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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 March 31, 2003

    
    

OR

    

¨

  

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to             

    

 

 

Commission file number 1-3090

 

 

VERIZON FLORIDA INC.

 

 

A Florida Corporation

 

I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 59-0397520

 

 

1095 Avenue of the Americas, Room 3868, New York, New York 10036

 

Telephone Number (212) 395-2121

 

 


 

THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-Q AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION H(2).

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes x    No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨    No x


Table of Contents

Verizon Florida Inc.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         

Page


PART I

  

Financial Information

    

    Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

    
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

    
    

Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

1

    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

    
    

March 31, 2003 and December 31, 2002

  

2

    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

    
    

Three Months Ended March 31, 2003 and 2002

  

4

    

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

  

5

    Item 2.    

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations

  

9

    Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

  

15

PART II

  

Other Information

    

    Item 6.

  

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

  

16

Signatures

  

17

Certifications

  

18

Exhibit Index

  

20

 

 


Table of Contents

Verizon Florida Inc.

 

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.   Financial Statements

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

    

Three Months Ended March 31,


(Dollars in Millions) (Unaudited)

  

2003

  

2002


Operating Revenues (including $27.1 and $21.2 from affiliates)

  

$

395.6

  

$

404.1

    

  

Operating Expenses (including $76.1 and $65.7 to affiliates)

             

Cost of services and sales (exclusive of items shown below)

  

 

119.2

  

 

108.0

Selling, general and administrative expense

  

 

101.4

  

 

93.6

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

81.1

  

 

83.7

    

  

Total Operating Expenses

  

 

301.7

  

 

285.3

    

  

Operating Income

  

 

93.9

  

 

118.8

Other income, net (including $4.7 and $10.2 from affiliates)

  

 

5.0

  

 

10.3

Interest expense (including $10.1 and $8.4 to affiliates)

  

 

23.9

  

 

26.7

    

  

Income before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  

 

75.0

  

 

102.4

Provision for income taxes

  

 

29.0

  

 

39.5

    

  

Income Before Cumulative Effect of Change In Accounting Principle

  

 

46.0

  

 

62.9

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax

  

 

46.0

  

 

—  

    

  

Net Income

  

$

92.0

  

$

62.9

    

  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

ASSETS

 

(Dollars in Millions)

  

March 31,
2003

  

December 31,
2002


    

(Unaudited)

    

Current assets

             

Cash

  

$

43.5

  

$

40.2

Short-term investments

  

 

45.1

  

 

67.1

Notes receivable from affiliates

  

 

1,006.4

  

 

843.1

Accounts receivable:

             

Trade and other, net of allowances for uncollectibles of $61.8 and $61.8

  

 

194.6

  

 

221.0

Affiliates

  

 

46.1

  

 

178.5

Material and supplies

  

 

37.9

  

 

31.9

Prepaid expenses

  

 

1.8

  

 

17.4

Deferred income taxes

  

 

13.4

  

 

10.4

Other

  

 

49.8

  

 

50.2

    

  

    

 

1,438.6

  

 

1,459.8

    

  

Plant, property and equipment

  

 

5,386.8

  

 

5,354.3

Less accumulated depreciation

  

 

3,333.0

  

 

3,349.9

    

  

    

 

2,053.8

  

 

2,004.4

    

  

Prepaid pension asset

  

 

453.6

  

 

449.2

    

  

Other assets

  

 

106.0

  

 

108.0

    

  

Total assets

  

$

4,052.0

  

$

4,021.4

    

  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNER’S INVESTMENT

 

(Dollars in Millions)

  

March 31, 2003

  

December 31, 2002


    

(Unaudited)

    

Current liabilities

             

Debt maturing within one year:

             

Notes payable to affiliates

  

$

997.8

  

$

810.9

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:

             

Affiliates

  

 

84.4

  

 

313.5

Other

  

 

95.3

  

 

109.0

Other current liabilities

  

 

168.6

  

 

170.4

    

  

    

 

1,346.1

  

 

1,403.8

    

  

Long-term debt

  

 

1,040.4

  

 

1,040.4

    

  

Employee benefit obligations

  

 

290.6

  

 

284.5

    

  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

             

Deferred income taxes

  

 

363.3

  

 

322.3

Other

  

 

92.5

  

 

96.1

    

  

    

 

455.8

  

 

418.4

    

  

Shareowner’s investment

             

Common stock – one share, without par value

  

 

585.0

  

 

585.0

Contributed capital

  

 

191.3

  

 

191.2

Reinvested earnings

  

 

142.8

  

 

98.1

    

  

    

 

919.1

  

 

874.3

    

  

Total liabilities and shareowner’s investment

  

$

4,052.0

  

$

4,021.4

    

  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

      

Three Months Ended March 31,


 

(Dollars in Millions) (Unaudited)

    

2003

      

2002

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

    

$

60.8

 

    

$

104.8

 

      


    


Cash Flows from Investing Activities

                     

Capital expenditures (including capitalized network and non-network software)

    

 

(52.6

)

    

 

(80.1

)

Net change in short-term investments

    

 

22.0

 

    

 

21.4

 

Change in notes receivable from affiliates

    

 

(163.3

)

    

 

(163.8

)

Other, net

    

 

(.1

)

    

 

.1

 

      


    


Net cash used in investing activities

    

 

(194.0

)

    

 

(222.4

)

      


    


Cash Flows from Financing Activities

                     

Change in notes payable to affiliates

    

 

186.9

 

    

 

95.9

 

Dividends paid

    

 

(47.3

)

    

 

(45.0

)

Net change in outstanding checks drawn on controlled disbursement accounts

    

 

(3.1

)

    

 

15.3

 

      


    


Net cash provided by financing activities

    

 

136.5

 

    

 

66.2

 

      


    


Net change in cash

    

 

3.3

 

    

 

(51.4

)

Cash, beginning of period

    

 

40.2

 

    

 

89.6

 

      


    


Cash, end of period

    

$

43.5

 

    

$

38.2

 

      


    


 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

1.    Basis of Presentation

 

Verizon Florida Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of GTE Corporation (GTE), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange Commission rules that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. These financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial position for the interim periods shown including normal recurring accruals. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The balance sheet at December 31, 2002 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, you should refer to the financial statements included in our 2002 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

We have reclassified certain amounts from prior year’s data to conform to the 2003 presentation.

 

 

2.    Adoption of New Accounting Standards

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We participate in employee compensation plans sponsored by Verizon with awards of Verizon common stock. Prior to 2003, Verizon accounted for stock-based employee compensation under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, and followed the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” In accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, no stock-based employee compensation expense for our fixed stock option plans is reflected in our 2002 net income as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

 

Effective January 1, 2003, Verizon adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, using the prospective method (as permitted under SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure”) to all new awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003. Under the prospective method, employee compensation expense in the first year will be recognized for new awards granted, modified, or settled. The options generally vest over a term of three years, therefore the expense related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for the first quarter of 2003 is less than what would have been recorded if the fair value method was also applied to previously issued awards. The following table illustrates the effect on net income if the fair value method had been applied to all outstanding and unvested options in each period:

 

      

Three Months Ended
March 31,


 

(Dollars in Millions)

    

2003

      

2002

 

Net income, as reported

    

$

92.0

 

    

$

62.9

 

Add: Stock option-related employee compensation expense included in reported net income, net of related tax effects

    

 

—  

 

    

 

—  

 

Deduct: Total stock option-related employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

    

 

(.1

)

    

 

(1.0

)

      


    


Pro forma net income

    

$

91.9

 

    

$

61.9

 

      


    


 

After-tax compensation expense for other stock-based compensation included in net income as reported for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002 was not material.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” This standard provides the accounting for the cost of legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that companies recognize the fair value of a liability for asset retirement obligations in the period in which the obligations are incurred and capitalize that amount as part of the book value of the long-lived asset. We have determined that we do not have a material legal obligation to remove long-lived assets as described by this statement. However, prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 143, we included estimated removal costs in our group depreciation models. These costs have increased depreciation

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

expense and accumulated depreciation for future removal costs for existing assets. These removal costs were recorded as a reduction to accumulated depreciation when the assets were retired and removal costs were incurred.

 

For some assets, such as telephone poles, the removal costs exceeded salvage value. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 143, we are required to exclude costs of removal from our depreciation rates for assets for which the removal costs exceed salvage. Accordingly, in connection with the initial adoption of this standard on January 1, 2003, we have reversed accrued costs of removal in excess of salvage from our accumulated depreciation accounts for these assets. The adjustment was recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change, resulting in the recognition of a gain of $74.8 million ($46.0 million after-tax). Effective January 1, 2003, we began expensing costs of removal in excess of salvage for these assets as incurred. The ongoing impact of this change in accounting resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense and an increase in cost of services and sales, which was not material to our total operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2003.

 

Debt Extinguishment

 

In April 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections.” SFAS No. 145, among other things, eliminates the requirement that all gains and losses on the extinguishment of debt must be classified as extraordinary items on the income statement, thereby permitting the classification of such gains and losses as extraordinary items only if they meet the criteria of APB Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations – Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions.” We adopted this provision of SFAS No. 145 effective January 1, 2003 and, upon adoption, reclassified the losses on the early extinguishment of debt and related tax benefits that were previously reported in our statements of income as extraordinary items to Other expense and Provision for income taxes.

 

 

3.    Dividend

 

On May 1, 2003, we declared and paid a dividend in the amount of $65.0 million to our parent, GTE.

 

 

4.    GTE Funding Incorporated

 

GTE Funding Incorporated (GTE Funding), a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Florida, provides short-term financing, investment vehicles and cash management services for some of Verizon’s domestic operating telephone companies, including the company. From time to time, depending on the operating needs of each of those affiliates, GTE Funding may have a note receivable or note payable balance with an affiliate. The Financial Services Agreements between GTE Funding and the affiliates specify that the affiliates are permitted to borrow or advance short-term funds on a day-to-day (demand note) basis to finance their ordinary business and capital requirements. Since these borrowings and advances are based on a variable interest rate and demand note basis, the carrying value of the notes approximates its fair market value.

 

In addition, GTE Funding has a contractual agreement with an affiliated company, Verizon Network Funding Corp. (VNFC), for the provision of short-term financing and cash management services. VNFC issues commercial paper and obtains bank loans to fund the working capital requirements for some of Verizon’s network services subsidiaries, including the company, and invests funds in temporary investments on their behalf.

 

The following table provides additional information related to our carrying values by affiliated company:

 

      

Notes Receivable from Affiliates


    

Notes Payable to Affiliates


(Dollars in Millions)

    

March 31, 2003

    

December 31, 2002

    

March 31, 2003

    

December 31, 2002


Verizon California Inc.

    

$

—  

    

$

386.5

    

$

306.2

    

$

—  

Verizon North Inc.

    

 

358.4

    

 

257.5

    

 

—  

    

 

—  

Verizon Northwest Inc.

    

 

—  

    

 

105.0

    

 

145.8

    

 

—  

Verizon South Inc.

    

 

—  

    

 

—  

    

 

84.9

    

 

80.6

GTE Southwest Incorporated

    

 

—  

    

 

94.1

    

 

151.8

    

 

—  

GTE Midwest Incorporated

    

 

—  

    

 

—  

    

 

309.1

    

 

307.2

VNFC

    

 

648.0

    

 

—  

    

 

—  

    

 

423.1

      

    

    

    

Total

    

$

1,006.4

    

$

843.1

    

$

997.8

    

$

810.9

      

    

    

    

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

 

 

5.    Shareowner’s Investment

 

(Dollars in Millions)

  

Common Stock

  

Contributed Capital

  

Reinvested Earnings

 

Balance at December 31, 2002

  

$

585.0

  

$

191.2

  

$

98.1

 

Net income

                

 

92.0

 

Dividend declared

                

 

(47.3

)

Other

         

 

.1

        
    

  

  


Balance at March 31, 2003

  

$

585.0

  

$

191.3

  

$

142.8

 

    

  

  


 

Net income and comprehensive income were the same for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2002.

 

 

6.    Segment Information

 

We have two reportable segments; Florida Telephone Operations and GTE Funding. We generally account for intersegment transactions at current market prices. GTE Funding has no reportable net income. Its interest expense is approximately equal to the interest income received on affiliate notes between GTE Funding and the various domestic operating telephone companies. Accounting policies of the segments, as applicable, are the same as those referred to in Note 1 (“Basis of Presentation”).

 

Segment results were as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended March 31,


 

(Dollars in Millions)

  

2003

    

2002

 

Florida Telephone Operations:

                 

Total external revenues

  

$

395.6

    

$

404.1

 

Operating income

  

 

93.9

    

 

119.0

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

 

81.1

    

 

83.7

 

Interest expense

  

 

21.1

    

 

16.8

 

Interest income

  

 

2.2

    

 

.1

 

Capital expenditures

  

 

52.6

    

 

80.1

 

GTE Funding:

                 

Operating loss

  

$

—  

    

$

(.2

)

Interest expense

  

 

4.7

    

 

9.9

 

Interest income

  

 

4.7

    

 

10.1

 

Consolidated Revenues

  

$

395.6

    

$

404.1

 

Consolidated Operating Income

  

 

93.9

    

 

118.8

 

 

    

March 31, 2003


    

December 31, 2002


 

Assets

                 

Florida Telephone Operations

  

$

3,771.9

 

  

$

3,476.0

 

GTE Funding (a)

  

 

1,052.0

 

  

 

1,118.0

 

Reconciling items (b)

  

 

(771.9

)

  

 

(572.6

)

    


  


Consolidated Assets

  

$

4,052.0

 

  

$

4,021.4

 

    


  


 

(a)   Assets consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts and notes receivable from affiliates.
(b)   Reconciling items consist primarily of intersegement accounts and notes receivable.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

7.    Employee Severance Costs

 

We maintain ongoing severance plans for both management and associate employees, which provide benefits to employees that are terminated. The costs for these plans are accounted for under SFAS No. 112, “Employers’ Accounting for Postemployment Benefits.” We accrue for severance benefits based on the terms of our severance plan over the estimated service periods of the employees. The accruals are also based on the historical run-rate of actual severances and expectations for future severances. From time to time, because Verizon’s severance programs are implemented across its subsidiaries, Verizon must redistribute the amount of severance liability based on actual experience at the companies.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2001, it was determined that our severance liability was not sufficient as a result of new downsizing plans and we recorded a special charge of $6.1 million. In the second quarter of 2002, again, it was determined that the severance liability was not sufficient because of further downsizing plans and we recorded a special charge of $3.3 million. As of March 31, 2003, approximately 480 employees have been separated under the 2001 and 2002 severance programs. As of March 31, 2003, our severance liability was $13.3 million, which includes future payments to employees previously separated under the 2001 and 2002 severance programs. During the first quarter of 2003, the company’s severance liability was increased by $6.8 million for the redistribution of severance liabilities across Verizon’s subsidiaries and decreased by $6.2 million principally for payments. Severance costs are included in selling, general and administrative expense in our statements of income.

 

 

8.    Commitments and Contingencies

 

Various legal actions and regulatory proceedings are pending to which we are a party and claims which, if asserted, may lead to other legal actions. We have established reserves for specific liabilities in connection with regulatory and legal matters that we currently deem to be probable and estimable. We do not expect that the ultimate resolution of pending regulatory and legal matters in future periods will have a material effect on our financial condition, but it could have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

From time to time, state regulatory decisions require us to assure customers that we will provide a level of service performance that falls within prescribed parameters. There are penalties associated with failing to meet those service parameters and we, from time to time, pay such penalties. We do not expect these penalties to have a material effect on our financial condition, but they could have a material effect on our results of operations.

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
       (Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction H(2).)

 

This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Condensed Consolidated Notes to Financial Statements.

 

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

We reported net income of $92.0 million for the three month period ended March 31, 2003, compared to net income of $62.9 million for the same period in 2002. Our reported results included the following special item:

 

 

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

 

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” This standard provides the accounting for the cost of legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 143 requires that companies recognize the fair value of a liability for asset retirement obligations in the period in which the obligations are incurred and capitalize that amount as part of the book value of the long-lived asset. We have determined that we do not have a material legal obligation to remove long-lived assets as described by this statement. However, prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 143, we included estimated removal costs in our group depreciation models. These costs have increased depreciation expense and accumulated depreciation for future removal costs for existing assets. These removal costs were recorded as a reduction to accumulated depreciation when the assets were retired and removal costs were incurred.

 

For some assets, such as telephone poles, the removal costs exceeded salvage value. Under the provisions of SFAS No. 143, we are required to exclude costs of removal from our depreciation rates for assets for which the removal costs exceed salvage. Accordingly, in connection with the initial adoption of this standard on January 1, 2003, we have reversed accrued costs of removal in excess of salvage from our accumulated depreciation accounts for these assets. The adjustment was recorded as a cumulative effect of an accounting change, resulting in the recognition of a gain of $74.8 million ($46.0 million after-tax). Effective January 1, 2003, we began expensing costs of removal in excess of salvage for these assets as incurred. The ongoing impact of this change in accounting resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense and an increase in cost of services and sales, which was not material to our total operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2003.

 

Income before the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle, decreased by $16.9 million, or 26.9% in the first quarter of 2003, compared to the first quarter of 2002, as a result of the pre-tax impact of operating revenues, operating expenses and other results as described in the following sections.

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES

(Dollars in Millions)

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,


    

2003

  

2002


Local services

  

$

195.4

  

$

206.0

Network access services

  

 

163.1

  

 

165.4

Long distance services

  

 

6.3

  

 

6.7

Other services

  

 

30.8

  

 

26.0

    

  

Total

  

$

395.6

  

$

404.1

    

  

 

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Verizon Florida Inc.

 

 

LOCAL SERVICES

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)

 

Three Months

  

$

(10.6

)

  

(5.1

)%

 

Local service revenues are earned from the provision of local exchange, local private line, wire maintenance, voice messaging and value-added services. Value-added services are a family of services that expand the utilization of the network, including products such as Caller ID, Call Waiting and Return Call. The provision of local exchange services not only includes retail revenues, but also includes local wholesale revenues from unbundled network elements (UNEs), interconnection revenues from competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), certain data transport revenues and wireless interconnection revenues.

 

Local service revenues declined in the first three months of 2003 primarily due to lower demand and usage of our basic local wireline services. The effects of technology substitution from wireless services and the lagging economy largely drove the decline in local service revenue growth, as reflected by a decline in switched access lines in service of 2.6% from a year ago.

 

 

NETWORK ACCESS SERVICES

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)

 

Three Months

  

$

(2.3

)

  

(1.4

)%

 

Network access service revenues are earned from end-user subscribers and from long distance and other competing carriers who use our local exchange facilities to provide usage services to their customers. Switched access revenues are derived from fixed and usage-based charges paid by carriers for access to our local network. Special access revenues originate from carriers and end-users that buy dedicated local exchange capacity to support their private networks. End-user access revenues are earned from our customers and from resellers who purchase dial-tone services, including digital subscriber lines (DSL).

 

The decrease in network access revenues in the first three months of 2003 was mainly attributable to declining switched minutes of use (MOUs). Switched MOUs declined by 11.0% from March 31, 2002, reflecting the impact of the soft economy and wireless substitution. This decrease was partially offset by the effect of rate changes associated with our federal price cap filings.

 

 

LONG DISTANCE SERVICES

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)

 

Three Months

  

$

(.4

)

  

(6.0

)%

 

Long distance revenues are earned primarily from calls made to points outside a customer’s local calling area, but within our service area (intraLATA toll). IntraLATA toll calls originate and terminate within the same LATA, but generally cover a greater distance than a local call. These services are regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission except where they cross state lines. Other long distance services that we provide include 800 services and Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS). We also earn revenue from private line and operator services associated with long distance calls.

 

Long distance service revenues declined in the first three months of 2003 primarily due to the effects of competition, technology substitution and lower access line growth due to the soft economy.

 

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OTHER SERVICES

 

2003-2002

  

Increase

 

Three Months

  

$

4.8

  

18.5

%

 

Our other services include such services as billing and collections for long distance carriers and affiliates, facilities rentals to affiliates and nonaffiliates, public (pay) telephone and customer premises equipment (CPE). Other service revenues also include fees paid by customers for non-publication of telephone numbers and multiple white page listings, fees paid by an affiliate for usage of our directory listings and fees paid by an affiliate for the provision of sales agent services.

 

Other service revenues increased in the first three months of 2003 primarily due to an increase in revenue from affiliates for billing and collection services and higher revenues from CPE sales.

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

(Dollars in Millions)

 

 

COST OF SERVICES AND SALES

 

2003-2002

  

Increase

 

Three Months

  

$

11.2

  

10.4

%

 

Cost of services and sales includes the following costs directly attributable to a service or product: salaries and wages, benefits, materials and supplies, contracted services, network access and transport costs, customer provisioning costs, computer systems support and cost of products sold. Aggregate customer care costs, which include billing and service provisioning, are allocated between cost of services and sales and selling, general and administrative expense.

 

The increase in cost of services and sales in the first quarter of 2003 was mainly driven by higher pension and other post-retirement benefit expenses and higher costs allocated from affiliates associated with cost of services. The company participates in Verizon Communications Inc.’s (Verizon) defined pension plan and postretirement healthcare and life insurance plans. As of December 31, 2002, Verizon changed key employee benefit plan assumptions in response to current conditions in the securities markets and medical and prescription drug costs trends. The expected rate of return on pension plan assets has been changed from 9.25% in 2002 to 8.50% in 2003 and the expected rate of return on other postretirement benefit plan assets has been changed from 9.10% in 2002 to 8.50% in 2003. The discount rate assumption has been lowered from 7.25% in 2002 to 6.75% in 2003 and the medical cost trend rate assumption has been increased from 10.00% in 2002 to 11.00% in 2003. For the three month period ended March 31, 2003, the company recorded pension and postretirement benefit expenses (after consideration of capitalized costs) of $6.3 million, compared to $.4 million for the same period in 2002.

 

These cost increases were partially offset by lower access and transport costs. As part of our ongoing review of local interconnection expense charged by CLECs, we determined that selected charges from CLECs, previously recorded as expense but not paid, were no longer required and, accordingly, we adjusted our first quarter 2003 operating expenses. In addition, effective in 2003, we recognize as local interconnection expense no more than the amount payable under the April 27, 2001 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order addressing intercarrier compensation for dial-up connections for Internet-bound traffic. Services and sales cost increases in the first quarter of 2003 were also offset, in part, by our disciplined expense controls, including reduced spending for contracted services and materials and supplies. Cost of services and sales in the first quarter of 2003 was also lower due to the effect of work force reductions over the past year.

 

See “Other Matters – Compensation for Internet Traffic” for additional information on FCC rulemakings and other court decisions addressing intercarrier compensation for dial-up connections for Internet-bound traffic.

 

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SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE

 

2003-2002

  

Increase


Three Months

  

$7.8

  

8.3%

 

Selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) includes salaries and wages and benefits not directly attributable to a service or product, bad debt charges, taxes other than income, advertising and sales commission costs, customer billing, call center and information technology costs, professional service fees, and rent for administrative space. Aggregate customer care costs, which include billing and service provisioning, are allocated between cost of services and sales and selling, general and administrative expense.

 

The increase in SG&A expense was primarily driven by higher general and administrative costs allocated from affiliates. This increase was partially offset by lower gross receipts and property taxes in the first quarter of 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002.

 

 

DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)


Three Months

  

$

(2.6)

  

(3.1)%

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased principally due to the effect of lower rates of depreciation, as well as the favorable impact of adopting SFAS No. 143, effective January 1, 2003. Under SFAS No. 143, we began expensing the costs of removal in excess of salvage for outside plant assets as incurred. Previously, we had included costs of removal for these assets in our depreciation rates.

 

 

OTHER RESULTS

(Dollars in Millions)

 

 

OTHER INCOME, NET

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)


Three Months

  

$

(5.3)

  

(51.5)%

 

Other income, net includes equity income (losses), interest income, gains and losses on early extinguishment of debt and other nonoperating income and expense items.

 

The decrease in other income, net was primarily attributable to a decrease in interest income on notes receivable from affiliates for the first three months of 2003, as compared to the same period in 2002, due to lower interest rates and lower average receivable balances.

 

 

INTEREST EXPENSE

 

2003-2002

  

(Decrease)


Three Months

  

$

(2.8)

  

(10.5)%

 

Interest expense includes costs associated with borrowing and capital leases, net of capitalized interest costs. We capitalize interest associated with the acquisition or construction of plant assets. Capitalized interest is reported as a cost of plant and a reduction in interest expense.

 

Interest expense decreased in the first three months of 2003, over the same period in 2002, primarily due to lower interest rates. This decrease was partially offset by the effects of higher levels of long-term debt in the first three months of 2003.

 

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EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATES

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

      

2003

  

38.6

%

2002

  

38.6

%

 

The effective income tax rate is the provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. Our effective income tax rate was unchanged for the three months ended March 31, 2003, compared to the same period in 2002.

 

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

FCC Regulation and Interstate Rates

 

We are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC with respect to interstate services and related matters. In 2002, the FCC continued to implement reforms to the interstate access charge system and to implement the “universal service” and other requirements of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act).

 

 

Access Charges and Universal Service

 

On May 31, 2000, the FCC adopted the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance Services (CALLS) plan as a comprehensive five-year plan for regulation of interstate access charges. The CALLS plan has three main components. First, it establishes a portable interstate access universal service support of $650 million for the industry. This explicit support replaces implicit support embedded in interstate access charges. Second, the plan simplifies the patchwork of common line charges into one subscriber line charge (SLC) and provides for de-averaging of the SLC by zones and class of customers in a manner that will not undermine comparable and affordable universal service. Third, the plan sets into place a mechanism to transition to a set target of $0.0055 per minute for switched access services. Once that target rate is reached, local exchange carriers are no longer required to make further annual price cap reductions to their switched access prices. The annual reductions leading to the target rate, as well as annual reductions for the subset of special access services that remain subject to price cap regulation was set at 6.5% per year.

 

On September 10, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled on an appeal of the FCC order adopting the plan. The court upheld the FCC on several challenges to the order, but remanded two aspects of the decision back to the FCC on the grounds that they lacked sufficient justification. The court remanded back to the FCC for further consideration its decision setting the annual reduction factor at 6.5% minus an inflation factor and the size of the new universal service fund at $650 million. The entire plan (including these elements) will continue in effect pending the FCC’s further consideration of its justification of these components. As a result of tariff adjustments which became effective in July 2002, we reached the $0.0055 benchmark.

 

The FCC has adopted rules for special access services that provide for pricing flexibility and ultimately the removal of services from price regulation when prescribed competitive thresholds are met. In order to use these rules, carriers must forego the ability to take advantage of provisions in the current rules that provide relief in the event earnings fall below prescribed thresholds. Verizon has been authorized to remove special access and dedicated transport services from price caps in 37 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the former Bell Atlantic territory and in 19 additional MSAs in the former GTE territory. In addition, the FCC has found that in 22 MSAs Verizon has met the stricter standards to remove special access connections to end-user customers from price caps.

 

In November 1999, the FCC adopted a new mechanism for providing universal service support to high cost areas served by large local telephone companies. This funding mechanism provides additional support for local telephone services in several states served by Verizon’s telephone operations. This system has been supplemented by the new FCC access charge plan described above. On July 31, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded to the FCC for further proceedings. The court concluded that the FCC had failed to adequately explain some aspects of its decision and had failed to address any need for a state universal service mechanism. The current universal service mechanism remains in place pending the outcome of any FCC review as a result of these appeals. The FCC also has proceedings underway to evaluate

 

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possible changes to its current rules for assessing contributions to the universal service fund. Any change in the current assessment mechanism could result in a change in the contribution that local telephone companies must make and that would have to be collected from customers.

 

 

Unbundling of Network Elements

 

In November 1999, the FCC announced its decision setting forth new unbundling requirements, eliminating elements that it had previously required to be unbundled, limiting the obligation to provide others and adding new elements.

 

In addition to the unbundling requirements released in November 1999, the FCC released an order in a separate proceeding in December 1999, requiring incumbent local exchange companies also to unbundle and provide to competitors the higher frequency portion of their local loop. This provides competitors with the ability to provision data services on top of incumbent carriers’ voice services.

 

On May 24, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit released an order that overturned the most recent FCC decision establishing which network elements were required to be unbundled. In particular, the court found that the FCC did not adequately consider the limitations of the “necessary and impair” standards of the 1996 Act when it chose national rules for unbundling and that it failed to consider the relevance of competition from other types of service providers, including cable and satellite. The court also vacated a separate order that had authorized an unbundling requirement for “line sharing” where a competing carrier purchases only a portion of the copper connection to the end-user in order to provide high-speed broadband services using DSL technology. The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently declined to review that decision.

 

On October 25, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit released an order upholding the FCC’s decisions that established interim limits on the availability of combinations of UNEs known as enhanced extended links or “EELs.” EELs consist of unbundled loops and transport elements. The FCC decisions limited access to EELs to carriers that would use them to provide a significant amount of local traffic, and not just use them as substitutes for special access services.

 

Prior to the issuance of these orders from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the FCC had already begun a review of the scope of its unbundling requirement through a rulemaking referred to as the triennial review of UNEs. This rulemaking reopened the question of what network elements must be made available on an unbundled basis under the 1996 Act, and will address the impact of the order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturning its previous rules, as well as other pending issues relating to unbundled elements, including the question of whether competing carriers may substitute combinations of unbundled loops and transport for already competitive special access services. On February 20, 2003, the FCC announced a decision in its triennial review, but the order has not yet been released.

 

 

Compensation for Internet Traffic

 

On April 27, 2001, the FCC released an order addressing intercarrier compensation for dial-up connections for Internet-bound traffic. The FCC found that Internet-bound traffic is interstate and subject to the FCC’s jurisdiction. Moreover, the FCC again found that Internet-bound traffic is not subject to reciprocal compensation under Section 251(b)(5) of the 1996 Act. Instead, the FCC established federal rates per minute for this traffic that decline from $0.0015 to $0.0007 over a three-year period. The FCC order also sets caps on the total minutes of this traffic that may be subject to any intercarrier compensation and requires that incumbent local exchange carriers must offer to both bill and pay reciprocal compensation for local traffic at the same rate as they are required to pay on Internet-bound traffic. On May 3, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected part of the FCC’s rationale for its April 27, 2001 order, but declined to vacate the order while it is on remand.

 

Several parties requested rehearing, asking the court to vacate the underlying order. Those requests were denied in a series of orders released on September 24, 2002 and September 25, 2002. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review that denial. In the meantime, pending further action by the FCC, the FCC’s underlying order remains in effect.

 

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Item 4.   Controls and Procedures

 

  (a)   Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

 

Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this quarterly report (Evaluation Date), that ensure that information relating to the registrant which is required to be disclosed in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within required time periods. They have concluded that as of the Evaluation Date, the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries would be made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report was being prepared.

 

 

  (b)   Changes in Internal Controls.

 

There were no significant changes in the registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the Evaluation Date, nor were there any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in these controls requiring corrective actions.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 6.   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a)

  

Exhibits:

    
    

Exhibit Number


    
    

12

  

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

    

99

  

Officer Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

(b)

  

Reports on Form 8-K:

    

A Current Report on Form 8-K was furnished on March 19, 2003, containing certification statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission, signed by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and by the Chief Financial Officer.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

   

Verizon Florida Inc.

Date: May 13, 2003

 

By

  

/S/    EDWIN F. HALL

        
        

Edwin F. Hall

        

Controller

 

 

UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IS AS OF MAY 7, 2003.

 

 

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CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr., certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Verizon Florida 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 registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  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: May 13, 2003

  

/s/    LAWRENCE T. BABBIO, JR.


    

Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr.

    

Chairman of the Board and

    

Chief Executive Officer

 

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CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Lawrence R. Whitman, certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Verizon Florida 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 registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

 

  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: May 13, 2003

  

/s/    LAWRENCE R. WHITMAN


    

Lawrence R. Whitman

    

Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number


    

12

  

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

99

  

Officer Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

20