UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-K
[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
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 333-59322 and 333-63454
ACC ACQUISITION LLC
| Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
22-3043811 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
| 14201 Wireless Way Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Address of principal executive offices) |
73134 (Zip Code) |
(405) 529-8500
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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 [ ] No [X]
The registrant is not subject to filing requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, but files reports required by those sections pursuant to contractual obligations.
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [ ] No [X]
Documents incorporated by reference: None
ACC ACQUISITION LLC
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Item | ||||||||
| Number | Page | |||||||
| PART I |
||||||||
| 1 | Business |
3 | ||||||
| 2 | Properties |
15 | ||||||
| 3 | Legal Proceedings |
15 | ||||||
| 4 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
15 | ||||||
| PART II |
||||||||
| 5 | Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Member Matters |
16 | ||||||
| 6 | Selected Financial Data |
16 | ||||||
| 7 | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations |
18 | ||||||
| 7A | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |
29 | ||||||
| 8 | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data |
30 | ||||||
| 9 | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Matters |
50 | ||||||
| PART III |
||||||||
| 10 | Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant |
51 | ||||||
| 11 | Executive Compensation |
52 | ||||||
| 12 | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management |
52 | ||||||
| 13 | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions |
52 | ||||||
| 14 | Controls and Procedures |
55 | ||||||
| PART IV |
||||||||
| 15 | Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K |
56 | ||||||
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PART I
Item 1. Business
Overview
We are one of the largest rural and suburban providers of wireless communications services in the United States. At December 31, 2002, our wireless telephone systems covered a total population of 5.0 million and we had approximately 690,400 subscribers with an aggregate market penetration of 13.8%. We provide wireless telephone service in portions of Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin. We offer digital voice and digital feature services to all of our covered population through our existing Time Division Multiple Access, or TDMA digital network. We are currently in the process of updating to the Global System for Mobile Communications, or GSM, and General Packet Radio Service, or GPRS, digital network which will enable us to offer enhanced data services. For the year ended December 31, 2002, on a consolidated basis, we had total revenue of $452.8 million and a net loss applicable to members of $1.1 billion. At December 31, 2002, we had $1.6 billion of indebtedness and a members deficit of $528.3 million.
We are a limited liability company equally owned by AT&T Wireless and Dobson Communications Corporation, or Dobson Communications. February 15, 2000, we were formed to acquire the operations of American Cellular Corporation, or American, and its subsidiaries. Dobson Communications manages our day-to-day operations in accordance with a management agreement. Under the terms of this agreement, Dobson Communications has fully integrated our operations with its own operations such that Dobson Communications and we share common management and administrative/back-office functions. In addition, Dobson Communications and we operate in a manner that takes advantage of our combined scale in as many areas as possible. We have interoperable customer networks, market our products under the CELLULAR ONE® trademark, have common rate-plan pricing and marketing strategies and utilize a common billing vendor. Because of the services provided by Dobson Communications under the management agreement, we have no employees of our own or officers that work exclusively for us.
We believe that owning and operating a mix of rural and suburban wireless systems provides strong growth opportunities because we believe these systems currently have lower penetration rates, higher subscriber growth rates, less competition for subscribers than wireless systems located in larger metropolitan areas and a higher proportion of roaming revenue. We focus on acquiring and operating wireless systems that are adjacent to major metropolitan areas, which include a high concentration of expressway corridors and roaming activity.
Beginning on June 30, 2002 and continuing through December 31, 2002, we have failed to comply with a financial covenant on our senior credit facility, which requires that we not exceed a certain total debt leverage ratio. Our lenders presently have the right, but not the obligation, to accelerate the repayment of the entire amount outstanding under the senior credit facility. Acceleration under the senior credit facility would allow the holders of Americans senior subordinated notes to declare the principal and interest of the senior subordinated notes immediately due and payable. To date, no such acceleration has occurred. We anticipate that our cash flow from operations, along with cash on hand, will be sufficient to meet our capital requirements through October 2003, at which time we will be required to make additional cash interest payments on the senior subordinated notes. If the cash interest payments on the senior subordinated notes are not made, the senior subordinated noteholders could declare the principal and interest of the notes immediately due and payable. We continue to hold discussions with our bank lenders and with representatives of certain of our bondholders concerning a potential reorganization. We would then be required to either refinance the debt or repay the amounts due. We can provide no assurance that we would be successful in reorganizing or be able to meet our obligation under the accelerated repayment terms. Therefore, at December 31, 2002, all of our long-term debt is classified as current. Unless such non-compliance is resolved, there continues to be substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, as expressed in the independent auditors report.
Strategy
Our strategy is to capitalize on our competitive strengths and further develop and operate rural and suburban wireless systems. We have developed organizational, marketing and operational programs designed to increase the number of our subscribers, promote superior customer service, enhance roaming revenue, control operating costs and improve the profitability of our operations.
Competitive Strengths
Strong Current Market Position. We have significant market share in our wireless markets. We distinguish ourselves from our competition by emphasizing digital technology, customer care and a commitment to the local community. We plan to attract additional subscribers by leveraging our strategic roaming relationships, digital technologies, local sales channels and diverse service offerings, including national, regional and local rate plans.
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Attractive Markets. Our markets have demonstrated positive demographic growth trends, generally have maintained a high population density relative to other rural and suburban markets and generally have fewer competitors than metropolitan markets. Also, our markets are attractive due to their proximity to markets operated by our primary roaming partners in major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Louisville. Our markets have a relatively high density of highway and other traffic corridors and strong tourist activity due to seasonal attractions. Substantially all of the licenses under which we operate are 850 MHz licenses. We believe that in the rural and suburban markets in which we operate, the 850 MHz licenses generally provide the wireless operator the most cost effective platform for delivering service to the end user.
Advanced Digital Technology. We continue to increase the capacity and capabilities of our systems to attract additional subscribers, increase the use of our systems by existing subscribers, increase roaming activity and further enhance the overall efficiency of our network. Our primary technology is TDMA. However, we are currently in the process of updating to GSM to enable us to offer data capabilities and meet the needs of our roaming partners who have begun utilizing GSM technology.
Strategic Roaming Relationships. We intend to maintain and expand strategic relationships with operators of wireless systems in major metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, near our wireless systems. These relationships include roaming agreements to allow our subscribers and the subscribers of our roaming partners to roam on each others networks at favorable rates. In addition, we deploy digital technology in our systems areas that is the same as that selected by our roaming partners in the neighboring MSA. We believe these strategic roaming relationships and agreements enable us to maximize our roaming revenue and offer our subscribers larger home rate areas. Our two most significant strategic roaming relationships are with AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless.
Localized Management of Distribution Channels. We distribute our products primarily through retail outlets, a direct sales force and independent dealers. Our local management teams have day-to-day operating authority with the flexibility to respond to individual market requirements. Their presence fosters a sense of customer service and community spirit. In addition, we believe that our marketing and customer service functions are more effective when tailored to the local market population.
Targeted Sales Efforts. We seek to attract subscribers who will generate high monthly revenue and low churn rates. Local management designs marketing programs to target these subscribers and tailors distinctive rate plans to emphasize the quality, value and advantage of our services.
Superior Customer Service. We support local customer service through retail stores, a direct sales force, and regional customer service call centers that offer 24-hour services. The regional presence of our call centers enhances our knowledge of local markets, which improves our ability to provide customer service, credit and collection and order activation.
Experienced Management Team. With more than 50 years of telecommunications experience on a combined basis, our senior management team, consisting of Everett R. Dobson, Douglas B. Stephens and Bruce R. Knooihuizen, is extremely knowledgeable and well regarded in the telecommunications industry.
Integration with Dobson Communications. We believe that the integration of our operations with Dobson Communications has significant benefits. Our licensed areas, combined with those of Dobson Communications, cover an estimated population of more than 11.4 million, and together we served more than 1.5 million subscribers at December 31, 2002. This size and scale enables us to reduce our operating costs and receive certain technical, network and operational functions from Dobson Communications existing corporate infrastructure.
Operations
Markets and Systems
The following table sets forth information with respect to our existing wireless markets. Information with respect to populations in licensed areas is as of December 31, 2002 and is our estimate based upon the Claritas 2000 Bureau of Census results, adjusted to exclude those portions of our rural service areas, or RSAs, and MSAs not covered by our licenses. Net population represents total population less minority ownership interests in our licenses. Information with respect to subscribers is our estimate as of December 31, 2002 and excludes the market we sold to Verizon Wireless in February 2002. We determine market penetration by dividing the total number of subscribers in each of our FCC wireless licensed areas at the end of the period by the estimated total population covered by the applicable wireless license.
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| Total | Net | ||||||||||
| Markets: | Population | Population | |||||||||
Central Region |
|||||||||||
Northeast Oklahoma/Southeast Kansas PCS |
259,400 | 259,400 | |||||||||
Total Central Region |
259,400 | 259,400 | |||||||||
Northwest Region |
|||||||||||
Alton, IL MSA |
21,700 | 18,900 | |||||||||
MI 1 RSA |
202,700 | 202,700 | |||||||||
Duluth MN MSA |
243,800 | 243,800 | |||||||||
MN 2 RSA |
31,800 | 31,800 | |||||||||
MN 3 RSA |
58,400 | 58,400 | |||||||||
MN 4 RSA |
16,300 | 16,300 | |||||||||
MN 5 RSA |
214,700 | 214,700 | |||||||||
MN 6 RSA |
274,500 | 274,500 | |||||||||
Eau Claire WI MSA |
148,300 | 145,300 | |||||||||
Wausau WI MSA |
125,800 | 123,300 | |||||||||
WI 1 RSA |
118,000 | 118,000 | |||||||||
WI 2 RSA |
86,100 | 86,100 | |||||||||
WI 3 RSA |
142,900 | 142,900 | |||||||||
WI 4 RSA |
124,300 | 124,300 | |||||||||
WI 5 RSA |
83,900 | 83,900 | |||||||||
WI 6 RSA |
33,600 | 33,600 | |||||||||
Total Northwest Region |
1,926,800 | 1,918,500 | |||||||||
East Region |
|||||||||||
Orange County NY MSA |
341,400 | 341,400 | |||||||||
Poughkeepsie NY MSA |
280,200 | 269,000 | |||||||||
NY 5 RSA |
393,100 | 393,100 | |||||||||
NY 6 RSA |
111,300 | 111,300 | |||||||||
OH 7 RSA |
261,500 | 261,500 | |||||||||
OH 10 RSA |
62,300 | 62,300 | |||||||||
KY 4 RSA |
260,300 | 260,300 | |||||||||
KY 5 RSA |
164,400 | 164,400 | |||||||||
KY 6 RSA |
277,700 | 277,700 | |||||||||
KY 8 RSA |
124,500 | 124,500 | |||||||||
PA 9 RSA |
189,300 | 189,300 | |||||||||
WV 2 RSA |
76,600 | 76,600 | |||||||||
WV 3 RSA |
268,200 | 268,200 | |||||||||
Total East Region |
2,810,800 | 2,799,600 | |||||||||
Total American Cellular regions combined |
4,997,000 | 4,977,500 | |||||||||
Total subscribers |
690,400 | ||||||||||
Total penetration |
13.8 | % | |||||||||
Service and Features
We develop and deploy some of the most advanced wireless products and services. From a fully digital network to the introduction of a wireless Internet product, we strive to consistently deliver cutting-edge services and technologies to our customer base. We attempt to maximize the choices available to our customers through offering the latest line of hand-held wireless phones from a wide variety of manufacturers. We design our rate plans to fit the specific needs of our customers. We offer no-toll plans, nation-wide plans and unlimited local calling plans. In addition, we focus on the development of plans that maximize our profit margin. We balance the needs of the customer with our on-going objective to increase profitability. We solidify our commitment to our customer base through the high priority we place on deploying the latest products, services and competitive rate plans.
The following are key components of our service offerings:
Wireless Calling. Our primary service offering is wireless telephone service. We offer digital service using the TDMA digital standard, and analog service using Advanced Mobile Phone Service, or AMPS, in all of our wireless markets. In addition, we offer various custom-calling features, including voice mail, call forwarding, call waiting, three-way calling, no answer transfer, caller ID, message waiting indicator, sleep mode for longer battery life, voice activated dialing, and mobile originated and mobile terminated short message service.
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Voice Privacy and Call Security. As of December 31, 2002, 83.9% of our subscribers utilize digital technology. Digital technology is inherently more secure than analog technologies, and provides increased voice privacy and enhanced fraud protection for our customers.
Tri-Mode Handsets. Our digital subscribers use tri-mode, dual-band handsets. These handsets are compatible with analog cellular, digital cellular and digital PCS service, allowing our subscribers access to AT&T Wireless national footprint, as well as the extensive coverage areas of our other roaming partners, including Cingular Wireless.
Marketing
The following are key components of our marketing strategy:
Branding. We offer wireless service under the CELLULAR ONE® trademark. We believe the national support offered by the Cellular One Group has enhanced our advertising exposure. We also believe that we have obtained significant marketing benefits from the high name recognition associated with this widely used service mark.
We use the CELLULAR ONE® trademark pursuant to licensing agreements with Cellular One Group. We pay licensing and advertising fees based upon the population of the licensed areas. Our licensing agreements with the Cellular One Group are for five-year terms expiring on various dates. These agreements may be renewed at our option for three additional five-year terms. From time-to-time, we may consider alternative brand name strategies and service marks.
Advertising. Our advertising strategy is focused on establishing a strong local presence in each of our markets. We direct our media efforts at the market level by advertising in local publications and sponsoring local and regional events. We also use mass media outlets such as television, radio, newspaper, magazine and outdoor advertising, as well as direct marketing, to augment our efforts at the community level.
We focus our marketing program on attracting subscribers who we believe are likely to generate high monthly revenue and low churn rates. We undertake extensive market research to identify and design marketing programs to attract these subscribers and tailor distinctive rate plans and roaming rates to emphasize the quality, value and advantage of our wireless service. We have established marketing alliances with neighboring wireless systems to create larger home rate areas in order to increase our roaming revenue and to attract new subscribers. We market our service offerings primarily through our direct sales force and company-owned retail stores. We also use a network of dealers, such as electronics stores, car dealerships and department stores. In addition to these traditional channels, our marketing team continuously evaluates other, less traditional, methods of distributing our services and products, such as targeted telemarketing and direct mail programs.
Segmented Rate Plans. We offer our subscribers a diverse array of rate plans, so that each subscriber can choose the plan that best fits that subscribers expected calling needs. Our offerings include our Clear Across AmericaTM national rate plans, which uses the networks of Dobson Communications, and those of AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless, plus regional and local rate plans at a variety of pricing tiers. The majority of our new digital subscribers are on our local rate plans, which generally include only areas covered by our network as the home area. Our rate plans generally combine a fixed monthly access charge, a designated number of minutes-of-use, per minute usage charges for minutes in excess of the included amount and additional charges for certain custom-calling features. Most of our plans include some features such as voice mail, caller ID, call forwarding and call waiting. These plans offer value to the customer while enhancing airtime usage and revenue. Local management conducts market research to identify and design rate plans to emphasize the quality, value and advantage of our wireless communications services
Sales and Distribution
We primarily sell and distribute our wireless services, phones and accessories through three distribution channels; retail stores, direct sales and independent dealers. For the year ended December 31, 2002, approximately 50% of our gross subscriber additions were added through our retail stores, while our direct sales force was responsible for over 10% and our independent dealers added almost 30%.
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As of December 31, 2002, we had approximately 80 retail stores and outlets. Most of our retail stores are fully equipped to handle customer service. Some of these stores are also authorized warranty repair centers. Our stores provide customer-friendly retail environments, including extended hours, a large selection of products and services, a well trained sales staff and convenient locations, which are designed to make the sales process quick and easy for the subscriber.
We train and compensate our sales force in a manner designed to stress the importance of customer service, high penetration levels and minimum acquisition costs per subscriber. We believe that our direct sales force is able to select and screen new subscribers and select pricing plans that realistically match subscriber needs. As a result, we believe that our direct sales force reduces our marketing costs because our subscriber retention rate is higher than when we use independent dealers. As of December 31, 2002 we had approximately 80 direct sales representatives.
As of December 31, 2002, we had approximately 165 independent dealers, or agents. These independent dealers allow us a third distribution channel by offering our services and equipment through retail outlets, such as car dealerships, electronics stores, paging service companies and independent contractors.
We believe that our after-sale telemarketing program, which includes courtesy calls to our new customers and is conducted by our sales force and customer service personnel, helps to reduce our churn rates. This program enhances customer loyalty and allows our sales staff to check customer satisfaction as well as to offer additional calling features, such as voicemail, call waiting and call forwarding.
Customer Service
Customer service is an essential element of our marketing and operating philosophy. We attract new subscribers and retain existing subscribers by providing high-quality customer service. Our customers benefit from a local staff, including a market manager, customer service field representatives, technical and engineering staff, sales representatives and installation and repair facilities. Local offices and installation and repair facilities allow us to better service our customers, schedule installations and make repairs. As of December 31, 2002, our markets were serviced by four regional call centers, which, in aggregate, employed approximately 350 customer care representatives. The regional presence of these call centers enhances our knowledge of the local markets, which improves our ability to provide customer service, credit and collection and order activation.
In addition, our customers are able to report wireless telephone service or account problems 24-hours a day to our customer service centers on a toll-free access number with no airtime charge. We believe that our emphasis on customer service affords us a competitive advantage over our larger competitors. We frequently contact our subscribers in order to evaluate and measure, on an ongoing basis, the quality and competitiveness of our services.
Roaming
Roaming is an important service component for our business. Accordingly, where possible, we attempt to arrange roaming agreements that allow customers to roam at competitive prices. We believe this increases usage on all wireless systems, including our own. We operate many systems that are adjacent to major metropolitan areas and include a high concentration of expressway corridors. These systems tend to have a significant amount of roaming activity.
Our most significant roaming partner is AT&T Wireless. For the year ended December 31, 2002, AT&T Wireless customers accounted for approximately 49% of our roaming revenue or approximately 15% of our total operating revenue. Under our AT&T Wireless roaming agreement, AT&T Wireless and we charge each other favorable roaming rates for each of our respective markets. These rates will decrease over time. Our roaming agreement with AT&T Wireless requires that we maintain and provide certain call features and related services to roaming customers, such as call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, caller ID and voice mail. This roaming agreement may be terminated or suspended by either party if the FCC revokes a license covering a material portion of either partys markets, or if either party fails to control subscriber fraud, fails to adhere to system technical requirements and upgrades or breaches any of the material terms of the roaming agreement. The roaming agreement expires in June 2007 and excludes GSM/GPRS, usage.
Another significant roaming partner is Cingular Wireless. For the year ended December 31, 2002, Cingular Wireless customers accounted for approximately 19% of our roaming revenue or approximately 6% of our total operating revenue. Under our Cingular
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Wireless roaming agreement, Cingular Wireless and we charge each other favorable roaming rates for both usage of TDMA and GSM in our respective markets. These rates will decrease over time. Our roaming agreement with Cingular Wireless requires that we maintain and provide certain call features and related services to roaming customers, such as call waiting, call forwarding, three-way calling, caller ID and voice mail. This roaming agreement may be terminated or suspended by either party if the FCC revokes a license covering a material portion of either partys markets, or if either party fails to control subscriber fraud, fails to adhere to system technical requirements and upgrades or breaches any of the material terms of the roaming agreement. The roaming agreement expires in December 2011.
We are included in the North American Cellular Network, or NACN, which is the largest wireless telephone network system in the world linking wireless operators throughout the United States and Canada and enabling customers to use their wireless phones to place and receive calls in these areas as easily as they do in their home areas. Through this network, customers are able to receive calls automatically without the use of complicated roaming codes as they roam in more than 5,000 cities and towns in the United States and Canada. In addition, the NACN enables special services such as call forwarding and call waiting, to automatically follow subscribers as they travel.
Billing System
Through December 2002, Verisign Telecommunications Services, or VTS, provided exclusive billing functions for all of our wireless operations. In November 2002, we signed a five year contract with Convergys Corporation for use of their billing and customer care systems under a service bureau arrangement. Beginning after June 2003, we will replace the VTS systems with the Convergys Atlys® billing and customer care systems operating in a Convergys data center to support wireless voice and data services as well as emerging technology offerings. Consistent with the billing services previously offered by VTS, Convergys will provide billing for all our subscribers across all regions. Convergys will also handle all the administration and maintenance of the Atlys® application and the associated infrastructure. Convergys and their partners will be responsible for the processing and printing of all customer invoices.
Network Operations
Network Communications Equipment. Our network communications equipment is provided by a variety of leading network suppliers, including Nortel Networks. We often aggregate our orders for network equipment with those of Dobson Cellular Systems, another operating subsidiary of Dobson Communications, to obtain additional equipment discounts.
Connection Agreements. Our wireless network connects to the public switched telephone network system through local exchange carriers. We have interconnection agreements with BellSouth, SBC (Ameritech, Southwestern Bell), Verizon (Bell Atlantic, GTE), Sprint, and Qwest (U S West) and other local exchange carriers within our markets. The expiration dates of these agreements vary from one to three years. Upon expiration, the agreements automatically renew for six months to one year and can terminate with mutual written consent by either party.
Long Distance Connection. We have executed a wholesale long distance agreement with AT&T Corp. to provide long distance services for the next three years with the ability to lower cost with increased growth.
Network Operations. Our network operations are monitored by regional network personnel, who provide monitoring on a real-time basis for items including alarm monitoring, power outages, tower lighting problems and traffic patterns.
System Development and Technology
System Development. We develop or build out our service areas in response to projected subscriber demand and competitive factors by adding voice circuits to existing cell sites and by building new cell sites to increase capacity with an emphasis on improving coverage for hand-held phones in high-traffic areas. We develop projected subscriber service demand for each market area on a cell-by-cell basis.
We expect our network expansion to enable us to continue to add and retain subscribers, enhance subscriber use of our systems, increase roaming traffic due to the large geographic area covered by our network and further enhance the overall efficiency of our systems. We believe that the increased coverage and capacity will continue to have a positive impact on market penetration and subscriber usage.
Digital Technology. Our TDMA digital technology divides each channel into three voice circuits providing service to three simultaneous users instead of using the same spectrum for one analog voice circuit. Our digital services include digital voice circuits, short messaging services, message waiting indicator, increased battery life and caller ID services.
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During the second half of 2002, we began to overlay selected markets with GSM voice network. This network will also support the GPRS data technology. With this data network, we expect to be able to offer 40Kb to 60Kb individual data speeds to subscribers and roamers. We plan to complete our first phase of GSM/GPRS overlay in most of our markets by the end of 2003. GSM/GPRS is the technology choice of both AT&T Wireless and Cingular Wireless.
Competition
We compete with one or more companies in most of our markets throughout our regions. These companies include AT&T Wireless (Telecorp), Alltel, Cingular Wireless, Nextel, Rural Cellular, Sprint PCS, T-Mobile, US Cellular and Verizon Wireless.
The telecommunications industry is experiencing significant technological changes, as evidenced by the increasing pace of improvements in the capacity and quality of digital technology, shorter cycles for new products and enhancements and changes in consumer preferences and expectations. Accordingly, we expect competition in the wireless telecommunications industry to be dynamic and intense as a result of competitors and the development of new technologies, products and services. Many of our competitors have been operating for a number of years, operate nationwide systems, currently serve a substantial subscriber base and have significantly greater financial, personnel, technical, marketing, sales and distribution resources than we do. Some competitors have begun to market enhanced data services, such as single carrier radio transmission technology, or 1XRTT, and GPRS. We are currently in the process of upgrading our networks to GSM/GPRS.
We compete against other facilities-based cellular carriers, personal communications service, or PCS, carriers and enhanced specialized mobile radio service, or ESMR, carriers in each of our markets. We compete for customers based principally upon price, the services and enhancements offered, the quality of our system, customer service, system coverage and capacity. This competition may increase to the extent that licenses are transferred from smaller, stand-alone operators to larger, better-capitalized and more experienced wireless operators that may be able to offer consumers certain network advantages.
Subject to certain conditions, AT&T Wireless has agreed not to build PCS networks using TDMA or analog technology in any of the markets currently served by us until February 25, 2005. AT&T currently operates a PCS TDMA network that competes with portions of our markets in Kentucky. AT&T inherited these competing networks with their purchase of Telecorp and they have plans to deploy GSM/GPRS technologies in Kentucky during 2003. We plan to overlay our markets with GSM/GPRS technology during 2003 and 2004.
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The FCC has created potential sources of new competition by auctioning additional PCS licenses, as well as licenses for wireless communications services, local multipoint distribution service, 39 GHz service and 220 to 222 MHz service. Further, the FCC has announced plans to auction licenses in the 4.9 GHz, 24 GHz and 700 MHz bands that may be usable for mobile services. The FCC has also recently allocated an additional 90 MHz of spectrum (in the 1.7 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands) for advanced wireless services, and is in the process of adopting service and auction rules for these bands. The FCC has also initiated a number of rule making proceedings to allocate additional spectrum to wireless use, much of which can be licensed for commercial wireless purposes. In the future, we may also compete more directly with traditional landline telephone service providers.
We also face, to a lesser extent, competition from mobile satellite service, or MSS, providers, as well as from resellers of these services and wireless service. The FCC recently granted MSS providers the flexibility to deploy an ancillary terrestrial component to their satellite services. This added flexibility may enhance MSS providers ability to offer more competitive mobile services.
Continuing technological advances in telecommunications make it impossible to predict the extent of future competition. However, due to the depth and breadth of the competitive services offered by operators using these other technologies, future competition from these operators could be intense.
Discontinued Operations
On February 8, 2002, we sold Tennessee 4 RSA to Verizon Wireless for a total purchase price of $202.0 million. The Tennessee 4 RSA covered a total population of approximately 290,800 and had a subscriber base of approximately 24,900, which were not included in our December 31, 2001 reported amounts. As a result of this sale, the results of operations for Tennessee 4 RSA during the years presented are included as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements. Proceeds from this transaction were primarily used to pay down bank debt.
Regulation
The wireless telecommunications industry is subject to extensive governmental regulation on the federal level and to varying degrees on the state level. The enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 has had an impact on many aspects of this regulation. In addition, this regulation currently is the subject of administrative rulemakings and judicial proceedings that are significant to us.
Federal Regulation
The licensing, construction, modification, operation, ownership and acquisition of wireless telephone systems are subject to regulations and policies of the FCC under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The FCC has promulgated rules and regulations governing, among other things, applications to construct and operate wireless communications systems, applications to transfer control of or assign wireless licenses and technical and operational standards for the operation of wireless systems (such as maximum power and antenna height).
The FCC licenses cellular systems in accordance with 734 geographically defined market areas comprised of 306 MSAs and 428 RSAs. In each market, the FCC licenses two cellular systems operating on different 25 MHz frequency blocks designated as Block A and Block B. Apart from the different frequency blocks, there is no technical difference between the two cellular systems and the operational requirements imposed on each by the FCC are the same. Under FCC rules, the authorized service area of a cellular provider in each of its markets is referred to as the cellular geographic service area. The cellular geographic service area may conform exactly to the boundaries of the FCC designated MSA or RSA, or it may be smaller if a licensee has chosen not to provide services to certain areas. A cellular licensee has the exclusive right to expand its cellular geographic service area boundaries within the licensees MSA or RSA for a period of five years after grant of the licensees initial construction permit. At the end of this five-year build-out period, however, other entities may apply to serve portions of the MSA or RSA in areas outside the licensees then designated cellular geographic service area. The five year build-out period has expired for all of the licenses we currently hold and the FCC has granted several unserved area applications filed by us and by other parties for the MSAs and RSAs in which we are the licensee.
The FCC has in the past restricted an entitys ability to own interests in both cellular frequency blocks in a market (the so-called cellular cross interest rule) and further restricted the amount of commercial mobile radio service, or CMRS, spectrum in which an entity may hold an attributable interest (the so-called spectrum cap rule). On November 8, 2001, the FCC adopted a Report and Order in which it (1) repealed the cellular cross interest restriction as applied to ownership interests in MSAs, but retained the rule as applied to ownership interests in RSAs, and (2) increased the amount of attributable CMRS spectrum that may be held to 55 MHz throughout
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all MSAs and RSAs. We have joined with three other carriers to request reconsideration of the FCCs decision to retain the cellular cross interest restriction with respect to ownership interests in RSAs, as we believe the record does not provide any support for distinguishing unfairly between interests in RSAs and similar interests in MSAs. We have made several other filings on this issue, but we cannot predict when or if the FCC will act on our petitions.
Also pursuant to that Report and Order, as of January 1, 2003, the FCC has eliminated the CMRS spectrum cap rule and now engages in a case-by case review of transactions that would raise concerns similar to those that the spectrum cap was designed to address. By eliminating a hard cap in favor of the more flexible analysis, we believe the changes adopted by the FCC in the November 8, 2001 Report and Order could further increase the ability of wireless operators to attract capital or to make investments in other wireless operators.
Cellular and PCS providers also must satisfy a variety of FCC requirements relating to technical and reporting matters. One requirement of cellular providers is the coordination of proposed frequency usage with adjacent cellular users, permittees and licensees in order to avoid interference between adjacent systems. In addition, the height and power of cellular base station transmitting facilities and the type of signals they emit must fall within specified parameters. PCS providers may not exceed a certain field strength limit at the market boundary without the consent of the neighboring PCS licensee. We are obligated to pay annual regulatory fees and assessments to support the FCCs regulation of the cellular and PCS industries, as well as fees necessary to support federal universal service programs, number portability regional database costs, centralized administration of telephone numbering, telecommunications relay service for the hearing-impaired and application filing fees. These regulatory payment obligations increase our costs of doing business.
The Commission recently adopted a Report and Order that removed or significantly reduced the impact of many outdated cellular rules, eliminated a number of technical requirements and granted additional technical and operational flexibility. Among the changes is a phase out over a five-year period of the requirement that all cellular carriers provide analog service throughout their territory. These new rule changes became effective on February 18, 2003, and should enable us to operate more efficiently and to utilize our licensed spectrum more effectively in providing services that meet our customers requirements.
The FCC may prohibit or impose conditions on transfers of licenses. The Communications Act requires prior FCC approval for substantive, non pro forma transfers or assignments to or from us of a controlling interest in any license or construction permit, or any rights thereunder. Although we cannot assure you that the FCC will approve or act in a timely fashion upon any future requests for approval of applications that we file, we have no reason to believe that the FCC would not approve or grant such requests or applications in due course. Because an FCC license is necessary to lawfully provide cellular or PCS service, if the FCC were to disapprove any such filing our business plans would be adversely affected.
The FCC also regulates a number of other aspects of the cellular business. Federal legislation enacted in 1993 requires the FCC to reduce the disparities in the regulatory treatment of similar mobile services, such as cellular services, PCS and ESMR. Under this regulatory structure, all of our cellular and PCS licenses are classified as CMRS. As a CMRS provider, the FCC regulates us as a common carrier. The FCC, however, has exempted cellular and PCS offerings from some typical common carrier regulations, such as tariff and interstate certification filings, thereby allowing us to respond more quickly to our competition in the marketplace, and preempted state rate and entry regulation.
The FCC has also adopted requirements for cellular and other CMRS providers to implement basic and enhanced 911, or E-911, services. These services provide state and local emergency service providers with the ability to better identify and locate callers using wireless services, including callers using special devices for the hearing impaired. Our obligations to implement these services occur in stages, and on a market-by-market basis as emergency service providers request the implementation of E-911 services within their locales. In June 2002, the FCC extended the deadlines for meeting certain of these 911 requirements the Phase II capabilities whereby emergency service providers receive the 911 callers geographic location to March 1, 2003, at the earliest (the actual date for implementing this capability in any given locale will be based on its readiness to participate in E-911 services). We are currently constructing facilities to implement these capabilities in several markets, although we cannot state at this time whether we will be able to meet all of the requirements imposed by the FCC, whether some additional relief from these regulations will be required, or whether the FCC would grant such relief if we request to do so. The extent to which we are required to deploy E-911 services will affect our capital spending obligations. The FCC in 1999 amended its rules to eliminate a requirement that carriers be compensated for enhanced 911 costs and expand the circumstances under which wireless carriers may be required to offer E-911 services. Federal legislation enacted in 1999 may limit our liability for uncompleted 911 calls to a degree commensurate with wireline carriers in our markets.
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Under certain circumstances, federal law also requires cellular and PCS carriers to provide law enforcement agencies with capacity to support lawful wiretaps and technical capabilities for wiretaps. We have obtained an interim waiver of these requirements through November 19, 2003 for packet-mode services and for certain capabilities associated with voice services. Federal law also requires compliance with wiretap-related record-keeping and personnel-related obligations. Maintaining compliance with these wireless 911 and law enforcement wiretap requirements may create additional capital obligations for us to make necessary system upgrades.
The FCC permits cellular, broadband PCS, paging and ESMR licensees to offer fixed services on a co-primary basis along with mobile services. This rule may facilitate the provision of wireless local loop service, which involves the use of wireless links to provide local telephone service by cellular licensees, as well as broadband PCS and ESMR licensees, although the extent of lawful state regulation of such wireless local loop service is undetermined.
Wireless carriers may also be designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers and may receive universal service support for providing service to consumers that use wireless service in high cost areas as their only phone service, as well as to consumers in these areas who also maintain wireline service. We are currently contemplating whether and where to apply for this designation in the various jurisdictions in which we provide wireless services to qualifying high cost areas.
The FCC has also adopted number pooling rules that affect the way that telephone numbers generally are allocated in order to make a more efficient allotment of the dwindling numbers available. Number pooling is only mandatory at this point within the wireline rate centers in which we have drawn numbers and which are located in counties that are included in the Top 100 MSAs as defined by the FCCs rules. A number of our markets are partially or wholly contained within the Top 100 MSAs. We have expended capital preparing for number pooling in these markets as well as preparing to support the roaming of pooled numbers into our markets. The FCC also has authorized states to initiate limited numbering administration to supplement federal requirements including a number of states in which we provide service.
In addition, the FCC has ordered all carriers, including wireless carriers, to adopt a method for providing customers with telephone number portability, i.e., the ability to keep their telephone numbers when they change telecommunications carriers, either wireless to wireless or, in some instances, wireline to wireless, and vice versa. Under the local number portability rules, a CMRS carrier located in one of the Top 100 MSAs that received a request by February 24, 2003, from another carrier to allow end-users to port their telephone numbers, must be capable of doing so by November 24, 2003. Outside of the Top 100 MSAs, CMRS carriers that receive a request to allow end users to port their telephone numbers must be capable of doing so within six months after receiving the request or within six months of November 24, 2003, whichever is later. In addition, all CMRS carriers have been required since November 24, 2002 to support roaming nationwide for customers with ported or pooled numbers. These number portability requirements are likely to result in added capital expenditures for us to make necessary system changes. We have intervened in support of a pending appeal of these requirements filed by the wireless industry with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. We are not able at this time to predict whether the court will enjoin or remove these requirements or whether the FCC will otherwise act to delay their implementation.
The FCC generally grants cellular and PCS licenses for terms of ten years that are renewable upon application to the FCC. Near the conclusion of the license term, we must file applications for renewal of licenses to obtain authority to operate for an additional 10-year term. To date, the FCC has renewed each of our licenses for which a renewal application was required for a new ten-year term. The FCC may revoke our licenses and may deny our license renewal applications for cause after appropriate notice and hearing. The FCC will award a renewal expectancy to us if we meet certain standards of past performance. If we receive a renewal expectancy, it is very likely that the FCC will renew our existing cellular and PCS licenses so that they will not become subject to competing applications. To receive a renewal expectancy, we must show that we have provided substantial service during our past license term, and have substantially complied with applicable FCC rules and policies and the Communications Act. The FCC defines substantial service as service which is sound, favorable and substantially above a level of mediocre service that might only minimally warrant renewal. If a licensee does not receive a renewal expectancy, then the FCC will accept competing applications for the license, subject to a comparative hearing, and the FCC may award the license to another entity.
A PCS system operates under a protected geographic service area license granted by the FCC for either a major trading area, or MTA, or a basic trading area, or BTA, on one of six frequency blocks allocated for broadband PCS. The FCC has divided the United States and its possessions and territories into PCS markets based upon Rand McNallys 493 BTAs, all of which are included in the 51 MTAs. The FCC has allocated 120 MHz of radio spectrum in the 2 GHz band for licensed broadband PCS. The FCC divided the 120 MHz of spectrum into six individual blocks, two 30 MHz blocks (A and B Blocks) licensed for each of the 51 MTAs, one 30 MHz block (C Block) licensed for each of the 493 BTAs, and three 10 MHz blocks (D, E and F Blocks) licensed for each of the 493 BTAs, for a total of more than 2,000 licenses.
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The FCC has adopted construction standards for PCS licenses. All 30 MHz broadband PCS licensees must construct facilities that offer coverage to one-third of the population of their service area within five years, and two-thirds of the population within ten years, of their initial license grants. All 10 MHz and 15 MHz Block licensees must provide service to 25% of the service area within five years of their initial license, or make a showing of substantial service. While the FCC has granted limited extensions and waivers of these requirements, licensees that fail to meet the coverage requirements may be subject to forfeiture of the license. We have satisfied the initial construction requirements for all of the PCS licenses we currently hold.
FCC rules restrict the voluntary assignments or transfers of control of certain C and F Block licenses awarded in closed bidding to small businesses with bidding enhancements in the C Block and F Block auctions. During the first five years of the license term, assignments or transfers affecting control are permitted only to assignees or transferees that meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the entrepreneur block auction at the time the application for assignment or transfer of control is filed or, if the proposed assignee or transferee holds other licenses for C Block and F Block, met the same eligibility criteria at the time of receipt of such licenses, or to any qualified entity only if the original licensee has met the applicable five-year construction requirement for the license. Any transfers or assignments by licensees that qualified for installment payments during the entire ten-year initial license terms are subject to unjust enrichment penalties; i.e., acceleration of any installment payment plans should the assignee or transferee not qualify for the same benefits. Any transfers or assignments by licensees that qualified for bidding credits during the first five years of the license term are subject to unjust enrichment penalties; i.e., forfeiture of any bidding credit based upon the amount of time the initial license has been held should the assignee or transferee not qualify for these same benefits. These rules could restrict our ability to acquire licenses from other entities or to assign the licenses we hold and for which we have applied to certain entities.
Until April 4, 2005, the FCC prohibits a PCS licensee from interfering with existing licensees that operate certain fixed microwave systems within its license area. To secure a sufficient amount of unencumbered spectrum to operate our PCS systems efficiently and with adequate population coverage, we may need to relocate many of these incumbent licensees, at our expense, to other frequencies or to reimburse other previously-licensed PCS licensees for expenses they have incurred in relocating incumbent licensees that we might otherwise have been required to relocate. In an effort to balance the competing interests of existing microwave users and newly authorized PCS licensees, the FCC has adopted a transition plan to relocate such microwave operators to other spectrum blocks and a cost sharing plan so that if the relocation of an incumbent benefits more than one PCS licensee, the benefiting PCS licensees will share the cost of the relocation. This transition plan allows most microwave users to operate on the PCS spectrum for a one-year voluntary negotiation period and an additional one-year mandatory negotiation period. For public safety entities dedicating a majority of their system communications for police, fire or emergency medical services operations, the voluntary negotiation period is three years, with an additional two-year mandatory negotiation period. After the voluntary and mandatory negotiation periods expire, the microwave user continues to hold primary status until April 4, 2005, but may be involuntarily relocated, albeit at the PCS licensees expense. Parties unable to reach agreement within these time periods may refer the matter to the FCC for resolution, but the incumbent microwave user is permitted to continue its operations until final FCC resolution of the matter. The transition and cost sharing plans expire on April 4, 2005, at which time remaining incumbents in the PCS spectrum will be responsible for their costs to relocate to alternate spectrum locations. We are still determining the extent, if any, of expenses we may need to incur for the relocation of microwave incumbents in order to provide PCS services using our PCS licenses. We also cannot be sure that any transitions in areas in which clearing remains to be accomplished will occur in a timely fashion that will allow us to meet our marketing and operating objectives.
The FCC has also adopted rules to govern customer billing by CMRS providers and is considering whether to extend billing rules currently applicable to landline carriers to CMRS carriers. Adoption of some of the FCCs proposals could increase the complexity and costs of our billing processes and limit the manner in which we bill for services.
The FCC may deny applications for FCC authority, and in extreme cases revoke licenses, if it finds that an entity lacks the requisite character qualifications to be a licensee. In making the determination, the FCC considers whether an applicant or licensee has been the subject of adverse findings in a judicial or administrative proceeding involving felonies, the possession or sale of unlawful drugs, fraud, antitrust violations or unfair competition, employment discrimination, misrepresentations to the FCC or other government agencies, or serious violations of the Communications Act or FCC regulations. To our knowledge, there are no activities and no judicial or administrative proceedings involving either the licensees in which we hold a controlling interest or us that would warrant such a finding by the FCC.
If foreign nationals or their representatives, a foreign government or its representative or any corporation organized under the laws of a foreign country own of record or vote greater than 25 percent of our equity and the FCC determines that the public interest would be so served, it may revoke our cellular licenses or require an ownership restructuring. The FCC will generally permit additional
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indirect ownership in excess of the statutory 25 percent benchmark where that interest is to be held by an entity or entities from member countries of the World Trade Organization. For investors from countries that are not members of the World Trade Organization, the FCC will determine whether the home country of the foreign investor extends reciprocal treatment called equivalent competitive opportunities to U.S. entities. If these opportunities do not exist, the FCC may not permit investment beyond the 25 percent benchmark. These restrictions could adversely affect our ability to attract additional equity financing. We have no knowledge that any foreign entity directly or indirectly owns a significant percentage of our capital stock.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which made significant changes to the Communications Act, requires state public utilities commissions and/or the FCC to implement policies that mandate local exchange carriers to pay reciprocal compensation for the exchange of traffic with other carriers, including CMRS carriers such as us, at rates more closely related to cost. In a rulemaking proceeding pertaining to interconnection between local exchange carriers and CMRS providers such as us, the FCC concluded that local exchange carriers are required to compensate CMRS providers for the reasonable costs incurred by these providers in terminating traffic that originates on local exchange carrier facilities, and vice versa. The FCC is currently considering changes to local exchange carrier-CMRS interconnection and other so-called intercarrier compensation schemes, and the outcome of the proceeding may affect the manner in which CMRS carriers are charged or compensated for such traffic.
The Telecommunications Act requires, and the FCC has adopted, rules that require interstate communications carriers, including cellular and PCS carriers, to make an equitable and non-discriminatory contribution to a Universal Service Fund that reimburses communications carriers that provide basic communications services to users who receive services at subsidized rates. We have made such payments as the FCC has required. We may also seek to qualify for payments from these federal and state programs in high cost areas where we provide wireless communications services. If such payments are made available to us, they would be an additional source of revenue to us that could be used to support the service we provide in the high cost areas. The FCC recently initiated a rule making proceeding in which it solicits public comment on ways of reforming both the manner by which it assesses carrier contributions to the Universal Service Fund and the way in which carriers may recover their costs from customers. The FCC also put in place new restrictions on the way carriers recover their contributions from customers, effective April 1, 2003. We are working diligently to comply with these new requirements. They may have an impact on our ability to recover our administrative costs for administering our participation in the program.
Additionally, the Telecommunications Act specifically exempts CMRS carriers from the obligation to provide equal access to interstate long distance carriers. However, the Telecommunications Act gives the FCC the authority to impose rules to require unblocked access through carrier identification codes or 800/888 numbers, so that CMRS subscribers are not denied access to the long distance carrier of their choosing, if the FCC determines that the public interest so requires. Our customers have access to alternative long distance carriers using toll free numbers.
The Telecommunications Act also imposes restrictions on a telecommunications carriers use of customer proprietary network information without prior customer approval. FCC rules implementing these restrictions have been revised but have limited potential to impose upon us new costs, obligations, or burdens on our current marketing activities.
The Telecommunications Act also requires telecommunications carriers to make their services accessible to persons with disabilities and the FCCs rules implementing these requirements are in effect. These rules generally require service providers to offer equipment and services that are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, if readily achievable, and to comply with complaint/grievance procedures for violations of these provisions. These rules are largely untested and are subject to interpretation through the FCCs complaint process. While much of the focus of these rules is on the manufacture of equipment, carriers such as us could, if found to have violated the rules, be subject to fines and/or the imposition of costly new requirements. As a related matter, the FCC has proposed requiring wireless handsets to be compatible with hearing aids, which may increase the price of handsets for customers.
The FCC has determined that inter-exchange (long distance) service offerings of CMRS providers are subject to rate averaging and rate integration requirements of the Telecommunications Act. Rate averaging requires us to average our intrastate long distance CMRS rates between rural and high cost areas and urban areas. The FCC has delayed implementation of the rate integration requirements with respect to wide area rate plans pending further reconsideration of its rules, and has delayed the requirement that CMRS carriers integrate their rates among CMRS affiliates. Other aspects of the FCCs rules have been vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and are subject to further consideration by the FCC. There is a pending proceeding in which the FCC will determine how integration requirements apply to CMRS offerings, including single rate plans. To the extent that we offer services subject to these requirements, our pricing flexibility is reduced, and there is no assurance that the FCC will decline to impose these requirements on us and/or across our various CMRS affiliates.
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The overall impact on our business of the regulatory policy changes flowing from the Telecommunications Act will likely remain unresolved for the foreseeable future, as the wireless marketplace continues to absorb its various pro-competitive initiatives. Provisions of the statute relating to interconnection, telephone number portability, universal service, equal access, use of customer proprietary network information and resale could subject the entire wireless industry to additional costs and increased competition, the effects of which cannot currently be determined.
State, Local and Other Regulation
The Communications Act preempts state or local regulation of the market entry of, or the rates charged by, any CMRS provider, which include cellular telephone service and PCS providers. The FCC denied the petitions of eight states to continue their rate regulation authority, including authority over cellular operators. As a practical matter, we are free to establish rates and offer new products and service with a minimum of regulatory requirements. The states in which we operate maintain nominal oversight jurisdiction, primarily focusing upon prior approval of acquisitions and transfers of licenses and resolution of customer complaints. However, states may continue to regulate other terms and conditions of wireless service, and a number of state authorities have initiated actions or investigations of various wireless carrier practices. The outcome of these proceedings is uncertain and could require us to change certain of our marketing practices and ultimately increase state regulatory authority over the wireless industry.
The location and construction of our cellular and PCS transmitter towers and antennas are subject to FCC and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and are subject to federal, state and local environmental regulation, as well as state or local zoning, land use and other regulation. Before we can put a system into commercial operation, we must obtain all necessary zoning and building permit approvals for the cell site and microwave tower locations. The time needed to obtain zoning approvals and requisite state permits varies from market to market and state to state. Likewise, variations exist in local zoning processes. Additionally, any proposed site must comply with the FCCs environmental rules. If zoning approval or requisite state permits cannot be obtained, or if environmental rules make construction impossible or infeasible on a particular site, our network design might be adversely affected, network design costs could increase and the service provided to our customers might be reduced.
We cannot assure you that any state or local regulatory requirements currently applicable to our systems will not be changed in the future or that regulatory requirements will not be adopted in those states and localities, which currently have none. Such changes could impose new obligations on us that would adversely affect our operating results.
Future Regulation
From time to time, federal or state legislators propose legislation that could affect us, either beneficially or adversely. We cannot assure you that federal or state legislation will not be enacted, or that regulations will not be adopted or actions taken by the FCC or state regulatory authorities that might adversely affect our business. Changes such as the allocation by the FCC of radio spectrum for services that compete with our business could adversely affect our operating results.
Employees
We have no employees. Our operations are managed entirely by Dobson Communications pursuant to our management agreement with Dobson Communications.
Item 2. Properties
As our operations are managed entirely by Dobson Communications, we utilize four of the five regional call centers operated by Dobson Communications. Of the four regional call centers we utilize, two are actually leased by us in our existing wireless markets located in Duluth, Minnesota and Poughkeepsie, New York. In addition, our wireless operations leased approximately 80 retail locations throughout our markets. We review these leases from time to time and, in the future, may lease or acquire new facilities as needed. We do not anticipate encountering any material difficulties in meeting our future needs for leased space.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are not currently aware of any pending or threatened litigation against us or our subsidiaries that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Not applicable
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrants Common Equity and Related Member Matters
There is no established trading market for our membership interest. As of March 14, 2003, Dobson Communications and AT&T Wireless were the only holders of record of our membership interest.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table sets forth certain of our historical consolidated financial data with respect to each of the three years ended December 31, 2002. We derived our consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2002, and for the year ended December 31, 2002 from our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, which have been audited by KPMG LLP. We derived our consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the period from February 15, 2000 through December 31, 2000 from our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8, which have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP. Our consolidated financial statements for these two periods were reclassified as of December 31, 2001 to reflect our sale of Tennessee 4 RSA as discontinued operations.
We were formed by a joint venture between AT&T Wireless and Dobson Communications on February 15, 2000, to acquire the operations of American. You should read the information set forth below in conjunction with Item 7, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
| ACC Acquisition LLC | ||||||||||||||||
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