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(X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
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or
( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
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Commission File No. 0-15279
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
ALASKA 92-0072737
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
2550 Denali Street Suite 1000 Anchorage, Alaska 99503
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (907) 265-5600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Class A common stock Class B common stock
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(Title of class) (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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for the past 90 days. Yes /X/ No .
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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. [X]
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant, computed by reference to the average bid and asked prices of such
stock as of the close of trading on February 27, 1998 was approximately
$240,855,000.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of
February 27, 1998, was:
Class A common stock - 45,329,069 shares; and
Class B common stock - 4,062,864 shares.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
-----------------------------------
Certain portions of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed
pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the registrant to be
held on June 4, 1998 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
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GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
1997 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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PART I........................................................................................................3
Item 1. Business..........................................................................................3
General Background and Description of Business..........................................................3
Industries..............................................................................................3
Geographic Concentration and Alaska Economy.............................................................6
Products................................................................................................7
Seasonality.............................................................................................9
Customer-Sponsored Research.............................................................................9
Facilities..............................................................................................9
Customers..............................................................................................10
Alaska Voice, Video and Data Markets...................................................................12
Competition............................................................................................13
Financial Information About Industry Segments..........................................................17
Recent Developments....................................................................................17
Employees..............................................................................................19
Environmental Regulations..............................................................................19
Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales.......................................................20
Backlog of Orders and Inventory........................................................................20
Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Certificates............................................................20
Regulation, Franchise Authorizations and Tariffs.......................................................21
Other..................................................................................................23
Item 2. Properties.......................................................................................23
Item 3. Legal Proceedings................................................................................24
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote Of Security Holders..............................................24
PART II......................................................................................................25
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters........................25
Market Information for Common Stock....................................................................25
Holders................................................................................................25
Dividends..............................................................................................25
Item 6. Selected Financial Data..........................................................................26
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations............27
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk......................................40
Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data........................................40
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.............40
PART III.....................................................................................................40
PART IV......................................................................................................72
Item 14. Exhibits, Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K...................72
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PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
General Background and Description of Business
General Communication, Inc. ("GCI") was incorporated in 1979 under the laws
of the State of Alaska. GCI is primarily a holding company and together with its
subsidiaries (collectively the "Company"), is a diversified telecommunications
provider with a leading position in facilities-based long distance service in
the State of Alaska and is Alaska's leading cable television service provider.
The Company seeks to become the first significant provider in Alaska of an
integrated package of long distance, local and wireless telecommunications
services, cable television services and Internet services.
Complementing its long distance, cable, and cellular resale operations, the
Company introduced facilities based competitive local exchange services in
Anchorage, Alaska in 1997. The Company has announced plans to provide similar
competitive local exchange services in Alaska's other major population centers.
The Company also acquired a state-wide 30 MHz B block personal communication
service ("PCS") license in June 1995 and is currently evaluating various
technologies for a proposed wireless PCS network. The Company has obtained
financing and has begun construction of an undersea fiber optic cable linking
Alaska with the lower 48 states. The Company plans to offer retail Internet
services in 1998.
Telecommunication Services. The Company supplies a full range of
common-carrier long-distance and other telecommunication products and services
to residential, commercial and government users. The Company operates a
state-of-the-art, competitive telecommunications network employing the latest
digital transmission technology based upon fiber optic and digital microwave
facilities within and between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, a digital fiber
optic cable linking Alaska to the networks of other carriers in the lower 49
states and the use of satellite transmission to remote areas of Alaska (and for
certain interstate traffic as well). The Company also offers data communication
equipment sales and technical services. Telecommunication services that the
Company provides are carried over facilities that are owned by the Company or
are leased from other companies.
Cable Services. As a result of acquisitions completed effective October 31,
1996, the Company has become Alaska's leading cable television service provider
to residential, commercial and government users in the State of Alaska. The
Company's cable systems serve 26 communities and areas in Alaska, including the
state's three largest urban areas, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. The Company
cable systems consist of approximately 1,820 miles of installed cable plant
having 300 to 450 MHz of channel capacity.
Local Services. The Company's local services division entered the local
services market in Anchorage in 1997, providing services to residential,
commercial, and government users. The Company can access approximately 95% of
Anchorage area local loops from its colocated remote digital facilities and
digital line carrier installations. The Company offers resale of its
competitor's local service where the Company does not have access to loop
facilities.
Industries
General. The Company's management believes that the size and growth
potential of the voice, video and data market, the increasing deregulation of
telecommunications services, and the increased convergence of telephony,
wireless and cable services offer the Company considerable opportunities to
integrate its telecommunications and cable services and expand into
communications markets both within and, longer-term, outside of Alaska. The
Company's management expects the rate of growth in industry-wide
telecommunications revenues to increase as the historical dominance of monopoly
providers is challenged as a result of deregulation. Considerable deregulation
has already taken place in the United States as a result of the Federal
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Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "1996 Telecom Act") with the barriers to
competition between telecommunications, local exchange and cable providers being
lowered. The Company's management believes that its acquisition of cable
television systems and its development of local exchange service and ultimately,
PCS leave it well positioned to take advantage of this deregulation of
telecommunications markets.
The telecommunications and cable television industries have been
characterized by rapid technological change, frequent new service introductions
and evolving industry standards. The U.S. telecommunication industry remains in
a state of flux, with companies faced with the challenges of new technologies
and rapid changes in the competitive and regulatory environment. Growing
competition has resulted in lower prices, which could stimulate ongoing volume
gains, even in the heavily saturated U.S. market. The 1996 Telecom Act, emerging
technologies, and a blurring of distinctions among industry sectors all portend
new revenue possibilities for the industry. Where the focus was once on
regulation of a closely guarded monopoly, regulators are now ushering the
telecommunication industry into an era of competition and reduced regulation.
Decisions made now will influence the industry's future in ways difficult to
foresee, as technology continues to catapult the industry forward.
The impact of deregulation will continue to affect the telecommunications
industry going forward. The participation of interexchange carriers ("IXCs") in
the local market should eventually exert downward pressure on pricing. In the
short-run, however, some analysts expect the reduction in access fees to reduce
the subsidy to local services, and local rates may increase. At the same time,
growing use of the Internet and computer networking, and the continuing
transformation to an information-based economy, are expected to stimulate demand
for new facilities and higher usage levels. In addition, the growing number of
teenagers in the home, stemming from the rise in births that began in the 1980s,
are expected to generate an added demand for access lines in the home.
Deregulation is expected to drive access rates down, but lower long
distance rates should lead to increased long distance volume, which should help
offset the drop in rates. Currently, Internet service providers ("ISPs") are
exempt from paying access fees, a key factor in allowing them to offer flat-rate
pricing which has helped drive Internet usage. The Regional Bell Operating
Companies ("RBOCs") have petitioned the Federal Communications Commissions
("FCC") to require the ISPs to pay access fees. Access revenue growth is
expected to trend downward over the remainder of the decade, but total revenues
are expected increase to $35.0 billion in 2000.
The size of the competitive local marketplace has doubled in the year and a
half since passage of the 1996 Telecom Act. Many companies now compete with
incumbent providers. Many of the facilities-based competitive local exchange
carriers ("CLECs") have begun to deploy digital switches to compete head-to-head
with incumbents in the switched dial tone arena. Still other CLECs have begun to
offer high-speed data services including Internet access for ISPs, Intranets for
corporate customers, and frame relay over state-of-the-art asynchronous transfer
mode network backbones.
The confluence of new technology and consumer response is forcing
competition among telephone, computer, and entertainment industries just as each
industry converges on similar digital technologies. As opportunities for new
wireless and video services arise and competitors expand beyond their
traditional markets, competition between existing telephone companies and these
major industries will likely intensify. To survive in this competitive
environment, the Company must respond to this technologically driven change with
services that its customers demand.
Telecommunication Services. Among telecommunications services, toll service
revenues represented the largest component, spurred by double-digit increases in
international toll calls, an outgrowth of the expansion in international trade,
and volume gains in domestic long distance service that more than offset price
declines. Industry analysts believe that declining access fees resulting from
deregulation, along with increased competition as local exchange carriers
("LECs") enter the interLATA market, will lower the cost of long distance
service, which should further boost
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volume, as will continued economic expansion. Growth in Internet usage is
expected to increase demand as Internet-access providers lease lines in order to
facilitate Internet traffic.
Cable Services. The programmed video services industry includes traditional
broadcast television, cable television, wireless cable, and direct broadcast
satellite ("DBS") systems. Cable television providers have added non-broadcast
programming, utilized improved technology to increase channel capacity and
expanded service markets to include more densely populated areas and those
communities in which off-air reception is not problematic. Broadcast television
stations including network affiliates and independent stations generally serve
the urban centers. One or more local television stations may serve smaller
communities. Rural communities may not receive local broadcasting or have cable
systems but may receive direct broadcast programming via a satellite dish.
In Alaska, cable television was introduced in the 1970s to provide
television signals to communities with few or no available off-air television
signals and to communities with poor reception or other reception difficulties
caused by terrain interference. Since that time, as on the national level, the
cable television providers in Alaska have added non-broadcast programming.
Local Services. 1997 was distinguished by its lack of progress in opening
the local access market up to significant competition on an industry-wide basis.
While the most lucrative business customers have benefited from increased choice
and lower prices, residential customers in most areas will have to wait as long
distance companies and competitive local exchange carriers drive to lower access
costs through regulatory relief, development of their own local access solutions
or the use of third party suppliers.
Use of the Internet and expansion in the use of local areas networks
("LANs") and wide area networks ("WANs") generated an increased demand for
access lines. In the home, the growing use of computers, faxes, and the Internet
led to increases in access lines and usage. The emergence of new services,
including digital cellular radio, personal communications services, interactive
TV, and video dial tone, has created opportunities for significant growth in
local loop services. These opportunities are also laying the foundation for a
restructuring of the newly competitive local loop services market. Not only are
competitors entering the core business of the local telephone companies, but
they are beginning to pursue the fast-growing markets that previously were
closed to them, such as consumer video.
Wireless Services. Wireless communications services have posted annual
growth rates in excess of 20 percent over the last decade. Declining prices and
the increased productivity that mobile communications provides for both
businesses and consumers have stimulated usage and spending. Declining prices
have been an important factor in generating penetration growth for both the
cellular and paging industries. Increased competition is prompting many cellular
carriers to consider adopting dual branding strategies, segmenting the market
into early adopter and mass market audiences and targeting each with a different
branded level of service.
The FCC adopted a broad set of rules for the licensing of PCS in September
1993. The FCC concluded an auction of spectrum to be used for the provision of
PCS in March 1995. The FCC's efforts are expected to encourage reduction of
communication prices and put the technology within financial reach of most
American homes and businesses. PCS licensees will be required to offer service
to at least one-third of their market population within five years or risk
losing their licenses. Service must be extended to two-thirds of the population
within 10 years. Industry analysts predict that PCS will grow rapidly, reaching
17.9 million subscribers by 2005. PCS's success is expected to occur even with
competition from other wireless services such as cellular, paging and enhanced
specialized mobile radio. Increases in services are expected to be fueled by
declining rates and expanded coverage. All wireless communications services are
expected to continue to expand at double-digit rates over the remainder of the
decade.
New and Emerging Services. Communication sectors not traditionally
competitive with telephone companies, such as cable and wireless services, are
projected to grow an average of 10.9%
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per year. This compares with the projected 3% average per year growth in revenue
for traditional local telephone services through 1998. Cable TV companies may
gain a competitive advantage through marketing of cable modems. Computer-based
services likely will be a strong market for cable TV firms. Cable modems may
enable them to offer a competitive alternative to the second telephone line into
the home, providing high-speed access to data services. Content is expected to
be the ultimate driver of Cable TV profits and may determine which companies
gain the most market share.
Unlicensed PCS is an emerging area for on-site or campus-wide use. The
unlicensed spectrum, previously occupied by microwave users, is in the process
of being cleared for PCS by the FCC-endorsed industry coalition given this
charter. Analysts believe the expansion of unlicensed PCS should lead to a jump
in spending on in-building wireless communications equipment.
Geographic Concentration and Alaska Economy
The Company offers telecommunication and video services to customers
primarily throughout Alaska. As a result of this geographic concentration, the
Company's growth and operations depend upon economic conditions in Alaska. The
economy of Alaska is dependent upon the natural resource industries, and in
particular oil production, as well as tourism, government, and United States
military spending. Any deterioration in these markets could have an adverse
impact on the Company. Oil revenues over the past several years have contributed
in excess of 75% of the revenues from all segments of the Alaska economy and are
projected to account for 77% in 1998.
The volume of oil transported by the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline System over
the past 20 years has been as high as 2.0 million barrels per day in 1988. Over
the past several years, it has begun to decline. The two largest producers of
oil in Alaska (the primary users of the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline System)
continue to explore, develop and produce new oil fields and to enhance recovery
from existing fields to offset the decline in production from the Prudhoe Bay
field. Both companies have invested large sums of money in developing and
implementing oil recovery techniques at the Prudhoe Bay field and other nearby
fields. New oil field development is expected to result in an increase in oil
production in 2000 and 2001. Oil production is projected to decline over the
long term at approximately 6 percent per year.
Effective March 1997, the State of Alaska passed new legislation relaxing
state oil royalties with respect to marginal oil fields that the oil companies
claim would not be economic to develop otherwise. No assurance can be given that
these two oil companies or other oil companies doing business in Alaska will be
successful in discovering new fields or further developing existing fields which
are economic to develop and produce oil with access to the pipeline or other
means of transport to market, even with the reduced level of royalties. Should
the oil companies not be successful in these discoveries or developments, the
long term trend of continued decline in oil production from the Prudhoe Bay
field area is inevitable with a corresponding adverse impact on the economy of
the state, in general, and on demand for telecommunications and cable television
services, and, therefore, on the Company, in particular.
Market prices for North Slope oil have declined to below $11 per barrel in
March 1998, below the average price of approximately $18 per barrel used by the
State of Alaska to budget its oil related revenues. The State of Alaska
maintains surplus accounts that are intended to fund budgetary shortfalls and
would be expected to fund all or a portion of the revenue shortfall. The Company
is not able to predict the effect of declines in the price of North Slope oil on
the State of Alaska's economy or on the Company.
The Company has, since its entry into the telecommunication marketplace
aggressively marketed its services to seek a larger share of the available
market. However, with a small population of approximately 600,000 people,
one-half of whom are located in the Anchorage area and the rest of whom are
spread out over the vast reaches of Alaska, the customer base in Alaska is
limited. No assurance can be given that the driving forces in the Alaska
economy, and in particular, oil production, will continue at levels to provide
an environment for expanded economic activity.
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Products
The Company operates in three industry segments and offers five primary
product lines. The telecommunication services industry segment offers
long-distance message toll services, private line and private network services,
the cable services industry segment offers cable television services, and the
local services industry segment offers local telecommunication services.
Telecommunication Services. The Company offers a broad spectrum of
telecommunication services to residential, commercial and government customers
primarily throughout Alaska.
The Company's long-distance services industry segment is engaged in the
transmission of interstate and intrastate switched MTS and private line and
private network communication service between the major communities in Alaska,
and the remaining United States and foreign countries. The Company's message
toll services include intrastate, interstate and international direct dial, 800
and 888, calling and debit card, operator and enhanced conference calling, as
well as termination of northbound toll service for MCI, U. S. Sprint ("Sprint")
and several large resellers who do not have facilities of their own in Alaska.
The Company also provides origination of southbound calling card and 800 and 888
toll services for MCI and Sprint customers. Regulated telephone relay services
for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impaired are provided through the
Company's operator service center. The Company offers its message services to
commercial, residential, and government subscribers. Subscribers may generally
cancel service at any time. Toll related services account for approximately
70.0%, 86.5%, and 92.8% of the Company's 1997, 1996, and 1995 total revenues,
respectively. Private line and private network services utilize voice and data
transmission circuits, dedicated to particular subscribers, which link a device
in one location to another in a different location.
The Company has positioned itself as a price and customer service leader in
the Alaska telecommunication market. Rates charged for the Company's
telecommunication services are designed to be equal to or below those for
comparable services provided by its competitors.
In addition to providing communication services, the Company designs,
sells, services and operates, on behalf of certain customers, dedicated
communication and computer networking equipment and provides field/depot, third
party, technical support, consulting and outsourcing services through its
systems sales and service business. The Company also supplies integrated voice
and data communication systems incorporating interstate and intrastate digital
private lines, point-to-point and multipoint private network and small earth
station services. The Company's equipment sales and services revenue totaled
$10.2 million in the year ended December 31, 1997, or approximately 4.6% of
total revenues. Presently, there are five companies in Alaska that actively sell
and maintain data and voice communication systems.
The Company's ability to integrate telecommunications networks and data
communication equipment has allowed it to maintain its market position on the
basis of "value added" support rather than price competition. The Company has
expanded its technical services business to include outsourcing, onsite
technical contract services and telecommunications consulting. The Company has
consolidated its technical services business into a new department, Enterprise
Services. This department provides a number of technical operating and
engineering services directly to commercial customers. These services are
blended with other transport products into unique customer solutions, including
managed services and outsourcing.
The Company, using its new demand assigned multiple access ("DAMA")
facilities, expanded its network to 56 additional locations within the State of
Alaska in 1996. The digital DAMA system allows calls to be made between remote
villages using only one satellite hop thereby reducing satellite delay and
capacity requirements while improving quality. The Company obtained the
necessary Alaska Public Utilities Commission ("APUC") and FCC approvals waiving
current prohibitions against construction of competitive facilities in rural
Alaska, allowing for deployment of DAMA technology in 56 sites in rural Alaska
on a demonstration basis. Construction and partial
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deployment occurred in 1996, with deployment completed in 1997. At December 31,
1997 all but four sites were operating. The remaining sites are expected to
begin operations in 1998. Construction, deployment and upgrade costs totaled
$23.0 million through December 31, 1997.
The FCC concluded an auction of spectrum to be used for the provision of
PCS in March 1995. The FCC named the Company as the high bidder for one of the
two 30 megahertz blocks of spectrum, with Alaska statewide coverage. Acquisition
of the license for a cost of $1.7 million is anticipated to allow the Company to
introduce new PCS services in Alaska.
Cable Services. The programming services offered to subscribers of the
Company's cable television systems differ by system (all information as of
December 31, 1997).
Anchorage, Bethel, Kenai and Soldotna systems. Each system offered a basic
service. In addition, Anchorage and Bethel offer a cable programming service
("CPS"). A new product tier ("NPT") is only offered in the Anchorage cable
system. The Anchorage system, which is located in the urban center for Alaska,
is fully addressable, with all optional services scrambled, aside from the
broadcast basic. Kenai, Soldotna, and Bethel had fewer channels, less service
options and less an urban orientation, and use traps for program control. As a
result, these smaller systems do not have access to pay-per-view services. These
systems are expected to be upgraded in 1998 which will provide additional
channel capacity and capabilities that will allow for new services such as
pay-per-view and two-way transmissions.
The composition and rates of the levels of service vary between the
systems. The Anchorage cable system offers a basic service that includes
18-channels. The Anchorage cable system offers a CPS that includes 26 channels
at an additional cost. Subscribers, for an additional cost, receive the six
channel NPT service which includes TNT, CNN, Discovery, MSNBC, Outdoor Life and
the Sci-/Fi Channel. The Bethel cable system offers a basic service and a CPS of
13 channels for an additional cost per month. The basic service for the
Kenai/Soldotna cable system consisted of 32 channels. Pay TV services are
available either individually or as part of a discounted value package.
Commercial subscribers such as hospitals, hotels and motels were charged
negotiated monthly service fees. Apartment and other multi-unit dwelling
complexes received basic services at a negotiated bulk rate.
Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka systems. The programming services
currently offered to subscribers are structured so that each cable system
offered a basic service and a CPS. Each of the cable systems has different basic
service packages at different rates. Fairbanks, the second largest city in
Alaska, has a fully addressable system and offers a 12-channel basic and 33
channel CPS tier. Two channels of pay-per-view are available to basic and CPS
subscribers. Fairbanks, North Pole, Fort Wainwright, and Eielson Air Force Base
are all served by the Fairbanks headend and have the same lineup. Fort Greely, a
remote military post, is a stand-alone system, which is fully addressable. Fort
Greely has 8 basic channels, a 21-channel CPS tier, and 1 pay-per-view channel
available to all subscribers. The Juneau cable system offered an 11-channel
basic service package and a Tier 1 that included the basic service plus an
additional 4 channels. The system also offered a CPS Tier 2 that consisted of
the basic service plus Tier 1 service and additional 34 channels. The Ketchikan
system offered an 8-channel basic service and a CPS Tier 1 that consisted of the
basic service plus 33 additional channels. The system also offered a NPT Tier 2
that consisted of the basic service, the CPS Tier 1 and an additional 5
channels. The Sitka system offered an 8 channel basic service. An expanded basic
service included the basic service plus 38 additional channels.
The Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka systems are expected to be upgraded in
1998. When complete, the systems will have the capacity to add an additional 16
channels. The Juneau and Ketchikan systems are expected to become addressable in
1998 allowing the introduction of additional pay-per-view channels.
Kodiak, Valdez, Cordova, Petersburg, Wrangell, Kotzebue and Nome systems.
These systems offered up to 30 channels of the most popular basic cable
channels, as well as the major broadcast networks, packaged into three levels of
service. The basic service consisted of three channels, one
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of which was a PBS channel. The CPS Tier 1 (which included the basic service)
had either 24 or 25 channels. The CPS Tier 2 had between 8 and 14 cable
channels. In addition, each system offered 4 or 5 channels of premium pay
services, except for Kodiak, which offered 8 channels of premium pay services
and 3 channels of pay-per-view programming. In 1994, the Kodiak cable system was
rebuilt to allow added channel capacity. At that time, addressability was added
to the system in order to add the 3 channels of pay-per-view movies. In 1998
Kodiak, Kotzebue, Nome, Valdez and Cordova plant upgrades are expected to be
completed allowing for additional services and new technology.
Seward system. The Seward cable system was upgraded in 1997. Total channels
were increased to 49 channels offered, packaged into two levels of service.
Basic service was expanded from 3 to 8 channels. CPS had 30 channels (including
the basic service) and was expanded to 44. All of the channels, with the
exception of local origination programming and a single translator channel
licensed to the City of Seward, were received via satellite. In addition there
were five channels of premium pay services. The system is fully addressable. The
system provides 12 channels to 300 outlets in a State of Alaska correction
facility through a separate receive and headend site.
Homer system. The Homer cable system was upgraded in 1997. Total channels
were increased to 50 packaged into two levels of service. Basic service was
expanded from 8 channels to 12. CPS had 36 channels (including the basic service
channels) and was expanded to 45 channels. All of the channels, with the
exception of four local translator channels and local origination programming,
are received via satellite. In addition, five channels of premium pay services
are offered. The system is fully addressable.
Local Services. The Company began offering local exchange services
initially in Anchorage during late September 1997. The Company's digital loop
carrier ("DLC") system allows the Company to offer its own full featured,
switched-based local service products to both residential and commercial
customers. The Company can gain access to approximately 95% of the Anchorage
area local loops from colocated remote facilities and DLC installations. In
areas where the company does not have access to loop facilities, it offers
resale of the Anchorage Telephone Utility's ("ATU") local service. ATU is a
public utility owned by the Municipality of Anchorage.
Seasonality
Long distance revenues have historically been highest in the summer months
as a result of temporary population increases attributable to tourism and
increased seasonal economic activity such as construction, commercial fishing,
and oil and gas activities. Cable television revenues, on the other hand, are
higher in the winter months because consumers tend to watch more television, and
spend more time at home, during these months. Local service operations are not
expected to exhibit significant seasonality. The Company's ability to implement
construction projects is also reduced during the winter months because of cold
temperatures, snow and short daylight hours.
Customer-sponsored research.
The Company has not expended material amounts during the last three fiscal
years on customer-sponsored research activities.
Facilities
Telecommunication Services. Currently, the Company's telecommunication
facilities comprise earth stations at Eagle River, Fairbanks, Juneau, Prudhoe
Bay, Valdez, Kodiak, Sitka, Ketchikan, Unalaska and Cordova, all in Alaska and
at Issaquah, Washington, serving the communities in their vicinity. The Eagle
River and Fairbanks earth stations are linked by digital microwave facilities to
distribution centers in Anchorage and Fairbanks, respectively. The Issaquah
earth station is connected with the Seattle distribution center by means of
diversely routed fiber optic cable transmission systems, each having the
capability to restore the other in the event of failure. The Juneau earth
station and distribution centers are co-located. The Ketchikan, Prudhoe Bay,
Valdez,
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Kodiak, Sitka, Unalaska and Cordova installations consist only of an earth
station. The Company constructed microwave facilities serving the Kenai
Peninsula communities and owns a 49 percent interest in an earth station located
on Adak Island in Alaska. The Company maintains an operator service center in
Wasilla, Alaska. Each of the distribution centers contains electronic switches
to route calls to and from local exchange companies and, in Seattle, to obtain
access to MCI and other facilities to distribute the Company's southbound
traffic to the remaining 49 states and international destinations. During 1996,
the Company expanded its network by constructing DAMA earth station facilities
in 56 additional communities in rural Alaska.
Leasing Company owns a portion of an undersea fiber optic cable which
allows the Company to carry its Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, Kenai
Peninsula, Glenallen and approximately one-half of its Fairbanks area traffic to
and from the contiguous lower 48 states over a terrestrial circuit, eliminating
the one-quarter second delay associated with a satellite circuit. The Company's
preferred routing for this traffic is via the undersea fiber optic cable, which
makes available satellite capacity to carry the Company's intrastate traffic.
The Company employs satellite transmission for certain other major routes
and uses advanced digital transmission technology throughout its system.
Pursuant to a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement entered into in
August 1995 the Company leases C-band transponders on Hughes Communications
Galaxy, Inc. ("Hughes") Galaxy IX satellite and has agreed to acquire satellite
transponders on Hughes Galaxy X satellite to meet its long-term satellite
capacity requirements. The Galaxy X satellite is expected to be placed in
service during the third quarter of 1998. The Company paid a $9.1 million
deposit to Hughes during 1996. The balance payable upon expected delivery of the
transponders in 1998 is not expected to exceed $41 million.
The Company employs advanced transmission technologies to carry as many
voice circuits as possible through a satellite transponder without sacrificing
voice quality. Other technologies such as terrestrial microwave systems,
metallic cable, and fiber optics tend to be favored more for point-to-point
applications where the volume of traffic is substantial. With a sparse
population spread over a wide geographic area, neither terrestrial microwave or
fiber optic transmission technology will be economically feasible in rural
Alaska in the foreseeable future.
Cable Services. The Company's cable television businesses are located in
Anchorage, Eagle River, Chugiak, Peters Creek, Kenai, Soldotna, Bethel, Fort
Richardson, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, North Pole,
Fort Greely, Eielson Air Force Base, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg,
Wrangell, Cordova, Homer, Sitka, Valdez, Kodiak, Kotzebue, and Nome, Alaska.
Company facilities include cable plant and head-end distribution equipment.
Certain of the head-end distribution centers are co-located with customer
service and administrative offices.
Local Telecommunication Services. During 1997 the Company installed a host
5ESS switching system. Additionally the Company colocated beside or within ATU's
local switching offices six (6) remote facilities to access unbundled loop
network elements. In February 1998 the Company installed a digital loop carrier
system beside a smaller, seventh ATU wire center. These remote and DLC
facilities are interconnected to the host switch via Company-owned diversely
routed fiber optic links.
Customers
Telecommunication Services. The Company had approximately 89,000, 93,900
and 85,600 active Alaska subscribers to its message telephone service at
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Approximately 11,500, 11,000 and
9,500 of these were business and government users at December 31, 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively, and the remainder were residential customers. MTS revenues
averaged approximately $10.9 million per month during 1997.
Substantially all service areas, in which the Company has facilities,
except Bethel, Alaska and most locations serviced by DAMA facilities, have
completed the equal access balloting process.
-10-
The Company estimates it carries 33% to 49% of the southbound interstate MTS
traffic and 21% to 48% of the intrastate MTS traffic originating in those
service areas.
A summary of switched MTS traffic minutes follows:
Interstate Minutes
------------------------------
Combined
Interstate
Inter- and Inter-
South- North- Calling national national Intrastate
For Quarter ended bound bound Card Minutes Minutes Minutes
[6~ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(amounts in thousands)
March 31, 1995 58,759 41,600 4,351 1,381 106,091 21,208
June 30, 1995 63,475 43,721 4,113 1,556 112,865 23,051
September 30, 1995 70,219 45,027 4,233 1,699 121,178 23,883
December 31, 1995 70,570 46,545 5,518 1,749 124,382 25,228
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
Total 1995 263,023 176,893 18,215 6,385 464,516 93,370
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
March 31, 1996 76,369 49,158 6,094 1,890 133,511 28,910
June 30, 1996 81,753 51,465 6,049 1,964 141,231 30,671
September 30, 1996 86,094 52,856 6,453 1,896 147,299 31,253
December 31, 1996 82,255 55,675 7,863 1,774 147,567 30,374
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
Total 1996 326,471 209,154 26,459 7,524 569,608 121,208
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
March 31, 1997 83,284 56,588 8,110 1,741 149,723 32,020
June 30, 1997 85,933 58,420 7,189 1,795 153,337 34,405
September 30, 1997 93,510 60,390 5,530 1,842 161,272 34,755
December 31, 1997 87,657 61,992 5,157 1,703 156,509 31,962
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
Total 1997 350,384 237,390 25,986 7,081 620,841 133,142
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
------- ------- ------ ----- ------- -------
- ----------------
All minutes data were taken from the Company's billing statistics reports.
In 1993, the Company entered into a significant business relationship with
MCI which includes the following agreements: (1) the Company agreed to terminate
all Alaska-bound MCI long distance traffic and MCI agreed to terminate all of
the Company's long distance traffic terminating in the lower 49 states excluding
Washington, Oregon and Hawaii; (2) MCI licensed certain service marks to the
Company for use in Alaska; (3) MCI, in connection with providing to the Company
credit enhancement to permit the Company to purchase an undersea cable linking
Seward, Alaska, with Pacific City, Oregon, leased from the Company all of the
capacity owned by the Company on the undersea fiber optic cable and the Company
leased such capacity back from MCI; (4) MCI purchased certain service marks of
the Company; and (5) the parties agreed to share some communications network
resources and various marketing, engineering and operating resources. The
Company also handles MCI's 800 and 888 traffic originating in Alaska and
terminating in the lower 49 states and handles traffic for MCI's calling card
customers when they are in Alaska. Concurrently with these agreements, MCI
purchased approximately 31% (19.3% as of December 31, 1997) of GCI's Common
Stock and presently controls nominations to two seats on the Board. In
conjunction with the Cable Acquisition Transactions, MCI purchased an additional
two million shares at a premium to the then current market price for $13 million
or $6.50 per share.
Revenues attributed to the MCI Agreement in 1997, 1996, and 1995 totaled
$34.3 million, $29.2 million and $23.9 million, or 15.3%, 17.7% and 18.5% of
total revenues, respectively. The contract was amended in March 1996 extending
its term three years to March 31, 2001. The amendment also reduced the rate in
dollars to be charged by the Company for certain MCI traffic for the period
April 1, 1996 through July 1, 1999 and thereafter. With the amendments, the
Company is assured that
-11-
MCI, the Company's largest customer, will continue to make use of the Company's
service during the extended term.
In 1993 the Company entered into a long-term agreement with Sprint,
pursuant to which the Company agreed to terminate all Alaska-bound Sprint
long-distance traffic and Sprint agreed to handle substantially all of the
Company's international traffic. Services provided pursuant to the contract with
Sprint resulted in revenues in 1997, 1996 and 1995 of approximately $24.4
million, $18.8 million and $14.9 million, or approximately 10.9%, 11.4% and
11.5% of total revenues, respectively.
Both MCI and Sprint are major customers of the Company in its
telecommunication services industry segment. Loss of one or both of these
customers would have a significant detrimental effect on the Company's revenues
and contribution. There are no other individual customers, the loss of which
would have a material impact on the Company's revenues or gross profit.
The Company provided private line and private network communication
products and services to approximately 781 commercial and government accounts in
1997. Private lines and private network communication products and services
generated approximately 7.1% of total long-distance revenues in the year ended
December 31, 1997.
Although the Company has several agreements to facilitate the origination
and termination of international toll traffic, it has neither foreign operations
nor export sales (see -Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales).
Cable Services. As of December 31, 1997 the Company cable systems passed
approximately 167,500 homes or approximately 78% of all households in Alaska,
and served approximately 108,000 subscribers. 1997 revenues derived from cable
television services totaled $55.2 million.
Local Services. The Company had approximately 3,300 active Anchorage
subscribers to its local telecommunication service at December 31, 1997. 1997
revenues derived from local services totaled $610,000.
Alaska Voice, Video and Data Markets
The Alaskan voice, video and data markets are unique within the United
States. Alaska is physically distant from the rest of the United States and is
characterized by large geographical size and relatively small, dense population
clusters (with the exception of population centers such as Anchorage, Fairbanks
and Juneau). It lacks a well-developed terrestrial transportation
infrastructure, and the majority of Alaska's communities are accessible only by
air or water. As a result, Alaska's telecommunications networks are different
from those found in the lower 49 states.
Alaska today relies extensively on satellite-based long distance
transmission for intrastate calling between remote communities where investment
in a terrestrial network would be uneconomic or impractical. Also, given the
remoteness of Alaska's communities and lack, in many cases, of major civic
institutions such as hospitals, libraries and universities, Alaskans are
dependent on telecommunications to access the resources and information of large
metropolitan areas in the rest of the U.S. and elsewhere. In addition to
satellite-based communications, the telecommunications infrastructure in Alaska
includes traditional copper wire, digital microwave links between Anchorage and
Fairbanks and Juneau and fiber optic cable. For interstate and international
communication, Alaska is currently connected to the lower 49 states by undersea
fiber optic cable with a capacity of nine DS3s and is backed-up by additional
satellite capacity.
Prior to 1982, Alascom was the sole long distance carrier in Alaska. Under
an agreement with the State of Alaska, Alascom was required to maintain a number
of low bandwidth links and expand service to remote or less developed areas of
the state. Interstate rates initially charged for Alaska telecommunications
services had been substantially higher than interstate rates in the contiguous
48 states. In 1972, the FCC established a policy of rate integration intended to
equalize all domestic
-12-
interstate rates based on distances of calls. This policy was used to support a
subsidy mechanism to help Alascom cover higher costs associated with rural
operations. When the Company began providing interstate long distance service in
1982, AT&T Corp. ("AT&T") provided almost all of the telecommunications services
in the lower 49 states, and Alascom provided almost all of the long distance
telecommunications services in Alaska and between Alaska and the lower 49 states
and foreign countries. Although Alascom's business was highly subsidized, the
Company competed against Alascom without the advantage of a subsidy. In 1983,
the State of Alaska petitioned the FCC to initiate a rulemaking to determine how
to rationalize the policies of rate integration and competition in the Alaska
market in light of the rapid changes in the telecommunications industry brought
on by the AT&T divestiture and changing FCC competition policies. This action
ultimately led to a negotiated purchase of Alascom from Pacific Telecom, Inc.
("PTI") by AT&T in August 1995 for consideration of approximately $350 million.
After the purchase, Alascom changed its name to AT&T Alascom.
The Alaskan telecommunications business today comprises three distinct
markets: long distance services (interstate and intrastate), local exchange
services and wireless communications services (cellular and eventually PCS). In
the local exchange market, the Company will compete against various incumbent
local exchange carriers including ATU in Anchorage and PTI in Juneau. PTI
acquired the local exchange portion of the Fairbanks Municipal Utilities System
in 1997 and now provides local exchange services in Fairbanks. In the wireless
communications services market, the Company's PCS business expects to compete
against the cellular subsidiaries of AT&T and ATU in the Anchorage market and
the cellular subsidiaries of PTI and others outside of Anchorage. In the long
distance market, the Company competes against AT&T Alascom, ATU and the
Matanuska Telephone Cooperative and may in the future compete against new market
entrants. For calendar year 1997, the Company estimates that the aggregate
telecommunications market in Alaska generated revenues of approximately $758
million. Of this amount, approximately $433 million was attributable to
interstate and intrastate long distance service, $289 million was attributable
to local exchange services, and $36 million was attributable to wireless
communications services.
The market for programmed video services in Alaska includes traditional
broadcast television, cable television, wireless cable, and DBS systems.
Broadcast television stations including network affiliates and independent
stations serve the urban centers in Alaska. Seven, four and two broadcast
stations serve Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, respectively. In addition,
several smaller communities such as Bethel are served by one local television
station. In addition, other rural communities without cable systems receive a
single state sponsored channel of television by a satellite dish and a low power
transmitter.
In Alaska, cable television was introduced in the 1970s to provide
television signals to communities with few or no available off-air television
signals and to communities with poor reception or other reception difficulties
caused by terrain interference. Since that time, as on the national level, the
cable television providers in Alaska have added non-broadcast programming,
utilized improved technology to increase channel capacity and expanded service
markets to include more densely populated areas and those communities in which
off-air reception is not problematic.
At present 26 communities and areas in Alaska, including the state's three
largest urban areas (Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau) are served by the
Company's cable systems. A number of cable operators other than the Company
provide cable service in Alaska. All of these companies are relatively small,
with the largest having fewer than 6,500 subscribers.
Competition
The Company is one of Alaska's leading providers of telecommunication and
cable television services and maintains a strong competitive position. There is
active competition in the sale of substantially all products and services
offered by the Company.
The principal methods of competition in the Company's services are customer
service, product innovation, quality and price. The company believes that its
competitive strength rests on its
-13-
customer service capabilities, its state-of-the-art facilities, its ability to
develop new and improved products and services in response to the needs of its
customers, and the consistent high quality of its products and services.
Telecommunication Services. The telecommunications industry is intensely
competitive, rapidly evolving and subject to constant technological change.
Competition is based upon price and pricing plans, the types of services
offered, customer service, billing services, perceived quality, reliability and
availability. Certain of the Company's competitors are substantially larger and
have greater financial, technical and marketing resources than the Company.
Although the Company believes it has the human and technical resources to pursue
its strategy and compete effectively in this competitive environment, its
success will depend upon its ability to profitably provide high quality, high
value services at prices generally competitive with, or lower than, those
charged by its competitors.
The Company's principal competitor in long distance services, AT&T Alascom,
has substantially greater resources than the Company. This competitor's
interstate rates are integrated with those of AT&T Corp. and are regulated in
part by the FCC. While the Company initially competed based upon offering
substantial discounts, those discounts have been eroded in recent years due to
lowering of prices by AT&T Alascom. Under the terms of AT&T's acquisition of
Alascom, AT&T Alascom rates and services must "mirror" those offered by AT&T, so
changes in AT&T prices indirectly affect the rates and services of the Company.
AT&T's and AT&T Alascom's interstate prices are regulated under a price cap plan
whereby their rate of return is no longer regulated or restricted. Price
increases by AT&T and AT&T Alascom generally improve the Company's ability to
raise its prices while price decreases pressure the Company to follow. The
Company has, so far, successfully adjusted its pricing and marketing strategies
to respond to AT&T pricing practices. However, if AT&T Alascom significantly
lowers its rates, the Company may be forced to reduce its rates, which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
As allowed under the 1996 Telecom Act, ATU and other LECs entered the
interstate and international long distance market and pursuant to APUC
authorization entered the intrastate long distance market in 1997. ATU and other
LECs resell other carriers' services in the provision of their interstate and
intrastate long distance services.
Cable Services. Cable television systems face competition from alternative
methods of receiving and distributing television signals and from other sources
of news, information and entertainment such as off-air television broadcast
programming, newspapers, movie theaters, live sporting events, interactive
computer services and home video products, including videotape cassette and
video disks. The extent to which a cable television system is competitive
depends, in part, upon the cable system's ability to provide quality programming
and other services at competitive prices.
The 1996 Telecom Act authorizes LECs and others to provide a wide variety
of video services competitive with services provided by cable systems and to
provide cable services directly to subscribers. Certain LECs in Alaska may seek
to provide video services within their telephone service areas through a variety
of distribution methods. Cable systems could be placed at a competitive
disadvantage if the delivery of video services by LECs becomes widespread since
LECs may not be required, under certain circumstances, to obtain local
franchises to deliver such video services or to comply with the variety of
obligations imposed upon cable systems under such franchises. Issues of
cross-subsidization by LECs of video and telephony services also pose strategic
disadvantages for cable operators seeking to compete with LECs who provide video
services.
Cable television systems generally operate pursuant to franchises granted
on a non-exclusive basis. The 1992 Cable Act gives local franchising authorities
jurisdiction over basic cable service rates and equipment in the absence of
"effective competition," prohibits franchising authorities from unreasonably
denying requests for additional franchises and permits franchising authorities
to operate cable systems. Well-financed businesses from outside the cable
industry (such as the public
-14-
utilities that own certain of the poles on which cable is attached) may become
competitors for franchises or providers of competing services.
The Cable Systems face limited additional competition from private
satellite master antenna television ("SMATV") systems that serve condominiums,
apartment and office complexes and private residential developments. The
operators of these SMATV systems often enter into exclusive agreements with
building owners or homeowners' associations. Due to the widespread availability
of reasonably priced earth stations, SMATV systems now can offer both improved
reception of local television stations and many of the same satellite-delivered
program services offered by franchised cable systems. The ability of the Cable
Systems to compete for subscribers in residential and commercial developments
served by SMATV operators is uncertain. The 1996 Telecom Act gives cable
operators greater flexibility with respect to pricing of cable television
services provided to subscribers in multi-dwelling unit residential and
commercial developments. It also broadens the definition of SMATV systems not
subject to regulation as a franchised cable television service.
The availability of reasonably-priced home satellite dish earth stations
("HSDs") enables individual households to receive many of the
satellite-delivered program services formerly available only to cable
subscribers. Furthermore, the 1992 Cable Act contains provisions, which the FCC
has implemented with regulations, to enhance the ability of cable competitors to
purchase and make available to HSD owners certain satellite-delivered cable
programs at competitive costs.
In recent years, the FCC and the Congress have adopted policies providing a
more favorable operating environment for new and existing technologies that
provide, or have the potential to provide, substantial competition to cable
systems. These technologies include, among others, DBS services that transmit
signals by satellite to receiving facilities located on the premises of
subscribers. Programming is currently available to the owners of DBS facilities
through conventional, medium and high-powered satellites.
DBS systems are expected to use video compression technology to increase
the channel capacity of their systems to provide movies, broadcast stations and
other program services competitive with those of cable systems. The extent to
which DBS systems are competitive with the service provided by cable systems
depends, among other things, on the availability of reception equipment at
reasonable prices and on the ability of DBS operators to provide competitive
programming. DBS services do not currently provide local programming and DBS
signals are subject to degradation from atmospheric conditions such as rain and
snow. The receipt of DBS signals in Alaska currently has the disadvantage of
requiring subscribers to install larger satellite dishes (generally three to six
feet in diameter) because of the weaker satellite signals currently available in
northern latitudes. In addition, existing satellites have a relatively low
altitude above the horizon when viewed from Alaska, making their signals subject
to interference from mountains, buildings and other structures.
Cable television systems also compete with wireless program distribution
services such as multichannel, multipoint distribution service ("MMDS")
providers which use low-power microwave frequencies to transmit video
programming over-the-air to subscribers. There are MMDS operators who are
authorized to provide or are providing broadcast and satellite programming to
subscribers in areas served by several of the Company's cable systems, including
Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Additionally, the FCC has allocated frequencies
in the 28 gHz band for a new multichannel wireless video service similar to
MMDS. MMDS operations have the disadvantage of requiring line-of-sight access,
making their signals subject to interference from mountains, buildings and other
structures, and are subject to interference from rain, snow and wind. In 1997
ATU purchased a minority interest in a MMDS provider that currently provides
service in some portions of Anchorage and Fairbanks. At this time, the MMDS
service has not been integrated with ATU's telecommunications services. The
Company is unable to predict whether wireless video services will have a
material impact on its operations.
Other new technologies may become competitive with non-entertainment
services that cable television systems can offer. The FCC has authorized
television broadcast stations to transmit textual and graphic information useful
both to consumers and businesses. The FCC also permits
-15-
commercial and non-commercial FM stations to use their subcarrier frequencies to
provide non-broadcast services including data transmissions. The FCC established
an over-the-air interactive video and data service that will permit two-way
interaction with commercial and educational programming along with informational
and data services. LECs and other common carriers also provide facilities for
the transmission and distribution to homes and businesses of interactive
computer-based services, including the Internet, as well as data and other
non-video services. The FCC has conducted spectrum auctions for licenses to
provide PCS. PCS will enable license holders, including cable operators, to
provide voice and data services. The Company acquired a license to provide PCS
services in Alaska.
Advances in communications technology as well as changes in the marketplace
are constantly occurring. The Company cannot predict the effect that ongoing or
future developments might have on the telecommunications and cable television
industries or on the Company specifically.
Local Services. In the local exchange services market, the Company believes
that the 1996 Telecom Act and state legislative regulatory initiatives and
developments, as well as a recent series of transactions and proposed
transactions between telephone companies, long distance carriers and cable
companies, increase the likelihood that barriers to local exchange competition
will be substantially reduced or removed. These initiatives include requirements
that local exchange carriers negotiate with entities such as the Company to
provide interconnection to the existing local telephone network, to allow the
purchase, at cost-based rates, of access to unbundled network elements, to
establish dialing parity, to obtain access to rights-of-way and to resell
services offered by the incumbent local exchange carriers.
Local exchange carriers in Alaska outside of Anchorage have a "rural
[6~exemption" from some of their obligations until and unless the exemption is
terminated by the APUC. Certain pricing provisions of the Interconnection
Decision implementing the interconnection portions of the 1996 Telecom Act have
been challenged and are currently stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit, on a jurisdictional basis. In addition the 1996 Telecom Act
expressly prohibits any legal barriers to competition in intrastate or
interstate communications service under state and local laws. The 1996 Telecom
Act further empowers the FCC, after notice and an opportunity for comment, to
preempt the enforcement of any statute, regulation or legal requirement that
prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, the ability of any entity to
provide any intrastate or interstate telecommunications service.
In early 1997 the Company received approval from the APUC to provide local
exchange services throughout ATU's existing service area. The APUC also approved
an interconnection agreement negotiated and arbitrated between the Company and
ATU pursuant to the terms of the 1996 Telecom Act. By early 1998, the Company
has positioned itself to offer local exchange services to substantially all
consumers in the ATU service area, primarily through its own facilities and
unbundled local loops leased from ATU.
The 1996 Telecom Act also provides incumbent local exchange carriers with
new competitive opportunities. The Company believes that it has certain
advantages over these companies in providing its telecommunications services,
including the Company's brand awareness by Alaskan customers, its facilities
based telecommunications network, and management's prior experience in, and
knowledge of, the Alaskan market. The 1996 Telecom Act provides that rates
charged by incumbent local exchange carriers for interconnection to the
incumbent carrier's network are to be nondiscriminatory and based upon the cost
of providing such interconnection, and may include a "reasonable profit," which
terms are subject to interpretation by regulatory authorities. If the incumbent
local exchange carriers charge alternative providers such as the Company
unreasonably high fees for interconnection to the local exchange carriers'
networks, or significantly lower their retail rates for local exchange services,
the Company's local service business could be placed at a significant
competitive disadvantage.
Wireless Services. Competition for the Company's proposed PCS services will
come primarily from traditional cellular providers and new PCS entrants.
Anchorage has mature cellular systems in
-16-
both the wireline (ATU) and non-wireline (AT&T Wireless) license blocks that
together have achieved an estimated 20% penetration of potential subscribers
based on the number of existing wireline access lines. Fairbanks and Juneau have
not achieved the cellular penetration that has occurred in Anchorage. Cellular
pricing has been high in Alaska compared to the lower 48 states, but rates in
Anchorage have become more competitive since the Company entered the cellular
resale market three years ago.
Of the five other PCS licensees, the Alaska A block PCS license owner has
announced plans for service in Alaska as early as 1998. The high cost per POP of
a PCS system infrastructure may deter some license owners from building a
system. PCS has the potential disadvantage when compared to cellular service of
requiring the licensee to enter into interconnection agreements with cellular
providers in order to permit PCS subscribers with dual mode handsets to continue
to receive service once they stray from the PCS service area. However, the
Company believes that the portion of the Alaska population, which will need to
operate outside the Company's planned PCS service areas, is small.
Financial Information About Industry Segments
For financial information with respect to industry segments of the Company,
reference is made to the information set forth in note 9 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of this Report.
Recent Developments
Financing Completed. The Company completed a major financing effort in
August 1997 which raised $550 million through a combination of the issuance of 7
million shares of class A stock, sale of senior notes totaling $180 million, and
refinancing its credit agreements. More than $350 million of these proceeds will
be invested in new telecommunication facilities in Alaska over the next five
years. Part of this investment will be the Company's $125 million fiber optic
project called Alaska United. The balance will complete a major upgrade and
expansion of the Company's telecommunications and cable systems throughout the
state and the purchase of new satellite transponders. These systems will be
connected to each other and the lower 48 by the Alaska United fiber and the
Company's satellite systems.
Alaska United Project. The Alaska United project will provide a high
capacity fiber optic link between Fairbanks, Anchorage, Valdez, and Juneau,
Alaska, and the lower 48 states through Seattle, Washington. Its initial
capacity will be more than five times the maximum capacity of Alaska's current
undersea fiber to the lower 48. After a preliminary route survey was completed
and initial cost components determined, a detailed sea floor survey was
commissioned and completed in 1996. The results of this survey pinpointed the
exact route that the Alaska United fiber would take. The Company entered into a
contract with Tyco Submarine Systems, Ltd. ("TSS"), one of the world's leading
submarine cable vendor which has installed more than 150,000 miles of undersea
cable. TSS is to design, engineer, manufacture and install the undersea cable.
On August 1, 1997 the Company issued a down payment to TSS to begin
construction. Manufacturing of the cable and its electronics has been underway
since that time. The cable is expected to be laid from August to October 1998.
Testing will occur after that, and services are expected to commence in December
1998.
Alaska United will land in Whittier, Valdez and Juneau, Alaska. From
Whittier, the fiber will follow the railroad, highway, and over-land
rights-of-ways to Anchorage. Between Whittier and Valdez, the Company will
construct a second undersea fiber optic cable. The cable will connect in Valdez
with a fiber being constructed by Kanas Telecom, Inc. ("Kanas") as described
below. In Juneau and Seattle, Alaska United will connect to the Company's
existing network.
The Alaska United fiber will be 2,331 miles long (1,995 miles undersea and
336 over land). It will have a total design capacity of 10 billion bits per
second (22 times what is currently available); it can route traffic in different
directions in the event of equipment failures; and, once paired with the
-17-
Company's existing capacity on the North Pacific Cable, users can achieve route
diversity to achieve multiple fiber paths for back-up purposes. It will deliver
a minimum of 32,256 simultaneous clear channel voice or data circuits at
transmission speeds of 2.5 billion bits per second. As demand increases,
capacity can be quadrupled to support a minimum of 129,024 simultaneous clear
channel voice or data circuits at speeds of 10 billion bits per second.
Currently, the only fiber optic cable connecting Alaska with the contiguous
United States is nearing its capacity limit of 6,048 simultaneous voice or data
circuits at transmission speeds of 420 million bits per second.
Financing for the Alaska United undersea fiber project includes $75 million
available through a new bank credit agreement dated January 27, 1998 and $50
million from funds raised through the issuance of senior notes described above.
Fiber Capacity Exchange. The Company and Kanas signed a contract November
21, 1997 that provides for an exchange of fiber optic cable capacity between
Anchorage and Fairbanks via Valdez. The Company and Kanas will trade "dark
fiber" capacity connecting Fairbanks, Valdez, Whittier and Anchorage. Dark fiber
is fiber optic line capacity without the electronic equipment needed to repeat
the signal. Each company will provide their own electronic equipment to place
their fiber into service. The Company will provide Kanas with dark fiber from
Valdez to Anchorage. Kanas will provide the Company with dark fiber between
Valdez and Fairbanks. Demand for bandwidth capacity is expected to grow sharply
in the coming years to accommodate faster Internet access, ISDN, new data
services and higher transmission rates.
The Company plans to build an underwater fiberoptic cable connecting Valdez
with Whittier, and will construct a new fiberoptic link from Whittier to tie
into the Company's Anchorage fiber network, all part of the Alaska United
Project described above. Kanas' fiber optic system will follow the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline from Valdez to Fairbanks, continuing north to Prudhoe Bay. The system
is expected to be available for commercial service during December of 1998.
Acquisition. Effective December 2, 1997, the Company purchased all of the
outstanding shares of Astrolabe Group, Inc. ("Astrolabe"). Astrolabe was founded
in 1995 as a technology management-consulting firm helping Alaska based clients
effectively plan, implement and operationally manage their network and
information system investments. Astrolabe helps clients throughout Alaska manage
their rural telecommunication networks, distributed information systems and
distance delivery of health care educational services. Astrolabe has been an
integral part of the Company's School Access project, providing the Internet
software infrastructure central to the value of the Company's distance education
product offerings. Following the acquisition, Astrolabe was merged into GCI
Communication Corp. and operates as a distinct division named GCI Network
Solutions. The $1,324,000 purchase was accounted for using the purchase method.
The purchase price consisted of a payment of $600,000 and the issuance of
options to purchase 100,000 shares of GCI's Class A common stock for $.01 per
share.
Local Services. PTI, the company providing local telephone services in
Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, petitioned the APUC to exempt them from local
service competition under the 1996 Telecom Act. PTI is owned by Century
Telephone Company of Louisiana, one of the largest independent telephone
companies in the Nation. The Company requested that the "rural exemption" be
terminated. In January 1998, the APUC denied the Company's request to terminate
the rural exemption. The basis of the APUC's decision was primarily that various
rulemaking proceedings (including Universal Service, local competition, access
charge reform, and rate restructuring) must be completed before the exemption
would be revoked. Those rulemaking proceedings are now underway. Other
legislative and judicial efforts are also underway to achieve a change in the
APUC ruling. The Company may, however, provide local service on its own
facilities to a limited number of consumers in Juneau and Fairbanks.
The Company believes local services competition is in the best interests of
consumers and intends to vigorously contest the APUC decision. The Company
cannot predict the effect that ongoing or future regulatory developments might
have on competitive local services markets in Alaska or on the Company
specifically.
-18-
Expansion in Rural Alaska. Both the APUC and the FCC maintain a restriction
that prevents the Company from constructing duplicative satellite earth stations
to provide interexchange services to approximately 200 of the smallest villages
in Alaska. In 1995, the Company obtained a waiver to build facilities in 50 of
those villages. In the Company's opinion, the APUC restriction has been
preempted by section 253 of the 1996 Telecom Act, which prevents any state from
maintaining any rule that prohibits any entity from providing any
telecommunications service. The Company has requested the FCC to preempt the
APUC's restriction and the Company is also seeking a removal of the federal
restriction. Removal of both restrictions will enable the Company to construct
facilities throughout Alaska. Until that time, the Company relies on the
facilities of AT&T Alascom for the termination of traffic.
Cable Services Expansion. The Company completed construction of 109 miles
of a planned 160 mile fiber optic Metropolitan Area Network ("MAN") in Anchorage
during 1996 and 1997, over which it began offering facilities-based local
service to selected major customers in those cases where it was economically
feasible to directly connect them to the network. Additionally, the Metropolitan
Area Network will provide supplemental capacity and connectivity for cable
television services and will improve the quality and reliability of services.
The Company plans to upgrade cable television systems across the state with the
installation of fiber optics and two-way capability. This will allow the Company
to add more channels, develop new services and install cable modems that will
provide high-speed access to the Internet.
Customer Service Integration. Customer service groups were consolidated in the
Company's call centers during 1997 and new customer service representatives and
support personnel were added throughout the state. Consolidation of customer
service across product lines allows customers to access and change information
and service from any of the Company's statewide offices. Customer service hours
were expanded to 24 hours a day 7 days a week throughout the state.
Employees
The Company and its subsidiaries employ approximately 950 persons as of
February 28, 1998. The Company and its subsidiaries are not parties to any union
contracts with their employees. The Company believes that its future success
will depend upon its continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and
qualified employees. The Company believes that its relations with its employees
are satisfactory.
Environmental Regulations
The Company and its subsidiaries may undertake activities which, under
certain circumstances may affect the environment. Accordingly, they are subject
to federal, state, and local regulations designed to preserve or protect the
environment. The FCC, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service,
and the National Park Service are required by the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 to consider the environmental impact prior to the commencement of
facility construction. Management believes that compliance with such regulations
has no material effect on the Company's consolidated operations. The principal
effect of Company facilities on the environment would be in the form of
construction of facilities at various locations in Alaska. Company facilities
have been constructed in accordance with federal, state and local building codes
and zoning regulations whenever and wherever applicable. Some facilities may be
on lands that may be subject to state and federal wetland regulation.
Uncertainty as to the applicability of environmental regulations is caused
in major part by the federal government's decision to consider a change in the
definition of wetlands, however, none of the Company's facilities has been
constructed in areas which are subject to flooding, tsunami's, etc. and as such
are most likely to fall outside any new wetland designation. Most of the
Company's facilities are on lands leased by the Company, and, with respect to
all of these facilities, the Company is unaware of any violations of lease terms
or federal, state or local regulations pertaining to preservation or protection
of the environment.
-19-
The Company's Alaska United project consists, in part, of deploying fiber
optic cable facilities between Anchorage, Whittier, Valdez, and Juneau, Alaska
and Seattle, Washington. The engineered route passes over wetlands and other
environmentally sensitive areas. The Company believes its construction methods
used for buried cable have a very minimal impact on the environment. The
agencies, among others, that are involved in permitting and oversight of the
Company's cable deployment efforts are the US Army Corps of Engineers, The
National Marine Fisheries Service, US Fish & Wildlife, US Coast Guard, NOAA,
Alaska Department of Natural Resources, and the Alaska Dept. of Government
Coordination. The Company is unaware of any violations of federal, state or
local regulations or permits pertaining to preservation or protection of the
environment.
In the course of operating the cable television systems, the Company has
used various materials defined as hazardous by applicable governmental
regulations. These materials have been used for insect repellent, locate paint
and pole treatment, and as heating fuel, transformer oil, cable cleaner,
batteries, and in various other ways in the operation of those systems.
Management of the Company does not believe that these materials, when used in
accordance with manufacturer instructions, pose an unreasonable hazard to those
who use them or to the environment.
Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales
Although the Company has several agreements to facilitate the origination
and termination of international toll traffic, it has neither foreign
operations nor export sales. The Company conducts operations throughout the
western contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii and believes that any
subdivision of its operations into distinct geographic areas would not be
meaningful. Revenues associated with international toll traffic were $7.6
million, $8.3 million and $7.1 million for the years ended December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.
Backlog of Orders and Inventory
As of December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company's long distance services
segment had a backlog of equipment sales orders of approximately $104,000 and
$364,000, respectively. The decrease in backlog as of December 31, 1997 can be
attributed primarily to faster completion of outstanding sales orders in 1997
as compared to 1996. The Company expects that all of the orders in backlog at
the end of 1997 will be delivered during 1998.
Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity,
and Military Franchises
Telecommunication and Local Services. Neither the Company nor its
affiliates hold patents, trademarks, franchises or concessions for
telecommunications services or local services. The Communications Act of 1934
gives the FCC the authority to license and regulate the use of the
electromagnetic spectrum for radio communication. The Company through its long
distance services industry segment holds licenses for its satellite and
microwave transmission facilities for provision of its telecommunication
services. The Company acquired a license for use of a 30-megahertz block of
spectrum for providing PCS services in Alaska. The PCS license has an initial
duration of 10 years. The Company expects to renew the PCS license for an
additional 10-year term under FCC rules. The Company's operations may require
additional licenses in the future.
Cable Services. Applications for transfer of control of 15 certificates of
public convenience and necessity held by the acquired cable companies to the
Company were approved in an APUC order dated September 23, 1996, with transfers
to be effective on October 31, 1996. Such transfer of control allowed the
Company to take control and operate the cable systems of the acquired cable
companies located in Alaska.
The approval of the transfer of the 15 certificates of public convenience
and necessity to the Company by the FCC is not required under federal law, with
one area of limited exception. The
-20-
Cable Companies operate in part through the use of several radio-band
frequencies licensed through the FCC. These licenses were transferred to the
Company prior to October 31, 1996.
The Company obtained consent of the military commanders at the military
bases serviced by the acquired cable systems to the assignment of the respective
franchises for those bases.
Regulation, Franchise Authorizations and Tariffs
The following summary of regulatory developments and legislation does not
purport to describe all present and proposed federal, state, and local
regulation and legislation affecting the telecommunications and cable television
industries. Other existing federal and state regulations are currently the
subject of judicial proceedings, legislative hearings and administrative
proposals which could change, in varying degrees, the manner in which these
industries operate. Neither the outcome of these proceedings nor their impact
upon the telecommunications and cable television industries or the Company can
be predicted at this time. This section also sets forth a brief description of
regulatory, environmental, and tariff issues pertaining to the operations of the
Company.
The Company is subject to regulation by the FCC and by the APUC as a
non-dominant provider of long distance services. Among other regulatory
requirements, the Company is required to file tariffs with the FCC for
interstate and international service, and with the APUC for intrastate service
but such tariffs routinely become effective without intervention by the FCC,
APUC or other third parties since the Company is a non-dominant carrier. The
Company received approval from the APUC in February 1997 to permit the Company
to provide local exchange services throughout ATU's existing service area.
Military franchise requirements also affect the Company in its provision of
telecommunications and cable television services to military bases.
1996 Telecom Act. A key industry development was passage of the 1996
Telecom Act that was signed into law February 8, 1996. The Act is intended by
Congress to open up the marketplace to competition and is expected to have a
dramatic impact on the telecommunications industry. The legislation breaks down
the old barriers that prevented three groups of companies, the LECs, including
the RBOCs, the long distance carriers, and the cable TV operators, from
competing head-to-head with each other. The Act requires LECs to let new
competitors into their business. It also requires the LECs to open up their
networks to ensure that new market entrants have a fair chance of competing. The
bulk of the legislation is devoted to establishing the terms under which the
LECs, and more specifically the RBOCs, must open up their networks.
Enactment of the bill affects local exchange service markets almost
immediately by requiring states to authorize local exchange service resale.
Resellers will be able to market new bundled service packages to attract
customers. Over the long term, the requirement that local exchange carriers
unbundle access to their networks may lead to increased price competition. Local
exchange service competition may not take hold immediately because
interconnection arrangements are not in place in most areas.
The 1996 Telecom Act substantially changed the competitive and regulatory
environment for telecommunications providers by significantly amending The
Communications Act of 1934 including certain of the rate regulation provisions
previously imposed by the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition
Act of 1992 (the "1992 Cable Act"). The 1996 Telecom Act provides that rate
regulation of the cable programming service tier will be phased out altogether
in 1999. Further, the regulatory environment will continue to change pending,
among other things, the outcome of legal challenges and FCC rulemaking and
enforcement activity in respect of the 1992 Cable Act and the completion of a
significant number of FCC rulemakings under the 1996 Telecom Act.
The FCC adopted detailed rules in 1996 to govern interconnection to
incumbent local networks by new market entrants. Some LECs and state public
utility commissions appealed these rules to the U.S. Court of Appeals, which
prevented most of the pricing rules from taking effect, pending a full review by
the court.
-21-
In 1997, the court struck down the FCC's pricing rules. It ruled that the
Telecom Act left jurisdiction over pricing matters to the states. The court also
struck down certain other FCC rules on jurisdictional or substantive grounds.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the appeals court decision.
In 1997, the FCC issued important decisions on the structure and level of
access charges and universal service. These decisions will impact the industry
in several ways, including the following:
- An additional subsidy was created to support telecommunications
services for schools, libraries and rural health care providers.
All carriers providing telecommunications services will be
required to fund this program, which is capped at $2.7 billion
per year. However, LECs can pass their portion of these costs on
to long distance carriers.
- Per-minute interstate access rates charged by LECs will decline
over time to become cost-based, beginning in July 1997.
- Certain monthly flat-rate charges paid by some local telephone
customers will increase beginning in 1998.
- Certain per-minute access charges paid by long distance
companies were converted to flat monthly charges based on
pre-subscribed lines.
- A basis has been established for replacing implicit access
subsidies with an explicit interstate universal service fund
beginning in 1999.
A number of LECs, long distance companies and others have appealed some or
all of the FCC's orders. The effective date of the orders has not been delayed,
but the appeals are expected to take a year or more to conclude. The impact of
these FCC decisions on the Company is difficult to determine, but is not
expected to be material.
Some BOCs have also challenged the Telecom Act restrictions on their entry
into long distance markets as unconstitutional. A federal district court in
Wichita Falls, Texas, ruled the restrictions unlawful because they constituted a
legislative act that imposed punishment without a judicial proceeding. The
United States government and others filed appeals of this decision. The federal
district court delayed implementing its decision pending resolution of the
appeals. The Company is unable to predict the outcome of such rulemakings or
litigation or the substantive effect (financial or otherwise) of the 1996
Telecom Act and the rulemakings on the Company.
The Company is also subject to federal and state regulation as a cable
television operator pursuant to the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 (the
"1984 Cable Act") and 1992 Cable Act, both amended by the 1996 Telecom Act. The
1992 Cable Act significantly expanded the scope of cable television regulation
on an industry-wide basis by imposing rate regulation, carriage requirements for
local broadcast stations, customer service obligations and other requirements.
The 1992 Cable Act and the FCC's rules implementing that Act generally have
increased the administrative and operational expenses and in certain instances
required rate reductions for cable television systems and have resulted in
additional regulatory oversight by the FCC and state or local (depending on the
regulatory scheme) authorities.
Because the Company is authorized to offer local exchange services in
Anchorage, it will be regulated as a CLEC by the APUC. In addition, the Company
will be subject to other regulatory requirements, including certain requirements
imposed by the 1996 Telecom Act on all LECs, which requirements include
permitting resale of LEC services, number portability, dialing parity, and
reciprocal compensation.
As a PCS licensee, the Company is subject to regulation by the FCC, and
must comply with certain buildout and other conditions of the license, as well
as with the FCC's regulations governing the PCS service. On a more limited
basis, the Company may be subject to certain regulatory oversight by the APUC
(e.g., in the areas of consumer protection), although states are not permitted
to regulate the rates of PCS and other commercial mobile service providers. PCS
licensees may also be subject to regulatory requirements of local jurisdictions
pertaining to, among other things, the siting of tower facilities.
-22-
Other
No material portion of the businesses of the Company is subject to
renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts at the election of the
federal government.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
General. The Company's property, plant and equipment totaled $224.4 million
at December 31, 1997, of which $131.3 relates to telecommunications services,
$74.5 relates to cable services, and $18.6 relates to local services. These
properties consist primarily of switching equipment, satellite earth stations,
fiber-optic networks, microwave radio and cable and wire facilities, cable
head-end equipment, coaxial distribution networks, transportation equipment,
computer equipment and general office equipment. Substantially all of the
Company's properties secure its credit agreement and senior loan. See note 6 to
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of this
Report for further discussion.
Telecommunication Services. The Company operates a state-of-the-art,
competitive telecommunications network employing the latest digital transmission
technology based upon fiber optic and digital microwave facilities within and
between Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. The Company's network includes a
digital fiber optic cable linking Alaska to the contiguous 48 states and
providing access to other carriers' networks for communications around the
world. The Company uses satellite transmission to remote areas of Alaska and for
certain interstate traffic.
The Company's long distance services segment owns properties and facilities
including satellite earth stations, and distribution, transportation and office
equipment. Additionally, the Company acquired in December 1992, access to
capacity on an undersea fiber optic cable from Seward, Alaska to Pacific City,
Oregon. The undersea fiber optic cable capacity is owned subject to an
outstanding mortgage.
The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement in
August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite transponders on the Hughes Galaxy X
satellite to meet its long-term satellite capacity requirements. The balance
payable upon expected delivery of the transponders in the third quarter of 1998
is not expected to exceed $41 million. The Company's remaining commitment will
likely be funded from its senior credit agreement. The purchase and
lease-purchase option agreement provides for the interim lease of transponder
capacity on the Hughes Galaxy IX satellite from June 1996 through the delivery
of the purchased transponders.
The Company leases its long distance services industry segment's executive,
corporate and administrative facilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau,
Alaska. The Company's operating, executive, corporate and administrative
properties are in good condition. The Company considers its properties suitable
and adequate for its present needs and are being fully utilized.
Cable Services. The Cable Systems serve 26 communities and areas in Alaska
including Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, the state's three largest urban
areas. As of December 31, 1997 the Cable Systems consisted of approximately
1,820 miles of installed cable plant having between 300 to 450 MHz of channel
capacity (or enough capacity to carry from 70 to 130 channels). The Company
leases its cable services industry segment's operating facilities in
substantially all locations. Such properties are in good condition. The Company
considers its properties suitable and adequate for its present and anticipated
future needs.
-23-
Local Services. The Company operates a state-of-the-art, competitive
telecommunications network employing the latest digital transmission technology
based upon fiber optic facilities within Anchorage. The Company leases its local
services industry segment's operating facilities in Anchorage. Such properties
are in good condition. The Company considers its properties suitable and
adequate for its present and anticipated future needs.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Except as set forth in this item, neither the Company, its property nor
any of its subsidiaries or their property is a party to or subject to any
material pending legal proceedings. The Company and its subsidiaries are parties
to various claims and pending litigation as part of the normal course of
business. The Company is also involved in several administrative proceedings and
filings with the FCC and state regulatory authorities. In the opinion of
management, the nature and disposition of these matters are considered routine
and arising in the ordinary course of business which management believes, even
if resolved unfavorably to the Company, would not have a materially adverse
affect on the Company's business or financial statements.
Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
(a) Date of meeting - November 25, 1997
Nature of meeting - 1997 annual meeting
(b) Election of Directors:
Names of directors elected at the meeting:
Ronald A. Duncan Votes: 75,488,274 For; 333,094 Withheld
Jeffery C. Garvey Votes: 75,489,066 For; 332,302 Withheld
William P. Glasgow Votes: 75,149,466 For; 671,902 Withheld
Donald Lynch Votes: 75,149,965 For; 671,403 Withheld
Larry E. Romrell Votes: 72,208,309 For; 3,612,310 Withheld
Names of directors whose term of office continued after the meeting:
Carter F. Page
Robert M. Walp
Donne F. Fisher
John W. Gerdelman
James M. Schneider
(c) Other matters voted upon:
Adoption of an amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation
for the Company increasing the number of authorized shares of Class
A common stock from 50 million to 100 million shares.
Votes: 75,185,292 For; 584,104 Against; 51,972 Abstain
Increasing the number of shares of the Company's Class A common
stock allocated to the Company's Revised 1986 Stock Option Plan by
2.5 million shares of Class A common stock.
Votes: 68,118,255 For; 3,036,531 Against; 69,564 Abstain
(d) Not applicable.
-24-
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
Market Information for Common Stock
Shares of the Company's Class A common stock are traded on the Nasdaq
National Market tier of The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol GNCMA. Shares
of the Company's Class B common stock are traded on the Over-the-Counter market.
The following table sets forth the high and low sales price for the
above-mentioned common stock for the periods indicated. The prices, rounded up
to the nearest eighth, represent prices between dealers, do not include retail
markups, markdowns, or commissions, and do not necessarily represent actual
transactions.
Class A Class B
--------------------------- -------------------------------
High Low High Low
1996:
First Quarter 6 7/8 4 1/2 6 7/8 4 1/2
Second Quarter 9 1/4 6 9 1/4 6
Third Quarter 8 3/8 5 3/4 8 3/8 5 3/4
Fourth Quarter 8 1/4 5 3/4 8 1/4 5 3/4
1997:
First Quarter 8 1/8 6 8 1/8 6
Second Quarter 8 5/8 6 1/4 8 5/8 6 1/4
Third Quarter 9 1/4 6 1/2 9 1/4 6 1/2
Fourth Quarter 8 1/8 6 3/8 8 1/8 6 3/8
Holders
As of December 31, 1997 there were 1,768 holders of record of the
Company's Class A common stock and 665 holders of record of the Company's Class
B common stock (amounts do not include the number of shareholders whose shares
are held of record by brokers, but do include the brokerage house as one
shareholder).
Dividends
GCI and GCI, Inc. have never paid cash dividends on their common stock and
have no present intention of doing so. Payment of cash dividends in the future,
if any, will be determined by the Company's Board of Directors in light of the
Company's earnings, financial condition and other relevant considerations. The
Company's existing bank loan agreements contain provisions that prohibit payment
of dividends, other than stock dividends (see note 6 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements included in Part II of this Report).
-25-
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents selected historical information relating to
financial condition and results of operations over the past five years.
Years ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
--------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Revenues 1 $ 223,809 164,894 129,279 116,981 102,213
Net earnings (loss) before income taxes and
extraordinary item 2 $ (2,235) 12,690 12,601 11,681 6,715
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
benefit of $180 $ 521 0 0 0 0
Net earnings (loss) $ (2,183) 7,462 7,502 7,134 3,951
Basic net earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.05) 0.28 0.32 0.30 0.19
Diluted net earnings (loss) per common share $ (0.05) 0.27 0.31 0.30 0.18
Total assets 3 $ 545,302 447,335 84,765 74,249 71,610
Long-term debt, including current portion 3 $ 250,084 223,242 9,980 12,554 20,823
Obligations under capital leases, including current $ 1,188 746 1,047 1,297 1,522
portion
Total stockholders' equity 3, 4 $ 204,439 149,554 43,016 35,093 27,210
Dividends declared per Common share 5 $ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Dividends declared per Preferred share 6 $ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.44
1 The 1997 revenue increase is primarily attributed to the Company's
reporting 12 months of cable television service revenues as compared
to two months reported in 1996.
2 The Company's net loss in 1997 is attributed to additional
depreciation, amortization and interest expense resulting from the
cable company acquisitions in October 1996 and startup losses from the
Company's entry into the local services segment.
3 Increases in the Company's total assets, long-term debt and
stockholders' equity in 1996 as compared to 1995 result in part from
the cable company acquisitions and MCI stock issuance described in
notes (2) and (8) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
included in Part II of this Report.
4 The 1997 increase in stockholders' equity is primarily attributed to
the Company's equity offering in August 1997, described in note (8) to
the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included
in Part II of this Report.
5 The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its common stock and
does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company intends to retain its earnings, if any, for the
development of its business. Payment of cash dividends in the future,
if any, will be determined by the board of directors of the Company in
light of the Company's earnings, financial condition, credit
agreements and other relevant considerations. The Company's existing
bank loan agreements contain provisions that prohibit payment of
dividends, other than stock dividends, as further described in note
(6) to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part
II of this Report.
6 The Company declared and issued stock dividends of approximately
304,000 shares of Class B Common Stock in 1992, and paid dividends
totaling $153,000 in 1993 on its non-voting Series A 15% Convertible
Cumulative Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock was acquired and
retired in 1993.
-26-
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto and the
other financial data appearing elsewhere. As used herein, EBITDA consists of
earnings before interest (net), income taxes, depreciation, amortization and
other income (expense). EBITDA is a measure commonly used in the
telecommunications and cable television industries to analyze companies on the
basis of operating performance. It is not a measure of financial performance
under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as
an alternative to net income as a measure of performance nor as an alternative
to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.
FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE PERFORMANCE
Future operating results of the Company will depend upon many factors and
will be subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those set forth
in this and other sections of Form 10-K. The information contained in Form
10-K includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future
performance. Future results of the Company may differ materially from any
forward-looking statement due to such assumptions and risks. Future
performance cannot be ensured.
OVERVIEW
Long Distance Telecommunications Services. The Company has historically
reported revenues principally from the provision of interstate and intrastate
long distance telecommunications services to residential, commercial and
governmental customers and to other common carriers (principally MCI
Telecommunications, Inc. ("MCI") and U.S. Sprint ("Sprint")). These services
accounted for approximately 93.3% of the Company's telecommunications services
revenues during 1997. The balance of telecommunications services revenues have
been attributable to corporate network management contracts, telecommunications
equipment sales and service and other miscellaneous revenues (including revenues
from prepaid and debit calling cards, the installation and leasing of customers'
very small aperture terminal ("Vsat") equipment and fees charged to MCI and
Sprint for certain billing services). Factors that have the greatest impact on
year-to-year changes in telecommunications services revenues include the rate
per minute charged to customers and usage volumes, usually expressed as minutes
of use. These factors in turn depend in part upon economic conditions in Alaska.
The economy of Alaska is dependent upon the natural resource industries, in
particular oil production, as well as tourism, government and United States
military spending.
The Company's telecommunications cost of sales and services has consisted
principally of the direct costs of providing services, including local access
charges paid to LECs for the origination and termination of long distance calls
in Alaska, fees paid to other long distance carriers to carry calls that
terminate in areas not served by the Company's network (principally the lower 49
states, most of which calls are carried over MCI's network, and international
locations, which calls are carried principally over Sprint's network), and the
cost of equipment sold to the Company's customers. During 1997, local access
charges accounted for 46.3% of telecommunications cost of sales and services,
fees paid to other long distance carriers represented 37.9%, satellite
transponder lease and undersea fiber maintenance costs represented 9.2%,
telecommunications equipment accounted for 3.4%, and enterprise services and
outsourcing costs represented 2.1% of telecommunications cost of sales and
services.
The Company's telecommunications selling, general, and administrative
expenses have consisted of operating and engineering, service, sales and
communications, management information systems, general and administrative,
legal and regulatory expenses. Most of these expenses consist of salaries, wages
and benefits of personnel and certain other indirect costs (such as rent,
travel, utilities and certain equipment costs). A significant portion of
telecommunications selling, general, and administrative expenses, 28.7% during
1997, represents the cost of the Company's advertising, promotion and market
analysis programs.
-27-
Cable Services. Following the cable system acquisitions effective October
31, 1996, the Company now reports a significant level of revenues and EBITDA
from the provision of cable services. During 1997, cable revenues and EBITDA
represented 24.7% and 60.6%, respectively, of consolidated revenues and EBITDA.
The cable systems serve 26 communities and areas in Alaska, including the
state's three largest population centers, Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau.
The Company generates cable services revenues from three primary sources:
(1) programming services, including monthly basic or premium subscriptions and
pay-per-view movies or other one-time events, such as sporting events; (2)
equipment rentals or installation; and (3) advertising sales. During 1997
programming services generated 86.8% of total cable services revenues, equipment
rental and installation fees accounted for 7.7% of such revenues, advertising
sales accounted for 3.9% of such revenues, and other services accounted for the
remaining 1.6% of total cable services revenues. The primary factors that
contribute to year-to-year changes in cable services revenues are average
monthly subscription and pay-per-view rates, the mix among basic, premium and
pay-per-view services, and the average number of subscribers during a given
reporting period.
The cable systems' cost of sales and selling, general and administrative
expenses have consisted principally of programming and copyright expenses,
labor, maintenance and repairs, marketing and advertising, rental expense, and
property taxes. During 1997 programming and copyright expenses represented
approximately 40.1% of total cable cost of sales and selling, general and
administrative expenses. Marketing and advertising costs represented
approximately 6.0% of such total expenses.
Local Services. The Company began offering local exchange services in
Anchorage during late September 1997. Local exchange services revenues totaled
$610,000 representing less than 1.0% of total revenues in 1997. The Company
expects local services revenues to represent less than 6.0% of total revenues in
1998. During 1997 operating and engineering expenses represented approximately
12.0% of total local services cost of sales and selling, general and
administrative expenses. Marketing and advertising costs represented
approximately 6.0% of such total expenses, customer service, and general and
administrative costs represented approximately 75.9% of such total expenses. The
Company expects that it will generate operating losses and negative EBITDA from
local exchange services during 1998.
PCS Services. The Company began developing plans for PCS wireless
communications service deployment in 1995 and is currently evaluating various
vendors for a proposed PCS network. In 1997 the Company conducted a technical
trial of its candidate technology. The Company currently expects to launch PCS
service in Anchorage in 1999, although it may be deferred beyond that date.
Depreciation and amortization and interest expense on a consolidated basis
is expected to be higher in 1998 as compared to 1997 resulting primarily from
additional depreciation on 1997 and 1998 capital expenditures. As a result, the
Company anticipates recording a net loss in 1998.
-28-
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth selected Statement of Operations data as a
percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:
Year Ended December 31, Percentage Change
----------------------- -----------------
1996 1997
vs. vs.
1997 1996 1995 1995 1996
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues:
Telecommunications services 100.0% 94.3% 75.1% 20.2% 8.1%
Cable services -- 5.7% 24.6% -- 482.2%
Local services -- -- 0.3% -- --
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Total revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 27.5% 35.7%
Cost of sales and services 55.8% 56.2% 49.6% 28.5% 19.9%
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses 29.2% 28.1% 32.9% 23.1% 58.5%
Depreciation and
amortization 4.6% 5.7% 10.6% 57.0% 152.6%
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Operating income 10.4% 10.0% 6.9% 21.5% (6.3)%
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Net earnings (loss) before income
taxes and extraordinary item 9.7% 7.7% (1.0)% 0.7% (117.6)%
Extraordinary item -- -- (0.2)% -- --
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Net earnings (loss) 5.8% 4.5% (1.0)% (0.5)% (129.3)%
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
------ ------ ------ ------- -------
Other Operating Data:
Cable operating income (1) -- 23.2% 18.9% -- 374.6%
Cable EBITDA (1) -- 46.6% 43.0% -- 437.7%
Local operating loss (2) -- -- (708.5)% -- 396.8%
Local EBITDA (2) -- -- (622.5)% -- 336.4%
Consolidated EBITDA 15.1% 15.7% 17.5% 63.9% 51.6%
- --------------------
(1) Computed as a percentage of total cable services revenues.
(2) Computed as a percentage of total local services revenues.
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1996.
Revenues
Total revenues increased 35.7% from $164.9 million in 1996 to $223.8
million in 1997. The Company reported two months' of cable services revenues in
1996 following its acquisition of the Cable Systems effective October 31, 1996.
Cable revenues increased $45.7 million to $55.2 million resulting from 12
months' of activity being recorded in 1997. Long distance transmission revenues
from commercial, residential, governmental, and other common carrier customers
increased 9.8% from $142.6 million in 1996 to $156.6 million in 1997. This
increase reflected a 9.0% increase in interstate minutes of use to 620.8 million
minutes and a 9.8% increase in intrastate minutes of use to 133.1 million
minutes. Long distance revenue growth in 1997 was largely due to a 22.3%
increase in revenues from other common carriers (principally MCI and Sprint),
from $48.0 million in 1996 to $58.7 million in 1997 and a 12.7% increase in
private line and private network transmission services revenues, from $14.1
million in 1996 to $15.9 million in 1997.
-29-
The above increases in revenues were offset in part by a 1.1% reduction in
the Company's average rate per minute on long distance traffic from $0.179 per
minute in 1996 to $0.177 per minute in 1997. The decrease in rates resulted from
the Company's promotion of and customers' enrollment in new calling plans
offering discounted rates and length of service rebates, such new plans being
prompted in part by the Company's primary long distance competitor, AT&T
Alascom, reducing its rates and entry of local exchange carriers into long
distance markets served by the Company. Systems sales and services revenues
decreased 6.4% from $10.9 million in 1996 to $10.2 million in 1997, primarily
due to a reduced number of large equipment sales transactions in 1997 as
compared to 1996. Other long distance revenues decreased $0.7 million to $1.1
million due primarily to reduced revenues from short term Vsat leases.
Cost of Sales and Services
Cost of sales and services totaled $92.7 million in 1996 and $111.1
million in 1997. As a percentage of total revenues, cost of sales and services
decreased from 56.2% in 1996 to 49.6% in 1997. The decrease in cost of sales and
services as a percentage of revenues is primarily attributed to changes in the
Company's product mix. The Company reported 12 months of cable operations in
1997 as compared to two months in 1996. Cable cost of sales and services as a
percentage of sales are less than long distance and local services cost of sales
and services as a percentage of sales. The increase in cable revenues as a
percentage of total revenues (5.8% in 1996 to 24.7% in 1997) resulted in an
overall decrease in the Company's cost of sales and services as a percentage of
sales.
Additionally, cost of sales and services as a percentage of revenues were
reduced in part by reductions in the rate per minute billed to the Company for
the local access and interstate termination services it obtains from third
parties. Decreases in 1997 cost of sales and services as compared to 1996 were
offset in part by refunds in the first two quarters of 1996 aggregating
approximately $960,000 from a local exchange carrier and the National Exchange
Carriers Association in respect of earnings by them that exceeded regulatory
requirements.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 58.6% from $46.4
million in 1996 to $73.6 million in 1997, and, as a percentage of revenues,
increased from 28.1% in 1996 to 32.9% in 1997. This increase resulted from:
1. The Company's reporting 12 months' of cable television selling,
general and administrative expenses in 1997 ($18.8 million) as
compared to two months' in 1996 ($3.0 million).
2. Operating, engineering, sales, customer service and
administrative costs totaling $4.1 million as compared to
$870,000 in 1996 associated with the Company's local services
segment which initiated service in September 1997.
3. Increased telecommunication general and administrative expenses
of $5.1 million in 1997 due to increased personnel and other
costs in customer service, engineering, operations, accounting,
human resources, legal and regulatory, and management information
services. Cost increases were associated with the development,
introduction, or planned introduction, and support of new
products and services including cable television services, rural
message and data telephone services, PCS services, and Internet
services. Increased customer service expenses were associated
with support of increased sales volumes and expenditures
necessary to integrate customer service operations across product
lines.
4. Bad debt expense totaling $3.0 million for 1997 compared to $1.7
million in 1996 (directly associated with increased revenues).
5. Increased telecommunication segment sales, advertising and
telemarketing costs totaling $13.0 million in 1996 compared to
$14.8 million in 1997. Increased selling costs were associated
with the introduction of various marketing plans and other
proprietary rate plans and cross promotion of products and
services.
-30-
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased 153.2% from $9.4 million
in 1996 to $23.8 million in 1997. Of this increase, $13.3 million resulted from
the Company's acquisition of the cable systems effective October 31, 1996, with
the balance of the increase attributable to the Company's $38.6 million
investment in facilities during 1996 for which a full year of depreciation was
recorded during the year ending December 31, 1997 and the 1997 investment of
$73.7 million in facilities for which a partial year of depreciation was
recorded during 1997.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net of interest income, increased 375.7% from $3.7
million in 1996 to $17.6 million in 1997. This increase resulted primarily from
increases in the Company's average outstanding indebtedness resulting primarily
from its acquisition of the Cable Systems, construction of new facilities in
rural Alaska, expansion and upgrades of cable television facilities, and
investment in local services equipment and facilities. Such increases were
offset in part by increases in the amount of interest capitalized during 1997.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
The Company recorded a net loss on extinguishment of debt of $521,000 in
1997 resulting from refinancing its previously outstanding Senior Credit
Facility effective August 1, 1997. The loss resulted from the write-off of
unamortized deferred debt issuance costs. The loss is reported in the
accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements net of an income tax benefit of
$180,000.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense decreased from $5.2 million in 1996 to a benefit of
$0.6 million in 1997 due to the Company incurring a net loss before income taxes
and extraordinary item in 1997 as compared to net earnings in 1996. The
Company's effective income tax rate decreased from 41.2% in 1996 to 25.6% in
1997 due to the net loss and the proportional amount of items that are
nondeductible for income tax purposes.
As a result of its acquisition of the Cable Companies, the Company has
available net operating loss carryforwards for income tax purposes totaling
$37.6 million at December 31, 1997 which begin to expire in 2004 if not
utilized. The Company's utilization of these carryforwards is subject to certain
limitations pursuant to section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The amount of deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be
reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the
carryforward periods are reduced. The Company estimates that its effective
income tax rate for financial statement purposes will be approximately 25% in
1998. The Company expects that its operations will generate net income before
income taxes during the carryforward periods to allow utilization of loss
carryforwards for which no allowance has been established.
A deferred tax asset was established related to these carryforwards. The
amount of deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in
the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward
periods are reduced.
Year Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1995.
Revenues
Total revenues increased 27.5% from $129.3 million in 1995 to $164.9
million in 1996. Long distance transmission revenues from commercial,
residential, governmental, and other common carrier customers increased 18.8%
from $120.0 million in 1995 to $142.6 million in 1996. This increase reflected a
22.6% increase in interstate minutes of use to 569.6 million minutes and a 29.8%
-31-
increase in intrastate minutes of use to 121.2 million minutes, principally due
to a new marketing program which the Company launched during the third quarter
of 1995. This program consisted of the introduction of a new flat-rate calling
plan ("Great Rate") coupled with telemarketing, direct sales, and the promotion
of a $1 million sweepstakes. Revenue growth in 1996 was also due to a 23.7%
increase in revenues from other common carriers (principally MCI and Sprint),
from $38.8 million in 1995 to $48.0 million in 1996 and a 23.7% increase in
private line and private network transmission services revenues, from $11.4
million in 1995 to $14.1 million in 1996. Systems sales and services revenues
increased 47.3% from $7.4 million in 1995 to $10.9 million in 1996, primarily
due to the commencement in the second quarter of 1996 of services provided under
a new outsourcing contract with National Bank of Alaska. The Company also
reported two months' of cable services revenues in 1996 following its
acquisition of the Cable Systems effective October 31, 1996.
The above increases in revenues were offset in part by a 6.3% reduction in
the Company's average rate per minute on long distance traffic from $0.191 per
minute in 1995 to $0.179 per minute in 1996. The decrease in rates resulted from
the Company's promotion of and customers' enrollment in new calling plans
offering discounted rates and length of service rebates, such new plans being
prompted in part by the Company's primary long distance competitor, AT&T
Alascom, reducing its rates.
Cost of Sales and Services
Cost of sales and services was $72.1 million in 1995 and $92.7 million in
1996. As a percentage of total revenues, cost of sales and services increased
from 55.8% in 1995 to 56.2% in 1996. The increase in cost of sales and services
as a percentage of revenues during 1996 as compared to 1995 resulted primarily
from the reduced average rate per minute billed to customers in 1996 as compared
to 1995 without an offsetting reduction in the rate per minute billed to the
Company for the local access and interstate termination services it obtains from
third parties. These increases were offset in part by refunds in the first two
quarters of 1996 aggregating approximately $960,000 from a local exchange
carrier and the National Exchange Carriers Association in respect of earnings by
them that exceeded regulatory requirements.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 23.1% from $37.7
million in 1995 to $46.4 million in 1996, and, as a percentage of revenues,
decreased from 29.2% in 1995 to 28.1% in 1996. Selling, general and
[6~administrative expenses increased as a result of increased sales and customer
service volumes, bad debt expense totaling $1.7 million for 1996 compared to
$1.5 million in 1995 (directly associated with increased revenues), and
increased sales, advertising and telemarketing costs totaling $9.9 million in
1995 compared to $13.3 million in 1996 due to the introduction of various
marketing plans and other proprietary rate plans. Additionally, selling, general
and administrative expenses increased in 1996 due to increased personnel and
other costs totaling $2.7 million in sales, engineering, operations, accounting,
human resources, legal and regulatory, and management information services. Such
costs were associated with the development and introduction, or planned
introduction, of new products and services including local services, cable
television services, rural message and data telephone services, PCS services,
and Internet services.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased 56.7% from $6.0 million in
1995 to $9.4 million in 1996 resulting primarily from the Company's acquisition
of the cable systems effective October 31, 1996 and the Company's $8.9 million
investment in facilities during 1995 for which a full year of depreciation was
recorded during the year ending December 31, 1996 and the 1996 investment of
$38.6 million in facilities for which a partial year of depreciation was
recorded during 1996.
-32-
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense, net of interest income, increased 311.1% from $0.9
million in 1995 to $3.7 million in 1996. This increase resulted primarily from
increases in the Company's average outstanding indebtedness resulting primarily
from its acquisition of the Cable Systems and capital expenditures. Such
increases were offset in part by increases in the amount of interest capitalized
during 1996.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense increased 2.0% from $5.1 million in 1995 to $5.2
million in 1996 due to an increase in net earnings before income taxes and a
higher effective income tax rate from 40.5% in 1995 to 41.2% in 1996.
SEASONALITY; FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following chart provides selected unaudited statement of operations
data from the Company's quarterly results of operations during 1996 and 1997:
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
First Second Third Fourth Total
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1996
----
Revenues
Telecommunications services $ 37,969 39,199 38,664 39,587 155,419
Cable services -- -- -- 9,475 9,475
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues 37,969 39,199 38,664 49,062 164,894
Operating income 3,947 3,970 4,017 4,475 16,409
Net earnings $ 2,137 2,150 2,140 1,035 7,462
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic net earnings per share $ 0.09 0.09 0.08 0.03 0.28
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted net earnings per share $ 0.08 0.08 0.08 0.03 0.27
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Other financial data:
Cable EBITDA $ -- -- -- 4,416 4,416
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated EBITDA $ 5,834 5,888 5,829 8,267 25,818
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1997
----
Revenues
Telecommunications services $ 39,225 42,131 44,407 42,271 168,034
Cable services 13,656 14,055 13,294 14,160 55,165
Local services -- -- 255 355 610
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues 52,881 56,186 57,956 56,786 223,809
Operating income 3,292 2,786 3,786 5,518 15,382
-33-
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
First Second Third Fourth Total
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Extraordinary item, net of income
tax benefit -- -- 433 88 521
Net income (loss) $ (525) (832) (928) 102 (2,183)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic net earnings (loss) per
share $ (0.01) (0.02) (0.02) 0.00 (0.05)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted net earnings (loss) per
share $ (0.01) (0.02) (0.02) 0.00 (0.05)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Other financial data:
Cable EBITDA $ 6,025 5,863 5,687 6,168 23,743
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Local EBITDA $ (634) (814) (540) (2,443) (3,797)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Consolidated EBITDA $ 9,412 8,394 9,553 11,790 39,149
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 were $56.8 million,
representing a 2.1% decrease from total revenues in the third quarter of 1997 of
$58.0 million. This decrease in revenues resulted in part from (1) a 4.7%
decrease in telecommunications services revenues to $42.3 million in the fourth
quarter of 1997 from $44.4 million during the third quarter of 1997. This
decrease is attributable in part to a decrease in minutes of traffic carried
during the fourth quarter of 1997 of approximately 7.6 million minutes as
compared to the third quarter of 1997 (a 3.9% decrease), and (2) a decrease in
the average rate per minute billed during the fourth quarter of 1997 of
approximately $0.005 as compared to the third quarter of 1997 (a 2.7% decrease).
Long distance telecommunications revenues are generally lower during the winter
months as compared to the summer months. In addition, entry of two local
exchange carriers into the Anchorage area long distance market contributed to
the reductions in revenue and minutes of use. Partially offsetting this decrease
was an increase in cable services revenues to $14.2 million in the fourth
quarter of 1997 from $13.3 million in the third quarter of 1997. As further
described below, cable revenues are generally higher during the winter months as
compared to the summer months.
Cost of sales and services for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 were
$25.3 million, representing a 12.5% decrease from total cost of sales and
services in the third quarter of 1997 of $28.9 million. Reduced cost of sales
resulted from reduced revenues during the fourth quarter as previously described
and cost reductions as a percentage of revenues in the fourth quarter as
compared to the third quarter of 1997.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $198,000 during the
fourth quarter of 1997 as compared to the third quarter of 1997 principally as a
result of personnel, sales, engineering, operations, customer service,
management information systems, accounting, human resources, legal and
regulatory expenses associated with the development and introduction, or planned
introduction, of new products and services including local services, PCS
services and Internet services.
The Company reported a net income of $102,000 for the fourth quarter of
1997 as compared to a net loss of $928,000 during the third quarter of 1997. The
reduced net loss was primarily attributable to (1) fourth quarter cost of sales
and services reductions that exceeded the reduction in revenues as compared to
the third quarter, and (2) the write-off of $701,000 in deferred debt issuance
costs during the third quarter of 1997.
Long distance revenues have historically been highest in the summer months
as a result of temporary population increases attributable to tourism and
increased seasonal economic activity
-34-
such as construction, commercial fishing, and oil and gas activities. Cable
television revenues, on the other hand, are higher in the winter months because
consumers spend more time at home and tend to watch more television during these
months. Local service operations are not expected to exhibit significant
seasonality. The Company's ability to implement construction projects is also
reduced during the winter months because of cold temperatures, snow and short
daylight hours.
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income." SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for
reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components in a full set
of general-purpose financial statements. Comprehensive income includes all
changes in equity during a period except those due to owner investments and
distributions. It includes items such as foreign currency translation
adjustments, and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities
This standard does not change the display or components of present-day net
income. Statement 130 is applicable to all entities that provide a full set of
financial statements consisting of a statement of financial position, results of
operations and cash flows. SFAS No. 130 is effective for interim and annual
periods beginning after December 15, 1997. Management of the Company expects
that adoption of SFAS No. 130 in the first quarter of 1998 will not have a
material impact on the Company's financial statement disclosures.
In June 1997, the Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 131,
"Financial Reporting for Segments of a Business Enterprise" which applies to all
public business enterprises. This new standard requires companies to disclose
segment data based on how management makes decisions about allocating resources
to segments and how it measures segment performance. SFAS 131 requires companies
to disclose a measure of segment profit or loss, segment assets, and
reconciliations to consolidated totals It also requires entity-wide disclosures
about a company's products and services, its major customers and the material
countries in which it holds assets and reports revenues. Statement 131 is
effective for financial statements for periods beginning after December 15,
1997. Management of the Company expects that adoption of SFAS No. 131 will not
have a material impact on the Company's year-end 1998 financial statement
disclosures.
In February 1998, the Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." SFAS
132 standardizes the disclosure requirements for pensions and postretirement
benefits where practical. It also eliminates certain disclosures and requires
additional information on changes in benefit obligations and fair values of plan
assets. The Company will adopt SFAS 132 in its 1998 year-end financial
statements. SFAS 132 is not expected to have a significant effect on the
Company's pension and postretirement benefit plan disclosures.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's 1997 cash flows from operating activities totaled $30.8
million, net of changes in the components of working capital. Additional sources
of cash during 1997 included long-term borrowings of $268.3 million and class A
common stock offering proceeds totaling $50.8 million as further described
below. The Company's expenditures for property and equipment, including
construction in progress, totaled $38.6 million and $64.6 million in 1996 and
1997, respectively. Uses of cash during 1997 included repayment of $231.0
million of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations, payment of
deferred debt issuance costs, underwriting fees and commissions totaling $13.3
million, investment of $39.4 million in restricted cash, payment of undersea
fiberoptic cable construction deposits totaling $9.1 million, and an increase in
notes receivable of $698,000.
Net receivables increased $5.3 million from December 31, 1996 to December
31, 1997 resulting from increased revenues in 1997 as compared to 1996 and an
increase in refundable income taxes in 1997 of $3.7 million.
-35-
The Company reported a working capital deficit of $22.8 million as of
December 31, 1996. The Company's then existing credit facility matured within
the following twelve-month period resulting in the outstanding balance as of
December 31, 1996 being included in current maturities of long-term debt. Except
for the classification of the Company's senior indebtedness as current, working
capital at December 31, 1996 totaled $4.6 million. Working capital at December
31, 1997 totaled $5.0 million, a $0.4 million increase from working capital
recomputed at December 31, 1996.
General Communication, Inc. issued 7.0 million shares of its class A
common stock on August 1, 1997 for $7.25 per share, before deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions. Net proceeds to General Communication,
Inc. totaled $48.0 million. Concurrently with the stock offering, GCI, Inc., a
newly created wholly owned subsidiary of General Communication, Inc., issued
$180.0 million of 9.75% senior notes due 2007 to the public. Net proceeds to
GCI, Inc. after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions totaled $174.6
million.
Concurrently with the public offerings described above, GCI Holdings, Inc.
("Holdings", a newly created wholly-owned subsidiary of GCI, Inc.) entered into
new $200,000,000 and $50,000,000 credit facilities effective August 1, 1997. The
new facilities mature June 30, 2005 and bear interest at either Libor plus 0.75%
to 2.5%, depending on the leverage ratio of Holdings and certain of its
subsidiaries, or at the greater of the prime rate or the federal funds effective
rate (as defined) plus 0.05%, in each case plus an additional 0.0% to 1.375%,
depending on the leverage ratio of Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries.
$64.7 million was drawn on the credit facilities as of December 31, 1997.
The new credit facilities and the public notes impose restrictions on the
operations and activities of the Company, including requirements that the
Company comply with certain financial covenants and financial ratios. Under the
credit facility, Holdings may not permit the ratio of senior debt to annualized
operating cash flow of Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries to exceed 3.5 to
1.0, total debt to annualized operating cash flow to exceed 7.0 to 1.0, and
annualized operating cash flow to interest expense to exceed 1.5 to 1.0. Each of
the foregoing ratios decreases in specified increments during the life of the
credit facility. The credit facility will also require Holdings to maintain a
ratio of annualized operating cash flow to debt service of Holdings and certain
of its subsidiaries of at least 1.25 to 1.0, and annualized operating cash flow
to fixed charges of at least 1.0 to 1.0 (which adjusts to 1.05 to 1.0 in April,
2003 and thereafter). The credit facility will also limit capital expenditures
of Holdings and certain of its subsidiaries to no more than $55.0 million
(post-closing), $90.0 million, and $65.0 million in 1997, 1998 and 1999,
respectively. The public notes impose a requirement that the leverage ratio of
GCI, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries will not exceed 7.5 to 1.0 prior to
December 31, 1999 and 6.0 to 1.0 thereafter, subject to the ability of GCI, Inc.
and certain of its subsidiaries to incur specified permitted indebtedness
without regard to such ratios.
Net proceeds from the public offerings and new credit facility were used
to retire amounts owing under the Company's then existing credit agreements,
fund $50 million in capital for use in constructing an undersea fiberoptic
cable, and for working capital requirements.
On January 27, 1998 Alaska United closed a $75 million project finance
facility ("Fiber Facility") to construct a fiber optic cable system connecting
Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, Whittier, Juneau and Seattle (see notes 13 and 14
to the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). The Fiber
Facility provides up to $75 million in construction financing and will bear
interest at either Libor plus 3.0%, or at the lender's prime rate plus 1.75%.
The interest rate will decline to Libor plus 2.5%-2.75%, or the lender's prime
rate plus 1.25%-1.5% after the project completion date and when the loan balance
is $40,000,000-60,000,000 or less. $1,018,750 was borrowed under the facility at
closing. The Fiber Facility is a 10-year term loan that is interest only for the
first 5 years. The facility can be extended to a 12 year term loan at any time
between the second and fifth anniversary of closing the facility if the Company
can demonstrate projected revenues from certain capacity commitments will be
sufficient to pay all operating costs, interest and principal installments based
on the extended maturity.
-36-
The Fiber Facility contains, among others, covenants requiring certain
intercompany loans and advances in order to maintain specific levels of cash
flow necessary to pay operating costs, interest and principal installments. The
Fiber Facility also contains a guarantee that requires, among other terms and
conditions, Alaska United complete the project by the completion date and pay
any non-budgeted costs of the project.
The Fiber Facility is collateralized by all of Alaska United's assets, as
well as a pledge of the partnership interests' owning Alaska United.
The Company's expenditures for property and equipment, including
construction in progress, totaled $65.5 million and $38.6 million during 1997
and 1996, respectively. The Company anticipates that its capital expenditures in
1998 may total as much as $225.0 million, including approximately $40.0 million
for satellite transponders and approximately $125.0 million for new undersea
fiber optic cable facilities which have been financed by the Alaska United Fiber
System Partnership ("Alaska United"). Planned capital expenditures over the next
five years include $50.0 million to $70.0 million to fund expansion of long
distance facilities, between $120.0 million and $140.0 million to fund
development, construction and operating costs of its local exchange and PCS
networks and businesses; and between $55.0 million and $65.0 million to upgrade
its cable television plant and to purchase equipment for new cable television
services. Sources of funds for these planned capital expenditures include net
proceeds of the public offerings described above, internally generated cash
flows and borrowings under the Company's new credit facilities described above
and borrowings on GCI Transport Co., Inc.'s new $75 million project financing
described above. All such funds will be necessary to complete the Company's
planned capital expenditures.
The Alaska United project will provide a high capacity fiber optic link
between Fairbanks, Anchorage, Valdez, and Juneau, Alaska, and the lower 48
states through Seattle, Washington. Its initial capacity will be more than five
times the capacity of Alaska's current undersea fiber to the lower 48. After a
preliminary route survey was completed and initial cost components determined, a
detailed sea floor survey was commissioned. In November 1996, the Company paid
$1 million to conduct the sub-sea mapping. On August 1, 1997 the Company issued
a down payment to TSS to begin construction. Manufacturing of the cable and its
electronics has been underway since that time. The cable is expected to be laid
from August to October 1998. Testing will occur after that, and services are
expected to commence in December 1998.
Financing for Alaska United includes $75 million through Credit Lyonnais
and other lenders and $50 million from funds raised through the issuance of
senior notes described above.
The Company's ability to invest in discretionary capital and other
projects will depend upon its future cash flows and access to borrowings under
its credit facilities. Management anticipates that cash flow generated by the
Company and borrowings under its credit facilities will be sufficient to meet
its planned capital expenditures and working capital requirements
Effective December 2, 1997, the Company purchased all of the outstanding
shares of Astrolabe Group, Inc. Astrolabe was founded in 1995 as a technology
management consulting firm helping Alaska based clients effectively plan,
implement and operationally manage their network and information system
investments. Astrolabe helps clients throughout Alaska manage their rural
telecommunication networks, distributed information systems and distance
delivery of health care educational services. Astrolabe has been an integral
part of the Company's School Access project, providing the Internet software
infrastructure central to the value of the Company's distance education product
offerings. Following the acquisition, Astrolabe was merged into GCI
Communication Corp. and operates as a distinct division named GCI Network
Solutions. The $1,324,000 purchase was accounted for using the purchase method.
The purchase price consisted of a payment of $600,000 and the issuance of
options to purchase 100,000 shares of GCI's Class A common stock for $.01 per
share.
The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement in
August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite transponders to meet its long-term
satellite capacity requirements. The
-37-
amount payable upon expected delivery of the transponders during the third
quarter of 1998 is not expected to exceed $41 million.
ALASKA ECONOMY
The Company offers telecommunication and video services to customers
primarily throughout Alaska. As a result of this geographic concentration, the
Company's growth and operations depend upon economic conditions in Alaska. The
economy of Alaska is dependent upon the natural resource industries, and in
particular oil production, as well as tourism, government, and United States
military spending. Any deterioration in these markets could have an adverse
impact on the Company. Oil revenues over the past several years have contributed
in excess of 75% of the revenues from all segments of the Alaska economy and are
expected to account for 77% in 1998.
The volume of oil transported by the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline System over
the past 20 years has been as high as 2.0 million barrels per day in 1988. Over
the past several years, it has begun to decline. The two largest producers of
oil in Alaska (the primary users of the TransAlaska Oil Pipeline System)
continue to explore, develop and produce new oil fields and to enhance recovery
from existing fields to offset the decline in production from the Prudhoe Bay
field. Both companies have invested large sums of money in developing and
implementing oil recovery techniques at the Prudhoe Bay field and other nearby
fields. New oil field development is expected to result in an increase in oil
production in 2000 and 2001. Oil production is projected to decline over the
long term at approximately 6 percent per year.
Effective March 1997, the State of Alaska passed new legislation relaxing
state oil royalties with respect to marginal oil fields that the oil companies
claim would not be economic to develop otherwise. No assurance can be given that
these two oil companies or other oil companies doing business in Alaska will be
successful in discovering new fields or further developing existing fields which
are economic to develop and produce oil with access to the pipeline or other
means of transport to market, even with the reduced level of royalties. Should
the oil companies not be successful in these discoveries or developments, the
long term trend of continued decline in oil production from the Prudhoe Bay
field area is inevitable with a corresponding adverse impact on the economy of
the state, in general, and on demand for telecommunications and cable television
services.
Market prices for North Slope oil have declined to below $11 per barrel in
March 1998, below the average price of approximately $18 per barrel used by the
State of Alaska to budget its oil related revenues. The State of Alaska
maintains surplus accounts that are intended to fund budgetary shortfalls and
would be expected to fund all or a portion of the revenue shortfall. The Company
is not able to predict the effect of declines in the price of North Slope oil on
Alaska's economy or on the Company.
SEASONALITY
Long distance revenues have historically been highest in the summer months
as a result of temporary population increases attributable to tourism and
increased seasonal economic activity such as construction, commercial fishing,
and oil and gas activities. Cable television revenues, on the other hand, are
higher in the winter months because consumers tend to watch more television, and
spend more time at home, during these months. The Company's local services
revenues are not expected to exhibit significant seasonality. The Company's
ability to implement construction projects is also reduced during the winter
months because of cold temperatures, snow and short daylight hours.
YEAR 2000 COSTS
The "Year 2000" issue affects the Company's installed computer systems,
network elements, software applications, and other business systems that have
time-sensitive programs that may not properly reflect or recognize the year
2000. Because many computers and computer applications
-38-
define dates by the last two digits of the year, "00" may not be properly
identified as the year 2000. This error could result in miscalculations or
system failures.
The Company has established a year 2000 task force to coordinate the
identification, evaluation, and implementation of changes to financial and
operating computer systems and applications necessary to achieve a year 2000
date conversion with no effect on customers or disruption to business
operations. These actions are necessary to insure that the systems and
applications will recognize and process the year 2000 and beyond. Major areas of
potential business impact have been identified and are being assessed, and
initial conversion efforts are underway using both internal and external
resources.
The Year 2000 issue may also affect the systems and applications of the
Company's customers and vendors. The Company is also contacting others with whom
it conducts business to receive the appropriate warranties and assurances that
those third parties are, or will be, Year 2000 compliant.
The total cost of modifications and conversions is not known at this time.
The Company's management estimates that the incremental cost of compliance over
the cost of normal software upgrades and replacements and its effect on the
Company's future results of operations totals approximately $3 million in each
of 1998 and 1999, subject to further review as part of the detailed conversion
planning. The cost of modifications and conversions is being expensed as
incurred.
If compliance is not achieved in a timely manner, the Year 2000 issue
could have a material effect on the Company's operations. However, the Company
is focusing on identifying and addressing all aspects of its operations that may
be affected by the Year 2000 issue and is addressing the most critical
applications first. As a result, the Company's management does not believe its
operations will be materially adversely affected.
Funds for year 2000 costs are expected to be provided from the Company's
operating activities and credit facilities. Management must balance the
requirements for funding discretionary capital expenditures with required year
2000 efforts given its limited resources.
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
See Part I, Item 1, Recent Developments and Regulation, Franchise
Authorizations and Tariffs for regulatory developments affecting the Company.
INFLATION
The Company does not believe that inflation has a significant effect on
its operations.
-39-
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company's exposure to market risk - through derivative
financial instruments and other financial instruments, such as
investments in marketable securities and long-term debt - is not
material.
Item 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The consolidated financial statements of the Company are
filed under this Item, beginning on Page 41. The financial
statement schedules required under Regulation S-X are filed
pursuant to Item 14 of this Report.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
PART III
Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual
Shareholders' Meeting.
-40-
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
General Communication, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of General
Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997.
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. 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 includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of General
Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
----------------------------
KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
Anchorage, Alaska
March 4, 1998
-41-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
ASSETS 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------- -------- --------
(Amounts in thousands)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,048 13,349
-------- --------
Receivables:
Trade 29,599 28,015
Income tax receivable (note 7) 4,752 1,026
Other 649 228
-------- --------
35,000 29,269
Less allowance for doubtful receivables 1,070 597
-------- --------
Net receivables 33,930 28,672
-------- --------
Prepaid and other current assets 2,520 2,236
Deferred income taxes, net (note 7) 1,675 835
Inventories 2,164 1,589
Notes receivable (note 4) 897 421
-------- --------
Total current assets 44,234 47,102
-------- --------
Restricted cash (note 13) 39,406 0
-------- --------
Property and equipment, at cost (notes 6, 9, 10 and 11)
Land and buildings 981 692
Telephony distribution systems 116,016 81,414
Cable television distribution systems 69,445 52,284
Transportation equipment 2,643 1,064
Support equipment 32,596 19,994
Property and equipment under capital leases 2,718 2,030
-------- --------
224,399 157,478
Less amortization and accumulated depreciation 58,406 41,497
-------- --------
Net property and equipment in service 165,993 115,981
Construction in progress 18,513 20,770
-------- --------
Net property and equipment 184,506 136,751
Intangible assets, net of amortization (notes 2 and 5) 246,534 250,920
Transponder deposit (note 13) 9,100 9,100
Undersea fiber optic cable deposit (note 13) 9,094 0
Deferred loan and Senior Notes costs, net of amortization 9,379 900
Notes receivable (note 4) 1,331 1,016
Other assets, at cost, net of amortization 1,718 1,546
-------- --------
Total assets $545,302 447,335
-------- --------
-------- --------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-42-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Continued)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- -------------
(Amounts in thousands)
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt (note 6) $ 1,634 31,969
Current maturities of obligations under capital leases
(note 11) 198 71
Accounts payable 25,107 23,677
Accrued payroll and payroll related obligations 4,630 3,830
Accrued liabilities 6,019 4,173
Accrued interest 7,649 2,708
Subscriber deposits and deferred revenues 3,898 3,449
Accrued income taxes (note 7) 111 0
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities 49,246 69,877
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities (note 6) 248,450 191,273
Obligations under capital leases, excluding
current maturities (note 11) 400 0
Obligations under capital leases due to related parties,
excluding current maturities (notes 10 and 11) 590 675
Deferred income taxes, net (note 7) 38,904 33,720
Other liabilities 3,273 2,236
--------- ---------
Total liabilities 340,863 297,781
--------- ---------
Stockholders' equity (notes 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8):
Common stock (no par):
Class A. Authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding 45,279,045 and 36,586,973 shares at
December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively 170,322 113,421
Class B. Authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding 4,062,892 and 4,074,028 shares at
December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively;
convertible on a share-per-share basis into Class A 3,432 3,432
common stock
Less cost of 202,768 and 199,081 Class A common
shares held in treasury at December 31, 1997 and
1996, respectively (1,039) (1,010)
Paid-in capital 4,425 4,229
Retained earnings 27,299 29,482
--------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity 204,439 149,554
--------- ---------
Commitments and contingencies (notes 11 and 13)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 545,302 447,335
--------- ---------
--------- ---------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-43-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
1997 1996 1995
--------- --------- ---------
(Amounts in thousands except per share amounts)
Revenues (notes 9 and 10):
Telecommunication services $ 168,644 155,419 129,279
Cable services 55,165 9,475 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total revenues 223,809 164,894 129,279
Cost of sales and services 111,077 92,664 72,091
Selling, general and administrative expenses 73,583 46,412 37,691
Depreciation and amortization 23,767 9,409 5,993
--------- --------- ---------
Operating income (note 9) 15,382 16,409 13,504
Interest expense, net (notes 3 and 6) 17,617 3,719 903
--------- --------- ---------
Net earnings (loss) before income taxes and
extraordinary item (2,235) 12,690 12,601
Income tax expense (benefit) (notes 3 and 7) (573) 5,228 5,099
--------- --------- ---------
Net earnings (loss) before extraordinary loss on
early extinguishment of debt (1,662) 7,462 7,502
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of income tax
benefit of $180 (note 6) 521 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Net earnings (loss) $ (2,183) 7,462 7,502
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Basic earnings (loss) per common share:
Net earnings (loss) before extraordinary loss $ (0.04) 0.28 0.32
Extraordinary loss (0.01) 0.00 0.00
--------- --------- ---------
Net earnings (loss) $ (0.05) 0.28 0.32
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
Net earnings (loss) before extraordinary loss $ (0.04) 0.27 0.31
Extraordinary loss (0.01) 0.00 0.00
--------- --------- ---------
Net earnings (loss) $ (0.05) 0.27 0.31
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-44-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
Class A
Shares of Class A Class B Shares
Common Stock Common Common Held in Paid-in Retained
(Amounts in thousands) Class A Class B Stock Stock Treasury Capital Earnings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1994 19,617 4,179 $ 13,830 3,432 (328) 3,641 14,518
Net earnings -- -- -- -- -- -- 7,502
Class B shares converted to Class A 3 (3) -- -- -- -- --
Tax effect of excess stock compensation
expense for tax purposes over amounts
recognized for financial reporting
purposes (note 7) -- -- -- -- -- 397 --
Shares purchased and held in Treasury -- -- -- -- (61) -- --
Shares issued under stock option plan 40 -- 82 -- -- -- --
Shares issued and issuable under officer
stock option agreements 20 -- -- -- -- 3 --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1995 19,680 4,176 13,912 3,432 (389) 4,041 22,020
Net earnings -- -- -- -- -- -- 7,462
Class B shares converted to Class A 102 (102) -- -- -- -- --
Tax effect of excess stock
compensation expense for tax
purposes over amounts recognized for
financial reporting purposes (note 7) -- -- -- -- -- 187 --
Shares issued to MCI (notes 2 and 8) 2,000 -- 13,000 -- -- -- --
Shares issued pursuant to
acquisitions, net of costs totaling
$432 (note 2) 14,723 -- 86,278 -- -- -- --
Shares purchased and held in Treasury -- -- -- -- (621) -- --
Shares issued under stock option plan 82 -- 231 -- -- -- --
Shares issued and issuable under officer
stock option agreements -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1996 36,587 4,074 113,421 3,432 (1,010) 4,229 29,482
Net loss -- -- -- -- -- -- (2,183)
Class B shares converted to Class A 11 (11) -- -- -- -- --
Tax effect of excess stock compensation
expense for tax purposes over
amounts recognized for financial
reporting purposes (note 7) -- -- -- -- -- 65 --
Shares issued upon public offering, net
of issuance costs of $4,024 (note 8) 7,000 -- 46,726 -- -- -- --
Shares issued upon conversion of
convertible note net of fees of $16
(notes 2 and 8) 1,538 -- 9,983 -- -- -- --
Shares acquired pursuant to officer
deferred compensation agreement -- -- -- -- (29) -- --
Shares issued under stock option plan 57 -- 192 -- -- 63 --
Shares issued and issuable under officer
stock option agreements 86 -- -- -- -- 68 --
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1997 45,279 4,063 $170,322 3,432 (1,039) 4,425 27,299
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-45-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
1997 1996 1995
--------- --------- ---------
(Amounts in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss) $ (2,183) 7,462 7,502
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 23,191 9,346 5,763
Amortization of deferred loan costs 576 63 230
Deferred income tax expense 4,410 2,252 1,017
Deferred compensation and compensatory stock options
477 507 433
Disposals of property and equipment 71 30 170
Loss on early extinguishment of debt 701 0 0
Bad debt expense, net of write-offs 473 (34) (114)
Other noncash income and expense items (125) (42) 354
Change in operating assets and liabilities (note 3) 3,202 2,724 (1,307)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities 30,793 22,308 14,048
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (notes
2 and 3) (547) (72,818) 0
Purchases of property and equipment (64,644) (38,642) (8,938)
Restricted cash investments (39,406) 0 0
Purchases of other assets, including long-term
deposits (1,292) (10,959) (510)
Payment of undersea fiber optic cable deposits (9,094) 0 0
Proceeds from the sale of investment security 0 0 832
Notes receivable issued (698) (515) (251)
Payments received on notes receivable 32 288 184
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities (115,649) (122,646) (8,683)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Long-term borrowings- senior notes 180,000 0 0
Long-term borrowings- bank debt and leases 88,305 208,000 0
Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease
obligations (231,021) (5,039) (2,824)
Retirement of bank debt assumed 0 (105,200) 0
Proceeds from equity offering 50,750 0 0
Proceeds from common stock issuance 192 13,231 82
Purchase of treasury stock (29) (621) (61)
Payment of debt and stock issuance costs (13,642) (701) (194)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 74,555 109,670 (2,997)
--------- --------- ---------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (10,301) 9,332 2,368
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 13,349 4,017 1,649
--------- --------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 3,048 13,349 4,017
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-46-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(l) Organization and summary of Significant Accounting Principles
(a) Organization
General Communication, Inc. ("GCI"), an Alaska corporation, was
incorporated in 1979. GCI, Inc., an Alaska corporation, was
incorporated in 1997 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI. GCI
Holding, Inc. ("Holdings") is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI, Inc.
and was incorporated in 1997. GCI Communication Corp. ("GCC"), an
Alaska corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings and was
incorporated in 1990. GCI Communication Services, Inc.
("Communication Services"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Holdings and was incorporated in 1992. GCI Leasing Co.,
Inc. ("Leasing Company"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Communication Services and was incorporated in 1992.
GCI, GCI, Inc., Holdings and GCC are engaged in the transmission of
interstate and intrastate private line and switched message long
distance telephone service between Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and
other communities in Alaska and the remaining United States and
foreign countries. GCC also provides northbound services to certain
common carriers terminating traffic in Alaska and sells and services
dedicated communications systems and related equipment. Communication
Services provides private network point-to-point data and voice
transmission services between Alaska, Hawaii and the western
contiguous United States. Leasing Company owns and leases capacity on
an undersea fiber optic cable used in the transmission of interstate
private line and switched message long distance services between
Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries.
Cable television services are provided through GCI Cable, Inc. and
through its ownership in Prime Cable of Alaska L.P. ("Prime"), and
through GCI Cable, Inc.'s wholly owned subsidiaries GCI
Cable/Fairbanks, Inc., and GCI Cable/Juneau, Inc. (collectively "GCI
Cable" or "Cable Companies"). GCI Cable, Inc. and its subsidiaries
are Alaska corporations and were incorporated in 1996. GCI Cable,
Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. Prime is a limited
partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware whose
partnership interests are wholly owned by GCI Cable, Inc.
GCI Transport Co., Inc., Fiber Hold Co., Inc., GCI Fiber Co., Inc.,
and GCI Satellite Co., Inc., all Alaska corporations, were
incorporated in 1997 to finance the acquisition of satellite
transponders and to construct and deploy the fiber optic cable system
further described in note 13. GCI Transport Co., Inc. is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Holdings. Fiber Hold Co., Inc., GCI Fiber Co.,
Inc., and GCI Satellite Co., Inc. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of
GCI Transport Co., Inc. Alaska United Fiber System Partnership
("Alaska United") was organized in 1997 to construct, own and operate
the fiber optic cable system described above and in note 13. Alaska
United is a partnership wholly owned by the Company through GCI Fiber
Co., Inc. and Fiber Hold Co., Inc.
(b) Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GCI,
its wholly-owned subsidiary GCI, Inc, GCI, Inc.'s wholly-owned
subsidiary Holdings, Holdings' wholly-owned subsidiaries GCC,
Communication Services, GCI Cable, Communication Services'
wholly-owned subsidiary Leasing Company, GCI Transport Co., Inc, GCI
Transport Co., Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiaries GCI Fiber Co., Inc.
and Fiber Hold Co., Inc. and GCI Fiber Co., Inc.'s and Fiber Hold
Co., Inc.'s wholly owned partnership Alaska United (collectively "the
Company"). All significant intercompany balances and transactions
have been eliminated in consolidation.
-47-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(c) Net Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
In February 1997 the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued SFAS 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"). This new standard
simplifies the earnings per share ("EPS") calculation and makes the
U.S. standard for computing EPS more consistent with international
accounting standards. The Company adopted SFAS 128 in 1997. EPS for
prior years has been restated to comply with SFAS 128.
Under SFAS 128, primary EPS was replaced with a more simple
calculation called basic EPS. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing
income available to common shareholders by the weighted average
common shares outstanding. Previously, primary EPS was based on the
weighted average of both outstanding and issuable shares assuming all
dilutive options had been exercised. Under SFAS 128, fully diluted
EPS has not changed significantly, but has been renamed diluted EPS.
Diluted EPS includes the effect of all potentially dilutive
securities, such as options and convertible preferred stock.
Shares used to calculate EPS consist of the following (amounts in
thousands):
1997 1996 1995
------ ------ ------
Weighted average common shares outstanding 44,924 26,498 23,600
Common equivalent shares outstanding 0 802 389
------ ------ ------
44,924 27,300 23,989
------ ------ ------
------ ------ ------
Common equivalent shares outstanding of 1,407,000 are anti-dilutive
at December 31, 1997 and are not included in the diluted net earnings
(loss) per share calculation.
(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments
that are readily convertible into cash.
(e) Inventories
Inventory of merchandise for resale and parts is stated at the lower
of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out
method for parts and the specific identification method for equipment
held for resale.
Cable television inventories are carried at the lower of cost
(weighted average unit cost) or market.
(f) Property and Equipment
Telecommunications Property and Equipment
Telecommunications property and equipment is stated at cost.
Construction costs of transmission facilities are capitalized.
Equipment financed under capital leases is recorded at the lower of
fair market value or the present value of future minimum lease
payments. Construction in progress represents distribution systems
and support equipment not placed in service on December 31, 1997;
management intends to place this equipment in service during 1998 and
1999.
-48-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company's investment in jointly owned earth station assets on
Adak Island, Alaska is stated at cost and is depreciated on a
straight-line basis over lives ranging from 10 to 12 years. Revenues
derived from customers whose service transits the joint facilities
are recognized based upon the level of service and supporting
facilities that are provided by each owner.
Depreciation and amortization is computed on a straight-line basis
based upon the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful
lives of the assets ranging from 3 to 20 years for distribution
systems and 5 to 10 years for support equipment. Amortization of
equipment financed under capitalized leases is included in
depreciation expense.
Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations, and renewals and
additions are capitalized. Gains or losses are recognized at the time
of ordinary retirements, sales or other dispositions of property.
Cable Television Property and Equipment
Cable television property and equipment is stated at cost. Cable
television equipment depreciation is computed by the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The composite
method and a 10-year life are used for cable television distribution
systems. Under the composite method, proceeds from the retirement of
cable television distribution system assets are credited to the
allowance for depreciation. Gains or losses on disposition of
property, plant and equipment (other than cable television
distribution systems) are credited or charged to income. Maintenance
and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Expenditures for
major renewals and betterments are capitalized.
(g) Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are valued at unamortized cost. Management reviews
the valuation and amortization of intangible assets on a periodic
basis, taking into consideration any events or circumstances which
might indicate diminished value. The assessment of the recoverability
is based on whether the asset can be recovered through undiscounted
future cash flows.
Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net assets
acquired and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over periods
of 20 to 40 years. Goodwill and certificates of operating rights
arising from the 1996 acquisition of the Cable Companies are
amortized using the straight line method over forty years.
The cost of the Company's PCS license and related financing costs
have been capitalized as an intangible asset. Once the associated
assets are placed into service, the recorded cost of the license will
begin being amortized over a 40-year period using the straight-line
method.
(h) Deferred Loan and Senior Notes Costs
Debt and Senior Notes issuance costs are deferred and amortized using
the straight-line method, which approximates the interest method,
over the term of the related debt and notes.
(i) Other Assets
Other assets are recorded at cost and are amortized on a
straight-line basis over periods of 8-10 years.
-49-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(j) Revenue from Services and Products
Revenues generated from long distance telecommunication services are
recognized when the services are provided. Revenues from the sale of
equipment are recognized at the time the equipment is delivered or
installed. Service revenues are derived primarily from maintenance
contracts on equipment and are recognized on a prorated basis over
the term of the contract.
Cable television, local service and private line telecommunication
revenues are generally billed in advance and are recognized as the
associated service is provided.
Other revenues are recognized when the service is provided.
(k) Research and Development and Advertising Expense
The Company expenses advertising and research and development costs
as incurred. Advertising expenses were approximately $2,897,000,
$2,411,000 and $1,924,000 for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
(l) Interest Expense
Interest costs incurred during the construction period of significant
capital projects are capitalized. Interest capitalized by the Company
totaled $1,886,000, $1,034,000, and $112,000 during the years ended
December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995.
(m) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial
statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and
their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable
earnings in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. Deferred tax assets are
recognized to the extent that the benefits are more likely to be
realized than not.
(n) Stock Option Plan
The Company accounts for its stock option plan in accordance with the
provisions of Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related
interpretations. As such, compensation expense would be recorded on
the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying
stock exceeded the exercise price. On January 1, 1996, the Company
adopted SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," ("SFAS
123") which permits entities to recognize as expense over the vesting
period the fair value of all stock-based awards on the date of grant.
Alternatively, SFAS 123 also allows entities to continue to apply the
provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide pro forma net income and
pro forma earnings per share disclosures for employee stock option
grants made in 1995 and future years as if the fair-value-based
method defined in SFAS 123 had been applied. The Company has elected
to continue to apply the provisions of APB Opinion No. 25 and provide
the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123.
-50-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(o) Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles 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. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
(p) Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk are primarily cash, temporary
investments, and accounts receivable. Excess cash is invested in
high quality short-term liquid money instruments issued by highly
rated financial institutions. At December 31, 1997, substantially
all of the Company's cash and restricted cash balances were invested
in short-term liquid money instruments. The Company's customers are
located primarily throughout Alaska. As a result of this geographic
concentration, the Company's growth and operations depend upon
economic conditions in Alaska. The economy of Alaska is dependent
upon the natural resource industries, and in particular oil
production, as well as tourism, government, and United States
military spending. Though limited to one geographical area, the
concentration of credit risk with respect to the Company's
receivables is minimized due to the large number of customers,
individually small balances, short payment terms and required
deposits.
(q) Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be
Disposed Of
The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for
the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be
Disposed Of," on January 1, 1996. This Statement requires that
long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed
for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate
that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a
comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash
flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are
considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is
measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets
exceeds the fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are
reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs
to sell. Adoption of this Statement did not have a material impact on
the Company's financial position, results of operations, or
liquidity.
(r) Year 2000 Costs
The "Year 2000" issue affects the Company's installed computer
systems, network elements, software applications, and other business
systems that have time-sensitive programs that may not properly
reflect or recognize the year 2000. The total cost of modifications
and conversions is not known at this time. The Company's management
estimates that the incremental cost of compliance over the cost of
normal software upgrades and replacements and its effect on the
Company's future results of operations totals approximately $3
million in each of 1998 and 1999, subject to further review as part
of the detailed conversion planning. The cost of modifications and
conversions is being expensed as incurred.
-51-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(s) Reclassifications
Reclassifications have been made to the 1995 and 1996 financial
statements to make them comparable with the 1997 presentation.
(2) Acquisitions
Cable Television Systems
Effective October 31, 1996, following shareholder and regulatory
approvals, the Company completed the acquisition of seven Alaska
cable television companies ("Cable Systems"). Under the terms of the
transactions, accounted for using the purchase method, the final
purchase price was $280.1 million, which was the aggregate value for
all the Cable Systems and included certain transaction and financing
costs. The purchase price included issuance of 14.7 million shares of
GCI's class A common stock and cash, debt assumption and issuance of
subordinated notes. Financing for the transactions resulted from
borrowings under a new $205 million bank credit facility and from
additional capital provided from the sale of two million shares of
GCI's Class A common stock to MCI Telecommunications Corporation for
$6.50 per share.
Acquisition costs totaling $304.4 million were allocated to tangible
and identifiable intangible assets and liabilities based upon fair
market values. Approximately $206.5 million was allocated to the
certificate of operating rights and approximately $42.4 was allocated
to goodwill.
Various tax attributes of Prime gave rise to a deferred tax liability
(see note 7) of $24.4 million recorded by the Company as a result of
the acquisition.
During January 1997, holders of the GCI subordinated notes exercised
a conversion option which allowed them to exchange their notes for
GCI Class A common shares at a predetermined conversion price of
$6.50 per share. As a result, the note holders received a total of
1,538,457 shares of GCI Class A common stock.
The final closing required approval of the Alaska Public Utilities
Commission (APUC), which was granted on September 23, 1996. The APUC
approval included several conditions placed on the transfer, such as
continuing the existing conditions requiring provision of public
access channels and requiring the cable operations to file annual
income and operating statements.
Astrolabe Group, Inc.
Effective December 2, 1997, the Company purchased all of the
outstanding shares of Astrolabe Group, Inc. The $1,324,000 purchase
was accounted for using the purchase method. The purchase price
consisted of a payment of $600,000 and the issuance of options to
purchase 100,000 shares of GCI's Class A common stock for $.01 per
share.
-52-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
[6~
(3) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures
Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (amounts in
thousands):
Year ended December 31, 1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
(Increase) in trade receivables $(1,119) (4,604) (4,701)
(Increase) in income tax receivable (3,726) (1,026) 0
(Increase) in other receivables (421) (134) (32)
(Increase) in prepaid and other current
assets (274) (467) (222)
(Increase) decrease in inventories (575) 412 (317)
Increase in accounts payable 1,192 5,517 5,020
[6~ Increase in accrued liabilities 1,846 914 423
Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and
payroll related obligations 800 1,723 (1,928)
Increase (decrease) in accrued income
taxes 111 (547) 330
Increase in accrued interest 4,941 2,188 31
Increase (decrease) in subscriber deposits
and deferred revenues 449 (4) 220
Increase (decrease) in components of other
liabilities (22) (1,248) (131)
------- ------- -------
$ 3,202 2,724 (1,307)
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired consists of (amounts
in thousands):
Year ended December 31, 1997 1996
-------- --------
Fair value of assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed $ 1,259 304,441
Bank debt and net working capital deficit assumed 0 (110,538)
Common stock issued to sellers 0 (86,710)
Convertible, subordinated debt issued to sellers 0 (10,000)
Net deferred income tax liability 0 (24,375)
Deferred credit (712) 0
-------- --------
-------- --------
Net cash used to acquire business $ 547 72,818
-------- --------
-------- --------
The holders of $10 million of convertible subordinated notes
exercised their conversion rights in January 1997 resulting in the
exchange of such notes for 1,538,457 shares of the Company's Class A
common stock.
Net income tax refunds received totaled $1,546,000 during 1997 and
income taxes paid totaled $4,361,000 and $3,752,000 during 1996 and
1995, respectively.
Interest paid totaled approximately $17,732,000, $2,657,000 and
$1,227,000 during 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The Company recorded $65,000, $187,000 and $397,000 in 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively, in paid-in capital in recognition of the income
tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over
amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes.
-53-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(4) Notes Receivable
Notes receivable consist of the following (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
------------------
1997 1996
------- -------
Note receivable from officer bearing interest at the rate paid
by the Company on its senior indebtedness, secured by GCI
Class A common stock, due on the 90th day after
termination of employment or July 30,
1998, whichever is earlier $ 500 500
Note receivable from officer bearing interest at 10%, secured
by Company stock; payable in equal annual installments of
$36,513 through
August 26, 2004 224 224
Notes receivable from officers and others bearing interest at
7% to 10%, unsecured and secured by Company common stock,
shares of other common stock and equipment; due on demand
and through August 26, 2004. (1) 1,155 493
Interest receivable 349 220
------- -------
Total notes receivable 2,228 1,437
Less current portion, including current interest
receivable (897) (421)
------- -------
Long-term portion, including long-term interest
receivable $ 1,331 1,016
======= =======
(1) The Company has no current plans to call the notes due on demand
during 1998.
(5) Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of the following (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
-------------------
1997 1996
-------- --------
Certificates of operating rights $206,492 206,492
Goodwill 45,922 44,347
PCS license and related costs 2,051 1,913
Other intangibles 260 121
-------- --------
254,725 252,873
Less amortization 8,191 1,953
-------- --------
Intangible assets, net $246,534 250,920
-------- --------
-------- --------
-54-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(6) Long-term Debt
Long-term debt consists of the following (amounts in thousands):
December 31,
-------------------
1997 1996
-------- --------
Senior notes (a) $180,000 0
Senior GCI Holdings loan (b) 64,700 0
Senior GCI Cable loan (c) 0 175,900
Credit Agreement (d) 0 30,100
Convertible, subordinated notes (e) 0 10,000
Undersea Fiber and Equipment Loan
Agreement (f) 5,384 6,886
Financing Obligation (g) 0 356
-------- --------
250,084 223,242
Less current maturities 1,634 31,969
-------- --------
-------- --------
Long-term debt, excluding current
maturities $248,450 191,273
-------- --------
-------- --------
(a) On August 1, 1997 GCI, Inc. issued $180,000,000 of 9.75%
senior notes due 2007 ("Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes
were issued at face value. Net proceeds to GCI, Inc. after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions totaled
$174,600,000. Issuance costs will be amortized to interest
expense over the term of the Senior Notes.
The Senior Notes are not redeemable prior to August 1, 2002.
After August 1, 2002 the Senior Notes are redeemable at the
option of GCI, Inc. under certain conditions and at stated
redemption prices. The Senior Notes include limitations on
additional indebtedness and prohibit payment of dividends,
payments for the purchase, redemption, acquisition or
retirement of GCI, Inc.'s stock, payments for early
retirement of debt subordinate to the note, liens on
property, and asset sales. GCI, Inc. was in compliance with
all covenants during the period commencing August 1, 1997
(date of the notes) through December 31, 1997.
Net proceeds from the stock (see note 8) and Senior Note
offerings and initial draws on the new Senior Holdings Loan
(see note 6(b)) facilities were used to repay borrowings
outstanding under the Company's then existing credit
facilities and to provide initial funding for construction
of the Alaska United undersea fiber optic cable (see note
13). The Company expects to borrow funds under its new
credit facilities in the future to fund capital expenditures
and for other general corporate purposes.
(b) The Company, through Holdings, entered into new $200,000,000
and $50,000,000 credit facilities ("Senior Holdings Loan")
effective August 1, 1997 that mature on June 30, 2005 and
bear interest at either Libor plus 0.75% to 2.25%, depending
on the leverage ratio of Holdings and certain of its
subsidiaries, or at the greater of the prime rate or the
federal funds effective rate (as defined) plus 0.05%, in
each case plus an additional 0.0% to 1.125%, depending on
the leverage ratio of Holdings and certain of its
subsidiaries. Borrowings under the Senior Holdings Loan
facilities totaled $64,700,000 at December 31, 1997. The
Company is required to pay a
-55-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
commitment fee equal to 0.375% per annum on the unused
portion of the commitment. Commitment fee expense on the
Senior Holdings Loan totaled $240,000 in 1997.
While Holdings may elect at any time to reduce amounts due
and available under the Senior Loan facilities, a mandatory
prepayment is required each quarter, beginning September 30,
2000 as follows:
Percentage of Reduction of
Date of Payment Outstanding Facilities
--------------------------------------------------------------
September 30, 2000 3.750%
December 31, 2000 3.750%
March 31, 2001 3.750%
June 30, 2001 3.750%
September 30, 2001 3.750%
December 31, 2001 3.750%
March 31, 2002 5.000%
June 30, 2002 5.000%
September 30, 2002 5.000%
December 31, 2002 5.000%
March 31, 2003 5.000%
June 30, 2003 5.000%
September 30, 2003 5.000%
December 31, 2003 5.000%
March 31, 2004 5.625%
June 30, 2004 5.625%
September 30, 2004 5.625%
December 31, 2004 5.625%
September 30, 2005 7.500%
December 31, 2005 7.500% and all remaining
outstanding balances
The Senior Holdings Loan facilities contain, among others,
covenants requiring maintenance of specific levels of
operating cash flow to indebtedness and to interest expense.
The Senior Holdings Loan facilities include limitations on
acquisitions and additional indebtedness, and prohibit any
direct or indirect distribution, dividend, redemption or
other payment to any person on account of any general or
limited partnership interest in, or shares of capital stock
or other securities of Holdings or any of its subsidiaries.
Holdings was in compliance with all Senior Holdings Loan
facilities covenants during the period commencing August 1,
1997 (date of the loans) through December 31, 1997.
The Senior Holdings Loan facilities are collateralized by
essentially all of Holdings' assets as well as a pledge of
Holdings' stock by GCI, Inc.
$3.4 million of the Senior Holdings Loan facilities have
been used to provide a letter of credit to secure payment of
certain access charges associated with the Company's
provision of telecommunications services within the State of
Alaska.
-56-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
In connection with the funding of the Senior Holdings Loan
facilities, Holdings paid bank fees and other expenses of
approximately $2,916,000, which will be amortized to
interest expense over the life of the agreement.
(c) GCI Cable entered into a credit facility totaling $205
million ("Senior GCI Cable Loan") effective October 31,
1996, associated with the acquisition of the cable companies
as described in note 2. In August 1997, the Senior GCI Cable
Loan was repaid using proceeds from the Senior Notes (see
note 6(a)) and the Senior Holdings Loan (see note 6(b)).
In connection with the funding of the loan agreement, GCI
Cable Inc. paid bank fees and other expenses of
approximately $764,000 in 1996. The unamortized portion of
these bank fees and other expenses (net of an income tax
benefit of $180,000) was recognized as an extraordinary loss
on the early extinguishment of debt in 1997.
(d) The Company entered into a $62,500,000 interim telephony
credit facility with its senior lender during April 1996. In
August 1997, the Credit Agreement was repaid using proceeds
from the Senior Notes (see note 6(a)) and the Senior GCI
Holdings Loan (see note 6(b)).
(e) GCI issued convertible subordinated notes totaling
$10,000,000 in connection with the cable acquisitions
described in note 2. During January 1997, the holders of the
GCI subordinated notes exercised a conversion option which
allowed them to exchange their notes for GCI Class A common
shares at a predetermined conversion price of $6.50 per
share. As a result, the former note holders received
1,538,457 shares of GCI Class A common stock.
(f) On December 31, 1992, Leasing Company entered into a
$12,000,000 loan agreement, of which approximately
$9,000,000 of the proceeds were used to acquire capacity on
the undersea fiber optic cable linking Seward, Alaska and
Pacific City, Oregon. Concurrently, Leasing Company leased
the capacity under a ten year all events, take or pay,
contract with MCI, who subleased the capacity back to the
Company. The lease and sublease agreements provide for
equivalent terms of 10 years and identical monthly payments
of $200,000. The proceeds of the lease agreement with MCI
were pledged as primary security for the financing. The loan
agreement provides for monthly payments of $170,000
including principal and interest through the earlier of
January 1, 2003, or until repaid. The loan agreement
provides for interest at the prime rate plus one-quarter
percent. Additional collateral includes substantially all of
the assets of Leasing Company including the fiber capacity
and a security interest in all of its outstanding stock. MCI
has a second position security interest in the assets of
Leasing Company.
(g) As consideration for MCI's role in enabling Leasing Company
to finance and acquire the undersea fiber optic cable
capacity described at note 6(d) above, Leasing Company
agreed to pay MCI $2,040,000 in sixty monthly payments of
$34,000. For financial statement reporting purposes, the
obligation was recorded at its remaining present value,
using a discount rate of 10% per annum. The agreement was
secured by a second position security interest in the assets
of Leasing Company. The obligation was fully paid at
December 31, 1997.
-57-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
As of December 31, 1997 maturities of long-term debt were as follows
(amounts in thousands):
Year ending December 31,
------------------------
1998 $ 1,634
1999 1,782
2000 1,945
2001 23
2002 0
2003 and thereafter 244,700
-------------
$ 250,084
-------------
-------------
(7) Income Taxes
Total income tax expense (benefit) were allocated as follows:
Years ended
December 31,
-----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
(Amounts in thousands)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ (573) 5,228 5,099
Extraordinary item (180) 0 0
Stockholders' equity, for stock option
compensation expense for tax purposes in
excess of amounts recognized for financial
reporting purposes (65) (187) (397)
------- ------- -------
$ (818) 5,041 4,702
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
Income tax expense consists of the following:
Years ended
December 31,
----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
(Amounts in thousands)
Current tax expense:
Federal taxes $(4,267) 2,292 3,077
State taxes (830) 684 1,005
------- ------- -------
(5,097) 2,976 4,082
------- ------- -------
Deferred tax expense:
Federal taxes 3,734 1,734 780
State taxes 610 518 237
------- ------- -------
4,344 2,252 1,017
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
$ (753) 5,228 5,099
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
-58-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Total income tax expense differed from the "expected" income tax
expense determined by applying the statutory federal income tax rate
of 34% as follows:
Years ended
December 31,
-----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
[6~ (Amounts in thousands)
"Expected" statutory tax expense $ (997) 4,314 4,284
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (181) 793 820
Income tax effect of goodwill amortization,
nondeductible expenditures and other items, net 107 55 41
Change in valuation allowance 0 (225) (200)
Other 318 291 154
------- ------- -------
$ (753) 5,228 5,099
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to
significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax
liabilities at December 31, 1997 and 1996 are presented below.
December 31,
-----------------
1997 1996
------- -------
(Amounts in thousands)
Net current deferred tax assets:
Accounts receivable, principally due to allowance
for doubtful accounts $ 430 98
Compensated absences, accrued for financial
reporting purposes 566 380
Workers compensation and self insurance health
reserves, principally due to accrual for
financial reporting purposes 266 243
Other 413 114
------- -------
Total gross current deferred tax assets 1,675 835
Less valuation allowance 0 0
------- -------
Net current deferred tax assets $ 1,675 835
------- -------
------- -------
Net long-term deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards $15,378 15,378
Alternative minimum tax credits 751 0
Deferred compensation expense for financial
reporting purposes in excess of amounts
recognized for tax purposes 966 617
Employee stock option compensation expense for
financial reporting purposes in excess of
amounts recognized for tax purposes 198 198
Sweepstakes award in excess of amounts recognized
for tax purposes 206 211
Other 75 197
------- -------
Total long-term deferred tax assets 17,574 16,601
------- -------
-59-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31,
-----------------
1997 1996
------- -------
(Amounts in thousands)
Net long-term deferred tax liabilities:
Plant and equipment, principally due to
differences in depreciation 51,643 50,163
Amortizable assets 3,898 0
Other 937 158
------- -------
Total gross long-term deferred tax liabilities 56,478 50,321
------- -------
Net combined long-term deferred tax liabilities $38,904 33,720
------- -------
------- -------
In conjunction with the acquisition of the Cable Companies in 1996
the Company incurred a net deferred income tax liability of
$24,375,000.
Tax benefits associated with recorded deferred tax assets, net of
valuation allowances, are considered to be more likely than not
realizable through taxable income earned in carryback years, future
reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future
taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and
carryforwards. The amount of deferred tax asset considered
realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates
of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced.
At December 31, 1997, the Company has acquired tax net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $37,616,000 that will begin expiring
in 2004 if not utilized. The Company's utilization of these
carryforwards is subject to certain limitations pursuant to section
382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(8) Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock
GCI's Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical in
all respects, except that each share of Class A common stock has one
vote per share and each share of Class B common stock has ten votes
per share. In addition, each share of Class B common stock
outstanding is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one
share of Class A common stock.
After the transaction described in note 2, MCI owns a total of
8,251,509 shares of GCI's Class A and 1,275,791 shares of GCI's Class
B common stock which represented approximately 18 and 31 percent and
23 and 31 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the
respective class at December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
After the transaction described in note 2, the owners of the cable
television properties acquired in 1996 owned a total of 14,723,077
shares of GCI's Class A common stock representing approximately 40
percent of the issued and outstanding Class A common shares at
December 31, 1996. The holders of the GCI subordinated notes
exercised a conversion option in January 1997. As a result the
noteholders received 1,538,457 shares of GCI's Class A common stock.
GCI issued 7,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock on August 1,
1997 for $7.25 per share, before deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions. Net proceeds to GCI totaled $47,959,000. Other costs
associated with the stock issuance totaled $1,233,000.
-60-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Stock Option Plan
In December 1986, GCI adopted a Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan")
in order to provide a special incentive to officers, non-employee
directors, and employees by offering them an opportunity to acquire
an equity interest in GCI. The Option Plan, as amended in 1998,
provides for the grant of options for a maximum of 5,700,000 shares
of GCI Class A common stock, subject to adjustment upon the
occurrence of stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, consolidations
or certain other changes in corporate structure or capitalization. If
an option expires or terminates, the shares subject to the option
will be available for further grants of options under the Option
Plan. The Option Committee of GCI's Board of Directors administers
the Option Plan.
The Option Plan provides that all options granted under the Option
Plan must expire not later than ten years after the date of grant. If
at the time an option is granted the exercise price is less than the
market value of the underlying common stock, the "in the money"
amount at the time of grant is expensed ratably over the vesting
period of the option. Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan are
only exercisable if at the time of exercise the option holder is an
employee or non-employee director of GCI.
Information for the years 1995, 1996 and 1997 with respect to the
Plan follows:
Weighted
Average Range of
Exercise Exercise
Shares Price Prices
------------ ---------- ------------
Outstanding at December 31, 1994 1,729,699 $2.88 $0.75-$4.00
Granted 610,000 $4.00 $4.00
Exercised (40,000) $2.06 $1.87-$2.25
Forfeited (11,500) $4.00 $4.00
-----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1995 2,288,199 $3.19 $0.75-$4.00
Granted 321,000 $5.79 $3.75-$6.50
Exercised (82,291) $2.80 $0.75-$4.00
Forfeited (79,785) $3.11 $0.75-$4.50
-----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1996 2,447,123 $3.54 $0.75-$6.50
Granted 1,051,000 $6.36 $0.01-$7.63
Exercised (57,285) $3.37 $0.75-$4.00
Forfeited (65,938) $4.82 $0.75-$6.50
-----------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997 3,374,900 $4.39 $0.01-$7.63
-----------
-----------
Available for grant at December 31, 1997
1,623,276
-----------
-----------
The options expire at various dates through December 2007. At
December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the weighted-average remaining
contractual lives of options outstanding were 6.82, 6.73 and 7.15
years, respectively.
-61-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
At December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the number of options
exercisable was 1,664,015, 1,275,903 and 986,999, respectively, and
the weighted-average exercise price of those options was $3.15, $2.85
and $2.56, respectively.
The per share weighted-average fair value of stock options granted
during 1997 was $6.71 for compensatory options and $6.50 for
non-compensatory options; for 1996, $6.94 per share for compensatory
options and $4.40 for non-compensatory options; for 1995, the per
share weighted-average fair value of non-compensatory stock options
granted was $3.87. The amounts were determined as of the options'
grant dates using a qualified Black-Scholes option-pricing model with
the following weighted-average assumptions: 1997 - risk-free interest
rate of 5.46%, volatility of 1.8558 and an expected life of 5.5
years; 1996 - risk-free interest rate of 5.48%, volatility of 1.8558
and an expected life of 5.7 years; 1995 - risk-free interest rate of
5.49%, volatility of 1.8558 and an expected life of 5.9 years.
Had compensation cost for the Company's 1995, 1996 and 1997 grants
for stock-based compensation plans been determined consistent with
SFAS 123, the Company's net income (loss) and net income (loss) per
common share would approximate the pro forma amounts below (in
thousands except per share data):
As Reported Pro Forma
----------- ---------
1995:
Net earnings $ 7,502 7,484
Basic net earnings per common share $ 0.32 0.32
Diluted net earnings per common share $ 0.31 0.31
1996:
Net earnings $ 7,462 7,212
Basic net earnings per common share $ 0.28 0.27
Diluted net earnings per common share $ 0.27 0.26
1997:
Net loss $ (2,183) (3,387)
Basic net loss per common share $ (0.05) (0.08)
Diluted net loss per common share $ (0.05) (0.08)
Pro forma net income (loss) reflects options granted in 1997, 1996
and 1995. Therefore, the full impact of calculating compensation cost
for stock options under SFAS 123 is not reflected in the pro forma
net income amounts presented above since compensation cost is
reflected over the options' vesting period of 5 years and
compensation cost for options granted prior to January 1, 1995 is not
considered.
Stock Options Not Pursuant to a Plan
In June 1989, an officer was granted options to acquire 100,000 Class
A common shares at $.75 per share. The options vested in equal annual
increments over a five-year period and expire February 1999.
The Company entered into an incentive agreement in June 1989 with an
officer providing for the acquisition of 85,190 remaining shares of
Class A common stock of the Company for $.001 per share exercisable
through June 1997. The shares under the incentive agreement vested in
equal annual increments over a three-year period and were exercised
in June 1997.
-62-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Class A Common Shares Held in Treasury
The Company acquired 105,111 shares of its Class A common stock in
1989 for approximately $328,000 to fund a deferred bonus agreement
with an officer of the Company. The agreement provides that the
balance is payable after the later of termination of employment or
six months after the effective date of the agreement. In September
1995, July 1996 and March 1997, the Company acquired a total of
97,657 additional shares of Class A common stock for approximately
$711,000 to fund additional deferred compensation agreements for two
of its officers.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
In December 1986, GCI adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan") qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 (the "Code"). The Plan provides for acquisition of the Company's
Class A and Class B common stock at market value. The Plan permits
each employee of GCI and affiliated companies who has completed one
year of service to elect to participate in the Plan. Eligible
employees may elect to reduce their compensation in any even dollar
amount up to 10 percent of such compensation up to a maximum of
$9,500 in 1997; they may contribute up to 10 percent of their
compensation with after-tax dollars, or they may elect a combination
of salary reductions and after-tax contributions.
GCI may match employee salary reductions and after tax contributions
in any amount, elected by GCI each year, but not more than 10 percent
of any one employee's compensation will be matched in any year. The
combination of salary reductions, after tax contributions and GCI
matching contributions cannot exceed 25 percent of any employee's
compensation (determined after salary reduction) for any year. GCI's
contributions vest over six years. Prior to July 1, 1995 employee and
GCI contributions were invested in GCI common stock and employee
contributions received up to 100% matching, as determined by the
Company each year, in GCI common stock. Beginning July 1, 1995
employee contributions may be invested in GCI common stock, MCI
common stock, Tele-Communications, Inc. common stock or various
mutual funds. Such employee contributions invested in GCI common
stock receive up to 100% matching, as determined by the Company each
year, in GCI common stock. Employee contributions invested in other
than GCI common stock receive up to 50% matching, as determined by
the Company each year, in GCI common stock. The Company's matching
contributions allocated to participant accounts totaled approximately
$1,800,000, $1,013,000 and $864,000 for the years ended December 31,
1997, 1996, and 1995, respectively. The Plan may, at its discretion,
purchase shares of common stock from the Company at market value or
may purchase GCI common stock on the open market. In 1998 the Company
expects to fund employer matching contributions through the issuance
of new shares of common stock rather than market purchases.
-63-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(9) Industry Segments Data
The Company is engaged in the provision or sale of services and
products in three principal industries: (1) long-distance
telecommunication services ("long-distance services"), (2) cable
television services, and, on a pre-operating basis until September
1997, (3) local telecommunication services ("local services").
December 31,
-----------------------------------
1997 1996 1995
--------- --------- ---------
(Amounts in thousands)
Net sales
Long-distance services $ 168,034 155,419 129,279
Cable television services 55,165 9,475 0
Local services 610 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total net sales $ 223,809 164,894 129,279
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Operating income
Long-distance services $ 9,281 15,083 13,504
Cable television services 10,423 2,196 0
Local services (4,322) (870) 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total operating income $ 15,382 16,409 13,504
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Identifiable assets
Long-distance services $ 198,091 133,780 81,377
Cable television services 71,073 62,039 0
Local services 20,224 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total identifiable assets $ 289,388 195,819 81,377
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Capital expenditures
Long-distance services $ 30,088 37,793 8,938
Cable television services 18,226 849 0
Local services 16,330 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total capital expenditures $ 64,644 38,642 8,938
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Depreciation and amortization expense
Long-distance services $ 9,922 7,189 5,993
Cable television services 13,320 2,220 0
Local services 525 0 0
--------- --------- ---------
Total depreciation and amortization expense
$ 23,767 9,409 5,993
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
Intersegment sales approximate market and are not significant.
Identifiable assets are assets associated with a specific industry
segment. Revenues derived from leasing operations are allocated to
the message and data transmission services segment. Long-distance
services includes equipment sales and service which were previously
reported as a separate segment.
The Company provides message telephone service to MCI (see note 10)
and Sprint, major customers. The Company earned revenues pursuant to
a contract with Sprint totaling approximately $24,357,000,
$18,781,000 and $14,885,000 for the years ended December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 respectively. As a percentage of total revenues, Sprint
revenues
-64-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
totaled 10.9%, 11.4% and 11.5% for the years ended December 31, 1997,
1996 and 1995 respectively.
(10) Related Party Transactions
Pursuant to the terms of a contract with MCI, a major shareholder of
GCI (see note 8), the Company earned revenues of approximately
$34,315,000, $29,208,000 and $23,939,000 for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. . As a percentage of total
revenues, MCI revenues totaled 15.3%, 17.7% and 18.5% for the years
ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 respectively. Net amounts
receivable from MCI totaled $3,933,000 and $2,028,000 at December 31,
1997 and 1996, respectively. The Company paid MCI for distribution of
its traffic in the lower 49 states amounts totaling approximately
$14,319,000, $12,224,000 and $12,556,000 for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The Company entered into a long-term capital lease agreement in 1991
with the wife of the Company's president for property occupied by the
Company. The lease is guaranteed by the Company. The lease term is 15
years with monthly payments increasing in $800 increments at each two
year anniversary of the lease. Monthly lease costs will increase to
$17,600 effective October 1999. If the owner sells the premises prior
to the end of the tenth year of the lease, the owner will rebate to
the Company one-half of the net sales price received in excess of
$900,000. If the property is not sold prior to the tenth year of the
lease, the owner will pay the Company the greater of one-half of the
appreciated value of the property over $900,000, or $500,000. The
leased asset was capitalized in 1991 at the owner's cost of $900,000
and the related obligation was recorded in the accompanying financial
statements.
The Cable Company is a party to a Management Agreement with Prime II
Management, L.P. ("PMLP"). Certain of the Prime sellers are
affiliated with PMLP. The Management Agreement expires on October 31,
2005, however, it can be terminated earlier upon loss of a license to
operate the systems, sale of the systems, breach of contract, or upon
exercise of an option to terminate the Management Agreement by PMLP
or GCI Cable any time after October 31, 1998. Under the terms of the
Management Agreement, PMLP manages the operations of the acquired
cable television systems for fees of $1,000,000 in the first year,
$750,000 in the second year, and $500,000 thereafter (unless the
agreement is terminated as outlined above) and reimbursement for
certain expenses. The fees and reimbursed expenses are payable on a
monthly basis. In connection with the agreement, the Cable Company
incurred approximately $1,040,000 and $197,000 in management fees and
reimbursable expenses for the period ended December 31, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
(11) Leases
The Company leases business offices, has entered into site lease
agreements and uses certain equipment and satellite transponder
capacity pursuant to operating lease arrangements. Rental costs under
such arrangements amounted to approximately $11,574,000, $7,364,000
and $4,353,000 for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
-65-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
A summary of future minimum lease payments for all leases as of
December 31, 1997 follows:
Year ending December 31: Operating Capital
------------------------ --------------- ---------------
(Amounts in thousands)
1998 $ 8,541 354
1999 5,839 357
2000 5,524 352
2001 3,913 337
2002 2,409 240
2003 and thereafter $ 11,105 866
--------- ------
Total minimum lease payments 37,331 2,506
---------
---------
Less amount representing interest (1,318)
Less current maturities of obligations under
capital leases (198)
-------
Subtotal - long-term obligations under capital
leases 990
Less long-term obligations under capital leases
due to related parties, excluding current
maturities (590)
-------
Long-term obligations under capital leases,
excluding current maturities $ 400
-------
-------
The leases generally provide that the Company pay the taxes,
insurance and maintenance expenses related to the leased assets.
It is expected that in the normal course of business, except for
satellite transponder capacity, leases that expire will be renewed or
replaced by leases on other properties.
(12) Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Statement of Financial Standards No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair
Value of Financial Instruments" ("SFAS 107") requires disclosure of
the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable
to estimate that value. SFAS 107 specifically excludes certain items
from its disclosure requirements. The fair value of a financial
instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged
in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a
forced sale or liquidation. The carrying amounts at December 31, 1997
and 1996 for the Company's financial assets and liabilities
approximate their fair values.
(13) Commitments and Contingencies
Deferred Compensation Plan
During 1995, the Company adopted a non-qualified, unfunded deferred
compensation plan to provide a means by which certain employees may
elect to defer receipt of designated percentages or amounts of their
compensation and to provide a means for certain other deferrals of
compensation. The Company may, at its discretion, contribute matching
deferrals equal to the rate of matching selected by the Company.
Participants immediately vest in all elective deferrals and all
income and gain attributable thereto. Matching contributions and all
income and gain attributable thereto vest over a six-year period.
Participants may elect to be paid in either a single lump sum payment
or annual installments over a period not to exceed 10 years. Vested
balances are payable upon
-66-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
termination of employment, unforeseen emergencies, death and total
disability. Participants are general creditors of the Company with
respect to deferred compensation plan benefits. Compensation deferred
pursuant to the plan totaled approximately $58,000, $167,000 and
$90,000 as of December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Satellite Transponders
The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option
agreement in August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite
transponders to meet its long-term satellite capacity requirements.
The balance payable upon expected delivery of the transponders during
the third quarter of 1998 in addition to the $9.1 million deposit
previously paid is not expected to exceed $41 million.
Self-Insurance
The Company is self-insured for losses and liabilities related
primarily to health and welfare claims up to predetermined amounts
above which third party insurance applies. A reserve of $500,000 was
recorded at December 31, 1997 to cover estimated reported losses,
estimated unreported losses based on past experience modified for
current trends, and estimated expenses for investigating and settling
claims. Actual losses will vary from the recorded reserve. While
management uses what it believes is pertinent information and factors
in determining the amount of reserves, future additions to the
reserves may be necessary due to changes in the information and
factors used.
Litigation
The Company is involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings
that have arisen in the normal course of business. While the ultimate
results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty,
management does not expect them to have a material adverse effect on
the financial position, results of operations and liquidity of the
Company.
Cable Service Rate Reregulation
Beginning in April 1993, the Federal Communications Commission
("FCC") adopted regulations implementing the Cable Television
Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992 ("The Cable Act of
1992"). Included are rules governing rates charged by cable operators
for the basic service tier, the installation, lease and maintenance
of equipment (such as converter boxes and remote control units) used
by subscribers to receive this tier and for cable programming
services other than programming offered on a per-channel or
per-program basis (the "regulated services"). Generally, the
regulations require affected cable systems to charge rates for
regulated services that have been reduced to prescribed benchmark
levels, or alternatively, to support rates using costs-of-service
methodology.
The regulated services rates charged by the Company may be reviewed
by the State of Alaska, operating through the Alaska Public Utilities
Commission ("APUC") for basic service, or by the FCC for cable
programming service. Refund liability for basic service rates is
limited to a one-year period. Refund liability for cable programming
service rates may be calculated from the date a complaint is filed
with the FCC until the rate reduction is implemented.
In order for the State of Alaska to exercise rate regulation
authority over the Company's basic service rates, 25% of a systems'
subscribers must request such regulation by filing a petition with
the APUC. At December 31, 1997, the State of Alaska has rate
regulation authority over the Juneau system's basic service rates.
(The Juneau system serves 9% of the
-67-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Company's total basic service subscribers at December 31, 1997.)
Juneau's current rates have been approved by the APUC and there are
no other pending filings with the APUC, therefore, there is no refund
liability for basic service at this time.
Complaints by subscribers relating to cable programming service rates
were filed with, and accepted by, the FCC for certain franchise
areas, however, filings made in response to those complaints related
to the period prior to July 15, 1994 were approved by the FCC.
Therefore, the potential liability for cable programming service
refunds would be limited to the period subsequent to July 15, 1994
for these areas. Management of the Company believes that it has
complied in all material respects with the provisions of the FCC
rules and regulations and that the Company is, therefore, not liable
for any refunds. Accordingly, no provision has been made in the
financial statements for any potential refunds. The FCC rules and
regulations are, however, subject to judgmental interpretations, and
the impact of potential rate changes or refunds ordered by the FCC
could cause the Company to make refunds and/or to be in default of
certain debt covenants.
In February 1996, a telecommunications bill was signed into federal
law that impacts the cable industry. Most notably, the bill allows
cable system operators to provide telephony services, allows
telephone companies to offer video services, and provides for
deregulation of cable programming service rates by 1999. Management
of the Company believes the bill will not have a significant adverse
impact on the financial position or results of operations of the
Company.
Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Contract Commitment
The Company signed a contract in July 1997 for construction of the
undersea portion of a $125 million fiber optic cable system
connecting the cities of Anchorage, Juneau, and Seattle via a subsea
route. Subsea and terrestrial connections will extend the fiber optic
cable to Fairbanks via Whittier and Valdez. Construction efforts will
begin during the late summer of 1998 with commercial services
expected to commence in December 1998. Pursuant to the contract, the
Company paid $9.1 million in 1997 and will pay the remaining balance
in installments through December 1998 based on completion of certain
key milestones. Approximately $39.4 million of proceeds from the
public offerings (see note 8), net of the $9.1 million paid in 1997,
were contributed to Alaska United. The use of such proceeds is
restricted to funding the construction and deployment of the fiber
optic cable system and is reported as Restricted Cash in the
accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company has
secured up to $75 million in bank financing to fund the remaining
cost of construction and deployment (see note 14).
Fiber Capacity Exchange
The Company and Kanas Telecom, Inc. ("Kanas") signed a contract
November 21, 1997 that provides for an exchange of fiber optic cable
capacity between Anchorage and Fairbanks via Valdez. The Company and
Kanas will trade "dark fiber" capacity connecting Fairbanks, Valdez,
Whittier and Anchorage. Each company will provide their own
electronic equipment to place their fiber into service. The Company
will provide Kanas with dark fiber from Valdez to Anchorage. Kanas
will provide the Company with dark fiber between Valdez and
Fairbanks.
(14) Subsequent Event
On January 27, 1998 Alaska United closed a $75 million project
finance facility ("Fiber Facility") to construct a fiber optic cable
system connecting Anchorage, Fairbanks, Valdez, Whittier, Juneau and
Seattle as further described in note 13. The Fiber Facility provides
up
-68-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
to $75 million in construction financing and will bear interest at
either Libor plus 3.0%, or at the lender's prime rate plus 1.75%. The
interest rate will decline to Libor plus 2.5%-2.75%, or the lender's
prime rate plus 1.25%-1.5% after the project completion date and when
the loan balance is $40,000,000-60,000,000 or less. $1,018,750 was
borrowed under the facility at closing. Alaska United is required to
pay a commitment fee equal to 0.375% per annum on the unused portion
of the commitment. The Fiber Facility is a 10-year term loan that is
interest only for the first 5 years. The facility can be extended to
a 12 year term loan at any time between the second and fifth
anniversary of closing the facility if the Company can demonstrate
projected revenues from certain capacity commitments will be
sufficient to pay all operating costs, interest and principal
installments based on the extended maturity.
The Fiber Facility contains, among others, covenants requiring
certain intercompany loans and advances in order to maintain specific
levels of cash flow necessary to pay operating costs, interest and
principal installments. The Fiber Facility also a contains a
guarantee that requires, among other terms and conditions, Alaska
United complete the project by the completion date and pay any
non-budgeted costs of the project.
The Fiber Facility is collateralized by all of Alaska United's
assets, as well as a pledge of the partnership interests' owning
Alaska United.
(15) Supplementary Financial Data
The following is a summary of unaudited quarterly results of
operations for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996.
(Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
First Second Third Fourth Total
1997 Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year
---- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues $52,881 56,186 57,956 56,786 223,809
Net earnings (loss) $ (525) (832) (928) 102 (2,183)
Basic earnings (loss) per
common share:
Net earnings (loss)
before extraordinary
item $(0.01) (0.02) (0.01) 0.00 (0.04)
Extraordinary loss $0.00 0.00 (0.01) 0.00 (0.01)
Net earnings (loss) $(0.01) (0.02) (0.02) 0.00 (0.05)
Diluted earnings (loss)
per common share:
Net earnings (loss)
before extraordinary
item $(0.01) (0.02) (0.01) 0.00 (0.04)
Extraordinary loss $0.00 0.00 (0.01) 0.00 (0.01)
Net earnings (loss) $(0.01) (0.02) (0.02) 0.00 (0.05)
-69-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
First Second Third Fourth Total
1996 Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year
---- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues $37,969 39,199 38,664 49,062 164,894
Net earnings $2,137 2,150 2,140 1,035 7,462
Basic earnings per share $0.09 0.09 0.09 0.03 0.28
Diluted earnings per share
$0.09 0.09 0.09 0.03 0.27
(16) Supplemental Financial Information
(Amounts in thousands)
1997
------------------------------------------
Long-
Distance Cable Local Combined
-------- -------- -------- --------
Revenues:
Telecommunication revenues $168,034 0 610 168,644
Cable revenues 0 55,165 0 55,165
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues 168,034 55,165 610 223,809
-------- -------- -------- --------
Cost of sales and services:
Distribution costs and costs of
services 98,200 0 267 98,467
Programming and copyright costs 0 12,610 0 12,610
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total cost of sales and services 98,200 12,610 267 111,077
-------- -------- -------- --------
Contribution 69,834 42,555 343 112,732
-------- -------- -------- --------
Selling, general and administrative
expenses:
Telephony operating and engineering 11,006 0 530 11,536
Cable television, including
management fees of $1,040 0 18,427 0 18,427
Sales and communications 14,508 0 264 14,772
General and administrative 22,477 0 3,346 25,823
Bad debts 2,640 385 0 3,025
Depreciation and amortization 9,922 13,320 525 23,767
-------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income (loss) $ 9,281 10,423 (4,322) 15,382
-------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- --------
-70-
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
1996 1995
------------------------------------------------- ---------
Long- Long-
Distance Cable Local Combined Distance
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Revenues:
Telecommunication revenues $155,419 0 0 155,419 129,279
Cable revenues 0 9,475 0 9,475 0
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues 155,419 9,475 0 164,894 129,279
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cost of sales and services:
Distribution costs and costs of
services 90,597 0 0 90,597 72,091
Programming and copyright costs 0 2,067 0 2,067 0
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total cost of sales and services 90,597 2,067 0 92,664 72,091
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Contribution 64,822 7,408 0 72,230 57,188
Selling, general and administrative
expenses:
Telephony operating and
engineering 9,095 0 92 9,187 9,182
Cable television, including
management fees of $197 0 2,992 0 2,992 0
Sales and communications 13,013 0 28 13,041 9,865
General and administrative 17,349 0 316 17,665 15,645
Legal and regulatory 1,357 0 434 1,791 1,540
Bad debts 1,718 0 0 1,736 1,459
Depreciation and amortization 7,189 2,220 0 9,409 5,993
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income (loss) $ 15,083 2,196 (870) 16,409 13,504
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-71-
PART IV
Item 14. EXHIBITS, CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a)(l) Consolidated Financial Statements Page No.
--------
Included in Part II of this Report:
Independent Auditor's Report ................................... 41
Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 1997 and 1996 ........ 42 -- 43
Consolidated Statements of Operations,
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 ................ 44
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity,
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 ................ 45
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 ................ 46
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ..................... 47 -- 71
(a)(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
Included in Part IV of this Report:
Independent Auditors' Report ................................... 78
Schedule VIII - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts,
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 ................ 79
Other schedules are omitted as they are not required or are not
applicable, or the required information is shown in the applicable
financial statements or notes thereto.
-72-
(b) Exhibits
Listed below are the exhibits that are filed as a part of this Report
(according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation
S-K):
Exhibit
No. Description
----------- --------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company dated August 16,
1993. *
3.2 Bylaws of the Company (1)
4.1 1997 Amendment No. 1 to Voting Agreement dated October 31, 1996,
among Prime II Management L.P., as agent for the Voting Prime
Sellers, MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Ronald A. Duncan,
Robert M. Walp and TCI GCI, Inc. *
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 18, 1991,
between General Communication, Inc. and WestMarc Communications,
Inc (2)
10.2 Employee stock option agreements issued to individuals Spradling,
O'Hara, Strid, Behnke, Lewkowski and Snyder (3)
10.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 1996, between
General Communication, Inc. and the Prime Sellers (12)
10.4 Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 1996, between
General Communication, Inc., and Alaskan Cable Network/Fairbanks,
Inc. ("ACNFI"), Alaskan Cable Network/Juneau, Inc. ("ACNJI"),
Alaskan Cable Network/ Ketchikan-Sitka, Inc. ("ACNKSI") and Jack
Kent Cooke, Inc. (12)
10.5 Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 31, 1996, between
General Communication, Inc., and the owners of Alaska Cablevision,
Inc. ("ACI") (12)
10.6 Lease agreement between GCI Communication Services, Inc. and
National Bank of Alaska Leasing Corporation dated January 15, 1992
(4)
10.7 Westin Building Lease (5)
10.8 Duncan and Hughes Deferred Bonus Agreements (6)
10.9 Compensation Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and
William C. Behnke dated January 1, 1997 (19)
10.10 Order approving Application for a Certificate of Public
Convenience and Necessity to operate as a Telecommunications
(Intrastate Interexchange Carrier) Public Utility within Alaska
(3)
10.11 1986 Stock Option Plan, as amended (21)
10.12 Loan agreement between National Bank of Alaska and GCI Leasing
Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (4)
10.13 Pledge and Security Agreement between National Bank of Alaska and
GCI Communication Services, Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (4)
10.14 Lease Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and GCI
Leasing Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (4)
10.15 Sublease Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and
General Communication, Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (4)
10.16 Financial Assistance Agreement between MCI Telecommunications
Corporation and GCI Leasing Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (4)
10.17 Letter of intent between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and
General Communication, Inc. dated December 31, 1992 (7)
10.18 MCI Carrier Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation
and General Communication, Inc. dated January 1, 1993 (8)
10.19 Contract for Alaska Access Services Agreement between MCI
Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc.
dated January 1, 1993 (8)
10.20 Promissory Note Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and
Ronald A. Duncan, dated August 13, 1993 (9)
10.21 Deferred Compensation Agreement between General Communication,
Inc. and Ronald A. Duncan, dated August 13, 1993 (9)
10.22 Pledge Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Ronald A.
Duncan, dated August 13, 1993 (9)
-73-
10.23 Revised Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan of General
Communication, Inc. (10)
10.24 Summary Plan Description pertaining to the Revised Qualified
Employee Stock Purchase Plan of General Communication, Inc. (10)
10.25 The GCI Special Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (11)
10.26 Transponder Purchase Agreement for Galaxy X between Hughes
Communications Galaxy, Inc. and GCI Communication Corp. (11)
10.27 Equipment Purchase Agreement between GCI Communication Corporation
and Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (11) 10.28 Management Agreement,
between Prime II Management, L.P., and GCI Cable, Inc., dated
October 31, 1996 (12) 10.29 Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of October 31, 1996, between GCI Communication
Corp., and NationsBank of Texas, N.A. (13)
10.30 Loan Agreement among GCI Cable, Inc., as Borrower and
Toronto-Dominion (Texas), Inc., et al., as of October 31, 1996
(13)
10.31 Licenses (5)
10.31.1 214 Authorization
10.31.2 International Resale Authorization
10.31.3 Digital Electronic Message Service Authorization
10.31.4 Fairbanks Earth Station License
10.31.5 Fairbanks (Esro) Construction Permit for P-T-P Microwave
Service
10.31.6 Fairbanks (Polaris) Construction Permit for P-T-P
Microwave Service
10.31.7 Anchorage Earth Station Construction Permit
10.31.8 License for Eagle River P-T-P Microwave Service
10.31.9 License for Juneau Earth Station
10.31.10 Issaquah Earth Station Construction Permit
10.32 ATU Interconnection Agreement between GCI Communication Corp. and
Municipality of Anchorage, executed January 15, 1997 (18)
10.33 First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
entered into among GCI Communication Corp., NationsBank of Texas,
N.A., Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc., Credit Lyonnais New York
Branch, and National Bank of Alaska (15)
10.34 Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
entered into among GCI Communication Corp., NationsBank of Texas,
N.A., Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc., Credit Lyonnais New York
Branch, and National Bank of Alaska (20)
10.35 Securities Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated May 2, 1996, among
General Communication, Inc., and the Prime Sellers (12)
10.36 Agreement and Plan of Merger of ACI with and into GCI Cable, Inc.,
dated October 31, 1996 (12)
10.37 Certificate of Merger Merging ACI into GCI Cable, Inc. (filed in
Delaware on October 31, 1996) (12)
10.38 Articles of Merger between GCI Cable Inc., and ACI (filed in
Delaware on October 31, 1996) (12)
10.39 Agreement and Plan of Merger of PCFI with and into GCI Cable,
Inc., dated October 31, 1996 (12)
10.40 Certificate of Merger Merging PCFI into GCI Cable, Inc., (filed in
Delaware on October 31, 1996) (12)
10.41 Articles of Merger between GCI Cable, Inc., and PCFI (for filing
in Alaska) (12)
10.42 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated April 15, 1996, among General
Communication, Inc., ACNFI, ACNJI and ACNKSI (12)
10.43 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 10, 1996, among General
Communication, Inc., and Alaska Cablevision, Inc. (12)
10.44 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 10, 1996, among General
Communication, Inc., and McCaw/Rock Homer Cable System, J.V. (12)
10.45 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 10, 1996, between General
Communication, Inc., and McCaw/Rock Seward Cable System, J.V. (12)
10.46 Amendment No. 1 to Securities Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated
October 31, 1996, among General Communication, Inc., and the Prime
Sellers Agent (13)
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10.47 First Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement, dated October 30,
1996, among General Communication, Inc., ACNFI, ACNJI and ACNKSI
(13)
10.48 Amendment to Revised Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan of
General Communication, Inc. (18)
10.49 Form of Agreement Waiving Right to Exercise Stock Options (18)
10.50 Order Approving Arbitrated Interconnection Agreement as Resolved
and Modified by Order U-96-89(8) dated January 14, 1997 (18)
10.51 First Amendment to Loan Agreement among GCI Cable, Inc., as
Borrower, and Toronto-Dominion (Texas), Inc., et al., as of
October 31, 1996 (20)
10.52 Amendment to the MCI Carrier Agreement executed April 20, 1994
(18)
10.53 Amendment No. 1 to MCI Carrier Agreement executed July 26, 1994
(16)
10.54 MCI Carrier Addendum--MCI 800 DAL Service effective February 1,
1994 (16)
10.55 Third Amendment to MCI Carrier Agreement dated as of October 1,
1994 (16)
10.56 Fourth Amendment to MCI Carrier Agreement dated as of September
25, 1995 (16)
10.57 Fifth Amendment to the MCI Carrier Agreement executed April 19,
1996 (18)
10.58 Sixth Amendment to MCI Carrier Agreement dated as of March 1, 1996
(16)
10.59 Seventh Amendment to MCI Carrier Agreement dated November 27, 1996
(20)
10.60 First Amendment to Contract for Alaska Access Services between
General Communication, Inc. and MCI Telecommunications Corporation
dated April 1, 1996 (20)
10.61 Letter of Intent between General Communication, Inc. and MCI
Telecorp dated August 6, 1993 (19)
10.62 Service Mark License Agreement between MCI Communications
Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated April 13, 1994
(19)
10.63 Radio Station Authorization (Personal Communications Service
License), Issue Date June 23, 1995 (19)
10.64 Framework Agreement between National Bank of Alaska (NBA) and
General Communication, Inc. dated October 31, 1995 (17)
10.65 1997 Call-Off Contract between National Bank of Alaska (NBA) and
General Communication, Inc. (GCI) dated November 1, 1996 (20)
10.66 Contract No. 92MR067A Telecommunications Services between BP
Exploration (Alaska), Inc. and GCI Network Systems dated April 1,
1992 (20)
10.67 Amendment No. 03 to BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. Contract No.
92MRO67A effective August 1, 1996 (20)
10.68 Lease Agreement dated September 30, 1991 between RDB Company and
General Communication, Inc. (3)
10.69 Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity No. 436 for
Telecommunications Service (Relay Services) (19)
10.70 Order Approving Transfer Upon Closing, Subject to Conditions, and
Requiring Filings dated September 23, 1996 (19)
10.71 Order Granting Extension of Time and Clarifying Order dated
October 21, 1996 (19)
10.72 Contract for Alaska Access Services among General Communication,
Inc. and GCI Communication Corp., and Sprint Communications
Company L.P. dated June 1, 1993 (20)
10.73 First Amendment to Contract for Alaska Access Services between
General Communication, Inc. and Sprint Communications Company L.P.
dated as of August 7, 1996 (20)
10.74 Employment and Deferred Compensation Agreement between General
Communication, Inc. and John M. Lowber dated July 1992 (19)
10.75 Deferred Compensation Agreement between GCI Communication Corp.
and Dana L. Tindall dated August 15, 1994 (19)
10.76 Transponder Lease Agreement between General Communication
Incorporated and Hughes Communications Satellite Services, Inc.,
executed August 8, 1989 (9)
10.77 Addendum to Galaxy X Transponder Purchase Agreement between GCI
Communication Corp. and Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. dated
August 24, 1995 (19)
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10.78 Order Approving Application, Subject to Conditions; Requiring
Filing; and Approving Proposed Tariff on an Inception Basis, dated
February 4, 1997 (19)
10.79 Resale Solutions Switched Services Agreement between Sprint
Communications Company L.P. and GCI Communications, Inc. dated May
31, 1996 (20)
10.80 Commitment Letter from Credit Lyonnais New York Branch,
NationsBank of Texas, N.A. and TD Securities (USA) Inc. for Fiber
Facility dated as of July 3, 1997 (19)
10.81 Commitment Letter from NationsBank for Credit Facility dated July
2, 1997 (19)
10.82 Supply Contract Between Submarine Systems International Ltd. And
GCI Communication Corp. dated as of July 11, 1997. *
10.83 Supply Contract Between Tyco Submarine Systems Ltd. And Alaska
United Fiber System Partnership Contract Variation No. 1 dated as
of December 1, 1997. *
10.84 $200,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between GCI
Holdings, Inc. and NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as administrative
agent, Credit Lyonnais New York Branch, as documentation agent,
and TD Securities (USA), Inc. as syndication agent, dated as of
November 14, 1997. *
10.85 $50,000,000 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between GCI
Holdings, Inc. and NationsBank of Texas, N.A., as administrative
agent, Credit Lyonnais New York Branch, as documentation agent,
and TD Securities (USA), Inc. as syndication agent, dated as of
November 14, 1997. *
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant *
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP (Accountant for Company)*
27.1 Financial Data Schedule*
27.2 Restated Financial Data Schedule December 31, 1996*
27.3 Restated Financial Data Schedule December 31, 1995*
99 Additional Exhibits
99.1 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Communication Corp.(2)
99.2 The By-laws of GCI Communication Corp. (2)
99.3 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Communication
Services, Inc. (4)
99.4 The By-laws of GCI Communication Services, Inc. (4)
99.5 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Leasing Co., Inc. (4)
99.6 The By-laws of GCI Leasing Co., Inc. (4)
99.7 The By-laws of GCI Cable, Inc. (14)
99.8 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Cable, Inc. (14)
99.9 The By-laws of GCI Cable / Fairbanks, Inc. (14)
99.10 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Cable / Fairbanks,
Inc. (14)
99.11 The By-laws of GCI Cable / Juneau, Inc. (14)
99.12 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Cable / Juneau, Inc.
(14)
99.13 The By-laws of GCI Cable Holdings, Inc. (14)
99.14 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Cable Holdings, Inc.
(14)
99.15 The By-laws of GCI Holdings, Inc. (19)
99.16 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Holdings, Inc. (19)
99.17 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI, Inc. (18)
99.18 The Bylaws of GCI, Inc. (18)
99.19 The By-laws of GCI Transport, Inc. *
99.20 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Transport, Inc. *
99.21 The By-laws of Fiber Hold Co., Inc. *
99.22 The Articles of Incorporation of Fiber Hold Co., Inc. *
99.23 The By-laws of GCI Fiber Co., Inc. *
99.24 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Fiber Co., Inc. *
99.25 The By-laws of GCI Satellite Co., Inc. *
99.26 The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Satellite Co., Inc. *
99.27 The Partnership Agreement of Alaska United Fiber System *
-------------------------
* Filed herewith.
1 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended March 31, 1994
2 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1990
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3 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1991
4 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1992
5 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
10 (File No. 0-15279), mailed to the Securities and Exchange Commission
on December 30, 1986
6 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1989.
7 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated January 13, 1993.
8 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated June 4, 1993.
9 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1993.
10 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1994.
11 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1995.
12 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form S-4 Registration
Statement dated October 4, 1996.
13 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated November 13, 1996.
14 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1996.
15 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended March 31, 1997.
16 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
dated March 14, 1996, filed March 28, 1996.
17 Incorporated by reference to the Company's Amendment to Annual Report
dated December 31, 1995 on Form 10-K/A as amended on August 6, 1996.
18 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Form S-3 Registration
Statement (File No. 333-28001) dated May 29, 1997.
19 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Amendment No. 1 to Form
S-3/A Registration Statement (File No. 333-28001) dated July 8, 1997.
20 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Amendment No. 2 to Form
S-3/A Registration Statement (File No. 333-28001) dated July 21, 1997.
21 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Amendment No. 3 to Form
S-3/A Registration Statement (File No. 333-28001) dated July 22, 1997.
22 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Form S-8 POS
Registration Statement (File No. 33-60222) dated February 20, 1998.
(c) Reports on Form 8-K
None.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
General Communication, Inc.:
Under date of March 4, 1998, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of
General Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries ("Company") as of December 31, 1997
and 1996 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended
December 31, 1997, which are included in the Company's 1997 Annual Report on
Form 10-K. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated
financial statements, we also audited the related consolidated financial
statement schedule in the consolidated financial statements, which is listed in
the index in Item 14(a)(2) of the Company's 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
This consolidated financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this
consolidated financial statement schedule based on our audits.
In our opinion this consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered
in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly, in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
---------------------------------
KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
Anchorage, Alaska
March 4, 1998
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Schedule VIII
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995
Additions Deductions
----------------------- ------------
Balance at Charged Write-offs Balance
beginning to profit net of at end
Description of year and loss Other recoveries of year
------------------------------ ----------- ---------- --------- ------------- ---------
(Amounts in thousands)
Year ended December 31, 1997:
Allowance for doubtful
receivables $ 597 3,025 -- 2,552 1,070
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
Year ended December 31, 1996:
Allowance for doubtful
receivables $ 295 1,736 354(1) 1,788 597
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
Year ended December 31, 1995:
Allowance for doubtful
receivables $ 409 1,459 -- 1,573 295
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
----- ----- ----- ----- ---
(1) Allowance for doubtful receivables acquired pursuant to the Cable Company
acquisitions described in Note 2 to the Company's consolidated financial
statements.
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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.
GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
By: /s/ Ronald A. Duncan
-------------------------------
Ronald A. Duncan, President
(Chief Executive Officer)
Date: March 25, 1998
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 date indicated.
Signature Title Date
---------------- ----------- ----------
/s/ Carter F. Page Chairman of Board
- ------------------------------- and Director March 26, 1998
Carter F. Page
/s/ Robert M. Walp Vice Chairman of Board and
- ------------------------------- Director March 25, 1998
Robert M. Walp
/s/ Ronald A. Duncan President and Director,
- ------------------------------- (Chief Executive Officer) March 25, 1998
Ronald A. Duncan
/s/ Donne F. Fisher Director March 25, 1998
- -------------------------------
Donne F. Fisher
/s/ Jeffery C. Garvey Director March 25, 1998
- -------------------------------
Jeffery C. Garvey
Director ----------------
- -------------------------------
John W. Gerdelman
Director ----------------
- -------------------------------
William P. Glasgow
/s/ Donald Lynch Director March 27, 1998
- -------------------------------
Donald Lynch
(Continued)
-80-
SIGNATURES
(Continued)
Signature Title Date
---------------- ----------- ----------
Director
- ------------------------------- -----------------
Larry E. Romrell
Director
- ------------------------------- -----------------
James M. Schneider
/s/ John M. Lowber Senior Vice President, Chief
- ------------------------------- Financial Officer, Secretary March 25, 1998
John M. Lowber and Treasurer
/s/ Alfred J. Walker Vice President and Chief
- ------------------------------- Accounting Officer March 25, 1998
Alfred J. Walker
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