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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004

 

 

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

 

Commission File No. 0-11053


Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Pennsylvania   23-2093008
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

100 CTE Drive, Dallas, Pennsylvania 18612-9774

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 


 

Registrant’s telephone number including area code: 570-631-2700

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

(Title of Class)

 


 

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.    x  Yes        ¨  No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Act).    x  Yes        ¨  No

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  ¨

 

Number of shares of the Registrant’s Stock ($1.00 par value) outstanding at February 28, 2005:

 

21,164,462 Shares of Common Stock

 

Aggregate market value of Registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates at June 30, 2004 computed by reference to the closing price as reported by NASDAQ for Common Stock ($44.77 per share), is as follows:

 

$943,025,878

 

The market value is based on the value of the Common Stock that was outstanding on June 30, 2004.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference

 

1. Proxy Statement for 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is incorporated by reference into Part I and Part III of this Form 10-K.

 



Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS TO FORM 10-K

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

PART I

            

Item 1.

      Business    2

Item 2.

      Properties    14

Item 3.

      Legal Proceedings    14

Item 4.

      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    14
        Executive Officers of the Registrant    15

PART II

            

Item 5.

      Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters    17

Item 5(c).

      Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers    18

Item 6.

      Selected Financial Data    18

Item 7.

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

Item 7A.

      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    18

Item 8.

      Financial Statements and Supplementary Data    19

Item 9.

      Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure    19

Item 9A.

      Controls and Procedures    19

Item 9B.

      Other Information    19

PART III

            

Item 10.

      Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant    19

Item 11.

      Executive Compensation    19

Item 12.

      Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management    19

Item 13.

      Certain Relationships and Related Transactions    20

Item 14.

      Principal Accountant Fees and Services    20

PART IV

            

Item 15.

      Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules    20

Item 15(a)

  1.   Financial Statements    20
    2.   Financial Statement Schedules    20
    3.   Exhibits    20
SIGNATURES    24

 

“CTE,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.

 

“Our RLEC” and “CT” refer to Commonwealth Telephone Company, a rural incumbent local exchange carrier and a subsidiary of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.

 

The segment “CT” includes the results of our RLEC; Commonwealth Long Distance Company (“CLD”), a long-distance reseller; and the portion of Jack Flash® (“Jack Flash”), our broadband data service that uses digital subscriber line (“DSL”) technology to offer high-speed Internet access, that is in CT’s territory.

 

“Our CLEC,” “RLEC ‘edge-out’ ” and “CTSI” refer to CTSI, LLC, a competitive local exchange carrier and a subsidiary of Commonwealth Telephone Company.

 

“Expansion markets” refers to those CTSI markets from which the Company made a decision to exit in December 2000, as further described in this document.

 

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PART I

 

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to these safe harbors. These statements are generally accompanied by words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” or similar statements. Our forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results in the future differently than expressed in any forward-looking statements we have made. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

    uncertainties relating to our ability to further penetrate our markets and the related cost of that effort;

 

    economic conditions, acquisitions and divestitures;

 

    government and regulatory policies;

 

    the pricing and availability of equipment, materials and inventories;

 

    technological developments;

 

    reductions in rates or traffic that is subject to access charges;

 

    changes in the competitive environment in which we operate; and

 

    receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

 

Additional factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and are discussed elsewhere in this report. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate; and, therefore, we cannot provide any assurance that the results contemplated in such forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future events, plans or expectations that we contemplate will be achieved. Furthermore, past performance in operations and share price is not necessarily predictive of future performance.

 

Item 1. Business

 

General

 

We are a telecommunications company providing telephony and related services in Pennsylvania markets as a rural incumbent local exchange carrier, or RLEC. We also operate as a competitive local exchange carrier, or CLEC, in three regional Pennsylvania markets that border CT’s markets, which we refer to as our RLEC “edge-out” markets. CT is the nation’s seventh largest non-Bell incumbent local exchange carrier, serving over 333,000 switched access lines as of December 31, 2004. CTSI served over 138,800 competitive switched access lines as of December 31, 2004. For the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, we had consolidated revenues of $335.8 million and $335.7 million, respectively.

 

CT, founded in 1897, operates in a rural, approximately 5,000-square-mile territory with a population of approximately 450,000 people, and a line density of approximately 67 access lines per square mile. Approximately three quarters of CT’s switched access lines serve residential customers. CT generated revenues of $227.7 million and $223.8 million, and operating income of $100.4 million and $97.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. CT ranks among the industry leaders in penetration of residential additional lines. CT’s penetration of residential additional lines was 36% at December 31, 2004. We have begun to see a decrease in our residential additional line penetration rate, partially as a result of our solid DSL success. We continue to counter residential additional line erosion with bundled service offerings, which include an additional line as part of the bundle.

 

CTSI formally began operating in our “edge-out” markets in 1997 and currently provides a full array of competitive voice and data telecommunications services mainly to business customers. CTSI serves the three regional Pennsylvania “edge-out” markets of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Hazleton, Harrisburg and Lancaster/Reading/York. Late in 2002, we announced the extension of our RLEC “edge-out” business operations into select areas of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. We view this opportunity as an extension of our current activities, rather than the establishment of a fourth regional market. In the “edge-out” markets, CTSI generated revenues of $83.6 million and $85.3 million and operating income of $9.6 million and $9.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

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We also own and operate other telecommunications-related support businesses that all operate in deregulated segments of the telecommunications industry and that support the operations of our two primary operating companies. These businesses are epix® Internet Services, one of the northeast’s largest rural dial-up Internet service providers with approximately 28,500 dial-up Internet access subscribers as of December 31, 2004; and Commonwealth Communications, a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services. Our “Other” business segment includes these support businesses, as well as our corporate entity.

 

A web site featuring current information regarding Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., can be found on the Internet at www.ct-enterprises.com. However, the information on our web site is not part of this annual report. Our periodic reports are available on our web site as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Business Strategy

 

We strive to grow our revenues, control our expenses and deploy our capital in a manner that maximizes our operating income. In order to achieve this goal, we have formulated the following business strategy:

 

Introduction of Bundled Offerings and Maximizing Revenue per Customer

 

As noted earlier, we have introduced various bundled offerings at CT aimed at increasing take rates on DSL and our long-distance products, as well as slowing erosion in our additional line penetration level and retaining customers. We recently announced our alliance with EchoStar Communications Corporation to provide their DISH Network() satellite TV service to all households in our current territory. This will enable the Company to offer its customers digital television programming beginning in mid 2005. We are also assessing the feasibility of adding additional products to our service bundles such as Voice over IP, electronic games and wireless.

 

CT offers an array of enhanced services such as caller identification, voice mail and custom calling services, such as call-forwarding, call waiting and three-way calling. These services generally produce higher margins than basic telephone service. We believe these enhanced services provide a source of revenue and operating income growth potential as our penetration rates for enhanced services are currently below industry averages. Our RLEC’s network is 100% digitally-switched and all upgrades to provide these additional services to our entire customer base have been substantially completed. We have increased our efforts to market enhanced services through bundled offerings to our customers and believe we can achieve higher penetration rates that are more in line with industry averages.

 

In addition, on November 30, 2004, legislation was signed which revised portions of the state’s alternative regulatory framework for telecommunications providers. The key change is the elimination of the productivity offset in exchange for acceleration of network modernization plans for the state’s local exchange carriers. We will now have the ability to raise rates with no 2% productivity offset. CT filed an amended plan with the PUC incorporating these changes in December 2004, which the PUC approved on March 3, 2005.

 

Leverage CT’s Brand, Reputation and Expertise to Further Penetrate CTSI’s Markets

 

In the CTSI markets, we seek to increase our penetration rate by targeting business customers who have traditionally been underserved by Verizon and by offering competitive service packages that compare favorably to those being offered by Verizon. We believe our strong Commonwealth Telephone brand, reputation and expertise provide us with important competitive advantages in these markets and will allow us to continue to gain new customers and increase our market share at a low marginal operating cost.

 

Increase Sales of Data Products and Services

 

We intend to capitalize on an increasing demand for business and residential data services, including demand for high bandwidth connectivity, in all of the markets we serve. We offer dial-up Internet access through epix® Internet Services and digital subscriber line, or DSL, broadband services through Jack Flash®. We believe there is additional opportunity to increase sales of our data services at a favorable marginal operating cost in all of the markets in which we operate.

 

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Continue to Provide Superior Service and Customer Care

 

We intend to continue to capitalize on our customer service capabilities to provide superior service and customer care. Our RLEC has achieved the lowest level of “justified complaints,” as defined by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”), among Pennsylvania’s largest local exchange carriers, as well as the state’s two largest competitive exchange carriers, in nine of the past ten years, including the last seven consecutive years. In our CTSI markets, we currently provide personalized customer care through customer account managers who service business customers, and through our centralized call center which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support our business and residential customers. By building on our strong service record, we can further differentiate ourselves from our competitors.

 

Selectively Pursue Strategic Acquisitions

 

To continue the growth of our business, we will seek to selectively acquire companies that offer a strategic fit with our existing businesses. This may include companies that could help us deepen our industry focus, further penetrate or broaden our target areas, increase the breadth of services we offer or strengthen our marketing efforts.

 

Risk Factors

 

Risks related to regulation of the telecommunications industry

 

The telecommunications industry is subject to extensive regulation at the federal, state and local levels. The costs of complying with this regulation, delays or failures to receive required regulatory approvals, or the enactment of new, adverse regulatory requirements may have a material adverse effect upon our business. The risks presented by the regulatory environment we face include the following:

 

The amounts we can charge for most of our services are subject to regulatory restrictions. Our financial results have been adversely affected by recent reductions in access rates and may be further adversely affected by future regulatory decisions.

 

Approximately 14.1% and 12.9% of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, were from local service fees paid by customers of our RLEC. These fees, and other charges imposed by our RLEC for in-state services, are currently subject to an alternative regulation plan approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. We believe that this regulatory arrangement is more favorable to us than traditional rate of return regulation, which requires productivity gains to be passed on to ratepayers.

 

On November 30, 2004, the Governor signed legislation that authorized CT to amend its alternative regulation plan to include a commitment to deliver broadband service to all users by December 31, 2008. Under the legislation, this commitment entitles CT to eliminate the 2% yearly offset in its price adjustment formula, although CT could be required to refund the additional revenues collected due to this amendment if it failed to meet its broadband commitment. CT filed an amended plan with the PUC incorporating these changes in December 2004, which the PUC approved on March 3, 2005.

 

Under the amended plan that is now in effect, CT can change its in-state rates, in the aggregate, based on changes in inflation or for events deemed outside of CT’s control that result in reduced revenues or increased expenses. These increases may not be sufficient to cover increases in our costs.

 

Additionally, approximately 42.6% and 45.4% of our consolidated revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, came from charges paid to us by other carriers for services CT and CTSI provided in originating and terminating intrastate and interstate toll calls, and terminating local calls received from wireless carriers and other telephone companies. The payments that we receive for these services are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) and the Pennsylvania PUC. The amounts charged by both CT and CTSI for these services have been reduced by recent regulatory decisions.

 

CT currently receives its interstate access revenues pursuant to average cost schedules established by the National Exchange Carrier Association (“NECA”). If CT should lose its average schedule status, or if NECA should make changes in its cost schedules, we could incur a significant loss of interstate access revenue.

 

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We cannot predict whether any additional FCC or Pennsylvania PUC rules will be passed that will result in further reductions in the revenues we receive, although the FCC is currently considering proposals that could significantly change the interstate access charge system. Additionally, these agencies’ current rules may change as a result of judicial review or changes in legislation.

 

If any of the favorable regulatory provisions from which CT currently benefits were to be modified or terminated, we could experience higher costs and lower revenues.

 

Because of its status as a rural telephone company under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, or the Act, CT is not currently required to comply with that Act’s provisions requiring an incumbent carrier to unbundle its network, provide colocation, provide resale discounts, provide interconnection at rates based on forward-looking incremental costs or other items. If this limitation were to change, more competitors could enter our RLEC markets than we currently expect. CT might have to provide these competitors with access to our facilities at rates lower than what we currently charge our customers for use of those facilities. We could also incur additional administrative and regulatory expenses as a result of such newly imposed requirements. The Pennsylvania PUC has authority under the Act to terminate CT’s rural exemption if it receives a request to do so from another telecommunications carrier. To date, no other carrier has made such a request to the Pennsylvania PUC, but we cannot assure you that CT’s rural exemption will remain in effect indefinitely.

 

Loss of our access to network elements from incumbent telephone companies or an increase in the prices we must pay for those elements would adversely affect CTSI’s business.

 

Approximately half of CTSI’s customers are served, at least in part, by network elements leased primarily from Verizon. CTSI’s business, therefore, depends in large part on our ability to provide service to our customers by leasing various elements of the incumbent telephone company’s network to provide local service. The Act and FCC and state commission rulings under the Act require incumbent telephone companies to lease us the necessary network elements. If these rules are changed by the FCC or state commissions or are struck down by the courts, our ability to provide service in a cost-effective manner could be adversely affected. For example, the FCC could remove one or more of the necessary elements that the incumbent telephone company is required to provide to us, or permit substantial increases in the amounts the incumbent company can charge CTSI. If incumbent telephone companies were no longer required to provide unbundled network elements on favorable terms, CTSI’s operating margins would be reduced and it might not be able to compete effectively.

 

The FCC has made several significant changes in recent years to its rules governing access to unbundled network elements. Under the new rules, Verizon is required to continue to offer access to unbundled voice-grade loops, which is the network element most frequently used by CTSI. However, we cannot assure you that these rules will not change in the future in ways adverse to CTSI.

 

Regulatory requirements could delay or prevent our ability to take actions we consider beneficial to our business.

 

Pennsylvania law requires us to secure consent from the Pennsylvania PUC before CT or CTSI may issue capital stock, incur long-term debt or selling or otherwise dispose of material utility assets. Both the FCC and the Public Utility Commission must review any transaction that results in a “change of control” of a regulated entity or of a holding company of a regulated entity. The approval process for these transactions can be lengthy and could restrict our ability to offer services, set prices, obtain financing, affect mergers or other sales of the Company or take other steps that we may believe to be in our best interest.

 

Risks related to the competitive nature of the telecommunications industry

 

The telecommunications industry is highly competitive. We face actual or potential competition from many existing and emerging companies, including other incumbent and competitive local telephone companies, long-distance carriers and resellers, wireless telephone companies, Internet service providers, satellite companies and cable companies. We may not be able to successfully anticipate and respond to various competitive factors affecting the industry, including regulatory changes that may affect our competitors and us differently, new technologies and services that may be introduced, changes in consumer preferences,

 

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demographic trends and discount pricing strategies by competitors. The risks to our business from this competition include the following:

 

Verizon, as the incumbent local carrier in CTSI’s markets, has competitive advantages over us which adversely affect our operating margins.

 

As the incumbent carrier in CTSI’s markets, Verizon enjoys competitive advantages, including its wireline connection to virtually all of our customers and potential customers, its established brand name and its substantial financial resources. As a competitive local carrier, we are effectively required to discount our services to win potential customers and to pay substantial amounts to Verizon to lease elements of its networks. These factors result in lower operating margins for CTSI, and make us especially vulnerable to any discount pricing policies that Verizon may adopt to exploit its lower-cost structure and greater financial resources. Additionally, Verizon offers in-region long-distance services to its Pennsylvania customers, which allows it to offer attractive service packages to its customers in the markets we serve, including DSL. Verizon has recently announced a plan to acquire MCI, another competitor in the markets we serve, which may increase Verizon’s advantages.

 

We face intense competition in our markets for long-distance, Internet access and other ancillary services that are important to our business and to our growth strategy.

 

An important part of our business strategy is to sell additional services to local customers in both the CT and CTSI markets. The markets for these ancillary services, however, are extremely competitive, and in some cases, are dominated by companies far larger than our own with lower costs and greater name recognition and technical and financial resources, than ours. Our competitors for these services include, in addition to Verizon, long-distance companies like AT&T, MCI and Sprint, and, in the Internet service provider business, Time Warner (AOL) and discounted service providers. To compete against these established companies, we expect to have to offer both lower prices and superior service to our customers, and we may not be able to do so on profitable terms. If we are unable to maintain a competitive offering of long-distance, Internet access and other ancillary services, we may also lose local customers who prefer to obtain a package of services from one telecommunications provider.

 

Technological developments could increase our costs and cause a decline in demand for our services.

 

The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid and significant changes in technology. If we do not replace or upgrade technology and equipment that becomes obsolete, we will be unable to compete effectively because we will not be able to meet the needs or expectations of our customers. Additionally, replacing or upgrading our infrastructure in the future could result in significant capital expenditures.

 

Our wireline telecommunications services also are in competition or potential competition with numerous alternative technologies, including, in particular, wireless communications. The wireless telecommunications industry is experiencing significant technological change. Wireless carriers are improving the capacity and quality of digital wireless technology, and are also expected to continue to reduce the prices for their services. These developments could reduce customer demand for our services and the prices that we will be able to charge for these services, particularly in CTSI’s markets where a number of wireless providers are established competitors and in certain areas of CT’s territory. We believe that future technological developments are likely to result in further improvements in wireless telecommunications services, as well as in other telecommunications technologies, and are likely to result in increased competition for our various businesses.

 

Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VoIP, is an emerging technological trend that could cause a decrease in demand for our traditional telephone services, including the demand for additional lines. VoIP is gaining ground among business users who have found that Internet telephone systems can cut costs and improve efficiency. It is also possible for residential users to use VoIP as a replacement for a traditional telephone line (for example, by obtaining Internet access over a cable television system). We cannot predict which of many possible future technologies, products or services will be important to maintain our competitive position or what expenditures will be required to develop and provide these technologies, products or services.

 

Some of our competitors have superior resources that may place us at a cost and price disadvantage.

 

Some of our current and potential competitors have market presence, engineering, technical and marketing capabilities and financial, personnel and other resources substantially greater than ours. These competitors may

 

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be able to develop and expand their communications and network infrastructures more quickly, adapt more swiftly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements, take advantage of acquisition and other opportunities more readily and devote greater resources to the marketing and selling of their products and services than we can. Additionally, the greater brand name recognition of some competitors, such as Verizon, requires us to price CTSI’s services at lower levels in order to win business. Finally, the cost advantages of some competitors may give them the ability to reduce their prices for an extended period of time if they so choose.

 

Other business risks

 

A substantial portion of CTSI’s revenues are derived from Internet service providers, or ISPs. A decline in these ISP customers or their customer base could negatively impact our financial results.

 

CTSI derives a substantial portion of its revenues directly and indirectly from ISPs. We expect that this reliance will continue in the foreseeable future. ISPs represented approximately 17.1% and 23.2% of CTSI’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This percent has decreased as a result of our approximately $700,000 per month reduction in revenue from our revised PLU factor with Verizon. These high-margin revenues include services provided directly to ISPs, including local dial tone and transport-type (cap-type) services, and indirect services such as reciprocal compensation, and trunking from Verizon as a result of Verizon’s customers calling these ISPs. Industry-wide trends towards declining usage of dial-up Internet access may threaten the profitability or viability of our ISP customers. If we lose a significant number of these customers that are providing dial-up Internet services, or if a significant portion of these customers are unable to pay amounts owed to us, our financial results would be negatively impacted.

 

Changes in the jurisdictional mix of CTSI’s traffic with Verizon and GTE have adversely affected its results.

 

CTSI’s revenues from access charges and reciprocal compensation are affected by the mix of traffic delivered to it by other carriers for termination to CTSI’s customers. In late 2003, Verizon notified CTSI of a reduction in the proportion of its delivered traffic that is subject to intrastate access charges, and a corresponding increase in the proportion that is subject to reciprocal compensation rates. Because the reciprocal compensation rates are significantly lower than intrastate access charges, this change in traffic mix reduced CTSI’s revenues by approximately $700,000 per month during the last two months of 2003 and continued to materially affect its revenues going forward. CTSI was recently notified by Verizon North (formerly GTE), requesting a change in the PLU factor. As a result of this request, CTSI will be using a direct measurement billing approach instead of a PLU factor. The effect on CTSI’s revenue and operating income will be a reduction of approximately $50,000 per month beginning April 2005 based on the current traffic mix.

 

Demand for some of our services may be adversely affected by a downturn in the U.S. economy.

 

Demand for some of our services may be adversely affected by the downturn in the U.S. economy. As a result, we may experience lower than expected revenues for some of our businesses going forward. If current general economic conditions worsen, the revenues, cash flow and earnings of our company as a whole could be adversely affected.

 

Our future switched access lines in service will likely be lower than our historical, and this decline may adversely affect our results.

 

Additional line penetration in CT’s markets has matured. Additionally, the FCC adopted an order that required CT to increase our monthly subscriber line charges in 2002. Other regulatory actions could result in further increases in CT’s monthly per-line charges, which may discourage customers from purchasing or keeping additional lines. In addition, the growth of DSL has made an additional line redundant. To the extent that additional line penetration continues to decline, our ability to generate additional revenues from this source, which has been very important to our results in recent years, will decrease.

 

Our growth strategy will require us to invest significant capital in services that may not achieve the desired returns.

 

We plan to continue to invest capital into services such as digital subscriber line, or DSL. This business is highly competitive (primarily cable modem), and we cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve the returns

 

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on investment that we expect. Additionally, even if we are successful in our efforts to develop this new business, its operating results and margins will likely be lower than those of our core lines of business. Moreover, we expect that any success we experience in selling DSL service will, to some extent, be offset by reduced demand for additional lines, which can be rendered redundant by DSL.

 

Any disruption in our services could potentially expose us to a loss of customers or claims for damages.

 

Because our services are critical to many of our customers’ businesses, any significant interruption in our services could result in a loss of customers or claims by our customers for indirect or consequential damages. Although the standard terms and conditions of our tariffs and customer contracts disclaim our liability for any such damages, a customer could still bring a lawsuit against us claiming lost profits or other consequential damages as the result of a service interruption or other web site or application problems that the customer may ascribe to us. We cannot assure you that a court would enforce any limitations on our liability. In such cases, we could be liable for substantial damage awards.

 

We depend on third parties, over whom we have no control, to deliver our services.

 

Because of the interconnected nature of the telecommunications industry, we depend heavily on other local telephone companies, long-distance carriers and numerous other third parties to deliver our services. CTSI is particularly dependent on cooperation from Verizon in order to provide local service to a portion of its customers, slightly less than half of whom are not completely physically served by our network. We do not have a long-term agreement with Verizon to provide us with the network connections we need, and the terms of our relationship with Verizon are subject to change as the result of regulatory agency and court decisions. In addition, we are dependent on easements, franchises and licenses from various private parties such as established telephone companies and other utilities, railroads, long-distance companies, state highway authorities, local governments and transit authorities, for access to aerial pole space, underground conduits and other rights-of-way in order to construct and operate our networks. The failure to maintain the necessary third party arrangements on acceptable terms would have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct our business.

 

If future acquisitions or business combinations are not successful, we could suffer an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

From time to time we consider acquisitions of other businesses, some of which could be material to us. To the extent that we make any acquisitions in the future, we may issue common stock that would dilute the ownership of our stockholders, incur debt, assume liabilities or incur large and possibly immediate write-offs. Acquisition transactions require a significant commitment of resources and are accompanied by a number of risks, including:

 

    the difficulty of assimilating the operations and personnel of the acquired companies;

 

    the potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management;

 

    unanticipated expenses related to technology integration;

 

    the maintenance of uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies;

 

    the impairment of relationships with employees and customers as a result of any integration of new management personnel; and

 

    potential unknown liabilities or risks associated with acquired businesses.

 

We cannot be sure that we will succeed in addressing these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with potential business combinations and acquisitions.

 

As a holding company, we will require dividends from subsidiaries to meet our cash requirements.

 

We are a holding company whose principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our subsidiaries and we do not generate any significant operating revenues of our own. Consequently, we depend on dividends, advances and payments from our subsidiaries (primarily CT) to fund our activities and meet our cash needs, including our debt service requirements. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities. The ability of our subsidiaries

 

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to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to us will depend on their operating results and will be subject to existing debt covenants, various business considerations and applicable laws and regulations. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that our subsidiaries will be able to, or be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect to our indebtedness.

 

The restrictive terms imposed by our current CoBank indebtedness may prevent us from achieving some of our business objectives.

 

CT’s CoBank indebtedness contains various covenants that limit its ability to engage in the following activities:

 

    borrow and place liens on assets;

 

    pay dividends, make investments or make certain other restricted payments;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

    sell assets, make acquisitions or merge with or into other companies.

 

Our ability to modify or comply with these covenants can be affected by events beyond our control. A breach of any of these covenants could also result in a default even if we are able to pay our debt. A default under these covenants or covenants under other financing arrangements we enter into could result in the acceleration of required payments or the inability to receive financing in the future.

 

Risks relating to our common stock

 

Our governing documents and applicable laws and regulations may discourage a takeover attempt.

 

Provisions contained in our articles of incorporation and by-laws, Pennsylvania law and industry regulations could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so might be beneficial to our shareholders. For example, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws impose various procedural and other requirements that could make it difficult for shareholders to affect certain corporate actions. In addition, federal and Pennsylvania regulations regarding changes of control in our business are very restrictive. These provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock and may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control that you deem beneficial to you.

 

CT Operations

 

Our RLEC, CT, offers local, toll, network access and enhanced services in a rural, mountainous market located primarily in the eastern third of Pennsylvania.

 

Network Strategy

 

CT utilizes a technologically-advanced, fiber-rich network that is based on 100% digital-switching, integrated DWDM-Sonet transport and host/remote (TR 303 Standards Based) architecture. It was the first telephone company to deploy fiber optics in a toll application and was one of the first local exchange carriers in the nation to deploy a network of all digitally-switched central offices. CT operates its own Signaling System 7, STP based network, which provides efficient call set-up and routing of telephone calls. Throughout its market, CT has 11 digital host switches and about 500 remotes. All of the trunks between the hosts and the remote wire centers are connected with fiber optic cable. Connection to our customers, or the “last mile,” is provided over our RLEC’s copper outside plant. Our network architecture provides for short loop lengths in our copper plant, which allows CT to aggregate customer lines at the remotes for transport, and concentrates costly network intelligence in a small number of host offices. Additionally, our RLEC operates a network control center, which monitors network performance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and allows us to maintain high network performance standards.

 

Customer Service

 

CT has long been recognized as a customer service leader in Pennsylvania. Each year, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission issues a study that measures the customer service results of the state’s five largest

 

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local exchange service providers, as well as the state’s two largest competitive local exchange carriers, which includes Alltel, MCI Local, Verizon Pennsylvania (formerly Bell Atlantic), Verizon North, Inc. (formerly GTE North, Inc.), Sprint (formerly United) and Comcast Digital Phone. CT has achieved the lowest level of “justified complaints,” as defined by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, among Pennsylvania’s largest local exchange carriers in nine of the past ten years, including the last seven consecutive years for which ratings are available.

 

Regulatory Environment

 

CT is subject to regulation by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, or PUC, for intrastate rate-making purposes, which includes rates for basic local services, intraLATA toll services and access services for the origination and termination of in-state long-distance calls. In 1997, CT entered into an alternative regulatory framework with the PUC for all of its intrastate operations, under which it agreed to meet certain broadband service delivery parameters in exchange for a price cap formula, rather than rate of return regulations, which had linked CT’s prices directly to its book costs.

 

On November 30, 2004, the Governor signed legislation authorizing local telephone companies, including CT, to propose amendments to their alternative regulation plan. CT elected under this legislation to amend its plan to include a commitment to deliver broadband service to all users by December 31, 2008. Under the legislation, this commitment entitles CT to eliminate the 2% yearly offset in its price adjustment formula, although CT could be required to refund the additional revenues collected due to this amendment if it failed to meet its broadband commitment. CT filed an amended plan with the PUC incorporating these changes in December 2004, and received approval from the PUC on March 3, 2005. With the previous alternative regulatory framework under which we operated, CT’s profits were not directly limited by the Commission as they were under the rate of return system of regulation. Instead, CT received the flexibility to increase local rates annually based on inflation less 2 percentage points, so that increased returns arising from improved productivity and efficiency in excess of 2% per annum accrued to the equity owners of CT. CT could also seek to rebalance rates periodically between various intrastate service categories, such as toll and access. If inflation was less than 2% in a given year, however, as it has been in recent years, CT would have been required to reduce its rates.

 

Additionally, CT has the ability to request relief on a dollar-for-dollar basis for certain events deemed outside of its control that result in reduced revenues or increased expenses. This may include changes in revenues that may result from portions of interstate access charge reform.

 

The PUC must also approve any issuance of stock, incurrence of long-term debt or acquisition or sale of material utility assets by CT. In addition, the PUC must approve any change in control of either CT or its holding company. The PUC defines a “change in control” as either an acquisition or disposition of the largest single voting interest in a company, if that interest exceeds 20%.

 

CT is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, with respect to interstate rates, services, access charges and other matters, including the prescription of a uniform system of accounts. Interstate services, for the purpose of determining FCC jurisdiction, are communications that originate in one state and terminate in another state or a foreign country, including the use of CT’s local telephone network to originate or terminate such communications. Prices for CT’s interstate services, consisting primarily of subscriber line charges and access charges for interstate toll calls, which accounted for approximately 32.7% of our RLEC’s 2004 revenues, are regulated by the FCC based on “average schedule” formulas that are designed to approximate the interstate jurisdictional costs of telephone companies based on statistical data rather than actual costs. These average schedule formulas are subject to periodic revision by the FCC and changes in the formulas, or removal of CT from them, could result in a significant revenue loss. However, removal of our RLEC from these formulas is specifically listed in its Pennsylvania alternative regulation plan as an event outside of its control that would justify an offsetting rate adjustment.

 

The FCC has an open rulemaking proceeding in which it is considering major changes to its rules governing interstate access charges and other forms of inter-carrier compensation. We are unable to predict how any FCC action in this proceeding may affect CT’s revenues. CT also receives funding from the federal Universal Service Fund, under rules established by the FCC. Changes in the universal service funding mechanism could affect CT’s revenues.

 

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In addition, the FCC must also approve any sale or “transfer of control” of CT or of its holding company.

 

Competitive Environment

 

With the exception of competition from intraLATA toll providers and attractive calling packages offered by several non-wireline providers in certain areas of our territory, our RLEC has faced very limited competition to date since the Telecommunications Act was passed in 1996. Part of the reason for this is that CT maintains a rural exemption from the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, including, but not necessarily limited to, unbundling, colocation and rate discounts, for all of its access lines in Pennsylvania. The rural exemption does not preclude competitors from providing telephone services within our RLEC’s service area entirely over their own facilities. However, it requires prospective competitors who seek resale discounts, colocation, total element long run incremental cost (“TELRIC”) pricing and unbundled network elements to go through a formal review by the Pennsylvania PUC before receiving approval. The PUC may grant such approval only if it finds that the competitor’s proposal is not unduly economically burdensome, is technically feasible and is consistent with the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications Act. To date, no carrier has sought such a review by the Pennsylvania PUC. However, the Act’s general requirement that telecommunications carriers interconnect networks for the exchange of traffic does apply to CT. CT has received several requests for network interconnection for the exchange of traffic between its network and the networks of other facilities-based telecommunications providers, and has entered into interconnection and reciprocal compensation agreements with several national wireless carriers and wireline carriers for exchange of traffic between its network and theirs. A variety of other factors contribute to our RLEC’s relative insulation from competition. These factors include its service territory’s high-cost of facilities-based entry due to low population density, the lack of concentration of any large business customers (as its top 10 business customers account for less than 5% of its revenues), its low basic service rates, its customer service record and level of customer satisfaction and its favorable regulatory environment. While competition from wireless providers is present in our markets, it is mitigated due to the low population density, rural nature and mountainous topography of our markets. We also face competition from national ISPs such as Time Warner (AOL) and from cable providers offering a cable modem product.

 

Jack Flash®

 

In the second half of 1999, we began offering our DSL service under the trade name Jack Flash®. We offer this service through our own facilities, or “on-net,” in the majority of CT’s territory and on an “on-net” and an “off-net” basis in selected areas of CTSI’s markets. As of December 31, 2004, most of our installed DSL lines are in CT’s territory.

 

CLD

 

Since 1990, Commonwealth Long Distance Company (“CLD”) has conducted the business of providing long-distance telephone services. Commonwealth Long Distance provides long-distance services to CT’s customers. CLD purchases long-distance minutes on a wholesale basis from third-party providers.

 

CTSI Operations

 

We offer competitive local, toll, network access, long-distance, enhanced services, broadband data services and high-speed Internet access services in three regional “edge-out” markets, which encompass cities and surrounding areas that have total populations between 250,000 and 500,000 people, as well as a significant concentration of business and industry. The geographic area represented by these three markets is roughly one-third the size of CT’s service territory, or about 1,750 square miles, with a population of approximately 1.4 million and approximately 600 access lines per square mile.

 

Late in 2002, CTSI announced the extension of its existing business operations into select areas of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. We view this opportunity as an extension of our Central market (Lancaster/Reading/York), rather than the establishment of a fourth regional market.

 

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Network Strategy

 

CTSI’s network strategy is to own the majority of the key elements of the local exchange network. These elements include the host switches, the remote switches and the facilities connecting the host switches to the remote switches, including both the fiber optic cable and the transport electronics. In addition, where economically viable, CTSI builds copper distribution facilities between the remote switch and customer premises. Our network strategy allows us to provide high quality and reliable service, reduce customer churn and generate attractive margins. CTSI builds, owns and operates digitally-switched, fiber intensive networks that are DSL-capable in each of its three regional edge-out markets. As of December 31, 2004, CTSI had approximately 98% of its access lines connected to its own switches and approximately 55% of its access lines completely on its own network.

 

Customer Service

 

CTSI strives to provide its customers with exceptional service and uses the same customer care procedures that have proven successful for our 108-year-old RLEC. We operate a customer service center, which takes calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to handle all customer complaints and problems. We are also proficient in the other unique customer service aspects of operating in a CLEC environment and have developed an efficient provisioning interface with the incumbent local exchange carrier. Because we own and operate a significant portion of our own network elements, we are not solely dependent upon the incumbent local exchange carrier for provisioning and maintenance resolution.

 

Sales Organization

 

We utilize direct sales channels to target potential business and residential customers. Our direct channels include sales teams based in local offices, which are exclusively focused on selling to potential business customers with more than five lines. Each team consists of customer account managers and specialists that focus on retaining and growing accounts after the initial sale. In addition, our inside sales team is focused on residential and business customers with fewer than five lines.

 

Regulatory Environment

 

The Pennsylvania PUC exercises jurisdiction over CTSI’s intrastate telephone services, including basic local exchange service, intrastate access services, and intraLATA toll services. Under the PUC’s current practices, CTSI’s rates and services are generally subject to much less regulatory scrutiny than those of the dominant local telephone company in its markets (i.e., Verizon). Additionally, municipalities and other local government agencies may regulate limited aspects of CTSI’s business, such as its use of rights-of-way.

 

At the federal level, the FCC has jurisdiction over interstate services, including access charges, as well as long-distance services. CTSI’s rates, terms, and conditions of service are filed with the FCC in tariffs and are subject to the FCC’s complaint jurisdiction. The FCC has established rules limiting the rates CTSI and other competitive local exchange carriers can charge for origination and termination of long-distance calls (switched access), and for termination of local calls to Internet service providers (ISP traffic). In both cases, the rates prescribed by the FCC are significantly lower than the rates CTSI was charging prior to the adoption of the new rules in 2001.

 

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gives CTSI rights to interconnect its network with Verizon, to exchange traffic with Verizon and to obtain unbundled access to elements of Verizon’s network at regulated rates based on Verizon’s forward-looking costs, which may include a reasonable profit. Under this law, Verizon and CTSI may negotiate the prices and other terms and conditions of these arrangements, but in the event of an impasse, the Pennsylvania PUC has authority to arbitrate any disputes. Future rulings by the Pennsylvania PUC, or changes in the FCC rules under which the Pennsylvania PUC resolves these issues, may have a material effect on CTSI’s costs and profitability.

 

CTSI purchases access to various network elements from Verizon under FCC rules that require the Pennsylvania PUC to determine rates for these elements based upon forward-looking incremental costs. The FCC adopted significant changes in October 2003 and February 2005 to its rules requiring incumbent carriers, like

 

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Verizon, to offer unbundled access to network elements to competing carriers, like CTSI. We believe that the new rules are not likely to have a material impact on CTSI’s use of unbundled voice-grade loops, which is the network element CTSI uses most extensively. These rules remain subject to judicial review and to further FCC proceedings, which could affect the terms on which CTSI obtains access to voice-grade loops and other components of Verizon’s network. We cannot offer any assurance that CTSI will continue to be able to obtain this access on favorable terms.

 

Competitive Environment

 

CTSI competes principally with the services offered by the incumbent local exchange carrier, Verizon. Incumbent local exchange carriers, such as Verizon, have relationships with their customers, have the potential to subsidize services from their regulated service revenues and benefit from certain favorable state and federal regulations. Verizon is larger and has greater financial resources than CTSI. In light of the passage of the Telecommunications Act and concessions by some of the regional Bell companies, federal and state regulatory initiatives may provide increased business opportunities to CLECs, but incumbent carriers may obtain increased pricing flexibility for their services as competition increases. If, in the future, incumbent carriers are permitted by regulators to lower their rates substantially, engage in significant volume and term discount pricing practices for their customers or charge CLECs significantly higher fees for interconnection to the incumbent carriers’ networks, CTSI’s competitive position would be adversely affected.

 

Since late 2001, Verizon has been able to offer long-distance services in conjunction with its local telephone services in Pennsylvania. CTSI also offers packages of local and long-distance services. Verizon may be able to compete more effectively against CTSI now that it is able to offer all of the same services.

 

CTSI also faces, and will continue to face, competition from other current and potential future market entrants, including other CLECs, long-distance companies, cable television companies, electric utilities, microwave carriers, wireless telecommunications providers, Internet service providers and private networks built by large end users. The edge-out markets served by CTSI are served by one or more other CLECs including XO Communications, Telcove, Choice One Communications, D&E Communications and others. We expect competition from CLECs and other companies to continue in the future.

 

Other Operations

 

Commonwealth Communications

 

Commonwealth Communications provides telecommunications equipment and technical services, and designs, installs and manages telephone systems for businesses, hospitals and universities located primarily in Pennsylvania. Commonwealth Communications also undertakes premises distribution systems projects (cabling projects) primarily for hospitals and educational institutions.

 

epix® Internet Services

 

epix® Internet Services (“epix®”), founded in 1994, is our Internet service provider. epix® primarily provides dial-up Internet access at a flat rate for residential users and also provides dedicated access for business users and associated services such as web page hosting and design. epix® provides a competitive Internet product for CT and CTSI and other customers, along with network support, technical support and customer service to Jack Flash®, our DSL product. epix® had approximately 28,500 dial-up subscribers as of December 31, 2004.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Three of our directors are also directors of Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”). In 2002, with the oversight and recommendation of an independent committee of the Board of Directors, we entered into two registration rights agreements with Level 3 relating to the common shares and Class B shares Level 3 beneficially owned. During 2002, Level 3 sold approximately 9,600,000 common shares it beneficially owned in two underwritten offerings pursuant to these agreements.

 

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On January 21, 2004, Level 3 announced that it had privately negotiated a sale of its remaining 1,108,596 shares of CTE Common Stock, resulting from the 2003 Recapitalization Transaction, to an institutional investor. In connection with this transaction, we consented to the assignment of certain registration rights by Level 3 to the purchaser. Level 3 does not hold any equity ownership interest in the Company at this time. Our Chairman, Walter Scott, Jr., is also the Chairman of Level 3.

 

Employees

 

We employed a total of 1,117 employees as of December 31, 2004. Approximately 38% of our employees are covered under collective bargaining agreements. On January 27, 2003, Commonwealth Telephone Company bargaining employees ratified a labor contract with the Communications Workers of America that will remain in effect until November 30, 2005. Also, in August 2002, Commonwealth Communications bargaining employees ratified a labor contract with the Communications Workers of America that will remain in effect until June 29, 2005.

 

Item 2. Properties

 

Our property consists principally of central office equipment, telephone lines, telephone instruments and related equipment and land and buildings related to telephone operations. This plant and equipment is maintained in good operating condition by CT and CTSI operations. The properties of CT are subject to mortgage liens held by CoBank, ACB. We own substantially all of our central office buildings, administrative buildings, warehouses and storage facilities. All of the telephone lines are located either on private or public property. Locations on private land are governed by easements or other arrangements. We are not aware of any environmental liabilities which would have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

 

In the normal course of business, there are various legal proceedings outstanding, including both commercial and regulatory litigation. We do not believe these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additionally, there are no other legal matters pending that we expect to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

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

 

None

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Name


   Age

Michael J. Mahoney

   54

President and CEO as well as Director of CTE since July 2000; Telecommunications consultant from October 1999 to July 2000; Director of CTE (formerly C-TEC Corporation) from June 1995 to October 1999; President and Chief Operating Officer of C-TEC Corporation from February 1994 to September 1997; Director, President and Chief Operating Officer of RCN Corporation from September 1997 to October 1999; President and Chief Operating Officer of Mercom from February 1994 to September 1997 and a Director of Mercom from January 1994 to November 1998; Executive Vice President of C-TEC Corporation’s Cable Television Group from June 1991 to February 1994; Executive Vice President of Mercom from December 1991 to February 1994; and Chief Operating Officer of Harron Communications Corporation from April 1983 to December 1990.

    

Eileen O’Neill Odum

   50

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CTE since July 2004; President—National Operations, the domestic wireline telecom group of Verizon Communications, Inc., from 2000 to 2004; Region President—Northwest, of GTE Corporation’s domestic wireline telephone operations from 1994 to 2000; Assistant Vice President of Business Sales and Services of GTE Telephone Operations from 1992 to 1994; Vice President/General Manager—Texas Region of GTE Mobilnet from 1990 to 1992; Vice President of Marketing of GTE Mobilnet from 1988 to 1990.

    

Donald P. Cawley

   46

Executive Vice President of CTE since September 2003; Senior Vice President of CTE from June 2000 to September 2003; Chief Accounting Officer of CTE since May 1999; Vice President and Controller of CTE from September 1997 to June 2000; Vice President and Controller of Commonwealth Telephone Company from February 1996 to September 1997; and Controller of Commonwealth Telephone Company from March 1992 to February 1996.

    

Raymond B. Ostroski

   50

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of CTE since February 2003; Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of CTE from December 2002 to February 2003; Senior Corporate Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of CTE from January 2002 to November 2002; Legal Consultant with RBO Consulting from January 1998 to December 2001; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of RCN Corporation from October 1997 to December 1997; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of C-TEC Corporation from February 1991 to September 1997; Corporate Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of C-TEC Corporation from August 1988 to February 1991; Associate Counsel of C-TEC Corporation from August 1985 to August 1988; and Attorney at the law firm of Hoegen & Marsh, PC from August 1983 to August 1985.

    

Rita M. Brown

   53

Senior Vice President and General Manager of CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), since October 2004; Vice President of Strategic Initiatives of CTE from January 2004 to September 2004; Vice President of Operations of Commonwealth Telephone Company from 2002 to December 2003; Vice President of Corporate Engineering of CTE from 2001 to 2002; Vice President and General Manager of epix® Internet Services from 2000 to 2001; Vice President and General Manager of Residential Markets of CTSI during 2000; Vice President and General Manager of Commonwealth Communications from 1998 to 2000; and various positions with CTE from 1973 to 1998.

    

Scott Burnside

   60

Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Government Relations of CTE since May 2003; Senior Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs of RCN Corporation from June 1997 to May 2003; Vice President of Regulatory Affairs of C-TEC Corporation from 1985 to June 1997; and various positions with Commonwealth Telephone Company from January 1978 to 1985.

    

Thomas M. Davis

   48

Vice President of Information Technology of CTE since February 2001; Senior Vice President of Software Engineering and Vice President of Solutions Delivery of Intertech Management Group, Inc., from February 1999 to February 2001; President of Dapro, Inc., from April 1992 to February 1999; Applications Development Manager at Alltel Information Services, Inc., from September 1988 to April 1992; and various positions with Nabisco Brands, Inc., C-TEC Corporation and Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company from 1982 to 1988.

    

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT—(Continued)

 

Name


   Age

DG Gulati

   55

Senior Vice President of Corporate Development of CTE since December 2002; Senior Vice President of Operations and Engineering of RCN Corporation from 2000 to 2002; Senior Vice President of Network Engineering of RCN Corporation from 1997 to 2000; Vice President of Business Operations of C-TEC Corporation from 1995 to 1997; Director of Telecommunications of Cablevision Industries from 1994 to 1995; Assistant Vice President of Network Services of Warwick Valley Telephone Company from 1993 to 1994; and various positions with Rochester Telephone Corporation from 1982 to 1993.

    

Todd T. Hanson

   43

Senior Vice President of Network Services and Technology of CTE since September 2004; Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations of CTE from January 2004 to September 2004; Vice President of Engineering of CTE from April 2003 to January 2004; President of Qwest Communications International Inc., Local Broadband—Eastern Region from 1999 to 2002; Vice President of Network Engineering and Field Operations of Electric Lightwave, LLC (wholly-owned subsidiary of Citizens Communications), from 1995 to 1999; Vice President of Network Planning, Engineering and Project Management of MFS Telecom, Inc., from 1993 to 1995; and various management positions with AT&T Canada, Inc. (formerly Unitel Communications Inc.), and Sprint Corporation from 1986 to 1993.

    

Steven J. Letts

   47

Vice President and General Manager of Commonwealth Communications since December 2002; Vice President of Sales—Advanced Building Networks of WorldCom, Inc. (“WorldCom”) from 2001 to 2002; Vice President of Shared Tenant Sales of WorldCom from 2000 to 2001; Vice President and General Manager of Integrated Communications Services (“ICS”) Division of WorldCom from 1997 to 2000; Vice President of Service and Support—ICS Division of Metropolitan Fiber Systems, Inc. (“MFS”), from 1996 to 1997; Director of Operations—Central Region of MFS from 1995 to 1996; General Manager—Texas Region of Realcom Inc., from 1993 to 1995; various positions with Intecom, Inc., from 1985 to 1993; and United States Marine Corps Officer from 1980 to 1985.

    

F. Andrew Logue

   62

Vice President of Human Resources of CTE since August 2000; Corporate Vice President of Human Resources of National Service Industries from May 1993 to July 2000; Vice President of Human Resources of Lithonia Lighting from March 1987 to May 1993; Vice President of Human Resources of Health America Corporation from June 1985 to March 1987; Vice President of Human Resources—Hospital Company Division of American Hospital Supply Corporation from October 1980 to June 1985; Vice President of Human Resources—American Hospital Supply Division of American Hospital Supply Corporation from June 1976 to October 1980; and Director of Personnel—Harleco Division of American Hospital Supply Corporation from April 1974 to June 1976.

    

James F. Samaha

   39

Senior Vice President and General Manager of Commonwealth Telephone Company, Commonwealth Long Distance and epix® Internet Services since January 2004; Senior Vice President and General Manager of Commonwealth Telephone Company from August 2001 to January 2004; Senior Vice President of Internet and Data Services of CTE from December 2000 to August 2001; Senior Vice President of Business Development of CTE from July 2000 to December 2000; Vice President and General Manager of Jack Flash® from June 1999 to July 2000; Vice President of CTE Finance from March 1998 to June 1999; Director of Corporate Development, and other management positions with AT&T Local Services (formerly Teleport Communications Group) from 1993 to 1998.

    

David G. Weselcouch

   49

Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications of CTE since June 2000; Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications of CTE from March 1999 to June 2000; Vice President of Investor Relations of CTE from 1998 to 1999; Director—Investor Relations of GTE Corporation from 1993 to 1998; Manager—Capital Markets Development and Administration of GTE Corporation from 1989 to 1993.

    

 

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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

 

Our Common Stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market (Symbol: CTCO).

 

There were approximately 1,086 registered holders of the Company’s Common Stock on February 28, 2005, based on the records of our transfer agent. Other information required under Item 5 of Part II is set forth in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included on pages F-1 to F-21 of this report and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included on pages F-31 to F-53 of this report.

 

On April 24, 2003, we entered into a Recapitalization Agreement (the “Recapitalization Agreement”) with Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”) and Eldorado Equity Holdings, Level 3’s indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary. Under the terms of the Recapitalization Agreement, we agreed to amend our existing charter to: (i) reclassify and convert each outstanding share of CTE Class B Common Stock into 1.09 shares of CTE Common Stock; and (ii) eliminate from the existing charter the CTE Class B Common Stock, and all provisions related thereto, and certain miscellaneous inoperative provisions. Level 3 agreed, pursuant to the terms of the Recapitalization Agreement, to vote its shares in favor of the reclassification and the related charter amendments. On September 3, 2003, at the Annual Meeting, shareholders approved the proposal to reclassify and convert each outstanding share of CTE Class B Common Stock into 1.09 shares of CTE Common Stock. CTE now has only one class of common stock, with each share having one vote in corporate governance matters. As a result of the reclassification, Level 3’s ownership was reduced to approximately 4.6% of the outstanding CTE Common Stock and correspondingly 4.6% of the voting power. Subsequently, on January 21, 2004, Level 3 announced the sale of all of its remaining CTE Common Stock to an institutional investor. In connection with this transaction, certain registration rights were assigned by Level 3 to the purchaser. As of December 31, 2004, Level 3 did not own any shares of CTE Common Stock.

 

In connection with the Recapitalization, the Class B common shares held as Treasury stock were retired and the shares are no longer authorized.

 

In July of 2003, we sold $300 million principal amount of 3.25% convertible notes due July 15, 2023, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted.

 

Interest is 3.25% per annum on the principal amount, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning January 15, 2004. In addition, we will pay contingent interest for any six-month period from January 15 to July 14 and from July 15 to January 14, with the initial six-month period commencing July 15, 2008, if the trading price of the notes for each of the five trading days immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month period equals 120% or more of the principal amount of the notes. During any interest period when contingent interest shall be payable, the contingent interest payable per note will equal 0.25% of the average trading price of a note during the five trading days immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month interest period.

 

Holders may convert their notes into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 17.5439 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, representing an initial conversion price of approximately $57.00, subject to adjustment, prior to the close of business on the final maturity date under any of the following circumstances:

 

    during any fiscal quarter, but only during such fiscal quarter, if the closing sale price of our common stock exceeds 120% of the then-effective conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter;

 

    during the five business-day period after any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price per note for each day of such period was less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of our common stock and the number of shares issuable upon conversion of $1,000 principal amount of the notes;

 

    if the notes have been called for redemption; or

 

    upon the occurrence of specified corporate events.

 

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We may redeem any of the notes beginning July 18, 2008, by giving holders at least 30 days’ notice. We may redeem the notes either in whole or in part at a cash redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

If a designated event occurs prior to maturity, holders may require us to repurchase all or part of their notes at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

Holders may require us to repurchase all or part of their notes on July 15 of 2008, 2013 and 2018 at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

On November 7, 2003, in connection with a registration rights agreement relating to the notes, we filed a resale shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Item 5. (c) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

Effective November 13, 2003, our Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Program of up to $100 million of CTE’s common stock. On February 9, 2004, our Board of Directors increased the size of the total stock repurchase program to up to $150 million of CTE Common Stock. No time limit has been set for the completion of the Stock Repurchase Program. The purchases have and will be made in open market, negotiated or block transactions. The transactions will be executed at CTE’s discretion, based on ongoing assessments of our capital needs, and the market value of CTE Common Stock. Repurchased shares have and will be placed in Treasury and may be used for our employee benefit plans or for other general corporate purposes. The table below provides information regarding purchases of CTE Common Stock made by us during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report:

 

Period


   Total
Number
of Shares
Purchased


   Average
Price
Paid per
Share


   Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Program


   Approximate
Dollar Value
of Shares
that May Yet
Be
Purchased
Under the
Program
(dollars in
thousands)


October 1, 2004—October 31, 2004

   12,134    $ 43.03    12,134    $ 31,456

November 1, 2004—November 30, 2004

   —        —      —      $ 31,456

December 1, 2004—December 31, 2004

   —        —      —      $ 31,456

Notes

 

The $100 million Stock Repurchase Program was announced on November 13, 2003; the $50 million addition to the program was announced on February 10, 2004. The Stock Repurchase Program has no expiration date. We had no other stock repurchase plan or program expire during the period covered by the table. Also, no plans or programs were terminated prior to expiration. All purchases were made in accordance with the safe harbor in Rule 10b-18 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

 

Information required under Item 6 of Part II is included on page F-22 of this report.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Information required under Item 7 of Part II is included on pages F-1 to F-21 of this report.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Information required under Item 7A of Part II is included on page F-15 of this report. Additional information is contained in Note 14 “Off Balance Sheet Risk and Concentration of Credit Risk” of the Consolidated Financial Statements included on page F-51 of this report.

 

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary data required under Item 8 of Part II are included on pages F-26 to F-53 of this report.

 

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

During the two years preceding December 31, 2004, there has been neither a change of accountants of the Registrant nor any disagreement on any matter of accounting principles, practices or financial statement disclosures.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

 

The management of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (“the Company”), under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, conducted an evaluation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

There was no significant change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information

 

None

 

PART III

 

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

The information required under Item 10 of Part III with respect to the Directors of the Registrant is set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) and is hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

The information required under Item 10 of Part III with respect to the executive officers of the Registrant is set forth at the end of Part I hereof.

 

The full text of our Code of Ethical Conduct is published on our web site at www.ct-enterprises.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to our Code of Ethical Conduct, and waivers of its provisions granted to executive officers and directors, on our web site within five business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation

 

The information required under Item 11 of Part III is set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act, and is hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

 

The information required under Item 12 of Part III is included in the definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act, and is hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

 

The information required under Item 13 of Part III is included in the definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act, and is hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

 

The information required under Item 14 of Part III is included in the definitive proxy statement relating to the Registrant’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Section 14(a) of the 1934 Act, and is hereby specifically incorporated herein by reference thereto.

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

Item 15. (a)(1) Financial Statements

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 

Selected Financial Data (Unaudited)

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets—December 31, 2004 and 2003

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Common Shareholders’ Equity for Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Item 15. (a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

Description

 

Condensed Financial Information of the Registrant for Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 (Schedule I)

 

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves for Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 (Schedule II)

 

All other financial statement schedules not listed have been omitted since the required information is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or the Notes thereto, or is not applicable or required.

 

Item 15. (a)(3) Exhibits

 

Exhibits marked with an asterisk are filed herewith. The remaining exhibits have been filed with the Commission and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(2) Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession

 

2.1 Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of CTSI, LLC dated June 30, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

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2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger between CTSI, Inc. and CTSI, LLC dated June 22, 2001 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

2.3 Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of CTE Telecom, LLC dated December 2, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

2.4 Agreement and Plan of Merger between Commonwealth Long Distance Company and CTE Telecom, LLC dated December 31, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

2.5 Agreement and Plan of Merger between epix® Internet Services, Inc. and CTE Telecom, LLC dated December 31, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

2.6 Recapitalization Agreement dated April 24, 2003, by and among Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Eldorado Equity Holdings, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on April 25, 2003, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

(3) Articles of Incorporation and By-laws

 

3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated September 3, 2003 is herein incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.12 to the Company’s Form S-1 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on November 7, 2003, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

3.2 By-laws of Registrant, as amended and restated as of December 3, 2003 are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on December 3, 2003, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

(4) Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures

 

4.1 Loan Agreement dated as of March 29, 1994, made by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company and the National Bank for Cooperatives is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.2 Line of Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 1999 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company as borrower and the CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.3 Line of Credit Amendment dated as of September 15, 2000 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company as borrower and the CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.4 Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement dated April 6, 2001 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company as borrower and the CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.5 Second Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2002 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company as borrower and the CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.6 Letter Agreement dated March 13, 2003 to amend the Loan Agreement dated as of March 29, 1994 and the Second Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement dated as of June 4, 2002 between Commonwealth Telephone Company and CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

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4.7 Agreements Regarding Amendments to Loan Documents dated June 2, 2003 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company as borrower and CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

4.8 Indenture for 3 1/4% Convertible Notes due 2023 dated July 18, 2003 between Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and the Bank of New York, as Trustee is incorporated herein to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Form S-1 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on November 7, 2003, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

4.9 Form of 3 1/4% Convertible Notes due 2023 is incorporated herein to Exhibit 4.10 to the Company’s Form S-1 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on November 7, 2003, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

4.10 Registration Rights Agreement dated July 18, 2003 by and among Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as Initial Purchasers is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Company’s Form S-1 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on November 7, 2003, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

4.11 Amendment to Line of Credit Agreement entered into as of May 20, 2004 by and between Commonwealth Telephone Company and CoBank, ACB is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 4.6 to the Company’s Post Effective Amendment No. 4 to Form S-1 on Form S-3 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on July 26, 2004, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

(10) Material Contracts

 

10.1 C-TEC Corporation, 1994 Stock Option Plan is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.2 C-TEC Corporation 1994 Stock Option Plan, as amended, is incorporated herein by reference to Form S-8 Registration Statement of Registrant filed with the Commission, Registration No. 33-64563.

 

10.3 C-TEC Corporation Executive Stock Purchase Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Form S-8 Registration Statement of Registrant filed with the Commission, Registration No. 33-64677.

 

10.4 Registration Rights Agreement dated October 23, 1998 among Registrant, Walter Scott, Jr., James Q. Crowe and David C. McCourt is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K dated October 28, 1998, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.5 1997 Non-Management Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan effective February 12, 1997, as amended is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.6 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan as amended and restated, effective December 21, 1998 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.7 1997 Non-Management Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan effective February 12, 1997, as amended and restated, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.8 Registration Rights Agreement dated February 7, 2002, between Registrant and Level 3 Communications, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 of Form S-3 Registration Statement of Registrant filed with the Commission, Registration No. 333-82366.

 

10.9 Consulting Agreement dated March 1, 2002, by and between CTE Services, Inc. and James DePolo d/b/a Westminster Marketing Associates is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(n) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.10 Amendment No. 1 effective May 15, 2002, to the CTE Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the CTEC Corporation 1996 Equity Incentive Plan) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

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Table of Contents

10.11 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Bonus Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.12 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan as amended and restated, effective September 5, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(a) to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.13 Shelf Registration Agreement dated as of November 12, 2002 among Registrant, Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Eldorado Equity Holdings, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form S-3 Registration Statement of Registrant filed with the Commission, Registration No. 333-101127.

 

10.14 Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Rights Agreement dated April 23, 2003, by and among Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc., Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Eldorado Equity Holdings, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Commission on April 25, 2003, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.15 Non-Management Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan effective February 25, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, (Commission File No. 0-11053).

 

10.16 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Commonwealth Builder 401(k) Plan (As Amended 2004) is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-8 Registration Statement of Registrant filed with the Commission, Registration No. 333-117450.

 

10.17 Agreement and Release dated as of July 20, 2004 entered into by and between Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and James DePolo is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.16 to the Company’s Post Effective Amendment No. 4 to Form S-1 on Form S-3 Registration Statement as filed with the Commission on July 26, 2004, Registration No. 333-110325.

 

* (21) Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

* (23) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

* (24) Powers of Attorney

 

* (31.1) Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer

 

* (31.2) Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Accounting Officer

 

* (32) Section 1350 Certifications

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: March 11, 2005

 

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

By:

 

/s/    DONALD P. CAWLEY        


   

Donald P. Cawley

Executive Vice President and

Chief Accounting Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature


  

Title


 

Date


PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND ACCOUNTING OFFICERS:

/s/    MICHAEL J. MAHONEY        


Michael J. Mahoney

  

President and Chief Executive Officer, principal executive officer

  March 11, 2005

/s/    DONALD P. CAWLEY        


Donald P. Cawley

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer

  March 11, 2005

DIRECTORS:

/s/    WALTER SCOTT, JR.        


Walter Scott, Jr.

       March 11, 2005

/s/    MICHAEL J. MAHONEY        


Michael J. Mahoney

       March 11, 2005

/s/    JAMES Q. CROWE        


James Q. Crowe

       March 11, 2005

/s/    FRANK M. HENRY        


Frank M. Henry

       March 11, 2005

/s/    RICHARD R. JAROS        


Richard R. Jaros

       March 11, 2005

/s/    DANIEL E. KNOWLES        


Daniel E. Knowles

       March 11, 2005

/s/    DAVID C. MITCHELL        


David C. Mitchell

       March 11, 2005

/s/    EUGENE ROTH        


Eugene Roth

       March 11, 2005

/s/    JOHN J. WHYTE        


John J. Whyte

       March 11, 2005

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to these safe harbors. These statements are generally accompanied by words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” or similar statements. Our forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results in the future differently than expressed in any forward-looking statements we have made. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

 

    uncertainties relating to our ability to further penetrate our markets and the related cost of that effort;

 

    economic conditions, acquisitions and divestitures;

 

    government and regulatory policies;

 

    the pricing and availability of equipment, materials and inventories;

 

    technological developments;

 

    reductions in rates or traffic that is subject to access charges;

 

    changes in the competitive environment in which we operate; and

 

    the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals.

 

Additional factors that could cause or contribute to such differences are set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and are discussed elsewhere in this report. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove inaccurate and, therefore, we cannot provide any assurance that the results contemplated in such forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that the future events, plans or expectations that we contemplate will be achieved. Furthermore, past performance in operations and share price is not necessarily predictive of future performance.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto:

 

Overview

 

History

 

We began operations as Commonwealth Telephone in 1897 with the construction of a telephone line between two rural farms in Pennsylvania. In 1928, a prominent Pennsylvania family acquired Commonwealth Telephone and continued to grow the company through acquisition and internal growth. The company went public in 1952, but the family continued to hold a controlling stake. In the 1980’s, the company expanded beyond wireline telephone into cable, cellular, paging and other telecommunications-related services through acquisition and business development. In 1986, the controlling family implemented a dual class voting structure in order to strengthen its control, with the common stock having one vote per share and Class B common stock having 15 votes per share. In 1993, the controlling family sold its ownership interest to a subsidiary of Peter Kiewit Sons’, which has since become Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”). In 1997, Commonwealth Telephone implemented a spin-off of certain operations into two new public companies, a bundled telecommunications provider (RCN Corporation) and a cable television operator (Cable Michigan, Inc.). At the conclusion of the spin-off, we became the public company that currently exists as Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (“CTE,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”). In April and December of 2002, Level 3 sold approximately 9,600,000 shares of our common stock in two registered offerings, which resulted in a reduction of its voting power in our company from approximately 48% of the voting power of our equity securities to approximately 29%. In September 2003, we completed a transaction pursuant to which each outstanding share of our Class B Common Stock was converted into 1.09 shares of our Common Stock (the “Recapitalization Transaction”).

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Following the Recapitalization Transaction, the 1,017,061 shares of our Class B Common Stock that Level 3 beneficially owned prior to the Recapitalization Transaction, representing approximately 29% of the voting power of our equity securities, were converted into 1,108,596 shares of our Common Stock, representing approximately 4.6% of the voting power of our equity securities. In January 2004, Level 3 announced that it had closed a privately-negotiated sale of its remaining 1,108,596 shares of our Common Stock to an institutional investor.

 

Management’s Overview

 

2004 Highlights

 

CTE continued to produce solid consolidated financial results in 2004. Sales increased slightly in 2004 to $335,811 and operating income increased 3.0% to $106,447. The increase in operating income is due to a slight increase in revenues and continued focus on cost control across all of our operations.

 

In November of 2003, taking advantage of our strong cash position and a relatively weak stock price, our Board of Directors authorized a Stock Repurchase Program of up to $100 million of CTE Common Stock, which was subsequently increased to $150 million. As of December 31, 2004, we had repurchased 3,047,244 shares, at a cost of $118,544.

 

In July of 2003, we took advantage of favorable interest rates and sold $300,000 of 3.25% convertible notes due in 2023. As of December 31, 2004, our cash balance was $312,260, after the pay-down of debt of approximately $60,000 and the purchase of approximately $75,000 worth of common shares during 2004. Possible uses for this cash include working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes including potential acquisitions and new product offerings. Our approach to acquisitions has been, and will continue to be, “prudent and disciplined.” Acquisitions are inherently risky, and it is our belief that we should focus on what we do best and pursue opportunities that make sense both strategically and economically and are in the best interests of our shareholders.

 

In addition, while we do not presently intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock, we may decide to pay dividends in the future. The payment of any cash dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will be based on a number of factors.

 

On November 30, 2004, the Governor signed legislation that authorized CT to amend its alternative regulation plan to include a commitment to deliver broadband service to all users by December 31, 2008. Under the legislation, this commitment entitles CT to eliminate the 2% yearly offset in its price adjustment formula, although CT could be required to refund the additional revenues collected due to this amendment if it failed to meet its broadband commitment. CT filed an amended plan with the PUC incorporating these changes in December 2004, which the PUC approved on March 3, 2005.

 

In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board reached a consensus on “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings per Share” (“EITF 04-8”). EITF 04-8 requires that contingently convertible debt be included in diluted earnings per share computations regardless of whether the market price trigger has been met. EITF 04-8 is effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2004. At the conversion price in effect at December 31, 2004, our convertible debt is convertible into 5,263,170 shares of our common stock. Prior period earnings per share amounts presented for comparative purposes have been restated to conform to this consensus.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

2004 Challenges and 2005 Expectations

 

We faced many challenges in 2004 that will continue into the future. Wireless carriers continue to increase their coverage area and Voice over IP is evolving. In addition, there are industry-wide trends toward declining usage of dial-up Internet access and wireline long-distance services.

 

The legislative and regulatory landscape continues to be a challenging one. FCC-mandated interstate access rate reductions reduced revenues in 2004 for CTSI. Also, a substantial portion of CTSI’s revenues are derived directly and indirectly from ISPs. Consolidation within the ISP industry due to their declining dial-up customer base, bankruptcy or a major network reconfiguration could negatively impact CTSI’s results.

 

Our primary focus in 2005 will be on the execution of our business plan in the market place. This means defending our customer base, and we plan to do this by delivering value to our customers in our bundled product offerings and by providing customer service that is second to none. It also means continued focus on managing our costs and maintaining our margins.

 

Despite these challenges, our operations generate a significant amount of cash flow. Our strategic plan is designed to insure that we identify and capitalize on changing consumer preferences, market trends and technological developments. CT is actively bundling voice and data products to provide our customers with convenient, attractive packages in an effort to minimize churn to cable modem and wireless. In November of 2004, the Company announced that it had entered into a strategic alliance with EchoStar Communications Corporation to provide their DISH Network() satellite TV service to all households in the current territories of CT and CTSI. This will enable the Company to offer its customers digital television programming beginning in mid 2005. Both CT and CTSI are exploring other alliances and partnerships with other providers in order to expand our product offerings and to capitalize on our strong sales experience, technologically-advanced network, loyal customer base and high-speed capacity.

 

Segments

 

Our two primary operations are Commonwealth Telephone Company (“CT”), which is a rural incumbent local exchange carrier (“RLEC”), and CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), which we refer to as our RLEC “edge-out” operation, and is a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”). The CT segment includes the results of Commonwealth Long Distance Company (“CLD”), a long-distance reseller; and the portion of Jack Flash® (“Jack Flash”), our broadband data service that uses digital subscriber line (“DSL”) technology to offer high-speed Internet access, that is in CT’s territory. Our “Other” segment is comprised of telecommunications-related businesses that all operate in the deregulated segments of the telecommunications industry and support the operations of our two primary operating companies. These support businesses are epix® Internet Services (“epix”), a rural Internet service provider; and Commonwealth Communications (“CC”), a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services. “Other” also includes our corporate entity.

 

As of December 31, 2004, CT served over 333,000 switched access lines. In 1997, we formally launched our facilities-based CLEC, CTSI. CTSI operates in three “edge-out” regional Pennsylvania markets that border CT’s markets and that, we believe, offer attractive market demographics, such as higher population density and a higher concentration of businesses. In late 2002, we extended our operations into select areas of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. We view this as an extension of our current Central market (Lancaster/Reading/York), rather than the establishment of a fourth regional market. CTSI served over 138,000 switched access lines as of December 31, 2004, which were mainly business customers.

 

Revenue

 

CT’s revenue is derived primarily from access, local service, enhanced services, local long-distance (intraLATA toll), long-distance service revenue and Jack Flash DSL. Access revenue consists primarily of

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

charges paid by long-distance companies and other telecommunications carriers for access to our network in connection with the completion of long-distance telephone calls. Local service revenue consists of charges for local exchange telephone services, including monthly tariffs for basic local service. Enhanced services revenue is derived from service for special calling features, including, but not limited to, Caller ID and Call Waiting. Local long-distance and long-distance revenues consist of charges for such services paid by CT’s customers. Jack Flash DSL revenue consists of charges for high-speed Internet access provided to CT’s customers.

 

CTSI’s revenue is derived primarily from access, local service, competitive access, Internet access from dedicated and Jack Flash DSL, local long-distance (intraLATA toll) and long-distance service revenue. Access revenue consists primarily of charges paid by long-distance companies and other non-CLEC customers for access to our network in connection with the completion of long-distance telephone and local calls and the delivery of other services. Access revenue also includes recurring trunking revenue and reciprocal compensation. Local service revenue consists of charges for local exchange telephone services, including monthly recurring charges for basic services and special calling features. Competitive access revenue consists of charges for point-to-point connections. Internet access revenue consists of charges for dedicated Internet access provided to CTSI’s customers. Jack Flash DSL revenue consists of charges for high-speed Internet access provided to CTSI’s customers. Long-distance revenue consists of charges for long-distance service paid by CTSI’s customers.

 

Our “Other” business segment includes the revenue from epix and Commonwealth Communications. epix revenue for this segment consists primarily of dial-up Internet access revenue. Commonwealth Communications generates revenue primarily from telecommunications projects, including installation of telephone systems for business customers, cabling projects and telecommunications systems design.

 

Operating Costs

 

Our operating costs and expenses for each of our segments primarily include access charges and other direct costs of sales, payroll and related benefits, selling and advertising, software and information system services, general and administrative expenses and depreciation and amortization. These costs have increased over time as we have grown our operations and revenues. We expect these costs to continue to increase, but generally at a slower rate. CTSI also incurs additional costs related to leased local loop charges associated with providing last mile access, circuit rentals, engineering costs, colocation expense, terminating access for local calls and long-distance expense. CLD also incurs long-distance expense associated with purchasing long-distance minutes on a wholesale basis from third party providers. CC also incurs expenses primarily related to equipment and materials used in the course of the installation and provisioning of service.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

We incur capital expenditures associated with expenditures for infrastructure and network upgrades in CT and CTSI territories. In addition, at CTSI, capital expenditures associated with access line installations comprise a significant portion of its overall capital spending and result in incremental revenue.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Selected Segment Data

 

Data Tables

 

We have included certain segment financial data in the tables below. Operating income (loss) is the primary measure used by our management to assess the performance of each segment.

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Sales:

                        

CT

   $ 227,666     $ 223,827     $ 207,978  

CTSI

     83,568       85,336       84,006  

Other

     24,577       26,559       26,571  
    


 


 


Total

   $ 335,811     $ 335,722     $ 318,555  
    


 


 


     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Operating income (loss):

                        

CT

   $ 100,400     $ 97,153     $ 86,613  
    


 


 


CTSI—edge-out

     9,554       8,978       10,714  

CTSI—expansion*

     799       1,636       3,940  
    


 


 


Total CTSI

     10,353       10,614       14,654  
    


 


 


Other

     (4,306 )     (4,386 )     (4,672 )
    


 


 


Total

   $ 106,447     $ 103,381     $ 96,595  
    


 


 



* Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 include restructuring reversals of $799, $1,636 and $3,940, respectively. See Note 4 for additional details.

 

     As of December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

Access lines:

              

CT access lines

   333,022    338,462    337,849

CTSI access lines

   138,820    138,667    126,649
    
  
  

Total

   471,842    477,129    464,498
    
  
  

 

2004 vs 2003

 

For the year ended December 31, 2004, our consolidated sales increased $89 and were $335,811 and $335,722 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Higher sales at CT of $3,839 contributed to the increase, offset by a decline in CTSI sales of $1,768 and a decline in Other sales of $1,982. Consolidated costs and expenses decreased $3,651 primarily due to lower headcount (primarily at CTSI), lower transport costs of $750 at epix, lower corporate spending of $461 and network cost settlements of $1,701 at CTSI which contributed to lower operating expenses of $2,977. Operating income increased $3,066 as a result of the increase in sales and the decrease in operating expenses discussed above. Consolidated net income was $62,031 or $2.60 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2004. Consolidated net income was $72,865 or $2.92 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003, including a cumulative effect accounting adjustment of $13,230 or $0.51 per diluted share from the adoption of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” The earnings per diluted share for 2003 has been revised to include the effects of contingently

 

F-5


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

convertible securities in accordance with EITF 04-8. Contributing to the decrease in net income is the cumulative effect accounting adjustment and an increase in interest expense due to the sale of convertible notes in July 2003, partially offset by the increase in operating income and an increase in interest income.

 

CT

 

CT’s sales were $227,666 and $223,827 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The sales increase of $3,839 or 1.7% is primarily due to higher local, enhanced services, DSL and intraLATA toll and long-distance revenues, partially offset by lower access revenue and a recovery of $965 of our WorldCom receivables in 2003 that did not recur in 2004. CT’s primary residential lines declined slightly primarily due to wireless substitution. Additional lines declined as customers switched to DSL and other high-speed products, and customers look to find ways to lower personal spending.

 

Interstate access revenue increased $3,319 primarily resulting from an increase in units that drive settlements of $1,801, an increase in special access circuit revenue of $998 and an increase in the National Exchange Carrier Association (“NECA”) average schedule settlements of $1,019. Due to a slight decline in the NECA average schedule formulas that was placed into effect July 1, 2004, the increase in interstate access revenue occurred during the first half of 2004; the average schedule formulas are updated annually. State access revenue decreased $7,652 primarily as a result of the State Access Reform rate decrease of $4,571, wireless interconnection rate reductions of $1,311 and a decrease in minutes of use of $438. Local service revenue increased $3,916 primarily as a result of the State Access Reform rate increase. In addition, enhanced service revenue increased $2,395 as a result of the State Access Reform price increase of $1,801 and increases in custom calling, Caller ID and certain other enhanced services. IntraLATA toll and long-distance revenues increased $931 due to an increase in revenue of $3,910 resulting from an increase in subscribers from a long-distance product offering that began in early 2003. The increase was partially offset by lower market share in CT intraLATA toll due to customers selecting alternate lower cost service providers, including CLD, and calling packages offered by several non-wireline providers in certain areas of CT’s territory, decreasing revenue by $2,997, a trend we expect to continue. Other revenue increased $934 as a result of an increase in DSL revenue of $1,740 from an increase in subscribers, an increase in optional wire maintenance revenue of $1,125 due to a price increase and price increases on other services as a result of State Access Reform of $572. These increases were partially offset by a recovery of $965 in 2003 related to a third party vendor assuming our WorldCom receivables that were previously written-off and a lower volume of non-recurring equipment sales and time and material work of $1,664 due to a lower demand in 2004 as compared to 2003.

 

CT’s costs and expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, (“costs and expenses”) were $79,219 and $79,730 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Costs and expenses decreased $511 or 0.6% due to a decrease in corporate expenses due to decreased spending, lower material expense due to lower CPE equipment sales of $545 and lower terminating access expense due to CT’s lower intraLATA toll minutes. These lower costs were partially offset by higher expenses due to an increase in pole attachments and associated higher rates of $783 and higher repairs and maintenance expense of $423.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1,103 or 2.3% for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was a result of capital expenditures in 2003 and 2004, partially offset by changes in CT’s overall composite rate.

 

CT’s operating income increased $3,247 or 3.3% to $100,400 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was a result of the items discussed above.

 

CTSI

 

CTSI’s sales were $83,568 and $85,336 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease of $1,768 primarily represents a decrease in access revenue of $5,046, partially offset by an increase in

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

local service of $884, from installed access lines; and increases in customer point-to-point circuit revenues of $801 and Jack Flash DSL and Internet revenues of $849. CTSI’s sales include a $760 Verizon trunking dispute settlement.

 

The FCC rate ceilings, as further described in the Legislative and Regulatory section, have resulted in reductions in the revenues CTSI receives from interstate access charges. In addition, continued industry-wide trends towards declining usage of dial-up Internet access and of wireline long-distance services generally, will have a negative impact on these revenues. CTSI’s revenues from access charges and reciprocal compensation are also affected by the mix of traffic delivered to it by other carriers for termination to CTSI customers. In late 2003, Verizon notified CTSI of a reduction in the proportion of its delivered traffic that will be subject to intrastate access charges, and a corresponding increase in the proportion that will be subject to reciprocal compensation rates based on a revised Percent Local Usage (“PLU”) factor. Because the reciprocal compensation rates are much lower than access charges, this change in traffic mix negatively affected CTSI’s revenues by approximately $700 per month.

 

CTSI was recently notified by Verizon North (formerly GTE) requesting a change in the PLU factor. As a result of this request, CTSI will be using a direct measurement billing approach instead of a PLU factor. The effect on CTSI’s revenue and operating income will be a reduction of approximately $50 per month beginning April 2005 based on the current traffic mix.

 

CTSI recorded approximately $6,335 or 7.6% of its revenues from compensation revenue associated with Internet service provider (“ISP”) traffic as compared to $12,258 or 14.4% for 2003. As was the case in 2003, all of the allowable billable minutes on local ISP reciprocal compensation above the 3 to 1 ratio available to be billed in 2004 were billed in the first quarter. Effective October 8, 2004, the FCC will no longer enforce the cap on the number of minutes for which compensation can be collected, but will continue to limit the rate that can be charged. This FCC decision will result in an increase in the amount of reciprocal compensation received by CTSI, although the order may be subject to court appeals, and we cannot predict the outcome of any such proceeding.

 

CTSI derives a substantial portion of its revenues directly and indirectly from ISPs. We expect that this reliance will continue in the foreseeable future. ISPs represented approximately 17.1% and 23.2% of CTSI’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This percentage has decreased as a result of our approximately $700 per month reduction in revenue from our revised PLU factor with Verizon. These high-margin revenues include services provided directly to the ISP including local and point-to-point circuit revenue and indirect services including reciprocal compensation and trunking from Verizon as a result of Verizon’s customers calling these ISPs. Industry-wide trends toward declining usage of dial-up Internet access may threaten the profitability or viability of our ISP customers. If we lose a significant number of these customers that are providing Internet services, or if a significant portion of these customers are unable to pay amounts owed to us, our financial results could be negatively impacted.

 

The decrease in revenue was partially offset by the increase in local service. At December 31, 2004, CTSI had 138,820 installed access lines as compared to 138,667 at December 31, 2003, an increase of 153 or 0.1%. Additionally, the increase in point-to-point circuit revenue is due to Internet and cellular providers and IXCs using our circuits to allow their networks to tie into the switched network system. The decrease in revenue was also partially offset by increases in Jack Flash DSL and Internet revenues of $849 due to subscriber growth.

 

Costs and expenses were $53,809 and $55,610 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease of $1,801 is primarily due to reserve reversals linked to network cost settlements of $1,701, reductions in colocate power requirements of $289 and a reduction in headcount, partially offset by an increase in long-distance minutes of $297.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $543 or 2.6% to $20,205 as a result of certain assets becoming fully depreciated. Restructuring reversals associated with our 2000 restructuring charge were $837 lower for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

CTSI’s operating income decreased $261 or 2.5% to $10,353 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease was a result of the items discussed above.

 

Other

 

Other sales were $24,577 and $26,559 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The decrease of $1,982 or 7.5% is due to a decrease in epix and CC sales.

 

epix sales decreased $1,631 or 14.6% to $9,557 due to a decrease in dial-up subscribers as customers move to DSL or other high-speed products or low cost dial-up providers. CC sales decreased $351 or 2.3% to $15,020 primarily due to lower revenues from communications facilities management services, a decrease in premises distribution systems sales and a decrease in drop shipments, partially offset by an increase in new installations of business systems. The operating results of CC are subject to fluctuations due to its less predictable revenue streams, market conditions and the effect of competition on margins.

 

Costs and expenses in Other were $26,161 and $27,500 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. epix expenses decreased $1,502 primarily as a result of a decrease in subscribers, lower transport costs, lower headcount and lower bad debt expense. Expenses at the corporate entity decreased primarily due to certain expenses related to the Recapitalization Transaction in 2003 that did not recur, partially offset by a charge for severance expense incurred in the third quarter of 2004. This decrease was partially offset by increased costs and expenses at CC of $624 to $13,593 for the year ended December 31, 2004. This change was due to a favorable settlement of an outstanding project dispute of $965 in 2003.

 

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $723 or 21.0% to $2,722. The change was due to a smaller base of depreciable plant and certain assets becoming fully depreciated.

 

The operating loss in Other was ($4,306) for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to ($4,386) for the year ended December 31, 2003. The change was a result of the items discussed above.

 

Restructuring Charges (Reversals)

 

In December 2000, we announced that we would exit CTSI’s five expansion markets (suburban Philadelphia, PA; Binghamton, NY; Syracuse, NY; Charleston/Huntington, WV; and Youngstown, OH) launched over the preceding two years. Related to this strategy, we recorded an estimated restructuring charge of $99,713 (pre-tax) and $64,813 (after-tax), or ($2.79) (after-tax) per common share (including effects of anti-dilutive options). At December 31, 2004, we carry a liability of $344 associated with certain outstanding liabilities. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

 

Interest and Dividend Income

 

Interest and dividend income was $5,773 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $3,372 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase of $2,401 or 71.2% is primarily the result of the higher temporary cash investment balances as a result of proceeds received from the $300,000 convertible notes offering in July 2003 and a higher Rural Telephone Bank dividend rate of 6% versus 4.2% in 2003.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense includes interest on our convertible notes, CT’s mortgage note payable to CoBank, ACB (formerly National Bank for Cooperatives) (“CoBank”), interest on revolving credit facilities and

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

amortization of debt issuance costs. We used an interest rate swap on $35,000 of floating rate debt to hedge against interest rate exposure. Interest expense was $16,800 for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to $13,560 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase of $3,240 or 23.9% is primarily a result of our issuance of convertible notes in July 2003, partially offset by lower expense due to repayment of high rate debt and the resulting lower loan balances.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our effective tax rates were 37.6% and 37.2% for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In December 2002, we reorganized our legal entity structure to allow the Pennsylvania state taxable losses of CLD and epix to be offset against state taxable income of CT, a benefit we realized in 2003. Also, we are utilizing various tax strategies to provide effective state income tax planning. We anticipate our 2005 effective tax rate to be approximately 38%. For an analysis of the change in income taxes, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

2003 vs 2002

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003, our consolidated sales increased 5.4% to $335,722. Higher sales at CT of $15,849 and CTSI of $1,330 contributed to the increase. Other sales declined by $12. Operating expenses increased $10,381 from an increase in consolidated costs and expenses of $8,689 primarily due to increased pension cost and an operating tax settlement recorded in 2002 that did not recur in 2003, higher depreciation expense of $2,921, a lower positive settlement in 2003 associated with our 2000 restructuring charge, partially offset by charges in 2002 of $2,333 associated with the Voluntary Retirement Program that did not recur in 2003 and the elimination of management fees from the management services agreement with RCN, which were $1,200 in 2002. Operating income increased $6,786 as a result of the increase in sales, offset by the increases in operating expenses discussed above. Consolidated net income was $72,865 or $2.92 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003, including a cumulative effect accounting adjustment of $13,230 or $0.51 per diluted share from the adoption of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” Net income was $57,124 or $2.42 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2002. Contributing to the increase in net income is the increase in operating income and the cumulative effect accounting adjustment, partially offset by an increase in interest expense due to the sale of convertible notes in July 2003.

 

CT

 

CT’s sales were $223,827 and $207,978 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The sales increase of $15,849 or 7.6% is primarily due to higher access revenue, recovery of a portion of WorldCom receivables previously written-off and increased enhanced services revenue, partially offset by lower toll revenues. Installed access lines increased 613 or 0.2%; CT’s sale of business lines contributed to this access line growth. CT’s residential lines declined as additional lines were disconnected from customers switching to DSL and other high-speed products and non-wireline providers.

 

Interstate access revenue increased $8,084 resulting from an increase in the NECA average schedule formulas, growth in access lines, an increase in special access circuits and an increase in minutes of use. State access revenue increased $2,438 primarily as a result of an increase in minutes of use. In addition, enhanced service revenue increased $718 primarily from Caller ID and certain other enhanced services sales. In the third quarter of 2003, a third party vendor assumed our WorldCom receivables resulting in a recovery of $965 of amounts previously written-off. Local service revenue decreased $273 primarily due to the one-time surcharge refund and a revision in the way CT treats state tax surcharges, partially offset by increases in access lines and a regulatory rate increase of $0.21 in May 2002 for substantially all dial-tone lines, based on a Gross Domestic Product Price Index (GDPPI) rate increase. IntraLATA toll and long-distance revenues decreased $358 primarily as a result of lower market share due to attractive calling packages offered by several non-wireline providers in certain areas of CT’s territory, a trend we expect to continue, partially offset by a new low-rate long-distance product offering. Jack Flash sales increased $1,476 due to an increase in subscribers.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

CT’s costs and expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, management fees, restructuring charges (reversals) and Voluntary Retirement Program (“costs and expenses”) were $79,730 and $74,614 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Costs and expenses increased $5,116 or 6.9% due to a favorable operating tax settlement of $2,589 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2002 that did not recur in 2003 and also due to the new long-distance product offering. Costs and expenses of Jack Flash increased due to an increase in network support costs and an increase in DSL sales. Costs and expenses also increased as a result of higher local terminating expense, higher snow removal costs, higher utility costs, additional costs to maintain our properties and higher data base dip charges due to growth in Caller ID revenues. These increases were partially offset by lower payroll costs due to the realignment of our management staff that occurred late in the fourth quarter of 2002 and lower advertising costs.

 

Other operating expenses increased $193 or 0.4% for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was due to an increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $1,517 or 3.3% to $46,944 as a result of higher depreciable plant from capital expenditures in 2002 and 2003. This increase was partially offset by the elimination of management fees of $1,324.

 

CT’s operating income increased $10,540 or 12.2% to $97,153 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was a result of the items discussed above.

 

CTSI

 

CTSI’s sales were $85,336 and $84,006 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This increase of $1,330 primarily represents an increase in local service, primarily from an increase in installed access lines; and increases in long-distance, customer point-to-point circuit revenues and Internet access from dedicated and DSL. At December 31, 2003, CTSI had 138,667 installed access lines as compared to 126,649 at December 31, 2002, an increase of 12,018 or 9.5%. CTSI’s net line additions were lower due to a loss of access lines in the fourth quarter of 2003 in connection with the reconfiguration of a key business customer’s network. The increase in point-to-point circuit revenue is due to Internet and cellular providers using our circuits to allow their networks to tie into the switched network system. Also contributing to the increase in revenue was an increase in ISP traffic. For the year ended December 31, 2003, CTSI recorded $12,258 or 14.4% of its revenues from compensation revenue associated with ISP traffic, as compared to $11,961 or 14.2% for the same period in 2002.

 

CTSI derives a substantial portion of its revenues from ISPs. We expect that this reliance will continue in the foreseeable future. ISPs represented approximately 23.2% and 24.7% of CTSI’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. This percentage will decrease in the future as a result of our approximately $700 per month reduction in revenue from our revised percent of local usage (PLU) factor with Verizon. These high-margin revenues include services provided directly to the ISP including local and cap-type services and indirect services including reciprocal compensation and trunking from Verizon as a result of Verizon’s customers calling these ISPs. Industry-wide trends toward declining usage of dial-up Internet access may threaten the profitability or viability of our ISP customers. If we lose a significant number of these customers that are providing Internet services, or if a significant portion of these customers are unable to pay amounts owed to us, our financial results could be negatively impacted.

 

The increases in revenue were partially offset by the continued reduction in access revenue resulting from a modification to certain transport billings related to access trunking by approximately $1,200 per quarter that began in the third quarter of 2002. This modification was a result of a dispute between CTSI and Verizon regarding billing for these transport trunking facilities. In February 2004, Verizon filed a Petition for Resolution of a Dispute with the Pennsylvania PUC, seeking a refund and/or credits for approximately $7.9 million in facilities charges that CTSI billed to Verizon over a two-year period. CTSI answered Verizon’s complaint, denying all liability, and asked the Pennsylvania PUC to render a decision in favor of CTSI. In January 2005, Verizon Pennsylvania and CTSI reached a mutually satisfactory settlement.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Revenues are also reduced by the implementation of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) mandated interstate access rate reduction. The FCC rate ceilings resulted in reductions in the revenues CTSI receives from interstate access charges and reciprocal compensation. In addition, industry-wide trends toward declining usage of dial-up Internet access and of long-distance services generally, may have a negative impact on these revenues. CTSI’s revenues from access charges and reciprocal compensation are also affected by the mix of traffic delivered to it by other carriers for termination to CTSI customers. In late 2003, Verizon notified CTSI of a reduction in the proportion of its delivered traffic that will be subject to intrastate access charges, and a corresponding increase in the proportion that will be subject to reciprocal compensation rates based on a revised PLU factor. Because the reciprocal compensation rates are much lower than access charges, this change in traffic mix negatively affected CTSI’s revenues by approximately $700 per month, beginning in November 2003.

 

Costs and expenses were $55,610 and $53,983 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase of $1,627 is primarily due to additional circuit rental expense, leased local loop charges and increased costs related to Internet revenue growth, partially offset by reduced bad debt and advertising expenses.

 

Other operating expenses increased $3,743 or 24.4% for the year ended December 31, 2003 primarily as a result of a lower positive settlement of $2,304 in 2003 associated with our 2000 restructuring charge. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1,835 or 9.7% to $20,748 as a result of higher depreciable plant from capital expenditures in 2002 and 2003, primarily associated with increased installed access lines. This increase was partially offset by the elimination of management fees of $396.

 

CTSI’s operating income decreased $4,040 or 27.6% to $10,614 for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease was a result of the items discussed above.

 

Other

 

Other sales were $26,559 and $26,571 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease of $12 is due to a decrease in epix sales, offset by an increase in CC sales.

 

epix sales decreased $1,063 or 8.7% due to a decrease in dial-up subscribers as customers move to DSL and other high-speed products. CC sales increased $1,051 or 7.3% primarily due to an increase in new business systems sales. The operating results of CC are subject to fluctuations due to its less predictable revenue streams, market conditions and the effect of competition on margins.

 

Costs and expenses were $27,500 and $25,554 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Expenses at the corporate entity increased primarily due to increased pension expense from a decline in pension assets in 2002. This increase was partially offset by reduced costs and expenses at epix of $1,435 primarily as a result of a decrease in subscribers, lower rent expense, a reduction in headcount and lower toll charges. CC costs and expenses were $12,969 and $13,144 for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively; a decrease of $175. This change was due to a favorable settlement of an outstanding project dispute and a reduction in headcount, partially offset by an increase in costs of $790 due to the increase in sales.

 

Other operating expenses decreased $2,244 or 39.4% for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease was primarily the result of a $2,333 charge in 2002 associated with the Voluntary Retirement Program described below that did not recur in 2003. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $431 or 11.1% to $3,445. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $520 attributable to the elimination of management fees allocations.

 

The operating loss in Other was ($4,386) for the year ended December 31, 2003 as compared to ($4,672) for the year ended December 31, 2002. The change was a result of the items discussed above.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Restructuring Charges (Reversals)

 

In December 2000, we announced that we would exit CTSI’s five expansion markets (suburban Philadelphia, PA; Binghamton, NY; Syracuse, NY; Charleston/Huntington, WV; and Youngstown, OH) launched over the preceding two years. Related to this strategy, we recorded an estimated restructuring charge of $99,713 (pre-tax) and $64,813 (after-tax), or ($2.79) (after-tax) per common share (including effects of anti-dilutive options). At December 31, 2003, we carried a liability of $812 relating primarily to an estimated customer claim relating to the assignment of customers to another CLEC. See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

 

Voluntary Retirement Program

 

On December 12, 2001, we initiated a Voluntary Retirement Program (“VRP”). The program was offered to certain eligible employees across all of our operations. The VRP was largely funded from pension assets, and therefore, nearly 80% of the cost was non-cash to the Company. In the fourth quarter of 2001, we recorded a charge of $5,388 ($3,502 after-tax) of which $4,120 represented non-cash charges related to pension enhancement, social security supplements and vacation benefits. Other VRP program costs of $1,268 related to medical insurance and other program expenses. Since the deadline related to this program extended into 2002, and because only a portion of the eligible employees had made a decision to accept this program prior to year-end 2001, $2,333 ($1,423 after-tax) was recorded in the first quarter of 2002. The VRP costs of $2,333 represent $1,805 of non-cash charges related primarily to pension enhancement, social security supplements and vacation benefits. Other VRP program costs of $528 related to medical insurance and other program expenses.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense includes interest on our convertible notes, CT’s mortgage note payable to CoBank, interest on revolving credit facilities and amortization of debt issuance costs. We used interest rate swaps on $70,000 of floating rate debt to hedge against interest rate exposure. Interest expense was $13,560 for the year ended December 31, 2003 as compared to $10,483 for the year ended December 31, 2002. The increase of $3,077 is primarily a result of our issuance of convertible notes in July 2003.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our effective tax rates were 37.2% and 37.2% for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In 2002, we received a non-recurring beneficial impact due to the tax law change that increased the amount of net operating losses allowed to be carried forward for state tax purposes. In December 2002, we reorganized our legal entity structure to allow the Pennsylvania state taxable losses of CLD and epix to be offset against state taxable income of CT, a benefit we realized in 2003. For an analysis of the change in income taxes, see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Cash and temporary cash investments

   $ 312,260    $ 336,035

Working capital

     253,092      251,788

Long-term debt (including current maturities, notes payable and capital lease obligations)

     336,082      396,380

 

Cash and temporary cash investments were $312,260 at December 31, 2004, as compared to $336,035 at December 31, 2003. For purposes of reporting cash flows, we consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be temporary cash investments. Temporary cash investments are

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

investments in high quality, diversified money market mutual funds. We monitor fund performance of money market mutual funds available to us on a quarterly basis to maximize returns and insure investment quality. Our working capital ratio was 3.08 to 1 at December 31, 2004, as compared to 2.56 to 1 at December 31, 2003. The net increase is due to increased liquidity provided by operations and repayment of debt.

 

We have the following financing arrangements in place:

 

     December 31, 2004

   December 31, 2003

     Balance

   Balance

Credit agreement—CoBank

   $ —      $ 29,521

Revolving line of credit—CoBank

     35,000      65,000

Convertible notes

     300,000      300,000
    

  

Total

   $ 335,000    $ 394,521
    

  

 

On July 18, 2003, we sold $300,000 of 3.25% convertible notes due 2023. The net proceeds from this offering, in addition to cash generated from operations, are being and will be used for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. In addition, other uses of cash may include potential acquisitions, new product offerings, debt retirement and common stock repurchases. While we do not presently intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock, we may decide to pay such dividends in the future. The payment of any cash dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors. The declaration of any cash dividend and the amount thereof will depend on a number of factors, including our financial condition, capital requirements, funds from operations, the dividend taxation level, our stock price, future business prospects and such other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant. Currently, our CoBank indebtedness places restrictions on our ability to pay dividends. On July 2, 2003, we repaid in full all amounts outstanding on the $240,000 revolving credit facility, which totaled $5,000, and terminated this facility and all commitments thereunder on July 17, 2003.

 

To take advantage of our favorable cash position, in the second quarter of 2004 we paid the remaining balance on our mortgage note payable to CoBank.

 

An amended revolving line of credit agreement with CoBank was entered into in May 2004, which extended the availability of credit to May 2005. We paid $15,000 on our line of credit in June 2004 and $15,000 was paid in September 2004. Simultaneously with each payment, that portion of the line was canceled. The aggregate amount outstanding on this commitment was $35,000 and $65,000 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This agreement contains restrictive covenants, which, among other things, requires the maintenance of a specific debt to cash flow ratio at CT. We may refinance all or a portion of this line of credit when it becomes due in May 2005. As of December 31, 2004, we were in compliance with our CoBank debt covenants.

 

We announced a $100 million Stock Repurchase Program on November 13, 2003 and a $50 million addition to the program on February 10, 2004. The Stock Repurchase Program has no expiration date. As of December 31, 2004, we had repurchased 3,047,244 shares with an average purchase price of $38.902, including commissions, for a total repurchase of approximately $118.5 million.

 

     As of December 31,

 

Net cash provided by (used in):


   2004

    2003

    2002

 

Operating activities

   $ 142,504     $ 150,275     $ 131,308  

Investing activities

     (39,864 )     (43,736 )     (50,251 )

Financing activities

     (126,415 )     194,561       (73,420 )

 

For the year ended December 31, 2004, our net cash provided by operating activities was $142,504 comprised of net income of $62,031, non-cash depreciation and amortization of $70,974 and other non-cash

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

items and working capital changes of $9,499. Net cash used in investing activities of $39,864 consisted primarily of additions to property, plant and equipment of $43,519. Net cash used in financing activities of $126,415 consisted primarily of stock repurchases of $75,177 and the net redemption of debt of $59,521.

 

Our financing arrangements with CoBank entitle us to receive annual patronage dividends from CoBank. Approximately 30% of the patronage dividends are received in cash, with the balance in CoBank equity. Patronage dividends in the form of equity received to date have a future value of approximately $6.0 million. We will receive cash in exchange for a portion of this equity once the value of the equity reaches certain targeted levels, which are calculated based upon the amount outstanding on our CoBank loan. We will recognize the CoBank equity dividend as it is received in cash, which we anticipate will not begin before 2006. The cash dividend received in 2004 of $197 is included in interest and dividend income.

 

As part of the proposed 2006 federal budget, the Administration proposes to establish a process and terms to implement a dissolution of the Rural Telephone Bank (“RTB”), whereby stockholders will obtain a cash payout for their stock. Our original cash investment in the RTB was approximately $6,409. In addition, we have received stock dividends with a face value of approximately $23,600 in accordance with the provisions of our previous financing arrangement with the RTB. Stock dividends previously received will be recognized when the underlying security is redeemed for cash. We will continue to monitor future developments in this area.

 

We expect to have adequate resources to meet our currently foreseeable obligations and development plans for our CTSI markets and customer demand for additional capacity and service. In addition to cash generated from operations, sources of funding for any additional capital requirements or acquisitions may include financing from public offerings or private placements of equity and/or debt securities and bank loans. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available to us or, if available, that it can be obtained on a timely basis and on acceptable terms. Failure to obtain such financing could result in the delay or curtailment of our development plans and expenditures.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements, Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

We have contractual obligations and commercial commitments made in the ordinary course of business. The commercial obligations, financings and commitments made by us are customary transactions, similar to those of other comparable telecommunications providers. Except for our interest rate swap, we have no other off balance sheet arrangements.

 

The tables set forth below contain information with regard to disclosures about contractual obligations and commercial commitments. These disclosures are also included in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and cross referenced in the tables below.

 

The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2004, and the periods in which payments are due:

 

     Payments Due by Period

Contractual obligations


   Total

   Less
than 1
year


   1-3 years

   3-5 years

  

More

than 5
years


   Footnote
reference(1)


Debt maturing within one year

   $ 35,000    $ 35,000    $ —      $ —      $ —      8

Long-term debt

     300,000      —        —        —        300,000    8

Interest on long-term debt

     180,863      9,750      29,250      19,500      122,363    8

Pension and other postretirement benefits

     3,061      408      890      385      1,378    10

Capital lease obligations(2)

     1,178      785      393      —        —      12

Operating leases

     21,569      3,094      6,666      3,131      8,678    12

Purchase obligations(3)

     70,325      18,284      16,741      11,227      24,073    12
    

  

  

  

  

    

Total contractual obligations

   $ 611,996    $ 67,321    $ 53,940    $ 34,243    $ 456,492     
    

  

  

  

  

    

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

As of December 31, 2004, we have no letters of credit or other financial guarantees outstanding.

 

The following table discloses aggregate information about our derivative instruments, the source of fair value of these instruments and their maturities:

 

     Fair Value of Contracts at Period-End

Source of fair value


   Total
Fair
Value


    Less
than
1 year


   1-3 years

    4-5 years

   After
5
years


   Footnote
reference(1)


Prices provided by external sources(4)

   $ (1,276 )   $ —      $ (1,276 )   $ —      $ —      13

(1) Refers to the Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
(2) Represents total obligations, including interest components.
(3) Purchase obligations include: outstanding purchase orders and commitments, a commitment for the provision of data processing services and the management of our data processing operations, committed software purchases and pole and conduit rental payments through 2014.
(4) The fair value of the interest rate swap at December 31, 2004, was provided by the counterparty to the underlying contract.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily through our borrowing activities. There is inherent rollover risk for borrowings as they mature and are renewed at current market rates. The extent of this risk is not quantifiable or predictable because of the variability of both future interest rates and our future financing requirements.

 

We measure the fair value of the convertible debt based upon current market prices or by obtaining quotes from dealers. The fair value of bank debt is estimated using discounted cash flow calculations. The table that follows summarizes the fair values of our fixed and variable rate debt. The table also provides a sensitivity analysis of the estimated fair values of these financial instruments assuming 100-basis-point upward and downward shifts in the weighted average interest rate.

 

As of December 31, 2004


   Carrying
Amount


   Fair Value

   Fair Value
Assuming
+100 Basis
Point Shift


  

Fair Value
Assuming

-100 Basis
Point Shift


Fixed rate long-term debt

   $ 300,000    $ 315,750    $ 305,421    $ 326,536

Variable rate notes payable

     35,000      35,000      34,857      35,144

 

We have an interest rate swap agreement to adjust the interest rate profile of our debt obligations and to achieve a targeted mix of floating and fixed rate debt.

 

The table below provides information about our interest rate swap. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged under the contract. The estimated fair value amount has been provided to us by the financial institution with which we have the swap contract.

 

Variable to Fixed:


   Maturity
Date


   Interest
Rate


    Fixed
Notional
Amount


  

Approximate
Fair Value as
of
December 31,

2004


 

Interest rate swap

   2006    5.40 %   $ 35,000    $ (1,276 )

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Certain estimates require more subjectivity or judgment than others. We review the critical accounting estimates, judgments and degrees of subjectivity inherent in these estimates with the Company’s Audit Committee. These critical accounting estimates are:

 

    We use the composite group remaining life method and straight-line composite rates to depreciate the assets of CT and CTSI. We periodically review data on asset retirement activity, salvage values and fixed asset lives in order to assess depreciation rates. If actual outcomes differ from our estimates and assumptions, we may be required to adjust depreciation, which could impact our earnings. The effect of increasing the average useful lives of our telephone plant by one year would result in a decrease in depreciation expense of approximately $5.2 million; the effect of reducing the average useful lives of our telephone plant by one year would result in an increase in depreciation expense of approximately $6.1 million.

 

    We calculate the costs of providing retiree benefits under the provisions of SFAS No. 87 and SFAS No. 106. The key assumptions used in making these calculations are disclosed in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The most significant of these assumptions are the discount rate used to value the future obligations and expected return on plan assets. We select discount rates commensurate with current market interest rates on high-quality, fixed-rate debt securities. The expected return on assets is based on our current view of the long-term returns on assets held by the plan, which is influenced by historical averages. Pension expense for 2004 would have increased approximately $0.2 million if our expected return on plan assets were one quarter of one percent lower. The expense would have increased approximately $0.4 million if our assumed discount rate were one quarter of one percent lower, and would have decreased $0.4 million if our assumed discount rate were one quarter of one percent higher. The benefit obligation at December 31, 2004, would have been increased by approximately $2.6 million if our assumed discount rate were one quarter of one percent lower.

 

  We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. We regularly review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establish a valuation allowance based on historical taxable income, projected future taxable income and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. The amount of the deferred tax asset valuation could change if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are revised, or if the carryforward period for net operating losses in tax jurisdictions is changed.

 

  The Company is routinely audited by federal, state and local taxing authorities. The outcome of these audits may result in our being assessed taxes in addition to amounts previously paid. Accordingly, we maintain tax contingency reserves for such potential assessments. The reserves are determined based upon our best estimate of possible assessments by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other taxing authorities and are adjusted, from time to time, based upon changing facts and circumstances.

 

  CT’s interstate access charges are subject to a pooling process with the National Exchange Carrier Association. Final interstate revenues are based on nationwide average costs applied to certain demand quantities. We estimate revenues earned through this process, which are subject to adjustments that may either increase or decrease the amount of interstate access revenues and receivables. Historically, we have not experienced significant adjustments to our revenues as a result of our participation in this pooling process.

 

 

We review the valuation of accounts receivable on a periodic basis. The allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated based on historical experience and future expectations of conditions that may impact our

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

ability to collect on our accounts receivable. If actual outcomes differ from our estimates and assumptions, or if our assumptions are revised based on additional or changed information, we may be required to make adjustments which could impact our earnings.

 

  Our determination of the treatment of contingent liabilities in the financial statements is based on our view of the expected outcome of the applicable contingency. We consult with legal counsel on matters related to litigation and other experts both within and outside the Company with respect to matters in the ordinary course of business. We record a liability if the likelihood of an adverse outcome is probable of occurrence and the amount is estimable. We disclose the matter if either the likelihood of an adverse outcome is only reasonably possible or an estimate is not determinable. If actual outcomes differ from our estimates and assumptions, or if our assumptions are revised based on additional or changed information, we may be required to make adjustments which could impact our earnings.

 

  Our revenues are also affected by the terms of our various carrier agreements by which certain interstate traffic is subject to a percent interstate usage (“PIU”) factor and certain intrastate traffic is subject to a percent local usage (“PLU”) factor. These factors may be updated based on actual traffic patterns. Revisions to the PIU and PLU factors could have an impact on our results of operations.

 

Related and Like Parties

 

CTE, through its subsidiaries, epix® Internet Services and CTSI, LLC, paid approximately $93 to Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”) in 2004 for network services including transport services, colocation and gateway services. In addition, CTSI, LLC recorded $144 of sales from Level 3 related to data circuits. Mr. Crowe, a Director of the Company, is a Director and CEO of Level 3, while Messrs. Scott and Jaros, also Directors of the Company, are Directors of Level 3. In addition, Mr. McCourt was a Director of the Company through January 27, 2005 and was a Director of Level 3 through January 27, 2005. On January 21, 2004, Level 3 announced that it had privately negotiated the sale of its remaining 1,108,596 shares of CTE Common Stock to an institutional investor. In connection with this transaction, the Company consented to the assignment by Level 3 of all of its remaining registration rights to the purchaser. Level 3 does not hold any equity ownership interest in the Company at this time.

 

During 2004, five of our directors also served on the Board of Directors of RCN Corporation (“RCN”). After RCN emerged from bankruptcy in December 2004, a new Board of Directors of RCN was named. At present, none of our Directors serve on the Board of Directors of RCN. Our existing relationships with RCN are arms-length business transactions.

 

Legislative and Regulatory Developments

 

Commonwealth Telephone Company

 

Prices for CT’s (our RLEC) local and in-state long-distance services are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (“PUC”). These prices are currently set under an alternative regulation plan, which the PUC approved in 1997. Under this plan, among other things, CT is protected by an exogenous events provision that recognizes and accounts for any state/federal regulatory, legislative changes or other unique changes in the telephone industry that affect revenues or expenses, thereby allowing CT to adjust rates to compensate for changes in revenues and/or expenses due to such exogenous events.

 

On November 30, 2004, the Governor signed a bill (House Bill 30) amending the law under which CT’s alternative regulation plan was approved. Among other things, the amendment keeps in effect the terms of plans, like CT’s, approved under prior law, and prohibits the PUC from requiring any changes to those plans except to conform to the new amendments. Pursuant to this new law, CT filed and received approval of an amended plan with the PUC revising its price adjustment formula to eliminate the 2% annual offset to inflation, and proposing to provide universal availability of broadband services within CT’s service territory no later than December 31,

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

2008. Under the amended plan, CT could be required to refund some of its increased revenues to customers if it failed to meet its commitment to deploy broadband services.

 

The alternative regulation plan under which we operated permitted CT to increase its overall rates for regulated intrastate services annually by an amount equal to inflation minus 2%. In periods of very low inflation, as during the past few years, this formula would require rate decreases. In 2003, the PUC approved a plan amendment that permitted CT to defer these rate reductions for up to four years and offset them against future increases (if any). In accordance with the Chapter 30 Plan, we have recently submitted filings to the PUC to reflect the most recent impacts of inflation as well as the effect of rate reductions that have been implemented for traffic terminated from several national wireless carriers. These wireless rate reductions satisfied the requirement to adjust rates for previously deferred decreases. CT remains liable to purchasers of CT’s services for the additional revenues received during the time period that the rate decreases were actually deferred. These amounts could be satisfied if CT were to defer a rate increase in the future or actually return these amounts to customers via a one-time refund or a temporary rate decrease.

 

The PUC is currently considering changes in intrastate switched access rates and Universal Service Funding (“USF”) reform for independent local exchange carriers in Pennsylvania. This proceeding, which was begun in December 2004, primarily addresses the rates that CT charges to long-distance carriers for in-state toll calls that originate or terminate on CT’s local telephone lines. In previous PUC orders, reductions in in-state access charges have been offset by revenue-neutral increases in our monthly local service rates. CT also receives funding from the state USF, which could be affected by the PUC’s investigation. At this time, we cannot predict either the timing or the outcome of the PUC’s proceeding.

 

Prices for CT’s interstate services (consisting primarily of subscriber line charges and access charges for interstate toll calls), which currently account for approximately 32.7% of its telephone service revenues, are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) based on the “average schedule” formulas proposed by the National Exchange Carrier Association (“NECA”). Removal of CT from the NECA average schedules could result in a significant revenue loss for CT. However, such a development is specifically listed as an exogenous event under CT’s alternative regulation plan. Monies paid to CT by NECA come from pools that are funded by all NECA companies via subscriber line charges to customers and access charges to interexchange carriers (“IXCs”). CT also receives funding from the federal Universal Service Fund (USF), under formulas adopted by the FCC. During the Fund’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, CT is entitled to receive approximately $16.4 million in interstate common line support (“ICLS”). Changes in the USF formulas could have a material effect on CT’s revenues.

 

The FCC is considering adopting proposed rules that would allow telephone companies such as CT to convert to a form of incentive regulation similar in some respects to CT’s alternative regulation plan in Pennsylvania. We are unable to predict the timing or outcome of this proposed rulemaking at this time.

 

Since 2001, the FCC has been considering proposed changes to its rules to unify several existing systems of inter-carrier compensation (intrastate access, interstate access, reciprocal compensation, EAS settlements, etc.) into a single coherent structure. The FCC has recently solicited comments from the public on a variety of proposed approaches to reforming inter-carrier compensation. Some of these proposals, if adopted, would also affect CT’s intra-state access charges, and the amount of USF funding it receives. CTE has been active in addressing these proposals through its industry association, the United States Telecom Association (“USTA”). The FCC had expressed a tentative preference for moving to a “bill and keep” regime, whereby carriers would exchange traffic with one another without payment of compensation, but may also consider alternative approaches. Since CT currently derives a significant portion of its revenues from inter-carrier compensation, changes in these rules may have material effects on our revenues and earnings. However, any FCC ruling is likely to address the concerns of rural carriers like CT such as the ability to raise other rates to offset reductions in inter-carrier compensation, a transition period and/or increased universal service funding. Until the FCC adopts a specific proposal, it is impossible to predict how changes in this area may affect CT.

 

The Universal Service Administration Corporation (“USAC”) recently announced that it was temporarily suspending the issuance of new commitments for funding in the E-Rate program, a part of the federal USF that

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

provides discounted telecommunications services and equipment to eligible schools and libraries. The suspension was required so that USAC can become compliant with the Anti-Deficiency Act, a federal statute that requires federal agencies to have cash on hand sufficient to meet their funding commitments. However, Congress adopted legislation in December 2004, suspending the effects of the Anti-Deficiency Act through December 31, 2005, and USAC has been able to resume funding its E-Rate commitments. We cannot predict whether USAC will be able to continue issuing commitments after December 31, 2005, but any suspension of new commitments would not affect CT’s ability to receive reimbursement for discounts it has already extended because CT provides discounts to its school and library customers only after the customer has received a funding commitment from USAC.

 

The FCC has not decided whether the Universal Service High Cost Fund support administered by USAC should also be subject to the Anti-Deficiency Act after December 31, 2005. If High Cost funding were held to these standards, a temporary suspension of this program could be necessary and/or the funding contribution factor paid by all telecommunications providers and passed through to end-users could be significantly increased. If this were to occur, CT’s receipt of Universal Service funds, via the NECA pooling process, could be affected, although the effect most likely would be a delay in receiving payments, rather than an overall reduction of support. The FCC, Congress and the telecommunications industry are considering solutions to this issue that would avoid any disruption to the High Cost Fund program. It is not possible to predict with any degree of certainty what the outcome of this issue will be.

 

In August 2004, the FCC designated NPCR, Inc. d/b/a Nextel Partners (“Nextel”), a wireless telecommunications provider, as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier (“ETC”) in many areas of Pennsylvania, including all of CT’s service territory. Under the FCC’s rules implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, a competitive telecommunications provider that is designated as an ETC may receive the same per-line federal Universal Service Fund disbursements as an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) receives, for services the competitor provides within that ILEC’s service territory. Under current FCC rules, certification of Nextel will not affect the Fund disbursements received by CT. However, the FCC has expressed concern that these rules may lead to a drain on the federal USF, and the FCC may change the funding rules to prevent such a result. We are unable to predict the outcome of these developments or their potential effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

CT, CTSI and CLD are required to make contributions to the Federal Universal Service Fund, based on their end-user revenues for interstate and international telecommunications services. Each of these companies currently passes through the cost of these contributions to its end-user customers, either as a surcharge or as part of the price of its services. The FCC is currently considering changes to its Universal Service Fund regulations that, if adopted, would alter the basis upon which Universal Service Fund contributions are determined and the means by which such contributions may be recovered from customers. The FCC has not yet acted on these proposals and it is not clear whether the FCC will adopt any of these proposals. Based on the foregoing, the application and effect of the Universal Service Fund requirements (and comparable state contribution requirements) on the telecommunications industry cannot be definitively ascertained at this time.

 

Pursuant to the “rural exemption” provision of Section 251(f)(1) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, CT is currently exempted from offering colocation, unbundled network elements (“UNEs”), wholesale discounts and other requirements of the Act that pertain to Regional Bell Operating Companies (“RBOCs”) and non-rural incumbent LECs. The rural exemption does not preclude competitors from providing telephone services within CT’s service area entirely over their own facilities. However, it requires prospective competitors who seek to interconnect with our network in order to resell services or lease unbundled network elements to go through a formal review by the Pennsylvania PUC before receiving approval. The Pennsylvania PUC may grant such approval only if it finds that the competitor’s proposal is not unduly economically burdensome, is technically feasible and is consistent with the Universal Service provisions of the Telecommunications Act. To date, no carrier has sought such a review by the Pennsylvania PUC.

 

However, the Act’s general requirement that telecommunications carriers interconnect networks for the exchange of traffic does apply to CT. CT has received several requests for network interconnection for the exchange of traffic between its network and the networks of other facilities-based telecommunications providers,

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

and has entered into interconnection and reciprocal compensation agreements with several national wireless carriers and other competitive carriers providing for exchange of traffic between its network and theirs.

 

Pursuant to FCC requirements, CT has implemented local number portability, which enables customers to keep their number when switching between carriers, without regard to whether the new carrier is a wireline or wireless service provider. The implementation of wireless number portability could negatively impact our operations, as customers become able to transfer their residential or business telephone number to a wireless telephone. In this regard, the FCC is considering shortening the time interval allowed for porting to occur. At this time, no decision has been made by the FCC.

 

The FCC allows telecommunications carriers to recover over five years their carrier-specific costs of implementing local number portability. The order allows for such cost recovery in the form of a surcharge from customers to whom number portability is available. CT has implemented this cost recovery mechanism in 2004 to offset its costs of implementing number portability.

 

CTSI, LLC

 

CTSI’s prices are subject to regulation by the FCC and the PUC although, as a competitive provider, its rates are typically subject to much less scrutiny than those of CT, or those of Verizon as the dominant local telephone service provider. CTSI’s costs are also affected by regulatory decisions, because CTSI relies in part on facilities and services purchased from incumbent telephone companies (primarily Verizon), including interconnection for the exchange of local traffic with other companies, in providing its services. CTSI has separate month-to-month interconnection and resale agreements with Verizon covering its former Bell Atlantic and former GTE operating areas in Pennsylvania.

 

The FCC has made several significant changes in recent years to its rules requiring incumbent carriers like Verizon to offer unbundled access to network elements to competing carriers like CTSI, most recently in February 2005. Under the new rules, Verizon is required to continue to offer access to unbundled voice-grade loops, which is the network element that CTSI uses most frequently. Verizon is not, however, required to permit unbundled access to newly-constructed fiber optic facilities serving primarily residential premises. Verizon also will no longer be required to offer unbundled local switching, but CTSI does not use that element significantly. Verizon will also be required to provide some other network elements (including high-capacity loops and transport facilities) in many, but not all, of the markets it serves, but CTSI does not rely extensively on these elements.

 

During 2003, the FCC gave notice of a proposed rulemaking in which it is considering changing the formula used by state commissions, including the Pennsylvania PUC, to determine rates for access to Verizon network elements and for interconnection to Verizon’s network. It is unknown at this time when the FCC will act on this proposal or what effects any changes in the rate formula will have on CTSI’s costs.

 

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the Pennsylvania PUC has authority to arbitrate any disputes over the terms and conditions of interconnection between CTSI and Verizon, and the prices of various unbundled network elements CTSI purchases from Verizon. This Commission has taken a number of actions over the past several years affecting the prices for network elements, as well as the terms and conditions under which these elements are provided. The Commission operates within a framework of national rules adopted by the FCC governing network element unbundling. During 2004, the PUC implemented changes in Verizon’s rates for unbundled local loops (that is, circuits connecting business and residential users’ premises to the Verizon central office), which resulted in a modest decrease in CTSI’s cost to obtain local loops in Verizon’s density cell 3 exchanges (where most CTSI customers are located), but an increase in the cost to serve customers in density cell 4. The PUC is continuing to consider a proposal by Verizon to average the rates for density cells 3 and 4, but has not yet taken any action on this proposal. Further decisions by the PUC and the FCC regarding these interconnection and unbundling obligations may have a material effect on CTSI’s costs and profitability.

 

On October 8, 2002, the Pennsylvania PUC entered an order initiating a generic investigation concerning the use of virtual NXX codes in Pennsylvania. Virtual NXX is the industry practice of assigning and populating NXX codes in exchanges where no physical LEC presence exists for the carrier responsible for the NXX code.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

The concern raised with virtual NXX involves carrier compensation and expense for calling activity terminated to these exchange codes. At this time we are unable to predict the outcome of this proceeding, or its possible effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

The FCC has adopted rules limiting the amounts that CTSI can charge other carriers for access to its network for originating and terminating interstate calls (access charges). Under these rules, carriers such as CTSI are permitted to charge interstate access rates no higher than those charged by Verizon, which currently are approximately $0.0055 per minute.

 

The FCC also has limited the right of competitive local carriers, such as CTSI, to collect reciprocal compensation on local telephone calls that terminate to ISPs. Under these rules, which took effect in June 2001, the amount of compensation payable to CTSI on calls to ISPs above a 3 to 1 ratio generally is limited to $0.0007 per minute. The total number of minutes for which CTSI can collect compensation at this rate previously was capped based on the number of minutes CTSI terminated in the first quarter 2001, but the FCC eliminated this cap during 2004. On May 3, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit remanded the order in which the FCC adopted these rules, on the grounds that the FCC did not provide proper statutory authority for its order. The Court did not vacate the rules, however, and so the current compensation scheme will remain in effect pending the remand. To date, the FCC has taken no action in response to the Court’s remand.

 

CTSI derives a substantial portion of its revenues from ISPs. We expect that this reliance will continue in the foreseeable future. ISPs represented approximately 17.1% and 23.2% of CTSI’s revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These revenues include services provided directly to the ISP such as local and transport services and indirect services such as reciprocal compensation, and trunking from Verizon as a result of Verizon’s customers calling these ISPs. Industry-wide trends towards declining usage of dial-up Internet access may threaten the profitability or viability of our ISP customers. If we lose a significant number of these customers that are providing dial-up Internet services, or if a significant portion of these customers are unable to pay amounts owed to us, our financial results could be negatively impacted.

 

The FCC rate ceilings have resulted in continued reductions in the revenues CTSI receives from interstate access charges and reciprocal compensation, both in dollar amount and as a percentage of total annual revenues. In addition, industry-wide trends towards declining usage of dial-up Internet access and of long-distance services generally, may continue to have a negative impact on these revenues. CTSI’s revenues from access charges and reciprocal compensation are also affected by the mix of traffic delivered to it by other carriers for termination to CTSI customers. For the year ended December 31, 2004, CTSI recorded approximately $6,335 or 7.6% of its revenues from compensation revenue from ISP traffic. This compares to $12,258 or 14.4% for the same period in the previous year. Of these amounts, local reciprocal compensation associated with ISP traffic was $2,854 or 0.9% and $3,110 or 0.9% of our total consolidated revenues for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Revenues from interstate access charges represented approximately 0.5% and 0.8% of our consolidated revenues, for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

CTSI may also be affected by any changes in FCC rules governing inter-carrier compensation, as discussed above with respect to CT.

 

CTSI has received several requests for network interconnection for the exchange of traffic between its network and the networks of other facilities-based telecommunications providers, and has entered into interconnection and reciprocal compensation agreements with several national wireless carriers providing for exchange of traffic between its network and theirs.

 

CTSI may also be affected by the introduction of wireless number portability in November 2003, for the same reasons discussed above with respect to CT. CTSI is permitted by applicable rules to recover the cost of implementing number portability from its end users.

 

In January 2005, Verizon Pennsylvania and CTSI reached a mutually satisfactory settlement of a dispute over transport facilities charges that had been the subject of a complaint filed with the Pennsylvania PUC.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

For the Years Ended December 31,

 

     2004

   2003

   2002

   2001

   2000

 

Sales

   $ 335,811    $ 335,722    $ 318,555    $ 306,614    $ 291,049  

Net income (loss)

     62,031      72,865      57,124      43,132      (55,449 )

Diluted earnings per share*

     2.60      2.92      2.42      1.84      (2.46 )

Dividends per share

     —        —        —        —        —    

Total assets as of period end

     783,431      851,653      554,039      564,604      582,844  

Long-term debt, net of current maturities as of period end

     300,000      323,898      77,299      151,309      260,319  

* Revised for 2003 to reduce $0.15 per diluted share to reflect the inclusion of contingently convertible debt in the calculation of diluted earnings per share as a result of EITF 04-8 that became effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2004.

 

    2003 includes the effects of SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.”

 

    2003 includes the issuance of $300,000 of convertible notes.

 

    2000 includes an estimated restructuring charge of ($99,713) or ($64,813) (after-tax) or ($2.79) per common share to exit CTSI’s expansion markets.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, and for performing an assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failures. Internal control over financial reporting also can be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.

 

Management performed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 based upon criteria in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). Based on our assessment, management determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2004 based on the criteria in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by COSO.

 

Our management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.

 

Dated March 11, 2005

 

    /S/ Michael J. Mahoney   /S/ Donald P. Cawley     
   

Michael J. Mahoney

 

Donald P. Cawley

    
   

President and

 

Executive Vice President and

    
   

Chief Executive Officer

 

Chief Accounting Officer

    

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and

Shareholders of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.:

 

We have completed an integrated audit of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.’s 2004 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 and audits of its 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

 

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(1) of this Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) of this Form 10-K present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

As discussed in Note 2, effective January 1, 2003, the Company changed its accounting for asset retirement obligations pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.”

 

Internal control over financial reporting

 

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in “Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” appearing under Item 15 (a)(1) of this Form 10-K, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004 based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,

 

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accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

/s/    PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP         
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 11, 2005

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (Thousands of Dollars,
Except Per Share Amounts)
 

Sales

   $ 335,811     $ 335,722     $ 318,555  
    


 


 


Costs and expenses (excluding other operating expenses
itemized below)

     159,189       162,840       154,151  

Management fees, related party

     —         —         1,200  

Depreciation and amortization

     70,974       71,137       68,216  

Restructuring reversals (see Note 4)

     (799 )     (1,636 )     (3,940 )

Voluntary Retirement Program

     —         —         2,333  
    


 


 


Operating income

     106,447       103,381       96,595  

Interest and dividend income

     5,773       3,372       2,239  

Interest expense

     (16,800 )     (13,560 )     (10,483 )

Other income (expense), net

     686       (884 )     242  

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

     3,236       2,698       2,384  
    


 


 


Income before income taxes

     99,342       95,007       90,977  

Provision for income taxes

     37,311       35,372       33,853  
    


 


 


Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     62,031       59,635       57,124  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax (see Note 2)

     —         13,230       —    
    


 


 


Net income

     62,031       72,865       57,124  
    


 


 


Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax

     1,660       1,632       (1,243 )

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

     —         2,839       (2,839 )
    


 


 


Comprehensive net income

   $ 63,691     $ 77,336     $ 53,042  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share:

                        

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 2.91     $ 2.54     $ 2.44  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —         0.56       —    
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 2.91     $ 3.10     $ 2.44  
    


 


 


Weighted average shares outstanding

     21,325,907       23,515,367       23,390,939  

Diluted earnings per share:

                        

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 2.60     $ 2.41     $ 2.42  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —         0.51       —    
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 2.60     $ 2.92     $ 2.42  
    


 


 


Weighted average shares and common stock equivalents outstanding

     26,779,685       26,105,917       23,568,329  

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Thousands of Dollars, Except Par Value)

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
ASSETS                 

Current assets

                

Cash and temporary cash investments

   $ 312,260     $ 336,035  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,185 in 2004 and $2,329 in 2003

     27,173       35,323  

Accounts receivable from related parties

     —         198  

Unbilled revenues

     12,916       14,719  

Material and supply inventory, at average cost, net

     6,071       6,636  

Prepayments and other

     2,734       2,751  

Deferred income taxes

     13,388       17,016  
    


 


Total current assets

     374,542       412,678  
    


 


Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $506,711 in 2004 and $452,989 in 2003

     382,523       410,485  

Investments

     10,338       10,204  

Other assets

     16,028       18,286  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 783,431     $ 851,653  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities

                

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ —       $ 5,623  

Capital lease obligation

     721       777  

Accounts payable

     25,012       29,125  

Notes payable

     35,000       65,000  

Advance billings and customer deposits

     5,316       5,212  

Accounts payable to related parties

     —         10  

Accrued interest

     5,995       5,286  

Accrued restructuring expense

     344       812  

Accrued expenses

     49,062       49,045  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     121,450       160,890  
    


 


Long-term debt

     300,000       323,898  

Capital lease obligation

     361       1,082  

Deferred income taxes

     77,279       79,876  

Other liabilities

     18,411       23,178  
    


 


Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)

                

Common shareholders’ equity

                

Common Stock ($1 par value, authorized: 85,000,000 and 85,000,000; issued: 24,172,376 and 24,013,902; outstanding: 21,123,262 and 22,806,886, in 2004 and 2003, respectively)

     24,172       24,014  

Additional paid-in capital

     284,358       267,076  

Deferred compensation

     (10,093 )     (6,451 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (830 )     (2,490 )

Retained earnings

     86,931       24,900  

Treasury stock at cost (3,049,114 and 1,207,016 shares in 2004 and 2003, respectively)

     (118,608 )     (44,320 )
    


 


Total common shareholders’ equity

     265,930       262,729  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 783,431     $ 851,653  
    


 


 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

    For the Years Ended December 31,

 
    2004

    2003

    2002

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                       

Net income

  $ 62,031     $ 72,865     $ 57,124  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                       

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

    —         (13,230 )     —    

Depreciation and amortization

    70,974       71,137       68,216  

Deferred income taxes, net

    137       14,791       23,989  

Provision for loss on accounts receivable

    736       1,230       2,473  

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

    (3,236 )     (2,698 )     (2,384 )

Tax benefit on stock compensation

    880       744       275  

Non-cash compensation

    4,671       3,145       1,437  

Non-cash amortization of debt issuance costs

    1,758       1,298       323  

Non-cash restructuring reversals

    (332 )     (790 )     (3,940 )

Gain on sale of expansion market assets

    (467 )     (846 )     —    

Other non-cash items

    100       6       (7 )

Net change in certain assets and liabilities:

                       

Accounts receivable

    7,414       1,266       (6,250 )

Accounts receivable/payable related parties

    188       492       (1,855 )

Unbilled revenues

    1,803       (362 )     1,201  

Material and supply inventory

    787       888       1,853  

Income taxes receivable

    —         30       445  

Prepayments and other

    17       (167 )     1,810  

Other assets

    483       439       4,932  

Accounts payable

    (4,113 )     (1,368 )     (10,044 )

Advance billings and customer deposits

    104       (658 )     612  

Accrued expense—restructuring

    (136 )     (427 )     (1,412 )

Accrued expenses

    726       4,376       (2,038 )

Other liabilities

    (2,021 )     (1,886 )     (5,452 )
   


 


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

    142,504       150,275       131,308  
   


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                       

Additions to property, plant and equipment

    (43,519 )     (47,372 )     (53,374 )

Proceeds on sale of expansion market assets

    245       846       —    

Other

    3,410       2,790       3,123  
   


 


 


Net cash used in investing activities

    (39,864 )     (43,736 )     (50,251 )
   


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                       

Redemption of long-term debt

    (29,521 )     (56,788 )     (74,010 )

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

    9,136       3,881       720  

Proceeds from borrowings of long-term debt

    —         300,000       —    

Redemption of short-term debt

    (30,000 )     —         —    

Capital lease payments

    (777 )     (491 )     (130 )

Stock repurchases

    (75,177 )     (43,367 )     —    

Payment made for debt issuance costs

    (76 )     (8,674 )     —    
   


 


 


Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities

    (126,415 )     194,561       (73,420 )
   


 


 


Net (decrease)/increase in cash and temporary cash investments

  $ (23,775 )   $ 301,100     $ 7,637  

Cash and temporary cash investments at beginning of year

  $ 336,035     $ 34,935     $ 27,298  
   


 


 


Cash and temporary cash investments at end of year

  $ 312,260     $ 336,035     $ 34,935  
   


 


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                       

Cash paid during the year for:

                       

Interest

  $ 14,246     $ 8,228     $ 11,708  

Income taxes

  $ 26,923     $ 20,904     $ 9,291  

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash information:

                       

Equipment acquired under capital lease obligation

  $ —       $ 2,163     $ —    

Stock based compensation

  $ 7,482     $ 6,576     $ —    

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN COMMON SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

    Common
Par
Value


    Class B
Par
Value


    Additional
Paid-in
Capital


    Deferred
Compensation


    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)


    Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)


    Treasury
Stock


    Total
Common
Shareholders’
Equity


 

Balance, December 31, 2001

  $ 21,427     $ 5,838     $ 255,570     $ (4,306 )   $ (2,879 )   $ 20,845     $ (130,979 )   $ 165,516  

Net income

                                            57,124               57,124  

Restricted stock

                    (95 )     1,831                       (319 )     1,417  

Conversions

    20       (20 )                                             —    

Stock plan transactions

    39               681                                       720  

Executive stock purchase plan

                            (201 )                             (201 )

Tax benefits related to stock options

                    275                                       275  

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

                                    (2,839 )                     (2,839 )

Unrealized (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax

                                    (1,243 )                     (1,243 )

Other

    3               163                               55       221  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2002

    21,489       5,818       256,594       (2,676 )     (6,961 )     77,969       (131,243 )     220,990  

Net income

                                            72,865               72,865  

Restricted stock

    163               6,091       (3,622 )                             2,632  

Conversions

    8       (8 )                                             —    

Stock plan transactions

    146               3,735                                       3,881  

Executive stock purchase plan

                            (153 )                             (153 )

Tax benefits related to stock options

                    744                                       744  

Recapitalization

    2,208       (2,026 )     (182 )                                     —    

Retire treasury stock

            (3,784 )                             (125,934 )     129,718       —    

Stock repurchases

                                                    (43,367 )     (43,367 )

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

                                    2,839                       2,839  

Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net of tax

                                    1,632                       1,632  

Other

                    94                               572       666  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2003

    24,014       —         267,076       (6,451 )     (2,490 )     24,900       (44,320 )     262,729  

Net income

                                            62,031               62,031  

Restricted stock

    (115 )             7,298       (3,356 )                             3,827  

Stock plan transactions

    273               8,863                                       9,136  

Executive stock purchase plan

                            (286 )                             (286 )

Tax benefits related to stock options

                    880                                       880  

Stock repurchases

                                                    (75,177 )     (75,177 )

Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net of tax

                                    1,660                       1,660  

401(k) match

                    227                               846       1,073  

Other

                    14                               43       57  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Balance, December 31, 2004

  $ 24,172     $ —       $ 284,358     $ (10,093 )   $ (830 )   $ 86,931     $ (118,608 )   $ 265,930  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-29


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN COMMON SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

COMMON STOCK

For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     Shares Issued

    Treasury Stock

    Shares Outstanding

 

Balance, December 31, 2001

   21,426,556     37,234     21,389,322  

Conversions

   19,946     —       19,946  

Stock plan transactions

   39,252     —       39,252  

Restricted stock

   —       8,750     (8,750 )

Other

   2,943     (1,500 )   4,443  
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2002

   21,488,697     44,484     21,444,213  

Conversions

   8,654     —       8,654  

Stock plan transactions

   146,267     —       146,267  

Restricted stock

   162,625     —       162,625  

Recapitalization

   2,207,659     —       2,207,659  

Stock repurchase program

   —       1,179,200     (1,179,200 )

Other

   —       (16,668 )   16,668  
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2003

   24,013,902     1,207,016     22,806,886  

Stock plan transactions

   272,945     —       272,945  

Restricted stock

   (6,750 )   —       (6,750 )

Restricted stock conversion

   (107,721 )   —       (107,721 )

Stock repurchase program

   —       1,868,044     (1,868,044 )

401(k) match

   —       (24,646 )   24,646  

Other

   —       (1,300 )   1,300  
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2004

   24,172,376     3,049,114     21,123,262  
    

 

 

 

CLASS B COMMON STOCK

For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

 

     Shares Issued

    Treasury Stock

    Shares Outstanding

 

Balance, December 31, 2001

   5,838,630     3,784,649     2,053,981  

Conversions

   (19,946 )   —       (19,946 )
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2002

   5,818,684     3,784,649     2,034,035  

Conversions

   (8,654 )   —       (8,654 )

Recapitalization

   (2,025,381 )   —       (2,025,381 )

Retire treasury stock

   (3,784,649 )   (3,784,649 )   —    
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2003

   —       —       —    
    

 

 

Balance, December 31, 2004

   —       —       —    
    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-30


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

1. Background and Basis of Presentation

 

The Consolidated Financial Statements of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. (“CTE,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”) include the accounts of Commonwealth Telephone Company (“CT”), a rural incumbent local exchange carrier (“RLEC”); CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), our RLEC “edge-out” operation and a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”); and other operations (“Other”). The CT segment includes the results of Commonwealth Long Distance Company (“CLD”), a reseller of long-distance services and the portion of Jack Flash® (“Jack Flash”), the digital subscriber line (“DSL”) product offering in CT’s franchise area. Other includes Commonwealth Communications (“CC”), a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services; epix® Internet Services (“epix”), which provides dial-up Internet services; and our corporate entity. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated.

 

For comparative purposes, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Estimating Valuation Allowances—We must make estimates of the uncollectability of our accounts receivables. We specifically analyze accounts receivable and historic bad debts, customer concentrations, customer credit-worthiness, current economic trends and changes in our customer payment terms when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

Revenue Recognition—Local telephone service revenue is recorded based on tariffed rates. Telephone network access and long-distance service revenues are derived from access charges, toll rates and settlement arrangements. CT’s interstate access charges are subject to a pooling process with the National Exchange Carrier Association (“NECA”). Final interstate revenues are based on nationwide average costs applied to certain demand quantities.

 

Internet access service revenues are recorded based on contracted fees.

 

Long-distance telephone service revenues are recorded based on minutes of traffic processed, tariffed rates or contracted fees.

 

Revenue from local telephone, Internet access and long-distance telephone services is earned and recorded when the services are provided.

 

Unbilled revenue represents revenue that has been earned, but has not yet been billed.

 

Our revenues are also affected by the terms of our various carrier agreements by which certain interstate traffic is subject to a percent interstate usage (“PIU”) factor and certain intrastate traffic is subject to a percent local usage (“PLU”) factor. These factors may be updated based on actual traffic patterns. Revisions to the PIU and PLU factors could have an impact (positive or negative) on our results of operations due to a shift of traffic to different jurisdictional rates.

 

We defer and amortize CT, CTSI and epix installation revenue as well as associated incremental service installation costs, not in excess of installation revenue, over their respective estimated customer lives which are

 

F-31


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

estimated to be 7 years, 3.2 years and 1.5 years, respectively. We carry in the Consolidated Balance Sheets deferred credits of $6,188 and $5,895 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, in other liabilities representing the unamortized portion of installation revenue. Additionally, we have deferred charges of $6,188 and $5,895 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, in other assets representing the unamortized portion of installation costs.

 

Contracts of Commonwealth Communications are accounted for on the percentage-of-completion method. Estimated sales and earnings are recognized as equipment is installed or contract services rendered, with estimated losses, if any, charged to income in the period the losses are identified.

 

Advertising Expense—Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense charged to operations was $3,212, $3,027 and $4,465 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Stock-Based Compensation—We apply the intrinsic value method of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 44 “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation” (“FIN 44”) in accounting for our stock plans. We have adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”).

 

At December 31, 2004, the Company had three common stock compensation plans as more fully described in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by SFAS 123, and has been determined as if we had accounted for our stock options under the fair value method of SFAS 123. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with weighted average assumptions for expected volatility of 42.09% for 2002; risk-free interest rate of 3.76% for 2002; expected life of five years and dividend yield of zero. The weighted average grant date fair value of options is $16.42 for 2002. There were no options granted in 2004 and 2003; as a result, no Black-Scholes valuation was required to be made.

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if we had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Net income—as reported

   $ 62,031     $ 72,865     $ 57,124  

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

     3,045       2,192       1,349  

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

     (5,797 )     (5,517 )     (5,451 )
    


 


 


Net income—pro forma

   $ 59,279     $ 69,540     $ 53,022  

Net income adjustment for interest on convertible debt, net of tax

     7,480       3,369       —    
    


 


 


Pro forma diluted EPS numerator

   $ 66,759     $ 72,909     $ 53,022  
    


 


 


Net earnings per share:

                        

Basic earnings per share—as reported

   $ 2.91     $ 3.10     $ 2.44  

Basic earnings per share—pro forma

     2.78       2.96       2.27  

Diluted earnings per share—as reported

     2.60       2.92 *     2.42  

Diluted earnings per share—pro forma

     2.49       2.80       2.25  

* Revised to include the effect of contingently convertible securities of $0.15 per diluted share. The amount previously reported was $3.07 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

F-32


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Earnings Per Share—Basic earnings per share amounts are based on net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and class B common stock outstanding during each year.

 

Diluted earnings per share are based on net income divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and class B common stock outstanding during each year after giving effect to dilutive common stock equivalents. Options that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because to do so would have been antidilutive for the periods presented, were approximately 25,441, 47,289 and 64,025 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

In September 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board reached a consensus on “The Effect of Contingently Convertible Instruments on Diluted Earnings per Share” (“EITF 04-8”). EITF 04-8 requires that contingently convertible debt be included in diluted earnings per share computations regardless of whether the market price trigger has been met. EITF 04-8 is effective for reporting periods ending after December 15, 2004. At the conversion price in effect at December 31, 2004, our convertible debt is convertible into 5,263,170 shares of our common stock. Prior period earnings per share amounts presented for comparative purposes have been restated to conform to this consensus.

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

    2002

Basic earnings per share:

                     

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 62,031    $ 59,635     $ 57,124

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —        13,230       —  
    

  


 

Net income

   $ 62,031    $ 72,865     $ 57,124
    

  


 

Weighted average shares outstanding

     21,325,907      23,515,367       23,390,939

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 2.91    $ 2.54     $ 2.44

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —        0.56       —  
    

  


 

Net income per share

   $ 2.91    $ 3.10     $ 2.44
    

  


 

Diluted earnings per share:

                     

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 62,031    $ 59,635     $ 57,124

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —        13,230       —  
    

  


 

Net income

     62,031      72,865       57,124

Net income adjustment for interest on convertible debt, net of tax

     7,480      3,369       —  
    

  


 

Net income as adjusted

   $ 69,511    $ 76,234     $ 57,124
    

  


 

Weighted average shares outstanding

     21,325,907      23,515,367       23,390,939

Dilutive shares resulting from common stock equivalents

     190,608      182,469       177,390

Dilutive shares resulting from convertible debt

     5,263,170      2,408,081       —  
    

  


 

Weighted average shares and common stock equivalents outstanding

     26,779,685      26,105,917       23,568,329
    

  


 

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 2.60    $ 2.41 *   $ 2.42

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     —        0.51 *     —  
    

  


 

Net income per share

   $ 2.60    $ 2.92 *   $ 2.42
    

  


 


* Revised to include the effect of contingently convertible securities. The amounts previously reported were $2.52 per diluted share for income before cumulative effect of accounting change, $0.55 per diluted share for cumulative effect of accounting change and net income of $3.07 per diluted share.

 

Cash and Temporary Cash Investments—For purposes of reporting cash flows, we consider all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be temporary cash investments.

 

F-33


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Temporary cash investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value. At times, our cash balances and temporary cash investments exceed FDIC insurance limits.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation—Property, plant and equipment reflects the original cost of acquisition or construction, including payroll and related costs, such as taxes, pensions and other fringe benefits and certain general administrative costs and assets held under capital lease. Major replacements and betterments are capitalized. Repairs of all property, plant and equipment are charged to expense as incurred.

 

Depreciation on telephone plant is based on the estimated remaining lives of the various classes of depreciable property and straight-line composite rates. The average rates were approximately 8.05%, 8.37% and 8.48% in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. At the time telephone plant is retired, the original cost less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. All other property, plant and equipment gain or loss is recognized on retirements and dispositions.

 

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (“SFAS 143”). This statement provides the accounting for the cost of legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets. SFAS 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. SFAS 143 also precludes companies from accruing removal costs that exceed gross salvage in their depreciation rates and accumulated depreciation balances if there is no legal obligation to remove the long-lived assets. For our outside plant accounts, such as telephone poles and cable, estimated cost of removal does exceed gross salvage.

 

We had historically included in our group depreciation rates estimated net removal costs associated with these outside plant assets in which estimated cost of removal exceeded gross salvage. These costs were reflected in the calculation of depreciation expense, which resulted in greater periodic depreciation expense and the recognition in accumulated depreciation of future costs of removal for existing assets. When the assets were actually retired and removal costs expended, the net removal costs were recorded as a reduction to accumulated depreciation.

 

In connection with the adoption of this standard, we were required to remove all existing accrued net costs of removal in excess of the related estimated salvage from our accumulated depreciation for those accounts. The adjustment is reflected in the income statement as a cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax, that increased net income in 2003 by $13,230 or $0.56 per share ($0.51 per share on a diluted basis).

 

The following pro forma amounts have been adjusted for the effect of retroactive application on depreciation and costs of removal expense and related income taxes which would have been made had the new method been in effect at the beginning of 2002:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

     2004

   2003

   2002

     As
Reported


   Pro
Forma


   As
Reported


    Pro
Forma


   As
Reported


   Pro
Forma


Net income

   $ 62,031    $ 62,031    $ 72,865     $ 59,635    $ 57,124    $ 57,291

Basic earnings per share

     2.91      2.91      3.10       2.54      2.44      2.45

Diluted earnings per share

     2.60      2.60      2.92 *     2.41      2.42      2.43

* Revised to include the effect of contingently convertible securities of $0.15 per diluted share. The amount previously reported was $3.07 per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Derivative Instruments—We utilize interest rate swap agreements to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates on our floating rate debt. The swap agreements are contracts to exchange floating rate for fixed interest payments periodically over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional

 

F-34


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

amounts. The notional amounts of interest rate swap agreements are used to measure interest to be paid or received and do not represent the amount of exposure to credit loss. Amounts to be paid or received under interest rate swap agreements are accrued and recognized over the life of the swap agreements as an adjustment to interest expense.

 

The interest rate swaps meet the eligibility requirements for hedge accounting and are considered to be cash flow hedges. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is recorded in other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The effective portion of interest rate swap gains or losses is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive loss and subsequently reclassified into earnings as an adjustment to interest expense. The ineffective portion, if any, is reported as other income (expense). The fair values of the interest rate swaps at January 1, 2002, were ($4,430). For the year ended December 31, 2002, we recorded an adjustment of ($1,911) to adjust the fair value of the swaps to ($6,341). For the year ended December 31, 2003, we recorded an adjustment of $2,511 to adjust the fair value of the swaps to ($3,830). For the year ended December 31, 2004, we recorded an adjustment of $2,554 to adjust the fair value of the swaps to ($1,276). The adjustment of $1,660, net of taxes of $894 in 2004, the adjustment of $1,632, net of taxes of $879 in 2003 and the adjustment of ($1,243), net of taxes of ($668) in 2002 are reported as unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

 

The interest rate swaps are highly effective in achieving the offset of changes in cash flows of the underlying debt. We calculate the excess in the present value of the cumulative change in cash flows relating to the floating leg of the swaps as compared to the present value of the cumulative changes in interest cash outflows on the debt to measure ineffectiveness. At December 31, 2004, the swaps were 100% effective. For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, the ineffectiveness charged to earnings was $0.

 

Other Assets—Other assets principally include the unamortized portion of installation costs, costs incurred to obtain financing and prepaid pension cost.

 

Income Taxes—We report income for federal income tax purposes on a consolidated basis. We use an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. This approach requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between financial reporting basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized.

 

Accounting for Impairments—Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In performing the review for recoverability, we estimate the net future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the sum of the expected net future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets would be based on the excess of the carrying value of the asset over the fair value. Fair value would be determined using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In October 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue 04-10 “Determining Whether to Aggregate Operating Segments That Do Not Meet the Quantitative Thresholds.” EITF 04-10 provides guidance with regard to how an enterprise reports segment information when segments do not meet the aggregation criteria. EITF 04-10 will become effective during 2005. We are currently evaluating the impact of EITF 04-10 and believe that this guidance will not have a material effect on our segment reporting.

 

On December 16, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Statement No. 123(R) (“FAS 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment.” FAS 123(R) revises FASB Statement No. 123 (“FAS 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Also, FAS 123(R) supersedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” For public companies, FAS 123(R) is effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

FAS 123(R) requires companies to expense the fair value of employee stock options and other forms of stock-based compensation. Specifically, FAS 123(R) requires companies to (i) use fair value to measure stock-based compensation awards and (ii) cease using the “intrinsic value” method of accounting under APB 25 that resulted in no expense for many awards of stock options for which the exercise price of the option equaled the price of the underlying stock at the grant date. In addition, FAS 123(R) retains the modified grant date model from FAS 123 in that compensation cost is measured at the grant date fair value of the award and adjusted to reflect actual forfeitures and the outcome of certain conditions. The fair value of an award is not remeasured after its initial estimation on the grant date, except in certain cases. FAS 123(R)’s transition provisions provide a number of alternatives to address implementation issues and to increase the comparability of compensation cost.

 

We expect to adopt the “Modified Prospective Application” (“MPA”) method, without restatement of prior interim periods on July 1, 2005. Under the MPA method without restatement approach, we would recognize compensation cost for (1) awards that were granted or modified after the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 1994, (2) any portion of awards that have not vested by July 1, 2005, and (3) any outstanding liability awards. Compensation cost for the portion of awards for which the requisite service has not been rendered that are outstanding at July 1, 2005, will be recognized using the measurement data and attribution method used in our FAS 123 pro forma disclosures (See Note 2) as those services are received after July 1, 2005. In addition, we will be required to estimate the compensation cost of awards that are likely to be forfeited during the remaining vesting period and record a cumulative effect adjustment effective July 1, 2005.

 

We are currently assessing the impact of FAS 123(R) on our 2005 financial statements. Insofar as no options have been granted since 2002 and after taking into account the potential impact of 2005 other stock-based awards granted prior to July 1, 2005, we do not believe that the adoption of this Statement on July 1, 2005 will have a material impact on our earnings. We are in the process of quantifying the cumulative effect adjustment we will be required to recognize at July 1, 2005 to account for the effect of potential forfeitures in the unvested awards granted prior to July 1, 2005. We do not believe that this amount will be material to our results of operations or financial condition.

 

We have undergone an extensive study of our stock-based compensation plans in anticipation of the adoption of FAS 123(R) and recent changes in tax laws with regard to deferred compensation. Currently, we do not anticipate a change in our current compensation strategy or structure, but continue to look for ways to compensate individuals via avenues that align the interests of individuals with the interests of shareholders through ownership of company stock.

 

3. Segment Information

 

We operate in two principal business segments: Commonwealth Telephone Company (“CT”), a rural incumbent local exchange carrier (“RLEC”); and CTSI, LLC (“CTSI”), our RLEC “edge-out” operation, which formally commenced operations in 1997.

 

The CT segment includes the results of CLD, a reseller of long-distance services and the portion of Jack Flash, the DSL product offering, in CT’s franchise area. CT provides local and long-distance telephone service and DSL service to residential and business customers in a 19-county service territory in rural northeastern and central Pennsylvania. CT also provides network access and billing/collection services to interexchange carriers and sells telecommunications products and services.

 

CTSI, which operates in three edge-out regional Pennsylvania markets that border CT’s territory, is a competitive local exchange carrier, offering bundled local and long-distance telephone, DSL and enhanced services.

 

The Other segment includes the results of Commonwealth Communications (“CC”), a provider of telecommunications equipment and facilities management services; epix® Internet Services (“epix”), which provides dial-up Internet service; and CTE’s corporate entity.

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

No single external customer contributes ten percent or more of CTE’s consolidated revenues.

 

We have expanded certain financial information of CTSI to distinguish between the three ongoing edge-out markets and the five exited expansion markets that are included in our restructuring (see Note 4).

 

Operating income (loss) is the primary measure used by our management to assess the performance of each segment.

 

Financial information by business segment is as follows:

 

     For the Year Ended December 31, 2004

 
     CT

   CTSI
Edge-out


   CTSI
Expansion


    Total
CTSI


    Other

    Consolidated

 

Sales

   $ 246,788    $ 84,022    $ —       $ 84,022     $ 24,602     $ 355,412  

Elimination of intersegment sales

     19,122      454      —         454       25       19,601  

External sales

     227,666      83,568      —         83,568       24,577       335,811  

Costs and expenses

     79,219      53,809      —         53,809       26,161       159,189  

Depreciation and amortization

     48,047                     20,205       2,722       70,974  

Restructuring reversals

     —               (799 )     (799 )     —         (799 )

Operating income (loss)

     100,400                     10,353       (4,306 )     106,447  

Identifiable assets

     372,393                     137,567       273,471       783,431  

Capital expenditures

     26,960      14,858      —         14,858       1,701       43,519  
     For the Year Ended December 31, 2003

 
     CT

   CTSI
Edge-out


   CTSI
Expansion


    Total
CTSI


    Other

    Consolidated

 

Sales

   $ 237,257    $ 86,040    $ —       $ 86,040     $ 26,638     $ 349,935  

Elimination of intersegment sales

     13,430      704      —         704       79       14,213  

External sales

     223,827      85,336      —         85,336       26,559       335,722  

Costs and expenses

     79,730      55,610      —         55,610       27,500       162,840  

Depreciation and amortization

     46,944                     20,748       3,445       71,137  

Restructuring reversals

     —               (1,636 )     (1,636 )     —         (1,636 )

Operating income (loss)

     97,153                     10,614       (4,386 )     103,381  

Identifiable assets

     374,903                     156,616       320,134       851,653  

Capital expenditures

     26,448      19,198      —         19,198       1,726       47,372  
     For the Year Ended December 31, 2002

 
     CT

   CTSI
Edge-out


   CTSI
Expansion


    Total
CTSI


    Other

    Consolidated

 

Sales

   $ 223,117    $ 84,671    $ —       $ 84,671     $ 26,664     $ 334,452  

Elimination of intersegment sales

     15,139      665      —         665       93       15,897  

External sales

     207,978      84,006      —         84,006       26,571       318,555  

Costs and expenses

     75,938      54,379      —         54,379       25,034       155,351  

Depreciation and amortization

     45,427                     18,913       3,876       68,216  

Restructuring reversals

     —               (3,940 )     (3,940 )     —         (3,940 )

Voluntary Retirement Program

     —                       —         2,333       2,333  

Operating income (loss)

     86,613                     14,654       (4,672 )     96,595  

Identifiable assets

     348,365                     163,086       42,588       554,039  

Capital expenditures

     30,834      20,883      —         20,883       1,657       53,374  

 

4. Restructuring Charges (Reversals)

 

In order to enhance CTSI’s near-term cash flow and reduce CTSI’s capital requirements, in December 2000 we announced our intention to exit five CTSI expansion markets: suburban Philadelphia, PA; Binghamton, NY; Syracuse, NY; Charleston/Huntington, WV; and Youngstown, OH. Related to this, we recorded an estimated

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

restructuring charge of $99,713 ($64,813 after-tax), or ($2.79) (after-tax) per common share (including effects of anti-dilutive options). This strategy was aimed at focusing on the three “edge-out” markets adjacent to CT’s rural footprint. These edge-out markets encompass the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton/Hazleton, Harrisburg and Lancaster/Reading/York, PA markets.

 

The key elements of the restructuring charge recorded in December 2000 were:

 

     Employee
Termination
Benefits


   Contract
Terminations


   Assets,
Disposal
and
Removal
Costs


   Other

   Total

Employee termination benefits

   $ 2,628                         $ 2,628

Contract terminations and settlements

          $ 15,294                    15,294

Removal and restoration costs

                 $ 2,286             2,286

Write-down of assets

                   76,005             76,005

Investment advisory and other fees

                        $ 3,500      3,500
    

  

  

  

  

Total restructuring charges

   $ 2,628    $ 15,294    $ 78,291    $ 3,500    $ 99,713
    

  

  

  

  

 

Of the total restructuring charge, $2,628 related to employee termination benefits for personnel reductions at CTSI in major operational functions and also certain corporate staff reductions. Under the restructuring plan, approximately 220 employee positions were eliminated during December 2000; and as of December 31, 2001, we reduced our workforce by an additional 33 employees who had remained to facilitate the transition of customers to other service providers. No further workforce reductions as a result of this restructuring will occur.

 

Incremental costs related to financial advisory, legal and other fees were estimated to be $3,500. Additionally, other exit costs for the termination of contractual obligations, building and circuit lease terminations, asset removal and site restorations were estimated to be $17,580.

 

The restructuring charge included $73,994, net of estimated salvage value, for the write-down of assets included in property, plant and equipment. Estimated salvage values were based on estimates of proceeds from the sale of the affected assets, offset by costs of removal. These assets primarily related to switching, central office equipment and outside communications plant physically located in the exited markets. The restructuring charge also included $2,011 related to the write-down of inventory to be sold or disposed of.

 

Accrued restructuring expense comprises the following:

 

     2000

   2001

     Provision

    Payments

    Balance
December 31,


   Payments

    Reversal
of
Provision


    Balance
December 31,


Employee termination benefits

   $ 2,628     $ (1,572 )   $ 1,056    $ (962 )   $ (94 )   $ —  

Contract terminations and settlements

     15,294       —         15,294      (5,150 )     (3,788 )     6,356

Removal and restoration costs

     2,286       —         2,286      (1,063 )     (770 )     453

Investment advisory and other fees

     3,500       (311 )     3,189      (1,017 )     (1,600 )     572
    


 


 

  


 


 

Total accrued restructuring expense

   $ 23,708     $ (1,883 )   $ 21,825    $ (8,192 )   $ (6,252 )   $ 7,381
    


 


 

  


 


 

     2002

   2003

     Payments

    Reversal
of
Provision


    Balance
December 31,


   Payments

    Reversal
of
Provision


    Balance
December 31,


Employee termination benefits

   $ —       $ —       $ —      $ —       $ —       $ —  

Contract terminations and settlements

     (1,361 )     (2,966 )     2,029      (427 )     (790 )     812

Removal and restoration costs

     (10 )     (443 )     —        —         —         —  

Investment advisory and other fees

     (41 )     (531 )     —        —         —         —  
    


 


 

  


 


 

Total accrued restructuring expense

   $ (1,412 )   $ (3,940 )   $ 2,029    $ (427 )   $ (790 )   $ 812
    


 


 

  


 


 

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

     2004

     Payments

    Reversal
of
Provision


    Provision

   Balance
December 31,


Employee termination benefits

   $ —       $ —       $ —      $ —  

Contract terminations and settlements

     (136 )     (607 )     275      344

Removal and restoration costs

     —         —         —        —  

Investment advisory and other fees

     —         —         —        —  
    


 


 

  

Total accrued restructuring expense

   $ (136 )   $ (607 )   $ 275    $ 344
    


 


 

  

 

In 2004, we established a reserve of $275 associated with certain outstanding liabilities related to the expansion markets. In addition, $607 of our remaining liability was reversed due to a settlement of a customer claim associated with the assignment of customers to another CLEC, and $136 of our liability was paid. We reversed $222 of our reserve associated with disposal costs of exit market inventory, which we believe is no longer required. In addition, assets held on consignment by a third-party reseller, which we had previously written off, were sold, returning a gain of $245.

 

5. Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

 

     Estimated
Useful
Lives in Years


   December 31,

 
        2004

     2003

 

Land

        $ 1,738      $ 1,886  

Building and leasehold improvements

   3-29      36,819        37,663  

Central office equipment

   4-15      389,721        379,875  

Outside communications plant

   20-45      377,043        364,601  

Furniture, vehicles and other equipment

   3-25      83,913        79,449  
         


  


Total property, plant and equipment

          889,234        863,474  

Less accumulated depreciation

          (506,711 )      (452,989 )
         


  


Property, plant and equipment, net

        $ 382,523      $ 410,485  
         


  


 

Depreciation and amortization expense was $70,974, $71,137 and $68,216 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

6. Investments

 

Investments are as follows:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Rural Telephone Bank (“RTB”) Stock

   $ 6,409    $ 6,409

Yellow Book, USA, L.P. Partnership

     3,928      3,786

CoBank and other

     1      9
    

  

Total investments

   $ 10,338    $ 10,204
    

  

 

In accordance with the terms of our prior mortgage notes and security agreements which we redeemed in 1993, we were required to purchase common stock of the RTB equal to approximately 5% of the amount borrowed. Such class of stock is entitled to cash dividends which are included in interest and dividend income and were approximately $1,800, $1,300 and $1,300 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Our financing arrangements with CoBank entitle us to receive annual patronage dividends. Approximately 30% of the patronage dividends are received in cash, with the balance in CoBank equity. The cash portion is included in interest and dividend income and was $197, $237 and $259 for the years ended 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

In accordance with the Company’s policy, the total equity dividends received from the RTB and CoBank will be recognized when received in cash.

 

CTE owns a 50% interest in the Yellow Book, USA, L.P. Partnership (“Yellow Book”), accounted for under the equity method. Yellow Book provides directory publishing services, including yellow page advertising sales, for eight telephone directories.

 

The Yellow Book, USA, L.P. Partnership accounts for its yellow page advertising revenue based on the delivery method, which recognizes revenue based on the directories delivered (to subscribers) as a percentage of the total directories (initial and secondary) estimated to be delivered.

 

7. Other Assets

 

Other assets consist of the following:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Unamortized debt issuance costs

   $ 6,210    $ 7,981

Prepaid pension cost

     3,419      4,278

Unamortized installation costs

     6,188      5,895

Other

     211      132
    

  

Total other assets

   $ 16,028    $ 18,286
    

  

 

8. Debt

 

a. Long-term debt—Long-term debt and capital lease obligations outstanding are as follows:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Convertible notes

   $ 300,000     $ 300,000  

Credit agreement—CoBank

     —         29,521  
    


 


Subtotal

     300,000       329,521  

Capital lease obligation

     1,082       1,859  

Due within one year

     (721 )     (6,400 )
    


 


Total long-term debt and capital lease obligations

   $ 300,361     $ 324,980  
    


 


 

In July of 2003, we sold $300,000 principal amount of 3.25% convertible notes due July 15, 2023, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted. Interest is 3.25% per annum on the principal amount, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning January 15, 2004. In addition, we will pay contingent interest for any six-month period from January 15 to July 14 and from July 15 to January 14, with the initial six-month period commencing July 15, 2008, if the trading price of the notes for each of the five trading days immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month period equals 120% or more of the principal amount of the notes. During any interest period when contingent interest shall be payable, the contingent interest payable per note will equal 0.25% of the average trading price of a note during the five trading days immediately preceding the first day of the applicable six-month interest period.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Holders may convert their notes into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion rate of 17.5439 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, representing an initial conversion price of approximately $57.00, subject to adjustment, prior to the close of business on the final maturity date under any of the following circumstances:

 

    during any fiscal quarter, but only during such fiscal quarter if the closing sale price of our common stock exceeds 120% of the then-effective conversion price for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading-day period ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal quarter;

 

    during the five business-day period after any five consecutive trading-day period in which the trading price per note for each day of such period was less than 98% of the product of the closing sale price of our common stock and the number of shares issuable upon conversion of $1,000 principal amount of the notes;

 

    if the notes have been called for redemption; or

 

    upon occurrence of specified corporate events.

 

We may redeem any of the notes beginning July 18, 2008, by giving holders at least 30 days’ notice. We may redeem the notes either in whole or in part at a cash redemption price of 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

If a designated event occurs prior to maturity, holders may require us to repurchase all or part of their notes at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

Holders may require us to repurchase all or part of their notes on July 15 of 2008, 2013 and 2018, at a cash repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and additional interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.

 

To take advantage of our favorable cash position, in the second quarter of 2004 we paid the remaining balance on our credit agreement with CoBank. All remaining unamortized issuance costs of $93 relating to this facility were written-off.

 

b. Short-term debt—An amended revolving line of credit agreement with CoBank was entered into on May 20, 2004, that extended the availability of the Company’s $65,000 line of credit to May 31, 2005. We paid $15,000 on our line of credit in June 2004 and $15,000 was paid in September 2004. Simultaneously with each payment, that balance was canceled. At December 31, 2004, our revolving line of credit was $35,000. The line of credit is at interest rates that are based on a LIBOR rate or floating rate option. Interest payments are payable monthly. This agreement contains restrictive covenants, which, among other things, require the maintenance of a specified debt to cash flow ratio at CT. As of December 31, 2004 the weighted average interest rate, not subject to an interest rate swap, was 2.66% on borrowings of $35,000.

 

9. Common Stock Plans

 

The CTE Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, provides for the issuance of up to 5,350,000 shares of common stock pursuant to awards granted under the Plan. Awards granted under the Plan may include incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, outperformance stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance share units, restricted stock, phantom stock units and other stock-based awards. Stock options currently granted under the Plan vest in increments of 20% commencing one year from the date of the grant and expire ten years from the date of the grant. Restricted stock awards (either in the form of restricted shares or units) currently granted under the Plan vest in increments of 25% commencing one year from the date of the grant. Restricted shares, whether or not voted, are entitled to vote and to receive dividends. Restricted share units do not give the holder any rights as a stockholder or record owner of any shares of common stock, although they are eligible to receive dividend equivalent units in an amount equal to any dividends of common stock.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Our Non-Management Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan provides for the grant of up to 250,000 shares of common stock to all members of our Board of Directors who are not, as of the date of any award, our employees. Awards granted under this Plan may include nonqualified stock options, outperformance stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance share units, restricted stock, phantom stock units and other stock-based awards. The options are immediately exercisable and shall remain exercisable until the earlier of ten years from the date of grant and a period of one year from the date upon which the participant ceases to be a non-management director. Restricted stock awards (either in the form of restricted shares or units) vest fully commencing one year from the date of the grant. Restricted shares, whether or not voted, are entitled to vote and to receive dividends. Restricted share units do not give the holder any rights as a stockholder or record owner of any shares of common stock, although they are eligible to receive dividend equivalent units in an amount equal to any dividends on common stock.

 

The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at December 31, 2004, was $11.097 to $54.31. For all options granted, the exercise price is equal to the market price of the common stock at the date of the grant.

 

Information relating to CTE stock options is as follows:

 

     Number of
Shares


    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


Outstanding December 31, 2001

   1,410,003     $ 35.30

Granted

   253,500     $ 38.38

Exercised

   (39,252 )   $ 18.33

Canceled

   (115,603 )   $ 39.90
    

     

Outstanding December 31, 2002

   1,508,648     $ 35.97

Granted

   —       $ —  

Exercised

   (146,267 )   $ 26.53

Canceled

   (53,000 )   $ 45.51
    

     

Outstanding December 31, 2003

   1,309,381     $ 36.63

Granted

   —       $ —  

Exercised

   (272,945 )   $ 33.47

Canceled

   (31,100 )   $ 43.11
    

     

Outstanding December 31, 2004

   1,005,336     $ 37.29
    

     

Shares exercisable December 31, 2002

   620,548     $ 33.24
    

 

Shares exercisable December 31, 2003

   706,181     $ 35.24
    

 

Shares exercisable December 31, 2004

   645,636     $ 36.98
    

 

 

     Options Outstanding

   Options Exercisable

Range of Exercise Prices


   Number
Outstanding at
December 31,
2004


   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life


   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


   Number
Exercisable at
December 31,
2004


   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price


$9.38—$11.10

   16,382    2.2    $ 11.10    16,382    $ 11.10

$24.63—$38.79

   635,454    6.0      33.88    358,854      32.44

$39.81—$54.31

   353,500    5.5      44.63    270,400      44.57
    
              
      

Total/weighted average

   1,005,336    5.8    $ 37.29    645,636    $ 36.98
    
  
  

  
  

 

As provided for in the CTE Equity Incentive Plan, in July 2000, we granted to certain key executives an aggregate 155,000 shares of restricted stock, of which 33,750 have been canceled. Such shares vest ratably over

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

four years beginning with the first anniversary of the date of the grant. As of December 31, 2004, the remaining 121,250 shares have vested. Compensation expense recorded in 2004, 2003 and 2002, was $554, $1,331 and $1,538, respectively, based on the fair value of common stock at the date of the grant. In February, April, May and September of 2003, we granted an additional 162,125 shares of restricted stock that vest over four years, of which 15,250 have been canceled. The fair value of the restricted stock issued of $6,206 to be recognized as compensation cost over the four-year vesting period has been recognized as deferred compensation, shown as a separate reduction of shareholders’ equity. As of December 31, 2004, 38,403 shares were vested. In 2004, recipients were given the option to convert their restricted stock to restricted stock units. The compensation cost related to these issuances of restricted stock was $1,401 and $1,230 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In February, May, July and October of 2004, we granted an additional 171,550 shares of restricted stock units that vest over four years, of which 1,000 have been canceled. The fair value of the restricted stock issued of $7,106 to be recognized as compensation cost over the four-year vesting period has been recognized as deferred compensation, shown as a separate reduction of shareholders’ equity. The compensation cost related to these issues of restricted stock units was $1,405 for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

Pursuant to the Non-Management Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan, each non-employee director receives an annual grant of restricted common stock in the amount of 1,000 shares on the date of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In September 2003, 9,000 shares were issued. The fair value of the restricted stock issued of $370 to be recognized as compensation cost over the one-year vesting period has been recognized as deferred compensation, shown as a separate reduction of shareholders’ equity. The compensation cost related to this issue of restricted stock was $246 and $124 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. In May 2004, 9,000 share units were issued. The fair value of the restricted stock issued of $376 to be recognized as compensation cost over the one-year vesting period has been recognized as deferred compensation, shown as a separate reduction of shareholders’ equity. The compensation cost related to this issue of restricted stock was $219 for the year ended December 31, 2004.

 

We also have a nonqualified stock purchase plan for certain key executives (the “Executive Stock Purchase Plan” or “ESPP”). Under the ESPP, participants may purchase shares of common stock in an amount between 1% and 20% of their annual base compensation and between 1% and 100% of their annual bonus compensation, provided, however, that in no event shall the participant’s total contribution exceed 20% of their combined base and annual bonus compensation, as defined by the ESPP. Participants’ accounts are credited with the number of share units derived by dividing the amount of the participant’s contribution by the average price of a share of common stock at the time such contribution is made. The share units credited to a participant’s account do not give such participant any rights as a shareholder or record owner of any shares of common stock. Participants will be credited with share units equal to the value of any dividend on common stock. Amounts representing share units that have been credited to a participant’s account will be distributed to the participant following the earlier of the participant’s termination of employment or three calendar years following the date on which the share units were initially credited to the participant’s account. It is anticipated that, at the time of distribution, a participant will receive one share of common stock for each share unit being distributed.

 

Following the crediting of each share unit to a participant’s account, we will issue a matching share of common stock held in escrow in the participant’s name. Each matching share is subject to forfeiture as provided in the ESPP. A participant will be deemed to be the holder of, and may exercise all the rights of a record owner of, the matching shares issued to such participant while such matching shares are held in escrow. The matching shares vest three years from the date of the contribution.

 

At December 31, 2004, there were 75,609 ESPP shares arising from participants’ contributions and 75,609 matching shares. The number of shares vested, including matching shares, at December 31, 2004, was 86,388. We recognize the cost of the matching shares over the vesting period. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, deferred compensation cost relating to matching shares was $1,232 and $945, respectively. Expense recognized in 2004, 2003 and 2002, was $857, $688 and $537, respectively. Matching shares are included in weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of computing earnings per share.

 

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

10. Pension and Employee Benefits

 

Defined benefit pension plan:

 

Substantially all of our employees are included in a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan. The plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), as amended. Upon retirement, employees are provided a monthly pension based on length of service and compensation.

 

Pension cost (benefit) is as follows:

 

     For the Years Ended
December 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Service cost

   $ 3,303     $ 2,853     $ 2,297  

Interest cost

     5,452       5,231       5,076  

Expected return on plan assets

     (6,577 )     (5,817 )     (6,951 )

Amortization of net (asset) obligation

     —         (494 )     (495 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     525       524       465  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     226       481       —    
    


 


 


Net periodic pension cost

   $ 2,929     $ 2,778     $ 392  

Other components—net

     —         —         116  

Voluntary Retirement Program cost

     —         —         1,720  
    


 


 


Total net periodic benefit cost

   $ 2,929     $ 2,778     $ 2,228  
    


 


 


 

We estimate pension cost of approximately $3,000 for 2005.

 

Plan assets include cash, equity, fixed income securities and pooled funds under management by a financial institution. The allocation of plan assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003 is:

 

     Target
Allocations


    Percentage of Plan Assets
December 31,


 

Asset Category


   2005

    2004

    2003

 

Equity securities

   70 %   73 %   65 %

Fixed income securities

   30 %   27 %   27 %

CTE Common Stock

         —       8 %

 

The expected long-term rate of return assumption is based on the actual historical rates of return of published indices that are used to measure the plan’s target asset allocation. The historical rates are then discounted to consider fluctuations in the historical rates as well as potential changes in the investment environment. The investment strategy for plan assets is to maintain a broadly diversified portfolio designed to achieve our target of an average long-term rate of return of 8.75%. Assets are strategically allocated between equity and fixed income securities in order to achieve a diversification level that mitigates wide swings in investment returns. Asset allocation target ranges are evaluated at least every three years with the assistance of an external consulting firm. Actual asset allocations are monitored quarterly and rebalancing actions are executed at least quarterly, if required.

 

The majority of the plan assets are invested in equity securities because equity portfolios have historically provided higher returns than debt portfolios over the long-term and are expected to do so in the future. Correspondingly, equity investments also carry greater risks than debt investments. The risk of loss in the plan’s equity assets is mitigated by investing in a broad range of equity types; including large-cap and small-cap stock funds, and international equity funds.

 

On December 12, 2001, we initiated a Voluntary Retirement Program (“VRP”). The program was offered to certain eligible employees across all of our operations. The VRP was largely funded from pension assets;

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

therefore, nearly 80% of the cost was non-cash. Since the deadline related to this program extended into 2002, and because only a portion of the eligible employees had made a decision to accept this program prior to year-end 2001, approximately 70%, or $4,120 of the non-cash VRP costs, were recorded in 2001. In the first quarter 2002, an additional $1,720 was recorded against the pension asset. The VRP costs recorded primarily represent charges related to pension enhancement, social security supplements and vacation benefits.

 

The following table sets forth the plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Change in plan assets:

                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ 76,821     $ 66,818  

Actual return on plan assets

     11,414       14,280  

Employer contributions

     2,070       —    

Benefits paid

     (4,667 )     (4,277 )
    


 


Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ 85,638     $ 76,821  
    


 


Change in benefit obligation:

                

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 88,468     $ 80,233  

Service cost

     3,303       2,853  

Interest cost

     5,452       5,231  

Amendments

     —         905  

Actuarial loss

     8,156       3,523  

Benefits paid

     (4,359 )     (4,277 )
    


 


Benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 101,020     $ 88,468  
    


 


Funded status

   $ (15,382 )   $ (11,647 )

Unrecognized actuarial loss

     14,674       11,273  

Unrecognized prior service cost

     4,127       4,652  
    


 


Prepaid pension cost

   $ 3,419     $ 4,278  
    


 


 

The following table details expected benefit payments for the years 2005 through 2014:

 

Year


   Amount

2005

   $ 4,272

2006

     4,372

2007

     4,562

2008

     4,680

2009

     4,767

2010-2014

     29,813

 

Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:

 

     December 31,

     2004

   2003

Prepaid benefit cost

   $ 3,419    $ 4,278

Accrued benefit liability

     —        —  

Intangible asset

     —        —  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —        —  
    

  

Net amount recognized

   $ 3,419    $ 4,278
    

  

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

In 2002, as a result of negative asset returns and lower discount rates, we were required to recognize an additional minimum liability of $1,782, representing the difference between the accumulated benefit obligation and the fair value of the plan assets at December 31, 2002. Also, a pension intangible equal to the unrecognized prior service cost of $4,271 was recognized in 2002. A 2002 charge to other comprehensive loss in the amount of $4,567 ($2,839 after-tax) represented the excess of additional minimum pension liability over unrecognized prior service cost.

 

Because the fair value of the plan assets improved in 2003, and were greater than the accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2003, the additional minimum liability of $1,782, the pension intangible of $4,271 and the charge to other comprehensive loss of $4,567 were reversed in 2003.

 

The accumulated benefit obligation was $84,003 and $74,555 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.

 

The following assumptions were used in the determination of the net benefit cost:

 

     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Weighted average discount rate

   6.25 %   6.75 %   7.25 %

Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets

   8.75 %   9.00 %   9.00 %

Weighted average rate of compensation increases

   5.50 %   5.50 %   5.50 %

 

The following assumptions were used in the determination of the benefit obligation:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 

Weighted average discount rate

   5.75 %   6.25 %   6.75 %

Weighted average rate of compensation increases

   5.50 %   5.50 %   5.50 %

 

The discount rate we used is based on a hypothetical portfolio of high-quality bonds (Moody’s rating of AA3 or higher) with cash flows matching our plan’s expected benefit payments at December 31. The expected return on plan assets is based on our asset allocation mix and our historical return, taking into account current market conditions and our best estimate of future economic conditions.

 

Our policy with respect to funding the plan is to fund at least the minimum required by ERISA, and not more than the amount deductible for tax purposes. No contributions were required to be made to the plan in 2003. We made a required minimum contribution to the plan of $2,070 in the third quarter 2004 for the 2003 plan year with cash generated from operations.

 

VRP and postretirement benefits:

 

For former employees included in the VRP, we provide medical benefits until age 65. For employees retiring prior to 1993, we provide certain postretirement medical benefits. We also provide nominal postretirement life insurance benefits to all vested retirees.

 

Net periodic postretirement (benefit) cost is as follows:

 

     VRP

   Postretirement

 
    

For the Years Ended

December 31,


  

For the Years Ended

December 31,


 
     2004

     2003

     2002

   2004

     2003

     2002

 

Service cost

   $ —        $ —        $ —      $ —        $ —        $ —    

Interest cost

     37        52        75      49        72        68  

Amortization of prior service cost

     —          —          —        —          13        —    

Recognized net actuarial gain

     (50 )      (60 )      —        (109 )      (101 )      (104 )
    


  


  

  


  


  


Total net periodic postretirement (benefit) cost

   $ (13 )    $ (8 )    $ 75    $ (60 )    $ (16 )    $ (36 )
    


  


  

  


  


  


 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

The following table sets forth the plan’s funded status and amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets:

 

     VRP

    Postretirement

 
     December 31,

    December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Change in plan assets:

                                

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Employer contributions

     258       262       147       144  

Benefits paid

     (258 )     (262 )     (147 )     (144 )
    


 


 


 


Fair value of plan assets at end of year

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    
    


 


 


 


Change in benefit obligation:

                                

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year

   $ 706     $ 905     $ 1,143     $ 934  

Service cost

     —         —         —         —    

Interest cost

     37       52       49       72  

Amendments

     —         —         (135 )     149  

Actuarial loss (gain)

     18       11       (76 )     132  

Benefits paid

     (258 )     (262 )     (147 )     (144 )
    


 


 


 


Projected benefit obligation at end of year

   $ 503     $ 706     $ 834     $ 1,143  
    


 


 


 


Funded status

   $ (503 )   $ (706 )   $ (834 )   $ (1,143 )

Unrecognized actuarial gain

     (252 )     (320 )     (1,075 )     (1,109 )

Unrecognized prior service cost

     —         —         —         136  
    


 


 


 


Accrued benefit cost

   $ (755 )   $ (1,026 )   $ (1,909 )   $ (2,116 )
    


 


 


 


 

The following table details expected benefit payments for the years 2005 through 2014:

 

Year


  

VRP

Amount


  

Postretirement

Amount


2005

   $ 201    $ 117

2006

     146      110

2007

     112      103

2008

     61      96

2009

     43      90

2010-2014

     56      326

 

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Table of Contents

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

The accrued VRP and the postretirement benefit liabilities are included in other liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. The amounts recognized were $755 and $1,026 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively for the VRP and $1,909 and $2,116 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively for the post retirement plan.

 

The discount rate used in determining the accumulated VRP and postretirement benefit obligations was 5.75% in 2004 and 6.25% in 2003.

 

Our portion of the monthly premium for retirees included in the VRP and postretirement benefit obligation is limited, and any increase in medical costs is absorbed by the retiree. As such, a negative trend in healthcare costs will have no effect on the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation or the net periodic postretirement benefit cost.

 

On May 19, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FAS 106-2, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” (“FSP 106-2”). FSP 106-2 provides guidance on accounting for the effects of the new Medicare prescription drug legislation by employers whose prescription drug benefits are actuarially equivalent to the drug benefit under Medicare Part D. After review of our plans’ provisions, it has been determined that we are not entitled to the subsidy as prescription drug benefits are not available to retirees upon reaching age 65.

 

We also have a nonqualified supplemental pension plan covering certain former employees which provides for incremental pension payments from us to the extent that income tax regulations limit the amount payable from our defined benefit pension plan. The projected benefit obligation relating to this unfunded plan was approximately $1,097, $1,075 and $1,037 at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Pension expense for the plan was $67 in 2004, $67 in 2003 and $73 in 2002.

 

We provide certain postemployment benefits to former or inactive employees who are not retirees. These benefits are primarily short-term disability salary continuance. We accrue the cost of postemployment benefits over employees’ service lives. We use the services of an enrolled actuary to calculate the expense. The net periodic cost (benefit) for postemployment benefits was $324 in 2004, ($224) in 2003 and ($494) in 2002.

 

We sponsor a 401(k) savings plan covering substantially all employees. For employees who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements, we contribute to the 401(k) plan based on a specified percentage of employee contributions. Contributions charged to expense were $1,020, $964 and $1,042 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

11. Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as follows:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

     2004

    2003

   2002

Currently payable:

                     

Federal

   $ 32,066     $ 10,548    $ 8,077

State

     5,108       1,984      1,787
    


 

  

Total current

     37,174       12,532      9,864
    


 

  

Deferred, net:

                     

Federal

     1,027       21,288      22,636

State

     (890 )     1,552      1,353
    


 

  

Total deferred

     137       22,840      23,989
    


 

  

Total provision for income taxes

   $ 37,311     $ 35,372    $ 33,853
    


 

  

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

The following is a reconciliation of income taxes at the applicable U.S. federal statutory rate with income taxes recorded by us:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

     2004

    2003

    2002

Income before provision for income taxes

   $ 99,342     $ 95,007     $ 90,977
    


 


 

Federal tax provision at statutory rate

     34,770       33,252       31,842

Increase (reduction) due to:

                      

State income taxes, net of federal effects

     2,159       2,090       1,806

Stock offering costs

     (37 )     68       129

Plant acquisition costs

     39       39       39

Charitable contribution of property

     (153 )          

Income tax liability true-up

     618            

Other, net

     (85 )     (77 )     37
    


 


 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 37,311     $ 35,372     $ 33,853
    


 


 

 

Temporary differences and carryforwards that give rise to a significant portion of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 3,535     $ 3,034  

Employee benefit plans

     3,606       4,219  

Reserve for bad debts

     760       859  

Access settlements and network costs

     10,805       13,714  

Restructuring reserve

     130       307  

All other

     3,343       1,247  
    


 


Total deferred tax assets

     22,179       23,380  
    


 


Property, plant and equipment

     (74,839 )     (83,348 )

Convertible debt interest

     (8,918 )     (3,306 )

All other

     (585 )     2,734  
    


 


Total deferred tax liabilities

     (84,342 )     (83,920 )
    


 


Subtotal

     (62,163 )     (60,540 )
    


 


Valuation allowance

     (1,728 )     (2,320 )
    


 


Net deferred taxes

   $ (63,891 )   $ (62,860 )
    


 


In our opinion, based on the future reversal of existing taxable temporary differences, primarily depreciation, and expectations of future operating results, after consideration of the valuation allowance, we will more likely than not be able to realize substantially all of our deferred tax assets.

 

The net change in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets during 2004 was a decrease of $592. The net change is due to a required increase in certain deferred state tax assets for the state of Pennsylvania of $210 and a true-up of the valuation allowance of ($802).

 

State net operating losses will expire as follows:

 

2005-2012

   $  4,000 per year

2013-2024

   $42,375

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

12. Commitments and Contingencies

 

a. Total rental expense, including pole and conduit rentals, was $7,916, $7,172 and $6,829 in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. At December 31, 2004, rental commitments under noncancelable leases, excluding annual pole and conduit rental commitments of approximately $4,907 that are expected to continue indefinitely, are as follows:

 

Year


  

Aggregate

Amounts


2005

   $ 2,975

2006

     2,572

2007

     1,969

2008

     1,793

2009

     1,590

After 2009

     9,528

 

b. Effective July 2, 2004, we extended our agreement for the provision to us of data processing services including the general management of our data processing operations through December 31, 2005. The annual commitment, excluding annual increases based on increases in the Consumer Price Index, is $7,479 in 2005.

 

c. In May 2001, CT entered into a fifteen-year, two-month agreement for the rental of a building in an area of a city qualifying for certain tax incentives offered by the state of Pennsylvania. The annual commitment through year ten is $1,163. Annual rent for the last five years is subject to changes in the Consumer Price Index. In addition, CT also entered into a lease agreement for the rental of parking spaces for employees of the building, for a similar term. The annual commitment, excluding increases in the last five years based on increases in the Consumer Price Index, is $168.

 

d. We had various purchase commitments at December 31, 2004, related to our 2005 capital budget. CTE’s capital expenditures have averaged $48,088 over the three years ended December 31, 2004. We anticipate that consolidated capital expenditures will be in the range of $40,000 to $42,000 for 2005.

 

e. In 2003, CT entered into a thirty-six month capital lease for the purchase of computer hardware. The annual commitment, excluding the interest component, is $721.

 

In the normal course of business, there are various legal proceedings outstanding, including both commercial and regulatory litigation. In our opinion, these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

In January 2005, Verizon and CTSI reached a mutually satisfactory settlement of a dispute over transport facilities charges that had been the subject of a complaint filed with the PUC.

 

13. Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

 

a. Cash and temporary cash investments—The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

 

b. Long-term investments—Long-term investments consist primarily of investments accounted for under the equity method for which disclosure of fair value is not required, and Rural Telephone Bank (“RTB”) Stock. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the RTB Stock because there is no quoted market price for the stock; it is issued only at par, and can be held only by recipients of RTB loans.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

c. Debt—The fair value of bank debt was estimated using discounted cash flow calculations. The fair value of the convertible debt is based on quoted market prices or by obtaining quotes from dealers. The fair value of floating rate debt is considered to be equal to carrying value since the debt reprices at least every six months and we believe that our credit risk has not materially changed from the time the floating rate debt was borrowed.

 

d. Interest rate swap—The fair value has been calculated by the counterparty using appropriate valuation methodologies. The fair value of the interest rate swap is recorded in other liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the interest rate swaps at January 1, 2003, was ($6,341). For the year ended December 31, 2003, we recorded an adjustment of $2,511 ($1,632 net of tax), to adjust the fair value of the swaps to ($3,830). For the year ended December 31, 2004, we recorded an adjustment of $2,554 ($1,660 net of tax), to adjust the fair value of the swap to ($1,276). The remaining interest rate swap expires in the second quarter of 2006.

 

The estimated fair value of our financial instruments is as follows:

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     Carrying
Amount


    Fair Value

    Carrying
Amount


    Fair Value

 

Financial assets:

                                

Cash and temporary cash investments

   $ 312,260     $ 312,260     $ 336,035     $ 336,035  

Financial liabilities:

                                

Fixed rate long-term debt:

                                

Mortgage note payable to CoBank

     —         —         23,950       24,664  

Convertible notes

     300,000       315,750       300,000       308,000  

Floating rate debt:

                                

Revolving line of credit

     35,000       35,000       65,000       65,000  

Mortgage note payable to CoBank

     —         —         5,571       5,571  

Financial instruments:

                                

Interest rate swaps

     (1,276 )     (1,276 )     (3,830 )     (3,830 )

 

14. Off Balance Sheet Risk and Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Certain financial instruments potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk. These financial instruments consist primarily of trade receivables and cash and temporary cash investments.

 

We place our cash and temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions and limit the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution. We also periodically evaluate the credit worthiness of the institutions with which we invest. We do, however, maintain unsecured cash and temporary cash investment balances in excess of federally insured limits. We limit our exposure by diversifying among counterparties and investment categories to achieve a targeted mix of interest-bearing assets while maximizing after-tax returns.

 

Our trade receivables reflect a customer base primarily centered in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. We routinely assess the financial strength of our customers; as a result, credit risk is limited. Internet service providers represented approximately 17.1% and 23.2% of CTSI’s revenues for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. No single customer contributed more than 5% of its revenues.

 

We have an interest rate swap agreement to adjust the interest rate profile of our debt obligations and to achieve a targeted mix of floating and fixed rate debt. The counterparty to the interest rate swap agreement is a major financial institution. This financial institution has been accorded high ratings by primary rating agencies. We limit the dollar amount of contracts entered into with any one financial institution and monitor the credit ratings of counterparties. While we may be exposed to credit losses due to non-performance of the counterparty, we consider the risk remote and do not expect the settlement of this transaction to have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

15. Quarterly Information (Unaudited)

 

     First
Quarter


   Second
Quarter


   Third
Quarter


   Fourth
Quarter


2004

                           

Sales

   $ 84,380    $ 84,014    $ 83,776    $ 83,641

Operating income

     26,386      26,735      25,668      27,658

Net income

     14,565      16,318      15,119      16,029

Basic earnings per share:

                           

Net income per share

   $ 0.66    $ 0.77    $ 0.72    $ 0.76

Diluted earnings per share:

                           

Net income per share*

   $ 0.60    $ 0.68    $ 0.64    $ 0.67

Common Stock closing price:

                           

High

   $ 41.20    $ 44.77    $ 45.21    $ 49.81

Low

     36.79      41.24      43.19      43.99
     First
Quarter


   Second
Quarter


   Third
Quarter


   Fourth
Quarter


2003

                           

Sales

   $ 83,158    $ 83,001    $ 84,961    $ 84,602

Operating income

     25,704      25,167      26,563      25,947

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

     14,954      15,214      14,663      14,804

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     13,230      —        —        —  

Net income

     28,184      15,214      14,663      14,804

Basic earnings per share:

                           

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 0.64    $ 0.65    $ 0.62    $ 0.63

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     0.56      —        —        —  

Net income per share

   $ 1.20    $ 0.65    $ 0.62    $ 0.63

Diluted earnings per share:

                           

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change

   $ 0.64    $ 0.64    $ 0.58    $ 0.57

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     0.56      —        —        —  

Net income per share**

   $ 1.20    $ 0.64    $ 0.58    $ 0.57

Common Stock closing price:

                           

High

   $ 39.30    $ 44.06    $ 46.43    $ 41.71

Low

     34.35      38.88      37.00      36.10

Class B Common Stock closing price:

                           

High

   $ 39.30    $ 48.16    $ 50.81      N/A

Low

     34.00      38.95      40.10      N/A

* Three months ended March 31, 2004, three months ended June 30, 2004 and three months ended September 30, 2004 were revised to include the effect of contingently convertible securities. The amounts previously reported were $0.65 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, $0.76 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2004 and $0.71 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2004.
** Three months ended September 30, 2003, and three months ended December 31, 2003 were revised to include the effect of contingently convertible securities. The amounts previously reported were $0.62 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and $0.63 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2003.

 

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COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

16. Related Party Transactions

 

We had the following transactions with related parties:

 

    

For the Years Ended

December 31,


     2004

   2003

   2002

Corporate office costs allocated from RCN

   $ —      $ —      $ 1,200

Long-distance terminating access charges to RCN

     205      219      1,083

Revenue from engineering services provided to RCN

     —        —        8

Long-distance expense from RCN Long Distance

     —        199      4,257

Other related party revenues

     2,574      2,121      2,015

Other related party expenses

     475      1,858      2,547

 

At December 31, 2004, we had accounts receivable from related parties of $0 and accounts payable to related parties of $0.

 

In 2002, the Company terminated a month-to-month long-distance resale agreement and a management service agreement with RCN.

 

Related parties include members of the Board of Directors and their related companies, including Level 3 Communications, Inc. Other related party revenues and expenses represent the telephony service provided and the fees paid to these related companies arising from the ordinary course of business.

 

17. Common Stock

 

We have authorized 85,000,000 shares of $1 par value CTE Common Stock at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002. At December 31, 2002, we had authorized 15,000,000 shares of $1 par value CTE Class B Common Stock. On September 3, 2003, shareholders approved a proposal to reclassify and convert each outstanding share of CTE Class B Common Stock into 1.09 shares of CTE Common Stock. We now have only one class of common stock.

 

We announced a $100 million Stock Repurchase Program on November 13, 2003, and a $50 million addition to the program on February 10, 2004. As of December 31, 2004, we had repurchased 3,047,244 shares with an average purchase price of $38.902, for a total repurchase of approximately $118.5 million.

 

F-53


Table of Contents

Schedule I

 

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT

 

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
    

(Thousands of Dollars,

Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Income:

                        

Sales

   $ 7,522     $ 15,371     $ 14,320  

Interest income-other

     (1 )     15       1  

Other

     692       9,923       19  
    


 


 


Total income

     8,213       25,309       14,340  
    


 


 


Expenses:

                        

Cost of goods sold

     5,027       8,890       8,623  

Interest expense on long-term debt, net

     12,626       8,223       6,647  

Interest expense, net on notes payable to subsidiaries

     4,956       5,861       2,035  

General and administrative expenses

     3,003       4,756       5,255  

Voluntary Retirement Program

     —         —         2,333  

Depreciation and amortization

     106       294       340  
    


 


 


Total expenses

     25,718       28,024       25,233  
    


 


 


Loss before income taxes and equity in net income of subsidiaries

     (17,505 )     (2,715 )     (10,893 )

Benefit for income taxes

     (5,571 )     (687 )     (3,810 )
    


 


 


Loss before equity in net income of subsidiaries

     (11,934 )     (2,028 )     (7,083 )

Net income of subsidiaries

     71,964       72,195       64,207  

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

     2,001       2,698       —    
    


 


 


Net income

   $ 62,031     $ 72,865     $ 57,124  

Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax

     1,660       1,632       (1,243 )

Minimum pension liability adjustment, net of tax

     —         2,839       (2,839 )
    


 


 


Comprehensive net income

   $ 63,691     $ 77,336     $ 53,042  
    


 


 


Basic earnings per share:

                        

Net income

   $ 2.91     $ 3.10     $ 2.44  

Weighted average shares outstanding

     21,325,907       23,515,367       23,390,939  

 

S-1


Table of Contents

Schedule I

 

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT

 

BALANCE SHEETS

 

     December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

 
     (Thousands of Dollars)  
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash

   $ 3,029     $ 279,770  

Notes receivable affiliates

     25,068       946  

Interest receivable

     175       130  

Accounts receivable affiliates

     15,038       21,508  

Accounts receivable other

     843       5,668  

Prepayments

     8       85  

Materials and supply inventory

     53       2,425  

Deferred tax assets

     —         453  
    


 


Total current assets

     44,214       310,985  
    


 


Investment in subsidiaries (stated at equity)

     674,945       396,786  

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $0 in 2004 and $3,412 in 2003

     —         475  

Deferred tax assets and other

     12,980       13,919  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 732,139     $ 722,165  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities:

                

Note payable to affiliates

   $ 145,639     $ 134,182  

Accounts payable to affiliates

     1,795       5,494  

Accrued liabilities and other

     8,692       13,973  

Deferred income taxes—current

     6,988       1,367  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     163,114       155,016  
    


 


Long-term debt

     300,000       300,000  

Deferred income taxes and other deferred credits

     3,095       4,420  

Common shareholders’ equity:

                

Common Stock, par value $1, authorized 85,000,000 shares, issued 24,172,376 shares in 2004 and 24,013,902 shares in 2003

     24,172       24,014  

Additional paid-in capital

     284,358       267,076  

Deferred compensation

     (10,093 )     (6,451 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (830 )     (2,490 )

Retained earnings

     86,931       24,900  

Treasury stock at cost, 3,049,114 shares in 2004 and 1,207,016 shares in 2003

     (118,608 )     (44,320 )
    


 


Total common shareholders’ equity

     265,930       262,729  
    


 


Total liabilities and common shareholders’ equity

   $ 732,139     $ 722,165  
    


 


 

S-2


Table of Contents

Schedule I

 

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE REGISTRANT

 

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,

 
     2004

    2003

    2002

 
     (Thousands of Dollars)  

Cash flows from operating activities:

                        

Net income (loss)

   $ 62,031     $ 72,865     $ 57,124  

Depreciation and amortization

     106       294       340  

Deferred income taxes, net

     6,350       8,283       (6,165 )

Net change in certain assets and liabilities

     4,911       (11,513 )     7,382  

Equity in income of subsidiaries

     (71,964 )     (72,195 )     (64,207 )

Equity in income of unconsolidated entities

     (2,001 )     (2,698 )     —    

Other

     6,442       6,646       3,426  
    


 


 


Net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities

     5,875       1,682       (2,100 )
    


 


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                        

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (59 )     (141 )     (335 )

Dividends from subsidiaries

     —         27,000       41,000  

Capital contributions to subsidiaries

     (205,758 )     (470 )     (5,119 )

Other

     1,983       (1 )     26  
    


 


 


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (203,834 )     26,388       35,572  
    


 


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                        

Redemption of long-term debt

     —         (30,000 )     (65,000 )

Borrowings of long-term debt

     —         300,000       —    

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

     9,136       3,881       720  

Increase in notes payable to affiliates

     11,457       14,900       29,523  

Decrease (increase) in notes receivable from affiliates

     (24,122 )     (721 )     4,334  

Stock repurchases

     (75,177 )     (43,367 )     —    

Payment made for debt issuance costs

     (76 )     (8,674 )     —    
    


 


 


Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (78,782 )     236,019       (30,423 )
    


 


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and temporary cash investments

   $ (276,741 )   $ 264,089     $ 3,049  
    


 


 


Cash and temporary cash investments at beginning of year

   $ 279,770     $ 15,681     $ 12,632  
    


 


 


Cash and temporary cash investments at end of year

   $ 3,029     $ 279,770     $ 15,681  
    


 


 


Components of net change in certain assets and liabilities:

                        

Accounts receivable

   $ 11,250     $ (16,871 )   $ 7,562  

Materials and supply inventory

     2,372       267       (1,054 )

Accounts payable

     (4,448 )     (960 )     1,152  

Prepayments

     78       (1 )     1  

Accrued expenses

     (4,341 )     6,052       (279 )
    


 


 


Net change in certain assets and liabilities

   $ 4,911     $ (11,513 )   $ 7,382  
    


 


 


Supplemental disclosures of non-cash information:

                        

Non-cash contribution of assets to subsidiaries

   ($ 4,340 )   $ —       $ —    

 

S-3


Table of Contents

Schedule II

 

COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES

 

For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

DESCRIPTION


 

BALANCE

AT

BEGINNING

OF PERIOD


  ADDITIONS

   

DEDUCTIONS/

REVERSALS


 

BALANCE

AT END

OF

PERIOD


   

CHARGED

TO COSTS

AND

EXPENSE


 

CHARGED

TO OTHER

ACCOUNTS


     

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS—DEDUCTED FROM ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE IN THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS.

                               

2004

  $ 2,329   $ 736   $ 578     $ 1,458   $ 2,185

2003

  $ 5,520   $ 1,230   $ 60     $ 4,481   $ 2,329

2002

  $ 3,047   $ 3,981   $ 56     $ 1,564   $ 5,520

ALLOWANCE FOR INVENTORY—DEDUCTED FROM MATERIAL AND SUPPLY INVENTORY IN THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS.

                               

2004

  $ 683   $ 449   $ 40     $ 471   $ 701

2003

  $ 667   $ 588   $ (178 )   $ 394   $ 683

2002

  $ 535   $ 367   $ 151     $ 386   $ 667

ALLOWANCE FOR DEFERRED TAX ASSETS—DEDUCTED FROM DEFERRED TAX ASSETS IN THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS.

                               

2004

  $ 2,320   $ 210   $ —       $ 802   $ 1,728

2003

  $ 2,088   $ 232   $ —       $ —     $ 2,320

2002

  $ 5,964   $ 46   $ —       $ 3,922   $ 2,088

RESERVE FOR RESTRUCTURING EXPENSE—ACCRUED RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES.

                               

2004

  $ 812   $ 275   $ (607 )   $ 136   $ 344

2003

  $ 2,029   $ —     $ (790 )   $ 427   $ 812

2002

  $ 7,381   $ —     $ (3,940 )   $ 1,412   $ 2,029

 

S-4