internal Use." Under SOP No. 98-1, we capitalize the cost of internal-use
software which has a useful life in excess of one year. Subsequent additions,
modifications or upgrades to internal-use software are capitalized only to the
extent that they allow the software to perform a task it previously did not
perform. Software maintenance and training costs are expensed in the period in
which they are incurred. Also, we capitalize interest associated with the
development of internal-use software. The effect of adopting SOP No. 98-1 for
Bell Atlantic was an increase in net income of approximately $175 million for
the nine months ended September 30, 1999.
Costs of Start-Up Activities
Effective January 1, 1999, we adopted SOP No. 98-5, "Reporting on the Costs
of Start-up Activities." Under this accounting standard, we expense costs of
start-up activities as incurred, including pre-operating, pre-opening and other
organizational costs. The adoption of SOP No. 98-5 did not have a material
effect on our results of operations or financial condition because we have not
historically capitalized start-up activities.
Derivatives and Hedging Activities
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement requires that
all derivatives be measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or
liabilities on our balance sheet. Changes in the fair values of derivative
instruments will be recognized in either earnings or comprehensive income,
depending on the designated use and effectiveness of the instruments. The FASB
amended this pronouncement in June 1999 to defer the effective date of SFAS No.
133 for one year.
Under the amended pronouncement, we must adopt SFAS No. 133 no later than
January 1, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 133 will have no material effect on
our results of operations or financial condition because we currently do not
enter into the use of derivative instruments or participate in hedging
activities.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
4. Shareowner's Investment
Accumulated
Other
Common Capital Reinvested Comprehensive
(Dollars in Thousands) Stock Surplus Earnings Loss
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1998 $191,968 $28,549 $166,452 $(46)
Net income 62,550
Dividends paid to Bell Atlantic (39,000)
Other 27
-----------------------------------------------
Balance at September 30, 1999 $191,968 $28,549 $190,029 $(46)
===============================================
Net income and comprehensive income were the same for the nine months ended
September 30, 1999 and 1998.
5. Litigation and Other Contingencies
Various legal actions and regulatory proceedings are pending to which we are
a party. We have established reserves for specific liabilities in connection
with regulatory and legal matters that we currently deem to be probable and
estimable. We do not expect that the ultimate resolution of pending regulatory
and legal matters in future periods will have a material effect on our financial
condition, but it could have a material effect on our results of operations.
6. Proposed Bell Atlantic - GTE Merger
Bell Atlantic and GTE Corporation (GTE) have announced a proposed merger of
equals under a definitive merger agreement dated as of July 27, 1998. Under the
terms of the agreement, GTE shareholders will receive 1.22 shares of Bell
Atlantic common stock for each share of GTE common stock that they own. Bell
Atlantic shareholders will continue to own their existing shares after the
merger.
It is expected that the merger will qualify as a pooling of interests, which
means that for accounting and financial reporting purposes the companies will be
treated as if they had always been combined. At annual meetings held in May
1999, the shareholders of each company approved the merger. The completion of
the merger is subject to a number of conditions, including certain regulatory
approvals and receipt of opinions that the merger will be tax-free.
Bell Atlantic and GTE are working diligently to complete the merger and are
targeting completion of the merger around the end of the first quarter of 2000.
However, the companies must obtain the approval of a variety of state and
federal regulatory agencies and, given the inherent uncertainties of the
regulatory process, the closing of the merger may be delayed.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
(Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction H(2).)
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements
and Notes to Financial Statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------
We reported net income of $62,550,000 for the nine months ended September 30,
1999, compared to net income of $73,403,000 for the same period in 1998.
Our results for 1999 and 1998 were affected by special items. The special
items in both periods include our allocated share of charges from Bell Atlantic
Network Services, Inc. (NSI).
The following table shows how special items are reflected in our condensed
statements of income for each period:
(Dollars in Thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee Costs
Merger transition costs $ 191 $ 1
Other Operating Expenses
Merger transition costs 1,189 1,314
----------------------------------
$1,380 $1,315
==================================
Merger-related Costs
In connection with the Bell Atlantic-NYNEX merger, which was completed in
August 1997, we recorded pre-tax transition and integration costs of $1,380,000
in the first nine months of 1999 and $1,315,000 in the first nine months of
1998.
Transition and integration costs consist of our proportionate share of costs
associated with integrating the operations of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX, such as
systems modifications costs and advertising and branding costs. Transition and
integration costs are expensed as incurred.
OPERATING REVENUE STATISTICS
- ----------------------------
1999 1998 % Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At September 30
- ---------------
Access Lines in Service (in thousands)
Residence 306 299 2.3%
Business 638 625 2.1
Public 10 10 ---
----------------------------------------------
954 934 2.1
==============================================
Nine Months Ended September 30
- ------------------------------
Access Minutes of Use (in millions) 2,322 2,246 3.4
==============================================
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
OPERATING REVENUES
- ------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30 1999 1998
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local services $217,810 $222,397
Network access services 126,831 107,257
Long distance services 3,179 3,104
Ancillary services 146,919 144,092
----------------------------------
Total $494,739 $476,850
==================================
LOCAL SERVICES REVENUES
1999 - 1998 (Decrease)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $(4,587) (2.1)%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local services revenues are earned from the provision of local exchange,
local private line, public telephone (pay phone) and value-added services.
Value-added services are a family of services that expand the utilization of the
network. These services include products such as Caller ID, Call Waiting and
Return Call.
Our local services revenues declined in 1999 due to price reductions on
certain local exchange services, which were made in response to our price cap
plan. Lower revenues from our pay phone services due to the increasing
popularity of wireless communications, and the resale of access lines and the
provision of unbundled network elements to competitive local exchange carriers
also reduced local services revenues. Higher customer demand and usage of our
data transport and digital services partially offset these decreases in local
services revenues.
NETWORK ACCESS SERVICES REVENUES
1999 - 1998 Increase
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $19,574 18.2%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network access services revenues are earned from end-user subscribers and
long distance and other competing carriers who use our local exchange facilities
to provide services to their customers. Switched access revenues are derived
from fixed and usage-based charges paid by carriers for access to our local
network. Special access revenues originate from carriers and end-users that buy
dedicated local exchange capacity to support their private networks. End-user
access revenues are earned from our customers and from resellers who purchase
dial-tone services.
Network access services revenue growth in 1999 was mainly attributable to
increased demand for special access services, reflecting a greater utilization
of our network and volume growth resulting from continuing expansion of the
business market, particularly for high-capacity services. Higher customer
demand was also reflected by growth in access minutes of use of 3.4% from the
same period in 1998.
In addition, revenues in 1999 include amounts received from customers for the
recovery of local number portability (LNP) costs. LNP allows customers to
change local exchange carriers while maintaining their existing telephone
numbers. In December 1998, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued
an order permitting us to recover costs incurred for LNP in the form of monthly
end-user charges for a five-year period beginning in February 1999. LNP charges
contributed approximately $1,700,000 to network access services revenues for the
nine-month period ended September 30, 1999.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
Revenue growth was partially offset by net price reductions mandated by a
federal price cap plan. The FCC regulates the rates that we charge long
distance carriers and end-user subscribers for interstate access services. We
are required to file new access rates with the FCC each year. In July 1999, we
implemented interstate price decreases of approximately $400,000 on an annual
basis in connection with the FCC's Price Cap Plan. These rates will be in
effect through June 2000. Interstate price decreases were $2,200,000 on an
annual basis for the period July 1998 through June 1999. The rates also include
amounts necessary to recover our contribution to the FCC's universal service
fund and are subject to change every quarter due to potential increases or
decreases in our contribution to the universal service fund. Our contribution to
the universal service fund is included in Other Operating Expenses. See "Other
Matters - FCC Regulation and Interstate Rates - Universal Service" for
additional information on universal service.
LONG DISTANCE SERVICES REVENUES
1999 - 1998 Increase
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $75 2.4%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long distance services revenues are earned primarily from calls made to
points outside a customer's local calling area, but within our service area
(intraLATA toll).
The increase in long distance services revenues in 1999 was principally
caused by growth in toll message volumes from September 30, 1998.
This volume growth was partially offset by the competitive effects of
presubscription for intraLATA toll services. Presubscription, which was
introduced in July 1999, permits customers to use an alternative provider of
their choice for intraLATA toll calls without dialing a special access code when
placing a call.
ANCILLARY SERVICES REVENUES
1999 - 1998 Increase
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $2,827 2.0%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our ancillary services include such services as billing and collections for
long distance carriers and affiliates, facilities rentals to affiliates and
nonaffiliates, collocation for competitive local exchange carriers, usage of
separately priced (unbundled) components of our network by competitive local
exchange carriers, voice messaging, customer premises equipment (CPE) and wiring
and maintenance services, and sales of materials and supplies to affiliates.
Ancillary services revenues also include fees paid by customers for
nonpublication of telephone numbers and multiple white page listings and fees
paid by an affiliate for usage of our directory listings.
Ancillary services revenues were higher in 1999 primarily due to increased
demand for CPE and installation services provided to federal government
customers. Growth in voice messaging services revenues, higher payments from
competitive local exchange carriers for interconnection of their networks with
our network, and higher revenues from pole rentals to nonaffiliates also
contributed to the increase in ancillary services revenues. These increases
were partially offset by a decrease in facilities rental revenues from
affiliates.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
OPERATING EXPENSES
- ------------------
(Dollars in Thousands)
Nine Months Ended September 30 1999 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee costs, including benefits and taxes $ 63,505 $ 62,287
Depreciation and amortization 132,503 115,273
Other operating expenses 180,989 174,381
---------------------------------------
Total $376,997 $351,941
=======================================
EMPLOYEE COSTS
1999 - 1998 Increase
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $1,218 2.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employee costs consist of salaries, wages and other employee compensation,
employee benefits and payroll taxes paid directly by us. Similar costs incurred
by employees of NSI, who provide centralized services on a contract basis, are
allocated to us and are included in Other Operating Expenses.
Employee costs increased in the first nine months of 1999 primarily as a
result of annual salary and wage increases for management and associate
employees and increased associate overtime pay due to severe rainstorms in the
third quarter of 1999. Lower pension and benefit costs and the effect of lower
work force levels partially offset the increases in employee costs.
The decline in pension and benefit costs was due to a number of factors,
principally, lower pension costs as a result of favorable pension plan
investment returns and changes in plan provisions and actuarial assumptions.
These factors were partially offset by benefit plan improvements provided for
under new contracts with associate employees.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
1999 - 1998 Increase
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $17,230 14.9%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and amortization expense increased in the first nine months of
1999 over the same period in 1998 principally as a result of growth in
depreciable telephone plant, changes in the mix of plant assets and the effect
of higher rates of depreciation. The adoption of Statement of Position (SOP)
No. 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained
for Internal Use" also contributed to the increase in depreciation and
amortization expense in the first nine months of 1999, but to a lesser extent.
Under this new accounting standard, computer software developed or obtained for
internal use is capitalized and amortized. Previously, we expensed most of
these software purchases as incurred. For additional information on SOP No. 98-
1, see Note 3 to the condensed financial statements.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
1999 - 1998 Increase
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $6,608 3.8%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other operating expenses consist of contract services including centralized
services expenses allocated from NSI, rent, network software costs, operating
taxes other than income, the provision for uncollectible accounts receivable,
and other costs.
The increase in other operating expenses in the first nine months of 1999 was
largely attributable to higher material costs and higher interconnection
payments to competitive local exchange and other carriers to terminate calls on
their networks (reciprocal compensation). For additional information on
reciprocal compensation refer to "Other Matters - Telecommunications Act of 1996
- - Reciprocal Compensation."
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
The increases in other operating expenses were partially offset by the effect
of adopting SOP No. 98-1 and a reduction in centralized services expenses
allocated from NSI, primarily as a result of lower employee costs incurred by
NSI.
OTHER INCOME, NET
1999 - 1998 (Decrease)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $(13,797) (95.6)%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The change in other income, net, was mainly attributable to a gain recognized
on the disposition of property in June 1998.
INTEREST EXPENSE
1999 - 1998 (Decrease)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nine Months $(583) (4.5)%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest expense includes costs associated with borrowings and capital
leases, net of interest capitalized as a cost of acquiring or constructing plant
assets.
Interest expense decreased in the first nine months of 1999 over the same
period in 1998 principally due to effect of refinancing long-term debt with
short-term debt at a more favorable interest rate in August 1998.
EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATES
Nine Months Ended September 30
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 41.0%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 41.2%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The effective income tax rate is the provision for income taxes as a
percentage of income before the provision for income taxes and extraordinary
item. Our effective income tax rate was lower in the first nine months of 1999
principally due to adjustments to federal and state income taxes recorded in
1999.
EXTRAORDINARY ITEM
In 1998, we recorded an extraordinary charge associated with the early
extinguishment of long-term debt. This charge reduced net income by $983,000
(net of an income tax benefit of $692,000).
FINANCIAL CONDITION
- -------------------
We use the net cash generated from operations and from external financing to
fund capital expenditures for network expansion and modernization, and pay
dividends. While current liabilities exceeded current assets at both September
30, 1999 and 1998 and December 31, 1998, our sources of funds, primarily from
operations and, to the extent necessary, from readily available financing
arrangements with an affiliate, are sufficient to meet ongoing operating
requirements. Management expects that presently foreseeable capital requirements
will continue to be financed primarily through internally generated funds.
Additional long-term debt may be needed to fund development activities or to
maintain our capital structure to ensure financial flexibility.
As of September 30, 1999, we had $158,731,000 of an unused line of credit
with an affiliate, Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation. In addition, we
had $100,000,000 remaining under a shelf registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the issuance of unsecured debt
securities. Our debt securities continue to be accorded high ratings by primary
rating agencies. Subsequent to the announcement of the Bell Atlantic - GTE
merger, rating agencies have maintained current credit ratings, but have placed
our ratings under review for potential downgrade.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
Our debt ratio was 38.4% at September 30, 1999, compared to 41.7% at
September 30, 1998 and 40.9% at December 31, 1998.
On November 1, 1999, we declared and paid a dividend in the amount of
$9,700,000 to Bell Atlantic.
OTHER MATTERS
- -------------
FCC Regulation and Interstate Rates
Price Caps
In May 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed the FCC's establishment of a
6.5% productivity factor in calculating the annual price cap index applied to
our interstate access rates. The court directed the FCC to reconsider and
explain the methods used in selecting the productivity factor. The court
granted the FCC a stay of its order, however, until April 1, 2000. As a result,
our annual price cap filing effective July 1, 1999 includes the effects of the
FCC's 6.5% productivity factor (see Operating Revenues - Network Access
Services).
The FCC has adopted rules for special access services that provide for added
pricing flexibility and ultimately the removal of services from price regulation
when certain competitive thresholds are met. The order also allows certain
services, including those included in the interexchange basket of services, to
be removed from price regulation immediately. In response, we have filed to
remove services in the interexchange basket from regulation, effective October
22, 1999. This will remove services with approximately $3,500,000 in annual
revenues from price regulation and from the operation of the productivity offset
which otherwise would require annual price reductions.
Universal Service
On July 30, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals reversed certain aspects of the
FCC's universal service order. The universal service fund includes a multi-
billion dollar interstate fund to link schools and libraries to the Internet and
to subsidize low income consumers and rural healthcare providers. Previously,
under the FCC's rules, all providers of interstate telecommunications services
had to contribute to the schools and libraries fund based on their total
interstate and intrastate retail revenues. The court reversed the decision to
include intrastate revenues as part of the basis for assessing contributions to
that fund. As a result of this decision, our contributions to the universal
service fund will be reduced by approximately $2,000,000 annually beginning on
November 1, 1999, and our interstate access rates will be reduced accordingly.
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Unbundling of Network Elements
The FCC recently announced its decision setting forth new unbundling
requirements. The FCC had previously identified seven elements that had to be
provided to competitors on an unbundled basis. With respect to those seven
elements, the FCC concluded that incumbent local exchange carriers, such as us,
do not have to provide unbundled switching (or combinations of elements that
include switching, such as the so-called unbundled element "platform") under
certain circumstances to business customers with four or more lines in certain
offices in the top 50 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). It also held that
incumbents do not have to provide unbundled access to their directory assistance
or operator services. The remaining elements on the FCC's original list still
must be provided.
With respect to new elements, the FCC concluded that new equipment to provide
advanced services such as ADSL does not have to be unbundled. On the other
hand, the FCC concluded that incumbents must provide dark fiber as an unbundled
element, and that sub-loop unbundling should be provided. Finally, the FCC
ruled that combinations of loops and transport, known as enhanced extended loops
or "EELs," must be made available under certain circumstances, but left to a
further rulemaking certain issues relating to the use of EELs to substitute for
special access services.
Reciprocal Compensation
Competitive local exchange and other carriers have charged us with
"reciprocal compensation" payments to terminate calls on their networks,
including an increasing volume of one-way traffic from our customers to Internet
service providers that are their customers. In February 1999, the FCC confirmed
that such traffic is largely interstate but concluded that it would not
interfere with state regulatory decisions requiring payment of reciprocal
compensation for such traffic and that carriers are bound by their existing
interconnection agreements. The FCC tentatively concluded that future
compensation arrangements for calls to Internet
12
Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
service providers should be negotiated by carriers and arbitrated, if necessary,
before the state commissions under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of
1996 (1996 Act). The FCC has initiated a proceeding to consider, alternatively,
the adoption of federal rules to govern future inter-carrier compensation
arrangements for this traffic. We have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals to review
the FCC's decision that state commissions may require payment of reciprocal
compensation for this traffic.
Recent Accounting Pronouncement - Derivatives and Hedging Activities
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement requires that
all derivatives be measured at fair value and recognized as either assets or
liabilities on our balance sheet. Changes in the fair values of the derivative
instruments will be recognized in either earnings or comprehensive income,
depending on the designated use and effectiveness of the instruments. The FASB
amended this pronouncement in June 1999 to defer the effective date of
SFAS No. 133 for one year.
Under the amended pronouncement, we must adopt SFAS No. 133 no later than
January 1, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 133 will have no material effect on
our results of operations or financial condition because we currently do not
enter into the use of derivative instruments or participate in hedging
activities.
Year "2000" Update
Bell Atlantic is now in the final stages of its program to evaluate and
address the impact of the Year 2000 date transition on its subsidiaries'
operations, including our operations. This program has included steps to:
. inventory and assess for Year 2000 compliance our equipment, software and
systems;
. determine whether to remediate, replace or retire noncompliant items, and
establish a plan to accomplish these steps;
. remediate, replace or retire the items;
. test the items, where required; and
. provide management with reporting and issues management to support a
seamless transition to the Year 2000.
State of Readiness
For Bell Atlantic's operating telephone subsidiaries, centralized services
entities and general corporate operations, the program has focused on the
following project groups: Network Elements, Applications and Support Systems,
and Information Technology Infrastructure. Bell Atlantic's goal for these
operations was to have its network and other mission critical systems Year
2000 compliant (including testing) by June 30, 1999 and it substantially met
this goal. What follows is a more detailed breakdown of Bell Atlantic's
efforts to date.
. Network Elements
Approximately 350 different types of network elements (such as central office
switches) appear in over one hundred thousand instances. When combined in
various ways and using network application systems, these elements are the
building blocks of customer services and networked information transmission
of all kinds. Bell Atlantic originally assessed approximately 70% of these
element types, representing over 90% of all deployed network elements, as
Year 2000 compliant. As of November 1, 1999, Bell Atlantic has completed the
required repair/replacement for virtually all network elements requiring
remediation.
. Application and Support Systems
Bell Atlantic has approximately 1,200 application and systems that support:
(i) the administration and maintenance of its network and customer service
functions (network information systems); (ii) customer care and billing
functions; and (iii) human resources, finance and general corporate
functions. Bell Atlantic originally assessed approximately 48% of these
application and support systems as either compliant or to be retired. As of
November 1, 1999, Bell Atlantic has successfully completed the required
repair/replacement of virtually all mission critical application and support
systems.
. Information Technology Infrastructure
Approximately 40 mainframe, 1,000 mid-range, and 90,000 personal computers,
related network components, and software products comprise Bell Atlantic's
information technology (IT) infrastructure. Of the approximately 1,350
unique types of elements in the inventory for the IT infrastructure, Bell
Atlantic originally assessed approximately 73% as compliant or to be
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
retired. As previously reported, Bell Atlantic has successfully completed
remediation/replacement of all mission critical elements earlier this year.
Bell Atlantic's project to remediate/replace or retire mission critical
systems supporting buildings and other facilities used by its operating
telephone subsidiaries, such as HVAC, access control and alarm systems, is now
complete and its efforts to remediate/replace or retire any other Bell Atlantic
mission critical system used by those subsidiaries is virtually complete.
Remediation/replacement or retirement of non-mission critical systems, where
applicable, and supplemental testing and verification/correction activities, for
both mission critical and non-mission critical systems, are likely to continue
throughout the balance of 1999.
Third Party Issues
. Vendors
In general, Bell Atlantic's product vendors have made available either Year
2000-compliant versions of their offerings or new compliant products as
replacements of discontinued offerings. The compliance status of a given
product is typically determined using multiple sources of information,
including Bell Atlantic's own internal testing and analysis. However, in some
instances certification is based on detailed test results or similar
information provided by the product vendor and analysis by Bell Atlantic or
contractors specializing in this type of review. Bell Atlantic is also
continuing Year 2000-related discussions with utilities and similar services
providers. Although Bell Atlantic has received assurances and other
information suggesting that substantially all of its primary services
providers have completed or are well along in their respective Year 2000
projects, Bell Atlantic does not usually have sufficient access to or control
over the providers' systems and equipment to undertake verification efforts
as to such systems and equipment, and as a general matter, it would be
impractical to do so. Bell Atlantic has also participated in
interoperability testing of various mission critical network elements,
purchased from a number of vendors, through the Telco Year 2000 Forum, an
industry group comprised of leading local telecommunications services
companies. Bell Atlantic intends to monitor critical service provider
activities, as appropriate, through the remainder of 1999.
. Customers
Bell Atlantic's customers remain keenly interested in the progress of its
Year 2000 efforts, and it anticipates increased demand for information,
including detailed testing data and company-specific responses. Bell
Atlantic is providing limited warranties of Year 2000 compliance for certain
new telecommunications services and other offerings, but it does not expect
any resulting warranty costs to be material.
. Interconnecting Carriers
Bell Atlantic's network operations interconnect with domestic and
international networks of other carriers. If one of these interconnecting
carrier networks should fail or suffer adverse impact from a Year 2000
problem, Bell Atlantic's customers could experience impairment of service.
Bell Atlantic has participated in various internetworking testing efforts, as
a member of the Association for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS),
the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) and the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Bell Atlantic intends to
monitor the activities of the primary interconnecting carriers through the
remainder of 1999.
Costs
From the inception of Bell Atlantic's Year 2000 project through September 30,
1999, and based on the cost tracking methods it has historically applied to this
project, Bell Atlantic has incurred total pre-tax expenses of approximately $211
million, and it has made capital expenditures of approximately $153 million.
For 1999, Bell Atlantic expects total pre-tax expenses for its Year 2000 project
not to exceed $125 million (approximately $89 million has been incurred through
September 30, 1999) and total capital expenditures not to exceed $100 million
(approximately $73 million has been made through September 30, 1999). Bell
Atlantic anticipates that the balance of the costs incurred for 1999 will be
primarily attributable to additional testing and verification/correction,
rollover transition management, contingency planning and repair/replacement of
non-mission critical systems. These cost estimates should not be used as the
sole gauge of progress on its Year 2000 project or as an indication of its Year
2000 readiness.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
Risks
The failure to correct a material Year 2000 problem could cause an
interruption or failure of certain of Bell Atlantic's normal business functions
or operations, which could have a material adverse effect on its results of
operations, liquidity or financial condition; however, it considers such a
development remote. Due to the uncertainty inherent in other Year 2000 issues
that are ultimately beyond Bell Atlantic's control, including, for example, the
final Year 2000 readiness of its suppliers, customers, interconnecting carriers,
and joint venture and investment interests, it is unable to determine at this
time the likelihood of a material impact on its results of operations, liquidity
or financial condition due to such Year 2000 issues. However, Bell Atlantic is
taking appropriate prudent measures to mitigate that risk. Bell Atlantic
anticipates that, in the event of material interruption or failure of its
service resulting from an actual or perceived Year 2000 problem within or beyond
its control, it could be subject to third party claims.
Contingency Plans
As a public telecommunications carrier, Bell Atlantic has had considerable
experience successfully dealing with natural disasters and other events
requiring contingency planning and execution. Bell Atlantic's Year 2000
contingency plans are built upon its existing Emergency Preparedness and
Disaster Recovery plans.
Bell Atlantic will continue to fine-tune and test its corporate Year 2000
contingency plans to help ensure that core business functions and key support
processes will continue to function without material disruption, in the event of
external (e.g. power, public transportation, water), internal or supply chain
failures (i.e. critical dependencies on another entity for information, data or
services). Bell Atlantic's individual business unit contingency plans for Year
2000 are being integrated and coordinated under an enterprise wide command and
control structure.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
Exhibit Number
27 Financial Data Schedule.
(b) There were no Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the
quarter ended September 30, 1999.
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Bell Atlantic - Washington, D.C., Inc.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BELL ATLANTIC - WASHINGTON, D.C., INC.
Date: November 10, 1999 By /s/ Edwin F. Hall
----------------------------------
Edwin F. Hall
Controller
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IS AS OF NOVEMBER 5, 1999.
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