Annual Report (Form 10-K), fiscal year 1994

Item 1. Business
GENERAL
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc. (the "Company") is incorporated under the laws of the State of West Virginia and has its principal offices at 1500 MacCorkle Avenue, S.E., Charleston, West Virginia 25314 (telephone number 304- 343-9911). The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Atlantic Corporation ("Bell Atlantic"), which is one of the seven regional holding companies ("RHCs") formed in connection with the court-approved divestiture (the "Divestiture"), effective January 1, 1984, of those assets of American Telephone and Telegraph Company ("AT&T") related to exchange telecommunications, exchange access functions, printed directories and cellular mobile communications.
The Company presently serves a territory consisting of two complete Local Access and Transport Areas ("LATAs") and part of a third LATA. These LATAs are generally centered on a city or based on some other identifiable common geography and, with certain limited exceptions, each LATA marks the boundary within which the Company may provide telephone service.
The Company provides two basic types of telecommunications services. First, the Company transports telecommunications traffic between subscribers located within the same LATA ("intraLATA service"), including both local and toll services. Local service includes the provision of local exchange ("dial tone"), local private line and public telephone services (including dial tone service for pay telephones owned by the Company and other pay telephone providers). Among other local services provided are Centrex (telephone company central office-based switched telephone service enabling the subscriber to make both intercom and outside calls) and a variety of special and custom calling services. Toll service includes message toll service (calling service beyond the local calling area) within LATA boundaries, and intraLATA Wide Area Toll Service (WATS)/800 services (volume discount offerings for customers with highly concentrated demand). Second, the Company provides exchange access service, which links a subscriber's telephone or other equipment to the transmission facilities of interexchange carriers which, in turn, provide telecommunications service between LATAs ("interLATA service") to their customers. The Company also provides exchange access service to interexchange carriers which provide intrastate intraLATA long distance telecommunications service.
OPERATIONS
During 1993, Bell Atlantic reorganized certain functions formerly performed by each of the seven Bell System operating companies ("BOCs") transferred to it pursuant to the Divestiture, including the Company (collectively, the "Network Services Companies"), into lines of business ("LOBs") organized across the Network Services Companies around specific market segments. The Network Services Companies, however, remain responsible within their respective service areas for the provision of telephone services, financial performance and regulatory matters. The LOBs are:
The Consumer Services LOB markets communications services to residential customers within the service territories of the Network Services Companies, including the service territory of the Company, and plans to market information services and entertainment programming.
The Carrier Services LOB markets (i) switched and special access to the Company's local exchange network, and (ii) billing and collection services, including recording, rating, bill processing and bill rendering. The principal customers of this LOB are interexchange carriers; AT&T is the largest single customer. Other customers include business customers and government agencies with their own special access network connections, wireless companies and other local exchange carriers ("LECs") which resell network connections to their own customers.
The Small Business Services LOB markets communications and information services to small businesses (customers having up to 20 access lines or 100 Centrex lines).
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
The Large Business Services LOB markets communications and information services to large businesses (customers having more than 20 access lines or more than 100 Centrex lines). These services include voice switching/processing services (e.g., dedicated private lines, custom Centrex, call management and voice messaging), end-user networking (e.g., credit and debit card transactions, and personal computer-based conferencing, including data and video), internetworking (establishing links between the geographically disparate networks of two or more companies or within the same company), network integration (integrating multiple geographically disparate networks into one system), network optimization (disaster avoidance, 911, intelligent vehicle highway systems), video services (distance learning, telemedicine, surveillance, videoconferencing) and integrated multi-media applications services.
The Directory Services LOB manages the provision of (i) advertising and marketing services to advertisers, and (ii) listing information (e.g., White Pages and Yellow Pages). These services are currently provided primarily through print media, but the Company expects that use of electronic formats will increase in the future. In addition, the Directory Services LOB manages the provision of photocomposition, database management and other related products and services to publishers.
The Public and Operator Services LOB markets pay telephone and operator services in the service territories of the Network Services Companies to meet consumer needs for accessing public networks, locating and identifying network subscribers, providing calling assistance and arranging billing alternatives (e.g., calling card, collect and third party calls).
The Federal Systems LOB markets communications and information technology and services to departments, agencies and offices of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the federal government.
The Network LOB manages the technologies, services and systems platforms required by the other LOBs and the Network Services Companies, including the Company, to meet the needs of their respective customers, including switching, feature development and on-premises installation and maintenance services.
The Company has been making and expects to continue to make significant capital expenditures to meet the demand for communications services and to further improve such services. Capital expenditures were approximately $110 million in 1992, $100 million in 1993 and $85 million in 1994. The total investment in plant, property and equipment was approximately $1.46 billion at December 31, 1992, $1.52 billion at December 31, 1993, and $1.57 billion at December 31, 1994, in each case after giving effect to retirements, but before deducting accumulated depreciation at such date.
The Company is projecting construction expenditures for 1995 at approximately $81 million. However, subject to regulatory approvals, the Network Services Companies, including the Company, plan to allocate a greater portion of capital resources to the deployment of broadband network platforms (technologies ultimately capable of providing a switched facility for access to and transport of high-speed data services, video-on-demand, and image and interactive multimedia applications). Most of the funds for these expenditures are expected to be generated internally. Some additional external financing may be necessary or desirable.
LINE OF BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS
The consent decree entitled "Modification of Final Judgment" ("MFJ") approved by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (the "D.C. District Court") which, together with the Plan of Reorganization ("Plan") approved by the D.C. District Court, set forth the terms of Divestiture also established certain restrictions on the post-Divestiture activities of the RHCs, including Bell Atlantic and its subsidiaries. Currently, the MFJ's principal restrictions on post-Divestiture RHC activities are prohibitions on (i) providing interexchange telecommunications, and (ii) engaging in the manufacture of telecommunications equipment and customer
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
premises equipment ("CPE"). Since Divestiture, the D.C. District Court has retained jurisdiction over the construction, modification, implementation and enforcement of the MFJ.
Legislation has been introduced in the current session of Congress pursuant to which the line of business restrictions established by the MFJ could be eliminated or modified. No definitive prediction can be made as to whether or when any such legislation will be enacted, the provisions thereof or the impact on the business or financial condition of the Company.
FCC REGULATION AND INTERSTATE RATES
The Company is subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") with respect to interstate services and certain related matters. The FCC prescribes a uniform system of accounts for telephone companies, interstate depreciation rates and the principles and standard procedures used to separate plant investment, expenses, taxes and reserves between those applicable to interstate services under the jurisdiction of the FCC and those applicable to intrastate services under the jurisdiction of the respective state regulatory authorities ("separations procedures"). The FCC also prescribes procedures for allocating costs and revenues between regulated and unregulated activities.
Interstate Access Charges
The Company provides intraLATA service and does not participate in the provision of interLATA service except through offerings of exchange access service. The FCC has prescribed structures for exchange access tariffs to specify the charges ("Access Charges") for use and availability of the Company's facilities for the origination and termination of interstate interLATA service.
In general, the tariff structures prescribed by the FCC provide that interstate costs of the Company which do not vary based on usage ("non-traffic sensitive costs") are recovered from subscribers through flat monthly charges ("Subscriber Line Charges"), and from interexchange carriers through usage- sensitive Carrier Common Line ("CCL") charges. Traffic-sensitive interstate costs are recovered from carriers through variable access charges based on several factors, primarily usage.
In May 1984, the FCC authorized the implementation of Access Charge tariffs for "switched access service" (access to the local exchange network) and of Subscriber Line Charges for multiple line business customers (up to $6.00 per month per line). In 1985, the FCC authorized Subscriber Line Charges for residential and single-line business customers at the rate of $1.00 per month per line, which increased in installments to $3.50, effective April 1, 1989.
FCC Access Charge Pooling Arrangements
The FCC previously required that all LECs, including the Company, pool revenues from CCL and Subscriber Line Charges that cover the non-traffic sensitive costs of the local exchange network, that is, the interstate costs associated with the lines from subscribers' premises to telephone company central offices. To administer such pooling arrangements, the FCC mandated the formation of the National Exchange Carrier Association, Inc. ("NECA"). Some LECs, including the Company, received more revenue from the pool than they billed their interexchange carrier customers.
The FCC changed its mandatory pooling requirements, effective April 1, 1989. As a result, the Network Services Companies withdrew as a group from the pool.
In February 1995, the FCC issued an Order to Show Cause with respect to certain findings contained in an independent audit concluded in December 1991 with respect to certain filings by the Network Services Companies with NECA. Resolution of these issues is expected in the second half of 1995.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Price Caps
The price cap system, which has been in effect since 1991, places a cap on overall LEC prices for interstate access services which is modified annually, in inflation-adjusted terms, by a fixed percentage which is intended to reflect increases in productivity. The price cap level can also be adjusted to reflect "exogenous" changes, such as changes in FCC separations procedures or accounting rules. LECs subject to price caps have somewhat increased flexibility to change the prices of existing services within certain groupings of interstate services, known as "baskets".
FCC regulations applicable to the Company provide for an authorized rate of return of 11.25% for the years 1991 and beyond. To the extent that a company is able to earn a higher rate of return through improved efficiency, the FCC's price cap rules permit them to retain the full amount of this higher return up to 100 basis points above the authorized rate of return (currently, up to a 12.25% rate of return). If a company's rate of return is between 100 and 500 basis points above the authorized rate of return (that is, currently, between 12.25% and 16.25%), the company must share 50% of the earnings above the 100- basis-point level with customers by reducing rates prospectively. All earnings above the 500-basis-point level must be returned to customers in the form of prospective rate decreases. If, on the other hand, a company's rate of return is more than 100 basis points below the authorized rate of return (that is, currently, below 10.25%), the company is permitted to increase rates prospectively to make up the deficiency.
Under FCC-approved tariffs, the Network Services Companies are charging uniform rates for interstate access services (with the exception of Subscriber Line Charges) throughout the service territories and are regarded as a single unit by the FCC for rate of return measurement.
In February 1994, the FCC initiated a rulemaking proceeding to determine the effectiveness of LEC price cap rules and to decide what changes, if any, should be made to those rules. This rulemaking is expected to be concluded in the first half of 1995.
Enhanced Services
In 1985, the FCC initiated an examination of its regulations requiring that "enhanced services" (e.g. voice messaging services, electronic mail, videotext gateway, protocol conversion) be offered only through a structurally separated subsidiary. In 1986, the FCC eliminated this requirement, permitting the Company to offer enhanced services, subject to compliance with a series of non- structural safeguards. These safeguards include detailed cost accounting, protection of customer information, public disclosure of technical interfaces and certain reporting requirements. In 1990, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Court of Appeals) vacated and remanded the matter to the FCC. In 1991, the FCC adopted an order which reinstated relief from the separate subsidiary requirement upon a company's compliance with the FCC's Open Network Architecture requirements and strengthened some of the nonstructural safeguards. In 1992, the Company certified to the FCC that it had complied with applicable requirements, and the FCC granted structural relief.
In October 1994, the Court of Appeals vacated the 1991 order and remanded the matter to the FCC for further proceedings. As a result, the FCC has initiated a broad examination of the state of competition in the enhanced services business and the adequacy of existing non-structural safeguards. The Company is permitted to continue to offer existing enhanced services pending further action.
FCC Cost Allocation and Affiliate Transaction Rules
FCC rules govern: (i) the allocation of costs between the regulated and unregulated activities of a communications common carrier and (ii) transactions between the regulated and unregulated affiliates of a communications common carrier.
The cost allocation rules apply to certain unregulated activities: activities that have never been regulated as communications common carrier offerings and activities that have been preemptively deregulated by the FCC. The costs of these activities are removed prior to the separations procedures process and are assigned to unregulated activities in the aggregate, not to specific services, for pricing
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
purposes. Other activities must be accounted for as regulated activities, and their costs are subject to separations procedures.
The affiliate transaction rules govern the pricing of assets transferred to and services provided by affiliates. These rules generally require that assets be transferred between affiliates at "market price", if such price can be established through a tariff or a prevailing price actually charged to third parties. In the absence of a tariff or prevailing price, "market price" cannot be established, in which case (i) asset transfers from a regulated to an unregulated affiliate must be valued at the higher of cost or fair market value, and (ii) asset transfers from an unregulated to a regulated affiliate must be valued at the lower of cost or fair market value.
The FCC has not attempted to make its cost allocation or affiliate transaction rules preemptive. State regulatory authorities are free to use different cost allocation methods and affiliate transaction rules for intrastate ratemaking and to require carriers to keep separate allocation records.
Telephone Company Provision of Video Dial Tone and Video Programming
In August 1992, the FCC issued an order permitting telephone companies such as the Company to provide "video dial tone" service. Video dial tone permits telephone companies to provide video transport to multiple programmers on a non- discriminatory common carrier basis. In November 1994, the FCC issued an order which stated that jurisdiction for video dial tone service will be divided between the FCC and the states. Over the air services and services transported across state lines will be deemed interstate services subject to regulation by the FCC. Services delivered entirely within a single state will be deemed intrastate services subject to state regulation. The order also generally prohibits the Company from acquiring in-region cable television facilities or entering into a joint venture with an in-region cable television company or other video programmer to jointly construct or operate a video dial tone platform.
In December 1992, two Bell Atlantic Companies, Bell Atlantic - Virginia, Inc. and Bell Atlantic Video Services Company, filed a lawsuit against the federal government in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia seeking to overturn the prohibition in the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984 against LECs providing video programming in their respective telephone service areas. In 1993, the court struck down this prohibition as a violation of the First Amendment's freedom of speech protections and enjoined its enforcement against Bell Atlantic, the Network Services Companies, including the Company, and Bell Atlantic Video Services Company. This decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in 1994. The federal government is expected to petition the United States Supreme Court to review the decision.
Interconnection and Collocation
In order to encourage greater competition in the provision of interstate special access services, the FCC issued an order in 1992 allowing third parties to collocate their equipment in telephone company offices to provide special access (private line) services to the public. The order permits collocating parties to pay LECs an interconnection charge that is lower than the existing tariffed rates for similar non-collocated services and it allows LECs limited additional pricing flexibility for their own special access services when collocated interconnection is operational. In 1993, the FCC extended collocation to switched access services under terms and conditions similar to those for special access collocation. In June 1994, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia vacated the FCC's special access collocation order insofar as it required physical collocation. In July 1994, the FCC voted to require LECs to offer virtual collocation, with the LECs having the option to offer physical collocation.
STATE REGULATION AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
The communications services of the Company are subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (the "PSC") with respect to intrastate rates and services and other matters.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
In 1988, the PSC approved a plan ("Flexible Regulation Plan") which gave the Company flexibility in the pricing of competitive services (e.g., intraLATA toll service, intraLATA "800" service, intraLATA WATS service, billing and collection services and directory advertising) and provided for a freeze on rates for basic local exchange services through December 31, 1990, and a lifting on January 1, 1989 of the moratorium on intraLATA toll competition. The Flexible Regulation Plan was subsequently extended through 1991.
In March 1990, the West Virginia legislature enacted legislation, which became effective on January 1, 1991, requiring the PSC to cease its regulation of the rates charged by a telephone utility for any service that the PSC finds to be subject to "workable competition", unless the PSC finds that to do so would adversely affect the continued availability of adequate, economical and reliable local telephone service.
In December 1991, the PSC approved a new "Incentive Regulation Plan". The Incentive Regulation Plan continued the major provisions of the Flexible Regulation Plan, including pricing flexibility for competitive services and a freeze on rates for basic local exchange service. It also committed the Company to invest $450 million from 1991 through 1995 in West Virginia's telecommunications infrastructure.
In December 1994, the PSC issued an order extending the Incentive Regulation Plan for three years, with certain modifications. Basic rates remain frozen through January 15, 1998 and Touch-Tone charges will be eliminated over a three year period. The Company is committed to invest at least $375 million in its network over the next five years.
The PSC set aside for separate proceedings issues regarding intraLATA presubscription and local service competition.
COMPETITION
General
Regulatory proceedings, as well as new technology, are continuing to expand the types of available communications services and equipment and the number of competitors offering such services. An increasing amount of this competition is from large companies which have substantial capital, technological and marketing resources, many of which do not face the same regulatory constraints as the Company.
Alternative Access
A substantial portion of the Company's revenues from business and government customers is derived from a relatively small number of large, multiple-line subscribers.
The Company faces competition from alternative communications systems, constructed by large end users, interexchange carriers, and alternative access vendors which are capable of originating and/or terminating calls without the use of the company's plant.
The ability of alternative access providers to compete with the Company has been enhanced by the FCC's orders requiring the Company to offer virtual collocated interconnection for special and switched access services.
Other potential sources of competition are cable television systems, shared tenant services and other non-carrier systems which are capable of bypassing the Company's local plant, either partially or completely, through substitution of special access for switched access or through concentration of telecommunications traffic on fewer of the Company's lines.
IntraLATA Toll Competition
The ability of interexchange carriers to engage in the provision of intrastate intraLATA toll service in competition with the Company is subject to state regulation. Such competition is permitted in West Virginia.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Personal Communications Services
Radio-based personal communications services ("PCS") also constitute potential sources of competition to the Company. PCS consists of wireless portable telephone services which would allow customers to make and receive telephone calls from any location using small handsets, and which could also be used for data transmission. The FCC has authorized trials of such services, using a variety of technologies, by numerous companies, including Bell Atlantic's cellular telecommunications subsidiaries.
In September 1993, the FCC issued an order allocating radio spectrum to be licensed for use in providing PCS. Under the order, seven separate bandwidths of spectrum, ranging in size from 10 MHz to 30 MHz, would be auctioned to potential PCS providers in each geographic area of the United States; five of the spectrum blocks would be auctioned by "basic trading area" and the remaining two would be auctioned by larger "major trading area" (as such trading areas are defined by Rand McNally). LECs and companies with LEC subsidiaries, such as Bell Atlantic, are eligible to bid for PCS licenses, except that cellular carriers, such as Bell Atlantic, are limited to obtaining only 10 MHz of PCS bandwidth in areas where they provide cellular service. Bidders other than cellular providers may obtain multiple licenses aggregating up to 40 MHz of bandwidth in any area.
In October 1994, Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, AirTouch Communications and U S WEST, Inc., formed a partnership to bid jointly in the FCC's auctions for PCS licenses. In March 1995, this partnership was a successful bidder for licenses for spectrum to provide PCS services in the following markets: Chicago; Dallas; Tampa; Houston; Miami; New Orleans; Milwaukee; Richmond; San Antonio; Jacksonville; and Honolulu.
Centrex
The Company offers Centrex service, which is a telephone company central office-based communications system for business, government and other institutional customers consisting of a variety of integrated software-based features located in a centralized switch or switches and extended to the customer's premises primarily via local distribution facilities. In the provision of Centrex, the Company is subject to significant competition from the providers of CPE systems, such as private branch exchanges ("PBXs"), which perform similar functions with less use of the Company's switching facilities.
Users of Centrex systems generally require more subscriber lines than users of PBX systems of similar capacity. The FCC increased the maximum Subscriber Line Charge on embedded Centrex lines to $6.00 per month per line, effective April 1, 1989. Increases in Subscriber Line Charges result in Centrex users incurring higher charges than users of comparable PBX systems. In West Virginia, the intercom portion of Centrex service has been detariffed. This enables the Company to charge rates for these services which offset the effects of such higher Subscriber Line Charges.
Directories
The Company continues to face significant competition from other providers of directories, as well as competition from other advertising media.
Public Telephone Services
The Company faces increasing competition in the provision of pay telephone services from other pay telephone service providers. In addition, the growth of wireless communications negatively impacts usage of public telephones.
Operator Services
Alternative operator services providers have entered into competition with the Company's operator services product line.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
All of the Network Services Companies, including the Company, have introduced the Bell Atlantic(R)IQ(SM) Services family of calling features (although not all features are available in all states). These features include Identa Ring(SM), which allows a single line to have multiple telephone numbers, each with a distinctive ring; Repeat Call, which allows customers automatically to redial busy phone numbers; Return Call, which allows customers automatically to return the last incoming call, even without knowing the number; Ultra Forward(SM), which customers can use to program call-forwarding instructions; Home Intercom, which allows for phone-to-phone dialing within the home; Caller ID service, which displays the number of the calling party; and Caller ID Deluxe service, which displays the name and number of the calling party.
CustoPak is a Centrex service targeted to small business customers which provides intercommunication between Centrex lines within the customer's system, Local Exchange Service, direct in dialing to Centrex lines, identification and billing of outgoing long distance messages by line number where such billing is done by the Company, Touch Tone Calling service, and intercept to the main listed number.
ISDN Anywhere allows customers in non-equipped Integrated Services Digital Network ("ISDN") offices to be offered service from a designated host switch. Customers served by non-equipped offices will be offered service from the designated host switch until such time as their home office becomes equipped with ISDN. ISDN services provide for simultaneous transport of voice, data and images.
Community Opportunity Savings Plan (20\20) is a new toll discount plan offered to residence customers. This plan provides a discount of 20% once a customer's accumulated tolls exceed $20 in a given month. The discount is then applied to the entire toll bill.
The Company offers various types of information services, such as message storage services, voice mail and electronic mail, and Answer Call, a telephone answering service aimed at residential and small business customers.
CERTAIN CONTRACTS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Certain planning, marketing, procurement, financial, legal, accounting, technical support and other management services are provided on behalf of the Company on a centralized basis by Bell Atlantic's wholly owned subsidiary, Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. ("NSI"). Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation provides short-term financing and cash management services to the Company.
The seven RHCs each own (directly or through subsidiaries) a one-seventh interest in Bell Communications Research, Inc. ("Bellcore"). Pursuant to the Plan, Bellcore furnishes the RHCs and their BOC subsidiaries with technical assistance such as network planning, engineering and software development, as well as various other consulting services that can be provided more effectively on a centralized basis. Bellcore is the central point of contact for coordinating the efforts of the RHCs in meeting the national security and emergency preparedness requirements of the federal government. It also helps to mobilize the combined resources of the RHCs in times of natural disasters.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
As of December 31, 1994, the Company had approximately 3,000 employees, including personnel managed by the centralized staff of NSI. This represents a decrease of approximately 6% from December 31, 1993. This workforce is augmented by employees of the centralized staff of NSI, who perform services for the Company on a contract basis.
Approximately 90% of the employees of the Company are represented by the Communications Workers of America which is affiliated with the American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations.
The represented associates received a base wage increase of 4.00% in August 1994 under the terms of three-year contracts, which were ratified in October 1992 by unions representing associate employees of the Bell Atlantic Network Services Companies, including the Company and NSI. Under the same contracts, associates received a Corporate Profit Sharing payment of $480 per person in 1995 based on Bell Atlantic's 1994 financial performance.
The terms of the contracts ratified in October 1992 by unions representing associate employees of the Bell Atlantic Network Services Companies, including the Company and NSI, expire in August 1995.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Item 2.



Item 2. Properties
The principal properties of the Company do not lend themselves to simple description by character and location. The Company's investment in plant, property and equipment consisted of the following at December 31:
"Central office equipment" consists of switching equipment, transmission equipment and related facilities. "Cable, wiring, and conduit" consists primarily of aerial cable, underground cable, conduit and wiring. "Land and buildings" consists of land owned in fee and improvements thereto, principally central office buildings. "Other equipment" consists of public telephone terminal equipment and other terminal equipment, poles, furniture, office equipment, and vehicles and other work equipment. "Other" property consists primarily of plant under construction, capital leases and leasehold improvements.
The Company's customers are served by electronic switching systems that provide a wide variety of services. The Company's network has been in a transition from an analog to a digital network, which provides the capabilities to furnish advanced data transmission and information management services. At December 31, 1994, all existing access lines have been transitioned to digital capability.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Item 3.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings
PRE-DIVESTITURE CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND LITIGATION
The Plan provides for the recognition and payment by AT&T and the former BOCs (including the Company) of liabilities that are attributable to pre-Divestiture events but do not become certain until after Divestiture. These contingent liabilities relate principally to litigation and other claims with respect to the former Bell System's rates, taxes, contracts and torts (including business torts, such as alleged violations of the antitrust laws). Except to the extent that affected parties otherwise agree, contingent liabilities that are attributable to pre-Divestiture events are shared by AT&T and the BOCs in accordance with formulas prescribed by the Plan, whether or not an entity was a party to the proceeding and regardless of whether an entity was dismissed from the proceeding by virtue of settlement or otherwise. Each company's allocable share of liability under these formulas depends on several factors, including the type of contingent liability involved and each company's relative net investment as of the effective date of Divestiture. Under the formula generally applicable to most of the categories of these contingent liabilities, the Company's aggregate allocable share of liability is approximately 0.6%.
AT&T and various of its subsidiaries and the BOCs (including, in some cases, the Company) have been and are parties to various types of litigation relating to pre-Divestiture events, including actions and proceedings involving environmental claims and allegations of violations of equal employment laws. Damages, if any, ultimately awarded in the remaining actions relating to pre- Divestiture events could have a financial impact on the Company whether or not the Company is a defendant since such damages will be treated as contingent liabilities and allocated in accordance with the allocation rules established by the Plan.
While complete assurance cannot be given as to the outcome of any contingent liabilities or litigation, in the opinion of the Company's management, any monetary liability or financial impact to which the Company would be subject after final adjudication of all of the remaining potential or actual pre- Divestiture claims would not be material in amount to the financial position of the Company.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
PART I
Item 4.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
PART II
Item 5.

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
(Inapplicable.)
Item 6.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Item 7.

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations (Abbreviated pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and Notes to Financial Statements included in the index set forth on page.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS ---------------------
The Company reported net income of $7,643,000 in 1994, compared to net income of $67,589,000 in 1993.
Results for 1994 included a noncash, after-tax extraordinary charge of $76,616,000 in connection with the Company's decision to discontinue application of regulatory accounting principles required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (Statement No. 71).
The discontinued application of Statement No. 71 required the Company, for financial reporting purposes, to eliminate its regulatory assets and liabilities, resulting in an after-tax charge of $12,954,000. In addition, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $63,662,000, net of related investment tax credits of $4,979,000, to adjust the carrying amount of its telephone plant and equipment. On August 1, 1994, the Company began using shorter asset lives to depreciate certain categories of plant and equipment. The use of shorter asset lives did not significantly change depreciation expense in 1994, for financial reporting purposes, from the amount that would have been recorded using asset lives prescribed by regulators at the time of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71. See Notes 1, 2 and 3 to the Financial Statements for additional information on the discontinuation of regulatory accounting principles.
Results for 1993 included an extraordinary charge of $1,456,000 for the early extinguishment of debt, net of tax, and $7,397,000 for the cumulative effect of adopting Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" (Statement No. 112).
In the third quarter of 1994, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $8,605,000, in accordance with Statement No. 112, to recognize the Company's proportionate share of benefit costs for the separation of employees who are entitled to benefits under preexisting Bell Atlantic separation pay plans. The charge, which was actuarially determined, represents benefits earned through July 1, 1994 for employees who are expected to receive separation payments in the future, including those who will be separated through 1997, pursuant to initiatives announced in August 1994. These workforce reductions will be made possible by changes in provisioning systems and customer service processes, increased spans of control, and consolidation and centralization of administrative and staff groups. Costs to enhance systems and consolidate work activities will be charged to expense as incurred. The Company will continue to evaluate ways to streamline and restructure its operations and reduce its workforce to improve its future cost structure.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
OPERATING REVENUES ------------------
TRANSPORT SERVICES OPERATING STATISTICS ---------------------------------------
LOCAL SERVICE REVENUES
Local service revenues are earned by the Company from the provision of local exchange, local private line and public telephone services.
Local service revenues increased in 1994 due primarily to the 2.2% growth in the number of access lines in service, as well as higher usage of basic calling services.
NETWORK ACCESS REVENUES
Network access revenues are received from interexchange carriers (IXCs) for their use of the Company's local exchange facilities in providing long-distance services to IXCs' customers and from end-user subscribers. Switched access service revenues are derived from usage-based charges paid by IXCs for access to the Company's network. Special access revenues arise from access charges paid by customers who have private lines, and end-user access revenues are earned from local exchange carrier customers who pay for access to the network.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Network access revenues increased principally due to higher customer demand for access services as reflected by growth in access minutes of use of 8.9%, as well as growth in revenue from end-user charges attributable to increasing access lines in service. Volume-related increases were partially offset by the effect of price reductions.
TOLL SERVICE REVENUES
Toll service revenues are earned from calls made outside a customer's local calling area, but within the same service area boundaries of the Company, commonly referred to as "LATAs." Other toll services include 800 services and Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS).
Toll service revenues declined in the first half of 1994 by $1,109,000, and declined by an additional $2,230,000 during the second half of 1994 over comparable periods in 1993. The decline in revenues reflects price reductions and increased competition for intrastate toll, WATS, and private line services. The decline in the first half of the year was offset, in part, by higher usage due to harsh weather conditions. The Company expects that competition for toll services will continue to intensify in 1995.
DIRECTORY ADVERTISING REVENUES
Directory advertising revenues are earned primarily from local advertising and marketing services provided to businesses in White and Yellow Page directories. Other directory advertising services include database and foreign directory marketing.
Growth in directory advertising revenues was principally due to higher rates charged for these services. Volume growth continues to be impacted by competition from other directory companies, as well as other advertising media.
OTHER ANCILLARY REVENUES
Other ancillary services include billing and collection services provided to IXCs, and facilities rental services provided to affiliates and non-affiliates.
Other ancillary services revenues increased principally due to an increase in rental revenue from affiliate companies resulting from rate changes made to facilities rental agreements and an increase in the number of facilities rented by affiliates.
VALUE-ADDED SERVICES REVENUES
Value-added services represent a family of enhanced services including Call Waiting, Return Call, Caller ID, Answer Call and Voice Mail. These services also include customer premises services such as inside wire installation and maintenance and other central office services and features.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Continued growth in the network customer base (access lines) and higher demand by residence customers for value-added central office and voice messaging services offered by the Company increased value-added services revenues in 1994. Value-added services revenues were positively impacted by increased demand and higher rates for inside wire installation and maintenance services. These revenue increases were offset, in part, by lower revenues generated from certain maturing central office services and features.
OPERATING EXPENSES ------------------
EMPLOYEE COSTS
Employee costs consist of salaries, wages and other employee compensation, employee benefits and payroll taxes paid directly by the Company. Similar costs incurred by employees of Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (NSI), who provide centralized services on a contract basis, are allocated to the Company and are included in other operating expenses.
The increase in employee costs was largely attributable to a charge of $7,010,000 to recognize the Company's proportionate share of benefit costs for the aforementioned separation of employees. The third and fourth quarters of 1994 also included approximately $500,000 for the ongoing recognition of costs under separation pay plans. Benefit costs associated with the separation of employees of NSI were allocated to the Company and are included in other operating expenses. In addition, employee costs were higher due to salary and wage increases and higher repair and maintenance activity caused by unusually severe weather conditions experienced during the year. These expense increases were partially offset by the effect of lower workforce levels in 1994.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
Depreciation and amortization decreased primarily due to lower depreciation expense resulting from the completion, in December 1993, of accelerated depreciation for analog switching equipment. This decrease was partially offset by growth in telephone plant.
On August 1, 1994, the Company began using shorter asset lives for certain categories of plant and equipment which reflect the Company's expectations as to the revenue-producing lives of the assets (see Note 3 to the Financial Statements). The use of the shorter asset lives did not significantly change depreciation expense in 1994, for financial reporting purposes, from the amount that would have been recorded using asset lives prescribed by regulators at the time of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71. Future depreciation represcriptions by regulators will not affect depreciation expense recognized for financial reporting purposes.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
OTHER OPERATING EXPENSE
Other operating expenses consist primarily of contracted services including centralized service expenses allocated from NSI, rent, network software costs, operating taxes other than income, provision for uncollectible accounts receivable, and other costs.
The increase in other operating expense was principally due to higher costs allocated from NSI primarily as a result of higher employee costs, contracted services, and employee-related expenses incurred in that organization, including $1,595,000 for the Company's allocated share of separation benefit costs associated with employees of NSI.
This increase was offset, in part, by lower rent expense and the Company's allocated share of reimbursements of $2,472,000 of previously recognized costs as a result of the decision by other Bell Communications Research, Inc. owners to participate in the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) project. Previously, this project had been supported entirely by Bell Atlantic's network services subsidiaries, including the Company.
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE), NET
The change in other income and (expense), net was largely attributable to additional interest income recognized on a note receivable from an affiliate in 1994, slightly offset by a reduction in income related to the allowance for funds used during construction.
Upon the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, effective August 1, 1994, interest costs on telephone plant under construction were capitalized in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 34, "Capitalization of Interest Cost," and reported as a cost of telephone plant and a reduction of interest expense. Previously, the Company recorded an allowance for funds used during construction as a cost of plant and an item of other income. The allowance for funds used during construction recorded prior to August 1, 1994 totaled $492,000, compared to $544,000 for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 1993. The lower amount in 1994 resulted primarily from the discontinued application of Statement No. 71 offset by increased levels of telephone plant under construction during 1994.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest expense decreased in 1994 principally due to the effect of a long- term debt refinancing in 1993 and lower levels of average short-term debt. Interest expense was further reduced by the recognition of $436,000 in capitalized interest costs, subsequent to the discontinued application of Statement No. 71.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
EFFECTIVE INCOME TAX RATES
The Company's effective income tax rate was higher in 1994 due to the reduction in the amortization of investment tax credits and the elimination of the benefit of the rate differential applied to reversing timing differences as a result of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71. The higher effective income tax rate also resulted from the effect of a one-time net benefit recorded in 1993 to adjust deferred taxes for the increase in the federal corporate income tax rate from 34% to 35%.
COMPETITIVE AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT --------------------------------------
The communications industry continues to undergo fundamental changes which may have a significant impact on future financial performance of telecommunications companies. These changes are being driven by a number of factors, including the accelerated pace of technological innovation, the convergence of the telecommunications, cable television, information services and entertainment businesses and a regulatory environment in which traditional barriers are being lowered or eliminated and competition permitted or encouraged.
The Company's telecommunications business is subject to competition from numerous sources. An increasing amount of this competition is from companies that have substantial capital, technological and marketing resources, many of which do not face the same regulatory constraints as the Company. The entry of well-financed competitors has the potential to adversely affect multiple revenue streams of the Company, including toll, local exchange and network access services in the market segments and geographical areas in which the competitors operate. The amount of revenue reductions will depend, in part, on the competitors' success in marketing these services, and the conditions established by regulatory authorities. The potential impact is expected to be offset, to some extent, by revenues from interconnection charges to be paid to the Company by these competitors.
The Company continues to respond to competitive challenges by intensely focusing on meeting customer requirements and by reducing its cost structure through efficiency and productivity initiatives. In addition, the Company continues to seek growth opportunities in businesses where it possesses core competencies.
FEDERAL REGULATION
Legislation has been introduced in the current session of the United States Congress that would remove barriers to entry in the local exchange markets and would permit local exchange carriers, such as the Company, to provide interLATA services. The impact of the enactment of such legislation on the Company's future financial performance will depend on a number of factors, including the degree of parity under which competition is permitted in the local and long- distance markets.
In February 1994, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated a rulemaking proceeding to determine the effectiveness of the price cap rules affecting local exchange carriers, including the Company, and to decide what changes, if any, should be made to those rules. This rulemaking is expected to be concluded in the first half of 1995.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Recent FCC rulings have sought to expand competition for special and switched access services. The FCC ordered local exchange carriers, including the Company, to provide virtual collocation in the Company's central offices to competitors, with the option of offering physical collocation, for the purpose of providing special and switched access transport services. The Company does not expect the net revenue impact of collocation to be material.
STATE REGULATION
The communications services of the Company are subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) with respect to intrastate rates and services and other matters.
The Company has been operating under an Incentive Regulation Plan, as approved by the PSC in December 1991. In December 1994, the PSC issued an order extending the Incentive Regulation Plan for three years, with certain modifications. Basic rates remain frozen through January 15, 1998 and Touch-Tone charges will be eliminated over a three year period. The Company is committed to invest at least $375 million in its network over the next five years.
The PSC has set aside for separate proceedings the issues of intraLATA presubscription and local service competition.
See Item 1 - Description of Business, State Regulation and Competitive Environment for a complete description of the Company's current regulatory plan and competitive environment.
OTHER MATTERS -------------
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
The Company is subject to a number of environmental proceedings as a result of its operations and shared liability provisions in the Plan of Reorganization related to the Modification of Final Judgment. The Company continually monitors its operations with respect to potential environmental issues, including changes in legally mandated standards and remediation technologies. The Company's recorded liability reflects those specific issues where remediation activities are currently deemed to be probable and where the cost of remediation is estimable. Management believes that the aggregate amount of any additional potential liability would not have a material effect on the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
FINANCIAL CONDITION -------------------
Management believes that the Company has adequate internal and external resources available to meet ongoing operating requirements, including network expansion and modernization, payment of dividends, and distributions of capital surplus. Management expects that presently foreseeable capital requirements will be financed primarily through internally generated funds. Additional long- term debt may be needed to fund development activities and to maintain the Company's capital structure within management's guidelines.
As of December 31, 1994, the Company had $69,600,000 of an unused line of credit with an affiliate, Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation. In addition, the Company had $50,000,000 remaining under a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company's debt ratio was 45.4% at December 31, 1994, compared to 42.3% at December 31, 1993. The 1994 debt ratio was impacted significantly by the equity reduction associated with the discontinued application of Statement No. 71.
As a result of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, the Balance Sheet at December 31, 1994 reflects significant changes due to the elimination of regulatory assets and liabilities, the revaluation of plant and equipment and the accelerated amortization of investment tax credits (see Note 2 to the Financial Statements).
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
PART II
Item 8.


Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information required by this Item is set forth on pages through.
Item 9.

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
PART III
Item 10.



Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
Item 11.

Item 11. Executive Compensation
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
Item 12.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
Item 13.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2).)
PART IV
Item 14.

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule appearing on page.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
See Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule appearing on page.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K (Continued)
(3) Exhibits
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.
Exhibit Number (Referenced to Item 601 of Regulation S-K) ---------------------------------------------------------
3a Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant as amended July 30, 1975 (Exhibit 3a to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1985, File No. 1-7150.)
3a(i) Articles of Amendment dated August 29, 1990 (Exhibit 3a(i) to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990, File No. 1-7150.)
3a(ii) Articles of Amendment, dated January 6, 1994 and filed January 13, 1994. (Exhibit 3a(ii) to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-7150.)
3b By-Laws of the registrant, as amended April 28, 1994.
4 No instrument which defines the rights of holders of long and intermediate term debt of the registrant is filed herewith pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this regulation, the registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon request.
10a Agreement Concerning Contingent Liabilities, Tax Matters and Termination of Certain Agreements among AT&T, Bell Atlantic Corporation, the Bell Atlantic Corporation telephone subsidiaries, and certain other parties, dated as of November 1, 1983. (Exhibit 10a to Bell Atlantic Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-8606.)
10b Agreement among Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. and the Bell Atlantic Corporation telephone subsidiaries, dated November 7, 1983. (Exhibit 10b to Bell Atlantic Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-8606.)
23 Consent of Independent Accountants.
24 Powers of Attorney.
27 Financial Data Schedule.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
There were no Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the quarter ended December 31, 1994.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
By /s/ Ritchie A. Ireland, II -------------------------------- Ritchie A. Ireland, II Principal Financial Officer and Controller
March 29, 1995
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Principal Executive Officer: _ | David E. Lowe President and | Chief Executive | Officer | | Principal Financial Officer: | | Ritchie A. Ireland, II Principal | Financial Officer| and Controller | | By /s/ Ritchie A. Ireland, II | --------------------------- Directors: | Ritchie A. Ireland, II Neil S. Bucklew | (individually and as William C. Campbell | attorney-in-fact) David K. Hall | March 29, 1995 Russell L. Isaacs | Wilbur S. Jones | David E. Lowe | Dan R. Moore | Lacy I. Rice, Jr. | Susan S. Ross _|
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
Financial statement schedules other than that listed above have been omitted because such schedules are not required or applicable.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To The Board of Directors and Shareowner of Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
We have audited the financial statements and the financial statement schedule of Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc. as listed in the index on page of this Form 10-K. The financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc. as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be included therein.
As discussed in Notes 1 and 2 to the financial statements, the Company discontinued accounting for its operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation," effective August 1, 1994. Also, as discussed in Notes 1, 8 and 9 to the financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for income taxes and postemployment benefits in 1993.
/s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
2400 Eleven Penn Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 6, 1995
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND REINVESTED EARNINGS (ACCUMULATED DEFICIT) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc. BALANCE SHEETS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
ASSETS ------
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
BALANCE SHEETS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOWNER'S INVESTMENT ---------------------------------------
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
See Notes to Financial Statements.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc. (the Company), is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Atlantic Corporation (Bell Atlantic).
Effective August 1, 1994, the Company discontinued accounting for its operations under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (Statement No. 71) (see Note 2).
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenues are recognized as earned on the accrual basis, which is generally when services are rendered based on the usage of the Company's local exchange network and facilities.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of 90 days or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value.
MATERIAL AND SUPPLIES
New and reusable materials are carried in inventory, principally at average original cost, except that specific costs are used in the case of large individual items.
PREPAID DIRECTORY
Costs of directory production and advertising sales are principally deferred until the directory is published. Such costs are amortized to expense and the related advertising revenues are recognized over the average life of the directory, which is generally 12 months.
PLANT AND DEPRECIATION
The Company's provision for depreciation is based principally on the composite group remaining life method of depreciation and straight-line composite rates. This method provides for the recovery of the remaining net investment in telephone plant, less anticipated net salvage value, over the remaining asset lives. In connection with the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, the Company began recording depreciation expense based on expected revenue-producing asset lives. The following asset lives were used, effective August 1, 1994: buildings, 30 to 40 years; central office equipment, 6 to 12 years; cable, wiring, and conduit, 15 to 50 years; and other equipment, 6 to 27 years. Previously, depreciation expense was based on asset lives that were authorized by regulatory commissions (see Note 3) and included regulator- approved amortization of certain classes of telephone plant.
When depreciable plant is replaced or retired, the amounts at which such plant has been carried in plant, property and equipment are removed from the respective accounts and charged to accumulated depreciation, and any gains or losses on disposition are amortized over the remaining asset lives of the remaining net investment in telephone plant.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS
The cost of maintenance and repairs, including the cost of replacing minor items not constituting substantial betterments, is charged to operating expense.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
CAPITALIZED INTEREST COST
Upon the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, effective August 1, 1994, the Company began reporting capitalized interest as a cost of telephone plant and equipment and a reduction in interest expense, in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 34, "Capitalization of Interest Cost."
Prior to the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, the Company recorded an allowance for funds used during construction, which included both interest and equity return components, as a cost of plant and as an item of other income.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Pension Plans
Substantially all employees of the Company are covered under multi-employer noncontributory defined benefit pension plans sponsored by Bell Atlantic and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company.
Amounts contributed to the Company's pension plans are actuarially determined, principally under the aggregate cost actuarial method, and are subject to applicable federal income tax regulations.
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions
Substantially all employees of the Company are covered under postretirement health and life insurance benefit plans sponsored by Bell Atlantic and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company.
Amounts contributed to 501(c)(9) trusts and 401(h) accounts under applicable federal income tax regulations to pay certain postretirement benefits are actuarially determined, principally under the aggregate cost actuarial method.
Postemployment Benefits
The Company provides employees with postemployment benefits such as disability, benefits, workers' compensation, and severance pay.
Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits," which requires accrual accounting for the estimated cost of benefits provided to former or inactive employees after employment but before retirement. Prior to 1993, the cost of these benefits was charged to expense as the benefits were paid.
INCOME TAXES
Bell Atlantic and its domestic subsidiaries, including the Company, file a consolidated federal income tax return.
Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (Statement No. 109), which requires the determination of deferred taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred taxes are provided on book and tax basis differences and deferred tax balances are adjusted to reflect enacted changes in income tax rates.
The consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense is allocated by applying the provisions of Statement No. 109 to each subsidiary as if it were a separate taxpayer.
Prior to 1993, the Company accounted for income taxes based on the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 11, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (APB No. 11). Under APB No. 11, deferred taxes were generally provided to reflect the effect of timing differences on the recognition of revenue and expense determined for financial and income tax reporting purposes.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 repealed the investment tax credit (ITC) as of January 1, 1986, subject to certain transitional rules. ITCs were deferred and are being amortized as a reduction to income tax expense over the estimated service lives of the related assets.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain reclassifications of prior years' data have been made to conform to 1994 classifications.
2. DISCONTINUATION OF REGULATORY ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
In the third quarter of 1994, the Company determined that it was no longer eligible for continued application of the accounting required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" (Statement No. 71). In connection with the decision to discontinue regulatory accounting principles under Statement No. 71, the Company recorded a noncash, after-tax extraordinary charge of $76,616,000, which is net of an income tax benefit of $43,792,000.
The Company's determination that it was no longer eligible for continued application of the accounting required by Statement No. 71 was based on the belief that the convergence of competition, technological change (including the Company's technology deployment plans), actual and potential regulatory, legislative and judicial actions, and other factors are creating fully open and competitive markets. In such markets, the Company does not believe it can be assured that prices can be maintained at levels that will recover the net carrying amount of existing telephone plant and equipment, which has been depreciated over relatively long regulator-prescribed lives. In addition, changes from cost-based regulation to a form of incentive regulation contributed to the determination that the continued application of Statement No. 71 is inappropriate.
The components of the charge recognized as a result of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71 follow:
The increase in the accumulated depreciation reserve of $116,046,000 was supported by both an impairment analysis, which identified estimated amounts not recoverable from future discounted cash flows, and a depreciation study, which identified inadequate depreciation reserve levels which the Company believes resulted principally from the cumulative underdepreciation of plant as a result of the regulatory process. Investment tax credit amortization was accelerated as a result of the reduction in remaining asset lives of the associated telephone plant and equipment.
Upon adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," the effects of required adjustments to deferred tax balances were deferred on the balance sheet as regulatory assets and liabilities and amortized at the time the related deferred taxes were recognized in the ratemaking process. As of August 1, 1994, tax-related regulatory assets of $53,617,000 and tax-related regulatory liabilities of $43,243,000 were eliminated. The elimination of other regulatory assets and liabilities relate principally to deferred vacation pay costs, which were being amortized as they were recognized in the ratemaking process.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
3. PLANT, PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Plant, property and equipment, which is stated at cost, is summarized as follows at December 31:
The increase in accumulated depreciation in 1994 included $116,046,000 attributable to the adjustment to the carrying value of plant and equipment resulting from the discontinued application of Statement No. 71 (see Note 2). The components of the adjustment to the accumulated depreciation reserve are summarized as follows:
In connection with the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, effective August 1, 1994, for financial reporting purposes, the Company began using estimated asset lives for certain categories of plant and equipment that are shorter than those approved by regulators prior to the discontinuance of Statement No. 71. The shorter lives result from the Company's expectation as to the revenue-producing lives of the assets. A comparison of the regulator- approved asset lives to the shorter new asset lives for the most significantly impacted categories of plant and equipment follows:
4. LEASES
The Company has entered into both capital and operating leases for facilities and equipment used in operations. Plant, property and equipment included capital leases of $99,000 and $1,737,000 and related accumulated amortization of $75,000 and $1,561,000 at December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The Company incurred no initial capital lease obligations in 1994 and 1993, as compared to $860,000 in 1992.
Total rent expense amounted to $19,878,000 in 1994, $23,207,000 in 1993, and $26,257,000 in 1992. Of these amounts, the Company incurred rent expense of $9,593,000, $10,332,000, and $10,531,000 in 1994, 1993, and 1992, respectively, to affiliated companies.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
At December 31, 1994, the aggregate minimum rental commitments under noncancelable leases for the periods shown are as follows:
5. DEBT
LONG-TERM
Long-term debt consists principally of debentures issued by the Company. Interest rates and maturities of the amounts outstanding are as follows at December 31:
Long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 1994 includes $115,000,000 that is callable by the Company. The call prices of these debentures range from 102.6% to 100.2% of face value, depending upon the remaining term to maturity of the issue. In addition, long-term debt includes $50,000,000 that will become redeemable only on October 15, 1996 at the option of the holders. The redemption price will be 100.0% of face value, plus accrued interest.
The Company recorded extraordinary charges associated with the early extinguishment of debentures called by the Company of $2,425,000, before an income tax benefit of $969,000 in 1993, and $3,246,000, before an income tax benefit of $1,298,000 in 1992.
At December 31, 1994 the Company had $50,000,000 remaining under a shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
DEBT MATURING WITHIN ONE YEAR
Debt maturing within one year consists of the following at December 31:
The Company has a contractual agreement with an affiliated company, Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation (BANFC), for the provision of short-term financing and cash management services. BANFC issues commercial paper and secures bank loans to fund the working capital requirements of Bell Atlantic's network services subsidiaries, including the Company, and invests funds in temporary investments on their behalf. At December 31, 1994, the Company had $69,600,000 of an unused line of credit with BANFC.
6. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade receivables and a note receivable from affiliate.
Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables, other than those from AT&T, are limited due to the large number of customers in the Company's customer base. For the years ended December 31, 1994, 1993, and 1992, revenues generated from services provided to AT&T, primarily network access, billing and collection, and sharing of network facilities, were $78,455,000, $79,506,000, and $85,436,000, respectively. At December 31, 1994 and 1993, Accounts receivable, net, included $6,382,000 and $6,504,000, respectively, from AT&T.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments.
Accounts Receivable, Note Receivable from Affiliate (BANFC), Accounts Payable, Note Payable to Affiliate (BANFC), and Accrued Liabilities
The carrying amount approximates fair value.
Debt Maturing Within One Year and Long-Term Debt
Fair value is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or is based on the net present value of the expected future cash flows using current interest rates.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
The estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments are as follows:
7. SHAREOWNER'S INVESTMENT
The Company has reclassified $36,417,000 previously reported for common stock to capital surplus to conform to the classification adopted at December 31, 1994.
On January 31, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a transfer in the amount of $40,000,000 from stated capital, as represented by the Company's one issued share of common stock without par value, to capital surplus.
On February 1, 1995, the Company declared and paid a cash distribution of $23,750,000 to Bell Atlantic, which was charged to capital surplus.
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
PENSION PLANS
Substantially all of the Company's management and associate employees are covered under multi-employer noncontributory defined benefit pension plans sponsored by Bell Atlantic and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company. The pension benefit formula is based on a flat dollar amount per year of service according to job classification under the associate plan and a stated percentage of adjusted career average earnings under the plans for management employees. The Company's objective in funding the plans is to accumulate funds at a relatively stable level over participants' working lives so that benefits are fully funded at retirement. Plan assets consist principally of investments in domestic and foreign corporate equity securities, U.S. and foreign government and corporate debt securities, and real estate.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Aggregate pension cost is as follows:
Pension cost in 1994 increased slightly over 1993 cost. Pension cost decreases resulting from plan amendments were more than offset by cost increases resulting from assumption changes, primarily a decrease in the discount rate from 7.75% to 7.25%.
The decrease in pension cost in 1993 compared to 1992 is due to the net effect of the elimination of one-time charges associated with special termination benefits that were recognized in the preceding year, favorable investment experience, and changes in plan demographics due to retirement and severance programs.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions" (Statement No. 87) requires a comparison of the actuarial present value of projected benefit obligations with the fair value of plan assets, the disclosure of the components of net periodic pension costs and a reconciliation of the funded status of the plans with amounts recorded on the balance sheets. The Company participates in multi-employer plans and therefore, such disclosures are not presented for the Company because the structure of the plans does not allow for the determination of this information on an individual participating company basis.
Significant actuarial assumptions for pension benefits are as follows at December 31:
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.25% for 1994, 1993, and 1992.
The Company has in the past entered into collective bargaining agreements with unions representing certain employees and expects to do so in the future. Pension benefits have been included in these agreements and improvements in benefits have been made from time to time. Additionally, the Company has amended the benefit formula under pension plans maintained for its management employees. Expectations with respect to future amendments to the Company's pension plans have been reflected in determining the Company's pension cost under Statement No. 87.
POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS
Substantially all of the Company's management and associate employees are covered under postretirement health and life insurance benefit plans sponsored by Bell Atlantic and certain of its subsidiaries, including the Company. The determination of benefit cost for postretirement health benefit plans is based on comprehensive hospital, medical, surgical and dental benefit plan provisions. The postretirement life insurance benefit formula used in the determination of postretirement benefit cost is primarily based on annual basic pay at retirement. The Company funds the postretirement health and life insurance benefits of current and future retirees. Plan assets consist principally of investments in domestic and foreign corporate equity securities, and U.S. Government and corporate debt securities.
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Aggregate postretirement benefit cost is as follows:
Postretirement benefit cost decreased in 1994 as a result of favorable claims and demographic experience offset, in part, by cost increases resulting from assumption changes, primarily a decrease in the discount rate from 7.75% to 7.25%. As a result of the 1992 collective bargaining agreements, Bell Atlantic amended the postretirement medical benefit plan for associate employees and certain associate retirees of the Company. The increase in 1993 postretirement benefit cost over 1992 cost was primarily due to the change in benefit levels and claims experience. Also contributing to the increase were changes in actuarial assumptions and demographic experience.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions," (Statement No. 106) requires a comparison of the actuarial present value of projected postretirement benefit obligations with the fair value of plan assets, the disclosure of the components of net periodic postretirement benefit costs, and a reconciliation of the funded status of the plan with amounts recorded on the balance sheets. The Company participates in multi-employer plans and therefore, such disclosures are not presented for the Company because the structure of the plans does not provide for the determination of this information on an individual participating company basis.
Significant actuarial assumptions for postretirement benefits are as follows at December 31:
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 8.25% for 1994, 1993, and 1992.
Postretirement benefits other than pensions have been included in collective bargaining agreements and have been modified from time to time. The Company has periodically modified benefits under plans maintained for its management employees. Expectations with respect to future amendments to the Company's postretirement benefit plans have been reflected in determining the Company's postretirement benefit cost under Statement No. 106.
POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" (Statement No. 112). Statement No. 112 requires accrual accounting for the estimated cost of benefits provided to former or inactive employees after employment but before retirement. The cumulative effect at January 1, 1993 of adopting Statement No. 112 reduced net income by $7,397,000, net of a deferred income tax benefit of $4,919,000. The adoption of Statement No. 112 did not have a significant effect on the Company's ongoing level of operating expense.
In the third quarter of 1994, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $8,605,000, in accordance with Statement No. 112, to recognize the Company's proportionate share of benefit costs for the separation of employees who are entitled to benefits under preexisting Bell Atlantic separation pay plans. The charge, which was actuarially
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
determined, represents benefits earned through July 1, 1994 for employees who are expected to receive separation payments in the future, including those employees who will be separated through 1997, pursuant to initiatives announced in August 1994.
SAVINGS PLANS AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLANS
Substantially all of the Company's employees are eligible to participate in savings plans established by Bell Atlantic to provide opportunities for eligible employees to save for retirement on a tax-deferred basis and encourage employees to acquire and maintain an equity interest in Bell Atlantic. Under these plans, a certain percentage of eligible employee contributions are matched with shares of Bell Atlantic common stock. Bell Atlantic funds the matching contribution through two leveraged employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). Bell Atlantic accounts for its ESOPs in accordance with the accounting rules applicable to companies with ESOP trusts that held securities prior to December 15, 1989. The Company recognizes its proportionate share of total ESOP cost based on the Company's matching obligation attributable to participating Company employees. The Company recorded total ESOP cost of $2,271,000, $2,097,000, and $2,986,000, in 1994, 1993, and 1992, respectively.
9. INCOME TAXES
Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" (Statement No. 109). Statement No. 109 requires the determination of deferred taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method, deferred taxes are provided on book and tax basis differences and deferred tax balances are adjusted to reflect enacted changes in income tax rates. Prior to 1993, the Company accounted for income taxes based on the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 11.
Statement No. 109 has been adopted on a prospective basis and amounts presented for prior years have not been restated. As of January 1, 1993, the Company recorded a charge to income of $173,000, representing the cumulative effect of adopting Statement No. 109, which has been reflected in the Provision for Income Taxes in the Statement of Operations and Reinvested Earnings (Accumulated Deficit).
Upon adoption of Statement No. 109, the effects of required adjustments to deferred tax balances of the Company, which would be recognized in the future for regulatory purposes, were deferred on the balance sheet as regulatory assets and liabilities in accordance with Statement No. 71. At January 1, 1993, the Company recorded income tax-related regulatory assets totaling $43,899,000 in Other Assets and income tax-related regulatory liabilities totaling $48,460,000 in Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities - Other. During 1993, these regulatory assets were increased by $1,483,000 and regulatory liabilities were reduced by $4,379,000 for the effect of the federal corporate income tax rate increase from 34% to 35%, effective January 1, 1993.
The income tax-related regulatory assets and liabilities were eliminated as a result of the discontinued application of Statement No. 71, effective August 1, 1994 (see Note 2).
The components of income tax expense are as follows:
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
As a result of the increase in the federal corporate income tax rate from 34% to 35%, effective January 1, 1993, the Company recorded a net charge to the tax provision of $212,000 in 1993.
The provision for income taxes varies from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before provision for income taxes. The difference is attributable to the following factors:
Significant components of deferred tax liabilities (assets) were as follows at December 31:
Total deferred tax assets include approximately $54,000,000 and $55,000,000 at December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively, related to postretirement benefit costs recognized in accordance with Statement No. 106. This deferred tax asset will gradually be realized over the estimated lives of current retirees and employees.
For the year ended December 31, 1992, a deferred income tax benefit resulted from timing differences in the recognition of revenue and expense for financial and income tax accounting purposes. The sources of these timing differences and the tax effects of each were as follows:
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
10. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW AND ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Interest paid during the year includes $242,000 in 1994, $847,000 in 1993, and $1,158,000 in 1992 related to short-term financing services provided by Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation (see Note 5).
At December 31, 1994, $4,167,000 of negative cash was classified as accounts payable.
11. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The financial statements include transactions with Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (NSI), Bell Atlantic Network Funding Corporation (BANFC), Bell Atlantic, and various other affiliates.
The Company has contractual arrangements with NSI for the provision of various centralized corporate, administrative, planning, financial and other services. These arrangements serve to fulfill the common needs of Bell Atlantic's telephone subsidiaries on a centralized basis. The Company's allocated share of NSI costs include costs billed by Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore), another affiliated company owned jointly by the seven regional holding companies (as shown separately below).
The Company recognizes interest expense and income in connection with contractual arrangements with BANFC to provide short-term financing, investing and cash management services to the Company (see Note 5).
Operating revenues include amounts received from other affiliates in connection with an interstate revenue sharing arrangement with Bell Atlantic network services subsidiaries. Operating revenues and expenses also include miscellaneous items of income and expense resulting from transactions with other affiliates, primarily rental of facilities and equipment. The Company also paid cash dividends to its parent, Bell Atlantic.
Transactions with affiliates are summarized as follows:
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
Outstanding balances with affiliates are reported on the balance sheets at December 31, 1994 and 1993 as Note receivable from affiliate, Accounts receivable - affiliates, Note payable to affiliate, and Accounts payable - affiliates.
In 1994, NSI expenses included $1,595,000, representing the Company's proportionate share of separation benefit costs associated with employees of NSI. Bellcore expenses in 1994 included reimbursements of $2,472,000 from other Bellcore owners in connection with their decision to participate in the Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) project. This project previously had been supported entirely by Bell Atlantic's network services subsidiaries, including the Company.
In 1993, the Company's reported charge for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting for postemployment benefits included $377,000, net of a deferred income tax benefit of $251,000, representing the Company's proportionate share of NSI's accrued cost of postemployment benefits at January 1, 1993.
12. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (unaudited)
* The loss for the third quarter of 1994 includes an extraordinary charge of $76,616,000, net of an income tax benefit of $43,792,000, related to the discontinuation of regulatory accounting principles (see Note 2).
** Net income for the first quarter of 1993 includes a charge of $7,397,000, net of a deferred income tax benefit of $4,919,000, related to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" (see Note 8).
Bell Atlantic - West Virginia, Inc.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS For the Years Ended December 31, 1994, 1993, and 1992 (Dollars in Thousands)
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(a) (i) Amounts previously written off which were credited directly to this account when recovered; and (ii) accruals charged to accounts payable for anticipated uncollectible charges on purchases of accounts receivable from others which were billed by the Company.
(b) Amounts written off as uncollectible.
EXHIBITS
FILED WITH ANNUAL REPORT FORM 10-K
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
BELL ATLANTIC - WEST VIRGINIA, INC.
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-7150
Form 10-K for 1994 File No. 1-7150 Page 1 of 1
EXHIBITS INDEX
Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the SEC, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.
Exhibit Number (Referenced to Item 601 of Regulation S-K) ---------------------------------------------------------
3a Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant as amended July 30, 1975. (Exhibit 3a to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1985, File No. 1-7150.)
3a(i) Articles of Amendment dated August 29, 1990. (Exhibit 3a(i) to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990, File No. 1-7150.)
3a(ii) Articles of Amendment, dated January 6, 1994 and filed January 13, 1994. (Exhibit 3a(ii) to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1- 7150.)
3b By-Laws of the registrant, as amended April 28, 1994.
4 No instrument which defines the rights of holders of long and intermediate term debt of the registrant is filed herewith pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A). Pursuant to this regulation, the registrant hereby agrees to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon request.
10a Agreement Concerning Contingent Liabilities, Tax Matters and Termination of Certain Agreements among AT&T, Bell Atlantic Corporation, the Bell Atlantic Corporation telephone subsidiaries, and certain other parties, dated as of November 1, 1983. (Exhibit 10a to Bell Atlantic Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-8606.)
10b Agreement among Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. and the Bell Atlantic Corporation telephone subsidiaries, dated November 7, 1983. (Exhibit 10b to Bell Atlantic Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993, File No. 1-8606.)
23 Consent of Independent Accountants.
24 Powers of Attorney.
27 Financial Data Schedule.