EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1304492
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1304492_10-K_2022_0001304492-22-000020.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
Anterix Inc (“Anterix,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”) is a wireless communications company focused on commercializing our spectrum assets to enable our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers to deploy private broadband networks, technologies and solutions. We are the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896 - 901 / 935 - 940 MHz) with nationwide coverage throughout the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. On May 13, 2020, the FCC made a historic approval of the Report and Order to modernize and realign the 900 MHz band to increase its usability and capacity by allowing it to be utilized for the deployment of broadband networks, technologies and solutions. The Report and Order was published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2020, and became effective on August 17, 2020. We are now engaged in qualifying for and securing broadband licenses from the FCC. At the same time, we are actively pursuing opportunities to lease the broadband spectrum we secure to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers.
Our Spectrum Assets
Our spectrum is our most valuable asset. We own licenses nationwide, including on average, approximately 66% of the 399 channels in the 900 MHz band in the top 20 metropolitan market areas in the United States, which cover approximately 38% of the U.S. population. We acquired the majority of our 900 MHz spectrum and certain related equipment from Sprint in September 2014 for $100 million, which we paid in the form of $90 million in cash and $10 million in shares of our common stock.
In the 900 MHz band, the FCC historically allocated approximately 10 MHz of spectrum, sub-divided into 40 10-channel blocks (for a total of 399 contiguous channels) alternating between blocks designated for the operation of Specialized Mobile Radio (“SMR”) commercial systems and blocks designated for B/ILT, with the FCC’s rules also enabling B/ILT licenses to be converted to SMR use. Subsequently, the FCC conducted overlay auctions on the SMR designated blocks that awarded geographic-based licenses on a Major Trading Area (“MTA”) basis while affording operational protection to incumbent, site-based licensees in those areas. Certain MTA licenses were not purchased at auction or have been returned to the FCC. In addition, the FCC never auctioned the 20 blocks of B/ILT spectrum in some parts of the United States, therefore no users acquired site-based licenses utilizing this spectrum. As a result, the FCC is currently holding limited 900 MHz narrowband spectrum in its inventory in most counties throughout the United States.
Broadband licenses
During the year ended March 31, 2022, we applied for, and were granted by the FCC, broadband licenses for 21 counties. As a result, we relinquished to the FCC our narrowband licenses and made the necessary Anti-Windfall payments for the same 21 counties as required by the Report and Order.
Our Business Strategy
Our mission is to deliver transformative broadband to enable the modernization of utilities and other critical infrastructure sectors through the power of private wireless connectivity on 900 MHz spectrum. To that end, we are pursuing a two-pronged strategy focused on: 1) converting our nationwide narrowband 900 MHz spectrum position into valuable broadband spectrum; and 2) adoption of our principal commercial business offering, the long-term leasing of our broadband spectrum by utility and critical infrastructure enterprises nationwide.
Converting our Nationwide Narrowband 900 MHz Spectrum Position to Broadband
Converting our spectrum from narrowband to broadband licenses nationwide is a foundational component of our two-pronged strategy as it provides the platform for growing our business. To achieve this conversion, we are focused on intentionally clearing incumbents out of the broadband license segment and obtaining broadband licenses in those counties in which we have customer contracts, where we believe we have near-term commercial prospects, or we may be strategically advantageous to achieve optimum costs for broadband licenses over time.
Secure Broadband Licenses
In the Report and Order, the FCC chose to make counties the “base unit of measure” for calculating whether an entity is eligible to hold a broadband license. As a result of this decision and our extensive accumulated spectrum holdings, Anterix-and only Anterix-is an essential party in every one of the nation’s 3,233 counties. And while we intend to continue to prioritize our spectrum transactions in areas where we have customer opportunities, we also plan to pursue spectrum transactions opportunistically to recognize a positive return on our investments in spectrum clearing costs. We have been proactive in this effort and to date have completed, and intend to continue to pursue, spectrum transactions to support our efforts to satisfy the broadband license eligibility requirements.
Clear Covered Incumbents
In anticipation of the efforts required to secure broadband licenses, we have been proactive in our clearing efforts in preparation for the broadband licensing process. Our dedicated clearing teams are focused on negotiating agreements to move Covered Incumbents from the recently allocated broadband segment of the 900 MHz spectrum band to the segments allocated for continued narrowband operations within the 900 MHz band or out of 900 MHz band entirely. Our team has established contact with nearly all of the Covered Incumbents throughout the country.
Deploying our Commercial Business Offering
With the Report and Order issued, paving the way for the deployment of broadband in the 900 MHz band, the second key prong of our strategy is establishing our commercial positioning and accelerating adoption of our principal commercial business offering. We are implementing this strategy through targeted outreach and education by our sales and marketing organization, by participating in the Utilities Broadband Alliance (“UBBA”) and attracting vendors to the Anterix Active Ecosystem Program (“AAEP”). UBBA membership includes twelve electric utilities among its nearly sixty members. AAEP currently has 80 leading technology companies that will provide deployment and application solutions for private broadband among our Nation’s electric grid innovators. We recently launched the AAEP to foster, strengthen, and expand the landscape of 900 MHz devices, services and solutions. Participation from the broad range of technology innovators will bring extensive value to utilities and other critical infrastructure providers who deploy private LTE (“PLTE”). The primary intent of our business is to lease the broadband licenses we secure to customers for long term leases (generally 20 years or longer), and additional long-term renewal options. Based upon our analysis and discussions with potential customers to date, we are seeing strong initial demand. To fulfill our business offering, we will be responsible for the costs of securing the broadband licenses from the FCC, including the costs of clearing and acquiring sufficient spectrum to meet the broadband requirements.
By contrast, we expect that most of our customers will bear the costs of deploying and operating their private broadband networks, technologies and solutions. And, beyond our principal commercial business offering, we are also exploring opportunities to offer our prospective customers additional low-capital intensive, value-added services to support their network deployments and operations.
Accordingly, our approach to driving the second key prong of our strategy includes: 1) advancing our potential customers through the pipeline by assisting them with their decisions and evaluation process of private wireless networks; 2) encouraging federal and state agencies to support the investment and deployment of private LTE solutions in the 900 MHz band by utilities and critical infrastructure companies; 3) participating in demonstrations and tests with laboratories such as National Renewable Energy Lab (“NREL”) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”); 4) developing expanded value-added business offerings; 5) enabling and growing the AAEP; 6) participating in UBBA and other relevant industry associations to promote our solution; and 7) continually evaluating potential opportunities to expand the application of private wireless broadband networks built on 900 MHz.
Continue to Build the Customer Pipeline
Our sales and support teams are actively working with many of the largest Investor Owned Utilities (“IOU”). More specifically, these teams are working in coordination with representatives from our target customers, LTE infrastructure vendors, end-user device manufacturers, system integrators and other technology companies in addition to responding to Requests for Information (“RFIs”), Requests for Proposals (“RFPs”) and requests to support technology trials related to using our 900 MHz spectrum for broadband services. To date, there have been eight experimental licenses granted to IOUs or their subsidiaries, an additional three experimental licenses to other utilities and five more experimental licenses to vendors and labs to showcase and promote 900 MHz broadband.
Build Support with Federal and State Agencies
Our targeted critical infrastructure customers are highly regulated by both federal and state agencies. Electrical utilities, for example, may be regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Public Utilities Commissions within the states they serve and/or other state and municipal governance or regulatory bodies. Other agencies that guide utility regulations include the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, and NIST. We are working with each of these agencies to educate them about the security, reliability and priority access benefits that private broadband LTE networks, technologies and solutions can offer to utilities. We are also working with a number of state agencies and commissions who regulate electrical utilities, and have a strong influence over electric utility buying decisions. Our goal with these state agencies and commissions is to gain their support, with an eye toward allowing utilities to include the costs of leasing of our spectrum assets and deploying private broadband LTE networks, technologies and solutions into their respective rate bases. Utility control of communications for grid modernization programs enhances their ability to provide safe, reliable, resilient and cost effective electricity for the ratepayers. If included in rate bases, this could allow utilities to recover that investment and earn a customary rate of return on those prudent investments.
Develop a Roadmap for Expanded Services
Through our day-to-day interactions with prospective utility and critical infrastructure customers, and our responses and subsequent discussions related to RFIs and RFPs, we have identified additional areas of opportunity to support our prospective customers in the implementation and operation of PLTE networks. We are performing due diligence to determine how best to meet these customer needs, including using our internal expertise, collaborating with strategic partners and working with specific service providers.
Enable the Anterix Active Ecosystem with U.S. Band 8
Our spectrum assets are located in the international 3GPP global standard Band 8 channel which is a frequency duplex (“FDD”) pair assigned to the 880 - 915 / 925 - 960 MHz spectrum bands. This pairing is aligned for use with both 4G and 5G technologies and is currently being utilized with commercial LTE and 5G broadband networks globally in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world. Our efforts are ongoing to facilitate continued adoption of 900 MHz Band 8 radio access network (“RAN”) equipment and end-user devices in the U.S. by working with chipmakers and module and device vendors to help ensure that customers who employ 900MHz for PLTE have timely access to 3GPP standards-compliant Band 8 devices that meet the technical operating specifications established in the FCC’s Report and Order. We also worked with an FCC certification testing lab to develop testing protocols to enable quick certification of Band 8 devices for use in the United States. The benefit of working with a global standard is that many existing devices, network components, and solutions are well suited for the working environment of our targeted critical infrastructure and enterprise customers. Global standards also provide a long-term evolution path for the technology chosen by our customers.
Identify and Evaluate New Opportunities for Our Spectrum
The wireless communications industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid regulatory, technological and market changes. A key part of our business strategy is to continually monitor changes in the wireless industry and to evaluate how these changes could enable us to maximize the value of our spectrum assets. Additionally, although we are initially focusing on the electric utility industry, we have identified other customer groups, including ports, railroads, water, oil and gas facilities, and mining operations, where we believe there is both customer demand and a good fit for the private wireless broadband networks, technologies, and solutions that our spectrum assets could support. As proof of the potential demand for our spectrum assets, two recent FCC spectrum auctions exceeded consensus valuation estimates and brought in the first and third highest auction proceeds for the U.S. Treasury which we believe demonstrates the continued demand for licensed broadband spectrum.
Our Broadband Market Opportunity
We have identified utility and critical infrastructure enterprises as the primary customers for our future broadband spectrum assets. We have identified the electric utility industry as our initial focused customer group. We believe that security, priority access, latency, redundancy, private ownership, control and unique coverage requirements are just some of the reasons utility and critical infrastructure enterprises would be interested in obtaining rights to deploy the private wireless broadband networks, technologies and solutions that can be enabled through use of our spectrum.
The electric utility industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Grid modernization efforts and the drive to reduce carbon emissions have disrupted the need for utilities to build new large-scale, centralized facilities. Today, power is generated by smaller, more geographically distributed facilities that can switch from a power producer to a recipient of power generated by a variety of other disparate sources, including wind and solar installations. Grid architecture must now accommodate end-users that are both generators and consumers, converting back and forth rapidly and carrying power in both directions, something the existing grid was not originally designed to handle. Technological advancements have produced sensors and smart devices to enable the new two-way grid and offer operators the ability to control and run the grid efficiently, safely and reliably. Utilities, however, need wireless communication networks, technologies and solutions that can move the large volumes of data generated by these sensors and smart devices to their control systems for decision making, analytics and responsiveness to market demand and emergencies. The legacy communications systems utilized by many utilities cannot handle this new data load, have increasing interference and/or higher cyber threats, are inefficient and costly to maintain, and, in many cases, have associated equipment that is approaching end of life.
Our targeted customers have historically built, maintained and operated communication networks, including private Land Mobile Radio (“LMR”) networks and supervisory control and data acquisition (“SCADA”) networks on narrowband frequencies licensed exclusively to them by the FCC. Based on our discussions with these targeted customers, these entities commonly express their desire to retain the positive elements of their aging LMR and SCADA networks, namely private ownership, tight control and custom features (such as specialized coverage and priority access), while adding the benefits of broadband and other advanced technologies (such as solving a broader set of use cases, including high-speed data transmission, video services and economies of scale). However, due to the general unavailability of low band spectrum (i.e., below 1 GHz),
these entities have had limited opportunities to license or acquire the spectrum required to deploy cost-effective wireless broadband or other advanced technologies on their own.
In contrast to legacy systems, the wireless broadband networks, technologies and solutions that can be deployed by utilizing our spectrum assets can address the communication demands of the modern grid, both now and in the future. Our licensed 900 MHz spectrum offers the assurance of absolute control over access to and use of that spectrum, allowing our spectrum to be utilized to provide customers with guaranteed levels of service and the ability to prescribe and enforce purpose-built “rules of the road” for the provision of those services. Our spectrum assets can also serve as the foundational element to allow our critical infrastructure and enterprise customers to implement LTE capabilities and evolve to 5G when there is a need. Recent FCC actions, including various auctions, have created significant opportunities for blocks of shared, unlicensed spectrum and/or licensed spectrum in the mid and high spectrum bands. The FCC also decided in 2020 to allow our spectrum to be converted to broadband. The additional shared, unlicensed spectrum and/or licensed spectrum can enable future 5G networks, technologies and solutions. While we intend to build our existing and future business strategies around our 900 MHz licensed spectrum, the ability of our critical infrastructure and enterprise customers to combine our licensed 900 MHz spectrum with additional spectrum in one or more licensed, shared and/or unlicensed bands can provide them with an advantageous solution.
Business Development
We have invested in building our business development, sales and marketing teams, which include both external and internal resources, to help foster our evolving customer relationships in furtherance of growing and maturing our pipeline. Since the FCC’s issuance of the Report and Order, our sales and marketing efforts have been focused on pursuing spectrum lease arrangements with our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers.
Our business development, sales and marketing organizations have the following three key focus areas: (i) direct account-based sales and marketing efforts to our targeted customers; (ii) regulatory outreach and support; and (iii) industry trade organization collaboration. We intend to enhance these efforts with sales and marketing partnerships with a variety of third parties, such as integrators and technology and equipment vendors, with whom we will seek active promotion of our broadband spectrum assets and support for our broadband spectrum assets with their products, technologies, solutions and services. Additionally, our marketing team supports our sales efforts through collateral, product demonstrations, presentations and branded participation through sponsorships and speaking engagements at major trade events, associations and organizations and customer meetings, to expand our brand awareness.
Long-Term Leases of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum
Ameren Agreements
In December 2020, we entered into our first long-term 900 MHz broadband spectrum lease agreements (the “Ameren Agreements”) covering Ameren’s service territories. The Ameren Agreements will enable Ameren to deploy a PLTE network in its service territories in Missouri and Illinois, covering approximately 7.5 million people. Each Ameren Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, consisting of an initial term of 30 years, with a 10-year renewal option for an additional payment. The scheduled prepayments for the 30-year initial terms of the Ameren Agreements total $47.7 million, of which $0.3 million we received in February 2021, $5.4 million in September 2021 and $17.2 million in October 2021. The prepayments received to date encompass the initial upfront payment(s) due upon signing of the Ameren Agreements and payments for delivery of the relevant 1.4 x 1.4 cleared spectrum in several metropolitan counties throughout Missouri and Illinois, in accordance with the terms of the Ameren Agreements. The remaining prepayments of $24.8 million, excluding potential penalties, for the 30-year initial term are due by mid-2026, per the terms of the Ameren Agreements and as we deliver the relevant cleared 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum and the associated broadband licenses. We are working with incumbents to clear the 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum allocation in Ameren’s service territory. In August 2021, the FCC granted the first 900 MHz broadband licenses to us for several counties in Ameren’s service territory, for which the Ameren Agreements were also subsequently approved by the FCC. In accordance with ASC 606, the payments of prepaid fees under the Ameren Agreements will be accounted for as deferred revenue on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be recognized ratably as we deliver cleared 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum and the associated broadband licenses by county over the contractual term of approximately 30-years.
The following table represents the delivery milestones as defined in the Missouri and Illinois Ameren Agreements and the allocated value ascribed for each term of the milestone.
Ameren
Milestone Total allocated value (in millions)* Expected start of revenue recognition** Term**
Upfront deposit $ 0.3 Q3 FY22 30 years
Delivery of area 1 1.4 x 1.4 spectrum 1.7 Q3 FY22 3 years
Delivery of area 1 3 x 3 spectrum 21.0 Q1 FY25 27 years
Delivery of area 2 3 x 3 spectrum 1.9 Q1 FY25 27 years
Delivery of area 3 3 x 3 spectrum 22.8 Q1 FY27 25 years
* Total allocated value is subject to change based on final delivery date of the broadband licenses for the associated milestone, which may include penalties associated with delayed deliveries.
** Revenue recognition occurs upon delivery of broadband licenses for the associated milestone, which may be delayed at Ameren’s request. Term is calculated based on the expected delivery date, which correlates to the period of time the revenue will be recognized for the associated milestone.
Evergy Agreement
In September 2021, we entered into a long-term lease agreement of 900 MHz broadband spectrum with Evergy, (the “Evergy Agreement”). The Evergy service territories covered by the Evergy Agreement are in Kansas and Missouri with a population of approximately 3.9 million people. The Evergy Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, comprised of an initial term of 20 years with two 10-year renewal options for additional payments. Prepayment in full of the $30.2 million for the 20-year initial term, which was due and payable within thirty (30) days after execution of the Evergy Agreement, was received by us in October 2021. The Evergy Agreement is subject to customary provisions regarding remedies for non-delivery, including refund of amounts paid and termination rights, if Anterix fails to perform its contractual obligations, including failure to deliver the relevant cleared 900 MHz broadband spectrum, in accordance with the terms of the Evergy Agreement. We are working with incumbents to clear the 900 MHz broadband spectrum allocation covered by the Evergy Agreement. We expect to recognize revenue from the Evergy Agreement commencing in the first half of fiscal year 2023. In accordance with ASC 606, the payments of prepaid fees under the Evergy Agreement will be accounted for as deferred revenue on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be recognized ratably as we deliver cleared 900 MHz broadband spectrum and the associated broadband licenses by county over the contractual term of approximately 20-years.
The following table represents the delivery milestones as defined in the Evergy Agreement and the allocated value ascribed for each term of the milestone.
Evergy
Milestone Total allocated value (in millions)* Expected start of revenue recognition** Term**
Delivery of 1.4 x 1.4 spectrum $ 0.9 Q2 FY23 1 year
Delivery of 3 x 3 spectrum 29.3 Q2 FY24 19 years
* Total allocated value is subject to change based on final delivery date of the broadband licenses for the associated milestone, which may include penalties associated with delayed deliveries.
** Revenue recognition occurs upon delivery of broadband licenses for the associated milestone. Term is calculated based on the expected delivery date, which correlates to the period of time the revenue will be recognized for the associated milestone.
Sale of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum
SDG&E Agreement
In February 2021, we entered into an agreement with SDG&E to sell 900 MHz broadband spectrum throughout SDG&E’s California service territory, including San Diego and Imperial Counties and portions of Orange County (the “SDG&E Agreement”) for a total payment of $50.0 million. The SDG&E Agreement will support SDG&E’s deployment of a PLTE network for its California service territory, with a population of approximately 3.6 million people. As part of the SDG&E Agreement, SDG&E and Anterix are collaborating to accelerate the utility industry momentum for private networks. The SDG&E Agreement includes the assignment of 6 MHz of 900 MHz broadband spectrum, 936.5 - 939.5 MHz paired with 897.5 - 900.5 MHz, within SDG&E’s service territory following the FCC’s issuance of the broadband licenses to us. Delivery of the relevant 900 MHz broadband spectrum and the associated broadband licenses by county is expected to commence in fiscal year
2023 and is scheduled for completion before the end of fiscal year 2024. The total payment of $50.0 million is comprised of an initial payment of $20.0 million, received in February 2021 and the remaining $30.0 million payment, which is due through fiscal year 2024 as we deliver the relevant cleared 900 MHz broadband spectrum and the associated broadband licenses to SDG&E. We are working with incumbents to clear the 900 MHz broadband allocation in SDG&E’s California service territory. The SDG&E Agreement is subject to customary provisions regarding remedies, including reduced payment amounts and/or refund of amounts paid, and termination rights, if a party fails to perform its contractual obligations. A gain or loss on the sale of spectrum will be recognized for each county once we deliver the cleared 900 MHz broadband spectrum and the associated broadband licenses to SDG&E.
Competition
Our competitors include the Tier 1 carriers (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile), private radio operators and other public and private companies who own spectrum, supply communication networks, technologies, products and solutions to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure enterprises. Many of these competitors have a long track record of providing technologies, products and solutions to our targeted customers and have greater political and regulatory influence than we do. In addition, many of our competitors have more resources, substantially greater product development and marketing budgets, greater name and brand recognition, a significantly greater base of customers in which to spread their operating costs and more financial and personnel resources than we do. All of these factors could prevent, delay or increase the costs of commercializing the broadband licenses we secure to our targeted customers.
In addition, these and other competitors have developed or may develop services, technologies, products and solutions that directly compete with the broadband networks, technologies, products and solutions that can be deployed with our spectrum assets. If competitors offer services, technologies, products and solutions to our targeted customers at prices and terms that make the licensing of our spectrum assets unattractive, we may be unable to attract customers at prices or on terms that would be favorable, or at all, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results and prospects.
Further, the FCC and other federal, state and local governmental authorities could adopt new regulations or take actions, including making additional spectrum available that can be utilized by our targeted customers, which could harm our ability to license our spectrum assets. For example, the federal government created and funded the First Responder Network Authority (“FRNA”), which the federal government authorized to help accomplish, fund, and oversee the deployment of a dedicated Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (“NPSBN”), which is marketed as “FirstNet.” The NPSBN may provide an additional source of competition to utilizing our 900 MHz spectrum assets by our targeted utility and critical infrastructure enterprises.
Our Historical FCC Initiatives
Joint Petition
While our current licensed spectrum can support narrowband and wideband wireless services, the most significant business opportunities we identified require contiguous spectrum that allows for greater bandwidth than allowed by the original configuration of the 900 MHz band. In November 2014, in conjunction with the Enterprise Wireless Alliance (“EWA”), we submitted a Joint Petition for Rulemaking (the “Joint Petition”) to the FCC proposing a realignment of a portion of the 900 MHz band to create a 6 MHz broadband segment, while retaining 4 MHz for continued narrowband operations. In May 2015, we and the EWA filed proposed rules with the FCC related to our Joint Petition recommending procedural and technical operating parameters and processes related to the administration and technical sequencing of the proposed realignment of the 900 MHz band. Our proposed rules included the requirement for the broadband operator to provide comparable facilities to incumbent licensees, to pay the costs of their realignment and to utilize available filtering technologies to protect incumbents adjacent to the proposed broadband portion of the 900 MHz band.
Notice of Inquiry
In August 2017, the FCC issued a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) announcing that it had commenced a proceeding to examine whether it would be in the public interest to change the existing rules governing the 900 MHz band to increase access to spectrum, improve spectrum efficiency and expand flexibility for a variety of potential uses and applications, including broadband and other advanced technologies and services. We and EWA filed a joint response to the FCC’s NOI in October 2017 and submitted reply comments in November 2017.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
On March 14, 2019, the FCC unanimously adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) endorsing our objective of creating a broadband opportunity in the 900 MHz band for critical infrastructure and other enterprise users. In the NPRM, the FCC set to determine (i) what mechanism and requirements should be imposed before a broadband applicant can acquire the FCC’s inventory of spectrum, including how to mitigate a windfall that might be attributed to the broadband applicant by the FCC’s action; (ii) what mechanism should be used to enable the broadband applicant to clear sufficient
spectrum to qualify for a broadband license, including how to prevent potential holdouts; (iii) what size systems being operated by incumbents should be deemed to be “Complex Systems” and exempt from any Mandatory Retuning requirements; and (v) what approaches, including potential overlay auctions, should be used in counties where the broadband segment cannot be cleared of incumbents.
We filed our comments to the NPRM in June 2019 and submitted reply comments in July 2019.
The 900 MHz Report and Order
On May 13, 2020, the FCC approved the Report and Order to modernize and realign the 900 MHz band to increase its usability and capacity by allowing it to be utilized for the deployment of broadband networks, technologies and solutions. In the Report and Order, the FCC reconfigured the 900 MHz band to create a 6 MHz broadband segment (240 channels) and two narrowband segments, consisting of a 3 MHz narrowband segment (120 channels) and a 1 MHz narrowband segment (39 channels). FIGURE I below illustrates the FCC realignment as outlined in the Report and Order.
FIGURE I
The Role of the County
Under the Report and Order, the FCC established the “county” as the base unit of measure in determining whether a broadband applicant is eligible to secure a broadband license. There are 3,233 counties in the United States, including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories.
Broadband License Eligibility Requirements
The Report and Order establishes three eligibility requirements to obtain broadband licenses in a county, which we refer to herein as (i) the “50% Licensed Spectrum Test,” (ii) the “90% Broadband Segment Test” and (iii) the “240 Channel Requirement.”
Treatment of Complex Systems
The Report and Order exempts Complex Systems from the Mandatory Retuning process, even when a broadband applicant meets the 90% Broadband Segment Test, because retuning these systems would potentially be disruptive to the operators. MAP 1 below illustrates the current Complex Systems and our status regarding swap agreements.
The Association of American Railroads
The nation’s railroads, particularly the major freight lines, operate on six narrowband 900 MHz channels licensed to their trade association, the Association of American Railroads (“AAR”). Three of these narrowband channels are located in the 900 MHz broadband segment created by the FCC. In January 2020, we entered into an agreement with the AAR in which we agreed to cancel licenses in the 900 MHz band to enable the AAR to relocate its operations, including operations utilizing the three channels located in the 900 MHz broadband segment (the “AAR Agreement”). The FCC referenced the AAR agreement in the Report and Order and required us to cancel our licenses and return them to the FCC in accordance with the AAR Agreement. We cancelled these licenses in June 2020. The Report and Order provides that the FCC will make the channels associated with these licenses available to the AAR to enable the AAR to relocate their current operations. The Report and Order also provides that the FCC will credit us for our cancelled licenses for purposes of determining our eligibility to secure broadband licenses and the calculation of any Anti-Windfall Payments.
Broadband Licensing Process
In May 2021, the Wireless Telecommunication Bureau released a Public Notice detailing the application requirements and timeline for obtaining broadband licenses. The broadband licensing process includes an FCC Form 601, an application used for new wireless licenses, an Eligibility Certification and a Transition Plan describing the agreements the prospective broadband applicant has entered into with Covered Incumbents. We intend to pursue and file applications based on the timing of customer opportunities, strategic initiatives and our spectrum clearing results. Within 15 days of filing a broadband application, we will surrender our underlying licenses. The Anti-Windfall payment to the U.S. Treasury for any spectrum we require from the FCC’s inventory to reach the 240 Channel Requirement will be made as soon as possible after the FCC provides us the amount due for these channels. In cases where we have satisfied the 90% Broadband Segment Test but have not reached an agreement with all Covered Incumbents, the Mandatory Retuning process will commence after we receive the broadband license.
1.50% Licensed Spectrum Test. To be eligible for a broadband license in a particular county, a broadband applicant must demonstrate that it holds more than 50% of the outstanding licensed channels in that county. As noted above, the 900 MHz band is made up of a maximum of 399 channels in each county. The FCC has licensed less than the maximum number of 399 channels in all but the most populous counties. Because the 50% Licensed Spectrum Test is based on licensed channels, any channels that are not licensed by the FCC are not included in the denominator when determining whether the broadband applicant has satisfied this test. As of the date of this filing, we alone satisfy the 50% Licensed Spectrum Test in approximately 3,200 counties of the 3,233 counties in the United States and its territories. MAP 2 below illustrates our licensed channels by county in the entire 900 MHz band segment created by the Report and Order.
2.90% Broadband Segment Test. The second test, the 90% Broadband Segment Test, addresses the balance between a voluntary market process to clear any “Covered Incumbent” (i.e., holders of licenses in the broadband segment) and the Mandatory Retuning process established by the FCC in the Report and Order (which applies to all Covered Incumbents, except for those Covered Incumbents operating “Complex Systems” as defined above). This test requires the broadband applicant to hold or have agreements with Covered Incumbents for 90% of the licensed channels in the broadband segment in a particular county and within 70 miles of the county’s boundaries before the FCC will issue a broadband license and therefore commence the mandatory retuning period. The broadband segment in the 900 MHz band has a total of 240 channels. The 90% Broadband Segment Test is calculated using outstanding licensed channels, which means that if the FCC has licensed all 240 channels, the broadband applicant would be required to have control of, or agreements covering, 216 channels within the broadband segment. In most counties in the United States, the FCC has licensed fewer than 240 channels in the broadband segment and these unlicensed channels are not included in the denominator when determining whether the broadband applicant has satisfied this 90% Broadband Segment Test.
A broadband applicant can satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test by purchasing channels from Covered Incumbents for cash or other consideration, by paying to relocate Covered Incumbents to replacement spectrum channels outside the broadband segment, or by demonstrating that the broadband applicant’s facilities will be far enough from the Covered Incumbent’s narrowband system to allow the two types of networks to co-exist.
Before filing for a broadband license, the broadband applicant must satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test by utilizing its channel holdings and negotiating with Covered Incumbents on a purely voluntary basis for any additional channels it requires to satisfy this test. Only after the 50% Licensed Spectrum Test and the 90% Broadband Segment Test are satisfied will the FCC issue to the broadband applicant a broadband license and commence the “Mandatory Retuning” period. During this Mandatory Retuning period, any Covered Incumbents that remain in the broadband segment (other than Complex Systems) are required to negotiate in good faith with the broadband applicant to sell their channels or otherwise clear the broadband segment, subject to intervention by the FCC if the parties cannot reach an agreement.
MAP 3 below illustrates our licensed holdings and licensed holdings we have under contract by county in the 6 MHz broadband segment created by the Report and Order. This map does not reflect licenses that may meet the protection criteria as that is evaluated on a county basis as each broadband transition plan is prepared.
3.240 Channel Requirement. The Report and Order requires the broadband applicant to surrender 6 MHz of narrowband spectrum (or 240 channels) in the applicable county to the FCC in exchange for a broadband license. If the broadband applicant does not have sufficient channels in the county to return 240 channels to the FCC, it can elect to make an Anti-Windfall Payment to the U.S. Treasury to effectively purchase unlicensed channels in the FCC’s inventory. The Anti-Windfall Payment for these channels will be based on prices paid in the applicable county in the 600 MHz auction conducted by the FCC. To satisfy the 240 Channel Requirement, the broadband applicant has the option on a county-by-county basis to determine whether it is more cost-effective to make the Anti-Windfall Payment, purchase channels from incumbents (where available), or possibly a combination of both.
Importantly, the markets where the FCC has channels in inventory and where we may need to make Anti-Windfall Payments to effectively return 240 channels to the FCC are generally in smaller urban, suburban and rural markets. Our spectrum position is greatest in the largest, most populated and therefore most expensive markets, with a few exceptions as shown in MAP 4 below. Although we will need to make Anti-Windfall Payments to secure broadband licenses in some counties, the average cost in aggregate for the channels, will be lower than the nationwide average amount of $0.93 per MHz of population covered (“POP”) paid in the FCC’s 600 MHz auction.
Costs of Securing Broadband Licenses
As discussed above, to obtain a broadband license in a county, the broadband applicant must satisfy (i) the 50% Licensed Spectrum Test, (ii) the 90% Broadband Segment Test and (iii) the 240 Channel Requirement. As the broadband applicant, we can satisfy these channel requirements by including our existing licensed channels in the 900 MHz band and by
acquiring or clearing additional channels when necessary, through (i) spectrum purchases, (ii) spectrum retuning and/or (iii) by making Anti-Windfall Payments. Under the Report and Order, we have the option of using each of these options alone, or in any combination required, to satisfy the broadband license eligibility requirements for a particular county.
1.Spectrum Purchase. In 2015, we began acquiring targeted additional channels in the 900 MHz band in various markets in anticipation of the Report and Order. We have and will continue to employ spectrum acquisition as a tool for those situations where a Covered Incumbent desires to exit the 900 MHz band. We may selectively acquire channels outside the 900 MHz broadband segment and use them to swap for channels within the broadband segment. For purposes of our broadband license eligibility, any potential acquisitions we negotiate in the 900 MHz band may be included as part of our broadband application, but the acquisition does not need to be consummated at the time we submit our broadband license application.
2.Spectrum Retuning. Retuning is the exercise of modifying, broadband segment channels held by Covered Incumbents and moving them to channels outside of the 900 MHz broadband segment established by the Report and Order. In cases where we cannot retune, we must swap our narrowband channels outside the broadband segment for the broadband segment channels held by a Covered Incumbent. A retune or swap adds to the number of channels we hold for computational purposes of the 90% Broadband Segment Test. We began retuning or swapping channels with interested Covered Incumbents in 2015 in anticipation of the Report and Order. We have continued retuning and swapping channels with Covered Incumbents since that time. For purposes of broadband license eligibility, any potential spectrum retuning or swapping agreements we negotiate in the 900 MHz band will be included as part of our broadband application, but we are not required to complete the retune or swap before we submit our broadband license application.
3.Anti-Windfall Payment. To obtain a 6 MHz broadband license, we must surrender 240 licensed channels in the county. As this band has been underutilized historically, most counties in the United States do not have 240 outstanding licensed channels. To make up the difference, we may effectively pay for channels from the FCC’s spectrum inventory by making an Anti-Windfall Payment. As noted above, the FCC will use a reference per channel price based on the average price paid in the FCC’s 600 MHz auction in each given county.
Our Historical Businesses
Prior to the Report and Order and our shift in business strategy, we generated our revenue principally from our pdvConnect and TeamConnect businesses. pdvConnect is a mobile communication and workforce management solution that enables businesses to locate and communicate with their field workers and improve the documentation of work events and job status. We historically marketed pdvConnect primarily through two Tier 1 carriers in the United States. In the year ended March 31, 2016, we began offering a commercial push-to-talk (“PTT”) service, which we marketed as TeamConnect, in seven major metropolitan areas throughout the United States, including Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York and Philadelphia. We developed TeamConnect to address the needs of enterprises that value a tailored PTT solution addressing the management of their mobile workforce. We primarily offered our TeamConnect service to customers indirectly through third-party sales representatives who were primarily selected from Motorola’s nationwide dealer network.
In June 2018, we announced our plan to restructure the business to align and focus our business priorities on the spectrum initiatives aimed at modernizing and realigning the 900 MHz band to increase its usability and capacity, including for the future deployment of broadband and other advanced technologies and services. In December 2018, our Board approved the
transfer of our TeamConnect and pdvConnect businesses to help reduce our operating costs and to allow our management team and Company to focus on our FCC initiatives and future broadband opportunities. Specifically, we entered into: (i) a Customer Acquisition and Resale Agreement with A BEEP LLC (“A BEEP”) on January 2, 2019, (ii) a Customer Acquisition, Resale and Licensing Agreement with Goosetown Enterprises, Inc. (“Goosetown”) on January 2, 2019 and (iii) a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the principals of Goosetown on December 31, 2018.
Under the A BEEP and Goosetown agreements, we: (i) transferred our TeamConnect customers located in the Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Phoenix metropolitan markets to A BEEP, (ii) transferred our TeamConnect customers located in the Baltimore/Washington DC, Philadelphia and New York metropolitan markets to Goosetown, (iii) provided A BEEP and Goosetown with access to our TeamConnect Metro and Campus Systems (the “MotoTRBO Systems”) and (iv) granted A BEEP and Goosetown the right to resell access to our MotoTRBO Systems pursuant to separate Mobile Virtual Network Operation arrangements for two years. We also granted Goosetown a license to sell the business applications we developed for our TeamConnect service.
Under these agreements, A BEEP and Goosetown agreed to provide customer care, billing and collection services for their respective acquired customers. We continued to provide these services through April 1, 2019, to help facilitate the transition of the acquired customers. Additionally, we were required to maintain and pay all site lease, backhaul and utility costs required to operate the MotoTRBO Systems for two years, which ended on January 2, 2021. As part of our efforts to clear the 900 MHz spectrum for broadband use, A BEEP and Goosetown were required to migrate the acquired customers off the MotoTRBO Systems by the end of this two year period. In consideration for the customers and rights we transferred, A BEEP and Goosetown were required to pay us a certain portion of the recurring revenues they receive from the acquired customers ranging from 20-100% during the terms of the agreements. Additionally, A BEEP was required to pay us a portion of recurring revenue from customers who utilize A BEEP’s push-to-talk Diga-Talk Plus application service ranging from 15-35% for the two year period. Goosetown was required to pay us 20% of recurring revenues from the TeamConnect applications we licensed to them for the two year period. As part of our obligations, we will continue operating the TeamConnect networks in the markets in which customers are being transferred and trunked facilities in other markets in which we hold FCC licenses.
Under the terms of the MOU, we assigned the intellectual property rights to our TeamConnect and pdvConnect applications to TeamConnect LLC (the “LLC”), an entity formed by the principals of Goosetown, in exchange for a 19.5% ownership interest in the LLC upon the April 30, 2019 execution of the LLC’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. The Goosetown principals agreed to fund the future operations of the LLC, subject to certain limitations. The LLC assumed our software support and maintenance obligations under the A BEEP and Goosetown agreements. The LLC also assumed customer care services related to our pdvConnect application. On April 1, 2020, we transferred our pdvConnect customers to the LLC and the LLC agreed to pay us a certain portion of the recurring revenues from these customers.
On April 1, 2020, we entered into Amendment 2 (“Amendment 2”) to the IP Assignment, Software Support, and Development Services Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2019, as previously amended, by and between us and the LLC. Under Amendment 2, we transferred our pdvConnect customers to the LLC except for one Tier 1 domestic carrier. In exchange for the customer transfer, the LLC agreed to pay us a certain portion of the recurring revenues from these customers.
Motorola Lease
In 2014, we entered into an agreement with Motorola to lease a portion of our 900 MHz licenses in exchange for an upfront, fully paid lease fee of $7.5 million. Additionally, Motorola invested $10 million in our subsidiary, PDV Spectrum Holding Company, LLC, that we formed to hold our 900 MHz spectrum licenses. Motorola’s ownership interest in our subsidiary is convertible, at the option of either party, into shares of our common stock at a price equal to $20.00 per share. Motorola is not entitled to any profits, dividends, or other distribution from the operations of our subsidiary. Under the terms of this lease agreement with Motorola, Motorola can use the leased channels to provide narrowband services to certain qualified end-users. The end-users can only use the leased channels for their internal communication purposes. The end-users cannot sublease the channels to any other end-users or any commercial radio system operations or carriers. The lease agreement limits the total number of channels that Motorola can lease in any market area. The lease agreement provides us with flexibility regarding the future use and management of our spectrum, including relocation and repurposing policies designed to facilitate any necessary realignment of frequencies that may be associated with our efforts to clear spectrum for broadband uses.
Motorola cannot enter contracts with end-users after December 31, 2020, involving new leases of spectrum from us without our consent and the payment of an additional fee. The initial lease period for any end-user cannot last more than seven years, and the lease can only be renewed for up to three years for an aggregate lease period of up to ten years.
Our Intellectual Property
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade-secret laws, as well as confidentiality provisions in our contracts, to protect our intellectual property. We have several trademarks and service marks to protect our current and
future corporate name, services offerings, goodwill and brand. There are currently no claims or litigation regarding these trademarks, patents, copyrights, or service marks. We also rely on trade secret protection of our intellectual property. We enter into confidentiality agreements with third parties, employees and consultants when appropriate.
Regulation of Our Business
We hold FCC spectrum licenses in the 900 MHz band throughout the contiguous United States, plus Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. The FCC regulates our wireless spectrum holdings, the issuance of broadband licenses in the 900 MHz band in accordance with the Report and Order, our future leasing or sale of any broadband licenses we secure, and the future construction and operation of wireless networks, technologies and solutions utilizing our spectrum assets.
Licensing
We are authorized to provide our wireless communication services on specified frequencies within specified geographic areas and in doing so must comply with the rules, regulations and policies adopted by the FCC. The FCC issues each spectrum license for a fixed period, typically ten years in the case of the FCC narrowband licenses we currently hold and 15 years for any broadband licenses in accordance with the Report and Order. Any broadband licenses we secure will also have performance requirements at the 6- and 12-year marks to demonstrate that the broadband spectrum is being used to serve the public interest. While the FCC has generally renewed licenses held by operating companies like us, the FCC has the authority to both revoke a license for cause and to deny a license renewal if it determines that license renewal is not in the public interest. Furthermore, we could be subject to fines, forfeitures and other penalties for failure to comply with FCC regulations, even if any such non-compliance is unintentional. The loss of any licenses, or any related fines or forfeitures, could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and FCC rules and regulations require us to obtain the FCC’s prior approval before assigning or transferring control of wireless licenses, with limited exceptions. The FCC’s rules and regulations also govern spectrum lease arrangements for a range of wireless radio service licenses, including the licenses we hold. These same requirements apply to any licenses or leases we may wish to enter into, transfer, or acquire as part of our broadband initiatives. The FCC may prohibit or impose conditions on any proposed acquisitions, sales, or other transfers of control of licenses or leases. The FCC engages in a case-by-case review of transactions that involve the consolidation or sale of spectrum licenses or leases and may apply a spectrum “screen” in examining such transactions. Because an FCC license is necessary to lawfully provide the wireless services we plan to enable, if the FCC were to disapprove any such request to acquire, assign, or otherwise transfer a license or lease, our business plans would be adversely affected. Approval from the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, as well as state or local regulatory authorities, also may be required if we sell or acquire spectrum.
FCC Regulations
The FCC does not currently regulate rates for services offered by wireless providers. However, we may be subject to other FCC regulations that impose obligations on wireless providers, such as Federal Universal Service Fund obligations, which require communications providers to contribute to a fund that supports subsidized communications services to underserved areas and users; rules governing billing, subscriber privacy and customer proprietary network information; roaming obligations; rules that require wireless service providers to configure their networks to facilitate electronic surveillance by law enforcement officials; rules governing spam, telemarketing and truth-in-billing and rules requiring us to offer equipment and services that are accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, among others. There are also pending proceedings that may affect spectrum aggregation limits and/or adjustment of the FCC’s case-by-case spectrum screens; regulation surrounding the deployment of advanced wireless broadband infrastructure; the imposition of text-to-911 capabilities; and the transition to IP networks, among others. Some of these requirements and pending proceedings (of which the previous examples are not an exhaustive list) pose technical and operational challenges which we, and the industry as a whole, have not yet developed clear solutions. We are unable to predict how these pending or future FCC proceedings may affect our business, financial condition, or results of operations. Our failure to comply with any applicable FCC regulations could subject us to significant fines or forfeitures.
State and Local Regulation
In addition to FCC regulation, we are subject to certain state regulatory requirements. The Communications Act of 1934, as amended, preempts state and local regulation of the entry of, or the rates charged by, any wireless provider. State and local governments, however, are permitted to manage public rights of way and can require fair and reasonable compensation from wireless providers for use of those rights of way so long as the compensation required is publicly disclosed by the government. The siting of base stations also remains subject to some degree of control by state and local jurisdiction. States also may impose competitively neutral requirements that, among other things, are necessary for universal service or to defray the costs of state E911 services programs, to protect the public safety and welfare and to safeguard the rights of customers.
Tower Siting
Our future customers who deploy broadband networks will be required to comply with various federal, state and local regulations that govern the siting, lighting and construction of transmitter towers and antennas, including requirements imposed by the FCC and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”). Federal rules subject certain tower site locations to extensive zoning, environmental and historic preservation requirements and mandate consultation with various parties, including State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, which can make it more difficult and expensive to deploy facilities. The FCC antenna structure registration process also imposes public notice requirements when plans are made for construction of, or modification to, antenna structures that require FAA approval, potentially adding to the delays and burdens associated with tower siting, including potential challenges from special interest groups. To the extent governmental agencies continue to impose additional requirements like this on the tower siting process, the time and cost to construct towers could be negatively impacted. The FCC has, however, imposed a tower siting “shot clock” that requires local authorities to address tower applications within a specific timeframe, which can assist carriers in more rapid deployment of towers. More recently, the FCC also has adopted rules intended to accelerate broadband deployment by removing barriers to infrastructure investment, in particular for “small cell” equipment. Those rules have been challenged by certain municipalities and tribal nations both at the FCC and in court.
National Security
With a range of weather-related and cyber security impacts on the nation’s grid over the last several years, national security and disaster recovery issues continue to receive attention at the federal, state and local levels. For example, Congress is expected to again consider cyber security legislation to increase the security and resiliency of the nation’s digital infrastructure. Our future customers who deploy broadband networks may be required to comply with potential federal, state and local regulations that govern elements of the electric grid.
Report and Order
The FCC regulates the issuance of broadband licenses in the 900 MHz band in accordance with the Report and Order.
Human Capital Management
We believe we have an experienced, talented, motivated and dedicated team. We are committed to supporting the development of all of our employees and to continuing to build on our strong culture. As of March 31, 2022, we had seventy-three full-time employees. We engage consultants and contract workers on an as-needed basis. We believe the relations with our employees and consultants are good.
Company Culture
We are guided by our core values - Integrity, Courage, Camaraderie, Transformative, and Excellence - that express how we aspire to be when we are at our best. With these values as the backbone of our corporate culture, we work tirelessly to act as responsible stewards - to our employees, communities and other stakeholders who rely on us. In addition, we are committed to governing and operating our business with the highest levels of integrity and ethics.
We are focused on regular evaluation of our culture. In 2021, we invited all employees to participate in a culture assessment by completing an anonymous survey. Eighty percent of our employees participated in the cultural survey providing a good basis to gauge employee sentiment. Our management team reviewed the feedback and shared the survey results with employees at a quarterly Town Hall meeting. The survey showed that we have a highly engaged workforce that overwhelmingly views our work environment favorably. Where our employees identified areas for improvement, we worked with various functional areas to create and implement action plans to address any issues.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are committed to hiring inclusively, providing training and development opportunities, fostering an inclusive culture, ensuring equitable pay for employees, and focusing on attracting and retaining diverse representation at every level within the Company. We formed our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce in 2020, and it has among its objectives increasing cultural awareness, creating a pipeline of diverse candidates, and diversifying our supplier base. Additionally, in 2021, we launched our first employee resource group - Anterix Women in Excellence (“AWE”). AWE has as its purpose connecting the women of Anterix and providing a space for support and advocacy, networking, training, leadership, and community-building opportunities for both employees and interns.
Partnerships with organizations like INROADS and Talent Hue provide further avenues for recruiting diverse talent. As of March 31, 2022, twenty-nine percent of our independent Board members identify as diverse. Additionally, sixty percent of our new hires in Fiscal 2022 were females, up from twenty-five percent of new hires in Fiscal 2021, and as a result, thirty-eight percent of our Fiscal 2022 workforce was female versus thirty-four percent in Fiscal 2021. In terms of racial diversity, in Fiscal 2022, twenty-nine percent of our workforce is non-white, up from twenty-seven percent in Fiscal 2021.
Employee Growth and Development
We offer a meaningful work environment with experiences and opportunities to grow and develop. This starts with the opportunity for continuous learning and the opportunity to do challenging, transformative work that helps our team build skills at all levels, including leadership opportunities, coaching, and mentoring. In addition to mandatory training on insider trading, anti-harassment, and our Code of Business Conduct, we provide (and encourage employees to partake in) optional career development, health and wellness, and employee engagement activities and training.
We conduct surveys that gauge employee sentiment in areas like career development, manager performance and inclusivity, and we are committed to taking steps to address areas needing improvement.
Employee Health and Safety
We strive to provide a safe workplace environment and have implemented policies to support the health and safety of our employees, including a work-from-home policy. As we continue to manage our business proactively through the global coronavirus crisis, we initially transitioned our workforce to work from home and have moved to a hybrid model, except for employees needing in-person access to laboratories or other resources onsite. We believe that we have learned to operate successfully in this unique environment, and we remain committed to supporting our team’s new, more carbon-friendly, hybrid work program.
Our Corporate Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 3 Garret Mountain Plaza, Suite 401, Woodland Park, New Jersey 07424 and 8260 Greensboro Drive, Suite 501, McLean, Virginia. Our main telephone number is (973) 771-0300. We were originally incorporated in California in 1997 and reincorporated in Delaware in 2014. Our website is www.anterix.com.
Available Information
Our Annual Reports on From 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) are made available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commissions (“SEC”). The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. We include our website address in this Annual Report only as an inactive textual reference. The information on or accessible through our website is not incorporated into this Annual Report, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website a part of this Annual Report or our other filings with the SEC.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
You should carefully consider the following risk factors, together with the other information contained in this Annual Report and our other reports and filings made with the SEC, in evaluating our business and prospects. If any of the risks discussed in this Annual Report occur, our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, in which case the trading price of our common stock could decline significantly. Some statements in this Annual Report, including statements in the following risk factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Please refer to the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to Obtaining Broadband Licenses, the Retuning Process and the Use of Our Spectrum
Our plans to commercialize our 900 MHz spectrum assets depend on our ability to qualify for and obtain broadband licenses from the FCC in accordance with the requirements of the Report and Order. If we are unable to obtain broadband licenses on favorable terms and on a timely basis, our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects will be materially adversely affected.
Our plans to commercialize our 900 MHz spectrum assets depend on our ability to obtain broadband licenses in accordance with the requirements of the Report and Order approved by the FCC in May 2020, and which became effective on August 17, 2022. The Report and Order establishes three general eligibility requirements to obtain a broadband license, which we refer to herein as (i) the “50% Licensed Spectrum Test,” (ii) the “90% Broadband Segment Test” and (iii) the “240 Channel Requirement.” We will need to satisfy all eligibility requirements in each county in the United States for which we desire to obtain a broadband license. Under the 50% Licensed Spectrum Test, we must demonstrate that we hold more than 50% of the licensed channels in the 900 MHz band in the applicable county. Under the 90% Broadband Segment Test, we must provide the FCC with a plan demonstrating that we hold, or have agreements with Covered Incumbents for, at least 90% of the licensed channels in the 6 MHz broadband segment designated by the FCC and within 70 miles of the county boundary. Under the 240 Channel Requirement, we must surrender 6 MHz of broadband or narrowband spectrum (or 240 channels) in the applicable county to the FCC. If we do not have a sufficient number of channels to satisfy any of these eligibility requirements, we will be required to purchase the additional channels from incumbents in privately negotiated transactions, swap our existing channels
with incumbents (including any required retuning of the incumbent radio systems), demonstrate the ability to protect Covered Incumbents or effectively purchase channels not previously licensed by the FCC by making an Anti-Windfall Payment. The amount of spectrum we will be required to purchase and/or swap and the amount of any Anti-Windfall Payment will vary in each county based on our existing spectrum holdings in such county. Our ability to acquire and/or swap the additional spectrum necessary to secure broadband licenses in a desired county on a timely and cost-effective basis will depend on the incumbents who hold the additional spectrum we need to acquire or swap and their operations that we may need to retune or replace. Obtaining the required spectrum to qualify for broadband licenses may take longer and be more expensive than we currently anticipate. In addition, as discussed in more detail below, incumbents may elect not to sell or swap their existing channels on reasonable terms, or at all, and until we can satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test, we will not be able to utilize the Mandatory Retuning procedures the FCC established in the Report and Order. If we are unable to obtain broadband licenses on favorable terms and on a timely basis, or at all, our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects will be materially adversely affected. In addition, significant costs or delays beyond what we have anticipated in our business plan will further delay us from commercializing our spectrum assets, and may prevent us from returning capital to stockholders (through dividends or stock repurchases) and require us to seek additional sources of capital and liquidity in order to carry out our business and plans, which could cause significant dilution to our existing stockholders. See the risk factor entitled “We may not be able to correctly estimate our operating expenses or future revenues, which could lead to cash shortfalls and require us to secure additional financing.”
The voluntary exchange process established by the FCC in the Report and Order may not allow us to clear or relocate incumbents in a timely manner and on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
The Report and Order establishes a market-driven, voluntary exchange process for clearing the channels in the broadband segment on a county-by-county basis. When we apply for a broadband license, we will need to demonstrate that we satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test. The fact that we will need to account for 90% of the licensed channels in the broadband segment before we can file for a broadband application, can lead to holdouts by Covered Incumbents. For example, a Covered Incumbent may demand compensation in an amount that is disproportionate to the cost of relocating its system or any reasonable reflection of the value of its spectrum holdings or may elect not to negotiate an agreement at all. In the Report and Order, the FCC has established the 90% Broadband Segment Test, which if satisfied, triggers a Mandatory Retuning process to help a broadband applicant clear the remaining channels in the broadband segment. There is no assurance, however, that we can swap or acquire sufficient channels, including purchasing additional spectrum, swapping spectrum or entering into protective agreements with Covered Incumbents, to satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Further, even if we satisfy the 90% Broadband Segment Test, as part of the Mandatory Retuning process we will be required to pay any costs associated with providing Covered Incumbents with comparable facilities and paying relocation costs.
In addition, the FCC has exempted channels from the Mandatory Retuning process that are being utilized by incumbents operating Complex Systems. The FCC exempted Complex Systems from the Mandatory Retuning requirements because retuning these systems could be complex and disruptive to the incumbent operators. Complex Systems are located in some of the largest business and population centers in the United States. Most are operated by electric utilities, including some utilities that actively opposed our 900 MHz broadband spectrum initiatives that resulted in the Report and Order. This exemption effectively prevents us from obtaining broadband licenses in counties where these Complex Systems are located (or if a Complex System is being operated within 70 miles of a county boundary for which we are attempting to obtain a broadband license) without the incumbent’s consent, which could be withheld for any reason, or for no reason. As a result, the incumbents operating Complex Systems can make demands that are not commercially reasonable (including the commercial terms of any long-term lease of our spectrum), delay their decision or refuse to negotiate with us altogether. Our inability to obtain broadband licenses in counties where Complex Systems are currently being operated (or are being operated within 70 miles of a county boundary for which we are attempting to obtain a broadband license) could have a material adverse effect on our operations and business plan, our future prospects and opportunities and on our ability to develop a profitable business.
The members of the AAR may delay or hinder our ability to commercialize broadband licenses.
The AAR holds a nationwide geographic license for six non-contiguous channels in the 900 MHz band, three of which are located within the broadband segment established by the FCC in the Report and Order. These channels are used by freight railroads for Advanced Train Control System operations. We recognized from the outset of the 900 MHz proceedings the importance of reaching agreements with the railroads about their relocation and worked with them throughout the FCC process. The Report and Order acknowledged the agreement we had reached with the AAR. In January 2020, we formalized our AAR Agreement with the AAR in which we agreed to cancel licenses in the 900 MHz band to enable the AAR to relocate its operations, including operations utilizing the three channels located in the 900 MHz broadband segment. We cancelled these licenses in June 2020 in accordance with the AAR Agreement. Delays by members of the AAR in clearing their channels in the broadband segment could delay or hinder our ability to commercialize broadband licenses and the ability of our customers to
deploy 3/3 MHz broadband networks in the affected area, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and business plan, our future prospects and opportunities and on our ability to develop a profitable business.
We may not be successful in commercializing our spectrum assets on a timely basis or in accordance with our business plans and expectations.
We have identified utilities and other critical infrastructure enterprises as our initial target customers. As of the date of this filing, we have signed long-term leases of our spectrum assets with Ameren and Evergy and have entered into a contract to sell our spectrum assets to SDG&E. Although we are in discussions with other utilities and critical infrastructure enterprises, there is no assurance that these discussions will continue to progress or eventually result in contracts with these entities or that we will be successful in our efforts to commercialize our spectrum assets and other service offerings. For example, utilities or other critical infrastructure enterprises may not elect to lease any broadband licenses we secure on terms satisfactory to us or for a lease amount that represents what we believe is the fair market value for the lease of our spectrum, on a timely basis, or at all. Similarly, there is no assurance that utilities or other critical infrastructure customers will retain us for any other value-added services we offer them. As a result, our prospects must be considered in light of the uncertainties, risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stages of implementing a new business plan and pursuing opportunities in highly competitive and rapidly developing markets.
In addition, under our current business plan, we intend to enter long-term leasing or other transfer arrangements for our spectrum assets with one customer, or a limited number of customers, in each geographic area. We also expect that our customers will pay what we believe is the fair market value for the lease of the spectrum and bear the costs of deploying and operating their private broadband networks. As a result, many geographic areas may have only one or a limited number of potential customers and if we are not successful with this customer or limited number of customers, our spectrum may not be utilized, and we will not be able to generate revenues from owning spectrum in that geographic area. In addition, even if we enter a long-term lease or transfer arrangement for a geographic area, payments by our customer will be contingent on our ability to clear incumbents and take the other necessary actions to secure broadband licenses on a timely basis. Our customers also will typically require rights to all spectrum we have in its geographic operating area. Because of this, we may not have additional spectrum assets to lease in such geographical area to other potential customers. Further, other than our lease or transfer arrangements, we will not generate revenue from the operation of the broadband networks or technologies deployed by our customers. As a result, there is considerable uncertainty as to whether we can generate sufficient revenues to develop a profitable business from leasing or otherwise transferring our licensed 900 MHz spectrum on a timely basis, or at all.
Our ability to successfully commercialize our spectrum assets will also depend on the commercial availability of technology, products and solutions that can both utilize the broadband licenses we secure and satisfy our customers’ demands. Our spectrum assets are located within the 3GPP global standard of Band 8 (also known as the E-GSM band, or 880 - 915 MHz paired with 925 - 960 MHz). Band 8 has been internationally approved and is currently being utilized with LTE broadband networks. However, we may not be able to continue to convince chipmakers and other technology, product and solution manufacturers and vendors to develop the technology, products and solutions required to satisfy our customers’ various use cases and meet the technical specifications established in the Report and Order. Further, adverse economic conditions, including as a result of COVID-19, may result in supply chain issues which limit our customer’s ability to obtain the necessary technology and products to deploy an LTE broadband network utilizing our spectrum. If such technologies, products and solutions are not available or competitively priced or are significantly delayed, our customers may decide not to lease any broadband licenses we secure on acceptable terms, on a timely basis, or at all.
Further, our assessment that we should target utilities and other critical infrastructure entities as customers for our spectrum is based on our determination that these entities have regulatory and other incentives to install a significant number of new technologies, such as smart devices and sensors, that will generate an increasing amount of data that cannot be addressed well by their existing communication networks and systems. Our potential customers, however, are large organizations and a decision to implement private broadband networks, technologies and solutions is an involved decision and will require significant capital outlays. Any negotiation and contract process with these potential customers has taken, and likely will continue to take, a significant amount of time and effort to work through their approval and funding processes. In addition, there is no assurance that the governmental agencies that regulate these entities will allow them to pass the capital costs of implementing broadband networks, technologies and solutions utilizing our spectrum on to their ratepayers, which could cause these entities to be unable to afford, or to elect not to pursue, rights to our spectrum assets. In addition, although there is broad availability of broadband LTE, there is no assurance that our targeted customers will be able to utilize existing broadband networks, technologies and solutions with our spectrum for their desired use cases without requiring modifications to existing equipment or engaging in product and/or service development efforts, any of which could result in deployment delays, require them or us to invest in technology or other development activities or otherwise adversely limit the potential benefits or value of our spectrum assets. If any of these risks occur or continue beyond our plans and expectations, our plans to commercialize our spectrum assets may not be as valuable as we expect and we may experience significant delays in our commercialization plans, which will have an adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects.
We are subject to contingencies and obligations under our commercial agreements with Ameren, SDG&E and Evergy, including the delivery of cleared spectrum and broadband licenses on a timely basis, and as a result, there is no assurance that we will receive payments from Ameren and/or SDG&E in the amounts and on the timeline we currently expect, or that any payments we have received to date, including from Evergy, will not be subject to repayment or that we will not be subject to contract claims, including rights of termination.
In December 2020, we announced that we had entered into the Ameren Agreements to provide 900 MHz broadband spectrum licenses covering Ameren’s service territories in Missouri and Illinois. In February 2021, we announced that we had entered into the SDG&E Agreements to provide 900 MHz broadband spectrum throughout SDG&E’s California service territory, including San Diego and Imperial Counties and portions of Orange County. In September 2021, we entered into a long-term lease agreement of 900 MHz broadband spectrum with Evergy. The Evergy service territories covered by the Evergy Agreement are in Kansas and Missouri. We are subject to contingencies and obligations under our commercial agreements with Ameren, SDG&E and Evergy, including the delivery of cleared spectrum and broadband licenses in the designated service territories on a timely basis. There is no assurance that we will be able to clear incumbents from Ameren’s, SDG&E’s and/or Evergy’s respective service territories and obtain broadband licenses from the FCC on the timeline required under our agreements, or at all. Ameren’s, SDG&E’s and Evergy’s respective payment obligations, including our ability to maintain any upfront payments and any future payment obligations under these agreements, are contingent on our ability to deliver cleared spectrum and broadband spectrum licenses on the timelines required in these agreements. As a result, there is no assurance that we will be able to retain any upfront payments or receive future payments in the amounts and on the timeline we currently expect, or at all. Further, Ameren and Evergy may not elect to exercise their options for additional terms contemplated by the terms of the long-term lease agreements. Further, our costs to clear incumbents, qualify for broadband licenses and perform our other obligations under our agreements with Ameren, SDG&E and Evergy may be significantly more than we currently anticipate, which could increase our operating expenses and reduce the net revenue or proceeds we recognize from these agreements.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and could continue to adversely impact our business, including our broadband licensing and commercialization efforts and our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a pandemic and COVID-19 continues to cause significant disruptions throughout the World.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted and could continue to adversely impact our business operations and the business operations of our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers and equipment technology and solution suppliers. Reduced business operations may prevent us from timely and successfully negotiating and entering into agreements with incumbents to acquire and/or swap the spectrum required to enable us to qualify for broadband licenses. The reduced business operations may hinder our efforts to secure broadband licenses from the FCC and to timely and successfully commercialize any broadband licenses we secure for our targeted customers. For example, the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have commanded, and may continue to command, the attention of our targeted customers. Further, the business disruptions and reduced economic activity, including the adverse results of inflation, may harm the results of operations and financial condition of our target customers, which may cause them to delay or elect not to pursue a right to lease our spectrum assets and invest in a private LTE system.
The business disruptions and other adverse economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to rapidly evolve. The ultimate extent and continuing length of the impact of COVID-19 on our future financial performance will depend on ongoing developments, all of which remain uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Our initiatives with the federal and state agencies and commissions that regulate electric utilities may not be successful.
Our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers are highly regulated by both federal and state agencies. Electrical utilities, for example, are regulated by federal agencies including the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the NIST. We are working with each of these agencies to educate them about the potential benefits that private broadband LTE networks, technologies and solutions utilizing our spectrum assets can offer utilities. We are also working with state agencies and commissions who regulate the electrical utilities in their respective states, and who have a strong influence over electric utility buying decisions in their jurisdictions. Our goal with these state agencies and commissions is to gain their support for allowing utilities to pass the capital costs of leasing our spectrum assets and deploying private broadband LTE networks, technologies and solutions to ratepayers, including at a customary rate of return for the utility company. We are in the early stages of our initiatives with these federal and state agencies and commissions. We may not be successful in gaining support from these governmental bodies on a timely basis, or at all, which could hinder or delay our commercialization efforts with utilities and other entities. If we do not gain support from these governmental bodies, our targeted critical infrastructure customers may not find it commercially feasible to lease our spectrum assets.
We may not be able to maintain any broadband licenses that we own and/or obtain from the FCC.
The FCC issues each spectrum license for a fixed period, typically ten years in the case of the FCC licenses for the narrowband spectrum we currently hold and 15 years for any broadband licenses we have or intend to secure in the future. The Report and Order establishes “performance” or build-out requirements that we will be required to meet to retain and renew any broadband licenses we obtain. Performance will be measured at the six- and twelve-year anniversaries of each broadband license. A failure to satisfy the six-year anniversary requirements, accelerates the twelve-year anniversary to a ten-year anniversary requirement. A failure to satisfy these requirements could result in the FCC’s termination of a broadband license or refusal to renew a previously issued broadband license. In addition, under our business plan, we intend for our customers to be responsible to pay the build-out and operating costs of such broadband systems. Such build-out requirements could impose a significant expense and could cause potential customers to decide not to license broadband licenses from us, or to seek alternative communication solutions from other providers.
Government regulations or actions taken by governmental bodies could adversely affect our business prospects, liquidity and results of operations, including any changes by the FCC to the Report and Order or to the FCC rules and regulations governing the 900 MHz band.
The licensing and sale of spectrum assets, as well as the deployment and operation of wireless networks and technologies, are regulated by the FCC and, depending on the jurisdiction, by state and local regulatory agencies. In particular, the FCC imposes significant regulation on licensees of wireless spectrum with respect to how FCC licenses may be transferred or sold. The FCC also regulates how the spectrum is used by licensees, the nature of the services that licensees may offer and how the services may be offered, including resolution of issues of interference between spectrum bands. Failure to comply with FCC requirements applicable to a given licensee could result in revocation or non-renewal of the license, depending on the nature and severity of the non-compliance. If we, or any of the future licensees of our spectrum assets, fail to comply with applicable FCC regulations, we may be subject to sanctions or lose our FCC licenses, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects.
In addition, the FCC and other federal, state and local governmental authorities could adopt new regulations or take actions, including imposing taxes or fees on our business that could have a materially adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects. Further, the FCC or Congress may make additional spectrum available for communications services, which may result in the introduction of additional competitive entrants to the already crowded wireless communications marketplace in which we compete. For example, the federal government created and funded the FRNA which the federal government authorized to help accomplish, fund and oversee the deployment of the dedicated NPSBN. The NPSBN, which is marketed as “FirstNet”, may provide an additional source of competition to utilizing our 900 MHz spectrum assets by our targeted critical infrastructure and enterprise customers.
The value of our spectrum assets may fluctuate significantly based on supply and demand, as well as technical and regulatory changes.
The FCC spectrum licenses we hold are our most valuable asset. The value of our spectrum, however, may fluctuate based on various factors, including, among others:
•the cost and time required to comply with the FCC’s requirements to obtain broadband licenses in the 900 MHz band, including purchasing additional spectrum and retuning and relocating incumbents;
•our ability to enter long-term leases or transfer arrangements with our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms;
•potential uses of our spectrum based on the Report and Order and available technology;
•the market availability of, and demand for, broadband spectrum;
•the demand for private broadband networks, technologies and solutions by our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers; and
•regulatory changes by the FCC to make additional spectrum available or to promote more flexible uses of existing spectrum in other bands.
Similarly, the price of any additional spectrum we desire to purchase to enable us to qualify for broadband licenses or our future business plans will also fluctuate based on similar factors. Any decline in the value of our spectrum or increases in the cost of the spectrum we acquire could have an adverse effect on our market value and our business and operating results.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may not be able to correctly estimate our operating expenses or future revenues, which could lead to cash shortfalls, and may prevent us from returning capital to our stockholders and require us to secure additional financing.
We dedicated significant resources to support the FCC’s approval of the Report and Order. We have expended, and will need to continue to expend substantial resources for the foreseeable future, to commercialize and promote the benefits of deploying broadband systems to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers. We also will need to expend
substantial resources for the foreseeable future to qualify for and obtain broadband licenses, including the costs related to retuning incumbent systems, purchasing additional spectrum from incumbents and/or making Anti-Windfall Payments to the U.S. Treasury to commercialize our spectrum assets. We believe our existing cash will be sufficient to fund our planned operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date of this filing.
Our budgeted expense levels are based in part on our expectations and assumptions regarding the timing and costs to qualify for and obtain broadband licenses, the demand by our target customers to utilize our spectrum assets to deploy broadband networks, technologies and solutions and the time required to enter into binding contracts with our target customers. However, we may not correctly predict the amount or timing of our future revenues and our operating expenses, which may fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control, and may be materially different than our announced plans and expectations. These factors include:
•the cost and time required to obtain broadband licenses, including the costs to clear the 900 MHz band and to acquire additional spectrum from incumbents and/or to make Anti-Windfall Payments;
•our ability to qualify for and utilize the Mandatory Retuning process established by the Report and Order;
•our ability to negotiate agreements with the operators of Complex Systems;
•the cost and time to promote, market and commercialize our spectrum assets, including the long sales cycle required to enter long-term lease arrangements with our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers;
•the commercial terms, including the length of the lease and the timing of payments, in our future commercial arrangements with our targeted customers;
•the costs associated with increasing the size of our organization, including the costs to attract and retain personnel with the skills required to support our business plans;
•adverse economic conditions, including as a result of inflation, that delay or otherwise hinder our commercialization efforts; and
•the funds we return to stockholders through our share repurchase program.
In addition, other costs may arise that we currently do not anticipate. Further, other unanticipated events may occur that reduce the amounts and delay the timing of our future revenues, including the potential impacts of the business disruptions and economic consequences resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We may not be able to adjust our operations in a timely manner to compensate for any shortfall in our revenues, delays in obtaining broadband licenses, delays in entering long-term leases for our spectrum or increases in the expenses required to secure broadband licenses and implement our commercialization and business plans.
Further, our assumptions regarding the terms of any spectrum leases we enter into with our targeted customers, including the timing of customer payments, may turn out to be inaccurate. As a result, a significant shortfall in our planned revenues, a significant delay in obtaining broadband licenses and entering into long-term leases for our spectrum assets, customers electing not to make significant pre-payments under the terms of any lease agreements we enter into or significant increases in our planned expenses could have an immediate and material adverse effect on our business, liquidity, results of operations and prospects. In such case, we may not be able to return capital to our stockholders as planned (through dividends and stock repurchases) and may be required to issue additional equity or debt securities or enter into other commercial arrangements to secure the additional financial resources to support our future operations and the implementation of our business plans. Such financing may result in dilution to stockholders, imposition of debt covenants and repayment obligations, or other restrictions that may adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.
We have a limited operating history with our current business plan, which makes it difficult to evaluate our prospects and future financial results and our business activities, strategic approaches and plans may not be successful.
Although we were incorporated in 1997, our business is now reliant on our ability to secure broadband licenses pursuant to the Report and Order approved by the FCC in May 2020 and to commercialize our spectrum assets to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers. Since the Report and Order, we have signed commercial agreements with three of our target utility and critical infrastructure customers for the long-term lease or transfer of our spectrum assets. Although we are in discussions with other utilities and critical infrastructure companies, there is no assurance that these discussions will continue to progress or will eventually result in contracts with these entities. There also is no assurance regarding the terms of any agreements we enter into with our target customers, including the time required to enter into an agreement and the amount or timing of any payments from any executed agreement. In addition, there is no assurance that we will be able to satisfy our obligations under our commercial agreements, including our obligations to secure broadband licenses on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. As a result, there is no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to commercialize our spectrum assets and other service offerings. Further, our ability to forecast our future operating results is limited and subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including our ability to accurately forecast and estimate our future revenues and the expenses and time required to obtain broadband licenses and pursue our commercialization plans. We have
encountered, and expect to continue to encounter, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by new businesses in highly competitive, technical and rapidly changing markets. If our assumptions regarding these risks and uncertainties are incorrect, or if there are adverse changes in our commercialization plans or opportunities or general economic conditions, or if we do not manage or address these risks and uncertainties successfully, our results of operations could differ materially and adversely from our expectations.
As a business with a limited operating history with our current business plan, any future success will depend, in large part, on our ability to, among other things:
•comply with the requirements and restrictions the FCC has established in the Report and Order to qualify for and obtain broadband licenses in key geographic areas on a timely and cost-effective basis;
•successfully commercialize our spectrum assets to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers on favorable terms, on a timely basis, or at all;
•comply with our obligations under our existing and any future agreements with our customers on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms;
•compete against other wireless companies, including the Tier 1 carriers, manufacturers and vendors who have significantly greater resources and pricing flexibility, long-term relationships with our targeted customers and greater political and regulatory influence;
•successfully convince chipmakers and other technology, product and solution manufacturers and vendors to develop the technology, products and solutions required to satisfy our customers’ various use cases and meet the technical specifications established in the Report and Order; and
•successfully manage and grow our internal business, regulatory, technical and commercial operations in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Any failure to achieve one or more of these objectives could adversely affect our business, our results of operations and our financial condition.
Many of the third parties who offer spectrum and communication technologies, products and solutions to our targeted customers have existing long-term relationships with these targeted customers and have significantly more resources and greater political and regulatory influence than we do, and we may not be able to successfully compete with these third parties.
Our competitors include the Tier 1 carriers (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile), private radio operators and other public and private companies who supply communication networks, technologies, products and solutions to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure entities. Many of these competitors have significantly more resources, a longer track record of providing technologies, products and solutions to our targeted customers and greater political and regulatory influence than we do, all of which could prevent, delay or increase the costs of commercializing the broadband licenses we secure to our targeted customers. In addition, under our business plan, our targeted customers will be required to bear the cost of installing and operating the broadband networks, technologies and solutions utilizing our licensed spectrum, thereby requiring the replacement of some or all of their existing communication systems. Given these significant capital requirements, there is no assurance that we will be able to successfully commercialize our spectrum assets, especially in light of the competitive environment in which we operate, and the wide variety of technologies, products and solutions offered by our competitors. Further, in the process of pursuing broadband licenses, we may be required to make significant concessions or contractual commitments, make significant payments or assume significant costs, purchase additional spectrum or replacement communication systems or limit the use of our spectrum assets or restrict our pursuit of business opportunities to address the concerns expressed by incumbents and other interested parties.
In addition, the FCC and other federal, state and local governmental authorities could adopt new regulations or take actions, including making additional spectrum available that can be utilized by our targeted customers, which could harm our ability to license our spectrum assets. For example, the federal government created and funded the FRNA, which the federal government authorized to help accomplish, fund, and oversee the deployment of a dedicated Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (“NPSBN”). The NPSBN, which is marketed as “FirstNet”, may provide an additional source of competition to utilizing our 900 MHz spectrum assets by our targeted utility and critical infrastructure enterprises.
Some of our competitors, including the Tier 1 carriers, have significantly greater pricing flexibility, have taken steps and may decide to compete against us more aggressively. These and other competitors may own or acquire spectrum that directly competes with our 900 MHz spectrum and/or have developed or may develop technologies that directly compete with our solutions. If competitors offer spectrum rights or services, technologies and solutions to our targeted customers at prices and terms that make the licensing of our spectrum assets unattractive, our ability to license or otherwise commercialize our spectrum assets could be impaired. As a result, we may be unable to attract customers at prices or on terms that would be favorable, or at all, which could have an adverse effect on the growth and timing of any future revenues. In addition, we may not be able to fund or invest in certain areas of our business to the same degree as our competitors. Many have substantially greater product development and marketing budgets and other financial and regulatory personnel resources than we do. Many
also have greater name and brand recognition and a larger base of customers than we have. Competition could increase our selling and marketing expenses and related customer acquisition costs. We may not have the financial resources, technical expertise or marketing and support capabilities to compete successfully.
If we are unable to attract new customers, our results of operations and our business will be adversely affected.
Our targeted customers are large, heavily-regulated enterprises and our business plan requires these customers to commit to long-term leases of our spectrum and then to purchase and deploy broadband network equipment, solutions and services utilizing our leased spectrum. There are typically a number of constituencies within each of our targeted customers that need to review and approve the lease of our spectrum before signing a contract with us. As a result, we have experienced, and we expect to continue to experience, long sales cycles with our targeted customers. In addition, numerous other factors, many of which are out of our control, may now or in the future impact our ability to acquire new customers, including not gaining support from governmental bodies that regulate our customers, the ability of our customers to pass their lease and broadband deployment costs to their ratepayers, our customers’ existing commitments to other providers or communication solutions, real or perceived costs of leasing our spectrum assets and deploying broadband networks, solutions and services, our failure to expand, retain and motivate our sales and marketing personnel, our failure to develop or expand relationships with the manufacturers or suppliers of broadband technologies, solutions and services that can be utilized on our spectrum, negative media, industry or financial analyst commentary regarding us or our solutions, litigation, the spectrum and service offerings of our competitors, the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and deteriorating general economic conditions. Any of these factors could impact our ability to attract new customers to lease or obtain rights to our spectrum assets. As a result of these and other factors, we may be unable to timely attract enough customers to support our operating costs, which would harm our business and results of operations.
We have had net losses each year since our inception and may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future.
We have incurred net losses each year since our inception and we may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future for a number of reasons, including without limitation, the costs to obtain broadband licenses, including the costs to clear the 900 MHz band, the costs to promote and commercialize our spectrum assets to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers, our inability to commercialize our spectrum assets to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers on a timely basis and on commercially favorable terms and changes in our revenue recognition policies. Additionally, we may encounter unforeseen operating expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other unknown factors that may result in significant delays in our business plans, levels of revenue below our current expectations, or losses or expenses that exceed our current expectations. If our losses or expenses exceed our expectations or our revenue assumptions are not met in future periods, we may never achieve or maintain profitability in the future.
Our ability to use our net operating losses to offset future taxable income, if any, may be subject to certain limitations.
As of March 31, 2022, we had approximately $90.3 million of federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, expiring in various amounts from 2023 through 2038, to offset future taxable income and the remaining $240.4 million of which can be carried forward indefinitely but limited to 80% of future taxable income when used. In the United States, utilization of the NOL carryforwards may be subject to a substantial annual limitation under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and similar state provisions due to ownership change limitations that have occurred previously or that could occur in the future. The NOL carryforwards and certain other tax attributes of ours may also be subject to limitations as a result of ownership changes. If we were to lose the benefits of these NOL carryforwards, our future earnings and cash resources would be materially and adversely affected. We have incurred net losses since our inception, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future; thus, we do not know whether or when we will generate the U.S. federal taxable income necessary to utilize our NOLs.
Our reputation and business may be harmed, and we may be subject to legal claims if there is loss, disclosure, or misappropriation of, or access to, our customers’ information.
We make extensive use of online services and centralized data processing, including through third-party service providers. The secure maintenance and transmission of customer information is an important element of our operations. Our information technology and other systems, and those of our service providers or contract partners (including A BEEP, Goosetown and the LLC), that maintain and transmit customer information, including location or personal information, may be compromised by a malicious third-party penetration of our network security, or that of our third-party service providers or contract partners, or impacted by unauthorized intentional or inadvertent actions or inactions by our employees, or by the employees of our third-party service providers or contract partners. Cyber-attacks, which include the use of malware, computer viruses and other means of disruption or unauthorized access, have increased in frequency, scope and potential harm in recent years. While, to date, we have not been subject to cyber-attacks or other cyber incidents which, individually or in the aggregate, have been material to our operations or financial condition, the preventive actions we and our third-party service providers and contract partners take to reduce the risk of cyber incidents and protect information technology resources and networks may be
insufficient to repel a major cyber-attack in the future. As a result, our customers’ information may be lost, disclosed, accessed, used, corrupted, destroyed or taken without the customers’ consent. Any significant compromise of our data or network security, failure to prevent or mitigate the loss of customer information and delays in detecting any such compromise or loss could disrupt our operations, impact our reputation and subject us to additional costs and liabilities, including litigation, which could produce material and adverse effects on our business and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Organization and Structure
We may change our operations and business strategies without stockholder consent.
Our executive management team, with oversight from our Board, establishes our operational plans, our commercialization plans and our business strategies. Our Board and executive management team may make changes to or approve transactions that deviate from our current operations and strategies without a vote of, or prior notice to, our stockholders. This authority to change our operations, commercialization plans and business strategies could result in us conducting operational matters, making investments, pursuing spectrum opportunities, or implementing business or growth strategies in a manner different than those that we are currently pursuing. Under any of these circumstances, we may expose ourselves to different and more significant risks, decrease our revenues or increase our expenses and financial requirements, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on our executive officers and key personnel.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the contributions of our executive officers and key personnel, who have unique experience and expertise in the telecommunications industry, large scale and multi-year solution selling to utilities, wireless broadband networks, FCC rulemaking and retuning and clearing spectrum to obtain FCC licenses. Although we have adopted a severance plan for our executive officers, we do not otherwise have long-term employment agreements with any of our executive officers or key personnel. There is no guarantee that these individuals will remain employed with us. In addition, we have not obtained and do not expect to obtain key man life insurance that would provide us with proceeds in the event of the death or disability of any of our executive officers or key personnel. If any of our executive officers or key personnel were to cease employment with us, our operating results and the implementation of our commercial and business terms could suffer. Further, the process of attracting and retaining suitable replacements for our executive officers and key personnel would result in transition costs and would divert the attention of other members of our senior management team from our existing operations. As a result, the loss of services from our executive officers or key personnel or a limitation in their availability could materially and adversely impact our business, prospects and results of operations. Further, such a loss could be negatively perceived in the capital markets.
We will need to continue to expand our organization and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth, which could disrupt our operations.
We have significantly expanded our commercialization organization since the Report and Order was issued in May 2020. As we continue to pursue broadband licenses and implement our commercialization plans, we expect to need additional managerial, operational, technical, sales, marketing, financial, legal and other resources. Our management may need to divert its attention away from its day-to-day activities and devote a substantial amount of time to managing these growth activities. We may not be able to effectively manage the expansion of our operations, which may result in weaknesses in our infrastructure, operational mistakes, loss of business opportunities, loss of employees and reduced productivity among remaining employees. Our expected growth could require significant capital expenditures and may divert financial resources from other projects. If our management is unable to effectively manage our growth, our expenses may increase more than expected or budgeted, our ability to generate and/or grow revenue could be reduced and we may not be able to implement our currently anticipated business strategy. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our spectrum assets and compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to effectively manage any future growth. Failure to manage this growth could disrupt our business operations and negatively impact our ability to achieve success.
If we fail to implement and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately determine our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, our stockholders could lose confidence in our financial results, which would materially and adversely affect our value and our ability to raise any required capital in the future.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. We discovered in the past and may discover in the future areas of our internal controls that need improvement or additional documentation. For example, subsequent to filing the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021, we determined that our controls and procedures were not effective as the result of a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting related to the identification, review, analysis and recording of our intangible assets, more specifically, non-monetary exchanges of our narrowband licenses for broadband licenses. Management has taken steps to remediate the material weakness as of March 31, 2022. As management continues to evaluate and improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may decide to take additional measures to address control deficiencies or determine to modify, or in appropriate
circumstances not to complete, certain of the remediation measures identified. The material weakness is considered remediated as the applicable remedial controls operated for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded through testing, that these controls were operating effectively as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.
We cannot be certain that we will be successful in implementing or maintaining effective internal controls for all financial periods. As we grow our business, our internal controls will become more complex, and we will require significantly more resources to ensure our internal controls remain effective. The existence of any material weakness or significant deficiency in the future may require management to devote significant time and incur significant expense to remediate any such material weaknesses or significant deficiencies and management may not be able to remediate any such material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in a timely manner. In addition, the existence of any material weakness in our internal controls could also result in errors in our financial statements that could require us to restate our financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and cause stockholders to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which could materially and adversely affect our value and our ability to raise any required capital in the future.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
There is no assurance that a robust market in our common stock will develop or be sustained.
Since our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market in 2015, we have had limited daily trading volume. We cannot assure you that a more active or liquid trading market for our common stock will develop, or will be sustained if it does develop, either of which could materially and adversely affect the market price of our common stock, our ability to raise capital in the future and the ability of stockholders to sell their shares at the volume, prices and times desired. In addition, the risks and uncertainties related to our ability to obtain broadband licenses and our proposed business strategies makes it difficult to evaluate our business, our prospects and the valuation of our Company, which limits the liquidity and volume of our common stock and may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
Our common stock prices may be volatile, which could cause the value of our common stock to decline.
The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations. Some of the factors that could negatively affect or result in fluctuations in the market price of our common stock include:
•the timing and costs of securing broadband licenses;
•our ability to enter into contracts with our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers, on a timely basis or at all;
•the terms of our customer contracts, including pre-payments and our contractual obligations;
•our ability to comply with our obligations, on a timely and cost-effective basis, under our existing customer contracts;
•market reaction to any changes in our business plans or strategies;
•announcements, offerings or actions by our competitors;
•governmental regulations or actions taken by governmental bodies;
•additions or departures of any of our executive officers or key personnel;
•actions by our stockholders;
•speculation in the press or investment community;
•general market, economic and political conditions, including an economic slowdown, inflation or dislocation in the global credit markets;
•our operating performance and the performance of other similar companies;
•changes in accounting principles, judgments or assumptions; and
•passage of legislation or other regulatory developments that adversely affect us or our industry.
Concentration of ownership will limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
Based on our review of publicly available filings as of May 24, 2022, funds affiliated with Owl Creek Asset Management (“Owl Creek”) beneficially owned approximately 28.6% and funds affiliated with Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. owned approximately 6.7% of our outstanding common stock, and together with Owl Creek, approximately 35.3% of our outstanding shares of common stock. Although we are not aware of any voting arrangements between these stockholders, our significant stockholders can determine (if acting together) or significantly influence (if acting as a group of two or more): (i) the outcome of any corporate actions submitted by our Board for approval by our stockholders and (ii) any proposals or director nominees submitted by a stockholder. Further, they could place significant pressure on our Board to pursue corporate actions, director candidates and business opportunities they identify. For example, we previously engaged in cooperative discussions with Owl Creek regarding Owl Creek’s interest in nominating an individual to our Board. In addition, in its recent filings with the SEC, Owl Creek reported that it expects to continue to engage in cooperative discussions with our management and Board concerning ways to work together to achieve our strategic objectives. Owl Creek and our other significant stockholders could effectively block a proposed sale of the company, even if recommended by our Board. Alternatively, these stockholders could place pressure on our Board to pursue a sale of the company or its assets. As a result of
this concentration of ownership, our other stockholders may have no effective voice in our corporate actions or the operations of our business, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Future sales of our common stock, or preferred stock, or of other securities convertible into our common stock or preferred stock, could cause the market value of our common stock to decline and could result in dilution of your shares.
Our Board is authorized, without stockholder approval, to permit us to issue additional shares of common stock or to raise capital through the creation and issuance of preferred stock, other debt securities convertible into common stock or preferred stock, options, warrants and other rights, on terms and for consideration as our Board in its sole discretion may determine. In April 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) on Form S-3 with the SEC that was declared effective by the SEC on April 20, 2020, which permits us to offer up to $150 million of common stock, preferred stock and warrants in one or more offerings and in any combination, including in units from time to time. In April 2020, we entered into an Amended and Restated Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement and an Amended and Restated Sales Agreement (collectively, the “Sales Agreements”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and B. Riley FBR, Inc., respectively (collectively, the “Agents”), and registered the sale of up to an aggregate of $50,000,000 in shares of our common stock in at-the-market sales transactions pursuant to the Sales Agreements under the Shelf Registration Statement. Our Sales Agreements are intended to provide us with additional flexibility to access the capital markets by selling registered shares under the Shelf Registration Statement. In addition, we have filed registration statements on Form S-8 to register the total number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under our 2014 Stock Plan, including the equity awards issued to our executive officers and directors. As of May 24, 2022, there are outstanding options to purchase 1,274,176 shares of our common stock and restricted stock unit agreements for 718,096 shares of our common stock and 773,942 shares remaining available for issuance under our 2014 Stock Plan, all of which are registered for sale on currently effective Forms S-8.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, including sales by our officers, directors or 5% and greater stockholders, or of preferred stock could cause the market price of our common stock to decrease significantly. We cannot predict the effect, if any, of future sales of our common stock, or the availability of our common stock for future sales, on the value of our common stock. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock by any one or more of our large stockholders, or the perception that such sales could occur, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
We cannot guarantee that our share repurchase program will be utilized to the full value approved or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value. Repurchases we consummate could increase the volatility of the price of our common stock and could have a negative impact on our available cash balance.
Our Board authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we may repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock on or before September 29, 2023. The manner, timing and amount of any share repurchases may fluctuate and will be determined by us based on a variety of factors, including the market price of our common stock, our priorities for the use of cash to support our business operations and plans, general business and market conditions, tax laws, and alternative investment opportunities. The share repurchase program authorization does not obligate us to acquire any specific number or dollar value of shares. Further, our share repurchases could have an impact on our share trading prices, increase the volatility of the price of our common stock, or reduce our available cash balance such that we will be required to seek financing to support our operations. Our share repurchase program may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time, which may result in a decrease in the trading prices of our common stock. Even if our share repurchase program is fully implemented, it may not enhance long-term stockholder value.
Future offerings of debt securities or preferred stock, which would rank senior to our common stock in the event of our bankruptcy or liquidation, may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by making offerings of debt securities or otherwise incurring debt. In the event of our bankruptcy or liquidation, holders of our debt securities may be entitled to receive distributions of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. In addition, we may offer preferred stock that provides holders with a preference on liquidating distributions or a preference on dividend payments or both or that could otherwise limit our ability to pay dividends or make liquidating distributions to the holders of our common stock. Although we have no present plans to do so, our decision to issue debt securities or to issue preferred stock in any future offerings or otherwise incur debt may depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control. As a result, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings, and investors in our common stock bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the market price of our common stock and/or diluting their ownership interest in us.
Certain anti-takeover defenses and applicable law may limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of us.
Certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) and amended and restated bylaws, as amended (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”), could discourage, delay, or prevent a merger, acquisition, or other change of control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. These provisions also could limit the
price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. These provisions, among other things:
•allow the authorized number of directors to be changed only by resolution of our Board;
•authorize our Board to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of our Board and that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our Board does not approve;
•establish advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations to our Board or for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings; and
•limit who may call a stockholders meeting.
In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”). In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents an “interested stockholder” (as defined in the DGCL) from engaging in a “business combination” (as defined in the DGCL) with us for three years following the date that person becomes an interested stockholder unless one or more of the following occurs:
•before that person became an interested stockholder, our Board approved the transaction in which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved the business combination;
•upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) stock held by directors who are also officers of our Company and by employee stock plans that do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held under the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
•following the transaction in which that person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by our Board and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
The DGCL generally defines “interested stockholder” as any person who, together with affiliates and associates, is the owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or is our affiliate or associate and was the owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock at any time within the three-year period immediately before the date of determination. As a result, our election to be subject to Section 203 of the DGCL could limit the ability of a third party to acquire control of us.
Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers provide that:
•we will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful;
•we may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law;
•we are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification;
•we will not be obligated pursuant to our Amended and Restated Bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person against us or our other indemnitees, except with respect to proceedings authorized by our Board or brought to enforce a right to indemnification;
•the rights conferred in our Amended and Restated Bylaws are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons; and
•we may not retroactively amend our bylaw provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.
As a result, claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We maintain offices in Woodland Park, New Jersey, McLean, Virginia and Abilene, Texas. The lease for our corporate headquarters at 3 Garret Mountain Plaza, Suite 401, Woodland Park, New Jersey, which was renewed in February 2017 for an additional 10 years, is for 19,276 square feet of office space. We have the right of first offer for adjacent space if it becomes available. In February 2019, we entered into a lease agreement for our second office space located at 8260 Greensboro Drive, Suite 501, McLean, Virginia for 5.5 years, which commenced on April 15, 2019. The leased office facility includes approximately 5,365 square feet. In November 2018, we entered into a lease agreement to store equipment located at 5520 North First Street, Abilene, Texas for 5 years. The leased warehouse includes approximately 37,409 square feet. We believe that our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs.
We do not own any real property.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER MATTERS
We are not involved in any material legal proceedings or other legal matters at this time. However, from time to time, we may be involved in litigation that arises from the ordinary operations of business, such as contractual or employment disputes or other general actions. See Note 13 Contingencies of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for a further discussion of potential commitments and contingencies related to legal proceedings.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II.

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information
On February 3, 2015, shares of our common stock became listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PDVW.” Effective June 17, 2019, we changed our ticker symbol on the Nasdaq Capital Market to “ATEX” and subsequently changed our name to Anterix Inc.
As of May 24, 2022, we had 18,933,986 shares of common stock outstanding and approximately 113 record holders of our common stock, including common stock held through brokerage firms in “street name.”
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in any financing instruments and such other factors as our Board deems relevant in its sole discretion.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans.
We currently award stock options and restricted stock units to our employees meeting certain eligibility requirements under a plan approved by our stockholders in 2014, as amended, referred to as the “2014 Stock Plan” and have previously awarded stock options and restricted stock units to our employees meeting certain eligibility requirements under a plan approved by our stockholders in 2010. The following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of March 31, 2022:
Plan Category Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Stock Options or Rights (1)
(a) Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Stock Options or Rights (1)
(b) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
(excluding securities reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
1,040,023 $ 33.43 1,216,868 (2)
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
- - -
(1)Does not take into account outstanding restricted stock units.
(2)Historically, the number of shares of our common stock reserved under the 2014 Stock Plan were increased, based on Board approval each January 1, which was intended to continue through and including January 1, 2024, by an amount equal to the smaller of 5% of the number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding on the immediately preceding December 31 or a lesser amount determined by our Board (the “evergreen provision”). On June 14, 2021, the Compensation Committee of our Board approved Amendment No. 1 to 2014 Stock Plan to eliminate the evergreen provision for all future years (i.e., January 1,2022 through January 1, 2024). There was no increase in the number of shares authorized under the 2014 Stock Plan during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
Stock Performance Graph
The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.
The performance graph set forth below compares our cumulative total stockholder return for the periods commending March 31, 2017 through March 31, 2022, assuming an initial investment of $100 in our common stock, and in each of the Nasdaq Capital Market Composite Index and Nasdaq Telecommunications Index and assumes the reinvestment of dividends. No dividends have been declared or paid on our common stock. The comparisons in the performance graph below are required by the SEC and are not intended to forecast or be indicative of possible absolute or relative future performance of our common stock, and we do not make or endorse any predictions as to future stockholder returns.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
We did not sell any equity securities not registered under the Securities Act, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022.
Purchase of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers.
The following table provides information with respect to purchases of our common stock by us or any “affiliated purchaser” as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act, during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)
(in thousands except for share and per share data)
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price paid per Share (2)
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Maximum Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
January 1, 2022 through January 31, 2022
Open market and privately negotiated purchases - $ - - $ 38,007
February 1, 2022 through February 28, 2022
Open market and privately negotiated purchases - - - 38,007
March 1, 2022 through March 31, 2022
Open market and privately negotiated purchases 51,795 57.35 51,795 35,038
Total 51,795 $ 57.35 51,795 $ 35,038
(1)On September 30, 2021, we announced that our Board authorized a new share repurchase program pursuant to which we may repurchase up to $50.0 million of our outstanding shares of common stock on or before September 29, 2023. The manner, timing and amount of any share repurchases may fluctuate and will be determined by us based on a variety of factors, including the market price of our common stock, our priorities for the use of cash to support our business operations and plans, general business and market conditions and alternative investment opportunities. The share repurchase program authorization does not obligate us to acquire any specific number or dollar value of shares. Under the share repurchase program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated and/or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act.
(2)Average price paid per share includes cost associated with the repurchases.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. [Reserved]

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the related notes. This management’s discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Annual Report. Except as required by applicable law we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Annual Report.
This management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which we have prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate such estimates and judgments, including those described in greater detail below. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Our actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Overview
We are a wireless communications company focused on commercializing our spectrum assets to enable our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers to deploy private broadband networks, technologies and solutions. We are the largest holder of licensed spectrum in the 900 MHz band (896-901/935-940 MHz) with nationwide coverage throughout the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. On May 13, 2020, the FCC approved the Report and Order to modernize and realign the 900 MHz band to increase its usability and capacity by allowing it to be utilized for the deployment of broadband networks, technologies and solutions. The Report and Order was published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2020, and became effective on August 17, 2020. We are now engaged in qualifying for and securing broadband licenses from the FCC. At the same time, we are pursuing opportunities to lease the broadband spectrum we secure to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers.
We were originally incorporated in California in 1997 and reincorporated in Delaware in 2014. In November 2015, we changed our name from Pacific DataVision, Inc. to pdvWireless, Inc. In August 2019, we changed our name from pdvWireless, Inc. to Anterix Inc. We maintain offices in Woodland Park, New Jersey, McLean, Virginia and Abilene, Texas.
Refer to our Business Section of this Annual Report for a more complete description of the nature of our business, including details regarding the process and costs to secure our broadband licenses.
Business Developments
In December 2020, we entered into our first long-term lease agreement of 900 MHz spectrum authorized for broadband use, with Ameren. The Ameren Agreements will enable Ameren to deploy a private LTE network in its service territories in Missouri and Illinois, covering approximately 7.5 million people. Each Ameren Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, consisting of an initial term of 30 years, with a 10-year renewal option for an additional payment. The scheduled prepayments for the 30-year initial terms of the Ameren Agreements total $47.7 million, of which $0.3 million was received in February 2021, $5.4 million in September 2021 and $17.2 million in October 2021. See Note 3 Revenue in the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for further discussion on the Ameren Agreements.
In September 2021, we entered into a long-term lease agreement of 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum with Evergy. The Evergy service territories covered by the Evergy Agreement are in Kansas and Missouri with a population of approximately 3.9 million people. The Evergy Agreement is for a term of up to 40 years, comprised of an initial term of 20 years with two 10-year renewal options for additional payments. Prepayment in full of $30.2 million for the 20-year initial term, which was due and payable within thirty (30) days after execution of the Evergy Agreement, was received in October 2021. See Note 3 Revenue in the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for further discussion on the Evergy Agreement.
Results of Operations
Comparison of the years ended March 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2022 (“Fiscal 2022”), March 31, 2021 (“Fiscal 2021”) and March 31, 2020 (“Fiscal 2020”). The period-to-period comparison of financial results is not necessarily indicative of financial results to be achieved in future periods.
Operating revenues
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Service revenue $ - $ 192 $ 835 $ (192) -100 % $ (643) -77 %
Spectrum lease revenue 1,084 729 729 355 49 % - 0 %
Total operating revenues $ 1,084 $ 921 $ 1,564 $ 163 18 % $ (643) -41 %
Overall operating revenues increased by $0.2 million, or 18%, to $1.1 million in Fiscal 2022 from $0.9 million in Fiscal 2021. The increase in our spectrum lease revenue was attributable to revenue recognized in connection with the Ameren Agreements of approximately $0.4 million for the current year. Overall operating revenues decreased by $0.6 million, or 41%, to $0.9 million in Fiscal 2021 from $1.6 million in Fiscal 2020. The decrease in our operating revenues during this period were attributable to the transfer of our TeamConnect customers to A BEEP and Goosetown as part of our December 2018 restructuring efforts as discussed in Note 3 Revenue in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report, as well as the loss of customers in our pdvConnect business.
Operating expenses
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Direct cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) $ 5 $ 1,606 $ 2,833 $ (1,601) -100 % $ (1,227) -43 %
General and administrative 39,525 39,302 25,469 223 1 % 13,833 54 %
Sales and support 4,461 2,942 4,055 1,519 52 % (1,113) -27 %
Product development 3,593 4,343 2,953 (750) -17 % 1,390 47 %
Depreciation and amortization 1,450 3,533 3,591 (2,083) -59 % (58) -2 %
Impairment of long-lived assets - 85 46 (85) -100 % 39 85 %
Operating expenses $ 49,034 $ 51,811 $ 38,947 $ (2,777) -5 % $ 12,864 33 %
Direct cost of revenue
Direct cost of revenue decreased by $1.6 million to $5,000 for Fiscal 2022, or 100%, from $1.6 million for Fiscal 2021. Direct cost of revenue decreased by $1.2 million to $1.6 million for Fiscal 2021, or 43%, from $2.8 million for Fiscal 2020. The overall decreases primarily resulted from lower support costs related to the transfer of pdvConnect customers to the LLC as part of our December 2018 restructuring efforts as discussed in Note 3 Revenue in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report.
General and administrative expenses
General and administrative expenses increased by $0.2 million to $39.5 million for Fiscal 2022, or 1%, from $39.3 million for Fiscal 2021. The $0.2 million increase for Fiscal 2022 primarily resulted from a $1.5 million increase in headcount and employee related costs, $0.8 million in professional service fees due to our strategic spectrum initiatives, $0.7 million in higher site rent related costs and $0.3 million recruiting costs partially offset by a $2.7 million decrease in stock compensation expense and $0.4 million in lower management fees. General and administrative expenses increased by $13.8 million to $39.3 million for Fiscal 2021, or 54%, from $25.5 million for Fiscal 2020. The $13.8 million increase for Fiscal 2021 was attributable to $5.1 million in stock compensation expense recognized upon the achievement of a performance metric under the performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based stock options, upon the Report and Order becoming effective in August 2020 (see Note 11 Stock Acquisition Rights, Stock Options and Warrants in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report), $0.8 million relating to the Type III modification to the restricted stock units held by the former Chairman of the Board upon his transition to a consultant to the Company, approximately $3.8 million due to higher valuation of grants awarded in Fiscal 2021, $3.6 million higher employee related costs due to increased headcount as well as the realignment of the business development team and $1.1 million higher consulting services related to our strategic spectrum initiatives. These increases were partially offset by a $0.4 million decrease in employee related travel and meeting
costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and $0.2 million decrease due to the completion of the December 2018 cost reduction and restructuring actions associated with the transfer of the TeamConnect business to A BEEP and Goosetown and the transfer of the pdvConnect business to the LLC in Fiscal 2020.
Sales and support expenses
Sales and support expenses increased by $1.5 million, or 52%, to $4.5 million for Fiscal 2022 from $2.9 million for Fiscal 2021. The increase primarily resulted from a $0.6 million increase in headcount and employee related costs, $0.5 million in higher marketing costs related to advertising, sponsorships and trade shows, $0.1 million in higher contract consulting costs and $0.3 million in higher stock compensation expense. Sales and support expenses decreased by $1.1 million, or 27%, to $2.9 million for Fiscal 2021 from $4.1 million for Fiscal 2020. The decrease primarily resulted from $1.1 million related to the realignment of the business development team from Sales and support to General and administrative and $0.3 million lower employee related travel and meeting costs due to the pandemic, partially offset by $0.3 million increase in headcount and employee related costs resulting from building the sales team.
Product development expenses
Product development expenses decreased by $0.8 million, or 17%, to $3.6 million for Fiscal 2022 from $4.3 million for Fiscal 2021. The decrease primarily resulted from $0.4 million in lower consulting fees as we converted consultants to employees and $0.4 million in lower technology related costs. Product development expenses increased by $1.4 million, or 47%, to $4.3 million for Fiscal 2021 from $3.0 million for Fiscal 2020. The increase is primarily attributable to $0.4 million higher valuation of grants awarded in Fiscal 2021, $0.4 million higher consulting charges, $0.6 million higher technology and equipment related charges to assist with the development of future product offerings, offset by $0.2 million lower employee related travel and meeting costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased by $2.1 million, or 59%, to $1.5 million for Fiscal 2022 from $3.5 million for Fiscal 2021. The decrease was due to the change in the useful life for our market network sites during Fiscal 2020 that resulted in higher depreciation expense for the Fiscal years 2021 and 2020. Market network site assets for our historical business were fully depreciated by December 31, 2020. Depreciation and amortization in Fiscal 2021 remained relatively flat as compared to Fiscal 2020.
Impairment of long-lived assets
There were no impairment of long-lived assets expenses for Fiscal 2022. Impairment of long-lived assets expenses were $0.1 million and $46,000 for Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. Impairment for long-lived assets expenses remained relatively flat for the periods presented.
(Gain)/loss from disposal of intangible assets, net
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
(Gain)/loss from disposal of intangible assets, net $ (11,209) $ 3,849 $ 88 $ (15,058) -391 % $ 3,761 4274 %
During Fiscal 2022, we exchanged our narrowband licenses for broadband licenses in 21 counties. In connection with the exchange, we recorded an estimated accounting cost basis of $15.3 million for the new broadband licenses and disposed of $4.1 million related to the value ascribed to the narrowband licenses we relinquished to the FCC for those same 21 counties. As a result, we recorded a $11.2 million gain from disposal of the intangible assets in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Refer to Note 5 Intangible Assets in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for further discussion on the exchanges.
In June 2020, we cancelled licenses in the 900 MHz band in accordance with the Report and Order and our agreement with the AAR. Because we did not receive any licenses nor monetary reimbursement in exchange for the cancellation, but only credit for purposes of determining our future eligibility and payment requirements for broadband licenses under the Report and Order, we recorded a $5.0 million loss from disposal of the intangible assets in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for Fiscal 2021.
In September 2020, we closed an agreement with a third party for the exchange of 900 MHz licenses. Under the agreement, we received spectrum licenses at their estimated fair value of approximately $0.2 million and a payment of $1.2 million in cash. Under the agreement, we transferred spectrum licenses with a book value of approximately $0.3 million to the third party. We recognized a $1.1 million gain from disposal of intangible assets in the Consolidated Statement of Operations when the deal closed in September 2020.
In Fiscal 2020, we recorded a loss on disposal of capitalized patent costs amounting to $0.1 million relating to the transfer of the intellectual property to the LLC. In addition, we also entered into a barter transaction with a third party whereby we acquired wireless licenses valued at approximately $88,000 in exchange of equipment with a net book value of $21,000 and approximately $15,000 in cash. We recorded a corresponding gain of $52,000.
Loss from disposal of long-lived assets, net
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Loss from disposal of long-lived assets, net $ 107 $ 70 $ 62 $ 37 53 % $ 8 13 %
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets, net in Fiscal 2022 remained relatively flat as compared to Fiscal 2021. Loss on disposal of long-lived assets, net in Fiscal 2021 remained relatively flat as compared to Fiscal 2020.
Interest income
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Interest income $ 56 $ 124 $ 1,810 $ (68) -55 % $ (1,686) -93 %
Interest income decreased by $68,000, or 55%, to $56,000 for Fiscal 2022 as compared to $0.1 million from Fiscal 2021 due to lower effective money market rates. Interest income decreased by $1.7 million, or 93%, to $0.1 million for Fiscal 2021 as compared to $1.8 million from Fiscal 2020 due to lower cash balance driven by payments for our spectrum initiatives, along with lower effective money market rates.
Other income
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Other income $ 256 $ 414 $ 496 $ (158) -38 % $ (82) -17 %
Other income decreased by $0.2 million, or 38%, to $0.3 million for Fiscal 2022 from $0.4 million for Fiscal 2021 due to lower payments received in consideration for the customer and rights transferred to A BEEP. Other income in Fiscal 2021 remained relatively flat as compared to Fiscal 2020.
Loss on equity method investment
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Loss on equity method investment $ - $ (39) $ (9) $ 39 -100 % $ (30) 333 %
We reported loss on investment for Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020 amounting to $39,000 and $9,000, respectively, relating to the 19.5% ownership interest in the LLC.
Income tax expense
For the years ended March 31, Aggregate Change Aggregate Change
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020 2022 from 2021 2021 from 2020
Income tax expense $ 983 $ 124 $ 2,402 $ 859 693 % $ (2,278) -95 %
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was signed into law. The new CARES Act modified Section 172(b)(1)(A) of the Code to state that NOL arising in a taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, is carried forward 20 years provided that a carryback claim is not affected. From this adjusted provision, our March 31, 2018 NOL carryforward changed from an indefinite life to a 20-year life. We used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate taxes for Fiscal 2021. We determined that applying an estimate of the annual effective tax rate would not provide a reasonable estimate as small changes in estimated “ordinary” loss would result in significant changes in the estimated annual effective tax rate. Accordingly, for Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we recorded a total deferred tax expense of $1.0 million and $0.1 million, respectively, due to the inability to use some portion of our federal and state NOL carryforwards against the deferred tax liability created by amortization of indefinite-lived intangibles. A non-cash deferred income tax expense of $2.4 million was recorded for Fiscal 2020 as a result of our state operating loss carryforwards no longer being deemed indefinite and a technical correction from the federal CARES Act relating to fiscal year effective dates on NOLs.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On March 31, 2022, we had cash and cash equivalents of $105.6 million.
We believe our cash and cash equivalents on hand will be sufficient to meet our financial obligations through at least the next 12 months. As noted above, our future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including among others, the costs and timing of securing broadband licenses, including our spectrum retuning activities, spectrum acquisitions and the Anti-Windfall Payments to the U.S. Treasury, and our operating activities and any revenues we generate through our commercialization activities. We will deploy this capital at our determined pace based on several key ongoing factors, including customer demand, market opportunity, and offsetting income from spectrum leases. As we cannot predict the duration or scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our targeted customers, the potential negative financial impact to our results of operations and financial condition cannot be reasonably estimated. We are actively managing our business to maintain our cash flow and believe that we currently have adequate liquidity. To implement our business plans and initiatives, however, we may need to raise additional capital. We cannot predict with certainty the exact amount or timing for any future capital raises. See “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of this Annual Report for a reference to the risks and uncertainties that could cause our costs to be more than we currently anticipate and/or our revenue and operating results to be lower than we currently anticipate. If required, we intend to raise additional capital through debt or equity financings, including pursuant to our Shelf Registration Statement, or through some other financing arrangement. However, we cannot be sure that additional financing will be available if and when needed, or that, if available, we can obtain financing on terms favorable to our stockholders and to us. Any failure to obtain financing when required will have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
On April 3, 2020, we filed the Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the SEC that was declared effective by the SEC on April 20, 2020, which permits us to offer up to $150 million of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants in one or more offerings and in any combination, including in units from time to time. Our Shelf Registration Statement is intended to provide us with additional flexibility to access capital markets for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of debt, other corporate expenses and acquisitions of complementary products, technologies, or businesses.
We entered into the Sales Agreements with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and B. Riley FBR, Inc. and on April 3, 2020, registered the sale of up to an aggregate of $50,000,000 in shares of our common stock in at the market sales transactions pursuant to the Sales Agreements under the Shelf Registration Statement. Through the date of this filing, we have not sold any shares of our common stock in at the market transactions or any securities under the Shelf Registration Statement.
Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities
For the years ended March 31,
(in thousands) 2022 2021 2020
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 17,913 $ (9,959) $ (27,823)
Net cash used in investing activities $ (27,411) $ (14,174) $ (7,560)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities $ (2,416) $ 4,218 $ 96,114
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $17.9 million in Fiscal 2022. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $10.0 million and $27.8 million in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. The majority of net cash provided by operating activities in Fiscal 2022 resulted from deferred revenue of $51.7 million and non-cash adjustments to net loss of $5.0 million (primarily attributable to stock compensation expense of $13.6 million, partially offset by gain on disposal of intangible assets of $11.2 million), partially offset by a net loss of $37.5 million. The majority of net cash used by operating activities in Fiscal 2021 resulted from a net loss of $54.4 million, partially offset by contingent liability relating to the upfront payment we received from SDG&E of $20.0 million, non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards of $15.9 million, net loss on disposal of intangible assets of $3.8 million and depreciation of $3.5 million. The majority of net cash used by operating activities in Fiscal 2020 resulted from a net loss of $37.6 million, partially offset by non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards of $5.8 million and depreciation of $3.6 million.
Net cash used in investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $27.4 million, $14.2 million and $7.6 million for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. For Fiscal 2022, the net cash used by investing activities resulted from $26.4 million in wireless license acquisitions including refundable deposits and $1.1 million for purchases of equipment. For Fiscal 2021, the net cash used by investing activities resulted from $13.9 million in wireless license acquisitions including refundable deposits and $0.2 million for purchases of equipment. For Fiscal 2020, the net cash used by investing activities resulted from $7.1 million in wireless license acquisitions, including refundable deposits and $0.5 million for purchases of equipment.
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $2.4 million in Fiscal 2022. Net cash provided by financing activities was $4.2 million and $96.1 million in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. For Fiscal 2022, net cash used in financing activities was primarily from the repurchase of common stock of $15.0 million, partially offset by the proceeds from stock option exercises of $14.0 million, net of payments of withholding tax on net issuance of restricted stock of $1.5 million. For Fiscal 2021, the net cash provided by financing activities primarily resulted $4.2 million in cash received from the proceeds of stock option exercises. For Fiscal 2020, the net cash provided by financing activities primarily resulted from $94.2 million net proceeds from the July 2019 follow-on offering and $2.4 million in cash received from the proceeds of stock option exercises.
Material Cash Requirements
We are now engaged in qualifying for and securing broadband licenses from the FCC pursuant to the Report and Order. At the same time, our sales and marketing departments are pursuing opportunities to lease the broadband licenses we secure to our targeted utility and critical infrastructure customers. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including: the timeline and costs to acquire broadband licenses pursuant to the Report and Order, including the costs to acquire additional spectrum, the costs related to retuning, or swapping spectrum held by, Covered Incumbents and the costs of paying Anti-Windfall Payments to the U.S. Treasury; costs related to the commercializing of our spectrum assets; and our ability to sign customer contracts and generate revenues from the license or transfer of any broadband licenses we secure; the terms and conditions of any customer contracts, including the timing of payments.
We are obligated under certain lease agreements for office space with lease terms expiring on various dates from October 31, 2023 through June 30, 2027, which includes a three to ten-year lease extension for our corporate headquarters. We have also entered into multiple lease agreements for tower space related to our TeamConnect business. The lease expiration dates range from May 31, 2022 to April 30, 2028. Total estimated payments for these lease agreements are approximately $7.1 million (exclusive of real estate taxes, utilities, maintenance and other costs borne by us). In addition to the lease payments for our tower space, we also have an obligation to clear the tower site locations, for which we recorded an asset retirement obligation (the “ARO”). Total estimated payments as a result of the ARO is approximately $0.7 million. See Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for further information on the AROs.
Share Repurchase Program
On September 29, 2021, our Board authorized a share repurchase program pursuant to which we may repurchase up to $50.0 million of our common stock on or before September 29, 2023. The manner, timing and amount of any share repurchases will be determined by us based on a variety of factors, including price, general business and market conditions and alternative investment opportunities. The share repurchase program authorization does not obligate us to acquire any specific number of shares. Under the program, shares may be repurchased in privately negotiated and/or open market transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. We currently anticipate the cash used for the share repurchase program will come primarily from our prepaid customer agreements.
The following table presents the share repurchase activity for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020 (in thousands, except per share data):
For the years ended March 31,
2022 2021 2020
Number of shares repurchased 252 - -
Average price paid per share* $ 57.50 $ - $ -
Total cost to repurchase $ 14,962 $ - $ -
* Average price paid per share includes costs associated with the repurchases.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Accordingly, our actual results could differ from those based on such estimates and assumptions. Further, to the extent that there are differences between our estimates and our actual results, our future financial statement presentation, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows will be affected. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving our judgments and estimates.
We believe that the areas described below are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, as they require management’s significant judgments in the application of accounting policy or in making estimates and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and that may change in subsequent periods. Our significant accounting policies are set forth in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report. Of those policies, we believe that the policies discussed below may involve a higher degree of judgment and may be more critical to an accurate reflection of our financial condition and results of operations.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when a contract with a customer exists and control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services and the identified performance obligation has been satisfied.
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer and is the unit of account in Accounting Standards Codification, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and is recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied, which typically occurs when the services are rendered. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative standalone selling price. We generally determine standalone selling prices based on the prices charged to customers under contracts involving only the relevant performance obligation. Judgment may be used to determine the standalone selling prices for items that are not sold separately, including services provided at no additional charge. Most of our performance obligations will be satisfied over time as services are provided. The nature of the licenses provide the benefit of the leased spectrum regardless of whether the customer uses the spectrum or not. As a result, revenue will be recognized ratably as cleared 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum and the associated broadband licenses are delivered by county to the customer over the contractual term.
We recognize an asset for the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer if we expect the benefit of those costs to be longer than one year. We determined that certain sales commissions meet the requirements to be capitalized and were recorded as an asset.
Evaluation of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment
Our wireless licenses’ unit of accounting is based on geographic markets and our wireless licenses are tested for impairment based on the individual markets, as we will be utilizing the wireless licenses as part of facilitating broadband spectrum networks at an individual market level. We may elect to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an intangible asset is less than its carrying value. If we do not perform the qualitative assessment, or if the qualitative assessment indicates it is more likely than not that the fair value of the intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, we will calculate the estimated fair value of the intangible asset. If the estimated fair value of the spectrum licenses is lower than their carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized. We use a market-based approach to estimate fair value.
The valuation approach used to estimate fair value for the purpose of impairment testing requires management to use complex assumptions and estimates such as population, discount rates, industry and market considerations, long-term market equity risk, as well as other factors. These assumptions and estimates are forward-looking and depend on our ability to successfully apply for broadband licenses and commercialize our 900 MHz Broadband Spectrum.
During Fiscal 2022, we changed the date of our annual impairment assessment from March 31, our fiscal year-end, to January 1. For the year ended March 31, 2022, we performed a step zero qualitative approach impairment test as of January 1, 2022, for each geographical market to test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired as a basis for determining whether it is necessary to perform quantitative impairment testing. As a result of the step zero test, we were not required to perform a step one analysis.
Exchanges of Intangible Assets
At times, we enter into agreements to exchange or cancel spectrum licenses. Upon entering into the arrangement, if the transaction has been deemed to have commercial substance, spectrum licenses are reviewed for impairment. The licenses are exchanged or cancelled at their carrying value and adjusted for any gain or loss recognized. Upon receipt of FCC approval, the spectrum licenses acquired as part of the exchange of nonmonetary assets are recorded at their new accounting basis for those acquired from the FCC, or fair value for those acquired from third party, (collectively, the “acquired basis”). The difference between the acquired basis of the spectrum licenses obtained, carrying value of the spectrum licenses transferred and cash paid, if any, is recognized as a gain or loss on disposal of spectrum licenses reported separately in our Consolidated Statements of
Operations. The acquired basis of spectrum licenses is based on information for which there is little or no observable market data. If the transaction lacks commercial substance or the acquired basis is not measurable, the acquired spectrum licenses are recorded at the carrying value of the spectrum assets transferred, cancelled or exchanged. For the purpose of the valuation of broadband licenses received in connection with nonmonetary exchanges, we utilize the 600 MHz Auction price per MHzPop, as defined in the Report and Order, which is considered the accounting basis for the new broadband licenses.
See Note 5 Intangible Assets in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report for a discussion on our spectrum exchanges during the years ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, including those recently adopted, is provided in Note 2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Annual Report.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our financial instruments consist of cash, cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and accounts payable. We consider investments in highly liquid instruments purchased with original maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. However, because of the short-term nature of the highly liquid instruments in our portfolio, a 10% change in market interest rates would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition and/or results of operations.
Our operations are based in the United States and, accordingly, all of our transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars. We are currently not exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency.
We continue to monitor our market risk exposure, including any adverse impacts related to COVID-19, which has resulted in significant market volatility.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required by this item are set forth in Item 15 on pages through and are filed as part of this Annual Report.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act, were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Our management, under the supervision of our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria set forth by
the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, our management determined that, as of March 31, 2022, we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting.
Material Weakness and Remediation
Subsequent to filing the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2021, an error was discovered related to our interpretation and application of the accounting for our intangible assets following the non-monetary exchange of our narrowband licenses for broadband licenses. This error, which was not detected timely by management, was the result of an inadequate design of controls pertaining to the identification, review, analysis and recording of transactions involving our intangible assets, more specifically, non-monetary exchanges of our narrowband licenses for broadband licenses. The deficiency represented a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.
A material weakness is defined as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Management has taken steps to remediate the material weakness. The remediation plan included the implementation of new controls designed to identify, review and analyze transactions involving the value of our intangible assets in a timely manner, such as:
i.automated system notifications to identify new transactions and conduct more frequent meetings to inquire about license exchanges;
ii.review applicable inputs regarding the accounting cost basis of broadband licenses and the carrying value of the narrowband licenses with internal experts as the exchanges occur; and
iii.analyze inputs to calculate and timely record gain or loss in accordance with all the relevant authoritative accounting guidance.
Management believes the measures described above and others that have been implemented have remediated the material weakness identified. As management continues to evaluate and improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may decide to take additional measures to address control deficiencies or determine to modify certain of the remediation measures identified. The material weakness is considered remediated as the applicable remedial controls operated for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded through testing, that these controls were operating effectively as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.
Attestation Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
For the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, see Part IV, Item 15, Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2022 has been audited by Grant Thornton LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(d) of the Exchange Act, during the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, other than changes as a result of the remediation efforts described above.
Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls
Our management, including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent or detect all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives will be met. The design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints and that the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Further, because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that misstatements due to error or fraud will not occur or that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, have been detected.
These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Controls can also be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls. The design of any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of controls to
future periods are subject to risks. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with policies or procedures.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information relating to our directors, executive officers and corporate governance, including our Code of Business Conduct, will be included in the proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders, expected to be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, which is incorporated herein by reference. The full text of our Code of Business Conduct, which is the code of ethics that applies to all of our officers, directors and employees, can be found in the “Investors” section of our website accessible to the public at www.anterix.com.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information relating to our executive compensation will be included in the proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders, expected to be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information relating to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management will be included in the proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders, expected to be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information relating to certain relationships and related transactions and director independence will be included in the proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders, expected to be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information relating to principal accountant fees and services will be included in the proxy statement for our 2022 annual meeting of our stockholders, expected to be filed within 120 days of the end of our fiscal year, which is incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV.

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) The following consolidated financial statements of the Company appear on pages through of this Annual Report and are incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8:
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2022 and 2021
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended March 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended March 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended March 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the SEC are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
(a)(3) The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report.
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
3.1.1 Certificate of Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K on November 5, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
3.1.2 Certificate of Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K on August 6, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
3.2.1 Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
3.2.2 Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 8, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate of the Company (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
4.2 Description of Common Stock (filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 28, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.1+ 2004 Stock Plan, as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.2+ Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2004 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.3+ 2010 Stock Plan, as amended (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.4+ Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2010 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.5+ Form of Restricted Stock Bonus Agreement under 2010 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.6+ 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.7+ Executive Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option and Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.8+ Non-employee Director Form of Notice of Grant of Stock Option and Stock Option Agreement under 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.9+ Non-employee Director Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units Agreement under 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on June 10, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.10+ Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units Agreement under 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.11+ Form of Indemnification Agreement by and among the Company and its officers and directors (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.12† Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 13, 2014, by and among the Company, and FCI 900, Inc., ACI 900, Inc., Machine License Holding, LLC, Nextel WIP License Corp., and Nextel License Holdings 1, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.13 Letter Amendment to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated May 28, 2014, by and among the Company and FCI 900, Inc., ACI 900, Inc., Machine License Holding, LLC, Nextel WIP License Corp., and Nextel License Holdings 1, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.14† Management Services Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, by and between the Company and Sprint Spectrum, L.P. (filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.15† License Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, by and between Sprint/United Management Company and the Company (filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.16† Spectrum Rights Agreement, dated September 8, 2014, by and between PDV Spectrum Holding Company, LLC and Motorola Solutions, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on December 19, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-201156)).
10.17+ The Company’s Executive Severance Plan (composite version reflecting corporate name change and all prior amendments) (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.18+ The Company’s Form of Executive Severance Plan Participation Agreement (filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 27, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.19+ Executive Form of Performance-Based Stock Option Agreement and Grant Notice under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.20+ Executive Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Agreement and Grant Notice under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.21+ Non-employee Director Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Grant Notice under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.22+ Executive Form of Time-Based Stock Option Agreement and Grant Notice under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.23+ Executive Form of Time-Based Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Grant Notice under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.24+ Continued Service, Consulting and Separation Agreement, dated April 23, 2018, by and between the Company and John Pescatore (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 23, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.25+ Consulting Agreement dated April 23, 2018, by and between the Company and John Pescatore (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 23, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.26 Amended and Restated Controlled Equity Offering SM Sales Agreement, dated April 3, 2020, by and between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (filed as Exhibit 1.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-237572)).
10.27 Amended and Restated Sales Agreement, dated April 3, 2020, by and between the Company and B. Riley FBR, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 1.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed with the SEC on April 3, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 333-237572)).
10.28† Customer Acquisition and Resale Agreement, dated January 2, 2019, by and between the Company and A BEEP LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 08, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.29† Customer Acquisition, Resale and Licensing Agreement, dated January 2, 2019, by and between the Company and Goosetown Enterprises, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 08, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.30† Memorandum of Understanding, dated December 31, 2018, by and between the Company and the principals of Goosetown Enterprises, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 08, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.31^ Amendment to Customer Acquisition and Resale Agreement, dated March 31, 2019 by and between the Company and A BEEP, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.32 Amendment to Customer Acquisition and Resale Agreement, dated March 31, 2019 by and between the Company and Goosetown Enterprises, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.32 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.33^ Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding and IP Assignment, dated March 31, 2019, by and between the Company and the principals of Goosetown Enterprises, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10.33 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.34^ TeamConnect, LLC Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated April 30, 2019 (filed as Exhibit 10.34 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 20, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.35^ Transition Agreement between the PDV Spectrum Holding Company, LLC and Association of American Railroads, dated January 28, 2020 (filed as Exhibit 10.35 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on May 28, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.36 Amendment 2, dated August 4, 2020, to the IP Assignment, Software Support, and Development Services Agreement, dated as of January 7, 2019, by and between the Company and TeamConnect, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.37+ Independent Contractor Services Agreement, dated August 27, 2020, by and between the Company and Brian D. McAuley (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on September 2, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.38+ Senior Executive Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Agreement and Grant Notice (2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan) under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 16, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.39+ Executive Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units Agreement and Grant Notice (2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan) under the 2014 Stock Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, filed with the SEC on November 16, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
10.40+ Amendment No. 1 to 2014 Stock Plan, dated June 14, 2021 (filed as exhibit 10.40 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 21.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-36827)).
23.1# Consent of Grant Thornton LLP Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm relating to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, dated May 26, 2022.
24.1# Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).
31.1# Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15-d-14 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2# Certification of Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14 and 15-d-14 promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1#* Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS# XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE# XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
______________________
+ Management Contract or Compensatory Plan.
† Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment pursuant to either Rule 406 under the Securities Act or Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act which request has been granted by the SEC.
^ Certain confidential portions of this exhibit were omitted by means of marking such portions with an asterisk because the identified confidential portions (i) are not material and (ii) would be competitively harmful if publicly disclosed.
# Filed herewith.
* The certification furnished in Exhibit 32.1 hereto is deemed to accompany this Annual Report and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.