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8-K - SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO 8-K 3-20-2017 (EARNINGS RELEASE) - SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO/VA/form8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1
 
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Reports Fourth Quarter 2016 Revenue Increased to $155.6 Million Due to Acquisition of nTelos

- Operating Income of $12.2 Million
 
EDINBURG, Va., March 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”) (NASDAQ: SHEN) announces financial and operating results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

Consolidated Fourth Quarter Results

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported total revenues of $155.6 million, an increase of 78.2% compared to $87.3 million for the 2015 fourth quarter.  All segments reported revenue increases, with the largest being in the Wireless segment due to the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint which were completed on May 6, 2016.  The integration of nTelos’ operations and the transition of its assets and customers have progressed as expected, with Shentel currently ahead of its schedule on the migration of nTelos customers to the Sprint platform and on track with the progress of its network upgrade.

Wireless service revenues increased 129.4% as a result of increases in average postpaid and prepaid subscribers of 133.9% and 80.0%, respectively, and a reduction in postpaid fees retained by Sprint.  Cable segment revenues increased 10.0% due to a 5.8% increase in average Revenue Generating Units (RGUs), video price increases to offset increases in programming costs, and new and existing customers selecting higher-speed data packages.  Wireline segment revenues increased 6.5% due to higher fiber lease revenues, as well as higher internet service fees as customers upgraded their services.

Total operating expenses were $143.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $65.6 million in the prior year period.  Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 included $6.4 million of integration and acquisition costs associated with the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint, with $6.0 million in the Wireless segment and $0.4 million in the Other segment.  An additional $4.4 million of costs were incurred to operate and support the nTelos back office and billing functions until customers can migrate to Sprint platforms.  This cost was included in cost of goods and services and selling, general and administrative expenses in the Wireless segment.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2016, the Company reported a net loss of $0.2 million, compared to net income of $12.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.  The decrease in net income is primarily the result of an increase in depreciation and amortization, and acquisition related costs, both attributable to the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint.

Adjusted OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization) increased 89.2% to $76.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 from $40.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, resulting primarily from the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint.  Continuing OIBDA (Adjusted OIBDA less the benefit received from the waived Sprint management fee over the next six years) increased 66.8% to $67.0 million.

President and CEO Christopher E. French commented, “We are very pleased with our growth in the fourth quarter, which occurred across all of our segments, and was demonstrated by improved revenue and enhanced Adjusted OIBDA.  During the fourth quarter, we continued our integration of both the customers and assets we gained with our acquisition of nTelos, and we are ahead of schedule in terms of both customer migration and the streamlining of operations.  Likewise, we have made significant progress with our network upgrade and, despite the temporary impact to churn caused by the upgrade process in our acquired markets, we have continued to add customers as the upgrade process moves forward.  Our legacy market areas enjoy an excellent Port In/Port Out ratio which reflects the superior customer experience we expect to provide throughout our expanded footprint.  We remain focused on delivering the consistent coverage and high speed access of our networks to serve our existing customers and attract new customers.”
 

Consolidated Full Year Results

For the year ended December 31, 2016, operating revenues were $535.3 million, an increase of $192.8 million or 56%, primarily due to the acquisition of nTelos and exchange transaction with Sprint.  Operating income was $22.5 million, a decrease of $51.6 million.

All three segments contributed to the increase in Adjusted OIBDA of 63.1% to $246.1 million in 2016 from $150.9 million in 2015.  Continuing OIBDA increased 46.8% to $221.5 million from 2015.

Wireless Segment

Fourth quarter wireless service revenues increased $61.9 million or 129.4%, primarily related to the addition of approximately 560,000 postpaid and prepaid customers from the nTelos acquisition.  Additionally, the segment benefitted from a reduction in the postpaid fees retained by Sprint as part of our amended affiliate agreement with Sprint.

Shentel had 722,562 wireless postpaid customers, a fourth quarter increase of 3,777 postpaid net additions, with 7,014 postpaid net additions in its Legacy area. For 2016, taking into consideration the 404,965 postpaid customers acquired in the nTelos transaction on May 6th, the company added 5,085 total net postpaid additions in 2016, with 16,854 net additions in the Legacy area during the year. Net additions in the fourth quarter were impacted by issues with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 and a shortage of new iPhone 7’s early in the quarter. Fourth quarter postpaid churn was 2.1% for the total company and 1.6% in the Legacy area. Total company annual postpaid churn was 1.8% and 1.5% in the Legacy area. Phones, excluding data only devices, were 74% of net additions in the fourth quarter and 95% in the Legacy area. The fourth quarter and total year Port in/Port out ratio in the Legacy area was 1.71:1 and 1.75:1 respectively, taking share from all carriers. As expected, the Port in/Port out ratio continued to be negative in the acquired nTelos area.

There were 236,138 prepaid wireless customers at year-end, a decrease of 39,308 in the fourth quarter. Included in the decrease was the one-time reduction of the length of time a customer is inactive before being eliminated from customer counts, which resulted in 24,348 prepaid customers being removed in the fourth quarter. The eliminated customers were non-revenue producing, so the impact on prepaid revenue is minimal. Excluding this change, the company lost 14,960 prepaid customers with a net loss of 43 in the Legacy area. Total company fourth quarter prepaid churn, excluding the one-time reduction, was 5.9% and 4.7% in the Legacy area. Total annual prepaid churn was 5.2% and 4.8% in the Legacy area.

As of year-end, the company migrated 87,793 postpaid and 41,141 prepaid nTelos customers for a total of 128,934 to the Sprint back office. As planned, the prepaid migration was completed in late December, and the outsourced prepaid billing platform was turned down. At the current pace, Shentel expects to complete migrating the remaining postpaid nTelos customers by the end of the third quarter 2017.

Fourth quarter Adjusted OIBDA in the Wireless segment was $63.6 million, an increase of 132.5% from the fourth quarter of 2015.  Continuing OIBDA in the Wireless segment was $54.6 million.

“Our expanded footprint in the mid-Atlantic region and the doubling of our wireless customer base provide significant opportunities for our continued growth.  In the fourth quarter, we continued to migrate nTelos customers to the Sprint billing platform, and while this is a time consuming activity, we are making progress at a faster rate than we anticipated.  We believe our upgraded services and coverage reliability are a competitive advantage as we move through the migration process in our acquired markets,” Mr. French added.
 
Page 2

Cable Segment

Revenues in the Cable segment increased $2.6 million or 10.0% to $28.3 million, primarily due to 5.8% growth in average RGUs (the sum of voice, data, and video users) to 131,218 as of December 31, 2016, video rate increases implemented in January 2016 to pass through programming cost increases, new and existing customers selecting higher speed data access packages and growth in the number of higher speed data and phone customers.  Operating expenses increased 7.8% to $25.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Fourth quarter operating income was $3.0 million compared to $2.2 million in the prior year.

Adjusted OIBDA in the Cable segment for fourth quarter 2016 was $9.3 million, up 13.7% from $8.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Mr. French stated, “Our state-of-the-art network gives us the ability to provide the high speed bandwidth that our customers demand and now expect from their cable provider.  The strength of our network is recognized in the marketplace, attracting new customers who are seeking reliable and versatile performance as well as enabling our existing customers to upgrade their monthly subscription plans.”

Wireline Segment

Revenue in the Wireline segment increased 6.5% to $19.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, as compared to $18.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.  Carrier access and fiber revenue for the quarter was $12.9 million, an increase of 9.6% from the same quarter last year, primarily as a result of new fiber contracts.  Operating expenses increased 2.7% or $0.4 million to $13.8 million for fourth quarter 2016, primarily due to costs to support new fiber contracts.

Adjusted OIBDA in the Wireline segment for fourth quarter 2016 was $8.4 million, as compared to $8.1 million in fourth quarter 2015.

Other Information

Capital expenditures were $69.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $30.0 million in the comparable 2015 period as a result of substantial investment in 2016 to enhance the wireless network in the acquired nTelos footprint.

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2016 were $36.2 million, compared to $76.8 million at December 31, 2015. Total outstanding debt at December 31, 2016 totaled $829.3 million, net of unamortized loan costs, compared to $199.7 million as of December 31, 2015.  At December 31, 2016, debt as a percent of total assets was 55.9%. The amount available to the Company through its revolver facility was $75.0 million, and from the delayed draw term loan, $25.0 million.
 
Page 3

Conference Call and Webcast

The Company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast Monday, March 20, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.

Teleconference Information:

March 20, 2017 10:00 A.M. (ET)
Dial in number: 1-888-695-7639

Password: 90593553
Audio webcast: http://investor.shentel.com/

An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call is complete, through March 28, 2017 by calling (855) 859-2056.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides a broad range of diversified communications services through its high speed, state-of-the-art network to customers in the Mid-Atlantic United States.  The Company’s services include: wireless voice and data; cable video, internet and digital voice; fiber network and services; and regulated local and long distance telephone. Shentel is the exclusive personal communications service (“PCS”) Affiliate of Sprint in portions of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.  For more information, please visit www.shentel.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of unforeseen factors. A discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Those factors may include changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs, changes in regulation and other competitive factors.

CONTACTS:

Shenandoah Telecommunications, Inc.
Adele Skolits
CFO and VP of Finance
540-984-5161
Adele.skolits@emp.shentel.com

Or

John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau
Institutional Marketing Services (IMS)
203-972-9200
jnesbett@institutionalms.com
 
Page 4

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
 
   
December 31,
2016
   
December 31,
2015
 
             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
36,193
   
$
76,812
 
Other current assets
   
125,272
     
51,135
 
Total current assets
   
161,465
     
127,947
 
Investments
   
10,276
     
10,679
 
                 
Net property, plant and equipment
   
698,122
     
410,018
 
                 
Intangible assets, net
   
454,532
     
66,993
 
Goodwill
   
145,256
     
10
 
Deferred charges and other assets, net
   
14,756
     
11,504
 
Total assets
 
$
1,484,407
   
$
627,151
 
                 
Total current liabilities
   
164,263
     
60,729
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
   
797,224
     
177,169
 
Total other liabilities
   
227,026
     
99,315
 
Total shareholders' equity
   
295,894
     
289,938
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
1,484,407
   
$
627,151
 
 
Page 5

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

     
Three Months Ended
December 31,
     
Twelve Months Ended
December 30,
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
                         
Operating revenues
 
$
155,572
   
$
87,285
   
$
535,288
   
$
342,485
 
                                 
Cost of goods and services
   
53,166
     
29,789
     
193,520
     
121,330
 
Selling, general, and administrative
   
37,062
     
17,799
     
133,325
     
72,821
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
6,432
     
393
     
42,232
     
3,546
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
46,723
     
17,583
     
143,685
     
70,702
 
Total operating expenses
   
143,383
     
65,564
     
512,762
     
268,399
 
Operating income
   
12,189
     
21,721
     
22,526
     
74,086
 
                                 
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest expense
   
(8,733
)
   
(1,692
)
   
(25,102
)
   
(7,355
)
Gain on investments, net
   
35
     
116
     
271
     
105
 
Non-operating income, net
   
1,339
     
489
     
4,250
     
1,754
 
Income before taxes
   
4,830
     
20,634
     
1,945
     
68,590
 
                                 
Income tax expense
   
5,014
     
8,526
     
2,840
     
27,726
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(184
)
 
$
12,108
   
$
(895
)
 
$
40,864
 
                                 
                                 
Earnings (loss) per share:
                               
Basic
 
$
(0.00
)
 
$
0.24
   
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.84
 
Diluted
 
$
(0.00
)
 
$
0.24
   
$
(0.02
)
 
$
0.83
 
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic
   
48,922
     
48,457
     
48,807
     
48,388
 
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted
   
48,922
     
49,206
     
48,807
     
49,024
 
 
Page 6

Non-GAAP Financial Measure

In managing our business and assessing our financial performance, management supplements the information provided by financial statement measures prepared in accordance with GAAP with Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA, which are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules.

Adjusted OIBDA is defined by us as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of:  certain non-recurring transactions; impairment of assets; gains and losses on asset sales; straight-line adjustments for the waived management fee by Sprint; amortization of the affiliate contract expansion intangible asset reflected as a contra revenue; actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; and share-based compensation expense.  Adjusted OIBDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance.  Continuing OIBDA is defined by us as Adjusted OIBDA, less the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint over the next approximately six-year period, showing Sprint’s support for our acquisition and our commitment to enhance the network.

In a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications, management believes that Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and the associated percentage margin calculations are meaningful measures of our operating performance.  We use Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as supplemental performance measures because management believes they facilitate comparisons of our operating performance from period to period and comparisons of our operating performance to that of other companies by excluding potential differences caused by the age and book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expenses) as well as the other items described above for which additional adjustments were made.  In the future, management expects that the Company may again report Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA excluding these items and may incur expenses similar to these excluded items.  Accordingly, the exclusion of these and other similar items from our non-GAAP presentation should not be interpreted as implying these items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual.

While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent the current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods, and accordingly may obscure underlying operating trends for some purposes.  By isolating the effects of these expenses and other items that vary from period to period without any correlation to our underlying performance, or that vary widely among similar companies, management believes Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, which are used by management for business planning purposes, and also facilitates comparisons of our performance relative to that of our competitors.  In addition, we believe that Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and similar measures are widely used by investors and financial analysts as measures of our financial performance over time, and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry.

Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.  These limitations include the following:

·
they do not reflect capital expenditures;
·
many of the assets being depreciated and amortized will have to be replaced in the future and Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA do not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;
·
they do not reflect costs associated with share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
·
they do not reflect interest expense necessary to service interest or principal payments on indebtedness;
·
they do not reflect gains, losses or dividends on investments;
·
they do not reflect expenses incurred for the payment of income taxes; and
·
other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

In light of these limitations, management considers Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as a financial performance measures that supplement but do not replace the information reflected in our GAAP results.
 
Page 7

The following table shows Adjusted OIBDA for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
 
(in thousands)
  
Three Months Ended
December 31,
     
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
  
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
75,955
   
$
40,143
   
$
246,122
   
$
150,902
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
66,971
   
$
40,143
   
$
221,526
   
$
150,902
 

The following table reconciles Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income (loss), which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Consolidated:
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
Operating income
 
$
12,188
   
$
21,721
   
$
22,526
   
$
74,086
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
46,723
     
17,583
     
143,685
     
70,702
 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
   
95
     
6
     
(49
)
   
235
 
Plus actuarial (gains) losses on retirement plans
   
(4,460
)
   
-
     
(4,460
)
   
-
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
451
     
440
     
3,021
     
2,333
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration (1)
   
4,364
     
-
     
12,435
     
-
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses (1)
   
6,432
     
393
     
42,232
     
3,546
 
Plus straight line adjustment to reduce management fee waiver (2)
   
4,287
     
-
     
11,974
     
-
 
Plus amortization of intangible recorded as rent expense
   
728
     
-
     
728
     
-
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue (3)
   
5,147
     
-
     
14,030
     
-
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
75,955
   
$
40,143
   
$
246,122
   
$
150,902
 
Less waived management fee (2)
   
(8,984
)
   
-
     
(24,596
)
   
-
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
66,971
   
$
40,143
   
$
221,526
   
$
150,902
 
 
Page 8

The following tables reconcile Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income by major segment for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 and 2015:
 
Wireless Segment:
 
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
(in thousands)
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
Operating income
 
$
5,337
   
$
18,922
   
$
26,241
   
$
75,023
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
37,594
     
8,328
     
107,621
     
34,416
 
Plus loss on asset sales
   
(47
)
   
(11
)
   
(131
)
   
62
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
251
     
113
     
1,309
     
554
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration (1)
   
4,249
     
-
     
12,435
     
-
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses(1)
   
6,038
     
-
     
25,927
     
-
 
Plus straight line adjustment to reduce management fee waiver (2)
   
4,287
     
-
     
11,974
     
-
 
Plus amortization of intangible recorded in rent expense
   
728
     
-
     
728
     
-
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue (3)
   
5,147
     
-
     
14,030
     
-
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
63,583
   
$
27,352
   
$
200,134
   
$
110,055
 
Less waived management fee (2)
   
(8,984
)
   
-
     
(24,596
)
   
-
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
54,599
   
$
27,352
   
$
175,538
   
$
110,055
 
 
Cable Segment:
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
   
Twelve Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
                         
Operating income
 
$
2,954
   
$
2,208
   
$
6,997
   
$
502
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
6,074
     
5,811
     
23,908
     
23,097
 
Plus (gain) on asset sales
   
209
     
33
     
156
     
45
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
83
     
146
     
756
     
811
 
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA
 
$
9,320
   
$
8,198
   
$
31,817
   
$
24,455
 
 
Wireline Segment:
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
 
                         
Operating income
 
$
5,454
   
$
4,634
   
$
20,524
   
$
16,404
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
2,928
     
3,325
     
11,717
     
12,736
 
Plus loss on asset sales
   
(67
)
   
37
     
(27
)
   
169
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
63
     
78
     
347
     
408
 
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA
 
$
8,378
   
$
8,074
   
$
32,561
   
$
29,717
 
 
(1)
Integration and acquisition costs consist of severance accruals for short-term nTelos personnel to be separated as integration activities wind down, transaction related expenses, device costs to support the transition to Sprint billing platforms, and other transition costs to support the migration to Sprint back-office functions.  Once former nTelos customers migrate to the Sprint backoffice, the Company incurs certain postpaid fees retained by Sprint and prepaid costs passed to us by Sprint that would offset a portion of these savings.  For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, these offsets were estimated at $1.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
(2)
As part of the Company’s amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the management fee, which is historically presented as a contra-revenue by the Company, for a period of approximately six years.  The impact of Sprint’s waiver of the management fee over the approximate six-year period is reflected as an increase in revenue, offset by the non-cash adjustment to recognize this impact on a straight-line basis over the contract term of approximately 14 years.
(3)
Pursuant to the intangible asset exchange with Sprint, the Company recognized an intangible asset for the affiliate contract expansion received.  Consistent with the presentation of related service fees charged by Sprint, the Company recognizes the amortization of this intangible as a contra-revenue over the contract term of approximately 14 years.
 
Page 9

Supplemental Information

Subscriber Statistics

The following tables show selected operating statistics of the Wireless segment as of the dates shown:

     
December 31,
2016
     
December 31,
2015
     
December 31,
2014
  
Retail PCS Subscribers – Postpaid
   
722,562
     
312,512
     
287,867
 
Retail PCS Subscribers - Prepaid
   
236,138
     
142,840
     
145,162
 
PCS Market POPS (000) (1)
   
5,536
     
2,433
     
2,415
 
PCS Covered POPS (000) (1)
   
4,807
     
2,224
     
2,207
 
CDMA Base Stations (sites)
   
1,467
     
552
     
537
 
Towers Owned
   
196
     
158
     
154
 
Non-affiliate cell site leases
   
202
     
202
     
198
 

The changes from December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 shown above include the following amounts acquired in the nTelos acquisition and exchange with Sprint on May 6, 2016:

Acquired PCS Subscribers – Postpaid
   
404,965
 
Acquired PCS Subscribers – Prepaid
   
154,944
 
Acquired PCS Market POPS (000) (1)
   
3,099
 
Acquired PCS Covered POPS (000) (1)
   
2,298
 
Acquired CDMA Base Stations (sites) (2)
   
868
 
Towers
   
20
 
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases
   
10
 

      
Three Months Ended
December 31,
     
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
   
2016
   
2015
   
2016
   
2015
                         
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions - Postpaid
   
47,988
     
22,590
     
132,593
     
77,067
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions  – Postpaid
   
3,777
     
8,985
     
5,085
     
24,645
 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Prepaid
   
31,435
     
19,990
     
111,459
     
83,796
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Prepaid (4)
   
(39,308
)
   
(2,264
)
   
(61,664
)
   
(2,322
)
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Postpaid (3)
   
2.10
%
   
1.48
%
   
1.84
%
   
1.47
%
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Prepaid (3)(4)
   
5.85
%
   
5.16
%
   
5.19
%
   
4.93
%
 
1)
POPS refers to the estimated population of a given geographic area and is based on information purchased from third party sources.  Market POPS are those within a market area which we are authorized to serve under our Sprint PCS affiliate agreements, and Covered POPS are those covered by our network.
2)
Net of approximately 160 overlap cell sites we intend to shut down in coming months.
3)
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn is the average of the monthly subscriber turnover, or churn, calculations for the period.
4)
Prepaid losses in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016 include 24,348 subscribers purged as a result of a one-time reduction of the length of time a customer is inactive before eliminating them from the customer counts.  These losses have been excluded from the churn computation for the respective periods shown.

During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2016, 838 and 5,248 former nTelos prepaid subscribers, respectively, switched to postpaid subscribers as they migrated to the Sprint back-office platforms.
 
Page 10

The following table shows selected operating statistics of the Cable segment as of the dates shown:

     
December 31,
2016
     
December 31,
2015
     
December 31,
2014
  
Homes Passed (1)
   
184,710
     
172,538
     
171,589
 
Customer Relationships (2)
                       
Video customers
   
48,512
     
48,184
     
49,247
 
Non-video customers
   
28,854
     
24,550
     
22,051
 
Total customer relationships
   
77,366
     
72,734
     
71,298
 
Video
                       
Customers (3)
   
50,618
     
50,215
     
52,095
 
Penetration (4)
   
27.4
%
   
29.1
%
   
30.4
%
Digital video penetration (5)
   
77.4
%
   
77.9
%
   
65.9
%
High-speed Internet
                       
Available Homes (6)
   
183,826
     
172,538
     
171,589
 
Customers (3)
   
60,495
     
55,131
     
50,686
 
Penetration (4)
   
32.9
%
   
32.0
%
   
29.5
%
Voice
                       
Available Homes (6)
   
181,089
     
169,801
     
168,852
 
Customers (3)
   
21,352
     
20,166
     
18,262
 
Penetration (4)
   
11.8
%
   
11.9
%
   
10.8
%
Total Revenue Generating Units (7)
   
132,465
     
125,512
     
121,043
 
Fiber Route Miles
   
3,137
     
2,844
     
2,834
 
Total Fiber Miles (8)
   
92,615
     
76,949
     
72,694
 
Average Revenue Generating Units
   
131,218
     
124,054
     
117,744
 

1)
Homes and businesses are considered passed (“homes passed”) if we can connect them to our distribution system without further extending the transmission lines.  Homes passed is an estimate based upon the best available information.
2)
Customer relationships represent the number of customers who receive at least one of our services.
3)
Generally, a dwelling or commercial unit with one or more television sets connected to our distribution system counts as one video customer.  Where services are provided on a bulk basis, such as to hotels and some multi-dwelling units, the revenue charged to the customer is divided by the rate for comparable service in the local market to determine the number of customer equivalents included in the customer counts shown above.  During the first quarter of 2016, we modified the way we count subscribers when a commercial customer upgrades its internet service via a fiber contract. We retroactively applied the new count methodology to prior periods, and applied similar logic to certain bulk customers; the net result was reductions in internet subscriber counts of 559 and 673 subscribers to December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014 totals, respectively.
4)
Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of customers by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
5)
Digital video penetration is calculated by dividing the number of digital video customers by total video customers.  Digital video customers are video customers who receive any level of video service via digital transmission.  A dwelling with one or more digital set-top boxes or digital adapters counts as one digital video customer.
6)
Homes and businesses are considered available (“available homes”) if we can connect them to our distribution system without further extending the transmission lines and if we offer the service in that area.
7)
Revenue generating units are the sum of video, voice and high-speed internet customers.
8)
Fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance.  For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles.

On January 1, 2016, the Company acquired the assets of Colane Cable Company.  With the acquisition, the Company acquired 3,299 video customers, 1,405 high-speed internet customers, and 302 voice customers.  The customers are included in the December 31, 2016 totals shown above.
 
Page 11

The following table shows selected operating statistics of the Wireline segment as of the dates shown:

     
December 31,
2016
     
December 31,
2015
     
December 31,
2014
  
Telephone Access Lines (1)
   
18,443
     
20,252
     
21,612
 
Long Distance Subscribers
   
9,149
     
9,476
     
9,571
 
Video Customers (2)
   
5,264
     
5,356
     
5,692
 
DSL Subscribers (3)
   
14,314
     
13,890
     
13,094
 
Fiber Route Miles
   
1,971
     
1,736
     
1,556
 
Total Fiber Miles (4)
   
142,230
     
123,891
     
99,387
 

1)
Effective October 1, 2015, we launched cable modem services on our cable plant, and eliminated the requirement that a customer have a telephone access line to purchase DSL service.
2)
The Wireline segment’s video service passes approximately 16,000 homes.
3)
December 2016 and December 2015 totals include 1,072 and 420 customers, respectively, served via the coaxial cable network.  During first quarter 2016, we modified the way we count subscribers when a commercial customer upgrades its internet service via a fiber contract. We retroactively applied the new count methodology to prior periods and the net result was increases in internet subscriber counts of 804 and 352 subscribers to December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 totals, respectively.
4)
Fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance.  For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles.
 
Page 12

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker.  The Company has three reportable segments, which the Company operates and manages as strategic business units organized by lines of business: (1) Wireless, (2) Cable, and (3) Wireline.   A fourth segment, Other, primarily includes Shenandoah Telecommunications Company, the parent holding company.

The Wireless segment has historically provided digital wireless service to a portion of a four-state area covering the region from Harrisburg, York and Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg, Virginia, as a Sprint PCS Affiliate.  With the May 6th acquisition of nTelos, the Company’s wireless service area expanded to include south-central and western Virginia, West Virginia, and small portions of Kentucky and Ohio. This segment also owns cell site towers built on leased land, and leases space on these towers to both affiliates and non-affiliated service providers.

The Cable segment provides video, internet and voice services in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout southern Virginia and West Virginia. It does not include video, internet and voice services provided to customers in Shenandoah County, Virginia.

The Wireline segment provides regulated and unregulated voice services, DSL internet access, and long distance access services throughout Shenandoah County and portions of Rockingham, Frederick, Warren and Augusta counties, Virginia. The segment also provides video and cable modem services in portions of Shenandoah County, and leases fiber optic facilities throughout the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, northern Virginia and adjacent areas along the Interstate 81 corridor through West Virginia, Maryland and portions of central and southern Pennsylvania.
 
Three months ended December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
 
   
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                   
Service revenues
 
$
109,716
   
$
25,615
   
$
4,919
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
140,250
 
Other
   
6,903
     
2,128
     
6,291
     
-
     
-
     
15,322
 
Total external revenues
   
116,619
     
27,743
     
11,210
     
-
     
-
     
155,572
 
Internal revenues
   
1,203
     
578
     
8,062
     
-
     
(9,843
)
   
-
 
Total operating revenues
   
117,822
     
28,321
     
19,272
     
-
     
(9,843
)
   
155,572
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
38,221
     
14,717
     
9,367
     
-
     
(9,139
)
   
53,166
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
30,632
     
4,576
     
1,523
     
1,035
     
(704
)
   
37,062
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
6,038
     
-
     
-
     
394
     
-
     
6,432
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
37,594
     
6,074
     
2,928
     
127
     
-
     
46,723
 
Total operating expenses
   
112,485
     
25,367
     
13,818
     
1,556
     
(9,843
)
   
143,383
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
5,337
   
$
2,954
   
$
5,454
   
$
(1,556
)
 
$
-
   
$
12,189
 
 
Page 13

Three months ended December 31, 2015
(in thousands)
 
   
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                   
Service revenues
 
$
47,835
   
$
23,178
   
$
4,843
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
75,856
 
Other
   
2,998
     
2,298
     
6,133
     
-
     
-
     
11,429
 
Total external revenues
   
50,833
     
25,476
     
10,976
     
-
     
-
     
87,285
 
Internal revenues
   
1,121
     
265
     
7,118
     
-
     
(8,504
)
   
-
 
Total operating revenues
   
51,954
     
25,741
     
18,094
     
-
     
(8,504
)
   
87,285
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
15,908
     
13,233
     
8,445
     
-
     
(7,797
)
   
29,789
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
8,796
     
4,489
     
1,690
     
3,531
     
(707
)
   
17,799
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
393
     
-
     
393
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,328
     
5,811
     
3,325
     
119
     
-
     
17,583
 
Total operating expenses
   
33,032
     
23,533
     
13,460
     
4,043
     
(8,504
)
   
65,564
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
18,922
   
$
2,208
   
$
4,634
   
$
(4,043
)
 
$
-
   
$
21,721
 

Twelve months ended December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
 
   
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                   
Service revenues
 
$
359,769
   
$
99,070
   
$
19,646
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
478,485
 
Other
   
24,364
     
7,927
     
24,512
     
-
     
-
     
56,803
 
Total external revenues
   
384,133
     
106,997
     
44,158
     
-
     
-
     
535,288
 
Internal revenues
   
4,620
     
1,737
     
30,816
     
-
     
(37,173
)
   
-
 
Total operating revenues
   
388,753
     
108,734
     
74,974
     
-
     
(37,173
)
   
535,288
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
133,113
     
58,581
     
36,259
     
-
     
(34,433
)
   
193,520
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
95,851
     
19,248
     
6,474
     
14,492
     
(2,740
)
   
133,325
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
25,927
     
-
     
-
     
16,305
     
-
     
42,232
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
107,621
     
23,908
     
11,717
     
439
     
-
     
143,685
 
Total operating expenses
   
362,512
     
101,737
     
54,450
     
31,236
     
(37,173
)
   
512,762
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
26,241
   
$
6,997
   
$
20,524
   
$
(31,236
)
 
$
-
   
$
22,526
 

Twelve months ended December 31, 2015
(in thousands)
   
   
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                   
Service revenues
 
$
192,752
   
$
88,980
   
$
19,386
   
$
-
   
$
-
   
$
301,118
 
Other
   
11,609
     
7,793
     
21,965
     
-
     
-
     
41,367
 
Total external revenues
   
204,361
     
96,773
     
41,351
     
-
     
-
     
342,485
 
Internal revenues
   
4,440
     
849
     
26,069
     
-
     
(31,358
)
   
-
 
Total operating revenues
   
208,801
     
97,622
     
67,420
     
-
     
(31,358
)
   
342,485
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
63,570
     
54,611
     
31,668
     
-
     
(28,519
)
   
121,330
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
35,792
     
19,412
     
6,612
     
13,844
     
(2,839
)
   
72,821
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
3,546
     
-
     
3,546
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
34,416
     
23,097
     
12,736
     
453
     
-
     
70,702
 
Total operating expenses
   
133,778
     
97,120
     
51,016
     
17,843
     
(31,358
)
   
268,399
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
75,023
   
$
502
   
$
16,404
   
$
(17,843
)
 
$
-
   
$
74,086
 
Page 14

Wireless Service Revenues

(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
   
Change
 
Service Revenues
 
2016
   
2015
   
$
   
%
 
Postpaid net billings
 
$
96,252
   
$
45,831
   
$
50,421
     
110.0
 
Sprint fees
                               
Management fee
   
(7,629
)
   
(3,681
)
   
(3,948
)
   
(107.3
)
Net Service fee
   
(6,967
)
   
(6,441
)
   
(526
)
   
(8.2
)
Waiver of management fee
   
7,548
     
-
     
7,548
   
NM
 
     
(7,048
)
   
(10,122
)
   
3,074
     
30.4
 
Prepaid net billings
                               
Gross billings
   
23,928
     
12,827
     
11,101
     
86.5
 
Sprint management fee
   
(1,436
)
   
(769
)
   
(667
)
   
(86.7
)
Waiver of management fee
   
1,436
     
-
     
1,436
   
NM
 
     
23,928
     
12,058
     
11,870
     
98.4
 
                                 
Travel and other revenues
   
6,018
     
68
     
5,950
   
NM
 
Accounting adjustments
                               
Amortization of expanded contract
   
(5,147
)
   
-
     
(5,147
)
 
NM
 
Straight-line adjustment - management fee waiver
   
(4,287
)
   
-
     
(4,287
)
 
NM
 
     
(9,434
)
   
-
     
(9,434
)
 
NM
 
Total Service Revenues
 
$
109,716
   
$
47,835
   
$
61,881
     
129.4
 

(in thousands)
 
Twelve Months Ended
December 31,
   
Change
 
Service Revenues
 
2016
   
2015
   
$
   
%
 
Postpaid net billings
 
$
314,579
   
$
185,174
   
$
129,405
     
69.9
 
Sprint fees
                               
Management fee
   
(25,543
)
   
(14,805
)
   
(10,738
)
   
(72.5
)
Net Service fee
   
(22,953
)
   
(25,909
)
   
2,956
     
11.4
 
Waiver of management fee
   
20,674
     
-
     
20,674
   
NM
 
     
(27,822
)
   
(40,714
)
   
12,892
     
31.7
 
Prepaid net billings
                               
Gross billings
   
82,672
     
51,081
     
31,591
     
61.8
 
Sprint management fee
   
(4,960
)
   
(3,074
)
   
(1,886
)
   
(61.4
)
Waiver of management fee
   
3,922
     
-
     
3,922
   
NM
 
     
81,634
     
48,007
     
33,627
     
70.0
 
                                 
Travel and other revenues
   
17,382
     
285
     
17,097
   
NM
 
Accounting adjustments
                               
Amortization of expanded contract
   
(14,030
)
   
-
     
(14,030
)
 
NM
 
Straight-line adjustment - management fee waiver
   
(11,974
)
   
-
     
(11,974
)
 
NM
 
   
(26,004
)
   
-
     
(26,004
)
 
NM
 
Total Service Revenues
 
$
359,769
   
$
192,752
   
$
167,017
     
86.6
 
 
 
Page 15