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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

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FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

|/x/ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 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 0-13721

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

|Minnesota(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |  | 41-1524393(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|----------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ----------------------------------------------

221 East Hickory Street
Mankato, Minnesota 56002-3248(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(800) 326-5789(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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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 / /

The
total number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2000: 13,804,793.

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATIONMarch 31, 2000

PART
I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

|                                                          |  | For Three Months Ended |       
|--------------------------------------------------------- |  | ---------------------- | ------
|
|
|OPERATING REVENUES:                                       |  |                        |       
|Telephone                                                 |  | $                      | 13,015
|Communications Services                                   |  |                        | 1,270 
|Wireless Services                                         |  |                        | 4,467 
|Billing/Data Services                                     |  |                        | 1,037 
|Communications Products                                   |  |                        | 4,286 
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES                                  |  |                        | 24,075
|COSTS AND EXPENSES:                                       |  |                        |       
|Cost of Sales                                             |  |                        | 3,003 
|Operating Expenses                                        |  |                        | 12,289
|Depreciation                                              |  |                        | 2,604 
|Amortization of Intangibles                               |  |                        | 737   
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|TOTAL COSTS AND EXPENSES                                  |  |                        | 18,633
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|OPERATING INCOME                                          |  |                        | 5,442 
|OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):                                   |  |                        |       
|Equity in Net Income of Investees                         |  |                        | 14    
|Interest and Other Income                                 |  |                        | 47    
|Interest Expense                                          |  |                        | (2,027
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|TOTAL OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)                              |  |                        | (1,966
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES                                |  |                        | 3,476 
|INCOME TAXES                                              |  |                        | 1,393 
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|NET INCOME                                                |  | $                      | 2,083 
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|Basic Earnings Per Share                                  |  | $                      | 0.15  
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|Dividends Per Share                                       |  | $                      | 0.11  
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding                |  |                        | 13,797
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|Diluted Earnings Per Share                                |  | $                      | 0.15  
|                                                          |  |                        |       
|Weighted Average Common and Equivalent Shares Outstanding |  |                        | 13,916
|                                                          |  |                        |       

The
accompany notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

1



HICKORY TECH CORPORATIONMarch 31, 2000

CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

|                                                                                                                                    |  | 3/31/2000 |         | 12/31/1999
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | --------- | ------- | ----------
|
|ASSETS                                                                                                                             
|CURRENT ASSETS:                                                                                                                     |  |           |         |           
|Cash and Cash Equivalents                                                                                                           |  | $         | 2,557   |           
|Receivables, Net of Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of $453 and $413                                                                |  |           | 16,027  |           
|Income Taxes Receivable                                                                                                             |  |           | 159     |           
|Inventories                                                                                                                         |  |           | 2,602   |           
|Deferred Income Taxes                                                                                                               |  |           | 1,222   |           
|Other                                                                                                                               |  |           | 709     |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                                                                                                                |  |           | 23,276  |           
|INVESTMENTS                                                                                                                         |  |           | 946     |           
|PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT                                                                                                         |  |           | 167,341 |           
|Less ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION                                                                                                       |  |           | 79,369  |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT, NET                                                                                                    |  |           | 87,972  |           
|OTHER ASSETS:                                                                                                                       |  |           |         |           
|Intangible Assets, Net                                                                                                              |  |           | 99,684  |           
|Miscellaneous                                                                                                                       |  |           | 704     |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|TOTAL OTHER ASSETS                                                                                                                  |  |           | 100,388 |           
|TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                                                        |  | $         | 212,582 |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                                                 
|CURRENT LIABILITIES:                                                                                                                |  |           |         |           
|Cash Overdraft                                                                                                                      |  | $         |        |           
|Accounts Payable                                                                                                                    |  |           | 7,392   |           
|Accrued Interest                                                                                                                    |  |           | 20      |           
|Advanced Billings and Deposits                                                                                                      |  |           | 3,112   |           
|Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt                                                                                                |  |           | 213     |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES                                                                                                           |  |           | 10,737  |           
|LONG-TERM DEBT, Net of Current Maturities                                                                                           |  |           | 117,096 |           
|DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                                                                                               |  |           | 6,658   |           
|DEFERRED COMPENSATION                                                                                                               |  |           | 2,690   |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                                                                                   |  |           | 137,181 |           
|SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:                                                                                                               |  |           |         |           
|Common Stock, no par value, $.10 stated value
Shares authorized: 100,000,000
Shares outstanding: 2000, 13,804,793; 1999, 13,787,416 |  |           | 1,380   |           
|Additional Paid-In Capital                                                                                                          |  |           | 4,579   |           
|Retained Earnings                                                                                                                   |  |           | 69,442  |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           
|TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                                                          |  |           | 75,401  |           
|TOTAL LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                                                                                            |  | $         | 212,582 |           
|                                                                                                                                    |  |           |         |           

The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

2



HICKORY TECH CORPORATIONMarch 31, 2000

CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

|                                                                                  |  | For Three Months Ended |       
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |  | ---------------------- | ------
|
|
|CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:                                             |  |                        |       
|Net Income                                                                        |  | $                      | 2,083 
|Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: |  |                        |       
|Depreciation and Amortization                                                     |  |                        | 3,341 
|Stock-Based Compensation                                                          |  |                        | 225   
|Equity in Net Income of Investees                                                 |  |                        | (14   
|Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:                                      |  |                        |       
|Receivables                                                                       |  |                        | 1,641 
|Inventories                                                                       |  |                        | (120  
|Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses                                             |  |                        | (5,638
|Advance Billings & Deposits                                                       |  |                        | 203   
|Deferred Compensation                                                             |  |                        | (40   
|Other                                                                             |  |                        | (137  
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities                                         |  |                        | 1,544 
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:                                             |  |                        |       
|Additions to Property, Plant & Equipment                                          |  |                        | (2,397
|Additions to Capitalized Software Development Costs                               |  |                        | (190  
|Increase in Investments                                                           |  |                        | (59   
|Distributions from Investees                                                      |  |                        |      
|Proceeds from Sale of Assets                                                      |  |                        | 8     
|Other                                                                             |  |                        |      
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|Net Cash Used In Investing Activities                                             |  |                        | (2,638
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:                                             |  |                        |       
|Cash Overdraft                                                                    |  |                        | (3,552
|Repayments of Debt                                                                |  |                        | (52   
|Borrowings on Line of Credit                                                      |  |                        | 6,000 
|Repayments on Line of Credit                                                      |  |                        |      
|Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock                                            |  |                        | 65    
|Dividends Paid                                                                    |  |                        | (1,518
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|Net Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities                               |  |                        | 943   
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                              |  |                        | (151  
|CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD                                  |  |                        | 2,708 
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       
|CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD                                        |  | $                      | 2,557 
|                                                                                  |  |                        |       

The
accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

3



HICKORY TECH CORPORATIONMARCH 31, 2000

PART
1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

The
preceding, unaudited, Consolidated Statements of Income, Balance Sheets and Statements of Cash Flows contain all adjustments, representing normal recurring items, which are, in
the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the results for the interim periods being reported.

The
accounting policies of Hickory Tech Corporation (HTC) are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and, where applicable, conform to the accounting principles
as prescribed by federal and state telephone utility regulatory authorities. HTC presently gives accounting recognition to the actions of regulators where appropriate, as prescribed by Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement (SFAS) No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulations." An example includes the amount charged as depreciation expense, which reflects
estimated lives and methods prescribed by regulators rather than those that might otherwise apply to nonregulated enterprises.

Preparing
financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosures
related to contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates and assumptions used in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are based upon management's evaluation of relevant facts and
circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The preceding interim results are not necessarily
indicative of results for a full year.

Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or
omitted. These condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in HTC's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1999.

NOTE 1. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION

The
consolidated financial statements of HTC include Hickory Tech Corporation and its subsidiaries. HTC operates in the following five business segments: (i) Telephone Sector,
(ii) Communications Services Sector, (iii) Wireless Services Sector, (iv) Billing/Data Services Sector and (v) Communications Products Sector. An investment in an
unconsolidated partnership for the Billing/Data Services Sector is accounted for using the equity method. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.
Certain balances for 1999 have been reclassified to conform to the 2000 presentation.

NOTE 2. BUSINESSES

The
business segments of HTC are:

TELEPHONE SECTOR

HTC's Telephone Sector provides local exchange telephone service and owns and operates fiber optic cable facilities. There are four incumbent local exchange
carriers (ILECs). Two ILECs provide telephone service in south central Minnesota, specifically, Mankato (population 42,000) and eleven communities surrounding Mankato. One Iowa ILEC provides telephone
service for eleven communities in northwest Iowa and another Iowa ILEC provides telephone service for the seven communities of the Amana Colonies in east central Iowa. HTC also owns and operates fiber
optic cable facilities in southern and central Minnesota, which are used to transport interexchange communications as a service to telephone exchange companies, primarily to HTC's Minnesota ILECs and
HTC's Communications Services Sector.

4



COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES SECTOR

This sector provides telephone services as a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) to customers in towns in Minnesota and Iowa not currently in HTC's
Telephone Sector's service area. HTC's CLEC currently offers local dial tone, long distance and local call internet access services as an alternative choice for local telecommunications service to the
incumbent local exchange carrier. This alternative service is currently offered by HTC's CLEC to customers in eight communities in Minnesota and five communities in Iowa. Additional opportunities are
being pursued in communities in Minnesota and Iowa. This sector also resells long distance service to HTC's Telephone Sector's southern Minnesota and northern Iowa subscribers.

WIRELESS SERVICES SECTOR

HTC's Wireless Services Sector owns and operates cellular telephone businesses in south central Minnesota and in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. In south
central Minnesota, the sector provides cellular service for Minnesota's Rural Service Area (RSA) 10, under the business name of CellularOne. This business holds 100% of the "A-side" FCC
license for seven counties in south central Minnesota. The area overlaps and is larger than the telephone line service area of HTC's Minnesota ILEC and CLEC service areas and serves a population of
approximately 230,000. On June 1, 1999, HTC acquired the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro A-2 (Metro A-2) cellular license and property. The property surrounds the
metropolitan Twin Cities area and is located in five Minnesota counties and in one Wisconsin county. Metro A-2 provides service to an area with a population of approximately 200,000.

BILLING/DATA SERVICES SECTOR

HTC's Billing/Data Services Sector provides data processing and related services, principally for HTC, other ILECs, CLECs, interexchange network carriers,
wireless companies, municipalities and utilities. HTC's Billing/Data Services Sector's principal activity is the provision of monthly batch processing of computerized data. In the fourth quarter of
1999, HTC implemented a new billing product (WRITE2k) for HTC's Wireless Services Sector. HTC considers the wireless market, as well as the CLEC market important components in the future of
telecommunications. WRITE2k should enable HTC to become a full-service billing provider for all aspects of the telecommunications industry.

COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTS SECTOR

The Communications Products Sector's activities are focused on the sale, installation and service of business telephone systems and data communications
equipment to companies based in metropolitan Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. HTC also uses its business telephone system expertise for HTC ILEC and CLEC operations in Minnesota and Iowa.

NOTE 3. EARNINGS AND CASH DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic
earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter. Shares used in the earnings per
share assuming dilution calculation are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the quarter increased by potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially
dilutive common shares

5



include
stock options, stock issued under the employee stock purchase plan (ESPP) and the accrued shares under incentive stock awards.

|                                    |  | For Quarter Ended
|----------------------------------- |  | -----------------
|
|Weighted Average Shares Outstanding |  | 13,796,549       
|Stock Options                       |  | 29,812           
|Stock Subscribed (ESPP)             |  | 13,771           
|Accrued Incentive Stock             |  | 76,240           
|                                    |  |                  
|Total Dilutive Shares Outstanding   |  | 13,916,371       
|                                    |  |                  

Cash
dividends are based on the number of common shares outstanding at the respective record dates. Listed below are the number of shares outstanding as of the record date for the
first quarter of 2000 and 1999.

|Shares Outstanding on Record Date |  | 2000       |  | 1999      
|--------------------------------- |  | ---------- |  | ----------
|First Quarter (Feb. 15)           |  | 13,799,056 |  | 13,708,231

Dividends
per share reflect dividends declared during the applicable quarter divided by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period.

NOTE 4. INVENTORY

All
inventory at March 31, 2000 and 1999 were raw materials and supplies inventory.

NOTE 5. DEBT

In
May 1999, HTC obtained a $90,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks to finance the $41,500,000 cellular acquisition of the Minneapolis/St.
Paul, Minnesota Metro A-2 service area and future capital expenditures of the Communications Services Sector. Proceeds from this credit facility were also used to repay amounts outstanding
under HTC's previous $45,000,000 revolving credit facility. The weighted average interest rate associated with the $90,000,000 credit facility varies with LIBOR rates and was 7.68% at March 31,
2000. The credit facility has no mandatory principal repayment terms and has a termination date of May 28, 2004. As of March 31, 2000, HTC had drawn $76,500,000 on this credit facility,
and had $13,500,000 of available credit.

NOTE 6. ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

On
June 1, 1999, HTC acquired the Metro A-2 cellular property. The property surrounds the metropolitan Twin Cities area and is located in five Minnesota counties
and in one Wisconsin county. The population of the serving area is 200,000. The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price has been
allocated to the assets acquired based upon their relative fair values. The total purchase price was approximately $41,500,000. HTC allocated $36,600,000 of the purchase price to the FCC license
acquired and $4,900,000 to the cellular network and cellular tower sites. HTC financed $30,000,000 of the acquisition from its revolving credit facility and paid the remainder of the purchase price
with available funds. The operations of the Metro A-2 acquisition are included in the Wireless Services Sector. On May 12, 1999, HTC sold its 6.4% equity interest in Midwest
Wireless Communications, LLC (MWC), a rural cellular telecommunications provider in southern Minnesota to MWC. HTC recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of $9,207,000 from the sale price of
$12,764,000. The after-tax gain on this sale was $5,213,000. The investment was accounted for under the equity method and

6



was
included with Investments as of March 31, 1999. The equity interest was reflected in the operations of the Telephone Sector.

NOTE 7. QUATERLY SECTOR FINANCIAL SUMMARY

|                                |  | Telephone |        | Comm.
Services |   | Wireless
Services |   | Billing/Data
Services |        | Comm.
Products |   | Corporate and
Eliminations |   | HTC
Consolidated
|------------------------------- |  | --------- | ------ | -------------- | - | ----------------- | - | --------------------- | ------ | -------------- | - | -------------------------- | - | ----------------
|
|Quarter Ended 3/31/00           |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Operating Revenue from          |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Unaffiliated Customers          |  | $         | 13,015 |                | $ | 1,270             |   | $                     | 4,467  |                | $ | 1,037                      |   | $               
|Intercompany Revenues           |  |           | 700    |                |   | 231               |   |                       |       |                |   | 1,052                      |   |                 
|                                |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Total                           |  |           | 13,715 |                |   | 1,501             |   |                       | 4,467  |                |   | 2,089                      |   |                 
|Depreciation and Amortization   |  |           | 2,026  |                |   | 89                |   |                       | 1,025  |                |   | 61                         |   |                 
|Operating Income/(Loss)         |  |           | 6,412  |                |   | (1,252            | ) |                       | 673    |                |   | 129                        |   |                 
|Net Income/(Loss)               |  |           | 3,785  |                |   | (745              | ) |                       | 386    |                |   | 82                         |   |                 
|Total Assets                    |  |           | 97,719 |                |   | 12,897            |   |                       | 84,155 |                |   | 4,035                      |   |                 
|Property, Plant and Equip., Net |  |           | 59,404 |                |   | 11,982            |   |                       | 13,252 |                |   | 2,093                      |   |                 
|Capital Expenditures            |  |           | 1,841  |                |   | 348               |   |                       | 112    |                |   | 55                         |   |                 
|Quarter Ended 3/31/99           |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Operating Revenue from          |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Unaffiliated Customers          |  | $         | 12,069 |                | $ | 479               |   | $                     | 2,903  |                | $ | 1,128                      |   | $               
|Intercompany Revenues           |  |           | 389    |                |   |                  |   |                       |       |                |   | 646                        |   |                 
|                                |  |           |        |                |   |                   |   |                       |        |                |   |                            |   |                 
|Total                           |  |           | 12,458 |                |   | 479               |   |                       | 2,903  |                |   | 1,774                      |   |                 
|Depreciation and Amortization   |  |           | 1,864  |                |   | 49                |   |                       | 531    |                |   | 67                         |   |                 
|Operating Income/(Loss)         |  |           | 6,086  |                |   | (818              | ) |                       | 505    |                |   | (296                       | ) |                 
|Net Income/(Loss)               |  |           | 3,866  |                |   | (479              | ) |                       | 322    |                |   | (157                       | ) |                 
|Total Assets                    |  |           | 97,252 |                |   | 2,620             |   |                       | 44,449 |                |   | 4,080                      |   |                 
|Property, Plant and Equip., Net |  |           | 52,337 |                |   | 2,136             |   |                       | 6,538  |                |   | 2,161                      |   |                 
|Capital Expenditures            |  |           | 1,475  |                |   | 278               |   |                       | 648    |                |   | 24                         |   |                 

7



ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q Quarterly Report contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about
the industry in which HTC operates, management's beliefs and assumptions. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, and variations of such words and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties that could cause HTC's future actual results to differ materially
from such statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and probabilities, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes
and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Factors that might cause
such a difference include, but are not limited to, those contained in this "Management's Discussion and Analysis" (Item 2) and Exhibit 99 to HTC's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements,
which speak only as of the date on which they were made. HTC undertakes no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements for any reason.

OPERATING REVENUES

Operating revenues were 8.6% higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2000, than for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. The revenue increase was
primarily due to the June 1999 cellular property acquisition in the Wireless Services Sector as well as the continued growth of the CLEC business in the Communications Services Sector and the
growth in the Telephone Sector

OPERATING INCOME

Operating income was 3.3% higher for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 than for the quarter ended March 31, 1999. The lower percent increase in
operating income versus the operating revenue percent
increase was primarily due to the increase in operating expenses of the emerging CLEC business of the Communications Services Sector.

NET INCOME

Consolidated net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 was 25.6% lower than the same period in 1999. The primary reasons for the decrease in
profitability for HTC were the additional losses of the emerging CLEC business, increase in interest expenses due to funds borrowed to complete last year's cellular acquisition and an increase in
depreciation expense related to capital expenditures and the slow first quarter start in the Communications Product Sector.

1.TELEPHONEOperating revenues for the first quarter of 2000 increased $946,000 or 7.8% compared with the
same period in 1999. Local service rates were increased in the first quarter of 2000, which contributed to $165,000 of the increase. Access line growth and increased network usage accounted for the
remaining revenue increase in the first quarter.

Operating
income increased $326,000 or 5.4% compared with the same period in 1999. Net income from this business sector decreased $81,000 or 2.1% for the first quarter of 2000
compared to the same period in 1999. The decrease in net income was due primarily to the May 1999 sale of HTC's equity ownership in Midwest Wireless Communications (MWC) which contributed
income in 1999, the increase in operating expenses associated with the buildout of fiber optic network routes and increases in corporate

8



expenses.
In the first quarter of 1999, the Telephone Sector recorded $365,000 in equity income from MWC.

2.COMMUNICATIONS SERVICESFor the first quarter of 2000, operating revenues increased $791,000 or 165.1%
compared with first quarter 1999. The Communications Services Sector began offering services in January 1999. This increase was attributable to increased market share and customer penetration.

Despite
the increase in revenues, the emerging Communications Services Sector still reported a loss for the quarter. The first quarter 2000 operating loss for the Sector was $434,000
or 53.1% more than the first quarter 1999. The net loss increased $266,000 or 55.5% compared to the first quarter 1999.

3.WIRELESS SERVICESOperating revenues for the first quarter of 2000 increased $1,564,000 or 53.9%
compared with the same period in 1999. The acquisition of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro A-2 cellular business in June 1999 accounted for a portion of the increase. Without this
acquisition, operating revenues would have increased $593,000 or 20.4% for the three month period ended March 31, 2000.

Operating
income increased $168,000 or 33.3% for the first quarter 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999. Net income for the first quarter of 2000 increased $64,000 or 19.9% as
compared with the same period in 1999. Without the acquisition of Metro A-2, operating income would have decreased $5,000 or 1.0% and net income would have decreased $38,000 or 11.8% for
the first quarter of 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999. Additional wireless network expense due to new towers and the digitalization of the network were the primary causes of the increase in
operating expense.

4.BILLING/DATA SERVICESOperating revenues from unaffiliated customers for the first quarter of 2000
decreased $91,000 or 8.1% compared with the same period in 1999. Total operating revenues
(including intercompany operating revenues) for the first quarter 2000 increased $315,000 or 17.8% compared with the same period in 1999. As the Billing/Data Services rolls out the newly developed
convergence billing system, WRITE2k, the first users of the billing system were internal customers. WRITE2k was implemented in the Wireless Services Sector in November 1999.

Operating
income increased $425,000 or 143.6% in the first quarter 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999. Net income for the first quarter of 2000 increased $239,000 or 152.2%
as compared with the same period in 1999. The increase in operating and net income was largely attributable to the rollout of WRITE2k and operating expense controls. WRITE2k is being demonstrated
throughout the nation at various industry trade shows.

5.COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCTSOperating revenues for this sector for the first quarter of 2000 decreased
$1,294,000 or 23.2% compared with the same period in 1999. Operating income decreased $433,000 or 159.8% and net income decreased $253,000 or 184.7% for the first quarter of 2000 as compared with the
same period in 1999. Higher operating expenses, both in dollars and as a percentage of sales resulted in lower net income for the Communications Products Sector in the first quarter of 2000 compared
to the first quarter of 1999. Sales volume has not returned to anticipated levels during the first quarter 2000. Customer apprehension with Year 2000 technology concerns on the entire customer premise
equipment industry has stymied the growth in this sector through the last three quarters

6.COST OF SALESConsolidated cost of sales decreased $980,000 or 24.6% for the quarter ended
March 31, 2000, compared with the same period in 1999. Revenues associated with cost of sales are recorded in the Communications Products Sector. The revenues decreased $1,294,000 or 23.2%
during the same period. Communications Products Sector gross margins increased from 28.6% to 29.9% for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999.

7.OPERATING EXPENSESOperating expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 increased $2,007,000
or 19.5% compared with the same period in 1999. Without the addition of Metro A-2, operating expenses would have increased $1,210,000 or 11.8% for the three months ended March 31,
2000 relative to

9



the
three months ended March 31, 1999. The startup business of the Communications Services Sector and the buildout of the Telephone Sector fiber optic networks have resulted in an increase in
operating expenses. HTC believes that operating expenses as a percentage of revenue will likely continue at the higher levels as the Communications Services and Telephone Sectors operations expand.

8.DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATIONDepreciation expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 was
$464,000 or 21.7% higher than for the same period in 1999. The wireless tower buildout in the Metro A-2 acquisition and the existing wireless markets as well as the capital expenditures in
the emerging CLEC and fiber optic networks account for the increase in depreciation expense. Amortization expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 was $251,000 or 51.6% higher than for the
same period in 1999. The amortization of the FCC cellular license associated with the Metro-A2 license and amortization of capitalized software development cost related to the Billing/Data Service
Sector's WRITE2k billing software are the primary reasons for the increase in amortization expense.

9.EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF INVESTEESThe decrease in equity in net income of investees was due primarily to
the May 1999 sale of HTC's equity ownership in Midwest Wireless Communications (MWC) which contributed income in 1999. In the first quarter of 1999, the Telephone Sector recorded $365,000 in
equity income from MWC.

10.INTEREST EXPENSEInterest expense increased $825,000 or 68.6% for the quarter ended March 31,
2000, compared to the same period last year. The increase in interest expense was due to a $90,000,000 revolving credit facility obtained in May 1999. The revolving credit facility had a
weighted average interest rate of 7.68% on March 31, 2000 and was used for the acquisition of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro A-2 cellular business. The outstanding balance of the
revolving credit facility was $76,500,000 on March 31, 2000.

1.CAPITAL STRUCTUREThe total long-term capital structure (long-term debt plus
shareholders' equity) for HTC was $192,497,000 at March 31, 2000, reflecting 39.2% equity and 60.8% debt. This compares to a capital structure of $185,625,000 at December 31, 1999,
reflecting 40.1% equity and 59.9% debt. Management believes adequate internal and external resources are available to finance ongoing operating requirements, including capital expenditures, business
development, debt service and the payment of dividends.

2.CASH FLOWSCash provided from operations was $1,544,000 for the three month period ended
March 31, 2000 compared to $7,646,000 for the three month period ended March 31, 1999. The decrease is primarily due to changes in accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Cash
flows used in investing activities were $2,638,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2000 compared to $2,610,000 for the same period in 1999. Capital expenditures
relating to ongoing businesses were $2,397,000 during the first three months of 2000 as compared to $2,642,000 for the same period in 1999. Capital expenditures were incurred to construct additional
network facilities to provide CLEC services, buildout fiber optic networks and wireless networks.

Included
in cash flows from financing activities are debt borrowings and repayments and dividend payments. During the first three months of 2000, HTC borrowed $6,000,000 under the
$90,000,000 revolving credit facility to cover cash requirements. Dividend payments for the first three months of 2000 were $1,518,000 compared to $1,508,000 for the same period in 1999.

3.WORKING CAPITALCurrent assets exceeded current liabilities by $12,539,000 as of March 31, 2000,
compared to a working capital of $5,045,000 as of December 31, 1999. The increase was primarily from borrowings of $6,000,000 on the revolving credit facility to fund capital expenditures of
HTC's emerging businesses. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.2:1.0 as of March 31, 2000 and 1.3:1.0 as of December 31, 1999.

10



4.LONG-TERM DEBTHTC's long-term debt as of March 31, 2000 was
$117,096,000. In May 1999, the Company obtained a $90,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks to finance the $41,500,000 acquisition of the Minnesota cellular
property. The weighted average interest rate associated with this credit facility varies with LIBOR rates and is 7.68% at March 31, 2000. There are no mandatory principal repayment terms. The
unsecured credit facility has a termination date of May 28, 2004. As of March 31, 2000, the Company had drawn $76,500,000 on this credit facility. As of March 31, 2000, HTC had
$40,000,000 of 15-year senior unsecured notes outstanding with institutional investors. The notes accrue interest at 7.11%. No principal payments are due until 2002. Beginning 2002, HTC is
required to make annual principal payments of $3,636,000 through 2012.

As
of March 31, 2000, HTC had $596,000 of long-term outstanding debt remaining with the Rural Utilities Service and the Rural Telephone Bank for the financing of
telephone property, plant and equipment of Mid-Communications, Inc., a HTC subsidiary in the Telephone Sector.

Provisions
of the various notes and credit facilities contain covenants relating to liens, consolidated net worth and cash flow coverage.

5.LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCESCash provided by operations and access to new debt continue to be HTC's
primary sources of funds. HTC's financial strength continues to be supported by its current ratio (2.2 to 1), its core business cash producing ability (EBITDA, earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization) and its proven access to debt markets.

HTC
uses a combination of variable interest rate short-term and fixed rate long-term financial instruments as of March 31, 2000. HTC continually
monitors the interest rates on its short-term bank loans and long-term senior indebtedness. A higher level of interest expense is likely to occur because of expanded use of the
revolving credit facility for additional capital expenditures in the Communications Services Sector and anticipated higher weighted average interest rates. Based on HTC's banking relationships and the
level of financing activity taking place in HTC's industry, no difficulty in corporate finance is anticipated by HTC.

HTC
has not conducted a public equity offering. It operates with original equity capital, retained earnings and recent additions to indebtedness in the form of senior debt and bank
lines of credit. HTC may use public equity markets in conjunction with further expansion of HTC's debt capacity to fund future growth plans.

6.RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTSIn December 1999, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin Number
("SAB No.") 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements," which provides additional guidance in applying generally accepted accounting principles for revenue recognition. HTC is currently
evaluating the impact, if any, that SAB No. 101 may have on its revenue recognition policies. Although HTC has not yet determined whether SAB No. 101 will require any changes in its
revenue recognition practices, management expects that any such changes would be accounted for prospectively as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting policy as permitted by the SAB
No. 101. The SEC requires implementation of any changes resulting from SAB No. 101 (as amended by SAB 101A) to be reflected in HTC's second quarter 2000 financial statements. Management
does not expect that any changes in its accounting policies as a result of SAB No. 101 will have a material impact on its 2000 operating results and management believes that any such change
will have no impact on HTC's previously reported financial position or cash flows.

11



ITEM 3. QUANTATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

HTC does not have operations subject to risks of foreign currency fluctuations, nor does HTC use derivative financial instruments in its operations or
investment portfolio. HTC's earnings are affected by changes in interest rates as a portion of its long-term debt has variable interest rates based on LIBOR. If interest rates for the
portion of the credit facility based on LIBOR had averaged 10% more for the entire quarter, HTC's interest expense would have increased $138,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2000. In case of
a change of such magnitude, management would likely act to mitigate its exposure to the change. However, due to the uncertainty of the specific actions that would be taken and their possible effects,
the sensitivity analysis assumes no changes in HTC's financial structure.

12



PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

|Item 1. |  | Legal Proceedings.                                  
|------- |  | ----------------------------------------------------
|        |  | None                                                
|Item 2. |  | Changes in Securities.                              
|        |  | None                                                
|Item 3. |  | Default Upon Senior Securities.                     
|        |  | None.                                               
|Item 4. |  | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
|        |  | None                                                
|Item 5. |  | Other Information.                                  
|        |  | None.                                               
|Item 6. |  | Exhibits and Reports of Form 8-K.                   

(a) Exhibits

|10. |  | Hickory Tech Corporation Directors' Stock Option, Plan Amended and Restated March 29, 2000
|--- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|27. |  | Financial Data Schedule                                                                   

(b) No
reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 2000.

13



## 

SIGNATURES

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

|Dated:  May 5, 2000 |  |                          |  |                                                                     
|------------------- |  | ------------------------ |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------
|                    |  | HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
|                    |  | By:                      |  | /s/ROBERT D. ALTON, JR.Robert D. Alton, Jr., Chief Executive Officer
|                    |  | By:                      |  | /s/DAVID A. CHRISTENSENDavid A. Christensen, Chief Financial Officer

14



## 

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

Exhibit Index to
Form 10-Q for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2000

|Exhibit Number |  | Document Description                                                                      
|-------------- |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|10             |  | Hickory Tech Corporation Directors' Stock Option Plan, Amended and Restated March 29, 2000
|27             |  | Financial Data Schedule                                                                   



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