SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q/A

(Amendment No. 1)

 

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

 

ý

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

 

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003

 

 

OR

 

 

o

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

 

 

For the transition period from                   to                   

 

 

Commission File Number 001-14157

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

36-2669023

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

 

 

30 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois  60602

(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 630-1900

 

 

 

Not Applicable

(Former address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

Yes ý  No o

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

Class

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2003

 

 

Common Shares, $.01 par value
Series A Common Shares, $.01 par value

 

50,934,645 Shares
6,430,365 Shares

 

 

 



 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 8, 2003 (the “Quarterly Report”), to amend Item 1 “Financial Statements,” Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” Item 3 “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and Item 4 “Controls and Procedures” contained in Part I “Financial Information” of the Quarterly Report and Item 6 “Exhibits and Reports of Form 8-K” contained in Part II “Other Information” of the Quarterly Report.

 

TDS is filing this amendment in response to a comment letter received from the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  This report revises the disclosures related to TDS’s adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143 “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and restates the financial statements in response to such comments.  The SEC also requested additional disclosures be included in future filings which have been incorporated into this amendment.  Such additional disclosures include, but are not limited to, defining the calculation of certain statistics, defining equivalent access lines, deleting acronyms, including total dollars in narratives, revising the captions of the statement of operations, disclosing the composition of selling and marketing cost per gross customer activation and disclosing additional information on critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

In addition, as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, new certifications by the TDS principal executive officer and principal financial officer are being filed with this Form 10-Q/A.

 

Except as expressly stated herein, this amendment does not update any of the disclosures contained in the original filing to reflect any events that occurred after the original filing date of August 8, 2003.  The filing of this Form 10-Q/A shall not be deemed an admission that the original filing, when made, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make a statement not misleading.

 



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

 

2nd QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q/A

 

INDEX

 

 

 

Page No.

 

 

 

Part I.

Financial Information

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations -
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 (as restated)

4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 (as restated)

5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets -
June 30, 2003 (as restated) and December 31, 2002

6-7

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8-24

 

 

 

Item 2.

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

25-27

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

 

 

U.S. Cellular Operations

28-32

 

TDS Telecom Operations

32-34

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

35-36

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

36-37

 

Financial Resources

37-38

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

38-42

 

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

42-46

 

Outlook

47

 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

47

 

Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement

48

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

49-50

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

51

 

 

Part II.

Other Information

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

52

 

 

 

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to Vote of Security-Holders

52

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

52

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

53

 

 

 

Signatures

54

 



 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Unaudited

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

(As Restated)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING REVENUES

 

$

851,287

 

$

720,443

 

$

1,658,705

 

$

1,385,640

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion expense shown below)

 

263,188

 

209,608

 

525,586

 

399,430

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

347,575

 

271,907

 

684,076

 

530,016

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense

 

144,902

 

115,636

 

296,129

 

227,535

 

(Gain) Loss on assets held for sale

 

3,500

 

 

27,000

 

 

 

 

759,165

 

597,151

 

1,532,791

 

1,156,981

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OPERATING INCOME

 

92,122

 

123,292

 

125,914

 

228,659

 

INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest and dividend income

 

6,069

 

48,167

 

10,397

 

50,234

 

Investment income

 

13,517

 

7,752

 

26,267

 

18,789

 

Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments

 

(5,000

)

(1,719,126

)

(8,500

)

(1,756,526

)

Interest expense

 

(43,996

)

(29,095

)

(87,353

)

(58,719

)

Minority interest in income of subsidiary trust

 

(6,202

)

(6,202

)

(12,405

)

(12,405

)

Other (expense), net

 

(7,097

)

(1,223

)

(5,938

)

(17

)

 

 

(42,709

)

(1,699,727

)

(77,532

)

(1,758,644

)

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY INTEREST

 

49,413

 

(1,576,435

)

48,382

 

(1,529,985

)

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

23,623

 

(609,530

)

27,447

 

(587,118

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE MINORITY INTEREST

 

25,790

 

(966,905

)

20,935

 

(942,867

)

Minority Share of (Income) Loss

 

(6,294

)

15,115

 

(6,451

)

5,087

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGES

 

19,496

 

(951,790

)

14,484

 

(937,780

)

Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax and minority interest

 

 

 

(11,789

)

3,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

19,496

 

(951,790

)

2,695

 

(934,414

)

Preferred Dividend Requirement

 

(104

)

(106

)

(209

)

(218

)

NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON

 

$

19,392

 

$

(951,896

)

$

2,486

 

$

(934,632

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (000s)

 

57,474

 

58,639

 

58,034

 

58,619

 

BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.00

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(0.20

)

0.06

 

Net income (loss) available to common

 

0.34

 

(16.23

)

0.04

 

(15.94

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (000s)

 

57,671

 

58,639

 

58,062

 

58,619

 

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE (Note 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.00

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(0.20

)

0.06

 

Net income (loss) available to common

 

0.34

 

(16.23

)

0.04

 

(15.94

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

 

$

0.155

 

$

0.145

 

$

0.31

 

$

0.29

 

 

The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

4



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

As Restated

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

14,484

 

$

(937,780

)

Add (Deduct) adjustments to reconcile income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

296,129

 

227,535

 

Deferred taxes

 

21,565

 

(633,027

)

Investment income

 

(26,267

)

(18,789

)

Minority share of income

 

6,451

 

(5,087

)

Loss on assets of operations held for sale

 

27,000

 

 

(Gain) loss on marketable securities and other investments

 

8,500

 

1,756,526

 

Noncash interest expense

 

13,195

 

4,718

 

Other noncash expense

 

14,566

 

8,965

 

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Change in accounts receivable

 

81,118

 

(19,594

)

Change in materials and supplies

 

(32,395

)

26,939

 

Change in accounts payable

 

(82,135

)

(27,242

)

Change in advanced billings and customer deposits

 

13,137

 

10,420

 

Change in accrued taxes

 

(8,678

)

32,420

 

Change in other assets and liabilities

 

(25,648

)

(14,710

)

 

 

321,022

 

411,294

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(360,924

)

(327,286

)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(1,244

)

(73,722

)

Increase in notes receivable

 

(7

)

(2,431

)

Refund of FCC deposit

 

 

47,565

 

Distributions from unconsolidated entities

 

17,884

 

6,217

 

Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities

 

(1,465

)

(1,695

)

Other investing activities

 

(138

)

(8,279

)

 

 

(345,894

)

(359,631

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Change in notes payable

 

143,560

 

(248,400

)

Issuance of long-term debt

 

450

 

179,850

 

Repayments of long-term debt

 

(14,549

)

(8,418

)

Prepayment of long-term notes

 

(40,680

)

(51,000

)

Repurchase of TDS Common Shares

 

(56,522

)

 

Dividends paid

 

(18,184

)

(17,227

)

Other financing activities

 

1,503

 

(2,657

)

 

 

15,578

 

(147,852

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(9,294

)

(96,189

)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS -

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of period

 

1,298,936

 

140,744

 

End of period

 

$

1,289,642

 

$

44,555

 

 

The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

5



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

ASSETS

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

CURRENT ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

1,289,642

 

$

1,298,936

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

Due from customers, less allowance of $24,860 and $24,627, respectively

 

247,736

 

272,997

 

Other, principally connecting companies, less allowance of $11,781 and $15,848, respectively

 

147,400

 

175,036

 

Federal income tax receivable

 

 

40,000

 

Materials and supplies, at average cost

 

103,998

 

72,441

 

Other current assets

 

115,984

 

88,602

 

 

 

1,904,760

 

1,948,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INVESTMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable equity securities

 

2,300,233

 

1,944,939

 

Wireless license costs

 

979,759

 

1,038,556

 

Goodwill

 

1,005,029

 

1,106,451

 

Customer lists, net of accumulated amortization of $15,543 and $6,567, respectively

 

31,111

 

40,087

 

Investments in unconsolidated entities

 

215,121

 

205,995

 

Notes receivable, less valuation allowance of $55,144 and $55,144, respectively

 

6,476

 

7,287

 

Other investments

 

15,139

 

14,914

 

 

 

4,552,868

 

4,358,229

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Cellular

 

2,191,318

 

2,148,432

 

TDS Telecom

 

1,050,385

 

1,047,811

 

 

 

3,241,703

 

3,196,243

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS AND DEFERRED CHARGES

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative asset

 

 

2,630

 

Other

 

96,458

 

96,914

 

 

 

96,458

 

99,544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS OF OPERATIONS HELD FOR SALE

 

223,876

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

10,019,665

 

$

9,602,028

 

 

The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

6



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Unaudited

 

 

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

84,861

 

$

64,482

 

Notes payable

 

605,352

 

461,792

 

Accounts payable

 

274,218

 

361,758

 

Advance billings and customer deposits

 

106,312

 

95,922

 

Accrued interest

 

33,110

 

31,751

 

Accrued taxes

 

41,552

 

34,413

 

Accrued compensation

 

49,750

 

58,678

 

Other current liabilities

 

50,339

 

58,370

 

 

 

1,245,494

 

1,167,166

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DEFERRED LIABILITIES AND CREDITS

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred income tax liability

 

1,227,862

 

1,170,505

 

Derivative liability

 

302,946

 

61,160

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

89,361

 

 

Other

 

59,369

 

55,645

 

 

 

1,679,538

 

1,287,310

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM DEBT

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

1,567,315

 

1,641,624

 

Prepaid forward contracts

 

1,664,595

 

1,656,616

 

 

 

3,231,910

 

3,298,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES OF OPERATIONS HELD FOR SALE

 

9,005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINORITY INTEREST IN SUBSIDIARIES

 

495,248

 

489,735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE
PREFERRED SECURITIES of Subsidiary Trust

 

 

 

 

 

Holding Solely Company Subordinated Debentures (a)

 

300,000

 

300,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREFERRED SHARES

 

6,704

 

6,954

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMON STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Common Shares, par value $.01 per share; authorized 100,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 56,103,000 and 55,875,000 shares, respectively

 

561

 

559

 

Series A Common Shares, par value $.01 per share; authorized 25,000,000; issued and outstanding 6,430,000 and 6,602,000 shares, respectively

 

64

 

66

 

Capital in excess of par value

 

1,834,365

 

1,832,806

 

Treasury Shares, at cost, 5,168,000 and 3,799,000  shares, respectively

 

(460,298

)

(404,169

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

260,906

 

191,704

 

Retained earnings

 

1,416,168

 

1,431,657

 

 

 

3,051,766

 

3,052,623

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

$

10,019,665

 

$

9,602,028

 

 


(a)          The sole asset of TDS Capital I is $154.6 million principal amount of 8.5% subordinated debentures due 2037 from TDS.  The sole asset of TDS Capital II is $154.6 million principal amount of 8.04% subordinated debentures due 2038 from TDS.

 

The accompanying notes to financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

 

7



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.               Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by TDS, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although TDS believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  It is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in TDS’s latest annual report on Form 10-K.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, the results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 and the cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.  The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

Certain amounts reported in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

 

U.S. Cellular and TDS adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” in January 2003.  In the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular revised the probability that its lease cell sites would require remediation resulting in TDS restating its financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.  See Note 18 – Restatement of Financial Statements and Note 6 - Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes.

 

U.S. Cellular made changes to its accounting policies which required TDS to restate certain items on its income statement for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002.  See Note 6 – “Effects of 2002 Accounting Changes” for the impact on operating income, net income (loss) and earnings per share.

 

2.               Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Assets and Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale

 

On March 10, 2003, U.S. Cellular announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (“AT&T Wireless”) to exchange wireless properties. When this transaction is fully consummated, U.S. Cellular will receive 10 and 20 megahertz personal communication service licenses in 13 states, approximately $31 million in cash (excluding a working capital adjustment) and minority interests in six markets it currently controls.  U.S. Cellular will transfer wireless assets and customers in 10 markets in Florida and Georgia to AT&T Wireless. The assignment and development of certain licenses will be deferred by U.S. Cellular for a period of up to five years from the closing date, in accordance with the exchange agreement.  The acquisition of licenses in the exchange will be accounted for as a purchase by U.S. Cellular and the transfer of the properties by U.S. Cellular to AT&T Wireless will be accounted for as a sale. The closing of the transfer of the U.S. Cellular properties to AT&T Wireless and the assignments to U.S. Cellular from AT&T Wireless of a portion of the personal communication service licenses is expected to occur on August 1, 2003.

 

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the balance sheet as of June 30, 2003 reflects the assets and liabilities of the wireless properties to be transferred to AT&T Wireless as assets and liabilities of operations held for sale. The assets and liabilities of operations held for sale have been presented separately in the asset and liability sections of the balance sheet. The revenues and expenses of these markets are included in operations.  See Note 10 – Assets and Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale for a summary of assets and liabilities of the markets to be disposed of.

 

8



 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

TDS accounts for stock options and employee stock purchase plans under Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” as allowed by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.”

 

No compensation costs have been recognized for the stock option and employee stock purchase plans. Had compensation costs for all plans been expensed and the value determined consistent with SFAS No. 123, TDS’s net income (loss) available to common and earnings per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Reported

 

$

19,392

 

$

(951,896

)

$

2,486

 

$

(934,632

)

Pro Forma Expense

 

2,593

 

2,857

 

4,390

 

5,714

 

Pro Forma Net Income (Loss) Available to Common

 

$

16,799

 

$

(954,753

)

$

(1,904

)

$

(940,346

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Reported

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

Pro Forma Expense Per Share

 

(0.05

)

(0.05

)

(0.08

)

(0.10

)

Pro Forma Basic Earnings Per Share

 

$

0.29

 

$

(16.28

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(16.04

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Reported

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

Pro Forma Expense Per Share

 

(0.05

)

(0.05

)

(0.08

)

(0.10

)

Pro Forma Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

$

0.29

 

$

(16.28

)

$

(0.04

)

$

(16.04

)

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

FASB Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” was issued in January 2003, and is effective for all variable interests in variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and is effective July 1, 2003 for variable interests in variable interest entities created before February 1, 2003.  This Interpretation clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.

 

TDS has two subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II, that are variable interest entities pursuant to FIN 46.  Effective July 1, 2003, pursuant to the provisions of FIN 46, TDS will discontinue consolidating the subsidiary trusts. TDS Capital I has outstanding 6,000,000 8.5% Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities.  The sole asset of TDS Capital I is $154.6 million principal amount of TDS’s 8.5% Subordinated Debentures due December 31, 2037.  TDS Capital II has outstanding 6,000,000 8.04% Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities.  The sole asset of TDS Capital II is $154.6 million principal amount of 8.04% Subordinated Debentures due March 31, 2038.

 

On August 1, 2003, TDS announced that its subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II will both redeem all of their outstanding Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“TOPrSSM”).  The redemption date is expected to be September 2, 2003.  The redemption price of both the 8.5% and 8.04% TOPrS will equal 100% of the principal amount, or $25.00 per security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions.  Upon redemption of the TOPrS by the subsidiary trusts, TDS will not have any variable interest entities pursuant to FIN 46.

 

SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” was issued in April 2003, and is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for

 

9



 

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” TDS will adopt the provisions of this Standard to contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and to hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  Since the provisions of this Statement will be applied prospectively, there will be no impact on TDS’s June 30, 2003 financial position or results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” was issued in May 2003, and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise beginning July 1, 2003. SFAS No. 150 requires freestanding financial instruments within its scope to be recorded as a liability in the financial statements.  Freestanding financial instruments include mandatorily redeemable financial instruments, obligations to repurchase issuer’s equity shares and certain obligations to issue a variable number of issuer’s shares.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS had $300 million of Company – Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust that are free standing financial instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 150.  However, the Subsidiary Trusts holding these securities will be deconsolidated pursuant to FIN 46, effective July 1, 2003.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS had no other freestanding financial instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 150.  Upon adoption, this Statement is not expected to have any effect on TDS’s financial position or results of operations.

 

3.               Asset Retirement Obligation (As Restated)

 

SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” was issued in June 2001, and became effective for TDS beginning January 1, 2003. SFAS No. 143 requires entities to record the present value of the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its future value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.  Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in the statement of operations as a gain or loss.

 

U.S. Cellular is subject to asset retirement obligations associated primarily with its cell sites, retail sites and office locations.  Legal obligations include obligations to remediate leased land on which U.S. Cellular’s cell sites and switching offices are located.  U.S. Cellular is also required to return leased retail store premises and office space to their pre-existing conditions.

 

U.S. Cellular determined that it had an obligation to remove long-lived assets in its cell sites, retail sales and office locations as described by SFAS 143, and has recorded a $54.4 million liability upon adoption. TDS also recorded a charge for a non-cash cumulative change in accounting principle of $11.8 million representing accumulated accretion and depreciation through December 31, 2002.  The U.S. Cellular asset retirement obligation increased by $4.4 million to $58.5 million as of June 30, 2003.  The increase was due to additional liabilities incurred of $2.2 million and accretion of $2.2 million.  See Note 18 – Restatement of Financial Statements for a discussion of the periodic impact due to accretion and depreciation.

 

10



 

In accordance with the transition rules of SFAS No. 143, the following pro forma amounts show the effect of the retroactive application of the change in accounting principle for the adoption of SFAS No. 143:

 

 

 

Three months ended June 30,

 

Six months ended June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

Actual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

19,496

 

$

(951,790

)

$

2,695

 

$

(934,414

)

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pro forma

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

19,496

 

$

(952,396

)

$

14,484

 

$

(944,853

)

Basic earnings per share

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.24

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.12

)

Diluted earnings per share

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.24

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.12

)

 

 

 

At December 31,
2002

 

At January 1,
2002

 

Pro forma

 

 

 

 

 

Asset Retirement Obligation

 

$

54,438

 

$

45,246

 

 

TDS Telecom’s incumbent local telephone companies follow the provisions of SFAS No. 71, and therefore conform to the regulatory accounting principles as prescribed by the respective state public utility commissions and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), and where applicable, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. On December 20, 2002, the FCC notified carriers by Order that it will not adopt SFAS No. 143 since the FCC concluded that SFAS No. 143 conflicted with the FCC’s current accounting rules that require incumbent local telephone companies to accrue for asset retirement obligations through prescribed depreciation rates. Pursuant to the FCC’s order, and the provisions of SFAS No. 71, the incumbent local telephone companies continue to accrue asset retirement obligations as a component of depreciation expense pursuant to depreciation rates set forth by the respective state public utility commissions.

 

At January 1, 2003, upon implementation of SFAS No. 143, TDS Telecom determined the amount of the incumbent local telephone companies asset retirement obligations required to be recorded was $29.9 million, and this asset retirement obligation was reclassified from accumulated depreciation to deferred liabilities and credits under the provisions of SFAS No. 143.  The asset retirement obligation under SFAS No. 143 has increased to $30.6 million at June 30, 2003.  After the effect of this reclassification, the incumbent local telephone companies have an amount of $25.4 million as of January 1, 2003 ($26.8 million as of June 30, 2003) that remains in accumulated depreciation that represents asset retirement costs that have been accrued in accordance with depreciation rates promulgated by the respective state public utility commissions, which are in excess of asset retirement costs that are required to be accrued under the provisions of SFAS No. 143.  The adoption of SFAS No. 143 by TDS’s incumbent local telephone companies did not have an impact on TDS’s statement of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

TDS Telecom’s competitive local telephone companies adopted SFAS No. 143 effective January 1, 2003. TDS Telecom determined that its competitive local telephone companies do not have a material legal obligation to remove long-lived assets as described by SFAS 143, and accordingly, adoption of SFAS 143 did not have a material impact on the competitive local telephone companies.

 

11



 

4.               Income Taxes

 

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders includes losses from marketable securities and other investments and losses on assets held for sale for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002.  The following table summarizes the effective income tax expense (benefit) rates in each of the periods.

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effective Tax Rate From

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before cumulative effect of accounting change excluding loss on marketable securities and other investments and loss on assets held for sale

 

43.0%

 

43.4%

 

42.8%

 

43.8%

 

Loss on marketable securities and other investments  and loss on assets held for sale

 

(15.1)%

 

(39.1)%

 

(23.7)%

 

(39.1)%

 

Income (Loss) before cumulative effect of  accounting changes

 

47.8%

 

(38.7)%

 

56.7%

 

(38.4)%

 

 

5.               (Losses) on Marketable Securities and Other Investments

 

U.S. Cellular recorded a license cost impairment loss of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2003 related to the investment in a non-operating market in Florida that will remain with U.S. Cellular after the exchange with AT&T Wireless is completed.

 

TDS also recorded an impairment loss of $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2003 on a cellular market investment held by TDS Telecom in conjunction with its annual license cost and goodwill impairment testing.

 

The loss on marketable securities and other investments in 2002 reflects an “other than temporary” investment loss of $1,756.5 million ($1,044.4 million, net of $686.2 million of income taxes and $25.9 million of minority interest) on TDS’s marketable securities.  The adjusted cost basis of TDS’s marketable securities was written down to market value upon determining that the unrealized losses on the securities were other than temporary.

 

6.               Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes (As restated)

 

Effective January 1, 2003, TDS adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and recorded the initial liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement.  The cumulative effect of the implementation of this accounting standard on periods prior to 2003 was recorded in the first quarter of 2003, decreasing net income by $11.8 million, net of tax and minority interest, or $0.20 per basic and diluted share.

 

U.S. Cellular made certain changes to its accounting policies in the fourth quarter of 2002 which required TDS to restate certain items on its income statement for the three and six month periods ending June 30, 2002.  Other than the cumulative effect of the accounting change, none of the prior period changes have a significant impact on operating income, net income (loss) or earnings per share for the periods presented below.

 

12



 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30, 2002

 

 

 

As
Reported

 

Changes

 

As
Restated

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Effects of 2002 Accounting Changes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes related to EITF 01-09 reclassification (1)

 

$

723,814

 

$

(3,371

)

$

720,443

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes related to EITF 01-09 reclassification (1)

 

 

 

(3,371

)

 

 

Changes related to SAB 101(2)

 

 

 

(1,224

)

 

 

 

 

601,746

 

(4,595

)

597,151

 

Operating Income

 

122,068

 

1,224

 

123,292

 

(Loss) before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

 

(952,381

)

591

 

(951,790

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change (2)

 

 

 

 

Net (Loss)

 

$

(952,381

)

$

591

 

$

(951,790

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share – Cumulative Effect of Accounting  Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Fully Diluted

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share – Net (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(16.24

)

$

0.01

 

$

(16.23

)

Fully Diluted

 

$

(16.24

)

$

0.01

 

$

(16.23

)

 

 

 

Six Months Ended  June 30, 2002

 

 

 

As
Reported

 

Changes

 

As
Restated

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Effects of 2002 Accounting Changes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes related to EITF 01-09 reclassification (1)

 

$

1,389,011

 

$

(3,371

)

$

1,385,640

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes related to EITF 01-09 reclassification (1)

 

 

 

(3,371

)

 

 

Changes related to SAB 101(2)

 

 

 

(2,053

)

 

 

 

 

1,162,405

 

(5,424

)

1,156,981

 

Operating Income

 

226,606

 

2,053

 

228,659

 

(Loss) before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

 

(938,784

)

1,004

 

(937,780

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change (2)

 

 

3,366

 

3,366

 

Net (Loss)

 

$

(938,784

)

$

4,370

 

$

(934,414

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share – Cumulative Effect of Accounting  Change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.06

 

Fully Diluted

 

$

 

$

0.06

 

$

0.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings Per Share – Net (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

(16.02

)

$

0.08

 

$

(15.94

)

Fully Diluted

 

$

(16.02

)

$

0.08

 

$

(15.94

)

 


(1)          U.S. Cellular changed its accounting for certain rebate transactions pursuant to Emerging Issues Task Force Statement No. 01-09 (“EITF No. 01-09”) in the fourth quarter of 2002.  Under EITF No. 01-09, all rebates paid to agents who participate in qualifying new activation and retention transactions are recorded as a reduction of equipment sales revenues.  Previously, U.S. Cellular had recorded new activation rebates as marketing and selling expense and retention rebates as general and administrative expense.  Further, these rebates are now recorded at the time handsets are sold by U.S. Cellular to these agents.  Previously, U.S. Cellular recorded these transactions at the time the handsets were delivered by agents to U.S. Cellular customers.

 

(2)          U.S. Cellular changed its accounting policy related to certain transactions pursuant to Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 101 during the fourth quarter of 2002.  U.S. Cellular had adopted SAB No. 101 as of January 1, 2000, and began deferring certain customer activation fees as of that date.  As permitted by SAB No. 101, as of January 1, 2002, U.S. Cellular began deferring commissions expenses equal to the amount of activation fees deferred.  In conjunction with this change, TDS

 

13



 

recorded a $3.4 million addition to net income as of January 1, 2002, related to commissions expenses which would have been deferred in prior years had U.S. Cellular adopted its new policy at the time it adopted SAB No. 101.

 

7.               Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using net income available to common and weighted average common shares adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities include incremental shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and the potential conversion of preferred stock to common shares.

 

The amounts used in computing earnings per share from operations and the effect on income and the weighted average number of Common and Series A Common Shares of dilutive potential common stock are as follows.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Basic Earnings per Share

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

$

19,496

 

$

(951,790

)

$

14,484

 

$

(937,780

)

Less:  Preferred Dividend requirement

 

(104

)

(106

)

(209

)

(218

)

Income (Loss) Available to Common

 

19,392

 

(951,896

)

14,275

 

(937,998

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(11,789

)

3,366

 

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common used in Basic  Earnings per Share

 

$

19,392

 

$

(951,896

)

$

2,486

 

$

(934,632

)

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Income (Loss) Available to Common used in  Basic Earnings per Share

 

$

19,392

 

$

(951,896

)

$

14,275

 

$

(937,998

)

Reduction in preferred dividends if Preferred Shares Converted into Common Shares

 

51

 

 

 

 

Minority Income Adjustment (1)

 

(102

)

 

(49

)

 

Income (Loss) Available to Common

 

19,341

 

(951,896

)

14,226

 

(937,998

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(11,789

)

3,366

 

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common used in Diluted Earnings per Share

 

$

19,341

 

$

(951,896

)

$

2,437

 

$

(934,632

)

 


(1)          The minority income adjustment reflects the additional minority share of U.S. Cellular’s income computed as if all of U.S. Cellular’s issuable securities were outstanding.

 

14



 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(Shares in thousands)

 

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares used in Basic Earnings per Share

 

57,474

 

58,639

 

58,034

 

58,619

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options (2)

 

43

 

 

28

 

 

Common shares outstanding if Preferred Shares  Converted

 

154

 

 

 

 

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares used in Diluted Earnings per Share

 

57,671

 

58,639

 

58,062

 

58,619

 

 


(2)          Stock options and preferred shares convertible into 1,583,000 Common Shares in three and six months ended June 30, 2002 were not included in computing Diluted Earnings per Share because their effects were antidilutive.  Stock options and preferred shares convertible into 1,483,000 and 1,637,000 Common Shares in the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively, were not included in computing Diluted Earnings per Share because their effects were antidilutive.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

Basic Earnings per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.00

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(0.20

)

0.06

 

 

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted Earnings per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operations

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.24

 

$

(16.00

)

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes

 

 

 

(0.20

)

0.06

 

 

 

$

0.34

 

$

(16.23

)

$

0.04

 

$

(15.94

)

 

8.               Marketable Equity Securities

 

TDS and its subsidiaries hold a substantial amount of marketable equity securities that are publicly traded and can have volatile share prices.  TDS does not make direct investments in publicly traded companies and all of these interests were acquired as a result of sales, exchanges or reorganizations of other investments.  The market values of the marketable securities may fall below the accounting cost basis of such securities.  If management determines the decline in value of the marketable securities to be “other than temporary”, the unrealized loss included in other comprehensive income is recognized and recorded as a loss in the Statement of Operations.

 

During the six months ended June 30, 2002, management determined that the decline in the value of the marketable securities relative to its accounting cost basis was other than temporary and charged a $1,756.5 million loss to the Statement of Operations ($1,044.4 million, net of tax of $686.2 million, and minority interest of $25.9 million) and reduced the accounting cost basis of the marketable securities by a corresponding amount.  The loss was reported in the caption “Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments” in the Statement of Operations.

 

TDS and subsidiaries have entered into a number of forward contracts in 2002 related to the marketable equity securities that they hold.  The risk management objective of the forward contracts is to hedge the value of the marketable equity securities from losses due to decreases in the market prices of the securities while retaining a share of gains from increases in the market prices of such securities.  The downside risk is hedged at or above the accounting cost basis thereby eliminating the risk of an other than temporary loss being recorded on these contracted securities.

 

U.S. Cellular terminated all security lending agreements with investment banks related to its Vodafone ADRs in the second quarter of 2003.

 

15



 

Information regarding TDS’s marketable equity securities and the components of accumulated other comprehensive income are summarized as follows.

 

 

 

June 30,
2003

 

December 31,
2002

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Marketable Equity Securities – Fair Value

 

 

 

 

 

Deutsche Telekom AG - 131,461,861 Ordinary Shares

 

$

2,010,052

 

$

1,689,285

 

Vodafone Group Plc – 12,945,915 ADRs

 

254,387

 

234,580

 

VeriSign, Inc. – 2,361,333 and 2,525,786 Common Shares

 

32,563

 

20,257

 

Rural Cellular Corporation - 719,396 equivalent Common Shares

 

3,021

 

611

 

Other

 

210

 

206

 

Aggregate Fair Value

 

2,300,233

 

1,944,939

 

Accounting Cost Basis

 

1,543,933

 

1,545,713

 

Gross Unrealized Holding Gains

 

756,300

 

399,226

 

Income Tax (Expense)

 

(295,192

)

(155,794

)

Unrealized Holding Gains, net of tax

 

461,108

 

243,432

 

Derivatives, net of tax

 

(197,377

)

(50,508

)

Equity Method Unrealized Gains

 

127

 

615

 

Minority Share of Unrealized Holding (Gains)

 

(2,952

)

(1,835

)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

$

260,906

 

$

191,704

 

 

9.               Goodwill and Customer Lists

 

TDS has recorded goodwill as a result of the acquisition of wireless licenses and markets, and the acquisition of operating telephone companies.  Included in U.S. Cellular’s goodwill is goodwill related to various acquisitions structured to be tax-free.  No deferred taxes have been provided on goodwill related to tax-free acquisitions.

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, were as follows.  TDS Telecom’s incumbent local exchange carrier is designated as “ILEC” and its competitive local exchange carrier is designated as “CLEC” in the table.

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

U.S.
Cellular

 

TDS Telecom

 

Other(1)

 

Total

 

ILEC

 

CLEC

Beginning Balance January 1, 2003

 

$

643,629

 

$

397,482

 

$

29,440

 

$

35,900

 

$

1,106,451

 

Allocation to Assets of Operations  Held for Sale(2)

 

(93,658

)

 

 

 

(93,658

)

Impairment loss(3)

 

 

 

 

(5,000

)

(5,000

)

Other

 

(2,308

)

(456

)

 

 

(2,764

)

Ending Balance June 30, 2003

 

$

547,663

 

$

397,026

 

$

29,440

 

$

30,900

 

$

1,005,029

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning Balance January 1, 2002

 

$

473,975

 

$

332,848

 

$

29,440

 

$

34,538

 

$

870,801

 

Acquisitions

 

 

40,750

 

 

 

40,750

 

Other

 

 

655

 

 

 

655

 

Ending Balance June 30, 2002

 

$

473,975

 

$

374,253

 

$

29,440

 

$

34,538

 

$

912,206

 

 


(1)Other consists of goodwill related to an investment in a cellular market owned by an ILEC subsidiary.

 

(2)See Note 10 – Assets and Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale for discussion of allocation.

 

(3)See Note 5 – (Losses) on Marketable Securities and Other Investments for discussion of the impairment loss.

 

TDS’s customer lists represent intangible assets from the acquisition of wireless properties and are being amortized based on average customer retention periods using the declining balance method.  Amortization expense was $4.5 million and $9.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively.  There was no amortization of customer lists in the three and six months ended June 30, 2002.  The related amortization expense for the remainder of 2003 and for the years 2004-2007 is expected to be $6.7 million, $9.5 million, $5.8 million, $3.5 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

 

16



 

10.         Assets and Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale

 

On March 10, 2003, U.S. Cellular announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with AT&T Wireless  to exchange wireless properties. When this transaction is fully consummated, U.S. Cellular will receive 10 and 20 megahertz personal communication service licenses in 13 states, representing 12.2 million incremental population equivalents contiguous to existing properties and 4.4 million population equivalents that overlap existing properties in the Midwest and the Northeast. U.S. Cellular will also receive approximately $31 million in cash (excluding a working capital adjustment) and minority interests in six markets it currently controls.  U.S. Cellular will transfer wireless assets and customers in 10 markets, representing 1.5 million population equivalents, in Florida and Georgia to AT&T Wireless. The assignment and development of certain licenses may be deferred by U.S. Cellular for a period of up to five years from the closing date, in accordance with the exchange agreement.  The acquisition of licenses in the exchange will be accounted for as a purchase by U.S. Cellular and the transfer of the properties by U.S. Cellular to AT&T Wireless will be accounted for as a sale. The closing of the transfer of the U.S. Cellular properties to AT&T Wireless and the assignments to U.S. Cellular from AT&T Wireless of a portion of the personal communication service licenses is expected to occur on August 1, 2003. TDS will not report the transaction as discontinued operations as previously disclosed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

The consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2003 reflects the assets and liabilities to be transferred as assets and liabilities of operations held for sale in accordance with SFAS No. 144.  The results of operations of the markets to be transferred continue to be included in results from operations.

 

U.S. Cellular allocated $93.7 million of goodwill to the operations held for sale in accordance with SFAS No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”  A $27.0 million loss was recorded and reported as a “loss on assets held-for–sale” (included in operating expenses) representing the difference between the book value of the markets to be transferred to AT&T Wireless and the fair value of the assets to be received in the transaction. The fair value of the assets to be received was determined using an independent valuation. Subsequent to recording the loss, the recorded value of the assets TDS expects to transfer to AT&T Wireless is equal to the fair value of the assets TDS expects to receive from AT&T Wireless. This loss may require an adjustment during the third quarter of 2003 to reflect the final amounts of the fair value of assets received and the recorded value of the assets transferred.

 

TDS anticipates that it will record an additional charge to the Statement of Operations of approximately $12 million for taxes and will have a current tax liability of approximately $5 million related to state income taxes on the completion of the transaction. As a result of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, enacted in May of 2003, TDS anticipates that it will claim additional federal tax depreciation deductions in 2003. Such additional depreciation deductions are expected to result in a federal net operating loss for TDS for 2003; accordingly, TDS anticipates that there will be no current federal tax liability in 2003 attributable to the planned exchange of assets with AT&T Wireless.

 

Assets and liabilities relating to operations held for sale are summarized as follows.

 

 

 

June 30, 2003

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Current assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7

 

Accounts receivable

 

11,777

 

Other current assets

 

1,074

 

License costs

 

55,147

 

Goodwill

 

93,658

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

88,415

 

Other assets

 

798

 

Loss on assets held for sale

 

(27,000

)

Assets of Operations Held for Sale

 

$

223,876

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,405

 

Other current liabilities

 

3,600

 

Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale

 

$

9,005

 

 

17



 

11.         Long-Term Debt

 

TDS repurchased $5.0 million of 10% Medium-Term Notes in the second quarter of 2003 at 115.75% of par value.  The loss on retirement of debt totaled $787,500 and was reported in the caption Other (expense), net in the Statement of Operations.

 

TDS notified the holders of $65.5 million of Series B Medium-Term Notes in June 2003 of its intent to redeem these notes at par.  The notes are reflected as current portion of long-term debt on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2003.  There will be no gain or loss on the retirement of these notes at par value.  The notes were redeemed in July 2003.

 

12.         Common Share Repurchase Program

 

The Board of Directors of TDS from time to time has authorized the repurchase of TDS Common Shares.  In 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 3.0 million Common Shares through February 2006.  TDS may use repurchased shares to fund acquisitions and for other corporate purposes.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS has repurchased 1.4 million Common Shares under this authorization for an aggregate of $56.5 million, representing an average per share price of $40.95, leaving 1.6 million shares available for repurchase under the authorization.  Share repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market or at negotiated prices in private transactions.  No shares were repurchased in 2002.

 

18



 

13.         Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

The cumulative balance of unrealized gains (losses) on securities and derivative instruments and related income tax effects included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are as follows.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

191,704

 

$

(352,120

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable Equity Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add (Deduct): 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on securities

 

356,906

 

(1,209,570

)

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

(139,338

)

472,012

 

 

 

217,568

 

(737,558

)

Equity method unrealized gains (losses)

 

(489

)

218

 

Minority share of unrealized (gains) losses

 

(1,828

)

14,003

 

Net unrealized gains (losses)

 

215,251

 

(723,337

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deduct (Add): 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognized (losses) on securities

 

(168

)

(1,756,526

)

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

62

 

686,223

 

 

 

(106

)

(1,070,303

)

Minority share of recognized losses

 

21

 

25,900

 

Net recognized gains (losses) from Marketable Equity Securities included in Net Income

 

(85

)

(1,044,403

)

 

 

215,336

 

321,066

 

Derivative Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

(240,733

)

20,849

 

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

93,864

 

(8,405

)

 

 

(146,869

12,444

 

Minority Share of unrealized (gains) losses

 

735

 

(1,800

)

 

 

(146,134

10,644

 

Net change in unrealized gains (losses) included in  Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

69,202

 

331,710

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

260,906

 

$

(20,410

)

 


 

Accumulated Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative  Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

(49,584

)

$

 

Add (Deduct):

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

(240,733

)

20,849

 

Income (tax) benefit

 

93,864

 

(8,405

)

Minority share of unrealized (gains) losses

 

735

 

(1,800

)

 

 

(146,134

10,644

 

Balance, end of period

 

$

(195,718

)

$

10,644

 

 


 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended 
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

As Restated

 

As Restated

 

As Restated

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (loss)

 

$

19,496

 

$

(951,790

)

$

2,695

 

$

(934,414

)

Net change in unrealized gains (losses)  on securities and derivative instruments

 

68,141

 

551,035

 

69,202

 

331,710

 

 

 

$

87,637

 

$

(400,755

)

$

71,897

 

$

(602,704

)

 

19



 

14.   Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and those short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.  The following table summarizes interest and income taxes paid by TDS.

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest Paid

 

$

72,123

 

$

48,487

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Taxes Paid (Refunded)

 

$

(18,388

)

$

12,980

 

 

15.         Business Segment Information (As Restated)

 

Financial data for TDS’s business segments for each of the three-month and six-month periods ended or at June 30, 2003 and 2002 are as follows.  TDS Telecom’s incumbent local exchange carrier is designated as “ILEC” and its competitive local exchange carrier is designated as “CLEC” in the tables.

 

Three Months Ended or at
June 30, 2003

 

 

 

TDS Telecom

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

U.S. Cellular

 

ILEC

 

CLEC

 

All Other(1)

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

$

639,810

 

$

159,805

 

$

52,479

 

$

(807

)

$

851,287

 

Cost of services and products

 

204,394

 

39,834

 

19,220

 

(260

)

263,188

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

274,186

 

44,616

 

29,320

 

(547

)

347,575

 

Operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion and loss on assets held for sale(2)

 

161,230

 

75,355

 

3,939

 

 

240,524

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

104,694

 

32,121

 

8,087

 

 

144,902

 

Loss on assets held for sale

 

3,500

 

 

 

 

3,500

 

Operating income (loss)

 

53,036

 

43,234

 

(4,148

)

 

92,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant noncash items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

13,484

 

169

 

 

(136

)

13,517

 

Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments

 

 

 

 

(5,000

)

(5,000

)

Marketable securities

 

202,879

 

 

 

2,097,354

 

2,300,233

 

Investment in unconsolidated Entities

 

171,214

 

19,069

 

 

24,838

 

215,121

 

Total assets

 

4,819,041

 

1,876,373

 

233,526

 

3,090,725

 

10,019,665

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

163,076

 

$

29,288

 

$

5,504

 

$

1,672

 

$

199,540

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended or at June 30, 2002

 

 

 

TDS Telecom

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

U.S. Cellular

 

ILEC

 

CLEC

 

All Other(1)

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

$

524,339

 

$

155,051

 

$

41,762

 

$

(709

)

$

720,443

 

Cost of services and products

 

154,726

 

33,997

 

21,159

 

(274

)

209,608

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

191,932

 

49,851

 

30,559

 

(435

)

271,907

 

Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization(2) (3)

 

177,681

 

71,203

 

(9,956

)

 

238,928

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

76,409

 

32,047

 

7,180

 

 

115,636

 

Operating income (loss)

 

101,272

 

39,156

 

(17,136

)

 

123,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant noncash items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

7,288

 

375

 

 

89

 

7,752

 

Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments

 

(244,699

)

 

 

(1,474,427

)

(1,719,126

)

Marketable securities

 

140,235

 

 

 

1,350,249

 

1,490,484

 

Investment in unconsolidated entities

 

170,929

 

48,931

 

 

25,197

 

245,057

 

Total assets

 

3,725,777

 

1,506,816

 

221,656

 

1,506,957

 

6,961,206

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

156,699

 

$

25,268

 

$

16,991

 

$

 

$

198,958

 

 

20



 

Six Months Ended or at
June 30, 2003

 

 

 

TDS Telecom

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

U.S. Cellular

 

ILEC

 

CLEC

 

All Other(1)

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

$

1,235,724

 

$

319,402

 

$

104,918

 

$

(1,339

)

$

1,658,705

 

Cost of services and products

 

407,124

 

77,979

 

41,003

 

(520

)

525,586

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

540,556

 

87,033

 

57,306

 

(819

)

684,076

 

Operating income before depreciation, amortization and accretion and loss on assets held for sale(2)

 

288,044

 

154,390

 

6,609

 

 

449,043

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

214,271

 

65,740

 

16,118

 

 

296,129

 

Loss on assets held for sale

 

27,000

 

 

 

 

27,000

 

Operating income (loss)

 

46,773

 

88,650

 

(9,509

)

 

125,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant noncash items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

25,862

 

339

 

 

66

 

26,267

 

Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments

 

(3,500

)

 

 

(5,000

)

(8,500

)

Marketable securities

 

202,879

 

 

 

2,097,354

 

2,300,233

 

Investment in unconsolidated entities

 

171,214

 

19,069

 

 

24,838

 

215,121

 

Total assets

 

4,819,041

 

1,876,373

 

233,526

 

3,090,725

 

10,019,665

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

304,002

 

$

44,700

 

$

9,209

 

$

3,013

 

$

360,924

 

 

Six Months Ended or at
June 30, 2002

 

 

 

TDS Telecom

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

U.S. Cellular

 

ILEC

 

CLEC

 

All Other(1)

 

Total

 

Operating revenues

 

$

1,002,759

 

$

304,572

 

$

79,516

 

$

(1,207

)

$

1,385,640

 

Cost of services and products

 

293,014

 

65,694

 

41,244

 

(522

)

399,430

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

379,636

 

94,703

 

56,362

 

(685

)

530,016

 

Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization(2) (3)

 

330,109

 

144,175

 

(18,090

)

 

456,194

 

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

 

149,161

 

64,502

 

13,872

 

 

227,535

 

Operating income (loss)

 

180,948

 

79,673

 

(31,962

)

 

228,659

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant noncash items:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment income

 

17,748

 

611

 

 

430

 

18,789

 

Gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments

 

(244,699

)

 

 

(1,511,827

)

(1,756,526

)

Marketable securities

 

140,235

 

 

 

1,350,249

 

1,490,484

 

Investment in unconsolidated entities

 

170,929

 

48,931

 

 

25,197

 

245,057

 

Total assets

 

3,725,777

 

1,506,816

 

221,656

 

1,506,957

 

6,961,206

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

256,773

 

$

44,462

 

$

26,051

 

$

 

$

327,286

 

 


(1)   Consists of the TDS Corporate operations, TDS Telecom intercompany eliminations, TDS Corporate and TDS Telecom marketable equity securities and all other businesses not included in the U.S. Cellular or TDS Telecom segments.

(2)   Operating income before depreciation and amortization and Operating income before depreciation and amortization and loss on assets held for sale are measures of profit and loss used by the chief operating decision maker to review the operating performance of each reportable business segment and is reported above in accordance with SFAS No. 131, “Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.”

(3)   There was no loss on assets held for sale in the three and six months ended June 30, 2002.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Total operating income from reportable segments

 

$

92,122

 

$

123,292

 

$

125,914

 

$

228,659

 

Investment and other income and expense

 

(42,709

)

(1,699,727

)

(77,532

)

(1,758,644

)

Income before income taxes and minority interest

 

$

49,413

 

$

(1,576,435

)

$

48,382

 

$

(1,529,985

)

 

21



 

16.         Contingencies

 

TDS is involved in legal proceedings before the FCC and various state and federal courts from time to time.  Management does not believe that any such proceedings should have a material adverse impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of TDS.

 

17.         Subsequent Events

 

TDS completed the transaction with AT&T Wireless on August 1, 2003 as contemplated and discussed in Note 2. – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 10. – Assets and Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale.

 

On August 1, 2003, TDS announced that its subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II will both redeem all of their outstanding Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“TOPrSSM”).  The redemption date is expected to be September 2, 2003.  The redemption price of both the 8.5% and 8.04% TOPrS will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, or $25.00 per security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions. The outstanding amount of the 8.5% TOPrS to be redeemed is $150 million.  The outstanding amount of the 8.04% TOPrS to be redeemed is $150 million.  There will be no gain or loss on the redemption of these securities.

 

18.         Restatement of Financial Statements

 

TDS is restating its financial statements in response to a comment letter received from the SEC regarding its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 that was originally filed on August 8, 2003.  This restatement relates to the adoption of SFAS No. 143, as explained below.

 

TDS adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” effective January 1, 2003.  An asset retirement obligation is the cost of closing facilities and removing assets, or performing other remediation to a property as required by contractual agreement. This accounting principle requires entities to record the estimated fair value of a legal liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period it is incurred.  Adoption of this standard in the first quarter of 2003 required TDS to recognize estimated liabilities related to the future remediation of certain leased properties. Initially, U.S. Cellular used a zero probability in determining its liability for cell site remediation due to the absence of history of remediation.  During the fourth quarter of 2003, based upon guidance received from the SEC that U.S. Cellular’s limited history could not be relied upon to support a probability less than the default probability of 100%, U.S. Cellular revised the probability that its leased cell sites would require remediation.  In its restatement, U.S. Cellular used the 100% probability in calculating the asset retirement obligation on the cell site leases.

 

As a result of this change, TDS has restated its financial statements for the first six months of 2003 to reflect a liability for future remediation of $54.4 million and a charge of $11.8 million, net of taxes and minority interest, as a cumulative effect of an accounting change. This cumulative effect reflects accretion and depreciation that would have been charged to expense in prior years had SFAS No. 143 been effective for periods prior to January 1, 2003.  This change also resulted in additional charges to income for depreciation and non-cash accretion expense in the three and six months ended June 30, 2003.  There was no impact to the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002 or the results of operations or cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2002.  A summary of changes to the three and six months ended June 30, 2003 is included below.

 

22



 

 

 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2003

 

 

 

Effects of
2003

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

As Originally
Reported

 

Accounting
Changes

 

As Restated

 

Statement of Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – reclassification of retail/office leases

 

 

 

$

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – depreciation for period

 

 

 

359

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – accretion for period

 

 

 

1,064

 

 

 

Total

 

$

143,479

 

1,423

 

$

144,902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – reclassification of retail/office leases

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – depreciation for period

 

 

 

(359

)

 

 

SFAS 143 – accretion for period

 

 

 

(1,064

)

 

 

Total

 

93,545

 

(1,423

)

92,122

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

24,214

 

(591

)

23,623

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority share of income

 

(6,466

)

172

 

(6,294

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

20,156

 

(660

)

19,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

20,156

 

$

(660

)

$

19,496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of  accounting change

 

$

0.35

 

$

(0.01

)

$

0.34

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.35

 

$

(0.01

)

$

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of  accounting change

 

$

0.35

 

$

(0.01

)

$

0.34

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.35

 

$

(0.01

$

0.34

 

 

23



 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2003

 

 

 

Effects of
2003

 

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

As Originally
Reported

 

Accounting
Changes

 

As Restated

 

Statement of Operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – reclassification of retail/office leases

 

 

 

$

(1,321

)

 

 

SFAS 143 – depreciation for period

 

 

 

708

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – accretion for period

 

 

 

2,110

 

 

 

Total

 

$

294,632

 

1,497

 

$

296,129

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – reclassification of retail/office leases

 

 

 

1,321

 

 

 

SFAS 143 – depreciation for period

 

 

 

(708

)

 

 

SFAS 143 – accretion for period

 

 

 

(2,110

)

 

 

Total

 

127,411

 

(1,497

)

125,914

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

28,069

 

(622

)

27,447

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority share of income

 

(6,654

)

203

 

(6,451

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

15,156

 

(672

)

14,484

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

 

(11,789

)

(11,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

15,156

 

$

(12,461

)

$

2,695

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of  accounting change

 

$

0.26

 

$

 

 

$

0.24

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

 

$

 

 

$

(0.20

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.26

 

$

 

 

$

0.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of  accounting change

 

$

0.26

 

$

(0.02

)

$

0.24

 

Cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

 

$

(0.20

)

$

(0.20

Net income (loss)

 

$

0.26

 

$

(0.22

$

0.04

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

$

115,932

 

$

52

 

$

115,984

 

Property, plant and equipment, net – U.S. Cellular

 

2,161,740

 

29,578

 

2,191,318

 

Total Assets

 

$

9,990,035

 

$

29,630

 

$

10,019,665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net deferred income tax liability

 

$

1,238,100

 

$

(10,238

)

$

1,227,862

 

Asset retirement obligation

 

33,809

 

55,552

 

89,361

 

Minority interest

 

498,471

 

(3,223

)

495,248

 

Retained earnings

 

1,428,629

 

(12,461

)

1,416,168

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

$

9,990,035

 

$

29,630

 

$

10,019,665

 

 

24



 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS

OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) is a diversified telecommunications company providing high-quality telecommunications services to approximately 5.4 million wireless telephone and wireline telephone customers.  TDS conducts substantially all of its wireless telephone operations through its 82.2%-owned subsidiary, United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”) and its incumbent local exchange carrier and competitive local exchange carrier wireline telephone operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”).

 

TDS is restating certain portions of its management’s discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition in response to a comment letter received from the SEC regarding its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 that was originally filed on August 8, 2003.  This restatement relates to the adoption of SFAS No. 143, as explained below.

 

TDS adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” effective January 1, 2003.  An asset retirement obligation is the cost of closing facilities and removing assets, or performing other remediation to a property as required by contractual agreement. This accounting principle requires entities to record the estimated fair value of a legal liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period it is incurred.  Adoption of this standard in the first quarter of 2003 required TDS to recognize estimated liabilities related to the future remediation of certain leased properties. During the fourth quarter of 2003, TDS revised the probability that U.S. Cellular’s leased cell sites would require remediation.

 

As a result of this change, TDS has restated its financial statements for the first six months of 2003 to reflect a liability for future remediation of $54.4 million and a charge of $11.8 million, net of taxes and minority interest, as a cumulative effect of an accounting change. This cumulative effect reflects amounts that would have been charged to expense in prior years had SFAS No. 143 been effective for periods prior to January 1, 2003.  This change also requires additional charges to income for depreciation and non-cash accretion expense in the second quarter and first six months of 2003.  See Note 18 – Restatement of Financial Statements.

 

TDS is also including additional disclosures such as, but not limited to, defining the calculation of certain statistics, defining equivalent access lines, deleting acronyms, including total dollars in narratives, disclosing the make-up of selling and marketing cost per gross customer activation and disclosing additional information on critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

Except as expressly stated herein, this amendment does not update any of the disclosures contained in the original filing to reflect any events that occurred after the original filing date of August 8, 2003.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with TDS’s interim consolidated financial statements and footnotes included herein, and with TDS’s audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition included in TDS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2002

 

Operating Revenues increased 20% ($273.1 million) to $1,658.7 million during the first six months of 2003 from $1,385.6 million in the first six months of 2002 primarily as a result of a 20% increase in customers served.  U.S. Cellular’s operating revenues increased 23% ($232.9 million) to $1,235.7 million in 2003 from $1,002.8 million in 2002 as customers served increased by 796,000, or 22%, since June 30, 2002, to 4,343,000.  Acquisitions contributed 9% (320,000 customers) of U.S. Cellular’s customer growth in the past twelve months.  TDS Telecom operating revenues increased 10% ($40.2 million) to $423.0 million in 2003 from $382.8 million in 2002 as equivalent access lines increased by 92,500, or 10%, since June 30, 2002 to 1,042,400.  An equivalent access line is derived by converting a high capacity data line to an estimated equivalent, in terms of capacity, number of switched access lines.

 

25



 

Operating Expenses rose 32% ($375.8 million) to $1,532.8 million in 2003 from $1,157.0 million in 2002 reflecting growth in operations.  U.S. Cellular’s operating expenses increased 45% ($367.2 million) to $1,189.0 million in 2003 from $821.8 million in 2002 primarily reflecting costs associated with providing service to an expanding customer base and additional expenses related to the Chicago market acquired in August 2002.  Also included in U.S. Cellular’s operating expenses is a $27.0 million loss on assets of operations held for sale.  TDS Telecom’s expenses increased 3% ($8.6 million) to $343.8 million in 2003 from $335.2 million in 2002 reflecting growth in operations offset somewhat by a reduction in bad debt expense.

 

Operating Income decreased 45% ($102.8 million) to $125.9 million in 2003 from $228.7 million in 2002.  Operating margin decreased to 7.6% in 2003 from 16.5% in 2002 on a consolidated basis. U.S. Cellular’s operating income decreased 74% ($134.1 million) to $46.8 million in 2003 from $180.9 million in 2002 and its operating income margin, as a percentage of service revenues, decreased to 4.0% in 2003 from 18.8% in 2002.  TDS Telecom’s operating income increased 66% ($31.4 million) to $79.1 million in 2003 from $47.7 million in 2002 and its operating margin rose to 18.7% in 2003 from 12.5% in 2002.

 

Investment and Other Income (Expense) primarily includes interest and dividend income, investment income, gain (loss) on marketable securities and other investments, and interest expense.  Investment and other income (expense) totaled $(77.5) million in 2003 and $(1,758.6) million in 2002.

 

Interest and Dividend Income decreased $39.8 million to $10.4 million in 2003 from $50.2 million in 2002 primarily as a result of recording a $45.3 million dividend on the Deutsche Telekom investment in 2002.  No dividend was recorded in 2003.   Interest income increased $4.9 million in 2003 due to larger cash balances.  TDS reported cash and cash equivalents of $1,289.6 million at June 30, 2003 and $44.6 million at June 30, 2002.  The increase in cash from June 30, 2002 is primarily from the cash received from the forward contracts during 2002.

 

Investment Income increased 40% ($7.5 million) to $26.3 million in the first six months of 2003 from $18.8 million in the first six months of 2002.  Investment income represents TDS’s share of income in unconsolidated entities in which TDS has a minority interest and follows the equity method of accounting.

 

(Loss) on Marketable Securities and Other Investments totaled $(8.5) million in 2003 and $(1,756.5) million in 2002. TDS recorded a $5.0 million impairment loss on a cellular investment held by TDS Telecom in the second quarter of 2003.  Also in 2003, a $3.5 million license cost impairment loss was recorded related to the investment in a non-operating market in Florida that will remain after the AT&T Wireless exchange.

 

TDS and its subsidiaries hold a substantial amount of marketable equity securities that are publicly traded and can have volatile share prices.  TDS and its subsidiaries do not make direct investments in publicly traded companies and all of these interests were acquired as a result of sales, trades or reorganizations of other assets. TDS has not disposed of the investments because of their low tax cost basis would likely trigger a substantial taxable gain upon disposal.  See Liquidity – Marketable Equity Securities and Forward Contracts for a discussion on marketable equity securities.

 

In 2002, management determined that the decline in value of TDS’s marketable equity securities relative to its accounting cost basis was other than temporary and charged a $1,756.5 million loss to the Statements of Operation.  Later in 2002, TDS utilized derivative financial instruments to eliminate the risk of future “other than temporary losses” on the contracted securities.  See Market Risk for a full discussion on the marketable equity securities and other than temporary losses.

 

Interest Expense increased 49% ($28.7 million) to $87.4 million in 2003 from $58.7 million in 2002.  The increase in interest expense in 2003 was primarily due to amounts related to variable prepaid forward contracts ($19.8 million), the issuance of 30-year 8.75% Senior Notes ($5.7 million) by U.S. Cellular in November 2002 and the increase in short-term debt ($2.5 million).

 

Income Tax Expense increased $614.5 million to an expense of $27.4 in 2003 from a benefit of $587.1 million in 2002 primarily due to the tax benefits recorded on the loss on marketable securities and other investments in 2002.  Losses on marketable equity securities and other investments and the loss on assets-held-for sale totaled $35.5 million ($23.1 million, net of tax of $8.5 million and minority interest of $3.9 million) in 2003.  A loss of $1,756.5 million ($1,044.4 million, net of tax of $686.2 million and minority interest of $25.9 million) was recorded on marketable securities in 2002.  The effective tax (benefit) rate

 

26



 

was 56.7% in 2003 and was (38.4)% in 2002.  For an analysis of TDS’s effective tax rates in 2003 and 2002, see Note 4 – Income Taxes.

 

As a result of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, enacted in May of 2003, the Company anticipates that it will claim additional federal tax depreciation deductions in 2003. Such additional depreciation deductions may result in a federal net operating loss for TDS for 2003.

 

Minority Share of (Income) includes the minority public shareholders’ share of U.S. Cellular’s net income, the minority shareholders’ or partners’ share of U.S. Cellular’s subsidiaries’ net income or loss and other minority interests.  U.S. Cellular’s minority public shareholders’ share of income in 2003 was reduced by $3.9 million due to U.S. Cellular’s loss on investments and loss on assets held for sale and by $25.9 million in 2002 due to loss on marketable securities.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

Change

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Minority Share of (Income) Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Cellular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Public Shareholders’

 

$

(2,435

)

$

7,836

 

$

(10,271

)

Minority Shareholders’ or Partners’

 

(3,988

)

(2,725

)

(1,263

)

 

 

(6,423

)

5,111

 

(11,534

)

Other

 

(28

)

(24

)

(4

)

 

 

$

(6,451

)

$

5,087

 

$

(11,538

)

 

Income (Loss) Before Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change totaled $14.5 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in 2003 compared to $(937.8) million, or $(16.00) per diluted share, in 2002.

 

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Changes. Effective January 1, 2003, TDS adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and recorded the initial liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement.   The cumulative effect of the implementation of this accounting standard on periods prior to 2003 was recorded in the first quarter of 2003, decreasing net income by $11.8 million, net of tax and minority interest, or $0.20 per basic and diluted share.

 

Effective January 1, 2002, U.S. Cellular changed its method of accounting for commissions expenses related to customer activations and began deferring expense recognition of a portion of commissions expenses in the amount of activation fees revenue deferred. The cumulative effect of this accounting change on periods prior to 2002 was recorded in 2002 and increased net income by $3.4 million, net of tax and minority interest, or $0.06 per diluted share.

 

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common totaled $2.5 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in 2003, compared to $(934.6) million, or $(15.94) per diluted share, in 2002.

 

27



 

U.S. CELLULAR OPERATIONS

 

TDS provides wireless telephone service through United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”), an 82.2%-owned subsidiary.  U.S. Cellular owns, manages and invests in cellular markets throughout the United States.  Growth in the customer base and the acquisition of the Chicago market are the primary reasons for the growth in U.S. Cellular’s revenues and expenses. The number of customers served increased by 796,000 or 22%, since June 30, 2002, to 4,343,000 due to customer additions from its marketing channels as well as the addition of customers from the Chicago market acquisition.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail service

 

$

498,176

 

$

400,271

 

$

962,516

 

$

774,097

 

Inbound roaming

 

56,840

 

62,336

 

111,446

 

116,667

 

Long-distance and other service revenues

 

55,093

 

38,546

 

100,748

 

71,502

 

Service Revenues

 

610,109

 

501,153

 

1,174,710

 

962,266

 

Equipment sales

 

29,701

 

23,186

 

61,014

 

40,493

 

 

 

639,810

 

524,339

 

1,235,724

 

1,002,759

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

System operations (exclusive of depreciation included below)

 

147,032

 

118,138

 

284,997

 

226,059

 

Marketing and selling

 

98,548

 

78,899

 

207,469

 

158,125

 

Cost of equipment sold

 

57,362

 

36,588

 

122,127

 

66,955

 

General and administrative

 

175,638

 

113,033

 

333,087

 

221,511

 

Depreciation

 

87,463

 

68,957

 

182,363

 

134,934

 

Amortization and accretion

 

17,231

 

7,452

 

31,908

 

14,227

 

Loss on assets held for sale

 

3,500

 

 

27,000

 

 

 

 

586,774

 

423,067

 

1,188,951

 

821,811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

53,036

 

$

101,272

 

$

46,773

 

$

180,948

 

 

On August 7, 2002, U.S. Cellular completed the acquisition of the assets and certain liabilities of Chicago 20 megahertz, LLC, now known as United States Cellular Operating Company of Chicago, LLC (“USCOC of Chicago” or the “Chicago market”) from PrimeCo Wireless Communications LLC (“PrimeCo”). USCOC of Chicago operates a wireless system in the Chicago major trading area. USCOC of Chicago is the holder of certain FCC licenses, including a 20 megahertz personal communication service license in the Chicago major trading area (excluding Kenosha County, Wisconsin) covering a total population of 13.2 million. The Chicago market operations are included in consolidated operations for the first half of 2003 but not for the comparable period of 2002. The Chicago market’s operations contributed to the increases in U.S. Cellular’s operating revenues and expenses during 2003 compared to 2002.

 

Operating revenues increased 23% ($232.9 million) to $1,235.7 million in 2003 from $1,002.8 million in 2002 primarily related to the 22% increase in customers.  Average monthly service revenue per customer increased 1% ($0.42) to $46.24 in 2003 from $45.82 in 2002.  The numerator of this calculation of average monthly revenues per customer for the six months ended June 2003 and 2002 consists of the revenue for the respective six month period divided by six.  The denominator consists of the average number of customers.  Average customers totaled 4,234,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 3,500,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2002.

 

Retail service revenues (charges to U.S. Cellular’s customers for local system usage and usage of systems other than their local systems) increased 24% ($188.4 million) to $962.5 million in 2003 from $774.1 million in 2002 due primarily to the growth in customers. Average monthly retail service revenue per customer increased 3% ($1.03) to $37.89 in 2003 from $36.86 in 2002. Management anticipates that overall growth in U.S. Cellular’s customer base will continue at a slower pace in the future, primarily as a result of an increase in the number of competitors in its markets and continued penetration of the consumer market.  As U.S. Cellular expands its operations in the Chicago market and into other markets in the remainder of 2003 and in 2004, it anticipates adding customers and revenues in those markets.

 

28



 

Monthly local retail minutes of use per customer averaged 401 in 2003 and 259 in 2002. The increase in monthly local retail minutes of use was driven by U.S. Cellular’s focus on designing incentive programs and rate plans to stimulate overall usage, as well as the acquisition of the Chicago market, whose customers used more minutes per month than the U.S. Cellular average. The impact on retail service revenue of the increase in minutes of use in 2003 was partially offset by a decrease in average revenue per minute of use. Management anticipates that U.S. Cellular’s average revenue per minute of use will continue to decline in the future, reflecting increased competition and penetration of the consumer market.

 

Inbound roaming revenues (charges to other wireless carriers whose customers use U.S. Cellular’s wireless systems when roaming) decreased 4% ($5.3 million) to $111.4 million in 2003 from $116.7 million in 2002.   The decrease in revenue related to inbound roaming on U.S. Cellular’s systems primarily resulted from a decrease in revenue per roaming minute of use offset by the increase in roaming minutes used. The increase in inbound roaming minutes of use was primarily driven by the overall growth in the number of customers throughout the wireless industry. Average inbound roaming revenue per minute of use is expected to continue to decline in the future, reflecting the general downward trend in negotiated rates.

 

Management anticipates that the rate of growth in inbound roaming minutes of use will continue to slow down due to newer customers roaming less than existing customers, reflecting further penetration of the consumer market. In addition, as new wireless operators begin service in U.S. Cellular’s markets, roaming partners may switch their business from U.S. Cellular to these new operators or to their own systems.

 

Long-distance and other revenue increased 41% ($29.2 million) to $100.7 million in 2003 from $71.5 million in 2002, primarily related to a $19.2 million increase in amounts billed to U.S. Cellular’s customers to offset costs related to certain regulatory mandates, such as universal service funding, wireless number portability and E-911 infrastructure, which are being passed through to customers. Additionally, the amounts U.S. Cellular charges to its customers to offset universal service funding costs increased significantly due to changes in FCC regulations beginning April 1, 2003, contributing to the $19.2 million increase. The increase in long-distance and other revenue was also driven by an increase in the volume of long-distance calls billed by U.S. Cellular from inbound roamers using U.S. Cellular’s systems to make long-distance calls. This effect was partially offset by price reductions primarily related to long-distance charges on roaming minutes of use as well as U.S. Cellular’s increasing use of pricing plans for its customers which include long-distance calling at no additional charge.

 

Equipment sales revenues increased 51% ($20.5 million) to $61.0 million in 2003 from $40.5 million in 2002. The increase in equipment sales revenues reflects a change in U.S. Cellular’s method of distributing handsets to its agent channel. Beginning in the second quarter of 2002, U.S. Cellular began selling handsets to its agents at a price approximately equal to its cost before applying any rebates. Previously, the agents purchased handsets from third parties.  Selling handsets to agents enables U.S. Cellular to provide better control over handset quality, set roaming preferences and pass along quantity discounts. Management anticipates that U.S. Cellular will continue to sell handsets to agents in the future, and that it will continue to provide rebates to agents who provide handsets to new and current customers.

 

In these transactions, equipment sales revenue is recognized upon delivery of the related products to the agents, net of any anticipated agent rebates. In most cases, the agents receive a rebate from U.S. Cellular at the time these agents provide handsets to sign up a new customer or retain a current customer.

 

Handset sales to agents, net of all rebates, increased equipment sales revenues by approximately $27.5 million during 2003. Equipment sales to customers through U.S. Cellular’s non-agent channels decreased $7.0 million, or 20%, from 2002. Gross customer activations, the primary driver of equipment sales revenues, increased 41% in 2003. The increase in gross customer activations in 2003 was driven by an increase in store traffic in U.S. Cellular’s markets and the acquisition of the Chicago market, which added to U.S. Cellular’s distribution network. The decrease in equipment sales revenues from U.S. Cellular’s non-agent channels is primarily attributable to lower revenue per handset in 2003, reflecting declining handset prices on most models and the reduction in sales prices to end users as a result of increased competition.

 

Operating expenses increased 45% ($367.2 million) to $1,189.0 million in 2003 from $821.8 million in 2002.  The increase is primarily related to costs incurred to serve and expand the growing customer base.

 

System operations expenses (excluding depreciation) increased 26% ($58.9 million) to $285.0 million in

 

29



 

2003 from $226.1 million in 2002.  System operations expenses include charges from other telecommunications service providers for U.S. Cellular’s customers’ use of their facilities, costs related to local interconnection to the landline network, charges for maintenance of the network, long-distance charges and outbound roaming expenses. The increase was due to an increase in the cost of maintaining the network ($25.8 million), an increase in the cost of minutes used on the systems ($25.6 million) and an increase in the costs associated with customers roaming on other companies’ systems ($7.6 million).  Management expects system operations to increase over the next few years, driven by increases in the number of cell sites and increases in minutes of use on the U.S. Cellular system and on other systems when roaming.  The number of cell sites increased to 4,106 in 2003 from 3,145 in 2002.

 

In 2003, system operations expenses increased due to the acquisition of the Chicago market whose expenses are included in the increases noted above. The increase in expenses in the Chicago market was partially offset by a reduction in expenses in other markets, primarily in the Midwest, when customers in those markets used the Chicago system. In 2002, U.S. Cellular paid roaming charges to third parties when its customers roamed in the Chicago market.

 

As the Chicago area has historically been U.S. Cellular’s customers’ most popular roaming destination, management anticipates that the continued integration of the Chicago market into its operations will result in a further increase in minutes of use by U.S. Cellular’s customers on its systems and a corresponding decrease in minutes of use by its customers on other systems, resulting in a lower overall increase in minutes of use by U.S. Cellular’s customers on other systems. Such a shift in minutes of use should reduce U.S. Cellular’s per-minute cost of usage in the future, to the extent that U.S. Cellular’s customers use U.S. Cellular’s systems rather than other carriers’ networks.  Additionally, U.S. Cellular’s acquisition and subsequent buildout of licensed areas received in the AT&T Wireless transaction may shift more minutes of use to U.S. Cellular’s systems, as many of these licensed areas are major roaming destinations for U.S. Cellular’s current customers.

 

Marketing and selling expenses increased 31% ($49.3 million) to $207.4 million in 2003 from $158.1 million in 2002. Marketing and selling expenses primarily consist of salaries, commissions and expenses of field sales and retail personnel and offices; agent commissions and related expenses; corporate marketing, merchandise management and telesales department salaries and expenses; advertising; and public relations expenses. The increase in 2003 was primarily due to the 41% increase in gross customer activations in 2003, which drove a $14.9 million increase in commissions and agent-related payments, and a $21.2 million increase in advertising costs, primarily related to the continued marketing of the U.S. Cellular brand in the Chicago market.

 

Cost of equipment sold increased 82% ($55.1 million) to $122.1 million in 2003 from $67.0 million in 2002. The increase in 2003 is primarily due to the $52.9 million increase in handset costs related to the sale of handsets to agents beginning in the second quarter of 2002. Cost of equipment sold from non-agent channels increased by $2.2 million, or 4%, in 2003. The increase in cost of equipment sold from non-agent channels primarily reflects a 41% increase in gross customer activations, almost fully offset by the effects of economies realized from U.S. Cellular’s merchandise management system.

 

Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation decreased 2% to $367 in 2003 from $374 in 2002.  The numerator of the sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation calculation is the sum of the statement of operations line items Marketing and selling expenses and Cost of equipment sold, less Equipment sales revenues (excluding agent rebates related to customer retention), incurred during a specific period. The denominator is the number of gross new customers activated on the U.S. Cellular network during such period, excluding renewals and upgrades.

 

Agent rebates related to the retention of current customers increased $13.2 million in 2003. Such handset rebate amounts paid to agents related to the renewal or upgrade of service contracts of existing U.S. Cellular customers are excluded from the numerator of the sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation calculation, as these costs are not related to the addition of new customers. Due to the exclusion of these agent handset rebates from the calculation, sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation is not calculable using financial information derived directly from the statement of operations. U.S. Cellular’s definition of sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures that are reported by other companies.  Below is a summary of sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation for each period:

 

30



 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

Components of cost (000s):

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and selling expenses

 

$

207,469

 

$

158,125

 

Cost of equipment sold

 

122,127

 

66,955

 

Less equipment sales revenues

 

(61,014

)

(40,493

)

Less retention-related agent rebate reductions of equipment sales revenues

 

(13,638

)

(394

)

Total costs

 

$

254,944

 

$

184,193

 

Gross customer activations (000s)

 

695

 

493

 

Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation

 

$

367

 

$

374

 

 

General and administrative expenses increased 50% ($111.6 million) to $333.1 million in 2003 from $221.5 million in 2002. These expenses include the costs of operating U.S. Cellular’s customer care centers, the costs of serving and retaining customers and the majority of U.S. Cellular’s corporate expenses.  The increase in general and administrative expenses is primarily due to increases in billing-related expenses ($25.8 million), customer retention expenses ($13.0 million), bad debt expenses ($12.0 million), expenses related to payments into the federal universal service fund based on an increase in rates due to changes in FCC regulations ($10.4 million) and various customer service-related expenses as a result of the 22% increase in the customer base. The increase in billing-related expenses is primarily related to maintenance of the Chicago market’s billing system and the ongoing conversion of such billing system to the system used in U.S. Cellular’s other operations.  The above factors were all impacted by the acquisition of the Chicago market.

 

U.S. Cellular anticipates that customer retention expenses will increase in the future as it changes to a single digital technology platform and certain customers will require new handsets. A substantial portion of these customer retention expenses are anticipated to be agent rebates, which are recorded as a reduction of equipment sales revenues.

 

Depreciation expense increased 35% ($47.5 million) to $182.4 million in 2003 from $134.9 million in 2002 primarily due to the 33% increase in average fixed assets since June 30, 2002.  The increase in fixed asset balances in 2003 resulted from the addition of new cell sites, the acquisition of the Chicago market, the migration of the network to CDMA, the addition of digital ratio channels, the upgrade to provide digital service and the investment in billing and office systems.

 

Amortization and Accretion expense increased 124% ($17.7 million) to $31.9 million in 2003 from $14.2 million in 2002 primarily driven by the $11.1 million of amortization related to the customer list intangible assets and other deferred charges acquired in the USCOC of Chicago transaction during 2002. These customer list assets are amortized based on the average customer retention periods of each customer list. Amortization and accretion expense includes $2.2 million of accretion related to the asset retirement obligation in 2003.

 

Loss on assets held for sale totaled $27.0 million in 2003. This loss represents the difference between the fair value of the assets U.S. Cellular expects to receive in the AT&T Wireless transaction, as determined by an independent valuation, and the recorded value of the assets it expects to transfer to AT&T Wireless. Subsequent to recording the loss, the recorded value of the assets U.S. Cellular expects to transfer to AT&T Wireless is equal to the fair value of the assets U.S. Cellular expects to receive from AT&T Wireless.  This loss may require an adjustment during the third quarter of 2003 to reflect the final amounts of the fair value of assets received and the recorded value of the assets transferred.

 

Operating income decreased $134.1 million to $46.8 million in 2003 from $180.9 million in 2002. The decline in operating income reflects increased expenses from the acquisition, launch and transition costs related to the Chicago market; increased number of cell sites and the number of minutes used on U.S. Cellular’s network; increased depreciation expense driven by the increase in average fixed assets; increased equipment subsidies; increased bad debt, customer retention and universal service funding expenses; and the loss on assets held for sale. U.S. Cellular expects most of the above factors, except for those related to the launch and transition of the Chicago market, to continue to have an effect on operating income for the next several quarters. Any changes in the above factors, as well as the effects of other drivers of U.S. Cellular’s operating results, may cause operating income to fluctuate over the next several quarters.

 

31



 

Related to U.S. Cellular’s acquisition and subsequent transition of the Chicago market’s operations, U.S. Cellular plans to incur additional expenses during the remainder of 2003 as it competes in the Chicago market. Additionally, U.S. Cellular plans to build out its network into other as yet unserved portions of its wireless licensed areas, and will begin marketing operations in those areas during 2003 and 2004. As a result, U.S. Cellular’s operating income and operating margins may be below historical levels for the full year of 2003 compared to the full year of 2002.

 

Management expects service revenues to continue to grow during the remainder of 2003.  However, management anticipates that average monthly revenue per customer may decrease as retail service revenue per minute of use and inbound roaming revenue per minute of use decline.  Management believes U.S. Cellular operating results reflect seasonality in both service revenues, which tend to increase more slowly in the first and fourth quarters, and operating expenses which tend to be higher in the fourth quarter due to increased marketing activities and customer growth.  This seasonality may cause operating income to vary from quarter to quarter.  Management anticipates that the impact of such seasonality will decrease in the future, particularly as it relates to operating expense, as the proportion of full year customer activations derived from fourth quarter holiday sales is expected to decline.

 

Competitors licensed to provide wireless services have initiated service in substantially all of U.S. Cellular’s markets over the past several years.  U.S. Cellular expects other wireless operators to continue deployment of their networks throughout all of its service areas during the remainder of 2003 and in 2004. U.S. Cellular’s management continues to monitor other wireless communications providers’ strategies to determine how this additional competition is affecting U.S. Cellular’s results.  The effects of additional wireless competition and the downturn in the nation’s economy have significantly slowed customer growth in certain of U.S. Cellular’s markets. Management anticipates that overall customer growth may be slower in the future, primarily as a result of the increase in competition in U.S. Cellular’s markets and the maturation of the wireless industry.

 

The FCC has mandated that all wireless carriers must be capable of facilitating wireless number portability beginning in November 2003. At that time, any wireless customer in the largest 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the United States may switch carriers and keep their current wireless telephone number. U.S. Cellular believes it will have the infrastructure in place to accommodate wireless number portability as of the November 2003 deadline. The implementation of wireless number portability may impact U.S. Cellular’s churn rate in the future; however, U.S. Cellular is unable to predict the impact that the implementation of wireless number portability will have on its overall business.

 

 

TDS TELECOM OPERATIONS

 

TDS operates its wireline telephone operations through TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”), a wholly owned subsidiary.  Total equivalent access lines served by TDS Telecom increased by 92,500 or 10%, since June 30, 2002 to 1,042,400.  An equivalent access line is derived by converting a high capacity data line to an estimated equivalent, in terms of capacity, number of switched access lines.

 

TDS Telecom’s incumbent local exchange carrier subsidiaries served 718,800 equivalent access lines at June 30, 2003, a 2% (12,800 equivalent access lines) increase from the 706,000 equivalent access lines at June 30, 2002.  Acquisitions in 2002 added 7,800 equivalent access lines while internal growth added 5,000 equivalent access lines.

 

TDS Telecom’s competitive local exchange carrier subsidiaries served 323,600 equivalent access lines at June 30, 2003, a 33% (79,700 equivalent access lines) increase from 243,900 equivalent access lines served at June 30, 2002.

 

Operating revenues increased 10% ($40.2 million) to $423.0 million in 2003 from $382.8 million in 2002. Competitive local exchange carrier operations, reflecting customer growth, contributed $25.4 million to the increase in operating revenues in 2003.  Telephone companies acquired in 2002 contributed operating revenues of $8.7 million in 2003. In addition, the operations of relatively new services such as long distance resale, Internet service and digital subscriber line service increased operating revenues $3.6 million in 2003.

 

Operating expenses increased 3% ($8.6 million) to $343.8 million during 2003 from $335.2 in 2002,

 

32



 

reflecting primarily growth in access lines and growth in expenses related to the newer services and offset by a reduction in bad debt expense in 2003 as compared to 2002 due to the bankruptcies of certain long distance carriers in 2002.

 

Operating income increased 66% ($31.4 million) to $79.1 million in 2003 from $47.7 million in 2002 reflecting improved operating results from competitive local exchange carrier operations, the reduction of bad debt expense and the operating results of acquired incumbent local exchange carrier companies.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Incumbent Local Exchange Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Local service

 

$

49,742

 

$

47,432

 

$

98,793

 

$

94,275

 

Network access and long-distance

 

88,438

 

85,885

 

178,090

 

168,969

 

Miscellaneous

 

21,625

 

21,734

 

42,519

 

41,328

 

 

 

159,805

 

155,051

 

319,402

 

304,572

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)

 

39,834

 

33,997

 

77,979

 

65,694

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

44,616

 

49,851

 

87,033

 

94,703

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

32,121

 

32,047

 

65,740

 

64,502

 

 

 

116,571

 

115,895

 

230,752

 

224,899

 

Incumbent Local Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

43,234

 

$

39,156

 

$

88,650

 

$

79,673

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competitive Local Exchange Operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

 

$

52,479

 

$

41,762

 

$

104,918

 

$

79,516

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)

 

19,220

 

21,159

 

41,003

 

41,244

 

Selling, general and administrative expense

 

29,320

 

30,559

 

57,306

 

56,362

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

8,087

 

7,180

 

16,118

 

13,872

 

 

 

56,627

 

58,898

 

114,427

 

111,478

 

Competitive Local Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating (Loss)

 

$

(4,148

)

$

(17,136

)

$

(9,509

)

$

(31,962

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intercompany revenue elimination

 

(807

)

(709

)

(1,339

)

(1,207

)

Intercompany expense elimination

 

(807

)

(709

)

(1,339

)

(1,207

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

$

39,086

 

$

22,020

 

$

79,141

 

$

47,711

 

 

Local Telephone Operations

Operating revenues increased 5% ($14.8 million) to $319.4 million in 2003 from $304.6 million in 2002.  Average monthly revenue per equivalent access line increased 1% ($0.60) to $74.51 in 2003 from $73.91 in 2002.  The numerator of this calculation of average monthly revenues per equivalent access line for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 consists of the revenue for the respective period divided by six. The denominator consists of the average equivalent access lines.  Average equivalent access lines totaled 714,500 for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 686,800 for the six months ended June 30, 2002.  Acquisitions increased operating revenues by $8.7 million in 2003.  Revenues from Internet, digital subscriber line and other non-regulated lines of business increased miscellaneous revenues by $2.1 million in 2003.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS Telecom incumbent local exchange carrier operations were providing Internet service to 116,700 customers compared to 118,000 customers in 2002 and were providing digital subscriber line service to 16,200 customers compared to 6,500 customers in 2002.  Dial-up Internet accounts declined as customers shifted to broadband services.  Revenues from reselling long distance service increased network access and long distance revenues by $1.5 million in 2003. As of June 30, 2003, TDS Telecom incumbent local exchange carrier operations were providing long distance service to 211,900 customers compared to 176,300 customers in 2002.

 

33



 

Operating expenses increased by 3% ($5.9 million) to $230.8 million in 2003 from $224.9 in 2002.  Cost of service and products increased by 19% ($12.3 million) in 2003.  Acquisitions increased operating expenses before depreciation and amortization by $5.6 million in 2003. The cost of providing long distance, Internet and digital subscriber line service to an increased customer base increased expenses by $3.5 million. Cost of goods sold related to digital subscriber line service, business systems and providing long distance service increased $2.5 million.  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by 8% ($7.7 million) in 2003.  Bad debt expense recorded in 2002 included $8.8 million related to the write-off of pre-petition accounts receivable due to the bankruptcy of WorldCom and Global Crossing.  In 2003, the incumbent local telephone companies recovered $900,000 of bad debt write-offs related to the WorldCom bankruptcy filing.  Depreciation and amortization increased 2% ($1.2 million) in 2003.

 

Operating income increased 11% ($9.0 million) to $88.7 million in 2003 from $79.7 million in 2002 primarily due to the reduction in bad debt expense and the partial recovery of amounts due from WorldCom and Global Crossing and the contribution of the acquired companies.  Local telephone operating expenses are expected to increase due to inflation while additional revenues and expenses are expected from new or expanded product offerings.

 

Competitive Local Exchange Operations

TDS Telecom’s competitive local exchange carrier strategy maintains a geographic focus and is designed to leverage TDS Telecom’s existing management and infrastructure to complement TDS Telecom’s incumbent local exchange carrier clustering strategy.  TDS Telecom has followed a strategy of controlled entry into certain targeted mid-size communities, regionally proximate to existing TDS Telecom facilities and service areas, with facilities-based entry as a competitive local exchange carrier.  TDS Telecom intends to be the leading alternative provider for customers’ wired telecommunications in its competitive local exchange carrier markets.

 

Operating revenues (revenue from the provision of local and long-distance telephone service) increased 32% ($25.4 million) to $104.9 million in 2003 from $79.5 million in 2002 as equivalent access lines served increased to 323,600 at June 30, 2003 from 243,900 at June 30, 2002.  Operating revenue in 2003 also includes one-time settlements, which increased access revenues by $2.0 million.  Average monthly revenue per equivalent access line was $57.23 in 2003 and $60.46 in 2002.  The numerator of this calculation of average monthly revenues per equivalent access line for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 consists of the revenue for the respective period divided by six. The denominator consists of the average equivalent access lines.  Average equivalent access lines totaled 305,600 for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 219,200 for the six months ended June 30, 2002.  The decline in average monthly revenue per equivalent access line is primarily related to FCC orders that have reduced the amount that can be charged to Internet service providers and long-distance carriers.

 

Operating expenses increased 3% ($2.9 million) to $114.4 million in 2003 from $111.5 million in 2002.  Cost of service and products decreased slightly ($0.2 million) in 2003.  Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 2% ($0.9 million) in 2003.  In 2003, the competitive local exchange carriers recovered $700,000 of bad debts written off in 2002 related to the bankruptcy filing of WorldCom.  The competitive local exchange carriers had bad debt write-offs of $2.6 million in 2002 for both WorldCom and Global Crossing. Competitive local exchange carrier expenses in 2003 also include $2.3 million in one-time expense reductions relative to RBOC payments for unsatisfactory service level performance.  These payments are not expected to continue.  Depreciation and amortization increased 16% ($2.2 million) in 2003 due to increase in fixed assets.

 

Operating loss decreased 70% ($22.5 million) to ($9.5) million in 2003 from ($32.0) million in 2002.  The decline in competitive local exchange operating losses primarily reflects growth in revenues complemented by cost constraint.

 

34



 

Three Months Ended June 30, 2003 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2002

 

Operating Revenues increased 18% ($130.9 million) to $851.3 million during the second quarter of 2003 from $720.4 million in 2002 for reasons generally the same as the first six months.

 

U.S. Cellular revenues increased 22% ($115.5 million) to $639.8 million in 2003 from $524.3 million in 2002.  Retail service revenue increased 24% ($97.9 million) in the second quarter of 2003, while inbound roaming revenue decreased 9% ($5.5 million).  Average monthly service revenue per customer was $47.38 in the second quarter of 2003 and $47.48 in 2002. Average retail service per customer increased to $38.69 from $37.93.  The numerator of this calculation of average monthly revenues per customer for the three months ended June 2003 and 2002 consists of the revenue for the respective three month period divided by three.  The denominator consists of the average number of customers.  Average customers totaled 4,292,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 3,518,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2002.

 

TDS Telecom revenues increased 8% ($15.4 million) to $211.5 million in the second quarter of 2003 from $196.1 million in 2002 due to the growth in incumbent local exchange carrier operations ($4.8 million) and growth in competitive local exchange carrier operations ($10.7 million). Average monthly revenue per incumbent local exchange carrier access line decreased to $74.35 in the second quarter of 2003 from $74.58 in 2002.  The numerator of this calculation of average monthly revenues per equivalent access line for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 consists of the revenue for the respective period divided by three. The denominator consists of the average equivalent access lines.  Average equivalent access lines totaled 716,400 for the three months ended June 30, 2003 and 712,300 for the three months ended June 30, 2002.

 

Operating Expenses rose 27% ($162.0 million) to $759.2 million during the second quarter of 2003 from $597.2 million in 2002 for reasons generally the same as the first six months.

 

U.S. Cellular expenses increased 39% ($163.7 million) to $586.8 million in 2003 from $423.1 million in 2002. System operations expense (excluding depreciation) increased 24% ($28.9 million).  Marketing and selling expenses, including cost of equipment sold, increased 35% ($40.4 million).  Gross customer activations increased 34% in the second quarter of 2003 as compared to the same period in 2002.  Sales and marketing cost per gross customer addition decreased to $378 in the second quarter of 2003 from $386 in 2002.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

 

 

(As Restated)

 

Components of cost (000s):

 

 

 

 

 

Marketing and selling expenses

 

$

98,548

 

$

78,899

 

Cost of equipment sold

 

57,362

 

36,588

 

Less equipment sales revenues

 

(29,701

)

(23,186

)

Less retention-related agent rebate reductions of equipment sales revenues

 

(5,774

)

(395

)

Total costs

 

$

120,435

 

$

91,906

 

Gross customer activations (000s)

 

319

 

238

 

Sales and marketing cost per gross customer activation

 

$

378

 

$

386

 

 

General and Administrative expense increased 55% ($62.6 million).  Based upon results of the operations held for sale in the second quarter of 2003, an additional $3.5 million of loss on assets of operations held for sale was recorded.  Depreciation expense increased 27% ($18.5 million) while amortization and accretion expense increased $9.7 million.

 

TDS Telecom expenses decreased 1% ($1.7 million) to $172.4 million in 2003 from $174.1 million in 2002 primarily due to the change in bad debt expense.  In the second quarter of 2002 bad debt expense related to the WorldCom bankruptcy increased incumbent local exchange carrier expenses by $5.8 million and competitive local exchange carrier expenses by $2.2 million.

 

Operating Income decreased 25% ($31.2 million) to $92.1 million in the second quarter of 2003 from $123.3 million in 2002. U.S. Cellular’s operating income decreased 48% ($48.3 million) while TDS Telecom’s operating income increased 78% ($17.1 million).  The decrease in U.S. Cellular’s operating income is primarily due to higher expenses related to the launch of the Chicago market, growth in

 

35



 

customers and minutes of use. The increase at TDS Telecom reflects decreased bad debt expense and improvements in losses incurred in the competitive local exchange carrier operations.

 

Investment and Other Income (Expense) totaled $(42.7) million in 2003 and $(1,699.7) million in 2002.

 

Interest and dividend income decreased $42.1 million to $6.1 million in the second quarter of 2003. The decrease is due to the $45.3 million dividend TDS recorded on its investment in Deutsche Telekom in 2002.  Deutsche Telekom did not pay a dividend in 2003.

 

Loss on marketable securities and other investments totaled $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2003 related to impairment loss recorded on a cellular investment held by TDS Telecom.

 

In the second quarter of 2002, TDS recorded a loss on marketable securities and other investments of $1,719.1 million from a decline in value of marketable equity securities that management deemed other than temporary. The loss primarily included a loss of $1,363.3 million recognized by TDS on its investment in Deutsche Telekom ordinary shares and a loss of $243.8 million recognized by U.S. Cellular and $64.3 million recognized by TDS Telecom on their investment in Vodafone ADRs.

 

Interest Expense increased 51% ($14.9 million) to $44.0 million in the second quarter of 2003 from $29.1 million in 2002 for reasons generally the same as the first six months.

 

Income Tax Expense (Benefit) totaled $23.6 million in 2003, a change of $633.1 million from a benefit of $(609.5) million in 2002.  The effective tax (benefit) rate was 47.8% in 2003 and (38.7)% in 2002.  For an analysis of TDS’s effective tax rates in the second quarter of 2003 and 2002, see Note 4 - Income Taxes.

 

Minority Share of (Income) Loss changed $21.4 million to $(6.3) million in the second quarter of 2003 from $15.1 million in 2002.  U.S. Cellular’s minority public shareholders’ share of income in 2003 was reduced by $400,000 due to U.S. Cellular’s loss on marketable securities and other investments and loss on assets held for sale and by $25.9 million in 2002 due to U.S. Cellular’s loss on marketable securities and other investments.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

Change

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Minority Share of (Income) Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Cellular

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Public Shareholders’

 

$

(5,050

)

$

15,722

 

$

(20,772

)

Minority Shareholders’ or Partners’

 

(1,213

)

(610

)

(603

)

 

 

(6,263

)

15,112

 

(21,375

)

Other

 

(31

)

3

 

(34

)

 

 

$

(6,294

)

$

15,115

 

$

(21,409

)

 

Net Income (Loss) Available to Common totaled $19.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2003, compared to $(951.9) million, or $(16.23) per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2002.

 

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

FASB Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” was issued in January 2003, and is effective for all variable interests in variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and is effective July 1, 2003 for variable interests in variable interest entities created before February 1, 2003.  This Interpretation clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, Consolidated Financial Statements, to certain entities in which equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties.

 

TDS has two subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II, that are variable interest entities pursuant to FIN 46.  Effective July 1, 2003, pursuant to the provisions of FIN 46, TDS will discontinue consolidating the subsidiary trusts.

 

TDS Capital I has outstanding 6,000,000 8.5% Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities.  The sole asset of TDS Capital I is $154.6 million principal amount of TDS’s 8.5%

 

36



 

Subordinated Debentures due December 31, 2037.  TDS Capital II has outstanding 6,000,000 8.04% Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities.  The sole asset of TDS Capital II is $154.6 million principal amount of 8.04% Subordinated Debentures due March 31, 2038.

 

On August 1, 2003, TDS announced that its subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II will both redeem all of their outstanding Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“TOPrSSM”).  The redemption date is expected to be September 2, 2003.  The redemption price of both the 8.5% and 8.04% TOPrS will equal 100% of the principal amount, or $25.00 per security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions.  Upon redemption of the TOPrS by the subsidiary trusts, TDS will not have any variable interest entities pursuant to FIN 46.

 

SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” was issued in April 2003, and is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” TDS will adopt the provisions of this Standard to contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and to hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003.  Since the provisions of this Statement will be applied prospectively, there will be no impact to TDS’s June 30, 2003 financial position or results of operations.

 

SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity,” was issued in May 2003, and is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise beginning July 1, 2003. SFAS No. 150 requires freestanding financial instruments within its scope to be recorded as a liability in the financial statements.  Freestanding financial instruments include mandatorily redeemable financial instruments, obligations to repurchase issuer’s equity shares and certain obligations to issue a variable number of issuer’s shares.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS had $300 million of Company – Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust that are free standing financial instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 150.  However, the Subsidiary Trusts holding these securities will be deconsolidated pursuant to FIN 46, effective July 1, 2003.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS had no other freestanding financial instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 150.  Upon adoption, this Statement is not expected to have any effect on TDS’s financial position or results of operations.

 

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

 

Cash Flows From Operating Activities.  TDS generates substantial internal funds from the operations of U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom. Cash flows from operating activities totaled $321.0 million in the first six months of 2003 compared to $411.3 million in 2002.  The following table is a summary of the components of cash flows from operating activities.

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2003

 

2002

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change

 

$

14,484

 

$

(937,780

)

Adjustments to reconcile income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities

 

361,139

 

1,340,841

 

 

 

375,623

 

403,061

 

Changes in assets and liabilities

 

(54,601

)

8,233

 

 

 

$

321,022

 

$

411,294

 

 

Changes in working capital and other assets and liabilities used $54.6 million in 2003 and provided $8.2 million in 2002 reflecting timing differences in the payment of accounts payable, the receipt of accounts receivable, the change in accrued taxes and materials and supplies balances.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

TDS makes substantial investments each year to acquire, construct, operate and upgrade modern high-quality communications networks and facilities as a basis for creating long-term value for shareowners.  In

 

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recent years, rapid changes in technology and new opportunities have required substantial investments in revenue enhancing and cost reducing upgrades to TDS’s networks.  Cash flows used for investing activities required $345.9 million in the first six months of 2003 compared to $359.6 million in 2002.

 

Cash expenditures for capital additions required $360.9 million in first six months of 2003 and $327.3 million in first six months of 2002. The primary purpose of TDS’s construction and expansion expenditures is to provide for significant customer growth, to upgrade service, and to take advantage of service-enhancing and cost-reducing technological developments in order to maintain competitive services.  U.S. Cellular’s capital additions totaled $304.0 million in first six months of 2003 and $256.8 million in first six months of 2002 representing expenditures to construct cell sites, to replace retired assets, to improve business systems, to migrate to a single digital equipment platform - CDMA, and to build and launch new markets. TDS Telecom capital expenditures for its local telephone operations totaled $44.7 million in first six months of 2003 and $44.5 million in first six months of 2002 representing expenditures for switch modernization and outside plant facilities to maintain and enhance the quality of service and offer new revenue opportunities.  TDS Telecom’s capital expenditures for competitive local exchange operations totaled $9.2 million in first six months of 2003 and $26.0 million in first six months of 2002 for switching and other network facilities.  Corporate capital expenditures totaled $3.0 million in first six months of 2003.

 

Distributions from unconsolidated investments provided $17.9 million in 2003 and $6.2 million in 2002.  TDS acquired a telephone company and three wireless licenses for $73.7 million in 2002.  TDS received a cash refund of $47.6 million on its FCC deposits in 2002

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash flows from financing activities provided $15.6 million in the first six months of 2003 and required $147.9 million in 2002.  In 2003, U.S. Cellular repurchased and cancelled the remaining $45.2 million of 9% Series A Notes from PrimeCo for $40.7 million.  The repurchase was financed using short-term debt. In 2002, TDS retired a total of $51.0 million of medium-term notes at par value.  The net increase in Notes Payable provided $143.6 million in 2003.  The net decrease in Notes Payable required $248.4 million in the first six months of 2002.  In 2002 TDS and U.S. Cellular received $179.8 million from prepaid variable forward contracts related to its investment in Vodafone (owned by U.S. Cellular) and VeriSign.

 

During the first six months of 2003 cash required for the repurchase of TDS Common Shares totaled $56.5 million.  In total, TDS has repurchased 1.4 million Common Shares for an average price of $40.95 per share as of June 30, 2003. Dividends paid on Common and Preferred Shares, excluding dividends reinvested, totaled $18.2 million in the first six months of 2003 and $17.2 million in the first six months of 2002.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Management believes that internal cash flow, existing cash and cash equivalents, and funds available from line of credit arrangements provide sufficient financial resources to finance its near-term capital, business development and expansion expenditures. TDS and its subsidiaries have access to public and private capital markets to help meet their long-term financing needs. TDS and its subsidiaries anticipate accessing public and private capital markets to issue debt and equity securities when and if capital requirements, financial market conditions and other factors warrant.

 

However, the availability of financial resources is dependent on economic events, business developments, technological changes, financial conditions and other factors.  If at any time financing is not available on terms acceptable to TDS, TDS might be required to reduce its business development and capital expenditure plans, which could have a materially adverse effect on its business and financial condition.  TDS does not believe that any circumstances that could materially adversely affect TDS’s liquidity or capital resources are currently reasonably likely to occur, but it cannot provide assurances that such circumstances will not occur or that they will not occur rapidly.  Economic downturns, changes in financial markets or other factors could rapidly change the availability of TDS’s liquidity and capital resources.  Uncertainty of access to capital for telecommunications companies, further deterioration in the capital markets, other changes in market conditions or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to TDS, which could require TDS to reduce its construction, development, acquisition and share repurchase programs.

 

TDS generates substantial internal funds from the operations of U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom. Cash flows from operating activities totaled $321.0 million in the first six months of 2003 compared to $411.3 million

 

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in 2002. TDS and its subsidiaries had cash and cash equivalents totaling $1,289.6 million at June 30, 2003. TDS anticipates using a portion of the cash to repurchase common shares, reduce outstanding debt and for general corporate purposes.

 

Revolving Credit Facilities

TDS and its subsidiaries had $1,425 million of revolving credit facilities available for general corporate purposes, $816.5 million of which was unused, as well as an additional $75 million in bank lines of credit, all of which was unused, as of June 30, 2003.

 

TDS had a $600 million revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes at June 30, 2003.  TDS had $3.3 million of letters of credit outstanding against the revolving credit agreement leaving $596.7 million available for use.  The credit facility expires in January 2007.  Borrowings bear interest at the London InterBank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a contractual spread based on TDS’s credit rating.  The contractual spread was 30 basis points as of June 30, 2003 (for a rate of 1.42% based on LIBOR at June 30, 2003).

 

TDS also had $75 million of additional bank lines of credit for general corporate purposes at June 30, 2003, all of which was unused.  The lines of credit expire in less than one year. These line of credit agreements provide for borrowings at negotiated rates up to the prime rate (4.0% at June 30, 2003).

 

U.S. Cellular had a $500 million bank revolving line of credit (“1997 Revolving Credit Facility”) for general corporate purposes at June 30, 2003, $20.0 million of which was unused.  The 1997 Revolving Credit Facility expires in August 2004.  This line of credit provides for borrowings at LIBOR plus a contractual spread, based on U.S. Cellular’s credit rating, which was 19.5 basis points as of June 30, 2003 (for a rate of 1.315% based on LIBOR at June 30, 2003).

 

U.S. Cellular also had a $325 million bank revolving line of credit (“2002 Revolving Credit Facility”) to be used for general corporate purposes at June 30, 2003, $199.8 million of which was unused.  The 2002 Revolving Credit Facility expires in June 2007.  This line of credit provides for borrowings with interest at LIBOR plus a margin percentage, based on U.S. Cellular’s credit rating, which was 55 basis points as of June 30, 2003 (for a rate of 1.67% based on LIBOR at June 30, 2003).

 

TDS’s and U.S. Cellular’s interest costs would increase if their credit rating goes down which would increase their cost of financing, but their credit facilities would not cease to be available solely as a result of a decline in their credit rating.  A downgrade in TDS’s or U.S. Cellular’s credit rating could adversely affect its ability to renew existing, or obtain access to new, credit facilities in the future.  The continued availability of the revolving credit facilities requires TDS and U.S. Cellular to comply with certain negative and affirmative covenants, maintain certain financial ratios and provide representation on certain matters at the time of each borrowing. At June 30, 2003, TDS and U.S. Cellular were in compliance with all covenants and other requirements set forth in the credit agreements.  The respective maturities of TDS’s and U.S. Cellular’s credit facilities would accelerate in the event of a change in control.

 

In June 2003, Moody’s Investors Service placed the debt ratings of TDS and U.S. Cellular under review for possible downgrade.  Moody’s has stated that the review will focus on “1)  U.S. Cellular’s ability to improve its earnings and generate meaningful free cash flow given its substantial capital expenditure requirements, slowing industry subscriber growth rates, declining roaming revenues, intensifying competition and higher operating expenses associated with competition, increasing network usage and expansion of distribution channels and 2)  the extent and timing of the de-leveraging of the balance sheet of TDS.”

 

Long-term Financing

At June 30, 2003, TDS and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all covenants and other requirements set forth in long-term debt indentures.  TDS does not have any rating downgrade triggers that would accelerate the maturity dates of its long-term debt.  However, a downgrade in TDS’s credit rating could adversely affect its ability to refinance existing, or obtain access to new, long-term debt in the future.

 

TDS repurchased $5,000,000 of 10.0% Medium Term Notes in the second quarter of 2003 at 115.750% of par value.  The loss on retirement of debt totaled $787,500. TDS notified the holders of $65.5 million of Series B Medium Term Notes in June 2003 of its intent to redeem these notes at par.  The notes are reflected as current portion of long-term debt on the balance sheet as of June 30, 2003 and were redeemed in July 2003. There will be no gain or loss on the retirement of these notes at par value.

 

On August 1, 2003, TDS announced that its subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II will both

 

39



 

redeem all of their outstanding Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“TOPrSSM”).  The redemption date is expected to be September 2, 2003.  The redemption price of both the 8.5% and 8.04% TOPrS will be equal to 100% of the principal amount, or $25.00 per security, plus accrued and unpaid distributions. The outstanding amount of the 8.5% TOPrS to be redeemed is $150 million.  The outstanding amount of the 8.04% TOPrS to be redeemed is $150 million.  There will be no gain or loss on the redemption of these securities.

 

Marketable Equity Securities and Forward Contracts

TDS and its subsidiaries hold a substantial amount of marketable equity securities that are publicly traded and can have volatile share prices.  TDS and its subsidiaries do not make direct investments in publicly traded companies and all of these interests were acquired as a result of sales, trades or reorganizations of other assets.  The investment in Deutsche Telekom resulted from TDS’s sale of its over 80%-owned personal communications services operating subsidiary, Aerial Communications, to VoiceStream Wireless for stock of VoiceStream, which was then acquired by Deutsche Telekom in exchange for Deutsche Telekom stock. The investment in Vodafone resulted from certain sales or trades of non-strategic cellular investments to or settlements with AirTouch Communications in exchange for stock of AirTouch, which was then acquired by Vodafone for American Depositary Receipts representing Vodafone stock.  The investment in Rural Cellular Corporation is the result of a consolidation of several cellular partnerships in which TDS subsidiaries held interests into Rural Cellular Corporation, and the distribution of Rural Cellular Corporation stock in exchange for these interests.  The investment in VeriSign is the result of the acquisition by VeriSign of Illuminet, Inc., a telecommunications entity in which several TDS subsidiaries held interests. TDS has not disposed of the investments because their low tax basis would likely trigger a substantial taxable gain upon disposition.

 

Subsidiaries of TDS and U.S. Cellular have entered into a number of variable prepaid forward contracts (“forward contracts”) related to the marketable equity securities that it holds.  The forward contracts mature from May 2007 to August 2008 and, at TDS’s and U.S. Cellular’s option, may be settled in shares of the respective security or cash. TDS and U.S. Cellular have provided guarantees to the lenders which provide assurance to the lenders that all principal and interest amounts are paid upon settlement of the contracts by its subsidiaries. If shares are delivered in the settlement of the forward contract, TDS would incur a current tax liability at the time of delivery based on the difference between the tax basis of the marketable equity securities delivered and the net amount realized through maturity.  Deferred taxes have been provided for the difference between the financial reporting basis and the income tax basis of the marketable equity securities and are included in deferred tax liabilities on the balance sheet.  As of June 30, 2003, such deferred tax liabilities totaled $877.8 million.

 

Capital Expenditures

U.S. Cellular’s estimated capital spending for 2003 totals approximately $650-$670 million, primarily to add cell sites to expand and enhance coverage, to provide additional capacity to accommodate increased network usage, to provide additional digital service capabilities including the migration toward a single digital platform – CDMA technology, to build out certain personal communications service licensed areas and to enhance office systems. U.S. Cellular’s capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2003 totaled $304.0 million, including $43 million for the conversion to CDMA. U.S. Cellular plans to finance its cellular construction program using primarily internally generated cash and funds from the revolving credit facilities.

 

U.S. Cellular expects capital expenditures related to the buildout of the personal communication service licensed areas it acquired in 2001-2003, including those included in the AT&T Wireless transaction, to be substantial.  See the “Acquisitions and Divestitures” section below for a discussion of the AT&T Wireless transaction.  U.S. Cellular plans to build networks to serve these licensed areas and launch commercial service in these areas over the next several years.  Approximately $80 million of the estimated capital spending for the remainder of 2003 is allocated to the buildout of certain of these licenses, and U.S. Cellular expects a significant portion of its capital spending over the next few years to be related to the buildout of personal communication service licensed areas.

 

U.S. Cellular expects its conversion to CDMA to be completed during 2004, at a revised approximate cost of $385 million to $410 million spread over 2002 to 2004. The estimates have been revised from the original estimate of $400 million to $450 million to reflect more favorable pricing than expected as well as additional efficiencies in the conversion process. Capital expenditures related to this conversion totaled $215 million in 2002, and are estimated to be $50 million in 2003 and $120 million to $145 million in 2004. U.S. Cellular has contracted with multiple infrastructure vendors to provide a substantial portion of the

 

40



 

equipment related to the conversion.

 

TDS Telecom’s estimated capital spending for 2003 approximates $165 million.  The incumbent local telephone companies are expected to spend approximately $130 million to provide for normal growth and to upgrade plant and equipment to provide enhanced services.  The competitive local exchange companies are expected to spend approximately $35 million to build switching and other network facilities to meet the needs of a growing customer base.  TDS Telecom’s incumbent local exchange carrier capital expenditures totaled $44.7 million and the competitive local exchange carrier capital expenditures totaled $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003.  TDS Telecom plans to finance its construction program using primarily internally generated cash.

 

Acquisitions and Divestitures

On March 10, 2003, U.S. Cellular announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement with AT&T Wireless to exchange wireless properties, which was still pending at June 30, 2003. The closing of the transfer of the U.S. Cellular properties to AT&T Wireless and the assignments to U.S. Cellular from AT&T Wireless of a portion of the personal communication service licenses occurred on August 1, 2003. When this transaction is fully consummated, U.S. Cellular will receive 10 and 20 megahertz personal communication service licenses in 13 states, representing 12.2 million incremental population equivalents contiguous to existing properties and 4.4 million population equivalents that overlap existing properties in the Midwest and the Northeast. On the initial closing date, U.S. Cellular also received approximately $31 million in cash (excluding a working capital adjustment) and minority interests in six markets it currently controls.  Also on the initial closing date, U.S. Cellular transferred wireless assets and customers in 10 markets, representing 1.5 million population equivalents, in Florida and Georgia to AT&T Wireless.  The assignment and development of certain licenses has been deferred by U.S. Cellular until later periods.  The acquisition of licenses in the exchange will be accounted for as a purchase by U.S. Cellular and the transfer of the properties by U.S. Cellular to AT&T Wireless will be accounted for as a sale.

 

As a result of the agreement, U.S. Cellular’s consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2003 reflects the wireless assets and liabilities to be transferred as assets and liabilities of operations held for sale, in accordance with SFAS No. 144.  The results of operations of the markets transferred continue to be included in results from operations.  Service revenues from the Florida and Georgia markets transferred totaled $29 million and $58 million in the three and six months ended June 30, 2003, respectively, while operating income totaled $12.6 million and $22.4 million, respectively. Operating income does not include shared services costs that have been allocated to the markets from the U.S. Cellular corporate office.

 

Repurchase of Securities and Dividends

As market conditions warrant, TDS and U.S. Cellular may continue the repurchase of their common shares on the open market or at negotiated prices in private transactions.  In 2003, the TDS Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to 3.0 million TDS Common Shares through February 2006.  A total of 1.4 million TDS Common Shares were repurchased in 2003 at an aggregate price of $56.5 million. TDS has 1.6 million common shares remaining available for repurchase under the authorization U.S. Cellular has approximately 859,000 shares remaining on its 1.4 million Common Share repurchase authorization that expires in December 2003.  No U.S. Cellular Common Shares were repurchased in 2003.

 

The U.S. Cellular Board of Directors has authorized management to opportunistically repurchase liquid yield option notes, otherwise know as LYONs, in private transactions.  U.S. Cellular may also purchase a limited amount of LYONs in open-market transactions from time to time.  U.S. Cellular LYONs are convertible, at the option of their holders, at any time prior to maturity, redemption or purchase, into U.S. Cellular Common Shares at a conversion rate of 9.475 U.S. Cellular Common Shares per LYONs.  Upon conversion, U.S. Cellular has the option to deliver to holders either U.S. Cellular Common Shares or cash equal to the market value of the U.S. Cellular Common Shares into which LYONs are convertible.  U.S. Cellular may redeem the notes for cash at the issue price plus accrued original issue discount through the date of redemption.

 

TDS paid total dividends on its common and preferred stock of $18.2 million in the first six months of 2003 and $17.2 million in the first six months of 2002.  TDS has no current plans to change its policy of paying dividends. TDS paid quarterly dividends per share of $.155 in 2003 and $.145 in 2002.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

TDS has no material transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons (“off-balance sheet arrangements”), that have

 

41



 

or are reasonably likely to have a material current or future effect on financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenues or expenses.

 

APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

TDS prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).  TDS’s significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in TDS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions and information that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.  Actual results may differ from estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Management believes the following critical accounting estimates reflect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. TDS’s senior management has discussed the development and selection of each of the following accounting estimates and the following disclosures with the audit committee of TDS’s board of directors.

 

License Costs and Goodwill

TDS reported $979.8 million of wireless license costs and $1,005.0 million of goodwill, at June 30, 2003 as a result of the acquisition of wireless licenses and markets, and the acquisition of operating telephone companies. Included in Assets of Operations Held For Sale was $55.1 million of license costs and $93.7 million of goodwill at June 30, 2003.

 

Wireless licenses and goodwill must be reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  TDS performs the annual impairment review on wireless license investments and goodwill during the second quarter.  There can be no assurance that upon review at a later date material impairment charges will not be required.

 

The intangible asset impairment test consists of comparing the fair value of the intangible asset to the carrying amount of the intangible asset.  If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference.  The goodwill impairment test is a two-step process.  The first step compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value.  If the carrying amount exceeds the fair value, the second step of the test is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any.  The second step compares the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. To calculate the implied fair value of goodwill, an enterprise allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities of that reporting unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value was the price paid to acquire the reporting unit.  The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit is the implied fair value of goodwill. If the carrying amount exceeds the implied fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for that difference.

 

The fair value of an intangible asset and reporting unit goodwill is the amount at which that asset or reporting unit could be bought or sold in a current transaction between willing parties.  Therefore, quoted market prices in active markets are the best evidence of fair value and should be used when available.  If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair value is based on the best information available, including prices for similar assets and the use of other valuation techniques.  Other valuation techniques include present value analysis, multiples of earnings or revenue or a similar performance measure.  The use of these techniques involves assumptions by management about the following factors that are highly uncertain and can result in a range of values: future cash flows, the appropriate discount rate, and other factors and inputs.

 

U.S. Cellular tests goodwill for impairment at the level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit.  U.S. Cellular has identified seven reporting units pursuant to paragraph 30 of SFAS No. 142. The seven

 

42



 

reporting units represent seven geographic groupings of FCC licenses, constituting seven markets or service areas.  U.S. Cellular combines its FCC licenses into seven units of accounting for purposes of testing the licenses for impairment pursuant to EITF 02-7 and SFAS No. 142, using the same geographic groupings as its reporting units.

 

U.S. Cellular retained a third-party valuation firm to prepare valuations of the seven reporting units.  A discounted cash flow approach was used to value each of the reporting units, using value drivers and risks specific to each individual geographic region.  The cash flow estimates incorporate assumptions that market participants would use in their estimates of fair value.  Key assumptions made in this process were the selection of a discount rate, estimated future cash flow levels, projected capital expenditures, and selection of terminal values.

 

U.S. Cellular also retained a third party valuation firm to prepare valuations of the seven groupings of FCC licenses (units of accounting pursuant to EITF 02-7).  The valuations were prepared using an excess earnings methodology, through the use of a discounted cash flow approach. This excess earnings methodology estimates the fair value of the intangible assets (FCC license units of accounting) by measuring the future cash flows of the license groups, reduced by charges for contributory assets such as working capital, trademarks, existing subscribers, fixed assets, assembled workforce and goodwill.

 

TDS Telecom has recorded goodwill primarily as a result of the acquisition of operating telephone companies.  TDS Telecom has assigned goodwill to its incumbent local exchange carrier reporting unit ($397.0 million), its competitive local exchange carrier reporting units ($29.4 million), and a wireless investment reporting unit ($30.9 million).  The incumbent local exchange carrier reporting unit was valued using a multiple of cash flow valuation technique. The competitive local exchange carrier and wireless investment reporting units were valued using a discounted cash flow analysis.

 

In the first quarter of 2003, TDS recorded a $3.5 million license cost impairment loss related to the investment in a non-operating market in Florida that will remain after the AT&T Wireless exchange.  The annual impairment testing was performed at both U.S. Cellular and TDS Telecom in the second quarter of 2003.  Based on this review, TDS recorded a $5.0 million impairment loss on goodwill related to a cellular investment held at TDS Telecom in the second quarter of 2003.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” was issued in June 2001, and became effective for TDS beginning January 1, 2003. SFAS No. 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for legal obligations associated with an asset retirement in the period in which the obligations are incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset.

 

The calculation of the asset retirement obligation for TDS is a critical accounting estimate because changing the factors used in calculating the obligation could result in larger or smaller estimated obligation that could have a significant impact on TDS’s results of operations and financial condition.  Such factors may include probabilities or likelihood of remediation, cost estimates, lease renewals and salvage values. Actual results may differ materially from estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

U.S. Cellular is subject to asset retirement obligations associated primarily with its cell sites, retail sites and office locations.  Asset retirement obligations include costs to remediate leased land on which U.S. Cellular’s cell sites and switching offices are located.  U.S. Cellular is also required to return lease retail store premises and office space to their pre-existing conditions.  Upon settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in the statement of operations as a gain or loss.

 

U.S. Cellular determined that it had an obligation to remove long-lived assets in its cell sites, retail sites and office locations as described by SFAS 143, and has recorded a $54.4 million liability upon adoption.

 

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TDS Telecom’s incumbent local telephone companies follow the provisions of SFAS No. 71, and therefore conform to the regulatory accounting principles as prescribed by the respective state public utility commissions and the FCC, and where applicable, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. On December 20, 2002, the FCC notified carriers by Order that it will not adopt SFAS No. 143 since the FCC concluded that SFAS No. 143 conflicted with the FCC’s current accounting rules that require incumbent local telephone companies to accrue for asset retirement obligations through prescribed depreciation rates. Pursuant to the FCC’s order, and the provisions of SFAS No. 71, the incumbent local telephone companies continue to accrue asset retirement obligations as a component of depreciation expense pursuant to depreciation rates set forth by the respective state public utility commissions.

 

At January 1, 2003, upon implementation of SFAS No. 143, TDS Telecom determined the amount of the incumbent local telephone companies asset retirement obligations required to be recorded was $29.9 million, and this asset retirement obligation was reclassified from accumulated depreciation to deferred liabilities and credits under the provisions of SFAS No. 143. After the effect of this reclassification, the incumbent local telephone companies have an amount of $25.4 million as of January 1, 2003 that remains in accumulated depreciation that represents asset retirement costs that have been accrued in accordance with depreciation rates promulgated by the respective state public utility commissions, which are in excess of asset retirement costs that are required to be accrued under the provisions of SFAS No. 143. The accounting guidelines of the state public utility commission and the FCC provide that such costs of removal be recorded as accumulated depreciation.  These costs of removal are recorded based upon the guidelines of the incumbent local telephone companies’ regulators and are not an asset retirement obligation as defined by SFAS No. 143.  The adoption of SFAS No. 143 by TDS’s incumbent local telephone companies did not have a material effect on TDS’s financial position or results of operations.

 

TDS Telecom’s competitive local telephone companies adopted SFAS No. 143 effective January 1, 2003. TDS Telecom determined that its competitive local telephone companies do not have a material legal obligation to remove long-lived assets as described by SFAS 143, and accordingly, adoption of SFAS 143 did not have a material impact on the competitive local telephone companies.

 

Income Taxes

The accounting for income taxes, the amounts of income tax assets and liabilities and the related income tax provision are critical accounting estimates because such amounts are significant to TDS’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.

 

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires TDS to calculate a provision for income taxes. This process involves estimating the actual current income tax liability together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of items, such as depreciation expense, for tax and accounting purposes.  These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within the consolidated balance sheet.  TDS must then assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent management believes that recovery is not likely, establish a valuation allowance. Management judgment is required in determining the provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets.  TDS’s current net deferred tax asset was $20.3 million as of June 30, 2003, representing primarily the deferred tax effects of the allowance for doubtful accounts on accounts receivable.

 

44



 

The temporary differences that gave rise to the noncurrent deferred tax assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2003 are as follows:

 

 

 

June 30,
2003

 

 

 

As Restated

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Asset

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforwards

 

$

82,923

 

Partnership investments

 

40,010

 

Derivative investments

 

126,336

 

 

 

249,269

 

Less valuation allowance

 

(49,868

)

Total Deferred Tax Asset

 

199,401

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Liability

 

 

 

Marketable equity securities

 

877,771

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

390,214

 

Licenses

 

155,319

 

Other

 

3,959

 

Total Deferred Tax Liability

 

1,427,263

 

Net Deferred Income Tax Liability

 

$

1,227,862

 

 

The valuation allowance relates to state net operating loss carry forwards and the federal operating loss carryforwards for those subsidiaries not included in the federal income tax return since it is more than likely that a portion will expire before such carryforwards can be utilized.

 

The deferred income tax liability relating to marketable equity securities of $877.8 million at June 30, 2003 represents deferred income taxes calculated on the difference between the book basis and the tax basis of the marketable securities.  Income taxes will be payable when TDS sells the marketable securities.

 

TDS is routinely subject to examination of its income tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other tax authorities. TDS periodically assesses the likelihood of adjustments to its tax liabilities resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes, including related interest. Management’s judgment is required in assessing the eventual outcome of these examinations.  Changes to such assessments affect the calculation of TDS’s income tax expense.  The IRS has completed audits of TDS’s federal income tax returns for tax years through 1996.

 

In the event of an increase in the value of tax assets or a decrease in the value of tax liabilities, TDS would decrease the income tax expense or increase the income tax benefit by an equivalent amount.  In the event of a decrease in the value of tax assets or an increase in the value of tax liabilities, TDS would increase the income tax expense or decrease the income tax benefit by an equivalent amount.

 

The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, enacted in May 2003, increases bonus depreciation from 30% to 50% and extends the bonus depreciation provisions until December 31, 2004.  TDS expects to take advantage of the new rules. Such additional depreciation deductions are expected to result in a federal net operating loss for TDS in 2003.

 

Assets of Held for Sale Operations

In connection with the exchange of wireless properties with AT&T Wireless, the consolidated balance sheet and supplemental data of TDS reflect the assets and liabilities to be transferred as of June 30, 2003 as assets and liabilities of operations held for sale in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The results of operations of the markets to be transferred continue to be included in results from continuing operations through the closing date, which occurred on August 1, 2003.

 

An independent appraisal was performed to determine the fair value of the assets to be received from AT&T Wireless as well as the allocation of goodwill associated with the markets sold.  The value of goodwill allocated to the transferred markets is a critical accounting estimate because it is significant to the recorded value of the assets being transferred. The values of such allocations include underlying assumptions about uncertain matters that are material to the determination of the values, and different estimates could have had a material impact on TDS’s financial presentation that would have been used in the current period.

 

45



 

Summarized assets and liabilities relating to operations held for sale are as follows:

 

 

 

June 30, 2003

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Current assets

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

7

 

Accounts receivable

 

11,777

 

Other current assets

 

1,074

 

License costs

 

55,147

 

Goodwill

 

93,658

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

88,415

 

Other assets

 

798

 

Loss on assets held for sale

 

(27,000

)

Assets of Operations Held for Sale

 

$

223,876

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,405

 

Other current liabilities

 

3,600

 

Liabilities of Operations Held for Sale

 

$

9,005

 

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, TDS recorded an estimated pre-tax loss of $27.0 million related to the sale of assets to AT&T Wireless. This loss represents the difference between the fair value of the assets TDS expects to receive in the AT&T Wireless transaction, as determined by an independent valuation, and the recorded value of the assets it transferred to AT&T Wireless. Subsequent to recording the loss, the recorded value of the assets TDS expects to transfer to AT&T Wireless is equal to the fair value of the assets TDS expects to receive from AT&T Wireless. This loss may require an adjustment during the third quarter of 2003 to reflect the final amounts of the fair value of assets received and the recorded value of the assets transferred.

 

TDS anticipates that it will record an additional charge to the Statement of Operations of approximately $12 million for income taxes and will have a current liability of approximately $5 million related to state income taxes on the completion of the transaction. As a result of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003, enacted in May of 2003, TDS anticipates that it will claim additional federal tax depreciation deductions in 2003. Such additional depreciation deductions are expected to result in a federal net operating loss for TDS for 2003; accordingly, TDS anticipates that there will be no current federal tax liability in 2003 attributable to the planned exchange of assets with AT&T Wireless.

 

46



 

OUTLOOK

 

This outlook section summarizes TDS’s expectations for 2003.  Notwithstanding TDS’s expectations regarding its ability to deliver these results, TDS can never be certain that future revenues or earnings will be achieved at any particular level.  Estimates of future financial performance are forward-looking statements and are subject to uncertainty created by the risk factors otherwise identified under “Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 Safe Harbor Cautionary Statement.”

 

Based on the completion of U.S. Cellular’s transaction with AT&T Wireless, the TDS Companies have reviewed their forward-looking statements.  The revised statements for the year 2003, inclusive of costs for build out of some markets acquired in the AT&T Wireless transaction are as follows:

 

U.S. Cellular 2003 Outlook

 

Net adds

 

475,000 – 500,000

Service revenues

 

$2.35 – $2.4 billion

Depreciation and amortization

 

$445 – $450 million

Operating income*

 

$170 – $190 million

Capital spending

 

$650 – $670 million

 

*Includes $27 million in operating expenses related to loss on assets held  for sale related to the AT&T Wireless exchange

 

Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier 2003 Outlook

 

Revenues

 

$635 – $645 million

Depreciation and amortization

 

$135 million

Operating income

 

$170 – $180 million

Capital spending

 

$130 million

 

Competitive Local Exchange Carrier 2003 Outlook

 

Revenues

 

$210 – $220 million

Depreciation and amortization

 

$35 million

Operating income

 

$(35) – $(25) million

Capital spending

 

$35 million

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

The following persons are partners of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, the principal law firm of TDS and its subsidiaries:  Walter C.D. Carlson, a trustee and beneficiary of a voting trust that controls TDS, the chairman of the board and member of the board of directors of TDS and a director of U.S. Cellular, a subsidiary of TDS; William S. DeCarlo, the General Counsel of TDS and an Assistant Secretary of TDS and certain subsidiaries of TDS; and Stephen P. Fitzell, the General Counsel of U.S. Cellular and an Assistant Secretary of certain subsidiaries of TDS. Walter C.D. Carlson does not provide legal services to TDS or its subsidiaries.

 

47



 

PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

 

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition and other sections of this Quarterly Report contain statements that are not based on historical fact, including the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “expects”, and similar words.  These statements constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, events or developments to be significantly different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such factors include the following:

 

                  Increases in the level of competition in the markets in which TDS operates could adversely affect TDS’s revenues or increase its costs to compete.

                  Advances or changes in telecommunications technology could render certain technologies used by TDS obsolete or could increase TDS’s cost of doing business.

                  Changes in the telecommunications regulatory environment, related to wireless number portability and E-911 services in particular, could adversely affect TDS’s financial condition or results of operations or ability to do business.

                  Changes in the supply or demand of the market for wireless licenses or telephone companies, adverse developments in the TDS businesses or the industries in which TDS is involved and/or other factors could result in an impairment of the value of TDS’s license costs, goodwill and/or physical assets, which may require TDS to record a writedown in the value of such assets.

                  Conversions of debt, early redemptions of debt or repurchases of debt, changes in prepaid forward contracts, operating leases, purchase obligations or other factors or developments could cause the amounts reported under Contractual Obligations to be different from the amounts presented.

                  Changes in accounting policies, estimates and/or in the assumptions underlying the accounting estimates, including those described under Critical Accounting Policies, could have a material effect on TDS’s financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations.

                  Settlement, judgments, restraints on its current or future manner of doing business and/or legal costs resulting from pending and future litigation could have an adverse effect on TDS’s financial condition, results of operations or ability to do business.

                  Costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions/divestitures of properties and/or licenses could have an adverse effect on TDS’s financial condition or results of operations.

                  Changes in prices, the number of customers, average revenue per customer, penetration rates, churn rates, roaming rates, access minutes of use, the mix of products and services offered or other business factors could have an adverse effect on TDS’s business operations.

                  Continued uncertainty of access to capital for telecommunications companies, continued deterioration in the capital markets, other changes in market conditions, changes in TDS’s credit ratings or other factors could limit or restrict the availability of financing on terms and prices acceptable to TDS, which could require TDS to reduce its construction, development and acquisition programs.

                  Changes in the income tax rates or other tax law changes could have an adverse effect on TDS’s financial condition and results of operations.

                  War, conflicts, hostilities and/or terrorist attacks could have an adverse effect on TDS’s businesses.

                  Changes in general economic and business conditions, both nationally and in the markets in which TDS operates, including continued difficulties by telecommunications companies, could have an adverse effect on TDS’s businesses.

 

TDS undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  Readers should evaluate any statements in light of these important factors.

 

48



 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

MARKET RISK

 

TDS is subject to market rate risks due to fluctuations in interest rates and equity markets.  The majority of TDS’s debt, excluding long-term debt related to the forward contracts, is in the form of long-term, fixed-rate notes, convertible debt, debentures and trust securities with original maturities ranging up to 40 years. The long-term debt related to the forward contracts consists of both variable-rate debt and fixed-rate zero coupon debt.  Accordingly, fluctuations in interest rates can lead to significant fluctuations in the fair value of such instruments.  As of June 30, 2003, TDS had not entered into any significant financial derivatives to reduce its exposure to interest rate risks.

 

TDS maintains a portfolio of available-for-sale marketable equity securities, the majority of which are the result of sales or exchanges of non-strategic assets.  The market value of these investments aggregated $2,300.2 million at June 30, 2003 and $1,944.9 million at December 31, 2002. As of June 30, 2003, the net unrealized holding gain, net of tax and minority interest, included in accumulated other comprehensive income totaled $461.1 million. Management continues to review the valuation of the investments on a periodic basis.

 

TDS and U.S. Cellular subsidiaries have entered into a number of forward contracts related to the marketable equity securities that it holds.  TDS and U.S. Cellular have provided guarantees to the lenders which provide assurance to the lenders that all principal and interest amounts are paid upon settlement of the contracts by such subsidiaries.  The risk management objective of the forward contracts is to hedge the value of the marketable equity securities from losses due to decreases in the market prices of the securities (“downside limit”) while retaining a share of gains from increases in the market prices of such securities (“upside potential”).  The downside risk is hedged at or above the accounting cost basis thereby eliminating the risk of an other than temporary loss being recorded on these contracted securities.

 

Under the terms of the forward contracts, TDS and U.S. Cellular will continue to own the contracted shares and will receive dividends paid on such contracted shares, if any.  The forward contracts mature from May 2007 to August 2008 and, at TDS’s and U.S. Cellular’s option, may be settled in shares of the respective security or in cash, pursuant to formulas that “collar” the price of the shares.  The collars effectively limit TDS’s downside risk and upside potential on the contracted shares.  The collars are typically adjusted for any changes in dividends on the contracted shares.  The forward contracts may be settled in shares of the respective marketable equity security or in cash upon expiration of the forward contract.  If TDS and U.S. Cellular elect to settle in shares, it will be required to deliver the number of shares of the contracted security determined pursuant to the formula.  If shares are delivered in the settlement of the forward contract, TDS and U.S. Cellular would incur a current tax liability at the time of delivery based on the difference between the tax basis of the marketable equity securities delivered and the net amount realized through maturity.  If TDS and U.S. Cellular elect to settle in cash they will be required to pay an amount in cash equal to the fair market value of the number of shares determined pursuant to the formula.

 

Deferred taxes have been provided for the difference between the financial reporting basis and the income tax basis of the marketable equity securities and are included in deferred tax liabilities on the balance sheet. As of June 30, 2003, such deferred tax liabilities totaled $877.8 million.

 

The following table summarizes certain facts relating to the contracted securities as of June 30, 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

Collar (1)

 

 

 

Security

 

Shares

 

Downside
Limit
(Floor)

 

Upside
Potential
(Ceiling)

 

Loan
Amount
(000s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VeriSign

 

2,361,333

 

$

8.82

 

$

11.46

 

$

20,819

 

Vodafone (2)

 

12,945,915

 

$15.07 - $16.07

 

$20.88 - $23.21

 

201,038

 

Deutsche Telekom

 

131,461,861

 

$10.74 - $12.41

 

$13.71 - $16.33

 

1,532,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,754,114

 

Unamortized debt discount

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

89,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,664,595

 

 


(1)          The per share amounts represent the range of floor and ceiling prices of all securities monetized.

(2)          U.S. Cellular owns 10.2 million and TDS Telecom owns 2.7 million Vodafone ADR’s.

 

49



 

The following analysis presents the hypothetical change in the fair value of our marketable equity securities and derivative instruments at June 30, 2003, assuming hypothetical price fluctuations of plus and minus 10%, 20% and 30%.  The table presents hypothetical information as required by SEC rules.  Such information should not be inferred to suggest that TDS has any intention of selling any marketable securities or canceling any derivative instruments.

 

 

 

June 30, 2003

 

Valuation of investments assuming indicated increase

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

Fair Value

 

+10%

 

+20%

 

+30%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable Equity Securities

 

$

2,300.2

 

$

2,530.3

 

$

2,760.3

 

$

2,990.3

 

Derivative Instruments (1)

 

$

(302.9

)

$

(511.8

)

$

(720.3

)

$

(930.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2003

 

Valuation of investments assuming indicated decrease

 

(Dollars in millions)

 

Fair Value

 

-10%

 

-20%

 

-30%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marketable Equity Securities

 

$

2,300.2

 

$

2,070.2

 

$

1,840.2

 

$

1,610.2

 

Derivative Instruments (1)

 

$

(302.9

)

$

(103.4

)

$

97.1

 

$

295.2

 

 


(1)          Represents change in the fair value of the derivative instruments assuming the indicated increase or decrease in the underlying securities.

 

50



 

ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

 

(a)  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  Based on the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of TDS have concluded that TDS’ disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by the report, are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by TDS in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

(b)  Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There was no change in TDS’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, TDS’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

51



 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.

 

TDS is involved in a number of legal proceedings before the FCC and various state and federal courts. Management does not believe that any such proceeding should have a material adverse impact on the financial position or results of operations of TDS.

 

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

 

At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of TDS, held on May 8, 2003, the following number of votes were cast for the matters indicated:

 

1.     (a)  For the election of three Class I Directors of TDS by holders of Series A Common and Preferred shares:

 

Nominee

 

For

 

Withhold

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

James Barr, III

 

66,117,727

 

18

 

 

Sandra L. Helton

 

66,111,276

 

6,469

 

 

George W. Off

 

66,117,745

 

 

 

 

(b)         For the election of one Class I Director of TDS by the Common Holders:

 

Nominee

 

For

 

Withhold

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

Martin L. Solomon

 

47,348,519

 

1,304,616

 

 

 

2.               Proposal to approve the 2003 Employee Stock Purchase Plan of TDS:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

107,560,978

 

1,278,067

 

179,677

 

5,752,157

 

 

3.               Proposal to approve the amendment to the 1998 Long-term Incentive Program of TDS:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

100,235,643

 

8,168,423

 

614,656

 

5,752,157

 

 

4.               Proposal to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 2003:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

113,174,705

 

1,411,306

 

184,868

 

 

 

Item 5.  Other Information

 

On August 1, 2003, TDS announced that its subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II, will both redeem all of their outstanding Trust Originated Preferred Securities (“TOPrSSM”). A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

 

On August 1, 2003, U.S. Cellular announced that it had completed a portion of its previously announced exchange of assets with AT&T Wireless. A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.2.

 

52



 

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

 

(a)            Exhibits:

 

Exhibit 11 - Computation of earnings per common share is included herein as footnote 7 to the financial statements.

 

Exhibit 12 - Statement regarding computation of ratios.

 

Exhibit 31.1 – Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Exhibit 31.2 – Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Exhibit 32.1 – Chief Executive Officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

Exhibit 32.2 – Chief Financial Officer certification pursuant to Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

Exhibit 99.1 – News release announcing the intent of TDS’s subsidiary trusts, TDS Capital I and TDS Capital II, to redeem its Trust Originated Preferred Securities.*

 

Exhibit 99.2 – News release dated August 1, 2003 announcing the completion of the exchange of assets between U.S. Cellular and AT&T Wireless.*

 

* Previously filed as an exhibit to the TDS Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2003.

 

(b)         Reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended June 30, 2003:

 

TDS filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 5, 2003, for the purpose of filing TDS’s first quarter 2003 earnings release.

 

53



 

SIGNATURES

 

 

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

 

 

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

Date

  February 17, 2004

 

/s/ LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr.

 

 

 

LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr.,

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Date

  February 17, 2004

 

/s/ Sandra L. Helton

 

 

 

Sandra L. Helton,

 

 

Executive Vice President and

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Date

  February 17, 2004

 

/s/ D. Michael Jack

 

 

 

D. Michael Jack,

 

 

Senior Vice President and

 

 

Corporate Controller

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

Signature page for the TDS 2003 Second Quarter Form 10-Q/A

 

54