Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO/VA/form8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1
 
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Reports Strong First Quarter 2017 Results
 
- Revenues Increase to $153.9 Million
 
- Operating Income of $10.7 Million

EDINBURG, Va., May 4, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”) (NASDAQ: SHEN) announces financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017.
 
Consolidated First Quarter Results
 
For the quarter ended March 31, 2017, the Company reported total revenues of $153.9 million, an increase of 66.2% compared to $92.6 million for the 2016 first quarter.  While all segments reported revenue increases, the Wireless segment had the largest increase due to the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint completed on May 6, 2016.  The integration of nTelos’ operations and the transition of its assets and customers continue to move forward 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 107.3% as a result of increases in average postpaid and prepaid subscribers of 128% and 69%, respectively.  Cable segment revenues increased 9.7% due to a 2.2% 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 4.2% due to increases in fiber and access contracts.
 
Total operating expenses were $143.2 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $71.3 million in the prior year period.  Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2017 included $4.5 million of integration and acquisition costs associated with the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint, with $3.8 million in the Wireless segment and $0.7 million in the Other segment.  An additional $2.6 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 March 31, 2017, the Company reported net income of $2.3 million, compared to net income of $13.9 million in the first quarter of 2016.  The decrease in net income is primarily the result of an increase in depreciation and amortization, straight-lining of certain Sprint fee credits, acquisition and integration related costs, and interest expense, all attributable to the nTelos acquisition and exchange transaction with Sprint.
 
Adjusted OIBDA (Operating Income Before Depreciation and Amortization) increased 82.0% to $73.5 million in the first quarter of 2017 from $40.4 million in the first quarter of 2016, 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 59.8% to $64.6 million.
 
Following the close of the first quarter, the Company announced the April 6, 2017 closing of its amended Affiliate agreement with Sprint, which expands its affiliate service territory by adding approximately 500,000 POPs in the Parkersburg, WV; Huntington, WV and Cumberland, MD basic trading areas (“BTAs”).  Including this expansion, Shentel has authorization to serve over 6 million POPs in the mid-Atlantic region as a Sprint PCS Affiliate.  Shentel has agreed to invest approximately $32 million over the next three years to upgrade and expand the existing wireless network in those regions.
 
Page 1

President and CEO Christopher E. French commented, “Our first quarter reflects a solid start to 2017, with revenue growth and Adjusted OIBDA increases achieved in all of our segments.  The integration of customers and assets from the nTelos acquisition is proceeding as we expected and we’re pleased to be ahead of schedule migrating customers and combining operations.  Just after the quarter closed, we announced the expansion of our affiliate relationship with Sprint, which significantly enhances our presence in the mid-Atlantic region and we’re excited to be adding new service areas that will improve customer experience and create shareholder value.”
 
Wireless Segment
 
First quarter wireless service revenues increased $56.0 million or 107.3%, 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 management fees retained by Sprint as part of our amended affiliate agreement with Sprint.

Shentel had 717,150 wireless postpaid customers at March 31, 2017, up 127.5% over March 31, 2016, but down 5,412 in the quarter.  Net additions in the Legacy area were 1,487, offset by net losses in the new areas of 6,899.  Phone additions in the Legacy area were 2,122 or 143% of the net additions.  First quarter postpaid churn was 2.05% for the total company and 1.56% in the Legacy area.  The first quarter port in/port out ratio in the legacy area was 1.70:1, taking share from all carriers.  As expected, the port in/port out ratio improved but continued to be negative in the acquired nTelos areas.

There were 243,557 prepaid wireless customers at March 31, 2017, an increase of 101,018 compared to the first quarter of last year.  Prepaid net additions for the first quarter of 2017 were 7,419.  Total company first quarter prepaid churn was 4.86% and 4.81% in the Legacy area.

During the first quarter, the Company migrated 28,555 postpaid nTelos customers to Sprint’s back office, for a total of 116,348 since the acquisition. As planned, the prepaid migration was completed in late December, and the outsourced prepaid billing arrangement was terminated. At the current pace, Shentel expects to complete migrating the remaining postpaid nTelos customers by the end of the third quarter 2017.

First quarter Adjusted OIBDA in the Wireless segment was $61.4 million, an increase of 114.0% from the first quarter of 2016.  Continuing OIBDA in the Wireless segment was $52.5 million, up $23.8 million from the first quarter of 2016.

Mr. French continued, “The doubling of our customer base via the nTelos acquisition and the strategic expansion of our mid-Atlantic footprint have opened up ongoing opportunities for the growth of our Company.  We have made significant progress on our plans to upgrade services and improve network reach and reliability, and when completed we believe we will be among the most competitive in terms of service plan and coverage in the markets in which we operate.”
 
Cable Segment
 
Service revenues in the Cable segment increased $2.1 million or 8.5% to $26.4 million, primarily due to 2.2% growth in average RGUs (the sum of voice, data, and video users) to 132,846 ending RGU’s as of March 31, 2017, video rate increases implemented in January 2017 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 remained essentially flat at $25.9 million in the first quarter of 2017. Operating income was $3.1 million compared to $0.6 million in the prior year, primarily due to the continued transformation of our Cable segment from a video focus to broadband.
 
Adjusted OIBDA in the Cable segment for first quarter 2017 was $9.3 million, up 31.7% from $7.0 million in the first quarter of 2016.
 
“We recognize the importance of providing our customers with a robust cable network that delivers high speed bandwidth as well as reliability.  Our state of the art network meets these requirements and is gaining recognition in the marketplace among both new customers looking for a cable provider with the ability to consistently meet their high speed data needs and among our existing customers as they look to upgrade the alternatives available to them with their monthly subscription,” Mr. French stated.
 
Page 2

Wireline Segment
 
Revenue in the Wireline segment increased 4.2% to $19.2 million in the first quarter of 2016, as compared to $18.4 million in the first quarter of 2016.  Carrier access and fiber revenue for the quarter was $12.7 million, an increase of 5.8% from the same quarter last year, primarily as a result of new fiber contracts.  Operating expenses increased 6.0% or $0.8 million to $14.1 million for first quarter 2016, primarily due to costs to support new fiber contracts.
 
Adjusted OIBDA in the Wireline segment for first quarter 2017 was $8.4 million, as compared to $8.3 million in first quarter 2016.

Other Information

Capital expenditures were $38.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 compared to $20.5 million in the comparable 2016 period.

Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2017 were $39.9 million, compared to $36.2 million at December 31, 2016. Total outstanding debt at March 31, 2017 totaled $849.0 million, net of unamortized loan costs, compared to $829.3 million as of December 31, 2016.  At March 31, 2017, debt as a percent of total assets was 58%. The amount available to the Company through its revolver facility was $75.0 million.
 
Page 3

Conference Call and Webcast
 
The Company will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast Thursday, May 4, 2017, at 10:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
 
Teleconference Information:
 
May 4, 2017 10:00 A.M. (ET)
Dial in number: 1-888-695-7639
 
Password: 14671014
Audio webcast: http://investor.shentel.com/
 
An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call is complete, through May 12, 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, West Virginia, and portions of Kentucky and Ohio.  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)

   
March 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
 
             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
39,927
   
$
36,193
 
Other current assets
   
110,553
     
125,272
 
Total current assets
   
150,480
     
161,465
 
Investments
   
10,607
     
10,276
 
                 
Net property, plant and equipment
   
689,948
     
698,122
 
                 
Intangible assets, net
   
443,308
     
454,532
 
Goodwill
   
144,001
     
145,256
 
Deferred charges and other assets, net
   
14,645
     
14,756
 
Total assets
 
$
1,452,989
   
$
1,484,407
 
                 
Total current liabilities
   
110,353
     
164,263
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities
   
810,873
     
797,224
 
Total other liabilities
   
232,328
     
227,026
 
Total shareholders' equity
   
299,435
     
295,894
 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
 
$
1,452,989
   
$
1,484,407
 
 
Page 5

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

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
             
Operating revenues
 
$
153,880
   
$
92,571
 
                 
Cost of goods and services
   
53,761
     
31,762
 
Selling, general, and administrative
   
40,153
     
21,426
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
4,489
     
332
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
44,804
     
17,739
 
Total operating expenses
   
143,207
     
71,259
 
Operating income
   
10,673
     
21,312
 
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense
   
(9,100
)
   
(1,619
)
Gain on investments, net
   
120
     
88
 
Non-operating income, net
   
1,255
     
468
 
Income before taxes
   
2,948
     
20,249
 
                 
Income tax expense
   
607
     
6,368
 
Net income
 
$
2,341
   
$
13,881
 
                 
                 
Earnings per share:
               
Basic
 
$
0.05
   
$
0.29
 
Diluted
 
$
0.05
   
$
0.28
 
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic
   
49,050
     
48,563
 
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted
   
49,834
     
49,249
 
 
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 months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
73,541
   
$
40,416
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
64,601
   
$
40,416
 

The following table reconciles Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

Consolidated:
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
2017
   
2016
 
Operating income
 
$
10,673
   
$
21,312
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
44,804
     
17,739
 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
   
(28
)
   
(15
)
Plus share based compensation expense
   
1,566
     
1,048
 
Plus straight line adjustment to management fee waiver
   
4,206
     
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue
   
4,978
     
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in rent expense
   
258
     
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration (1)
   
2,595
     
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses
   
4,489
     
332
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
73,541
   
$
40,416
 
Less waived management fee
   
(8,940
)
   
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
64,601
   
$
40,416
 

(1) Once former nTelos customers migrate to the Sprint back office, the Company incurs certain postpaid fees retained by Sprint that would offset a portion of these savings.  For the three months ended March 31, 2017, these offsets were estimated at $0.8 million.
 
Page 8

The following tables reconcile Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income by major segment for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016:

Wireless Segment:
 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2017
   
2016
 
Operating income
 
$
9,137
   
$
19,932
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
35,752
     
8,494
 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
   
(24
)
   
13
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
725
     
271
 
Plus straight line adjustment to management fee waiver (3)
   
4,206
     
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in revenue
   
4,978
     
 
Plus amortization of intangible netted in rent expense
   
258
     
 
Plus temporary back office costs to support the billing operations through migration
   
2,593
     
 
Plus integration and acquisition related expenses (1)
   
3,792
     
 
Adjusted OIBDA
 
$
61,417
   
$
28,710
 
Less waived management fee (2)
   
(8,940
)
   
 
Continuing OIBDA
 
$
52,477
   
$
28,710
 

Cable Segment:
 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2017
   
2016
 
Operating income
 
$
3,139
   
$
597
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
5,788
     
6,095
 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
   
(23
)
   
(13
)
Plus share based compensation expense
   
364
     
358
 
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA
 
$
9,268
   
$
7,037
 

Wireline Segment:
 
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
 
2017
   
2016
 
Operating income
 
$
5,073
   
$
5,098
 
Plus depreciation and amortization
   
3,132
     
3,033
 
Plus (gain) loss on asset sales
   
30
     
 
Plus share based compensation expense
   
146
     
169
 
Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA
 
$
8,381
   
$
8,300
 

(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 back office, 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 months ended March 31, 2017, these offsets were estimated at $0.8 million.
(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:

   
March 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
   
March 31,
2016
   
December 31,
2015
 
Retail PCS Subscribers – Postpaid
   
717,150
     
722,562
     
315,231
     
312,512
 
Retail PCS Subscribers – Prepaid
   
243,557
     
236,138
     
142,539
     
142,840
 
PCS Market POPS (000) (1)
   
5,536
     
5,536
     
2,437
     
2,433
 
PCS Covered POPS (000) (1)
   
4,836
     
4,807
     
2,230
     
2,224
 
CDMA Base Stations (sites)
   
1,476
     
1,467
     
556
     
552
 
Towers Owned
   
196
     
196
     
157
     
158
 
Non-affiliate Cell Site Leases
   
206
     
202
     
202
     
202
 

The changes from March 31, 2016 to December 31, 2016 shown above include the effects of the nTelos acquisition and the exchange with Sprint on May 6, 2016.

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2017
   
2016
 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Postpaid
   
38,701
     
17,356
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Postpaid
   
(5,412
)
   
2,719
 
Gross PCS Subscriber Additions – Prepaid
   
42,168
     
21,231
 
Net PCS Subscriber Additions (Losses) – Prepaid
   
7,419
     
(301
)
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Postpaid (2)
   
2.05
%
   
1.56
%
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn % - Prepaid (2)
   
4.86
%
   
5.05
%

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)
PCS Average Monthly Retail Churn is the average of the monthly subscriber turnover, or churn, calculations for the period.

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

   
March 31,
2017
   
Dec. 31,
2016
   
March 31,
2016
   
Dec. 31,
2015
 
Telephone Access Lines (1)
   
18,160
     
18,443
     
19,682
     
20,252
 
Long Distance Subscribers
   
9,134
     
9,149
     
9,377
     
9,476
 
Video Customers (2)
   
5,201
     
5,264
     
5,232
     
5,356
 
DSL and Cable Modem Subscribers (1)
   
14,527
     
14,314
     
14,200
     
13,890
 
Fiber Route Miles
   
1,997
     
1,971
     
1,744
     
1,736
 
Total Fiber Miles (3)
   
145,060
     
142,230
     
125,559
     
123,891
 
 
Page 10

1)
Effective October 1, 2015, we launched cable modem services on our cable plant, and ceased the requirement that a customer have a telephone access line to purchase internet service.  As of March 31, 2017, 1,226 customers have purchased cable modem service received via the coaxial cable network.
 
2)
The Wireline segment’s video service passes approximately 16,500 homes.
 
3)
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.

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

   
March 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
   
March 31,
 2016
   
December 31,
2015
 
Homes Passed (1)
   
184,819
     
184,710
     
181,375
     
172,538
 
Customer Relationships (2)
                               
Video customers
   
47,160
     
48,512
     
50,195
     
48,184
 
Non-video customers
   
30,765
     
28,854
     
26,895
     
24,550
 
Total customer relationships
   
77,925
     
77,366
     
77,090
     
72,734
 
Video
                               
Customers (3)
   
49,384
     
50,618
     
52,468
     
50,215
 
Penetration (4)
   
25.5
%
   
27.4
%
   
28.9
%
   
29.1
%
Digital video penetration (5)
   
77.1
%
   
77.4
%
   
74.8
%
   
77.9
%
High-speed Internet
                               
Available Homes (6)
   
183,935
     
183,826
     
180,814
     
172,538
 
Customers (3)
   
61,815
     
60,495
     
58,273
     
55,131
 
Penetration (4)
   
33.6
%
   
32.9
%
   
32.2
%
   
32.0
%
Voice
                               
Available Homes (6)
   
181,198
     
181,089
     
178,077
     
169,801
 
Customers (3)
   
21,647
     
21,352
     
20,786
     
20,166
 
Penetration (4)
   
11.9
%
   
11.8
%
   
11.7
%
   
11.9
%
Total Revenue Generating Units (7)
   
132,846
     
132,465
     
131,527
     
125,512
 
Fiber Route Miles
   
3,233
     
3,137
     
2,955
     
2,844
 
Total Fiber Miles (8)
   
100,799
     
92,615
     
80,727
     
76,949
 
Average Revenue Generating Units
   
132,419
     
131,218
     
129,604
     
124,054
 

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.
 
4)
Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of customers by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
 
Page 11

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.

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.
 
Page 12

Three months ended March 31, 2017
 
(in thousands)
 
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
     
Eliminations
 
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                 
Service revenues
 
$
108,186
   
$
26,411
   
$
5,048
   
$
   
$
   
$
139,645
 
Other
   
6,042
     
2,035
     
6,158
     
     
     
14,235
 
Total external revenues
   
114,228
     
28,446
     
11,206
     
     
     
153,880
 
Internal revenues
   
1,235
     
567
     
7,948
     
     
(9,750
)
   
 
Total operating revenues
   
115,463
     
29,013
     
19,154
     
     
(9,750
)
   
153,880
 
                                             
Operating expenses
                                           
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
38,318
     
15,228
     
9,273
     
     
(9,058
)
   
53,761
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
28,464
     
4,858
     
1,676
     
5,847
     
(692
)
   
40,153
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
3,792
     
     
     
697
     
     
4,489
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
35,752
     
5,788
     
3,132
     
132
     
     
44,804
 
Total operating expenses
   
106,326
     
25,874
     
14,081
     
6,676
     
(9,750
)
   
143,207
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
9,137
   
$
3,139
   
$
5,073
   
$
(6,676
)
 
$
   
$
10,673
 
 
Three months ended March 31, 2016
 
(in thousands)
 
Wireless
   
Cable
   
Wireline
   
Other
   
Eliminations
   
Consolidated
Totals
 
External revenues
                                   
Service revenues
 
$
52,179
   
$
24,340
   
$
4,960
   
$
   
$
   
$
81,479
 
Other
   
3,203
     
1,846
     
6,043
     
             
11,092
 
Total external revenues
   
55,382
     
26,186
     
11,003
     
     
     
92,571
 
Internal revenues
   
1,136
     
260
     
7,376
             
(8,772
)
   
 
Total operating revenues
   
56,518
     
26,446
     
18,379
     
     
(8,772
)
   
92,571
 
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Costs of goods and services, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
16,578
     
14,647
     
8,643
     
     
(8,106
)
   
31,762
 
Selling, general and administrative, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below
   
11,514
     
5,108
     
1,605
     
3,865
     
(666
)
   
21,426
 
Integration and acquisition expenses
   
     
     
     
332
     
     
332
 
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,494
     
6,095
     
3,033
     
117
     
     
17,739
 
Total operating expenses
   
36,586
     
25,850
     
13,281
     
4,314
     
(8,772
)
   
71,259
 
Operating income (loss)
 
$
19,932
   
$
596
   
$
5,098
   
$
(4,314
)
 
$
   
$
21,312
 
 
Page 13

Wireless Service Revenues

(in thousands)
 
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
   
Change
 
Service Revenues
 
2017
   
2016
   
$
   
%
 
Postpaid net billings (1)
 
$
92,989
   
$
45,638
   
$
47,351
     
103.8
 
Sprint fees
                               
Management fee
   
(7,383
)
   
(3,651
)
   
(3,732
)
   
102.2
 
Net service fee
   
(7,200
)
   
(3,934
)
   
(3,266
)
   
83.0
 
Waiver of management fee
   
7,383
     
     
7,383
     
NM
 
     
(7,200
)
   
(7,585
)
   
385
     
(5.1
)
Prepaid net billings
                               
Gross billings
   
25,945
     
13,083
     
12,862
     
98.3
 
Sprint management fee
   
(1,557
)
   
(785
)
   
(772
)
   
98.3
 
Waiver of management fee
   
1,557
     
     
1,557
     
NM
 
     
25,945
     
12,298
     
13,647
     
111.0
 
Travel and other revenues
   
5,636
     
1,828
     
3,808
     
208.3
 
Accounting adjustments
                               
Amortization of expanded affiliate agreement
   
(4,978
)
   
     
(4,978
)
   
NM
 
Straight-line adjustment - management fee waiver
   
(4,206
)
   
     
(4,206
)
   
NM
 
     
(9,184
)
   
     
(9,184
)
   
NM
 
Total Service Revenues
 
$
108,186
   
$
52,179
   
$
56,007
     
107.3
 
 
(1)  Postpaid net billings are defined under the terms of the affiliate contract with Sprint to be the gross billings to customers within our service territory less billing credits and adjustments and allocated write-offs of uncollectible accounts.
 
 
Page 14