ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP INC - 10-Q Quarterly Report

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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, 2002

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___________________ to ___________________

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________________

Delaware 52-2126573

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

600 Telephone Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99503
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (907) 297-3000

Former name, former address and former three months, if changed since last report: Not Applicable

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 ü No

APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY
PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PRECEDING FIVE YEARS:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

Yes No

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, as of October 25, 2002 was 30,683,648.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Consolidated Statements of Operations
		Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
		Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
	Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
	ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
	ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
	ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
	ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.
	ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.
	ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
	ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.
	ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATIONS
EXHIBIT 99.1
EXHIBIT 99.2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Number

PART I.
Financial Information

Item 1.
Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
As of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001 3

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 7

Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 18

Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 31

Item 4.
Controls and Procedures 31

PART II.
Other Information

Item 1.
Legal Proceedings 32

Item 2.
Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds 33

Item 3.
Defaults upon Senior Securities 33

Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 33

Item 5.
Other Information 33

Item 6.
Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 33

Signatures
34

Certifications
35

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

September 30, December 31,

Assets 2002 2001

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
$ 21,040 $ 41,012

Restricted cash
3,428 6,932

Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance of $5,386 and $4,944
46,812 46,912

Materials and supplies
10,438 8,723

Prepayments and other current assets
8,561 6,032

Assets held for sale
271 —

Total current assets
90,550 109,611

Property, plant and equipment
1,077,843 1,036,829

Less: accumulated depreciation
610,311 557,849

Property, plant and equipment, net
467,532 478,980

Goodwill
141,980 250,495

Intangible assets
23,146 26,785

Debt issuance costs, net of amortization of $15,296 and $12,126
22,598 25,768

Deferred charges and other assets
25,155 9,875

Total assets
$ 770,961 $ 901,514

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Current portion of long-term obligations
$ 5,548 $ 4,823

Accounts payable-affiliates
989 1,303

Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities
54,451 63,081

Advance billings and customer deposits
9,531 9,190

Total current liabilities
70,519 78,397

Long-term obligations, net of current portion
600,810 606,427

Other deferred credits and long-term liabilities
27,875 25,003

Commitments and contingencies
— —

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, no par, 5,000 authorized, no shares issued and outstanding
— —

Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 shares authorized, 33,360 and 33,221 shares issued and 31,328 and 31,688 outstanding, respectively
334 332

Treasury stock, 2,032 and 1,532 shares, respectively, at cost
(10,565 ) (9,735 )

Paid in capital in excess of par value
277,549 276,840

Accumulated deficit
(177,946 ) (61,921 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(17,615 ) (13,829 )

Total stockholders’ equity
71,757 191,687

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 770,961 $ 901,514

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)


			Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
			September 30,						September 30,

			2002			2001			2002			2001

Operating revenue:
	Local telephone		$	52,815		$	53,860		$	172,128		$	163,018
	Cellular			11,903			11,437			32,420			31,802
	Directory			8,360			8,705			25,382			24,857
	Internet			6,422			3,584			14,815			9,898
	Interexchange			4,830			5,395			14,500			16,557

		Total operating revenue		84,330			82,981			259,245			246,132
Operating expense:
	Local telephone			28,650			29,259			90,219			88,582
	Cellular			7,116			6,347			20,227			18,569
	Directory			3,408			3,616			10,366			10,478
	Internet			8,157			4,583			20,602			11,592
	Interexchange			6,797			6,678			20,409			23,043
	Depreciation and amortization			22,458			19,790			61,690			58,754
	Loss of disposal of assets, net			1,835			—			2,108			—

		Total operating expense		78,421			70,273			225,621			211,018

Operating income				5,909			12,708			33,624			35,114
Other income (expense):
	Interest expense			(13,396	)		(14,648	)		(38,402	)		(45,850	)
	Interest income and other			578			1,019			1,626			2,844

		Total other expense		(12,818	)		(13,629	)		(36,776	)		(43,006	)

Loss before income taxes				(6,909	)		(921	)		(3,152	)		(7,892	)
Income tax benefit				—			48			—			147

Loss from continuing operations				(6,909	)		(873	)		(3,152	)		(7,745	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax				(136	)		(526	)		(7,523	)		(1,327	)

Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle				(7,045	)		(1,399	)		(10,675	)		(9,072	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle				—			—			(105,350	)		—

Net loss			$	(7,045	)	$	(1,399	)	$	(116,025	)	$	(9,072	)

Net loss per share — basic and diluted:
	Loss from continuing operations		$	(0.22	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.25	)
	Loss from discontinued operations			(0.00	)		(0.02	)		(0.24	)		(0.04	)

	Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			(0.22	)		(0.04	)		(0.34	)		(0.29	)
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			—			—			(3.32	)		—

	Net loss		$	(0.22	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(3.66	)	$	(0.29	)

Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic			31,653			31,550			31,721			31,497

	Diluted			31,653			31,550			31,735			31,497

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Share Amounts)


						Paid in					Accumulated
						Capital in					Other
	Common		Treasury			Excess of		Accumulated			Comprehensive			Stockholders'
	Stock		Stock			Par		Deficit			Loss			Equity

Balance, December 31, 2000	$	330	$	(9,735	)	$	275,468	$	(50,683	)	$	—		$	215,380
Components of Comprehensive loss:
Net loss		—		—			—		(9,072	)		—			(9,072	)
Interest rate swap marked to market		—		—			—		—			(13,195	)		(13,195	)

Total comprehensive loss															(22,267	)
Issuance of 84,798 shares of common stock, $.01 par		1		—			520		—			—			521

Balance, September 30, 2001	$	331	$	(9,735	)	$	275,988	$	(59,755	)	$	(13,195	)	$	193,634

Balance, December 31, 2001	$	332	$	(9,735	)	$	276,840	$	(61,921	)	$	(13,829	)	$	191,687
Components of Comprehensive loss:
Net loss		—		—			—		(116,025	)		—			(116,025	)
Interest rate swap marked to market		—		—			—		—			(3,786	)		(3,786	)

Total comprehensive loss															(119,811	)
Purchase of 500,000 shares of Treasury stock		—		(830	)		—		—			—			(830	)
Issuance of 139,617 shares of common stock, $.01 par		2		—			709		—			—			711

Balance, September 30, 2002	$	334	$	(10,565	)	$	277,549	$	(177,946	)	$	(17,615	)	$	71,757

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited, In Thousands)


			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,

			2002			2001

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net loss			$	(116,025	)	$	(9,072	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Loss on discontinued operations			7,523			1,327
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			105,350			—
	Depreciation and amortization			61,690			58,754
	Loss on disposal of assets, net			2,108			—
	Amortization of debt issuance costs			3,170			3,292
	Investment tax credits			—			(147	)
	Capitalized interest			(1,078	)		(1,114	)
	Other deferred credits			(914	)		(119	)
	Changes in components of working capital:
		Accounts receivable and other current assets		(4,343	)		(3,525	)
		Accounts payable and other current liabilities		(8,350	)		6,979
		Other		(280	)		749
	Net cash used in discontinued operations			(596	)		(789	)

Net cash provided by operating activities				48,255			56,335
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Construction and capital expenditures, net of capitalized interest				(50,253	)		(74,559	)
Release of funds from escrow				3,706			—
Issuance of note receivable				(15,000	)		—
Proceeds from liquidation of minority interest investment				—			1,370
Issuance of note receivable from officer				—			(335	)
Cost of acquisitions, net of cash received				—			(1,000	)

Net cash used by investing activities				(61,547	)		(74,524	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt				(6,561	)		(2,607	)
Purchase of treasury stock				(830	)		—
Issuance of common stock				711			521

Net cash used by financing activities				(6,680	)		(2,086	)
Decrease in cash				(19,972	)		(20,275	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period				41,012			61,896

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period			$	21,040		$	41,621

Supplemental Cash Flow Data:
Interest paid			$	31,927		$	37,003
Income taxes paid				—			—

Supplemental Noncash Transactions:
Property acquired under capital lease			$	2,306		$	—
Interest rate swap marked to market			$	3,786		$	13,195

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

1. DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company” or “ACS Group”), a Delaware corporation, is an integrated communications provider engaged principally in providing local telephone, directory, cellular, Internet, and interexchange services to its customers in the state of Alaska through its telecommunications subsidiaries. The Company was formed in October of 1998 for the purpose of acquiring and operating telecommunications properties.

The financial statements for the Company represent the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows principally of the following entities:

       •    Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.

       •    Alaska Communications Systems Holdings, Inc. (“ACS Holdings”)

       •    ACS of Alaska, Inc. (“ACSAK”)

       •    ACS of the Northland, Inc. (“ACSN”)

       •    ACS of Fairbanks, Inc. (“ACSF”)

       •    ACS of Anchorage, Inc. (“ACSA”)

       •    ACS Wireless, Inc. (“ACSW”)

       •    ACS Long Distance, Inc. (“ACSLD”)

       •    ACS Internet, Inc. (“ACSI”)

       •    ACS InfoSource, Inc. (ACSIS”)

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the Company believes the disclosures which are made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2001 financial statements to make them conform to the current presentation.

In the opinion of management, the financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which might be expected for the entire year or any other interim periods.

Revenue Recognition

Access revenue is recognized when earned. The Company participates in toll revenue pools with other telephone companies. Such pools are funded by toll revenue and/or access charges regulated by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) within the intrastate jurisdiction and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) within the interstate jurisdiction. Much of the interstate access revenue is initially recorded based on estimates. These estimates are derived from interim financial statements, available separations studies and the most recent information available about achieved rates of return. These estimates are subject to adjustment in future accounting periods, as additional operational information becomes available. To the extent that disputes arise over revenue settlements, the Company’s policy is to defer revenue collected until settlement methodologies are resolved and finalized. During the second quarter of 2002, the Company recognized as revenue $11,066 of previously deferred interstate access revenue and reversed $1,673 of interest expense previously accrued thereon as a result of a favorable ruling by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals related to a dispute on interstate access rates for the Anchorage market.

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

1. DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Regulatory Accounting and Regulation

The local telephone exchange operations of the Company account for costs in accordance with the accounting principles for regulated enterprises prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation. This accounting recognizes the economic effects of rate regulation by recording cost and a return on investment as such amounts are recovered through rates authorized by regulatory authorities. Accordingly, under SFAS No. 71, plant and equipment is depreciated over lives approved by regulators and certain costs and obligations are deferred based upon approvals received from regulators to permit recovery of such amounts in future years. Historically, lives approved for regulatory purposes have approximated economically useful lives. On July 21, 2002, the Company received an order from the RCA which appears to extend lives approved for rate-making purposes beyond the economically useful lives of the underlying assets. Management is awaiting further clarification from the RCA necessary to evaluate the effects of this order on the financial statements of the Company. As of September 30, 2002 the Company has deferred as a regulatory asset $894 of costs incurred in connection with regulatory rate making proceedings, which will be amortized in future periods. If the Company were not following SFAS No. 71, these costs would have been charged to expense as incurred.

Change in Accounting Estimate

During the period, the Company changed its estimate of the useful lives of certain classes of assets resulting in additional depreciation expense of $2,206, or $0.07 per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

On August 15, 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2003. This statement requires, among other things, the accounting and reporting of legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of a long-lived asset. The Company has not yet determined the impact of the adoption of this standard on its financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. This statement addresses accounting and reporting of all long-lived assets, except goodwill, that are either held and used or disposed of through sale or other means (see Note 4).

In April 2002, FASB issued SFAS No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 62, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections. SFAS No. 145 will generally require gains and losses on extinguishments of debt to be classified as income or loss from continuing operations rather than as extraordinary items as previously required under SFAS No. 4. Extraordinary treatment will be required for certain extinguishments as provided in APB Opinion No. 30. Accordingly, gains or losses from extinguishments of debt for fiscal years beginning after May 15, 2002 will not be reported as extraordinary items unless the extinguishment qualifies as an extraordinary item under the provisions of APB Opinion No. 30. Upon adoption, any gain or loss on extinguishment of debt previously classified as an extraordinary item in prior periods presented that does not meet the criteria of APB Opinion No. 30 for such classification will be reclassified to conform with the provisions of SFAS No. 145. Earlier application of the provisions of SFAS No. 145 related to the rescission of SFAS No. 4 is encouraged. SFAS No. 145 does not have any impact on the Company’s results of operations for the current periods reported.

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS (Continued)

On July 30, 2002, FASB issued SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities. SFAS No. 146 requires companies recognize costs associated with exit or disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. SFAS No. 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company does not believe the adoption of this statement will have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Effective January 1, 2002, the Company adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. In accordance with the guidelines of this accounting principle, goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are no longer amortized but will be assessed for impairment on at least an annual basis. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment.

Goodwill amortization, which was $7,741 for the year ended December 31, 2001, ceased effective January 1, 2002. In the first quarter of 2002, pursuant to SFAS No. 142, the Company completed its reassessment of previously recognized intangible assets, and ceased amortization of indefinite-lived intangible assets.

SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill be tested for impairment at the reporting unit level upon adoption and at least annually thereafter, utilizing a two-step methodology. The initial step requires the Company to determine the fair value of each reporting unit and compare it to the carrying value, including goodwill, of such unit. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no impairment loss would be recognized. However, if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the goodwill of the unit may be impaired. The amount, if any, of the impairment is then measured in the second step.

The Company has determined that its business segments constitute reporting units, with the exception of the Internet segment, which includes two reporting units. Those reporting units are (1) Internet service and (2) IP based private network service. The Company completed the initial step of impairment testing during the second quarter which indicated that goodwill recorded in the local telephone, Internet, and interexchange segments was impaired as of January 1, 2002. Due to the potential impairment, the Company then completed the second step of the test to measure the amount of the impairment. The Company determined the fair value of each reporting unit for purposes of this test primarily by using a discounted cash flow valuation technique. Significant estimates used in the valuation include estimates of future cash flows, both future short-term and long-term growth rates, and estimated cost of capital for purposes of arriving at a discount factor. Based on that analysis, a transitional impairment loss of $105,350 was recognized as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the consolidated statement of operations. On an ongoing basis, the Company expects to perform its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter absent any impairment indicators.

In connection with the Company’s adoption of a plan to discontinue its wireless cable television service segment during the first quarter of 2002, the goodwill of that segment was considered impaired, and an impairment charge of $3,165 is included with the results of discontinued operations.

The changes in the carrying value of goodwill by segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 are as follows:


	Local Telephone			Cellular		Directory		Internet			Interexchange			All Other			Total

Balance, December 31, 2001	$	191,351		$	8,851	$	38,831	$	8,146		$	151		$	3,165		$	250,495
Impairment losses included in discontinued operations		—			—		—		—			—			(3,165	)		(3,165	)
Impairment losses		(97,053	)		—		—		(8,146	)		(151	)		—			(105,350	)

Balance, September 30, 2002	$	94,298		$	8,851	$	38,831	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	141,980

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)

Provided below is a reconciliation of previously reported financial statement information to pro forma amounts that reflect the elimination of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible amortization for the comparable nine months ended September 30, 2001 prior to adoption of SFAS No. 142:


			Nine Months Ended
			September 30,

			2002			2001

Reported net loss			$	(116,025	)	$	(9,072	)
	Add back:
		Goodwill amortization		—			5,803
		Indefinite-lived intangible amortization		—			396
		Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		105,350			—

Adjusted net loss			$	(10,675	)	$	(2,873	)

Loss per share (basic and diluted):
	Reported net loss		$	(3.66	)	$	(0.29	)
	Add back:
		Goodwill amortization		—			0.18
		Indefinite-lived intangible amortization		—			0.01
		Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		3.32			—

Adjusted net loss per share			$	(0.34	)	$	(0.09	)

The following table provides the gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for each major class of intangible asset as of September 30, 2002 based on the Company’s reassessment of previously recognized intangible assets and their remaining amortization lives in accordance with the adoption of SFAS No. 142:


			Gross Carrying		Accumulated			Amortizable
			Amount		Amortization			Life

Amortizable intangible assets:
	Customer list		$	915	$	(229	)		5
	Other intangible assets			2,625		(1,462	)		5

		Total amortizable intangible assets	$	3,540	$	(1,691	)

Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
	Cellular licenses		$	18,194
	PCS licenses			3,023
	Domain names and trade names			80

		Total indefinite-lived intangible assets	$	21,297

The total intangible amortization expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 was $516 and $904, respectively. The estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years ending December 31 is as follows:


2002	$	708
2003	$	708
2004	$	690
2005	$	183
2006	$	92

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On March 30, 2002, the Company approved a plan to sell its wireless cable television service segment. As a result of this decision, the operating revenue and expense of this segment has been classified as discontinued operations under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, for all periods presented and the assets and liabilities of the disposal group have been written down as of March 30, 2002 to their fair value, net of expected selling expense. The following discloses the results of the discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001:


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,

	2002			2001

Operating revenue	$	594		$	733
Operating expense		1,025			1,967

Operating loss		(431	)		(1,234	)
Interest expense		(32	)		(93	)

Loss from operations of discontinued segment		(463	)		(1,327	)
Write down of net assets to fair value		(7,060	)		—

Loss from discontinued operations	$	(7,523	)	$	(1,327	)

Assets held for sale at September 30, 2002 consist of the following:


Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $38	$	52
Other current assets		10
Property, plant and equipment		211
Intangible assets		100
Current liabilities		(102	)

Assets held for sale	$	271

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

5. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings per share is based on weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity. The Company includes dilutive stock options based on the treasury stock method. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001 and nine months ended September 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001.


		Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
		September 30,						September 30,

		2002			2001			2002			2001

Numerator:
	Loss from continuing operations	$	(6,909	)	$	(873	)	$	(3,152	)	$	(7,745	)
	Loss from discontinued operations		(136	)		(526	)		(7,523	)		(1,327	)

	Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		(7,045	)		(1,399	)		(10,675	)		(9,072	)
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			(105,350	)		—

	Net loss	$	(7,045	)	$	(1,399	)	$	(116,025	)	$	(9,072	)

Denominator:
	Weighted average shares outstanding — basic		31,653			31,550			31,721			31,497
	Dilutive potential common shares — stock options		—			—			14			—

	Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted		31,653			31,550			31,735			31,497

Basic earnings per share:
	Loss from continuing operations	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.25	)
	Loss from discontinued operations		(0.00	)		(0.02	)		(0.24	)		(0.04	)

	Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		(0.22	)		(0.04	)		(0.34	)		(0.29	)
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			(3.32	)		—

	Net loss	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(3.66	)	$	(0.29	)

Diluted earnings per share:
	Loss from continuing operations	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.03	)	$	(0.10	)	$	(0.25	)
	Loss from discontinued operations		(0.00	)		(0.02	)		(0.24	)		(0.04	)

	Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		(0.22	)		(0.04	)		(0.34	)		(0.29	)
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			—			(3.32	)		—

	Net loss	$	(0.22	)	$	(0.04	)	$	(3.66	)	$	(0.29	)

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

6. STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

Under various plans through the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, ACS Group may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights and other awards to officers, employees and non-employee directors. At September 30, 2002, ACS Group has reserved a total of 6,060 shares of authorized common stock for issuance under the various plans. The plans terminate in approximately 10 years from the date of adoption and allow forfeited options to be reissued. Unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee, options will vest ratably on each of the first four anniversaries after the grant date and will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. The term of options granted under the plan may not exceed 10 years. On April 3, 2002, ACS Group merged the ALEC Holdings, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan into the Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan

ACS Group has reserved 4,910 shares under this plan, which was adopted by the Company in November 1999 in connection with its initial public offering. At September 30, 2002, 5,712 options have been granted, 1,618 have been forfeited, 441 have been exercised, and 816 shares are available for grant under the plan.

On February 11, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the grant of options to purchase 150 shares under the plan to an employee at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vesting over four years ratably.

On February 20, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the grant of options to purchase 80 shares under the plan to employees at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vesting over three years ratably.

On March 19, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the grant of options to purchase 22 shares under the plan to employees at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vesting over three years ratably.

On May 8, 2002, the Board of Directors approved the grant of options to purchase 25 shares under the plan to an employee at an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant, vesting over four years.

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Non-Employee Director Stock Compensation Plan

ACS Group adopted its non-employee director stock compensation plan in November 1999 in connection with its initial public offering. ACS Group has reserved 150 shares under this plan. At September 30, 2002, 68 shares have been awarded and 82 shares are available for grant under the plan. Directors are required to receive not less than 25% of their annual retainer and meeting fees in the form of ACS Group’s stock, and may elect to receive up to 100% of director’s compensation in the form of stock.

On March 29, 2002, seven shares under the plan were awarded to directors, of which five were elected to be deferred until termination of service by the directors.

On June 28, 2002, 10 shares under the plan were awarded to directors, of which seven were elected to be deferred until termination of service by the directors.

On September 28, 2002, 24 shares under the plan were awarded to directors, of which 17 were elected to be deferred until termination of service by the directors.

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

6. STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS (Continued)

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

This plan was also adopted in connection with ACS Group’s initial public offering in November 1999. At September 30, 2002, 270 shares have been issued under the plan and 730 shares are available for issuance and sale. The plan will terminate on December 31, 2009. All ACS Group employees and all of the employees of designated subsidiaries generally will be eligible to participate in the purchase plan, other than employees whose customary employment is 20 hours or less per week or is for not more than five months in a calendar year, or who are ineligible to participate due to restrictions under the Internal Revenue Code.

On June 28, 2002, 53 shares were issued under the plan.

7. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company has five reportable segments: local telephone, cellular, directory, Internet and interexchange. Local telephone provides landline telecommunications services, and consists of local telephone service, network access and deregulated and other revenue; cellular provides wireless telecommunications service; directory provides yellow page advertising and other related products; Internet provides Internet service and advanced IP based private networks; and interexchange provides switched and dedicated long distance services. Each reportable segment is a strategic business under separate management and offering different services than those offered by the other segments. The Company also has a wireless cable television service segment that did not meet the criteria for a reportable segment and was previously included in “All Other” that is now reported as discontinued operations.

The Company also incurs interest expense, interest income, equity in earnings of investments, goodwill amortization in 2001 on the original May 14, 1999 purchases, and other operating and non operating income and expense at the corporate level which are not allocated to the business segments, nor are they evaluated by the chief operating decision maker in analyzing the performance of the business segments. These non operating income and expense items are provided in the accompanying table under the caption “All Other” in order to assist the users of these financial statements in reconciling the operating results and total assets of the business segments to the consolidated financial statements. Common use assets are held at either the Company or ACS Holdings and are allocated to the business segments based on operating revenue. Included in the caption “All Other” are also the net assets held for sale of $271 and other net liabilities of the discontinued operation that would not be sold of $5,865. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.

The following table illustrates selected financial data for each segment as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2002:


	Local
	Telephone		Cellular			Directory		Internet			Interexchange			All Other			Eliminations			Total

Operating revenue	$	172,128	$	32,455		$	25,382	$	14,815		$	22,361		$	18,714		$	(26,610	)	$	259,245
Depreciation and amortization		41,401		4,134			28		4,773			1,700			9,654			—			61,690
Operating income (loss)		24,071		3,553			14,975		(15,286	)		(599	)		6,969			(59	)		33,624
Interest expense		627		(3	)		—		(95	)		(226	)		(38,705	)		—			(38,402	)
Interest income		2		3			—		—			2			1,734			—			1,741
Income tax provision (benefit)		10,010		1,452			6,145		—			—			(17,607	)		—			—
Income (loss) from continuing operations		14,690		2,100			8,830		(15,381	)		(823	)		(12,509	)		(59	)		(3,152	)
Total assets		605,786		102,673			45,428		(14,649	)		19,159			12,564			—			770,961
Capital expenditures		20,937		8,554			512		15,583			—			6,973			—			52,559

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

7. BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Continued)

Operating revenue disclosed above includes intersegment operating revenue of $16,586 for local telephone, $1,350 for cellular, $1,092 for directory and $10,623 for interexchange. In accordance with SFAS No. 71, intercompany revenue between local telephone and all other segments is not eliminated above.

The following table illustrates selected financial data for each segment as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2001:


	Local
	Telephone			Cellular			Directory		Internet			Interexchange			All Other			Eliminations			Total

Operating revenue	$	163,018		$	31,824		$	24,857	$	9,900		$	23,718		$	12,604		$	(19,789	)	$	246,132
Depreciation and amortization		39,613			4,373			1		1,709			1,711			11,347			—			58,754
Operating income (loss)		24,567			4,504			14,349		(7,018	)		(1,586	)		298			—			35,114
Interest expense		(1,291	)		(34	)		—		(77	)		(227	)		(44,221	)		—			(45,850	)
Interest income		4			14			—		—			—			2,845			—			2,863
Income tax provision (benefit)		9,470			1,917			5,900		—			—			(17,434	)		—			(147	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		13,822			2,626			8,449		(7,078	)		(1,810	)		(23,754	)		—			(7,745	)
Total assets		672,672			115,056			47,460		8,863			36,025			23,859			—			903,935
Capital expenditures		30,962			5,953			21		16,971			19,504			1,148			—			74,559

Operating revenue disclosed above include intersegment operating revenue of $15,981 for local telephone, $1,018 for cellular, $950 for directory and $10,609 for interexchange. In accordance with SFAS No. 71, intercompany revenue between local telephone and all other segments is not eliminated above.

The following table illustrates selected financial data for each segment as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2002:


	Local
	Telephone			Cellular			Directory		Internet			Interexchange			All Other			Eliminations			Total

Operating revenue	$	52,815		$	11,919		$	8,360	$	6,422		$	7,723		$	8,818		$	(11,727	)	$	84,330
Depreciation and amortization		13,926			1,379			26		1,799			562			4,766			—			22,458
Operating income (loss)		1,126			1,627			4,919		(5,354	)		(33	)		3,646			(22	)		5,909
Interest expense		(182	)		(1	)		—		(40	)		(75	)		(13,098	)		—			(13,396	)
Interest income		1			2			—		—			2			565			—			570
Income tax provision (benefit)		439			656			2,011		—			—			(3,106	)		—			—
Income (loss) from continuing operations		506			967			2,908		(5,394	)		(106	)		(5,768	)		(22	)		(6,909	)
Total assets		591,554			105,542			44,949		(10,561	)		19,750			19,727			—			770,961
Capital expenditures		7,642			3,443			76		5,484			—			1,360			—			18,005

Operating revenue disclosed above includes intersegment operating revenue of $5,263 for local telephone, $468 for cellular, $390 for directory and $3,814 for interexchange. In accordance with SFAS No. 71, intercompany revenue between local telephone and all other segments is not eliminated above.

The following table illustrates selected financial data for each segment as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2001:


	Local
	Telephone			Cellular			Directory		Internet			Interexchange			All Other			Eliminations			Total

Operating revenue	$	53,860		$	11,446		$	8,705	$	3,586		$	8,062		$	4,366		$	(7,044	)	$	82,981
Depreciation and amortization		13,384			1,530			1		463			567			3,845			—			19,790
Operating income (loss)		7,508			1,826			5,087		(2,654	)		617			324			—			12,708
Interest expense		(406	)		(31	)		—		(1	)		(75	)		(14,135	)		—			(14,648	)
Interest income		1			2			—		—			—			1,100			—			1,103
Income tax provision (benefit)		2,821			763			2,268		—			—			(5,900	)		—			(48	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		4,319			1,008			2,819		(2,652	)		546			(6,913	)		—			(873	)
Total assets		666,775			118,041			48,747		9,904			36,169			24,299			—			903,935
Capital expenditures		9,417			5,507			21		3,447			—			—			—			18,392

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

7. BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Continued)

Operating revenue disclosed above include intersegment operating revenue of $5,482 for local telephone, $413 for cellular, $450 for directory and $3,841 for interexchange. In accordance with SFAS No. 71, intercompany revenue between local telephone and all other segments is not eliminated above.

8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On April 17, 2001, the Company issued an interest bearing note receivable to an officer totaling $328. The note bears interest at the Mid-Term Applicable Federal Rate, which was 3.69% as of September 30, 2002, and is due on April 15, 2005. The note is secured by a pledge of 100 shares of ACS Group’s stock held in the officer’s name. In accordance with an addendum to the officer’s employment agreement dated May 3, 2001, the loan will be forgiven ratably over a three year period ending April 16, 2004. Accordingly, $114 was forgiven on April 16, 2002 and recognized as compensation expense. The note balance, including accrued interest, was $233 as of September 30, 2002.

Fox Paine & Company, the majority stockholder, receives an annual management fee in the amount of one percent of the Company’s net income before interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization, calculated without regard to the fee. The management fee expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001 was $986 and $939, respectively.

9. SEVERANCE AND RESTRUCTURING CHARGES

In connection with the completion of the 2000 restructuring plans in the second quarter of 2002, the Company adopted another restructuring plan in June 2002. Employee force reductions which will result in a severance payout under this restructuring plan, are expected to total approximately 30 and are expected to be completed by December 31, 2002. The Company recorded $523 related to severance charges under this plan. The Company also recorded $339 in lease termination costs of office space in Anchorage, Alaska. As of September 30, 2002, 11 terminated employees have been eligible for severance and the Company has paid out $128 accrued under this plan.

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

A class action lawsuit was filed against the Company on March 14, 2001. The litigation alleges various contract and tort claims concerning the Company’s decision to terminate its Infinite Minutes long distance plan. Although the Company believes this suit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend its position, it is impossible to determine at this time the actual number of plaintiffs or the claims that will actually continue to be in dispute.

In December 2001, the Company entered into a material contract with the State of Alaska to provide it with comprehensive telecommunications services for a period of five years. This contract obligates the Company to, among other things, provide on the state’s behalf customer premise equipment and other capital assets which the Company believes will range between $25,000 and $30,000 over the term of the agreement, including $15,000 to $20,000 during 2002, of which approximately $10,300 has been expended through September 30, 2002. The Company intends to fund this commitment with cash on hand and cash flows from operations.

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Continued
(Unaudited, Dollars In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

On July 15, 2002 the Company fulfilled a commitment to Neptune Communications, L.L.C. (“Neptune”) to provide a loan in the form of an unsecured note receivable totaling $15,000 in return for certain consideration. The note bears interest at the applicable federal rate, which was 5.61% at the date of issuance, and matures on July 15, 2022. Interest is payable semiannually, but Neptune may elect to add the interest to the principal in lieu of cash payments. The commitment was funded with cash on hand. In connection with this note, Neptune has granted the Company an option to purchase certain network assets of Neptune, no later than January 2, 2006 at a price equal to the then outstanding loan balance. The Company has also entered into a strategic agreement with Neptune for the life of the fiber optic cable system owned by Neptune. The significant provisions of this agreement are: i) purchase commitments by the Company for capacity in 2005 and 2007, the final price and quantity of which are subject to future events, ii) Neptune’s restoration of the Company’s traffic carried on another cable system, iii) and specific interconnection arrangements between the Company and Neptune, should the Company exercise its option to purchase certain network assets from Neptune.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ANALYSTS’ REPORTS

This Form 10-Q and future filings by the Company on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and future oral and written statements by the Company and its management may include, certain “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including (without limitation) statements with respect to anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, growth opportunities and growth rates, pricing plans, acquisition and divestitive opportunities, business prospects, strategic alternatives, business strategies, regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, financing needs and availability, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. Words such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “hopes,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” and “will,” and variations of these words and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our Company’s historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Forward-looking statements by the Company and its management are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise.

Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of important factors. Examples of these factors include (without limitation) rapid technological developments and changes in the telecommunications industries; ongoing deregulation (and the resulting likelihood of significantly increased price and product/service competition) in the telecommunications industry as a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (“the 1996 Act”) and other similar federal and state legislation and the federal and state rules and regulations enacted pursuant to that legislation; regulatory limitations on the Company’s ability to change its pricing for communications services; the possible future unavailability of SFAS No. 71 to the Company’s wireline subsidiaries; and possible changes in the demand for the Company’s products and services. In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially because of other, more general, factors including (without limitation) changes in general industry and market conditions and growth rates; changes in interest rates or other general national, regional or local economic conditions; governmental and public policy changes; changes in accounting policies or practices adopted voluntarily or as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; and the continued availability of financing in the amounts, at the terms and on the conditions necessary to support the Company’s future business.

Investors should also be aware that while the Company does, at various times, communicate with securities analysts, it is against the Company’s policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential information. Accordingly, investors should not assume that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by an analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. To the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of the Company.

INTRODUCTION

On May 14, 1999, the Company acquired the incumbent providers of local telephone services in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks and approximately 70 rural communities in Alaska, making it the largest provider of local telephone service in the state and the fourteenth largest provider of local exchange services in the United States. The Company also acquired on May 14, 1999 interexchange operations primarily serving the Anchorage market and cellular and Internet services providing statewide coverage. The Company has unified its statewide branding under the ACS name.

Today, the Company generates revenue primarily through the provision of:

• local telephone services, including:

       •    basic local service to retail customers within the Company’s service areas,

       •    wholesale service to competitive local exchange carriers (“CLECs”),

       •    network access services to interexchange carriers for origination and termination of interstate and intrastate long distance phone calls,

       •    enhanced services,

       •    ancillary services, such as billing and collection (“B&C), and

       •    universal service payments;

•      cellular services;

•      directory advertising;

•      Internet services; and

•      interexchange network long-distance services.

Local Telephone — Within the telecommunications industry, local exchange carriers (“LECs”) have historically enjoyed stable revenue and cash flow from local exchange operations resulting from the need for basic telecommunications services, the highly regulated nature of the telecommunications industry and, in the case of rural LECs, the underlying cost recovery settlement and support mechanisms applicable to local exchange operations. Increasing levels of competition, regulatory decisions to open high cost areas to new entrants, portability of high cost support payments, and interconnection rates established by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) that are below the companies cost to provide certain services have eroded the stability of revenue and cash flow. Basic local service is generally provided at a flat monthly rate and allows the user to place unlimited calls within a defined local calling area. Access revenue is generated by providing interexchange carriers access to the LEC’s local network and its customers. Universal service revenue is a subsidy paid to rural LECs to support the high cost of providing service in rural markets. Revenue is also generated from ancillary and enhanced services, such as call waiting.

Changes in revenue are largely attributable to changes in the number of access lines, local service rates, competition and minutes of use. Other factors can also impact revenue, including:

       •    intrastate and interstate revenue pricing and settlement methodologies,

       •    authorized rates of return for regulated services,

       •    whether an access line is used by a business or residential subscriber,

       •    whether an access line is used by a retail or wholesale subscriber,

       •    intrastate and interstate calling patterns,

       •    customers’ selection of various local rate plan options,

       •    selection of enhanced calling services, such as voice mail, or other packaged products, such as cellular and Internet and

       •    other subscriber usage characteristics.

LECs have three basic tiers of customers:

       •    business and residential end user customers located in their local service areas that pay for local phone service,

       •    interexchange carriers that pay for access to long distance calling customers located within its local service areas and

       •    CLEC’s that pay for wholesale access to the Company’s network in order to provide competitive local service on either a wholesale or unbundled network element (“UNE”) basis as prescribed under the 1996 Act.

LECs provide access service to numerous interexchange carriers and may also bill and collect long distance charges from interexchange carrier customers on behalf of the interexchange carriers. The amount of access charge revenue associated with a particular interexchange carrier varies depending upon long distance calling patterns and the relative market share of each long distance carrier.

The Company’s service rates for end users, CLECs and interexchange carriers are authorized by the RCA. Authorized rates are set by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the RCA for interstate and intrastate access charges, respectively, and may change from time to time.

Cellular - The Company is the largest and only statewide provider of cellular services in Alaska, currently serving approximately 82,000 subscribers. Its cellular network covers over 470,000 residents, including all major population centers and highway corridors. The Company operates a TDMA digital network in substantially all of its service areas, and intends to upgrade this network to a new generation of digital network known as CDMA.

Directory - The Company is the largest provider of published directory advertising in Alaska. The Company serves approximately 12,000 advertisers through eight regional directories tailored to serve the needs of each of its local exchange markets. The Company also provides an online directory product and other specialized advertising vehicles to its customers.

Internet - The Company is the second largest provider of Internet access services in Alaska with approximately 47,000 customers. The Company offers dial-up and dedicated digital subscriber line, (“DSL”) Internet access to its customers. The Company is also the only single source provider of advanced IP based private networks in Alaska.

Interexchange - The Company provides switched and dedicated long distance services to approximately 67,000 customers in Alaska. The traffic from these customers are carried over the Company’s owned or leased facilities.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2001

All amounts are discussed at the consolidated level after the elimination of intercompany revenue and expense.

Operating Revenue

Operating revenue increased $1.3 million, or 1.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2001. Cellular and Internet revenue increased compared to the corresponding period of 2001, while local telephone, directory advertising and interexchange revenue decreased compared to the corresponding period of 2001.

Local Telephone

Local telephone revenue, which consist of local network service, network access revenue and deregulated and other revenue, decreased $1.0 million, or 1.9%, for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated local telephone revenue by category.


		Three Months Ended
		September 30,

		2002		2001

		(In Thousands)
Local telephone revenue:
	Local network	$	24,186	$	24,388
	Network access		23,862		24,993
	Deregulated and other		4,767		4,479

Total local telephone revenue		$	52,815	$	53,860

The following table summarizes the Company’s local telephone access lines.


	As of September 30,

	2002		2001

Retail		241,583		266,040
Wholesale		25,074		20,858
Unbundled network elements		60,504		46,268

Total local telephone access lines		327,161		333,166

The local network service component of local telephone revenue was $24.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared with $24.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001. Revenue decreased $0.2 million or 0.8% from the prior year. This decrease reflects the impact of competition exacerbated by below cost UNE rates, offset by approximately $1.0 million of rate increases for both retail and UNE local service rates implemented during the fourth quarter of 2001 at ACSA, as discussed below, and approximately $0.6 million in additional feature and service order revenue compared to the prior year.

The Company believes it is earning less than its required rate of return for local network service in several of its markets and filed local service rate cases for all of its LEC businesses with the RCA on July 2, 2001 aimed at making up this deficiency. Subsequently, in October 2001, the Company filed for interim and refundable local service rates in its Anchorage market in order to expedite a partial recovery of the total revenue deficiency. On November 15, 2001 the RCA approved an interim and refundable rate increase for ACSA of 24% for certain services. This interim and refundable rate increase was implemented in November 2001 and is expected to generate approximately $4.0 to $5.0 million in annual revenue. The Company expects the RCA to hold hearings during 2002 and 2003 and to adjudicate final local service rates during 2003.

The Company continued to experience loss of retail market share for local network service in its Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau service areas during the quarter. Generally, when the Company loses a retail local network service line to a competitor, it continues to provide the line to the competitor on a wholesale basis at reduced revenue per line. Management believes that the continuing loss of market share it has experienced in certain of its markets is partially attributable to below cost interconnection rates mandated by the RCA for UNEs. During the second quarter of 2001, the Company reopened interconnection proceedings for its Anchorage market and filed for an interim and refundable UNE rate increase of approximately $10 per month per loop. On October 25, 2001, the RCA granted ACSA an interim and refundable UNE rate increase of $1.07, increasing the UNE rates from $13.85 to $14.92. The interim and refundable rate increase was implemented in November 2001 and is expected to generate approximately $0.6 million to $0.7 million in annual revenue. The Company expects the RCA to hold hearings during 2002 and 2003 and adjudicate final Anchorage UNE rates during 2003.

Network access revenue decreased by $1.1 million, or 4.5%, from $25.0 million in 2001 to $23.9 million in 2002. Network access revenue is based on a regulated return on rate base and recovery of allowable expense associated with the origination and termination of toll calls for the Company’s retail and resale customers. The decrease in network access revenue compared to the corresponding period in 2001 is due primarily to a shift from retail and wholesale lines to UNEs. Management expects that network access revenue will decline as a component of local telephone revenue for the foreseeable future.

Deregulated and other revenue, which increased slightly to $4.8 million compared to $4.5 million in the prior year, consists principally of B&C services, space and power rents, deregulated equipment sales, paystation revenue, regulated directory listing revenue, and other miscellaneous telephone revenue.

Cellular

Cellular revenue increased $0.5 million, or 4.1%, to $11.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared to $11.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001. This increase was due to a growth in average subscribers of 3.4% from 78,666 in 2001 to 81,334 in 2002. The average revenue per unit, or ARPU, increased to $48.78 in 2002 compared to $48.46 during 2001.

Directory

Directory revenue decreased slightly to $8.4 million in 2002 from $8.7 million in 2001, but the directory business continued its solid profitable performance. Management expects the growth in directory revenue to slow due to the recent economic uncertainty and its impacts on the advertising and publishing marketplace and as other advertising media, such as the Internet, compete for this business.

Internet

Internet revenue increased from $3.6 million in 2001 to $6.4 million in 2002 — an increase of $2.8 million, or 79.2%. This increase is primarily due to revenue associated with the Company’s contract with the State of Alaska and growth in DSL subscribers of 87.7% from 5,884 in 2001 to 11,045 in 2002.

On December 10, 2001, the Company entered into a five year contract with the State of Alaska to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, many of which will be provided over an IP network owned and operated by ACSI. Services under this contract began to be implemented during the second quarter of 2002 and continued to increase in the third quarter of 2002. The Company anticipates that revenue for this segment will increase in future periods as additional services are added under the contract. The Company anticipates substantial capital investments will be made over the first two years of the contract to support the telecommunications needs of this customer, including $15 to $20 million during 2002, of which it has expended approximately $10.3 million through September 30, 2002.

Interexchange

Interexchange revenue decreased from $5.4 million in 2001 to $4.8 million in 2002 — a decrease of $0.6 million, or 10.5%. Long distance subscribers were essentially flat at 67,230 while total minutes of use declined from 49.4 million in 2001 to 38.7 million in 2002.

Operating Expense

Operating expense increased $8.1 million, or 11.6%, from $70.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001 to $78.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002.

Local Telephone

The components of local telephone expense are plant specific operations, plant non-specific operations, customer operations, corporate operations and property and other operating tax expense. Depreciation and amortization associated with the operation of the local telephone segment is included in total depreciation and amortization. Local telephone expense decreased to $28.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 from $29.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2001. The decrease in local telephone expense was substantially attributable to actions the Company took under a restructuring program adopted during the second quarter of 2002.

Cellular

Cellular expense increased $0.8 million, or 12.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2001. This increase is due substantially to an increase in minutes of use from 45.3 million minutes in 2001 to 55.5 million minutes in 2002.

Directory

Directory expense decreased $0.2 million from $3.6 million in 2001 to $3.4 million in 2002 as cost of sales declined proportionate to the decline in directory revenue.

Internet

Internet expense increased by $3.6 million, or 78.0%, from $4.6 million in 2001 to $8.2 million in 2002. The increase in Internet expense was due principally to start-up expenses associated with

commencing services under the State of Alaska telecommunications contract. On December 10, 2001, the Company entered into a five year contract with the State of Alaska to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, many of which will be provided over an IP network or supported by a service center owned and operated by ACSI. The Company anticipates expense for this segment will increase as it provides additional services to the State of Alaska.

Interexchange

Interexchange expense increased by $0.1 million, or 1.8%.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.7 million, or 13.5%, due principally to increases in plant in service for the three months ended September 30, 2002 and the adoption of shorter depreciable lives for certain classes of assets compared to the corresponding period of 2001, offset by ceasing goodwill amortization with the adoption of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Intangible Assets on January 1, 2002. Depreciation and amortization expense in 2001 included $1.9 million of goodwill amortization. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer amortized but is instead subjected to an annual impairment test.

Loss on disposal of assets

The Company recorded a non-cash loss on disposal of assets of $1.8 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2002 as a result of retiring certain assets no longer in use.

Interest Expense and Interest Income and Other

Interest expense decreased $1.3 million, or 8.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2001 as a result of market interest rate effects on the Company’s variable interest rate debt. Interest income and other also declined by $0.4 million, or 43.3%, as a result of a lower average invested cash balance and lower market interest rates during 2002 compared to 2001.

Income Taxes

The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full income tax benefit resulting from the consolidated losses it has incurred since May 14, 1999 — the date of the acquisition of substantially all of its operations.

Discontinued Operations

On March 30, 2002, the Company’s management approved a plan to offer for sale its wireless cable television service segment. As a result of this decision, the operating revenue and expense of this segment has been classified as discontinued operations under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, for all periods presented and the assets and liabilities of the disposal group have been written down as of March 30, 2002 to their fair value, net of expected selling expense. The results of operations of this discontinued segment resulted in a charge to discontinued operations of $0.1 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company has fully reserved in the form of a valuation allowance the income tax benefit resulting from this discontinuance incurred during 2002.

Net loss

The change in net loss is primarily a result of the factors discussed above.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2001

All amounts are discussed at the consolidated level after the elimination of intercompany revenue and expense.

Operating Revenue

Operating revenue increased $13.1 million, or 5.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Local telephone, cellular, directory advertising and Internet all increased compared to the corresponding period of 2001, while interexchange revenue decreased compared to the corresponding period of 2001.

Local Telephone

Local telephone revenue, which consists of local network service, network access revenue and deregulated and other revenue, increased $9.1 million, or 5.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the same period in 2001. The following table summarizes the Company’s consolidated local telephone revenue by category.


		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,

		2002		2001

		(In Thousands)
Local telephone revenue:
	Local network	$	74,870	$	70,530
	Network access		83,827		76,258
	Deregulated and other		13,431		16,230

Total local telephone revenue		$	172,128	$	163,018

The following table summarizes the Company’s local telephone access lines.


	As of September 30,

	2002		2001

Retail		241,583		266,040
Wholesale		25,074		20,858
Unbundled network elements		60,504		46,268

Total local telephone access lines		327,161		333,166

The local network service component of local telephone revenue was $74.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared with $70.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. Revenue increased $4.3 million or 6.2% from the prior year. This increase was due in part to rate increases for both retail and UNE local service rates implemented during the fourth quarter of 2001 at ACSA, as discussed below. The Company also experienced increased cellular local access revenue, directory assistance and service order revenue compared to the prior year, which together accounted for approximately $1.5 million of the increase. Additionally, the Company has improved its collection practices over those in place during the first quarter of 2001, thereby reducing its recorded bad debt expense by $1.3 million. These increases were offset by a decrease in retail lines due to the impact of competition compounded by below cost UNE rates.

November 2001 and is expected to generate approximately $4.0 to $5.0 million in annual revenue. The Company expects the RCA to hold hearings during 2002 and 2003 and to adjudicate final local service rates during 2003.

The Company continued to experience loss of retail market share for local network service in its Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau service areas during the period. Generally, when the Company loses a retail local network service line to a competitor, it continues to provide the line to the competitor on a wholesale basis at reduced revenue per line. Management believes that the continuing loss of market share it has experienced in certain of its markets is partially attributable to below cost interconnection rates mandated by the RCA for UNEs. During the second quarter of 2001, the Company reopened interconnection proceedings for its Anchorage market and filed for an interim and refundable UNE rate increase of approximately $10 per month per loop. On October 25, 2001, the RCA granted ACSA an interim and refundable UNE rate increase of $1.07, increasing the UNE rates from $13.85 to $14.92. The interim and refundable rate increase was implemented in November 2001 and is expected to generate approximately $0.6 million to $0.7 million in annual revenue. The Company expects the RCA to hold hearings during 2002 and 2003 and adjudicate final Anchorage UNE rates during 2003.

Network access revenue increased by $7.6 million, or 9.9%, from $76.3 million in 2001 to $83.8 million in 2002. Network access revenue is based on a regulated return on rate base and recovery of allowable expense associated with the origination and termination of toll calls for the Company’s retail and resale customers. During the second quarter of 2002, the Company recognized as revenue $11.1 million of previously deferred interstate access revenue related to a dispute on interstate access rates for the Anchorage market based on a favorable ruling by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. After consideration of the revenue recognized as a result of the favorable ruling by the court, the decrease in network access revenue compared to the corresponding period in 2001 is due primarily to a shift from retail and wholesale lines to UNEs. Management expects that network access revenue will decline as a component of local telephone revenue for the foreseeable future.

Deregulated and other revenue, which declined $2.8 million, or 17.2% from 2001, consists principally of B&C services, space and power rents, deregulated equipment sales , paystation revenue, regulated directory listing revenue, and other miscellaneous telephone revenue. The decline in deregulated and other revenue was due primarily to a decrease in deregulated equipment sales of approximately $2.5 million. Customer premise equipment (“CPE”) sales tend to fluctuate significantly from quarter to quarter and management believes they have also been impacted by recent economic concerns in the marketplace.

Cellular

Cellular revenue increased $0.6 million, or 1.9%, to $32.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to $31.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001. This increase is due to growth in average subscribers of 4.5% from 77,346 in 2001 to 80,840 in 2002. Average revenue per unit, or ARPU, decreased slightly from $45.69 in 2001 to $44.56 in 2002.

Directory

Directory revenue increased by $0.5 million, or 2.1%, from $24.9 million in 2001 to $25.4 million in 2002. This growth reflects improved penetration and revenue per advertiser for the current directory phone book cycles compared with 2001. Management expects the growth in directory revenue to slow due to the recent economic uncertainty and its impacts on the advertising and publishing marketplace and as other advertising media, such as the Internet, compete for this business.

Internet

Internet revenue increased from $9.9 million in 2001 to $14.8 million in 2002 — an increase of $4.9 million, or 49.7%. This increase is primarily due to revenue associated with the Company’s contract with the State of Alaska and growth in DSL subscribers of 87.7% from 5,884 in 2001 to 11,045 in 2002.

On December 10, 2001, the Company entered into a five year contract with the State of Alaska to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, many of which will be provided over an IP network

and supported by a service center owned and operated by ACSI. Services under this contract began to be implemented during the second quarter of 2002. The Company anticipates revenue for this segment will increase in future periods as additional services are provisioned under the terms of the contract. The Company anticipates substantial capital investments will be made over the first two years of the contract to support the telecommunications needs of this customer, including $15 to $20 million during 2002, of which it has expended approximately $10.3 million through September 30, 2002.

Interexchange

Interexchange revenue decreased from $16.6 million in 2001 to $14.5 million in 2002 — a decrease of $2.1 million, or 12.4%. The decrease was due to a decline in long distance minutes of use from 179.0 million in 2001 to 115.5 million in 2002. Long distance subscribers were flat at 67,230. The decline in minutes of use was due to the Company’s decision to terminate an unlimited $20 per month interstate calling plan, which was marketed as Infinite Minutes, in May of 2001 and increased competition in the marketplace.

Operating Expense

Operating expense increased $14.6 million, or 6.9%, from $211.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 to $225.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

Local Telephone

The components of local telephone expense are plant specific operations, plant non-specific operations, customer operations, corporate operations and property and other operating tax expense. Depreciation and amortization associated with the operation of the local telephone segment is included in total depreciation and amortization. Local telephone expense increased from $88.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2001 to $90.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The increase is due substantially to $2.2 million in additional costs incurred during the year related primarily to severance and restructuring charges and rate case expense.

Cellular

Cellular expense increased $1.7 million, or 8.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2001. This increase is due substantially to an increase in minutes of use from 120.3 million minutes in 2001 to 147.1 million minutes in 2002.

Directory

Directory expense decreased $0.1 million from $10.5 million in 2001 to $10.4 million in 2002. As a percent of directory revenue, expense was 42.2% for 2001 compared to 40.8% for 2002. This margin improvement is due to stable fixed costs combined with increasing directory revenue.

Internet

Internet expense increased by $9.0 million, or 77.7% from $11.6 million in 2001 to $20.6 million in 2002. The increase in Internet expense was due principally to start-up expenses associated with commencing services under the State of Alaska telecommunications contract. On December 10, 2001, the Company entered into a five year contract with the State of Alaska to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, many of which will be provided over an IP network and supported by a service center owned and operated by ACSI. The Company anticipates expense for this segment will increase as it provides additional services to the State of Alaska.

Interexchange

Interexchange expense decreased by $2.6 million, or 11.4%. The majority of this decrease was the result of the decline in long distance minutes of use as discussed under interexchange service revenue.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.9 million, or 5.0%, due principally to increases in plant in service for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 over the corresponding period of 2001 and the adoption of shorter depreciable lives for certain classes of assets offset by ceasing goodwill amortization with the adoption of SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Intangible Assets on January 1, 2002. Depreciation and amortization expense in 2001 included $5.8 million of goodwill amortization. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill is no longer amortized but is instead subjected to an annual impairment test.

Loss on disposal of assets

The Company recorded a non-cash loss on disposal of assets of $2.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2002 as a result of retiring certain assets no longer in use.

Interest Expense and Interest Income and Other

Interest expense decreased $7.5 million, or 16.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2002 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2001, principally as a result of market effects on the Company’s variable interest rate debt. In addition, during the second quarter of 2002, the Company reversed previously accrued interest expense of $1.7 million as a result of a favorable ruling by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals related to a dispute on interstate access rates for the Anchorage market. Interest income and other also declined by $1.2 million, or 42.8%, as a result of a lower average invested cash balance and lower market interest rates during 2002 compared to 2001.

Income Taxes

Discontinued Operations

On March 30, 2002, the Company’s management approved a plan to offer for sale its wireless cable television service segment. As a result of this decision, the operating revenue and expense of this segment has been classified as discontinued operations under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, for all periods presented and the assets and liabilities of the disposal group have been written down as of March 30, 2002 to their fair value, net of expected selling expense. The write down and results of operations of this discontinued segment resulted in a charge to discontinued operations of $7.5 million and $1.3 million for the periods ended September 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company has fully reserved in the form of a valuation allowance the income tax benefit of this discontinuance.

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

During the second quarter of fiscal 2002, the Company also completed the transitional review for goodwill impairment required under SFAS No. 142. This review indicated that goodwill recorded in the local telephone, Internet and interexchange segments was impaired as of January 1, 2002. Accordingly, the Company measured and recognized a transitional impairment loss of $105.4 million as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. See Note 3 of the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of this quarterly report for additional discussion of the impact of this statement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Net Loss

The increase in net loss is primarily a result of the factors discussed above.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company has satisfied its operational and capital cash requirements primarily through internally generated funds, the sale of stock and debt financing. For the nine months ended September 30, 2002 the Company’s cash flows from operating activities were $48.3 million. At September 30, 2002, the Company had approximately $20.0 million in net working capital. As of September 30, 2002 the Company had $75.0 million of remaining capacity under its revolving credit facility, representing 100% of available capacity.

The Company has outstanding a $430.7 million bank credit agreement (“Senior Credit Facility”), $150.0 million in 9.375% senior subordinated notes due 2009 and $17.3 million in 13% senior discount debentures due 2011, representing substantially all of the Company’s long-term debt of $606.4 million as of September 30, 2002. Interest on the Company’s senior subordinated notes and senior discount debentures is payable semiannually. Interest on borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility is payable monthly, quarterly or semi-annually at the Company’s option. The Senior Credit Facility requires 1% annual principal payments that commenced on May 14, 2002, with balloon payments in each of 2006, 2007, and 2008. The Senior Credit Facility contains a number of restrictive covenants and events of default, including covenants limiting capital expenditures, incurrence of debt, and the payment of dividends, and requires the Company to achieve certain financial ratios. The Company is in compliance with all of its debt covenants. During the second quarter, the Company’s lenders approved an amendment to its Senior Credit Facility that, among other things, permits the Company to repurchase up to $15 million of its outstanding common stock over the term of the Senior Credit Facility.

The Company employs an interest rate hedge transaction, which fixes at 5.99% the underlying variable rate on $217.5 million of the borrowings under the Senior Credit Facility, expiring in June 2004. The underlying variable rate for the Senior Credit Facility is based on the London Interbank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”), which is adjusted at each monthly, quarterly or semi-annual rollover date.

On July 15, 2002 the Company fulfilled a commitment to Neptune Communications, L.L.C. (“Neptune”) to provide to that party a loan in the form of an unsecured note receivable totaling $15 million in return for certain consideration. The note bears interest at the applicable federal rate, which was 5.61% at the date of issuance, and matures on July 15, 2022. Interest is payable semiannually, but the borrower may elect to add the interest to the principal in lieu of cash payments. The commitment was funded with cash on hand. In connection with this note, Neptune has granted the Company an option to purchase certain network assets of Neptune, no later than January 2, 2006 at a price equal to the then outstanding loan balance. The Company has also entered into a strategic agreement with Neptune for the life of the fiber option cable system owned by Neptune. The significant provisions of this agreement are: i) purchase commitments by the Company for capacity in 2005 and 2007, the final price and quantity of which are subject to future events, ii) Neptune’s restoration of the Company’s traffic carried on another cable system, iii) and specific interconnection arrangements between the Company and Neptune, should the Company exercise its option to purchase certain network assets from Neptune.

The local telephone network requires the timely maintenance of plant and infrastructure. The Company’s historical capital expenditures have been significant. The construction and geographic expansion of the Company’s cellular network has required significant capital. The implementation of the Company’s interexchange network and data services strategy is also capital intensive. In 1999, the Company purchased fiber capacity for $19.5 million, which was funded with monies borrowed to finance the 1999 acquisitions. Capital expenditures for 2000 were $72.3 million, including $3.2 million in capital leases. Capital expenditures for 2001 were $87.6 million, including $19.5 million for additional fiber capacity and $15 million for an IP based network and service center. The Company anticipates capital spending for 2002 of approximately $75 million, including approximately $15 to $20 million necessary to meet its obligations under a contract with the State of Alaska and approximately $7 million for the first phase of its buildout of PCS licenses. The Company intends to fund its future capital expenditures with cash on hand, through internally generated cash flows, and if necessary, through borrowings under the revolving credit facility.

The Company’s capital requirements may change due to, among other things: impacts of regulatory decisions that affect the Company’s ability to recover its investments, changes in technology, the effects of competition, changes in the Company’s business strategy, and the Company’s decision to pursue specific acquisition opportunities.

The Company believes that it will have sufficient working capital provided by operations and available borrowing capacity under the existing revolving credit facility to service its debt and fund its operations, capital expenditures and other obligations over the next 12 months. The Company’s ability to service its debt and fund its operations, capital expenditures and other obligations will be dependent upon its future financial performance, which is, in turn, subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

Management is responsible for the financial statements presented elsewhere in this 10-Q and has evaluated the accounting policies used in their preparation. Management believes these policies to be reasonable and appropriate. The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. The following discussion identifies those accounting policies that management believes are critical in the preparation of the Company’s financial statements, the judgements and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies, and the possibility that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of commitments and contingencies at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to the realizable value of accounts receivable, long-lived assets, income taxes and network access revenue reserves. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

Access revenue is recognized when earned. The Company participates in toll revenue pools with other telephone companies. Such pools are funded by toll revenue and/or access charges regulated by the RCA within the intrastate jurisdiction and the FCC within the interstate jurisdiction. Much of the interstate access service revenue is initially recorded based on estimates. These estimates are derived from interim financial statements, available separations studies and the most recent information available about achieved rates of return. These estimates are subject to adjustment in future accounting periods as refined operational information becomes available. To the extent that disputes arise over revenue settlements, the Company’s policy is to defer revenue collected until settlement methodologies are resolved and finalized. During the second quarter of 2002, the Company recognized as revenue $11.1 million of previously deferred interstate access revenue and reversed $1.7 million of interest expense previously accrued thereon as a result of a favorable ruling by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals related to a dispute on interstate access rates for the Anchorage market. At September 30, 2002, the Company had recorded liabilities of $20.7 million related to potentially refundable access revenue.

The Company utilizes the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes reflect the temporary differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that it is more likely than not that such deferred tax assets will not be realized. The cumulative valuation allowance against deferred tax assets was $66.2 million as of September 30, 2002.

extend lives approved for rate-making purposes beyond the economically useful lives of the underlying assets. Management is awaiting further clarification from the RCA necessary to evaluate the effects of this order on the financial statements of the Company. As of September 30, 2002 the Company has deferred as a regulatory asset $0.9 million of costs incurred in connection with regulatory rate making proceedings, which will be amortized in future periods. If the Company were not following SFAS 71, these costs would have been charged to expense as incurred.

OUTLOOK

The Company expects that, overall, the demand for telecommunications services in Alaska to grow, particularly as a result of:

       •    increasing demand for private network services by government and business on a statewide basis on either a circuit switched or IP basis,

       •    increasing demand for wireless voice and data services, and

       •    growth in demand for DSL and Internet access services due to higher business and consumer bandwidth needs for Internet and data services.

The Company believes that it will be able to capitalize on this demand through its diverse service offerings on its owned circuit switched and IP facilities and new sales and marketing initiatives directed toward basic voice, enhanced and data services.

There are currently a number of regulatory proceedings underway at the state and federal levels that could have a significant impact on the Company’s operations. The Company cannot predict with certainty the impact of current or future regulatory developments on any of its businesses.

The telecommunications industry is extremely competitive, and the Company expects competition to intensify in the future. As an ILEC, the Company faces competition mainly from resellers, local providers who lease its UNEs and, to a lesser degree, from facilities-based providers of local telephone services. In addition, as a result of the RCA’s recent affirmation of the APUC’s termination of the Company’s rural exemptions, the Company may be required to provide interconnection elements and/or wholesale discounted services to competitors in all or some of its rural service areas. Moreover, while cellular telephone services have historically complemented traditional LEC services, the Company anticipates that existing and emerging wireless technologies may increasingly compete with LEC services. In cellular services, the Company currently competes with at least one other cellular provider in each of its cellular service areas. In the interexchange market, the Company currently has less than 10% of total revenue in Alaska and faces competition from the two major interexchange providers in Alaska. In the highly competitive business for Internet access services, the Company currently competes with a number of established online service companies, interexchange carriers and cable companies.

The telecommunications industry is subject to continuous technological change. The Company expects that new technological developments in the future will generally serve to enhance its ability to provide service to its customers. However, these developments may also increase competition or require the Company to make significant capital investments to maintain its leadership position in Alaska.

On December 10, 2001, the Company entered into a material contract with the State of Alaska to provide it with comprehensive telecommunications services. The Company expects that this contract will generate approximately $92 million in revenue over its term, including an estimated $10 million in 2002. The contract also obligates the Company to provide customer premise and other capital assets to the state estimated to require an investment of $25 to $30 million over the term of the agreement, including $15 to $20 million during 2002, of which it has expended approximately $10.3 million through September 30, 2002.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The Company has issued senior discount debentures, senior subordinated notes and has entered into a bank credit facility. These on-balance sheet financial instruments, to the extent they provide for variable rates of interest, expose the Company to interest rate risk, with the primary interest rate risk exposure resulting from changes in LIBOR or the prime rate, which are used to determine the interest rates that are applicable to borrowings under the Company’s bank credit facilities. The Company uses derivative financial instruments, in particular an interest rate swap agreement, to partially hedge variable interest transactions. The Company’s derivative financial instrument transaction has been entered into for hedging purposes. The terms and characteristics of the derivative financial instruments are matched with the underlying on-balance sheet instrument or anticipated transactions and do not constitute speculative or leveraged positions independent of these exposures. There have been no material changes to the Company’s outstanding debt instruments since December 31, 2001.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures

Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c)) under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in internal controls

There were no significant changes in our internal controls or, to our knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect our disclosure controls and procedures subsequent to the date the Company carried out this evaluation.

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

As previously reported, the Company filed a formal appeal of the RCA’s order terminating the rural exemption for Fairbanks, Juneau and the rural communities in the Glacier State study area on November 10, 1999. This matter has been fully briefed and is currently pending before the Alaska Supreme Court.

General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”), requested a new interconnection agreement for the rural communities in ACSN’s Glacier State study area on November 29, 2001. On April 5, 2002, ACSN filed a complaint seeking a declaratory ruling from the federal district court in Alaska that it had satisfied its statutory obligation to arbitrate an interconnection agreement for this area for the remainder of the term of the existing agreement. On August 21, 2002, the federal district court dismissed the complaint on the grounds the dispute was not yet ripe. Shortly thereafter, the RCA ordered ACSN to proceed with arbitration. ACSN intends to comply with RCA orders. Nevertheless, on October 21, 2002, ACSN filed a new complaint in federal district court seeking an injunction against further RCA action during the term of its existing agreement with GCI.

The Company completed the hearing for Phase I (revenue requirements) of its rate cases for all its local exchange companies in March 2002. The RCA issued a decision regarding depreciation on June 6, 2002 that arguably extended the Company’s asset lives beyond the time period for which they will be economically useful. The Company sought clarification and reconsideration of the June 6, 2002 order. On July 21, 2002, the RCA clarified that it intended to choose service lives without any regard for the resulting low depreciation rates and confirmed its decisions. The Company is seeking further relief from this Order and is awaiting RCA action. Once the LEC revenue requirements are adjudicated, Phase II (cost of service and rate design) proceedings will commence. The Company intends to vigorously pursue these matters in the coming months but does not expect final rates to be decided or implemented this year.

The Company also previously reported that on February 7, 2001, it filed an appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit of a January 24, 2001 FCC Order to pay $2.7 million plus interest to GCI for excess interstate access charges. On April 4, 2001, the FCC released an order granting the Company’s request for a stay of the payment and allowed the Company to place the funds in question, already fully reserved, in escrow pending the outcome of the appeal. On March 4, 2002, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument in the matter. On May 21, 2002, the court issued its decision finding that the FCC could rule that ISP traffic is intrastate in nature, but that the FCC could not order refunds for those periods during which the Company’s tariffs were deemed lawful. The matter was remanded back to the FCC for recalculation of any refunds that may be appropriate given the tariffs that have been deemed lawful and for reconsideration of the interest rate imposed in the FCC’s original order on any refunds that may eventually be ordered.

On May 14, 2001, the Company was served with a class action lawsuit concerning its interstate Infinite Minutes long distance plan. The court certified the class on March 19, 2002 and denied reconsideration of that decision on April 22, 2002. It is impossible to determine at this time the actual number of plaintiffs or the claims that will actually continue to be in dispute. The Company believes this suit is without merit and intends to vigorously defend its position.

The Company is involved in various other claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

On December 3, 1999 the Company registered 6,021,489 shares under various employee and non-employee stock option plans and an employee stock purchase plan (File # 333-92091) on Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933. As of October 25, 2002, 3,653,291 option grants are outstanding under the employee stock option plans and 441,305 options have been exercised and converted into shares of the Company’s common stock. As of October 25, 2002, 92,089 shares have been awarded under the non-employee stock plan, of which 61,344 were elected to be deferred. As of October 25, 2002, 270,363 shares have been issued under the employee stock purchase plan. See Note 6, “Stock Incentive Plans” to the Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

None.

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION.

None.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.

(a) Exhibits:

99.1 Certification of Charles R. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

99.2 Certification of Kevin P. Hemenway, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended September 30, 2002.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 31, 2002 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC

/s/ Charles E. Robinson

Charles E. Robinson
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

/s/ Wesley E. Carson

Wesley E. Carson
President and Chief Administrative Officer

/s/ Kevin P. Hemenway

Kevin P. Hemenway
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

CERTIFICATIONS

Form of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302(a) Certification

I, Charles E. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., certify that:

1.    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.;

2.    Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.    The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

        a)    designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

        b)    evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

        c)    presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: October 31, 2002 /s/ Charles E. Robinson
Charles E. Robinson
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.

Form of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 302(a) Certification

I, Kevin P. Hemenway, Chief Financial Officer of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc, certify that:

6. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have indicated in this quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: October 31, 2002 /s/ Kevin P. Hemenway
Kevin P. Hemenway
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.

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Delaware		52-2126573
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


		Page
		Number

PART I.	Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements:

	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) As of September 30, 2002 and December 31, 2001		3

	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001		4

	Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001		5

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001		6

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)		7

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		18

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		31

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures		31

PART II.	Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings		32

Item 2.	Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds		33

Item 3.	Defaults upon Senior Securities		33

Item 4.	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders		33

Item 5.	Other Information		33

Item 6.	Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		33

Signatures			34

Certifications			35


			September 30,			December 31,
Assets			2002			2001

Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,040		$	41,012
	Restricted cash			3,428			6,932
	Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance of $5,386 and $4,944			46,812			46,912
	Materials and supplies			10,438			8,723
	Prepayments and other current assets			8,561			6,032
	Assets held for sale			271			—

		Total current assets		90,550			109,611
Property, plant and equipment				1,077,843			1,036,829
Less: accumulated depreciation				610,311			557,849

	Property, plant and equipment, net			467,532			478,980
Goodwill				141,980			250,495
Intangible assets				23,146			26,785
Debt issuance costs, net of amortization of $15,296 and $12,126				22,598			25,768
Deferred charges and other assets				25,155			9,875

Total assets			$	770,961		$	901,514

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
	Current portion of long-term obligations		$	5,548		$	4,823
	Accounts payable-affiliates			989			1,303
	Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities			54,451			63,081
	Advance billings and customer deposits			9,531			9,190

		Total current liabilities		70,519			78,397
Long-term obligations, net of current portion				600,810			606,427
Other deferred credits and long-term liabilities				27,875			25,003
Commitments and contingencies				—			—
Stockholders’ equity:
	Preferred stock, no par, 5,000 authorized, no shares issued and outstanding			—			—
	Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 shares authorized, 33,360 and 33,221 shares issued and 31,328 and 31,688 outstanding, respectively			334			332
	Treasury stock, 2,032 and 1,532 shares, respectively, at cost			(10,565	)		(9,735	)
	Paid in capital in excess of par value			277,549			276,840
	Accumulated deficit			(177,946	)		(61,921	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(17,615	)		(13,829	)

		Total stockholders’ equity		71,757			191,687

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity			$	770,961		$	901,514

	•		Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.

	•		Alaska Communications Systems Holdings, Inc. (“ACS Holdings”)

	•		ACS of Alaska, Inc. (“ACSAK”)

	•		ACS of the Northland, Inc. (“ACSN”)

	•		ACS of Fairbanks, Inc. (“ACSF”)

	•		ACS of Anchorage, Inc. (“ACSA”)

	•		ACS Wireless, Inc. (“ACSW”)

	•		ACS Long Distance, Inc. (“ACSLD”)

	•		ACS Internet, Inc. (“ACSI”)

	•		ACS InfoSource, Inc. (ACSIS”)

	•		basic local service to retail customers within the Company’s service areas,

	•		wholesale service to competitive local exchange carriers (“CLECs”),

	•		network access services to interexchange carriers for origination and termination of interstate and intrastate long distance phone calls,

	•		enhanced services,

	•		ancillary services, such as billing and collection (“B&C), and

	•		universal service payments;

•		cellular services;

•		directory advertising;

•		Internet services; and

•		interexchange network long-distance services.

	•		intrastate and interstate revenue pricing and settlement methodologies,

	•		authorized rates of return for regulated services,

	•		whether an access line is used by a business or residential subscriber,

	•		whether an access line is used by a retail or wholesale subscriber,

	•		intrastate and interstate calling patterns,

	•		customers’ selection of various local rate plan options,

	•		selection of enhanced calling services, such as voice mail, or other packaged products, such as cellular and Internet and

	•		other subscriber usage characteristics.

	•		business and residential end user customers located in their local service areas that pay for local phone service,

	•		interexchange carriers that pay for access to long distance calling customers located within its local service areas and

	•		CLEC’s that pay for wholesale access to the Company’s network in order to provide competitive local service on either a wholesale or unbundled network element (“UNE”) basis as prescribed under the 1996 Act.

	•		increasing demand for private network services by government and business on a statewide basis on either a circuit switched or IP basis,

	•		increasing demand for wireless voice and data services, and

	•		growth in demand for DSL and Internet access services due to higher business and consumer bandwidth needs for Internet and data services.

	99.1		Certification of Charles R. Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

	99.2		Certification of Kevin P. Hemenway, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.


Date: October 31, 2002		ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC


		/s/ Charles E. Robinson Charles E. Robinson Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

		/s/ Wesley E. Carson Wesley E. Carson President and Chief Administrative Officer

		/s/ Kevin P. Hemenway Kevin P. Hemenway Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

1.		I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.;

2.		Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

3.		Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

4.		The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:

	a)		designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

	b)		evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

	c)		presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

	a)		all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

	b)		any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and


Date: October 31, 2002		/s/ Charles E. Robinson Charles E. Robinson Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.


Date: October 31, 2002		/s/ Kevin P. Hemenway Kevin P. Hemenway Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.