UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark one)
| x | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
OR
| ¨ | 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 1-3435
VERIZON NEW YORK INC.
| A New York Corporation |
I.R.S. Employer Identification No.13-5275510 |
1095 Avenue of the Americas, Room 3868, New York, New York 10036
Telephone number: (212) 395-2121
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: See attached Schedule A.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
THE REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION I(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT PURSUANT TO GENERAL INSTRUCTION I(2).
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 x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x
SCHEDULE A
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Name of each exchange on which registered | |
| Twelve year 6 1/2% Debentures, due March 1, 2005 |
New York Stock Exchange | |
| Twelve year 6 1/8% Debentures, due January 15, 2010 |
| |
| Twenty-one Year 8 5/8% Debentures, due November 15, 2010 |
| |
| Twenty year 7% Debentures, due May 1, 2013 |
| |
| Twenty year 7% Debentures, due June 15, 2013 |
| |
| Thirty year 7 5/8% Debentures, due February 1, 2023 |
| |
| Thirty year 6.70% Debentures, due November 1, 2023 |
| |
| Thirty year 7 1/4% Debentures, due February 15, 2024 |
| |
| Thirty-two year 7% Debentures, due August 15, 2025 |
| |
| Forty year 7% Debentures, due December 1, 2033 |
| |
| Ten year 5 7/8% Notes, due September 1, 2003 |
| |
| Ten year 5 5/8% Notes, due November 1, 2003 |
| |
| Ten year 6 1/4% Notes, due February 15, 2004 |
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||
| PART I |
||||
| Item 1. |
(Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction I(2).) |
1 | ||
| Item 2. |
6 | |||
| Item 3. |
6 | |||
| Item 4. |
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
6 | ||
| PART II |
||||
| Item 5. |
Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
7 | ||
| Item 6. |
Selected Financial Data |
7 | ||
| Item 7. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations |
8 | ||
| Item 7A. |
17 | |||
| Item 8. |
17 | |||
| Item 9. |
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure |
17 | ||
| PART III |
||||
| Item 10. |
Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
17 | ||
| Item 11. |
Executive Compensation |
17 | ||
| Item 12. |
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters |
17 | ||
| Item 13. |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
17 | ||
| Item 14. |
17 | |||
| PART IV |
||||
| Item 15. |
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
18 | ||
| 19 | ||||
| 20 | ||||
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IS AS OF MARCH 14, 2003.
Verizon New York Inc.
PART I
(Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction I(2).)
GENERAL
Verizon New York Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of New York. We are a wholly owned subsidiary of NYNEX Corporation (NYNEX), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon).
Our wholly owned subsidiary, Empire City Subway Company, is primarily in the business of leasing underground conduit in Manhattan and the Bronx, principally to us, but also to other companies in the telecommunications business.
We presently serve a territory consisting of Local Access and Transport Areas (LATAs) in New York, as well as a small portion of Connecticut (Greenwich and Byram only). These LATAs are generally centered on a city or based on some other identifiable common geography.
We currently provide two basic types of telecommunications services:
| · | Exchange telecommunication service is the transmission of telecommunications among customers located within a local calling area within a LATA. Examples of exchange telecommunications services include switched local residential and business services, local private line voice and data services and Centrex services. We also provide toll services within a LATA (intraLATA long distance). |
| · | Exchange access service links a customers premises and the transmission facilities of other telecommunications carriers, generally interLATA carriers. Examples of exchange access services include switched access and special access services. |
As of December 31, 2002, we had approximately 28,400 employees. Approximately 85% of our employees (associates) are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Collective bargaining agreements with the unions expire in August 2003.
REGULATION
Telecommunications Act of 1996
We face increasing competition in all areas of our business. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (1996 Act), regulatory and judicial actions and the development of new technologies, products and services have created opportunities for alternative telecommunication service providers, many of which are subject to fewer regulatory constraints.
In-Region Long Distance
Under the 1996 Act, our ability to offer in-region long distance services (that is, services originating in the states where we operate as a local exchange carrier) is largely dependent on satisfying specified requirements. The requirements include a 14-point competitive checklist of steps which we must take to help competitors offer local services through resale, through purchase of unbundled network elements (UNEs), or by interconnecting their own networks to ours. We must also demonstrate to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that entry into the in-region long distance market would be in the public interest.
On December 22, 1999 and July 23, 2001, the FCC released orders approving our applications for permission to enter the in-region long distance markets in New York and Connecticut, respectively. In-region long distance is being offered in these states by a separate non-regulated subsidiary of Verizon.
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Verizon New York Inc.
FCC Regulation and Interstate Rates
We are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC with respect to interstate services and related matters. In 2002, the FCC continued to implement reforms to the interstate access charge system and to implement the universal service and other requirements of the 1996 Act.
Access Charges and Universal Service
On May 31, 2000, the FCC adopted the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance Services (CALLS) plan as a comprehensive five-year plan for regulation of interstate access charges. The CALLS plan has three main components. First, it establishes a portable interstate access universal service support of $650 million for the industry. This explicit support replaces implicit support embedded in interstate access charges. Second, the plan simplifies the patchwork of common line charges into one subscriber line charge (SLC) and provides for de-averaging of the SLC by zones and class of customers in a manner that will not undermine comparable and affordable universal service. Third, the plan sets into place a mechanism to transition to a set target of $0.0055 per minute for switched access services. Once that target rate is reached, local exchange carriers are no longer required to make further annual price cap reductions to their switched access prices. The annual reductions leading to the target rate, as well as annual reductions for the subset of special access services that remain subject to price cap regulation was set at 6.5% per year.
On September 10, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled on an appeal of the FCC order adopting the plan. The court upheld the FCC on several challenges to the order, but remanded two aspects of the decision back to the FCC on the grounds that they lacked sufficient justification. The court remanded back to the FCC for further consideration its decision setting the annual reduction factor at 6.5% minus an inflation factor and the size of the new universal service fund at $650 million. The entire plan (including these elements) will continue in effect pending the FCCs further consideration of its justification of these components. As a result of tariff adjustments which became effective in July 2002, we reached the $0.0055 benchmark.
The FCC has adopted rules for special access services that provide for pricing flexibility and ultimately the removal of services from price regulation when prescribed competitive thresholds are met. In order to use these rules, carriers must forego the ability to take advantage of provisions in the current rules that provide relief in the event earnings fall below prescribed thresholds. Verizon has been authorized to remove special access and dedicated transport services from price caps in 36 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the former Bell Atlantic territory and in 17 additional MSAs in the former GTE territory. In addition, the FCC has found that in 20 MSAs Verizon has met the stricter standards to remove special access connections to end-user customers from price caps. Verizon also has an application pending that, if granted, would remove an additional three MSAs, and special access connections to end-user customers in two additional MSAs, from price cap regulation.
In November 1999, the FCC adopted a new mechanism for providing universal service support to high cost areas served by large local telephone companies. This funding mechanism provides additional support for local telephone services in several states served by Verizon, but not New York and Connecticut. This system has been supplemented by the new FCC access charge plan described above. On July 31, 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed and remanded to the FCC for further proceedings. The court concluded that the FCC had failed to adequately explain some aspects of its decision and had failed to address any need for a state universal service mechanism. The current universal service mechanism remains in place pending the outcome of any FCC review as a result of these appeals.
Unbundling of Network Elements
In November 1999, the FCC announced its decision setting forth new unbundling requirements, eliminating elements that it had previously required to be unbundled, limiting the obligation to provide others and adding new elements.
In addition to the unbundling requirements released in November 1999, the FCC released an order in a separate proceeding in December 1999, requiring incumbent local exchange companies also to unbundle and provide to competitors the higher frequency portion of their local loop. This provides competitors with the ability to provision data services on top of incumbent carriers voice services.
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Verizon New York Inc.
In July 2000, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found that some aspects of the FCCs requirements for pricing UNEs were inconsistent with the 1996 Act. In particular, it found that the FCC was wrong to require incumbent carriers to base these prices not on their real costs but on the imaginary costs of the most efficient equipment and the most efficient network configuration. This portion of the courts decision was stayed pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court. On May 13, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld the FCCs pricing rules.
On May 24, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit released an order that overturned the most recent FCC decision establishing which network elements were required to be unbundled. In particular, the court found that the FCC did not adequately consider the limitations of the necessary and impair standards of the 1996 Act when it chose national rules for unbundling and that it failed to consider the relevance of competition from other types of service providers, including cable and satellite. The court also vacated a separate order that had authorized an unbundling requirement for line sharing where a competing carrier purchases only a portion of the copper connection to the end-user in order to provide high-speed broadband services using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. Several parties, including the FCC, petitioned the court for rehearing of the court order. The court rejected the petitions that asked it to change its decision on September 4, 2002. The court did, however, stay its order vacating the FCCs rules until February 20, 2003, to provide the FCC time to complete an ongoing rulemaking to determine what elements should be unbundled. Several carriers have sought U.S. Supreme Court review of the underlying court decision. That request remains pending.
On October 25, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit released an order upholding the FCCs decisions that established interim limits on the availability of combinations of UNEs known as enhanced extended links or EELs. EELs consist of unbundled loops and transport elements. The FCC decisions limited access to EELs to carriers that would use them to provide a significant amount of local traffic, and not just use them as substitutes for special access services.
Prior to the issuance of these orders from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the FCC had already begun a review of the scope of its unbundling requirement through a rulemaking referred to as the triennial review of UNEs. This rulemaking reopens the question of what network elements must be made available on an unbundled basis under the 1996 Act and will revisit the unbundling decisions made in the order overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In this rulemaking, the FCC also will address other pending issues relating to unbundled elements, including the question of whether competing carriers may substitute combinations of unbundled loops and transport for already competitive special access services. On February 20, 2003, the FCC announced a decision in its triennial review of UNEs, but the order has not yet been released.
Compensation for Internet Traffic
On April 27, 2001, the FCC released an order addressing intercarrier compensation for dial-up connections for Internet-bound traffic. The FCC found that Internet-bound traffic is interstate and subject to the FCCs jurisdiction. Moreover, the FCC again found that Internet-bound traffic is not subject to reciprocal compensation under Section 251(b)(5) of the 1996 Act. Instead, the FCC established federal rates per minute for this traffic that decline from $0.0015 to $0.0007 over a three-year period. The FCC order also sets caps on the total minutes of this traffic that may be subject to any intercarrier compensation and requires that incumbent local exchange carriers must offer to both bill and pay reciprocal compensation for local traffic at the same rate as they are required to pay on Internet-bound traffic. On May 3, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected part of the FCCs rationale for its April 27, 2001 order, but declined to vacate the order while it is on remand.
Several parties requested rehearing, asking the court to vacate the underlying order. Those requests were denied in a series of orders released on September 24, 2002 and September 25, 2002. One carrier has sought U.S. Supreme Court review of that denial. In the meantime, pending further action by the FCC, the FCCs underlying order remains in effect.
State Regulation of Rates and Services
New York
The New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) has adopted a new incentive plan to regulate our services, effective March 1, 2002. The plan provides pricing flexibility, adopts new service quality standards and does not restrict our earnings. The plan will expire in 2004, except that the service quality provisions of the plan will expire in 2005.
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Verizon New York Inc.
The new plan:
| · | Permits us to increase retail rates by 3% of intrastate revenues per year in each of the two years of the plan, but limits any increase on residence service first lines to $1.85 in 2002 and $.65 in 2003, and freezes rates and lowers service connection charges for low income consumers; |
| · | Establishes state-wide service quality standards, with the potential for customer credits and restrictions on our pricing flexibility if we fail to meet those standards; |
| · | Establishes that the rates provided in the NYSPSCs January 2002 order on pricing of UNEs will remain in effect for the duration of the plan; and |
| · | Requires us to transition to generally accepted accounting principles for preparing financial statements for regulatory purposes, over a three-year period. |
On January 28, 2002, the NYSPSC issued an order mandating substantial reductions in the rates that we may charge local exchange competitors for access to UNEs.
On January 22, 2003, the NYSPSC, noting that current FCC and NYSPSC cost allocation and accounting safeguards imposed on us offer strong protection against abusive affiliate transactions, granted our request to terminate an 11-year old set of structural safeguards that restricted transactions between us and Verizons other affiliates.
Connecticut
Our operations in Connecticut have been subject to rate of return regulation. In February 2001, the Department of Public Utility Control adopted an incentive regulation plan proposed by us, which eliminates regulation of earnings and provides other deregulatory benefits.
COMPETITION
Current and potential competitors in telecommunication services include long distance companies, other local telephone companies, cable companies, wireless service providers, foreign telecommunications providers, electric utilities, Internet service providers and other companies that offer network services. Many of these companies have a strong market presence, brand recognition and existing customer relationships, all of which contribute to intensifying competition and may affect our future revenue growth.
Local Exchange Services
The ability to offer local exchange services has historically been subject to regulation by state regulatory commissions. Applications from competitors to provide and resell local exchange services have been approved by NYSPSC. The 1996 Act has significantly increased the level of competition in our local exchange markets.
One of the purposes of the 1996 Act was to ensure, and accelerate, the emergence of competition in local exchange markets. Toward this end, the 1996 Act requires most existing local exchange carriers (incumbent local exchange carriers, or ILECs), including our company, to permit potential competitors (CLECs) to:
| · | purchase service from the ILEC for resale to CLEC customers; |
| · | purchase UNEs from the ILEC; and/or |
| · | interconnect the CLECs network with the ILECs network. |
As a result, competition in our local exchange markets continues to increase. We are generally required to sell our services to CLECs at discounts from the prices we charge our retail customers. The NYSPSC has mandated reductions in the rates we charge local exchange competitors for access to UNEs. See State Regulation of Rates and Services.
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Verizon New York Inc.
Long Distance Services
We offer intraLATA long distance services. IntraLATA toll calls originate and terminate within the same LATA, but generally cover a greater distance than a local call. State regulatory commissions rather than federal authorities generally regulate these services. Federal regulators have jurisdiction over interstate toll services. The NYSPSC permits other carriers to offer intraLATA toll services within the state.
Alternative Access Services
A substantial portion of our revenues from business and government customers is derived from a relatively small number of large, multiple-line subscribers.
We face competition from alternative communications systems, constructed by large end-users, interexchange carriers and alternative access vendors, which are capable of originating and/or terminating calls without the use of our plant. The FCCs orders requiring us to offer collocated interconnection for special and switched access services have enhanced the ability of such alternative access providers to compete with us.
Other potential sources of competition include cable television systems, shared tenant services and other noncarrier systems which are capable of bypassing our local plant, either partially or completely, through substitution of special access for switched access or through concentration of telecommunications traffic on fewer of our lines.
Wireless Services
Wireless services also constitute a significant source of competition to our wireline telecommunications services, especially as wireless carriers (including Verizon Wireless) expand and improve their network coverage and continue to lower their prices to end-users. As a result, more end-users are substituting wireless services for basic wireline service. Wireless telephone services can also be used for data transmission.
Public Telephone Services
The growth of wireless communications has significantly decreased usage of public telephones, as more customers are substituting wireless services for public telephone services. In addition, we face competition from other providers of public telephone services.
Operator Services
Our operator services product line faces competition from alternative operator services providers and Internet service providers.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT
New York Recovery Funding
In August 2002, President Bush signed the Supplemental Appropriations bill passed earlier this year by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The Supplemental Appropriations bill includes $5.5 billion in New York recovery funding. Of that amount, approximately $750 million has been allocated to cover the uninsured losses of businesses (including the restoration of utility infrastructure) as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. These funds will be distributed through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation following an application process.
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Verizon New York Inc.
GENERAL
Our principal properties do not lend themselves to simple description by character and location. Our investment in plant, property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
| 2002 |
2001 |
|||||
| Central office equipment |
43 |
% |
42 |
% | ||
| Outside communications plant |
39 |
|
39 |
| ||
| Land and buildings |
10 |
|
10 |
| ||
| Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment |
5 |
|
6 |
| ||
| Other |
3 |
|
3 |
| ||
| 100 |
% |
100 |
% | |||
Central office equipment consists of switching equipment, transmission equipment and related facilities. Outside communications plant consists primarily of aerial cable, underground cable, conduit and wiring, and telephone poles. Land and buildings consists of land and land improvements, and principally central office buildings. Furniture, vehicles and other work equipment consists of public telephone instruments and telephone equipment, furniture, office equipment, motor vehicles and other work equipment. Other property consists primarily of plant under construction, capital leases, capitalized computer software costs and leasehold improvements.
All of our properties, located in the states of New York and Connecticut, are generally in good operating condition and are adequate to satisfy the needs of our business. Substantially all of our assets are subject to lien under our refunding mortgage bond indenture securing funded debt. We have elected to redeem the last remaining series of refunding mortgage bonds on March 6, 2003. Thereafter, the lien of our refunding mortgage bond indenture will be discharged.
Our customers are served by electronic switching systems that provide a wide variety of services. Our network has full digital capability to furnish advanced data transmission and information management services.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
We continue to make significant capital expenditures to meet the demand for communications services and to further improve such services. Capital spending was approximately $1.6 billion in 2002, $2.5 billion in 2001 and $2.2 billion in 2000. Capital spending for those years excludes capitalized non-network software and additions under capital leases. Our total investment in plant, property and equipment was approximately $28.6 billion at December 31, 2002, $27.5 billion at December 31, 2001 and $25.7 billion at December 31, 2000, including the effect of retirements, but before deducting accumulated depreciation.
| Item 3. | Legal Proceedings |
There were no proceedings reportable under Item 3.
| Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I(2).)
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Verizon New York Inc.
PART II
| Item 5. | Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters |
Not applicable.
| Item 6. | Selected Financial Data |
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I(2).)
7
Verizon New York Inc.
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
(Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction I(2).)
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements listed in the index set forth on page F-1.
OVERVIEW
Description of Business
Verizon New York Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire City Subway Company, are wholly owned subsidiaries of NYNEX Corporation (NYNEX), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon). Empire City Subway Company is primarily in the business of leasing underground conduit in Manhattan and the Bronx, principally to us, but also to other companies in the telecommunications business.
We presently serve a territory consisting of Local Access and Transport Areas (LATAs) in New York, as well as a small portion of Connecticut (Greenwich and Byran only). We have one reportable segment which provides domestic wireline telecommunications services. We currently provide two basic types of telecommunications services:
| · | Exchange telecommunication service is the transmission of telecommunications among customers located within a local calling area within a LATA. Examples of exchange telecommunications services include switched local residential and business services, local private line voice and data services and Centrex services. We also provide toll services within a LATA (intraLATA long distance). |
| · | Exchange access service links a customers premises and the transmission facilities of other telecommunications carriers, generally interLATA carriers. Examples of exchange access services include switched access and special access services. |
The communications services we provide are subject to regulation by the New York State Public Service Commission (NYSPSC) and the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control (CDPUC) with respect to intrastate rates and services and other matters. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates rates that we charge long distance carriers and end-user subscribers for interstate access services. For a further discussion of the Company and our regulatory plans, see Item 1Description of Business.
Critical Accounting Policies
A summary of the critical accounting policies used in preparing our financial statements are as follows:
Most of our employees participate in Verizons defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefit plans. In the aggregate, the fair value of pension plan assets exceeds pension plan benefit obligations. Significant pension and postretirement benefit plan assumptions, including the discount rate used, the long-term rate of return on plan assets, and medical cost trend rates are periodically updated and impact the amount of pension plan results, assets and obligations. For more information on pension plan assumptions, see Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements.
Our current and deferred income taxes and associated valuation allowances (if any) are impacted by events and transactions arising in the normal course of business, as well as in connection with special and non-recurring items. Assessment of the appropriate amount and classification of income taxes is dependent on several factors, including estimates of the timing and realization of deferred income tax assets and the timing of income tax payments. Actual collections and payments may differ from these estimates as a result of changes in tax laws, as well as unanticipated future transactions impacting related income tax balances.
We compute depreciation on plant, property, and equipment principally on the composite group remaining life method and straight-line composite rates over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 50 years. This method provides for the recognition of the cost of the remaining net investment in telephone plant, less anticipated net salvage value (if any), over the remaining asset lives. This method requires the periodic revision of depreciation rates. For a discussion of a change in the accounting for the retirement of certain assets see Other MattersRecent Accounting PronouncementsAsset
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Verizon New York Inc.
Retirement Obligations below. Changes in the estimated useful lives of plant, property, and equipment or depreciation methods could have a material effect on our results of operations.
We recognize service revenues based upon usage of our local exchange network and facilities and contract fees. We recognize product and other service revenues when the products are delivered and accepted by the customers and when services are provided in accordance with contract terms.
In the course of conducting our business, we provide services to and purchase goods and services from affiliated companies. These transactions are supported by tariff rates or contractual agreements the terms of which require estimates and judgments to fairly value such transactions.
All of our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We reported net income of $38.6 million in 2002, compared to net income of $61.1 million in 2001. Our reported results included the following special items:
Employee Terminations
The following table provides a summary of the special charges recorded in 2002 and 2001 related to employee terminations.
| Years ended December 31 | ||||||
| 2002 |
2001 | |||||
| (Dollars in Millions) | ||||||
| Special termination benefits |
$ |
191.9 |
$ |
354.0 | ||
| Settlement loss |
|
90.2 |
|
| ||
| Curtailment loss |
|
206.1 |
|
| ||
| Subtotal |
|
488.2 |
|
354.0 | ||
| Employee severance |
|
187.8 |
|
222.0 | ||
| Total special charges |
$ |
676.0 |
$ |
576.0 | ||
As part of a Verizon workforce reduction plan, we have continued to reduce our headcount as allowed under various management and associate employee benefit plans. As a result, we recorded $191.9 million and $354.0 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively, in connection with various pension and retirement benefit enhancements. Also during 2002, we recorded a $90.2 million pension settlement loss as lump-sum payments exceeded the threshold of service and interest costs. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2002, we recorded a curtailment loss of $206.1 million associated with a significant reduction of the expected years of future service of present employees, which was largely impacted by the involuntary employee terminations in December 2002. The special termination benefits, curtailment and settlement of pension obligations are recorded in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 88, Employers Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits and SFAS No. 106, Employers Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions.
Also during 2002 and 2001, we recorded special charges of $187.8 million and $222.0 million, respectively, for the voluntary and involuntary separation of management and associate employees in accordance with SFAS No. 112, Employers Accounting for Postemployment Benefits. As of December 31, 2002, a total of over 6,500 employees have been separated under the 2001 and 2002 severance programs. We expect to complete the termination of the employees within a year of when the respective charges were recorded. Employee benefit costs are recorded in operations and support expense in our consolidated statements of income.
See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about our employee benefits.
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Verizon New York Inc.
WorldCom Inc.
In 2002, we recorded an impairment charge of $10.4 million driven by our financial statement exposure to WorldCom Inc. (WorldCom). This charge was recorded in operations and support expense in our consolidated statements of income.
WorldCom, including its affiliates, purchases dedicated local exchange capacity from us to support its private networks and we also charge WorldCom for access to our local network. In addition, we sell local wholesale interconnection services and provide billing and collection services to WorldCom. We purchase long distance and related services from WorldCom. On July 21, 2002, WorldCom filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
During 2002, we recorded revenues earned from the provision of primarily network access services to WorldCom of $501.1 million. If WorldCom terminates contracts with us for the provision of services, our operating revenues would be lower in future periods. Lower revenues as a result of canceling contracts for the provision of services could be partially offset, in some cases, by the migration of customers on the terminated facilities to us or other carriers who purchase capacity and/or interconnection services from us.
At December 31, 2002, accounts receivable from WorldCom, net of a provision for uncollectibles, was $68.6 million. We continue to closely monitor our collections on WorldCom account balances. WorldCom is current with respect to its post-bankruptcy obligations. We believe that we are adequately reserved for the potential risk of non-payment of pre-bankruptcy receivables from WorldCom.
Accounting for the Impact of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks
The primary financial statement impact of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks pertains to our plant, equipment and administrative office space located either in, or adjacent to the World Trade Center complex in New York City, and the associated service restoration efforts. During the year ended December 31, 2001, we recorded an estimate of equipment losses and costs incurred associated with service disruption and restoration of approximately $570 million. In addition, we accrued an insurance recovery of approximately $390 million, resulting in a pre-tax income impact of $180 million recorded in operations and support expense in our consolidated statements of income. The costs and estimated insurance recovery were recorded in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 01-10, Accounting for the Impact of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001. In 2002, we recorded an additional insurance recovery of approximately $150 million, primarily offsetting the replacement of fixed assets and expenses incurred in 2002, such that net income in 2002 was not materially impacted by the losses and expenses incurred. As of December 31, 2002, we received insurance proceeds of approximately $350 million.
In August 2002, President Bush signed the Supplemental Appropriations bill passed earlier this year by the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The Supplemental Appropriations bill includes $5.5 billion in New York recovery funding. Of that amount, approximately $750 million has been allocated to cover the uninsured losses of businesses (including the restoration of utility infrastructure) as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks. These funds will be distributed through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation following an application process.
Other Charges
In 2002, we reversed a prior year accrual in connection with our new incentive regulation plan resulting in a reduction in operating expense of approximately $75 million.
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Verizon New York Inc.
Extraordinary Items
During 2002, we recorded extraordinary charges associated with the early extinguishment of long-term debt, which reduced net income by $86,700 (net of an income tax benefit of $46,700). These debt extinguishments consisted of $130.0 million of 4 5/8% refunding mortgage bonds due on January 1, 2004 and $75.0 million of 6% refunding mortgage bonds due on September 1, 2007.
During 2001, we recorded extraordinary charges associated with the early extinguishment of long-term debt, which reduced net income by $9.4 million (net of an income tax benefit of $5.1 million). These debt extinguishments consisted of the following:
| · | In July 2001, we redeemed $167.9 million of 9 3/8% debentures due on July 15, 2031 and $60.0 million of 4 5/8% refunding mortgage bonds due on January 1, 2002. |
| · | In December 2001, we redeemed $200.0 million of 7 3/8% refunding mortgage bonds due on December 15, 2011. |
Transactions with Affiliates
Our financial statements include transactions with affiliates. The more significant affiliate transactions include fees earned from Verizon Yellow Pages Company for the use of our name in soliciting directory advertising and in publishing and distributing directories. We also earn revenues from Verizon Internet Services Inc., Verizon Advanced Data Inc., Verizon Services, Verizon Long Distance, Verizon Wireless Inc. and Verizon Global Networks Inc. for utilization of our network facilities and provision of services.
In addition, our operating revenues and expenses include transactions with other Verizon Operating Telephone Companies primarily for the rental of facilities and equipment and interconnection services.
Further, we recognize operating expenses in connection with contractual arrangements with affiliates, primarily Verizon Services, for the provision of various centralized services to us. We recognize interest income and interest expense in connection with contractual agreements with Verizon Network Funding Corporation, Verizon Global Funding Corporation and Bell Atlantic Administrative Services, Inc. for the provision of short-term financing and cash management services. We recognize equity income from our investment in Verizon Services Group. We also pay quarterly dividends to our parent, NYNEX.
See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information about our transactions with affiliates.
These and other items affecting the comparison of our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 are discussed in the following sections.
11
Verizon New York Inc.
OPERATING REVENUES
(Dollars in Millions)
| Years Ended December 31 |
2002 |
2001 | ||||
| Local services |
$ |
4,901.7 |
$ |
5,232.8 | ||
| Network access services |
|
2,274.7 |
|
2,261.2 | ||