EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1089511
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1089511_10-K_2021_0001437749-21-006153.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. Business
Overview
We are a fiber broadband and managed IT services provider, offering technology and service enabled customer solutions to business and wholesale customers in and out of Alaska. We also provide telecommunication services to consumers in the most populated communities throughout the state. Our facilities-based communications network extends through the economically significant portions of Alaska and connects to the contiguous states via our two diverse undersea fiber optic cable systems. Our network is among the most expansive in Alaska and forms the foundation of service to our customers. We operate in a largely two-player terrestrial wireline market and we estimate our market share to be less than 25% statewide. A third-party market study conducted in the fourth quarter of 2018 indicates that we have market share of close to 40% for “near net” opportunities, that is, within one mile of our fiber network.
Merger
On December 31, 2020, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Project 8 Buyer, LLC (“Parent”) and Project 8 Merger Sub (“Merger Sub”), two newly- formed entities owned by ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Capital, LLC. On December 31, 2020, the Company terminated the previously announced merger agreement under which the Company would be acquired by Macquarie Capital (USA) and GCM Grosvenor through its Labor Impact Fund.
On the terms, and subject to the conditions, of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. As a result of the Merger, each share of the Company’s common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”) (other than shares held by (i) the Company, Parent or Merger Sub and (ii) stockholders of the Company who have validly exercised and perfected their appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive $3.40 in cash, without interest, subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Merger Consideration”).
Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including, without limitation, (i) approval of the Merger by the Company’s stockholders, (ii) absence of certain legal impediments, (iii) the expiration or termination of the required waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”); and (iv) receipt of regulatory approvals from the Federal Communications Commissions (the “FCC”) (and, if required as a precondition for FCC approval, the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Services Sector (“Team Telecom Committee”)) and from the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (the “RCA”). The waiting period under the HSR Act expired on February 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Filings with each of the FCC and the RCA were made on January 20, 2021. The RCA gave public notice of the application and requested any public comments by February 12, 2021. On February 8, 2021, the RCA issued an order stating that it had determined that Parent’s application to acquire the Company was complete as filed on January 20, 2021. The order states that the RCA will issue a final order no later than July 19, 2021. The Company’s stockholders approved the Merger at a special meeting of stockholders held on March 12, 2021.
Certain terms of the Merger Agreement are summarized below. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Merger Agreement filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 31, 2020 and filed with the SEC on January 4, 2021, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Restricted Stock Units and Performance Share Units
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award issued under the stock plan of the Company that is subject solely to time-based vesting (a “Company RSU Award”) and that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not vested, will be cancelled as of the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company RSU Award by (ii) the Merger Consideration. Amounts payable with respect to the Company RSU Awards will be paid not later than the next regularly scheduled payroll date that is at least two business days following the closing of the Merger Agreement.
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award issued under the stock plan of the Company that is subject solely to performance-based vesting (the “Company PSU Awards”) and that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled as of the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company PSU Award by (ii) the Merger Consideration. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Company PSU Awards will be determined based on the degree of achievement of the performance goals set forth in the applicable award agreement as of the Effective Time or such earlier time as determined by the compensation committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and such Company PSU Awards will no longer be subject to any performance-based vesting conditions. Amounts payable with respect to Company PSU Awards that are subject to vesting based on the price of Company Common Stock will be paid not later than the next regularly scheduled payroll date that is at least two business days following the closing of the Merger Agreement, and amounts payable with respect to all other Company PSU Awards will be paid not later than the next regularly scheduled payroll date that is at least two business days following the earliest of (a) the applicable time-based vesting date of the canceled Company PSU Award, (b) the date that is one year following the Effective Time, and (c) the termination of the employment of the former holder of such Company PSU Award without “cause,” in any case without interest.
Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each share of Company Common Stock granted to the directors of the Company that is subject to a deferral election (a “Deferred Stock Award”) and that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be cancelled as of the Effective Time in exchange for an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Deferred Stock Award by (ii) the Merger Consideration.
Financing
Parent and Merger Sub secured committed financing, consisting of a combination of (i) equity financing (the “Equity Financing”) to be provided by ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Investments IV, LP, which have each agreed to capitalize Parent, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in equity commitment letters with respect to the Merger and (ii) debt financing (the “Debt Financing”) to be provided by Fifth Third Bank, National Association, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the debt financing commitment letter with respect to the Merger. The Equity Financing and the Debt Financing, in the aggregate, will be sufficient for Parent, Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation to pay the amounts required to be paid in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The Merger is not subject to a financing condition. The Equity Investors have also entered into limited guarantees with the Company to guarantee Parent’s obligation to pay the Parent Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and certain indemnity and recovery costs.
No-Shop Period
From and after the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time of the Merger or termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Company will be subject to customary “no-shop” restrictions, subject to certain exceptions and “fiduciary out” provisions, as set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Termination
The Merger Agreement contains certain customary termination rights for the Company and Parent. Among other termination rights, the Merger Agreement can be terminated by either Parent or the Company if (i) the Merger is not consummated on or before December 31, 2021 (the “End Date”), which may be extended in increments of 30 days to no later than February 28, 2022 in connection with regulatory approvals, or (ii) any governmental authority of the United States or certain localities within the United States issues a final and non-appealable order permanently restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
In addition, the Merger Agreement includes certain termination fees payable by the Company or Parent if the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances.
Parent and Merger Sub have agreed to a standstill pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, from December 31, 2020 until the earlier of (i) the Effective Time and (ii) the first anniversary of the termination of the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties and covenants of the parties customary for a transaction of this nature.
The Merger is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, although there can be no assurance that it will occur by that date. The transaction will result in the Company becoming a consolidated, majority owned subsidiary of ATN International, Inc.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted global, national and local economies, disrupted global supply chains and created significant volatility and disruptions to financial markets. The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted the Company’s customers, suppliers, employees and other aspects of its business, including an increase in demand for its broadband and managed IT services. In response to economic pressures impacting the Company’s customers and the community at large as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented the following actions in 2020:
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Working to increase bandwidth, as needed, for participants in the rural health care program at no charge to the customer. Timing is subject to FCC guidance and its waiver of certain rules.
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Offered kindergarten through grade 12, university students and teachers who do not have internet service, unlimited internet service at no charge through the end of the spring semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
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Not terminating service to residential and small business customers in the event they are unable to pay us for services due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Waiving late fees incurred by residential and small business customers resulting from their economic circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Waiving long distance overage fees, as appropriate, related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Extension of technical support hours.
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Proactively monitoring our network and prioritizing the augmentation of network links.
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Working with local and state utilities, governments and educational institutions to ensure they have the necessary resources.
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Established remote working arrangements, including work-from-home, for most of our administrative employees.
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Implementation of travel restrictions.
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Established appropriate arrangements for our customer service representatives and customers.
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Proactively assessing and managing facilities and other costs.
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In July, offered a one-time cash incentive to employees who volunteered to retire or otherwise terminate their employment, subject to management approval. This offer was made, in part, to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on our financial results. The total cost of this program was $0.2 million and is not included in incremental costs associated with COVID-19 described in “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a direct material effect on the Company’s revenue in 2020 but did directly result in an estimated $1.5 million increase in costs during that period. Additional current and potential financial impacts include the following:
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The estimated fair value of service or upgraded service provided to customers without charge was $2.2 million in 2020. These services were not recorded as revenue because no cash was expected to be collected from the customer. The Company’s incremental cost of providing this service was not significant.
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Implementation of certain agreements with other carriers under which the Company is a lessee and lessor of dark fiber have been delayed from the fourth quarter of 2020 to 2021.
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Certain customers have delayed orders for the provision of service.
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As a result of the customer accommodations noted above, collection of account receivable from certain customers has been delayed.
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Disruption of certain of our business and wholesale customers’ operations.
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Disruption of the Alaska economy, including crude oil prices and the leisure and hospitality industries, could negatively impact demand for our products and services.
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Reductions in consumer spending.
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Government imposed travel restrictions and other actions could reduce the efficiency of our operations and result in higher costs.
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Declines in revenue and cash flows could require that we further reduce operating cost and capital spending.
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Delays, cancellation and other disruptions in the provision of products and services by our vendors.
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Disruption to the financial markets could limit our access to financing and other sources of capital.
We are continuing to assess the potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation continues to evolve, and we cannot predict the extent or duration of the pandemic, its effects on the global, national or local economy and its longer-term effects on the demand for our products and services, operations, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which could be material. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and make the appropriate adjustments to our operations as required and appropriate.
In March 2020, the Federal government passed legislation, including the CARES Act, intended to provide economic relief to individuals, families and businesses. This relief includes cash payments, additional unemployment benefits, grants, forgivable loans and additional funding (through the FCC) for telemedicine services and devices. The FCC has also relaxed competitive bidding rules and delayed certain deadlines under the E-Rate and rural health care programs. The CARES Act has provided for the accelerated receipt of the Company’s AMT credits.
In February 2021, the Company and the Municipality of Anchorage entered into an agreement under which utility relief will be made available to certain of the Company’s residential and small business customers located in Anchorage. The program is supported by a grant from the Municipality of Anchorage. These funds will be applied by the Company to the accounts of customers who have experienced financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic and meet other requirements, subject to certain terms and conditions. Maximum funding under the grant is $0.7 million and will be recorded as a credit to accounts receivable and, in part, to the provision for doubtful accounts in 2021.
Operating Initiatives
We are focused on being a customer centric fiber broadband and managed IT company. Everything we do is focused around our customer, meeting and exceeding their needs through the application of technology. We are focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience throughout the customer lifecycle. This forms the foundation of our sustained differentiation, creating unique value for our customers to grow our market share, expand business with existing customers while minimizing churn.
Our future investments and subsequent initiatives are focused on building and strengthening the business in three areas:
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Enhance and Augment our Network and Capabilities: This is what we do and is the basis of our offers, to lead the competition through innovation and leverage the latest technologies to meet our customer’s needs. Activities include investments to grow our fiber footprint, augmented with high speed fixed wireless technologies, as well as expanding our product capabilities that fully leverage our existing and growing fiber footprint.
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Drive Operational Excellence: Invest in operational systems that fundamentally change the way we deliver services that both enhance the customer experience as well as increase efficiency and productivity, redefining processes throughout the entire customer lifecycle to create new operating models and efficiencies. Investments that update our operational support and billing systems provide the foundational platform to further leverage digital technologies and expand with investments in analytics and artificial intelligence.
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Accelerate the Growth of Managed IT Services: This is a fragmented market without a leader, a significant market size and a set of services that are both adjacent and synergistic with communications and networking services. We continue to invest in winning share and expanding our capabilities, enabling and accelerating our customers’ transition to cloud services.
These investment areas are not standalone and, in fact, are synergistic. We look to maximize each of these with any initiative for the highest return.
We recognize that everything we do is only possible through our people. Our employees are enablers that make any and all initiatives happen to serve our customers and earn their business. We focus on and make investments in employee engagement to maximize the realization of an exceptional customer experience and maximize the effectiveness of our investments.
We will continue to evaluate strategic opportunities that address scale, geographic diversification, and return value to our shareholders.
Our parent company, Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., was incorporated in 1998 under the laws of the state of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 600 Telephone Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-6091. Our telephone number is (907) 297-3000 and our investor internet address is www.alsk.com. Our customer internet address is www.AlaskaCommunications.com.
Markets, Services and Products
We operate our business under a single reportable segment. We manage our revenues based on the sale of services and products to the three customer categories listed below.
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Business and Wholesale (broadband, voice and managed IT services)
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Consumer (broadband and voice services)
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Regulatory (access services, high cost support and carrier termination)
The brand pillars supporting our products and services are reliability, customer service, trustworthiness and local presence. These are represented by the promise we make to our customers: “You can always expect to get the service as promised to you by an Alaska Communications’ representative. If you are not satisfied, we will work with you to provide a solution that meets your satisfaction.”
See “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” for a description of our products and services and a summary of service and product revenues generated by each of the above three customer categories.
Network and Technology
Alaska Communications provides communications and IT solutions that connect Alaskans as well as customers in the continental United States to the world. This is based on an extensive facilities-based wireline telecommunications network in Alaska that we operate. We provide high-capacity data networking, internet connectivity, voice communications and IT Services. Networking services include Ethernet and IP routed services as well as switched and dedicated voice services. In addition, we offer other value-added services such as network hosting, managed IT services and long-distance services. We continuously upgrade our network to provide higher levels of performance, higher bandwidth speeds, increased levels of security and additional value-added services to our customers. We operate 181,000 terrestrial and submarine fiber miles which serve as the backbone of our network as well as now serving over 900 buildings with fiber. Our networks are monitored for performance around the clock in redundant monitoring centers to provide a high level of reliability and performance. Our network is extensive within Alaska’s urban areas and connects our largest markets, including Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau with each other and the contiguous states as well as many rural areas. We continue to utilize Fixed Wireless technology to reach even more customers, bringing total homes and businesses passed to more than 16,000 at the end of 2020. In 2020, we secured additional spectrum through the FCC auction for licenses in the shared Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”). CBRS spectrum is effective in areas with lower population densities. We also continue to expand our Multi-Dwelling Unit (“MDU”) offering utilizing fiber or fixed wireless backhaul, with more than 7,000 MDUs now served.
We own and operate two undersea fiber optic cable systems that diversely connect our Alaskan network to our facilities in Oregon and Washington. These facilities provide the most survivable service to and from Alaska, with key monitoring and disaster recovery capabilities for our customers. We also have usage rights on a third undersea fiber network connected to the lower-48.
Our network in Oregon and Washington includes terrestrial transport components linking our landing stations to a Network Operations Control Center in Hillsboro, Oregon and collocation facilities in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. In addition, AKORN®, one of our undersea fiber optic cable systems, connects our Alaska network from Homer, Alaska to our facilities in Florence, Oregon along a diverse path within Alaska, the Pacific Northwest and undersea in the Pacific Ocean. Northstar, our other undersea fiber optic system, has cable landing facilities in Whittier, Juneau, and Valdez, Alaska, and Nedonna Beach, Oregon. In 2020, we completed major network upgrades to the Northstar fiber line, increasing capacity by more than five times. Our subsea capacity including the AKORN® and Northstar systems provides a total of 7,800 route miles, or about 26,000 fiber miles, of submarine fiber. Together, these fiber optic cables provide extensive bandwidth as well as survivability protection designed to serve our own, as well as our most demanding customers’ critical communications requirements. In 2017, we upgraded the AKORN system to be able to support 100GB circuits for customers. Further upgrades to the AKORN system were completed in 2019. Through our landing stations in Oregon, we also provide an at-the-ready landing point for other large fiber optic cables, and their operators, connecting the U.S. to networks in Asia and other parts of the world.
Our terrestrial fiber network on the North Slope of Alaska allows us to provide broadband solutions to the oil and gas sector in a market that previously had no competition and continue to advance our sales of managed IT services.
We have developed a satellite earth station network and acquired C-band transponder space on Eutelsat’s E115WB satellite. We began providing Internet backhaul connectivity in 2017, and continue to expand the satellite service, adding customers and upgrading equipment throughout 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Another Alaska carrier, Quintillion, has invested in a submarine network with landing stations in several northwest Alaska communities, including a terrestrial route from the North Slope to Fairbanks. We have acquired capacity on this system and deliver service to customers in this area, including a buildout of terrestrial fiber optic cable, in Utqiaġvik (formerly Barrow) to serve this new market. We are currently serving customers in Utqiaġvik, Nome, Kotzebue and Deadhorse.
Competition
Management estimates the Alaska wireline telecom and IT services market to be approximately $1.65 billion. This market is comprised of the IT services market of approximately $840 million, the broadband market of approximately $700 million and the voice market of approximately $110 million. Management estimates that over 85% of this market opportunity is from the business and wholesale customer segment. Based on a third-party market study conducted in the fourth quarter of 2018, management believes that approximately $250 million of the telecom opportunity is “near net,” that is, within one mile of our fiber infrastructure.
We expect to experience continued growth in managed IT services over time by providing these services to our broadband customers as well as creating new customer relationships. We believe the competition for managed IT services is fragmented.
We face strong competition in our markets from larger competitors with substantial resources. For traditional voice and broadband services, we compete with GCI and AT&T on a statewide basis, and smaller providers such as Matanuska Telephone Association, Inc. on a more localized basis.
As the largest facilities-based operator in Alaska, GCI is the dominant statewide provider of broadband, voice, wireless and video services. In the markets where we compete with GCI (broadband and voice), GCI has approximately 50% to 60% of market share across the consumer and business segments. GCI continues to expand its voice and data network, often taking advantage of subsidized government programs which create a monopoly for services in certain markets. AT&T’s primary focus is to be the provider of voice and broadband services to its nation-wide customers. AT&T tends to use its existing broadband network to serve these customers or it leases capacity from GCI or Alaska Communications to augment its existing network.
Matanuska Telephone Association (“MTA”) is a COOP owned telephone and internet service provider operating in the Matanuska regional area of Alaska. MTA is in the process of building a terrestrial fiber from Alaska to Canada which will interconnect with Northwestel. This fiber will provide a diverse route out of Alaska.
Overall competitive dynamics are significant, and our operating performance is impacted accordingly. For more information associated with the risks of our competitive environment see “Item 1A, Risk Factors.”
Marketing
Our marketing strategy relies on our understanding the Alaskan market, while increasingly using digital technologies to focus our marketing messages. We tailor our products and services based on understanding our customers’ needs, location, and type of service they desire. For business customers, we bundle our products and provide value added managed IT services using our local service delivery model and highly reliable network. For consumer customers, we focus on brand awareness, the product experience, providing improved service through new technology and price. Regarding pricing, we typically offer one flat rate price and no data usage caps for internet services, differentiating ourselves from GCI who charges for excess data usage or throttles bandwidth.
Sales and Distribution Channels
Our sales strategy combines primarily direct distribution channels to retain current customers and drive sales growth. In 2021, we will continue leveraging our direct sales channels’ focus on serving Business and Wholesale customers, our web and contact center channels for consumer customers, and expand our penetration of the military housing market for continued sustained performance. We are also continuing our efforts to improve customer service and move more consumer transactions to the web.
Customer Base
We generate our revenue through a diverse statewide customer base and there is no reliance on a single customer or small group of customers. Business and wholesale customers are our primary focus and they comprised 68% of our total revenue in 2020. Regulatory revenue and consumer revenue represented 17% and 15%, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated revenue in 2020.
Seasonality
We believe our revenue is impacted by seasonal factors. This is due to Alaska’s northern latitude and the resulting wide swing in available daylight and weather conditions between summer and winter months. These conditions, unique to Alaska, affect business, tourism and telecom use patterns in the state. Our spending patterns are also impacted by seasonality as we incur more capital spending and operating spending during the summer and early fall periods of the year, reflecting the heightened economic activity from the summer months and our own construction activities during this time period.
Human Capital
Everything we do is only possible through our people. Our employees enable any and all initiatives to serve our customers and earn their business. We focus on and make investments in employee engagement to maximize the realization of an exceptional customer experience and maximize the effectiveness of our investments.
We depend on the availability of personnel with the requisite level of technical expertise in the telecommunications industry. Our ability to develop and maintain our networks and execute our business plan is dependent on the availability of technical engineering, IT, service delivery and monitoring, product development, sales, management, finance and other key personnel. Because our operations and customers are primarily based in Alaska, the recruiting and retention of employees can be challenging.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has established remote working arrangements, including work-from-home, for most of our administrative employees. Management has also implemented processes for frequent virtual interaction between individual employees and employee groups.
Our Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) with the IBEW, which is effective through December 31, 2023, governs the terms and conditions of employment for all IBEW represented employees working for us. The CBA has significant economic impacts on the Company as it relates to wage and benefit costs and work rules. We believe our labor costs are higher than our competitors who employ a non-unionized workforce. Work rules under the CBA limit our ability to efficiently manage our workforce and make the incremental cost of work performed outside normal work hours high.
As of December 31, 2020, we employed 564 regular full-time employees, 5 regular part-time employees and 5 temporary employees, compared with 569, 8 and 4, respectively at December 31, 2019. Approximately 54% of our employees are represented by the IBEW.
Management considers employee relations to be generally good.
Regulation
While a substantial amount of our revenue is derived from non-regulated or non-common carrier services, we continue to generate revenue from services that are regulated. Given the breadth of the regulatory framework, the following summary of the regulatory environment in which our business operates does not describe all present and proposed federal, state and local legislation and regulations affecting the telecommunications industry in Alaska.
Overview
Some of the telecommunications services we provide are subject to federal, state and local regulation. These regulations govern, in part, our rates and the way we conduct our business. These requirements are subject to frequent change. Compliance is costly and limits our ability to respond to some of the demands of our increasingly competitive service markets.
We generate revenue from these regulated services through regulated charges to our retail and wholesale customers, access and other charges to other carriers, and federal and state universal service support mechanisms for telecommunications and broadband services. These revenues are recorded throughout our customer categories.
At the federal level, the FCC generally exercises jurisdiction over the interstate and international telecommunications services that regulated common carriers provide and their related communications facilities.
The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) generally exercises jurisdiction over a limited number of intrastate access telecommunications services that originate and terminate at points in Alaska.
In this section, “Regulation”, we refer to our local exchange carrier (“LEC”) subsidiaries individually as follows:
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ACS of Anchorage, LLC (“ACSA”);
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ACS of Alaska, LLC (“ACSAK”);
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ACS of Fairbanks, LLC (“ACSF”); and
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ACS of the Northland, LLC (“ACSN”).
Federal Regulation
We must comply with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”) and regulations promulgated thereunder, which together require, among other things, that we offer regulated interstate telecommunications common carrier services at just, reasonable and non-discriminatory rates and terms. The Communications Act also requires us to offer competing carriers interconnection and non-discriminatory access to certain facilities and services designated as essential for local competition. Under the Communications Act we are eligible for support revenues to help defray the cost of providing services in rural, high cost areas, and to low-income consumers, schools and libraries, and rural health care providers. The FCC is continuing to propose changes in the size and scope of these mechanisms, and it is difficult to predict the impact such changes may have on our business.
Rate Regulation
Our LEC subsidiaries are regulated common carriers offering local voice and telecommunications data services. In providing regulated telecommunications services, these subsidiaries are subject to competitive market forces, as well as rate-of-return regulations for intrastate services that originate and terminate in Alaska and price-cap rate regulation for interstate services regulated by the FCC. Because they face competition, our LEC subsidiaries may not be able to charge their maximum permitted rates under price-cap regulation or realize their authorized intrastate rate of return. A broader range of data and information services are offered by our unregulated affiliates or as unregulated services by our regulated companies.
Interconnection with Local Telephone Companies and Access to Other Facilities
The Communications Act imposes a number of requirements on LECs. Generally, a LEC must: interconnect with other telecommunications carriers; not prohibit or unreasonably restrict the resale of its services; provide for telephone number portability so customers may keep the same telephone number if they switch service providers; provide access to their poles, ducts, conduits and rights-of-way on a reasonable, non-discriminatory basis; and, when a call originates on its network, compensate other telephone companies for terminating or transporting the call (see the “Interstate Access” discussion below).
All of our LEC subsidiaries are considered incumbent LECs (“ILECs”) and have additional obligations under the Communications Act, including obligations to unbundle certain elements of their networks for purchase by competitive LECs.
In general, in recent years, the FCC has granted forbearance providing incremental relief from some of the obligations the Communications Act imposes uniquely on ILECs. Most recently, on October 28, 2020, the FCC released an Order relieving ILECs from most obligations to unbundle local loops (DS-3, DS-1, DS-0, and narrowband voice-grade), as well as Operations Support Systems and dark fiber transport, in markets the FCC deems competitive subject to transition periods ranging between two and eight years. Previously, on August 2, 2019, the FCC relieved ILECs from the requirement to unbundle two-wire and four-wire analog voice-grade copper loops, as well as from the obligation to offer a wholesale discount on its telecommunications services sold to competitive entrants for resale. While the obligation to offer telecommunications services for resale remains in effect (as it does for all local exchange carriers, incumbent and competitive entrants alike), we will no longer be obligated to offer any particular wholesale discount on those services. Both of those 2019 grants of forbearance are subject to a two-part transition period. First, for a six-month period that began on August 2, 2019, we were required to continue to accept new orders for analog voice-grade copper loops and discounted wholesale services, in accordance with the previous rules. Second, we must continue to honor existing arrangements, including those put in place during that initial six-month period, for a three-year period that also began on August 2, 2019, in order to permit customers sufficient time to undertake a transition to alternative arrangements.
Interstate Access Charges
The FCC regulates the prices that ILECs charge for the use of their local telephone facilities in originating or terminating interstate calls.
Special Access Pricing Flexibility and Business Data Services
Rates for interstate telecommunications services offered by our ILEC subsidiaries are determined using price cap regulation, under which the rates vary from year to year based on mathematical formulae, and not based on changes to our costs, including both inter-carrier rates and retail end user rates.
On April 20, 2017, the FCC adopted an Order updating its regulations governing “business data services,” which are those circuit-switched or packet-switched services that offer dedicated point-to-point transmission of data at certain guaranteed speeds and service levels using high-capacity connections, including special access services. The FCC left in place the Phase I and Phase II pricing flexibility it granted to us in 2010 and granted further price deregulation of all business data services with transmission speeds above 45 Megabits per second. For legacy circuit-switched business data services with speeds at or below that level (DS-3 or below), the FCC adopted a new competitive market test, finding that price regulation is no longer required in counties (or county-equivalents, such as Alaskan boroughs) where the test is satisfied. We expect this FCC Order to support the Company’s ability to be market competitive for its business data services in many of our most competitive markets.
On August 28, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated portions of the FCC’s decision that ended prior regulation and tariffing of prices of legacy circuit-switched transport services offered by price cap carriers, like Alaska Communications, because it found that the FCC had not provided sufficient advance notice of that aspect of its decision. On July 12, 2019, following additional proceedings, the FCC re-adopted the majority of the forbearance relief that the Eighth Circuit had vacated, while leaving rate regulation in place on certain routes that the FCC believed to lack sufficient competition.
Transformation Order
A 2011 FCC order (the “Transformation Order”), capped our ILEC interstate and intrastate switched access rates and reciprocal compensation rates (“ICC rates”), and initiated a six-year transition of our terminating switched access and reciprocal compensation rates to zero, under a “bill-and-keep” model, in pursuit of the FCC’s goal that carriers will recover their costs from their end-users and, in some cases, universal service support mechanisms. That transition was complete as of July 1, 2018.
Federal Universal Service Support
The Communications Act requires the FCC to establish a universal service program to ensure that affordable, quality telecommunications services are available to all Americans. The Company has received universal support in several forms: (i) high cost support for its wireline voice and broadband Internet access service business under the Connect America Fund; (ii) support for services that the Company provides to schools and libraries, provided through the federal schools and libraries universal service support mechanism (“E-Rate”); (iii) support from the federal Rural Health Care support mechanism, which supports communications services that enable telehealth and telemedicine services provided by eligible rural health care providers; and (iv) low income support under the FCC’s Lifeline program, which subsidizes telephone and broadband Internet access services for low-income consumers. These programs are administered under the direction of the FCC by the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”).
USF Contributions
Under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Communications Act”) and FCC rules, telecommunications carriers and certain providers of telecommunications must contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund, which is the source of funding for the four support mechanisms described above. These contributions are based on end-user revenues from assessable interstate and international services. For the first calendar quarter of 2021, we are required to pay an amount equal to 31.8 percent of our interstate and international end-user telecommunications revenue towards the federal Universal Service Fund. That contribution rate changes every calendar quarter, and has increased sharply in recent years, both because of increases in demand for universal service support payments, and because the assessable revenue base has shrunk considerably over the past two decades. In the long term, the current contribution mechanism is likely to be unsustainable, and collapse of the Universal Service Fund would have a significant impact throughout our industry.
Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Program
The FCC’s Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Mechanism (the “RHC program”) provides funding to help make broadband telecommunications and Internet access services provided by the Company and other service providers affordable for eligible rural health care providers. It is comprised of two parts. The Telecommunications Program covers the difference between the “urban rate” for telecommunications services that rural healthcare providers use to deliver healthcare at rural locations, and the “rural rate” that they would otherwise be required to pay. The Healthcare Connect Fund covers 65 percent of the cost of a wider variety of broadband telecommunications, networking, and Internet access services and certain associated equipment. Rural Health Care revenues represented 5.3% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in 2020.
The Company has participated in the RHC program since 2008. For the 2017 Funding Year, the FCC approved rural rates that were significantly reduced from the rates proposed by the Company. For Funding Years 2018, 2019, and 2020, we have likewise obtained FCC approval for our rural rates, generally at levels consistent with the reduced rates approved by the FCC for Funding Year 2017. The multi-step process of obtaining FCC approval for rates and then subsequently obtaining funding commitment letters from USAC has introduced varying degrees of delay in the process of obtaining support for the services we deliver to rural health care providers. Most recently, we received FCC approval for our Funding Year 2020 rates in January 2021, more than halfway through the funding year to which those rates relate (July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021). USAC began issuing funding commitment letters in March 2021 and we are working with our healthcare provider customers to prepare and submit additional forms and documentation required to receive payment.
On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act,” which, among other things, appropriates $200 million for the FCC to help health care providers provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the ensuing three months, the FCC used these funds to create the “COVID-19 Telehealth Program,” and made over 500 awards, comprising the entire sum, to health care providers in the lower 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, and Guam, but none to health care providers in Alaska. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law on December 27, 2020, appropriated a further $250 million for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, and directed that, to the extent feasible, at least one applicant in every state should receive an award of funding under the program.
The same FCC Report and Order also created the “Connected Care Pilot Program,” which makes an additional $100 million in universal service funding available over three years to study how the FCC can help support the trend towards connected care services, particularly for low-income Americans and veterans. The Connected Care Pilot Program will provide healthcare providers support for 85 percent of the cost of eligible services and network equipment, which include: (1) patient broadband internet access services, (2) health care provider broadband data connections, (3) other connected care information services, and (4) certain network equipment (e.g., equipment necessary to make a supported broadband service function such as routers). The FCC accepted applications for Connected Care Pilot Program support between November 6 and December 7, 2020. On January 15, 2021, the FCC announced its initial set of awards to healthcare providers in 12 states, but none in Alaska. While it is too soon to assess the ultimate impact, if any, of the Connected Care Pilot Program on our business, programs of this type that make the telehealth and telemedicine services more affordable could stimulate greater demand for those services in Alaska.
On August 1, 2019, the FCC adopted an order making comprehensive changes to the rules governing the competitive bidding process and the method for determining the urban and rural rates used to calculate the amount of RHC Telecommunications Program support payments for which a health care provider is eligible. The changes to the urban and rural rate rules take effect for Funding Year 2021, which will begin July 1, 2021, and rural healthcare providers were permitted to solicit bids for services to be supported in Funding Year 2021 beginning on July 1, 2020. Among other things, the FCC’s Order directed USAC to develop and publish a database by July 1, 2020, containing available rural rates and rate medians that will cap the amount of RHC support eligible healthcare providers may receive for a given service in a particular geographic zone. The FCC’s Order divided Alaska into four geographic zones, with the rural rate in each zone capped at the median of the rural rates for similar services offered in that zone, as identified by USAC. USAC published that rate database on July 1, 2020, following receipt of a June 30, 2020 letter providing significant guidance and directives from the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”). Among those directions, the Bureau directed USAC to provide an additional two months, until August 31, 2020, for interested parties to supplement the database with additional relevant rates. USAC announced on October 1, 2020 that it had incorporated those additional rates into the database.
On October 21, 2019, an appeal challenging the new method of setting rates for supported services was filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, adding further uncertainty to the ultimate outcome of this proceeding. Similarly, the Company and several other parties have filed Petitions for Reconsideration of the FCC’s August 2019 Report and Order, asking the FCC to reconsider some of its changes to the rural healthcare rate-setting process. Among other changes, we asked the FCC to give the Bureau instead of USAC responsibility for creating the database; to provide more detailed guidance directing the Bureau to differentiate among broadband services based on additional service level, security, reliability, and other factors when creating the rural rate database; to make the rate database applicable only in cases where the rural health care provider received fewer than two competitive bids; and to set the rural rate cap, where applicable, based on the average rate, not the median, in the database. Both the action in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Petitions for Reconsideration filed with the FCC remain pending.
We believe that USAC’s rural rate database, as currently constituted, is likely to have an adverse impact on our economic ability to continue to serve some of our rural healthcare customers. In particular, the rates established by the database would negatively impact our ability to continue to offer our full range of telecommunications services to rural healthcare providers supported by the Telecommunications Program in the more remote, higher-cost areas of the state. We have requested that the full FCC review USAC’s effort and associated guidance from the Bureau concerning the database, delay the effectiveness of the new rural rates, and direct the Bureau to implement the changes we requested in our Petition for Reconsideration. On January 19, 2021, the FCC issued an order waiving the use of the database in Alaska for Funding Year 2021. The Order grants a similar waiver for Funding Year 2022, unless the Commission addresses the pending Petitions for Reconsideration within the coming year, i.e., by January 19, 2022. In lieu of the database, while the waiver remains in effect, the Order authorizes support based on the most recent rural rate that the FCC has approved for the same service at the same healthcare facility within the past three funding years. As an alternative, Telecommunications Program rural rates may be established under the previously applicable rate rules that were in effect through Funding Year 2020. As with the action in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Petitions for Reconsideration, the other issues raised in our Application for Review remain pending.
We are unable to predict the outcome or eventual impact of the D.C. Circuit’s review of the FCC’s Order, or the FCC’s decision on our Petition for Reconsideration or our Application for Review, but the January 2021 waiver offers a measure of short-term stability for the Telecommunications Program while those reviews continue.
USAC Audit of RHC Program Funding Requests
In addition to the prospective changes to the RHC program discussed above, the FCC and USAC have undertaken reviews of current and past funding requests. In June 2017, the Company received a letter from USAC’s auditors inquiring about past funding requests, all of which were previously approved by USAC. After clarifying the request, the Company responded to the auditors with the requested information through the remainder of 2017 and mid-way into 2018. Late in 2018, the auditors asked the Company to comment on some preliminary audit findings, and the Company responded with a letter dated December 21, 2018. After more than a year without further communication from the auditors, on February 24, 2020, the Company received a draft audit report from USAC that is described more fully in Note 21 “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The draft audit report alleges violations of the FCC’s rules for establishing rural rates and urban rates, the provisioning and billing of ineligible services and products, and violations of the FCC’s competitive bidding rules. The Company was invited to comment on this draft audit report and, as of September 1, 2020, we have provided USAC with extensive comments in response. Our comments seek correction of numerous factual and legal errors that we believe are contained in that report. In addition, the Company has had conversations with USAC’s auditors to discuss these perceived errors. As a result of these conversations and comments being submitted by the Company, USAC’s auditors may revise their findings, including the amounts they recommend USAC seek to recover. USAC’s auditors are expected to issue a final audit report incorporating the Company’s responses that will be sent to USAC’s Rural Health Care Division to review and determine if corrective action would be appropriate. In the event that the Company disagrees with USAC’s final audit report, the Company can appeal that decision to USAC’s Rural Health Care Division and/or the FCC. At this time, we cannot predict the contents or timing of the final USAC audit report, the outcome of the audit or the impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
FCC Inquiry into Company’s RHC Program Participation
The Company also received a Letter of Inquiry on March 18, 2018, from the FCC Enforcement Bureau requesting historical information regarding the Company’s participation in the FCC’s Rural Health Care program. In response, the Company produced voluminous records throughout 2018 and into the first quarter of 2019. On November 5, 2019, the Company received another letter from the FCC Enforcement Bureau requesting additional information, to which it responded on December 6, 2019. The Company is currently responding to an additional letter from the Enforcement Bureau dated January 22, 2020. As of the date of this Form 10-K, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has not asserted any claims or alleged any rule violations. The Company continues to work constructively with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to provide it the information it is seeking. At this time, we cannot predict the outcome of the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s inquiry or the impact it may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Connect America Fund
The Transformation Order also replaced the FCC’s previous set of explicit high-cost universal service support mechanisms for price cap carriers, like Alaska Communications, with the Connect America Fund (“CAF”). While the previous mechanisms were focused on supporting a portion of the cost of providing voice telephone service, the CAF shifted that focus to expanding the availability of affordable broadband services. On October 31, 2016, the FCC released its order establishing the requirements of CAF Phase II (“CAF II”) for price cap carriers in Alaska, and specifically Alaska Communications, the only price cap carrier in Alaska. Under the CAF II order, we receive approximately $19.7 million annually through December 31, 2025, subject to explicit broadband deployment conditions.
We are continuing to work toward meeting our CAF Phase II obligations in a capital-efficient manner, including the delivery of broadband Internet access services meeting CAF Phase II requirements using a fixed wireless platform and DSL in some instances. On July 21, 2020, we announced that we now offer voice and broadband service meeting our CAF Phase II commitments to over 16,000 rural Alaskans. The Company is therefore more than half way to the total number required by December 31, 2025 under CAF Phase II.
Call Authentication
On December 30, 2019, Congress enacted the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act. Among other things, the TRACED Act seeks to reduce the number of unwanted calls (“robocalls”) in which the calling party deceive the recipient by falsifying the Caller ID information to make it appear that the call is from someone the recipient knows or can trust. To do so, the TRACED Act directs the FCC to require all voice service providers to implement “STIR/SHAKEN” standards developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) for authenticating and verifying caller ID information for calls carried in the IP portions of their networks, and implement an effective caller ID authentication framework in the non-IP portions of their networks. The law requires service providers to take these steps no later than 18 months from enactment.
On March 31, 2020, the FCC issued a Report and Order implementing this law by mandating that all voice service providers implement the STIR/SHAKEN framework in the Internet Protocol (IP) portions of their networks by June 30, 2021. In a related Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FCC sought comment on additional issues, including a potential extension of time for small providers that serve 100,000 or fewer voice service subscriber lines, which would include us. On October 1, 2020, the FCC released an Order granting small providers, as proposed, an extension of time to implement STIR/SHAKEN until June 30, 2023.
The FCC’s March 31, 2020 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking also sought comment on proposals for implementing the law with respect to “intermediate” providers of voice service, which, with respect to a call, is a provider that carries that call at any point, but neither originates nor terminates it. The FCC’s October 1, 2020 Order requires us, by June 30, 2021, in our role as an intermediate provider, to implement the STIR/SHAKEN authentication framework in the IP portions of our network, in general so that IP calls retain caller ID authentication information throughout the entire call path. Specifically, with certain exceptions, we must be able to (a) pass any authenticated caller identification information received with a SIP call, to the subsequent provider; and (b) authenticate caller identification information for all calls we receive for which the caller identification information has not already been authenticated, if we will exchange the call with another provider using SIP. We are currently in the process of implementing these requirements.
On July 17, 2020, the FCC released a further Report and Order concerning the blocking of illegal and unwanted robocalls before they reach consumers. To encourage the blocking of scam robocalls and maliciously spoofed telemarketing campaigns under the TRACED Act, the FCC adopted two safe harbors from liability for the unintended or inadvertent blocking of wanted calls. The first safe harbor protects phone companies from liability that use reasonable analytics, including caller ID authentication information, to identify and block illegal or unwanted calls. The second safe harbor protects providers that block call traffic from bad actor upstream voice service providers that pass illegal or unwanted calls along to other providers, when those upstream providers have been notified but fail to take action to stop these calls. The FCC has announced that these rules took effect on October 14, 2020.
Network Equipment
On March 12, 2020, the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 was signed into law, prohibiting the use of federal universal service funds to obtain communications equipment or services from a company that poses a national security risk to U.S. communications networks. In addition, under the law, each communications provider must submit an annual report to the FCC regarding whether it has purchased, rented, leased, or otherwise obtained any prohibited equipment and, if so, provide a detailed justification for such action. Previously, in November 2019, the FCC preliminarily designated Huawei and ZTE as companies that pose such risks. Currently, Alaska Communications believes that little or no equipment from those manufacturers is present in our network. On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking comment on additional questions concerning the implementation of that Act.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
On July 16, 2020, the FCC adopted a Report and Order designating the three-digit code “988” as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and directed all service providers to enable use of that code to reach suicide prevention and crisis intervention services no later than July 16, 2022. There are 87 area codes across the country, including the “907” area code used throughout Alaska, where local calls may be dialed using seven digits, and where “988” is used as a three-digit telephone exchange prefix. To ensure that calls are not erroneously routed to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline when a user intends to dial a seven-digit call starting with “988,” the FCC required all 87 of the affected area codes to transition to ten-digit dialing for all calls during the transition period. As a result of these changes, Alaska Communications will need to upgrade and reprogram its switches throughout the state, and assist with consumer education efforts with respect to these new dialing patterns. We are unable to predict with certainty that it will be possible to implement all of the necessary changes within the time required, or the effect of these changes on our business expenses and results.
Lifeline
Revenue generated from our lifeline customers represents less than 1% of our total revenue. The FCC’s Lifeline support mechanism today subsidizes the cost of voice services for low-income consumers, as well as broadband in CAF II locations.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 appropriated $3.2 billion to create the “Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund,” and directed the FCC to use that fund to establish a new “Emergency Broadband Benefit Program” (“EBBP”). The EBBP will provide eligible low-income consumers and students with a monthly subsidy for the purchase of broadband Internet access service from service providers that elect to participate in the program. While the monthly subsidy is $50 in most of the nation, the EBBP will provide $75 monthly throughout the state of Alaska, which is encompassed within the statute’s definition of “Tribal lands.” On Jan. 4, 2021, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on various implementation questions related to the EBBP, including the process by which service providers will formally elect to participate in the program and designate the broadband offerings that are eligible for the subsidy. While we cannot predict with certainty until after the FCC adopts final rules for the EBBP, we are carefully examining the benefits this new program may offer for Alaska.
E-Rate
The Company has provided telecommunications services, broadband Internet access services, and internal connections supported by the FCC’s Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support Mechanism (“E-rate”) for many years. E-rate support provides an invaluable means by which elementary and secondary schools in Alaska can afford those services, particularly in rural and remote, high-cost areas. Historically, E-rate has primarily supported services that connect eligible school buildings. On January 26, 2021, the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (“SHLB”) Coalition filed a Petition seeking a declaratory ruling and associated rule waivers to permit schools and libraries temporarily to receive E-rate support for “off-campus” services used to support remote learning for students that lack reliable home broadband. If the FCC were to grant the relief that the Petition seeks, it could increase demand for our home broadband services, but also could increase the administrative burden and compliance risks associated with those services. We are unable to predict the impact of this Petition, if any, at this time.
Satellite Services
On February 16, 2018, the FCC granted our application for a license to operate a network of C-band satellite earth stations to be used to serve our customers that cannot be reached by terrestrial middle mile facilities. Under that license, we are authorized to use C-band spectrum on Eutelsat’s satellite, E115WB, for a term of 15 years. We have steadily expanded this network to serve over 40 sites, primarily in rural and remote areas of the state. We expect this approach to provide us with greater predictability and stability in the availability and cost of long-haul transport connectivity to our customers that must be served by satellite.
On March 3, 2020, the FCC released a Report and Order clearing the lower portion of that band (3.7-4.0 GHz) of virtually all satellite services in the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia. The Report and Order allows continued use of that spectrum for satellite services in other areas of the nation, including Alaska, essentially preserving the status quo. As a result, the FCC’s decision has little to no effect on our authority to continue to offer C-band satellite communications services to our Alaska customers.
Acquisition by ATN International, Inc.
On January 20, 2021, we filed a series of applications seeking FCC approval for the transfer of control of our licenses and authorizations to ATN International, Inc. We have discussed those applications with the FCC staff, and, on February 16, 2021, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking public comment on the proposed transaction.
State Regulation
Providers of intrastate telecommunication services in Alaska are required to obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the RCA. In addition, RCA approval is required if an entity acquires a controlling interest in any of our certificated subsidiaries, acquires a controlling interest in another intrastate utility or discontinues intrastate service. On August 29, 2019, Governor Dunleavy signed into law new legislation that eliminated the requirement for Alaska Communications to maintain RCA-filed tariffs for rates, terms, and conditions for legacy phone and networking services in Alaska, However, rates, terms, and conditions for basic residential local telephone service must, under the bill, be uniform within each study area. Alaska Communications implemented changes to tariffs, terms and conditions and other service related policies effective November 27, 2019.
Alaska Universal Service Fund
The Alaska Universal Service Fund (“AUSF”) complements the federal Universal Service Fund, but is focused on obligations to meet intrastate service obligations.
In January 2018, the RCA opened a rulemaking to repeal the AUSF effective July 31, 2019 and sought comments and reply comments. A final order issued by the RCA on October 24, 2018 stopped short of repealing the AUSF but made changes to the distribution to be effective January 1, 2019, and capped contributions at 10% of intrastate telecommunications revenues. These changes resulted in shortfalls to carriers beginning in 2019. The RCA has announced its intent to open a new docket to consider further AUSF reforms in June 2021.
Telecommunications Modernization Act
In late December 2019, the RCA opened R-19-002 to consider the Alaska Telephone Associations Petition to revise the RCA’s regulation as a result of SB 83 or the Telecommunications Modernization Act. The comment and reply comment period ended February 3, 2020. The RCA continues to consider this matter.
AC Systems Group and ATN International, Inc. Joint Application
The RCA opened Docket U-21-003 to consider the joint application filed by ATN International, Inc. and Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. for ATN International, Inc. to acquire an indirect controlling interest in the ACS of Alaska, LLC, ACS of Anchorage, LLC, ACS of Fairbanks, LLC, ACS of the Northland, LLC, ACS Long Distance, LLC, and Alaska Fiber Star, LLC. The RCA issued a public notice seeking comments on the application and has established a schedule for completing its review of the application by July 2021.
Website Access to Reports
Our investor relations website Internet address is www.alsk.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report on Form 10-K. We make available, free of charge, on our investor relations website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
Code of Ethics
We post our code of business conduct and ethics entitled “Code of Ethics”, on our investor website at www.alsk.com. Our code of business conduct and ethics complies with Item 406 of SEC Regulation S-K and the rules of Nasdaq. We intend to disclose any changes to the code that affect the provisions required by Item 406 of Regulation S-K and any waivers of the code of ethics for our executive officers, senior financial officers or directors, on that website.
Additional Business Information
See “Item 1A, Risk Factors,” “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Note 20 “Joint Venture” and Note 23 “Business Segments” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
We face a variety of risks that may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, some of which are beyond our control. The risks described below are not the only ones we face and should be considered in addition to the other cautionary statements and risks described elsewhere and the other information contained in this report and in our other filings with the SEC, including our subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business. If any of these known or unknown risks or uncertainties actually occurs, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be seriously harmed.
Risks Relating to the Merger Agreement with ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Capital, LLC
There are material uncertainties and risks associated with the Merger Agreement.
On December 31, 2020, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Project 8 Buyer, LLC (“Parent”) and Project 8 Merger Sub (“Merger Sub”), newly formed entities owned by ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Capital, LLC. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Below are material uncertainties and risks associated with the Merger Agreement and proposed Merger. If any of the risks develop into actual events, then the Company’s business, financial condition, results and ongoing operations, share price or prospects could be adversely affected.
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the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, including but not limited to, the impact on its workforce, operations, supply chains, demand for products and services, and the Company’s financial results;
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the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger, including, without limitation, the timely receipt of regulatory approvals (or any conditions, limitations or restrictions placed on such approvals);
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unanticipated difficulties or expenditures relating to the Merger;
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the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including, in circumstances which would require the Company to pay a termination fee or reimburse Parent for certain of its expenses;
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legal proceedings, judgments or settlements, including those that may be instituted against the Company, the Board, the Company’s executive officers and others following the announcement of the Merger;
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the possibility of disruption to the Company’s business, current plans and operations caused by the proposed Merger, or the announcement or pendency thereof, including increased costs and diversion of management time and resources;
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limitations placed on the Company’s ability to operate its business under the Merger Agreement;
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potential difficulties in employee retention due to the announcement and pendency of the Merger;
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the response of customers, distributors, suppliers, business partners and regulators to the announcement and pendency of the Merger;
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the Company’s and Parent’s ability to complete the proposed Merger on a timely basis or at all;
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the failure of the Merger to be completed on a timely basis or at all for any other reason;
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the possible adverse effect on the Company’s business and the price of the Company common stock if the Merger is not consummated in a timely manner or at all;
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the execution of the Company’s long-term growth objectives and business transformation initiatives;
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changes in accounting standards or tax rates, laws or regulations;
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management of professional staff, including dependence on key personnel, recruiting, retention, attrition and the ability to successfully integrate new personnel into the Company’s practices;
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the adequacy of our business, financial and information systems and technology;
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maintenance of effective internal controls;
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continued and sufficient access to capital; and
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other factors described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 16, 2020 and subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
The proposed Merger may not be completed in a timely manner or at all.
Consummation of the Merger is subject to certain closing conditions, including, without limitation, (i) approval of the Merger by the Company’s stockholders, (ii) absence of certain legal impediments, (iii) the expiration or termination of the required waiting period under the HSR Act and (iv) receipt of regulatory approvals from the FCC (and, if required as a precondition for FCC approval, Team Telecom Committee) and from the RCA. The waiting period under the HSR Act expired on February 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Filings with each of the FCC and the RCA were made on January 20, 2021. The RCA gave public notice of the application and requested any public comments by February 12, 2021. On February 8, 2021, the RCA issued an order stating that it had determined that Parent’s application to acquire the Company was complete as filed on January 20, 2021. The order states that the RCA will issue a final order no later than July 19, 2021. The Company’s stockholders approved the Merger at a special meeting of stockholders held on March 12, 2021.
The Merger Agreement may require the Company and Parent to comply with conditions imposed by regulatory entities, and neither the Company nor Parent is required to take certain actions as described in the Merger Agreement in connection with satisfying such conditions. There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose conditions, terms, obligation or restrictions and that such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not result in the delay or abandonment of the Merger. There can be no assurance that all the required approvals and clearances will be obtained or will be obtained on a timely basis. In addition, certain other factors such as the change in administrative policy as a result of a new federal administration and the COVID-19 pandemic may also result in delays to the receipt of certain regulatory approvals required to consummate the Merger.
The obligation of each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger is also conditioned on, subject to certain materiality and other qualifiers, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the other party and the performance or compliance in all material respects by the other party of all its covenants and obligations under the Merger Agreement. While the Merger Agreement is not subject to any financing condition, if Parent or Merger Sub fails to obtain financing, the Merger may not be consummated. Each of the Company and Parent has the right to terminate the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, as described in the Merger Agreement.
Failure to complete the Merger could negatively impact the Company’s business, financial results and stock price.
If the Merger is delayed or not completed, the Company’s ongoing businesses may be adversely affected and will be subject to several risks and consequences, including the following:
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decline in share price to the extent that the current price of the Company’s common shares reflects an assumption that the Merger will be completed;
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negative publicity and a negative impression of the Company in the investment community;
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loss of business opportunities and the ability to effectively respond to competitive pressures; and
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the Company may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay Parent a termination fee and additional expenses.
The Company has incurred, and will incur, substantial direct and indirect costs as a result of the Merger.
The Company has incurred, and will continue to incur, significant costs, expenses and fees for professional advisors and other transaction costs in connection with the Merger, and some of these fees and costs are payable by the Company regardless of whether the Merger is consummated.
While the Merger Agreement is in effect, the Company is subject to restrictions on its business activities.
While the Merger Agreement is in effect, the Company is subject to restrictions on its business activities, generally requiring it to conduct its business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, and subjecting it to a variety of specified limitations absent Parent’s prior consent. These limitations include, among other things, restrictions on the Company’s ability to merge or, other than in the ordinary course of business substantially consistent with past practice, enter into a strategic alliance or similar legal partnership; subject to certain exceptions increase the salary, wages, benefits, bonuses or other cash compensation payable the Company’s employees, officers, directors or independent contractors; hire, engage or terminate the employment or engagement of (other than for cause, as determined by the Company) any employee, officer, director, or independent contractor whose annual base cash compensation exceeds $250; acquire other businesses and assets with a purchase price of $500 individually or $2,000 in the aggregate (other than inventory, supplies, intellectual property assets, raw materials, equipment or similar assets in the ordinary course of business and in amounts substantially consistent with past practice); sell, lease, pledge, transfer, abandon, subject to any lien or otherwise, dispose of its assets or properties in each case having a value in excess of $500 individually or $5,000 in the aggregate (except in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ business substantially consistent with past practice), institute, settle or agree to settle any proceedings, subject to certain exceptions; repurchase or issue securities, pay dividends, make capital expenditures above certain amounts; enter into any new line of business; voluntarily terminate, amend or fail to renew certain communications licenses; enter into any exclusivity or non-competition agreement; take certain actions relating to intellectual property; amend its organizational documents; and incur indebtedness. These restrictions could prevent the Company from pursuing strategic business opportunities, taking actions with respect to its business that it may consider advantageous and responding effectively and/or timely to competitive pressures and industry developments, and may as a result materially and adversely affect its business, results of operations and financial condition.
Shareholder Litigation
Between January 27, 2021 and February 17, 2021, twelve lawsuits were filed by stockholders of the Company in connection with the Merger Agreement. These shareholder lawsuits, and any additional litigation that could be filed, may prevent or delay the closing of the Merger, and/or result in significant costs to the Company in connection with defense, indemnification, and liability.
On January 27, 2021, the first such lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Stein v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00760, against the Company, members of the Board, ATN,C IV,C, Parent and Merger Sub; this case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on March 15, 2021. On February 1, 2021, three additional such lawsuits were filed against the Company and members of the Board: (i) Zilch v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00890, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; this case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on March 15, 2021; (ii) Coraci v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00887, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; this case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on March 15, 2021; and (iii) Coulibaly v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00131, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. On February 2, 2021, the fifth such lawsuit against the Company and members of Board was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, captioned Palkon v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. On February 4, 2021, the sixth such lawsuit was filed against the Company and members of the Board in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Raul v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00988. On February 6, 2021, the seventh such lawsuit was filed against the Company and members of the Board in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, captioned Holodnak v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00656 (this case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on March 8, 2021). On February 8, 2021, the eighth such lawsuit was filed against the Company and members of the Board in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Cazort v. Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-1139. On February 11, 2021, the ninth such lawsuit was filed against the Company and members of the Board in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, captioned Bergquist v. Alaska Communications Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-01226; this case was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff on March 15, 2021. On February 17, 2021, three additional such lawsuits were filed against the Company and members of the Board: (i) Ryan v. Alaska Communications Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00222, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware; (ii) Flood v. Alaska Communications Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-00224, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware; and (iii) Jenkins v. Alaska Communications Group, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-01409, filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. On February 19, 2021, the Company and members of its Board filed a Motion for Transfer of Actions with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, requesting to centralize the twelve then-pending actions before one court.
In general, these lawsuits assert that the defendants failed to make adequate disclosures in the Company’s preliminary and/or definitive proxy statement, filed with the SEC on January 25, 2021 and February 9, 2021, respectively, regarding the Merger Agreement. The Company believes that these allegations are without merit.
Risks Relating to Our Industry
Competition
The telecommunications industry in Alaska is competitive and creates pressure on our pricing and customer retention efforts.
Strong competitors make it more difficult for us to attract and retain customers, which could result in lower revenue, cash flow from operating activities and Adjusted Free Cash Flow.
Our principal facilities-based competitor for voice and broadband services is GCI, who is also the dominant cable television provider in Alaska. In the business and wholesale market, GCI holds a dominant position through its extensive fiber optic, microwave and satellite based middle mile network as well as its undersea fiber cable network, where it owns and operates two of the four existing undersea fiber optic cables connecting Alaska to the contiguous states. In the consumer market, GCI bundles its cable video services with voice, broadband and mobile wireless services. Because the video and mobile wireless services we offer are limited, we are unable to offer competing bundles.
GCI continues to expand its statewide reach, including through its Terra Southwest project which is funded with federal subsidies, consisting of grants from the USDA Rural Utilities Service and federal low-interest loans. This subsidy gives GCI a substantial competitive advantage in the markets served by Terra Southwest, and GCI receives substantial additional funding for services offered over this facility from the federal E-Rate and Rural Health Care universal service support mechanisms. GCI has indicated it intends to replicate this government subsidized model in other markets in Alaska, which will create monopoly-type conditions in these markets which are subject to minimal regulatory oversight.
With a long history of operating in Alaska, AT&T has a terrestrial long-haul network in Alaska where the focus is on serving certain national customers. AT&T’s primary mass market focus in Alaska is providing mobile wireless services.
As we compete more extensively in the managed IT services business, we are likely to face new competition, both local and national. There are other small firms that compete for IT business in Alaska. Overall, however, we believe that competition for managed IT services is fragmented in Alaska with no clear or dominant provider.
We may be unable to negotiate reasonable rates for interconnection with other voice providers in certain rural markets.
As our wholesale voice providers review their legacy service offerings, reduce their service availability, and increase their pricing, we may be unable to find replacement services and providers at reasonable costs.
Diversification of Our Sources of Revenue
We may not be able to adequately diversify our revenue stream which could create risk to our ability to generate cash and bottom-line growth.
The telecommunications industry faces frequent and rapid changes in products and services provided to customers. If we do not adequately investigate and assess the expansion of our existing sources of revenue, including new products and services and strategic acquisition opportunities, our business, financial position, results of operations and liquidity may be impacted.
Our Cost Structure
We may not be able to maintain our cost structure which would create risk to our ability to generate bottom-line growth.
As a smaller, focused broadband and managed IT services company, maintaining a lower cost structure is key to generating cash flow from operating activities. If we fail to maintain this cost structure, our financial position, results of operations and liquidity will be impacted.
Technological Advancements and Changes in Telecommunications Standards
If we do not adapt to rapid technological advancements and changes in telecommunications standards, our ability to compete could be strained, and as a result, we would lose customers.
Our success will likely depend on our ability to adapt and fund the rapid technological changes in our industry. Our failure to adopt a new technology or our choice of one technology over another may have an adverse effect on our ability to compete or meet the demands of our customers. Technological changes could, among other things, reduce the barriers to entry facing our competitors providing local service in our service areas. The pace of technology change and our ability to deploy new technologies may be constrained by insufficient capital and/or the need to generate sufficient cash to make interest payments on our debt.
New products and services may arise out of technological developments and our inability to keep pace with these developments may reduce the attractiveness of our services. Some of our competitors may have greater resources to respond to changing technology than we do. If we fail to adapt successfully to technological changes or fail to obtain access to new technologies, we could lose customers and be unable to attract new customers and/or sell new services to our existing customers. We may be unable to successfully deliver new products and services, and we may not generate anticipated revenues from such products or services.
To be competitive we need to maintain an on-going investment program to continuously upgrade our access network. We define the access network as the connection from the end user location - either a home or a business - to the first aggregation point in the network. The connection can be copper or fiber and the aggregation point is typically a central office or remote serving node. The access network determines the speeds we are able to deliver to our end customer. We may not be able to maintain the level of investment needed for long term competitiveness in offering broadband speeds to all segments of our market.
Technology trends and developments in the area of IT and cloud services can be far more disruptive and tend to change in shorter cycles compared to telecommunications technologies. Our ability to invest in the training, certifications, and skills required to develop these partnerships will be important in determining our success in this area of managed IT services.
Our limited access to middle mile infrastructure limits our ability to compete in certain geographic and customer segments in Alaska.
We define middle mile as the connection between the first aggregation point into a local community and the interconnection point to the internet or switch which connects the community to the outside world. These are typically high capacity connections and can span hundreds of miles in the case of Alaska. It is unlikely that we will have the capital needed for middle mile investments, and GCI controls significant elements of the middle mile network in Alaska, and through its government funded programs is creating monopoly conditions in certain areas of the state. This limits our ability to compete in those markets.
Risks Relating to Our Debt
Our debt could adversely affect our financial health, financing options and liquidity position. Due to uncertainty in the capital markets, we may be unable to retire or refinance our long-term debt when it becomes due, or if we are able to refinance it, we may not be able to do so with attractive interest rates or terms.
2019 Senior Credit Facility
On January 15, 2019, we entered into an amended and restated credit facility consisting of a term facility in the amount of $180 million, a revolving facility in an amount not to exceed $20 million and a delayed-draw term facility in an amount not to exceed $25 million (together the “2019 Senior Credit Facility”). The 2019 Senior Credit Facility also provides for incremental term loans up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of $60 million or trailing twelve-month EBITDA (as defined in the facility).
Principal payments on the term facilities were due commencing in the third quarter of 2019 as follows: the third quarter of 2019 through the second quarter of 2020 - $1,125 per quarter; the third quarter of 2020 through the second quarter of 2022 - $2,250 per quarter; the third quarter of 2022 through the second quarter of 2023 - $3,375 per quarter; and the third quarter of 2023 through the fourth quarter of 2023 - $4,500 per quarter. The remaining outstanding principal balance, including any amounts outstanding under the revolving facility, is due on January 15, 2024. This schedule is subject to mandatory prepayments under certain conditions, including the Company’s generation of excess cash flow as defined in the facility.
The obligations under the 2019 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the personal property and real property of the Company.
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants limiting the incurrence of debt, the payment of dividends and repurchase of the Company’s common stock.
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility provides for events of default customary for credit facilities of this type, including non-payment defaults on other debt, misrepresentation, breach of covenants, representations and warranties, change of control, and insolvency and bankruptcy.
Our debt also exposes us to adverse changes in interest rates. As a component of our cash flow hedging strategy and as required under the terms of the 2019 Senior Credit Facility, we hold pay-fixed, receive-floating interest rate swaps in the total initial notional amount of $135.0 million at 6.1735%, inclusive of a 4.5% LIBOR spread, through June 2022. The anticipated elimination of LIBOR and subsequent replacement with an alternative base rate could negatively impact our cost of borrowing.
Additional information is in the “First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2019, by and among Alaska Communications, as the borrower, the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as guarantors, ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto,” filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference.
We are also subject to credit risk related to our counterparties on the swaps and to interest rate fluctuations on interest generated by our debt in excess of the notional term loans referenced above.
Risks Related to our Business
Rural Health Care Universal Service Support Program
We may not receive some of the subsidies for Rural Health Care for which our customers have applied and amounts previously received may be challenged.
The Company received inquiries and requests for information from USAC, which administers the program, in connection with both current funding requests and, beginning with a letter dated June 2, 2017 from USAC’s auditors, prior period support payments. After the Company responded to the initial request for information about support payments prior to 2017, USAC’s auditors asked the Company to comment on some preliminary audit findings, and the Company responded with a letter dated December 21, 2018. On February 24, 2020, the Company received a draft audit report from USAC that is described more fully in Note 21 “Commitments and Contingencies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The draft audit report alleges violations of the FCC’s rules for establishing rural rates and urban rates, the provisioning and billing of ineligible services and products, and violations of the FCC’s competitive bidding rules. The Company has engaged in dialogue with USAC’s auditors and looks forward to resolving all of USAC’s concerns. At this time, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of this audit. Similar audits of other companies have resulted in the FCC recouping certain previously awarded support funds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.
The Company also received a Letter of Inquiry on March 18, 2018, from the FCC Enforcement Bureau requesting historical information regarding the Company’s participation in the FCC’s Rural Health Care program. In response, the Company produced voluminous records throughout 2018 and into the first quarter of 2019. On November 5, 2019, the Company received another letter from the FCC Enforcement Bureau requesting additional information, to which it responded on December 6, 2019. The Company is currently responding to an additional letter from the Enforcement Bureau dated January 22, 2020. As of the date of this Form 10-K, the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau has not asserted any claims or alleged any rule violations. The Company continues to work constructively with the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to provide it the information it is seeking. At this time, we cannot predict the outcome of the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s inquiry or the impact it may have on our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Uncertainty and unpredictability in the Rural Health Care program negatively impacted the Company in 2017 through 2020 as revenue realized through the program declined in each of those years, and may have a negative impact on future revenue and demand for our services from rural healthcare providers.
Also, we may be subject to further audits, inquiries or investigations of the Company’s compliance with FCC rules governing the Rural Healthcare Program for prior periods. We are unable to predict the duration, scope, or outcome of any audit, inquiry or investigation into these matters, and any remedial action taken against the Company could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations, and liquidity.
Access and High Cost Support Revenue
Revenues from access charges will continue to decline and revenue from various regulated support mechanisms is subject to rule changes at the FCC and the RCA.
We received approximately 1.4% and 1.7% of our operating revenues for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, from access charges. The amount of revenue that we receive from these access charges is calculated in accordance with requirements set by the FCC and the RCA. Any change in these requirements may reduce our revenues and earnings. Access charges have consistently decreased in past years and we expect this trend to continue due to declines in legacy regulated products, changes in regulations, and migration to VoIP services which do not generate access revenue for us.
Some access charges have already been reduced to zero. Further elimination of access revenue would have a material adverse effect on our revenue and earnings.
Regulations
New governmental regulations may impose obligations on us to upgrade our existing technology or adopt new technology that may require additional capital and we may not be able to comply in a timely or economic manner with these new regulations.
We cannot predict the extent to which the government will impose new unfunded mandates on us. Such mandates have included those related to emergency location, emergency “E-911” calling, law enforcement assistance and local number portability. Each of these government mandates has imposed new requirements for capital that we could not have predicted with any precision. Along with these obligations, the FCC has imposed deadlines for compliance with these mandates. We may not be able to provide services that comply with these or other regulatory mandates. Further, we cannot predict whether other mandates from the FCC or other regulatory authorities will occur in the future or the demands they may place on our capital expenditures. For more information on our regulatory environment and the risks it presents to us, see “Item 1, Business - Regulation”.
There is a risk that FCC Orders will materially impact our revenue.
The 2011 Transformation Order established a new framework for high cost universal service support that replaced existing support mechanisms that provide support to carriers, like us, that serve high-cost areas with new CAF support mechanisms and service obligations that are focused on broadband Internet access services. We recognized $19.7 million in federal high cost universal service payment revenues to support our wireline operations in high cost areas in each of the twelve months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. The FCC released its CAF Phase II order, specific to the Company, on October 31, 2016. As a result, we currently expect our high cost support revenue to be relatively unchanged for the next five years. Substantial changes are expected to be enacted by the FCC regarding our high cost support funding after 2025, and there is uncertainty regarding the future level of revenue as well as the future obligations tied to this funding. If we fail to meet our obligations under the CAF Phase II order, our revenue, results of operations and liquidity may be impacted.
Alaska’s Economic Conditions
The successful operation and growth of our businesses depends on economic conditions in Alaska which may deteriorate due to reductions in crude oil prices and other factors.
The vast majority of our customers and operations are located in Alaska. Due to our geographical concentration, the successful operation and growth of our businesses depends on economic conditions in Alaska. The Alaska economy, in turn, depends upon many factors, including:
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the strength of the natural resources industries, particularly oil production and prices of crude oil;
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the strength of the Alaska tourism industry;
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the level of government and military spending; and
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the continued growth of service industries.
The population of Alaska, which has declined marginally every year since 2016, is approximately 730,000 with Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau serving as the primary population and economic centers in the state.
It is estimated that one-third of Alaska’s economy is dependent on federal spending, one-third on natural resources, in particular the production of crude oil, and the remaining one-third on other activities such as tourism, mining, timber, seafood, international air cargo and miscellaneous support services.
Alaska’s economy is dependent on investment by oil companies, and state tax revenues correlate with the price of oil as the State assesses a tax based on the value of the oil that transits the pipeline from the North Slope. British Petroleum, one of the world’s major oil companies, is exiting Alaska and its Alaska operations and holdings are being taken over by a much smaller local company. The impact of this change on the State’s economy is uncertain.
Overall economic impacts from a sustained lower price of crude oil and population declines, if maintained over time, will impact our growth in the future.
Public Health Issues
A major public health issue, such as an epidemic or pandemic, and including the current COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our operations and financial performance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global, national and state of Alaska economies. It has caused disruption to certain of our business customers’ operations and could result in changes to our wholesale customers’ operations and reductions in consumer spending, all of which could negatively impact our revenue, collection of accounts receivable and cash flows. Disruptions to the financial markets could limit our access to debt and other sources of capital. Our operations, including the provision of services and products to our customers and maintenance of the supporting infrastructure, rely on products, resources and our employees inside and outside the state of Alaska. A major public health issue, including the COVID-19 pandemic, could disrupt the timely receipt of those products and resources, the productivity of our employees, our provision of products and services to our customers and negatively affect our operations, financial results and liquidity. Adverse effects on our operations to date include delayed implementation of dark fiber agreements with suppliers and customers, delays in the provision of other services to certain customers, disruption in the operations of certain of our business and wholesale customers, negative impacts on the Alaskan economy and the delayed provision of services from certain vendors.
North Slope Fiber Optic Network
Our project to provide broadband solutions to the North Slope and western Alaska may not prove to be as successful as currently anticipated.
In 2015, we acquired a fiber optic network on the North Slope of Alaska and initiated a project to operate and expand the network. This network enables commercially-available, high-speed connectivity where only high-cost microwave and satellite communications were previously available. The success of this project is dependent, in part, on the utilization of the network by other telecom carriers.
Our co-owner in this project has invested in a submarine network with landing stations in several northwest Alaska communities, including a terrestrial route from the North Slope to Fairbanks. The network became operational in late 2017 and we began delivering service to customers in 2018 through capacity we acquired on the system. Delays in acquiring customers and providing those customers with service could negatively impact our investment in the system and our financial results.
Erosion of Access Lines
We provide services to many customers over access lines, and if we continue to lose access lines, our revenues, earnings and cash flow from operating activities may decrease.
Our business generates revenue by delivering voice and data services over access lines. We have experienced net access line loss over the past few years and the rate of loss has been accelerating. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 our business access line erosion was 2,948 and 1,140, respectively, while over the same period our consumer access line erosion was 2,251 and 2,955 respectively. We expect to continue to experience net access line loss in our markets, affecting our revenues, earnings and cash flow from operating activities.
Network / E-911 Failure
A failure of our network could cause significant delays or interruptions of service, which could cause us to lose customers.
To be successful, we will need to continue to provide our customers reliable service over our network. Our network and infrastructure are constantly at risk of physical damage as a result of human, natural or other factors. These factors may include pandemics, acts of terrorism, sabotage, natural disasters, power surges or outages, software defects, contractor or vendor failures, labor disputes and other disruptions that may be beyond our control. Should we experience a prolonged system failure or a significant service interruption, our customers may choose a different provider and our reputation may be damaged. Further, we may not have adequate insurance coverage, which would result in unexpected expense. Notably, similar to other undersea fiber optic cable operators, we do not carry insurance that would cover the cost of repair of our undersea cables and, thus, we would bear the full cost of any necessary repairs.
A failure of enhanced emergency calling services associated with our network may harm our business.
We provide E-911 service to our customers where such service is available. We also contract from time to time with municipalities to upgrade their dispatch capabilities such that those facilities become capable of receiving our transmission of a 911 caller’s location information and telephone number. If the emergency call center is unable to process such information, the caller is provided only basic 911 services. In these instances, the emergency caller may be required to verbally advise the operator of such caller’s location at the time of the call. Any inability of the dispatchers to automatically recognize the caller’s location or telephone number, whether or not it occurs as a result of our network operations, may cause us to incur liability or cause our reputation or financial results to suffer.
Employees
We depend on the availability of personnel with the requisite level of technical expertise in the telecommunications industry.
Our ability to develop and maintain our networks and execute our business plan is dependent on the availability of technical engineering, IT, service delivery and monitoring, product development, sales, management, finance and other key personnel within our geographic location.
Labor costs and the terms of our principal collective bargaining agreement can negatively impact our ability to remain competitive, which could cause our financial performance to suffer.
Labor costs are a significant component of our expenses and, as of December 31, 2020, approximately 54% of our workforce is represented by the IBEW. The collective bargaining agreement between the Company and the IBEW, which is effective through December 31, 2023, governs the terms and conditions of employment for all IBEW represented employees working for the Company and has significant economic impacts on the Company as it relates to wage and benefit costs and work rules. We believe our labor costs are higher than our competitors who employ a non-unionized workforce because we are required by the CBA to contribute to the IBEW Health and Welfare Trust and the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund (“AEPF”) for benefit programs, including defined benefit pension plans and health benefit plans, that are not reflective of the competitive marketplace. Furthermore, work rules under the existing agreement limit our ability to efficiently manage our workforce and make the incremental cost of work performed outside normal work hours high. In addition, we may make strategic and operational decisions that require the consent of the IBEW. While we believe our relationship with the IBEW is constructive, and although the IBEW generally has provided necessary consents, the IBEW may not provide consent when we need it, it may require additional wages, benefits or other consideration be paid in return for its consent, or it may call for a work stoppage against the Company. The Company considered relations with the IBEW to be stable in 2020; however, any deterioration in the relationship with the IBEW would have a negative impact on the Company’s operations.
Vendors
We rely on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services for our network infrastructure and customer support services. If these suppliers or vendors experience problems or favor our competitors, we could fail to obtain the equipment and services we require to operate our business successfully.
Suppliers that use proprietary technology, effectively lock us into one or a few suppliers for key network components. Other suppliers require us to maintain exclusive relationships under a contract. As a result, we have become reliant upon a limited number of suppliers of network equipment. In the event it becomes necessary to seek alternative suppliers and vendors, we may be unable to obtain satisfactory replacement suppliers or vendors on economically attractive terms on a timely basis, or at all, which could increase costs and may cause disruption in service.
If suppliers of our equipment or providers of services on which we rely experience financial difficulties, service or billing interruptions, patent litigation or other problems, subscriber growth and our operating results could be negatively impacted.
Networks, Monitoring Centers and Data Hosting Facilities
Maintaining the Company’s networks, around the clock monitoring centers and data hosting facilities requires significant capital expenditures, and our inability or failure to maintain and upgrade our networks and data centers would have a material impact on our market share and ability to generate revenue.
The Company currently operates an extensive network that includes monitoring and hosting facilities. To provide contractual levels of service to our customers and remain competitive, we must expend significant amounts of capital. In many cases, we must rely on outside vendors whose performance and costs may not be sufficiently within our control.
Information Technology Systems
A failure of back-office IT systems could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
The efficient operation of the Company’s business depends on back-office IT systems. The Company relies on back-office IT systems, including certain systems provided by third party vendors, to effectively manage customer billing, business data, communications, supply chain, order entry and fulfillment and other business processes. In October 2020, the Company completed a three-year project for the development, installation and activation of certain critical new systems associated with sales and opportunities, customer service delivery, operational support, customer billing and collection, analytics, and other applications. Some of the previously utilized systems were no longer supported under maintenance agreements from the underlying vendor. Deficiencies in the design or implementation of the systems, including the timely resolution of any operational issues, could disrupt the Company’s business and result in a failure to collect accounts receivable, transaction errors, processing inefficiencies, and the loss of sales and customers, causing the Company’s reputation and results of operations to suffer. In addition, IT systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond the Company’s control, including fire, natural disasters, systems failures, security breaches and viruses. Any such damage or interruption could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and financial condition.
Undersea Fiber Optic Cable Systems
If failures occur in our undersea fiber optic cable systems, our ability to restore our service may be delayed or otherwise limited.
Our undersea fiber optic cable systems carry a large portion of our traffic to and from the contiguous lower 48 states. If a failure occurs and we are not able to secure alternative facilities, some of the communications services we offer to our customers could be interrupted, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Managed IT Services
Our expansion into managed IT services may not be achieved as planned which could impact our ability to grow revenue.
We are expanding our business to provide more managed IT services along with our traditional telecom services. The delivery of professional services is not without risk, and it is possible that we may fail to execute on one or more managed IT service projects exposing the company to legal claims and reputational risk.
Physical Infrastructure
We may not be able to invest sufficiently in our underlying physical infrastructure, including buildings, fleet and related equipment.
Much of the Company’s underlying physical infrastructure, including buildings, fleet vehicles and related systems and equipment, has been in service for an extended period of time. We may not be able to adequately fund the maintenance and replacement of this infrastructure which could negatively impact the Company’s operations, including the provision of service to its customers.
Intellectual Property
Third parties may claim that the Company is infringing upon their intellectual property, and the Company could suffer significant litigation or licensing expenses or be prevented from selling products.
Although the Company does not believe that any of its products or services infringe upon the valid intellectual property rights of third parties, the Company may be unaware of intellectual property rights of others that may cover some of its technology, products or services. Any litigation growing out of third-party patents or other intellectual property claims could be costly and time consuming and could divert the Company’s management and key personnel from its business operations. The complexity of the technology involved and the uncertainty of intellectual property litigation increase these risks. Resolution of claims of intellectual property infringement might also require the Company to enter into costly license agreements. Likewise, the Company may not be able to obtain license agreements on acceptable terms. The Company also may be subject to significant damages or injunctions against development and sale of certain of its products. Further, the Company often relies on licenses of third-party intellectual property for its businesses. The Company cannot ensure these licenses will be available in the future on favorable terms or at all. If any of these risks materialize, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Security Breaches
A failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, or those of third parties, could disrupt our businesses, result in the disclosure of confidential information or damage our reputation. Any such failure also could have a significant adverse effect on our cash flows, financial condition, and results of operations.
Our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our computer systems and networks. Although we take protective measures and endeavor to modify them as circumstances warrant, the security of our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to breaches, unauthorized access, misuse, computer viruses or other malicious code, and other events that could have a security impact. Additionally, breaches of security may occur through intentional or unintentional acts by those having authorized or unauthorized access to confidential or other information. If one or more such events occur, this potentially could jeopardize our information or our customers’ information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems and networks. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures arising from operational and security risks, and we may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are either not insured against or not fully covered through any insurance maintained by us.
With regard to the physical infrastructure that supports our operations, we have taken measures to implement backup systems and other safeguards, but our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by any disruption to that infrastructure. Such disruptions could involve electrical, communications, internet, transportation or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business. The costs associated with such disruptions, including any loss of business, could have a significant adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Any of these operational and security risks could lead to significant and negative consequences, including reputational harm as well as loss of customers and business opportunities, which in turn could have a significant adverse effect on our businesses, financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Cyber-attacks may damage our networks or breach customer and other proprietary data, leading to service disruption, harm to reputation, loss of customers, and litigation over privacy violations.
All industries that rely on technology in customer interactions are increasingly at risk for cyber-attacks. A cyber-attack could be levied against our network, causing disruption of operations and service, requiring implementation of greater network security measures, and resulting in lost revenue due to lost service. A cyber-attack could also be targeted to infiltrate customer proprietary and other data, breaching customer privacy, resulting in misuse of customer information and other data, and possibly leading to litigation over privacy breaches and causing harm to the Company’s reputation. In the event of a cyber-attack, Company insiders could utilize their knowledge of such an attack in trading the Company’s publicly traded shares. We rely on a variety of procedures to guard against cyber-attacks, and to take appropriate actions in the event of a cyber-attack, but the frequency of threats from these attacks is growing globally and the risk to us is also growing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our employees are temporarily working remotely, which may pose additional data security risks.
Pension Plans
We may incur substantial and unexpected liabilities arising out of our pension plans.
Our pension plans could result in substantial liabilities on our balance sheet. These plans and activities have and will generate substantial cash requirements for us, and these requirements may increase beyond our expectations in future years based on changing market conditions. The difference between projected plan obligations and assets, or the funded status of the plans, is a significant factor in determining the net periodic benefit costs of our pension plans and the ongoing funding requirements of those plans. Changes in interest rates, mortality rates, health care costs, early retirement rates, returns on investment and the market value of plan assets can affect the funded status of our defined benefit pension and cause volatility in the net periodic benefit cost and future funding requirements of the plans. In the future, we may be required to make additional contributions to our defined benefit plan. Plan liabilities may impair our liquidity, have an unfavorable impact on our ability to obtain financing and place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to some of our competitors who do not have such liabilities and cash requirements.
Our most significant pension plan is the AEPF in which we participate on behalf of substantially all of our employees in Alaska. The AEPF is a multi-employer pension plan to which we make fixed, per employee, contributions through our collective bargaining agreement with the IBEW, which covers our IBEW represented workforce, and a special agreement, which covers most of our non-represented workforce. Because our contribution requirements are fixed, we cannot easily adjust our annual plan contributions to address our own financial circumstances. Currently, this plan is not fully funded, which means we may be subject to increased contribution obligations, penalties, and ultimately, we could incur a contingent withdrawal liability should we choose to withdraw from the AEPF for economic reasons. Our contingent withdrawal liability is an amount based on our pro-rata share among AEPF participants of the value of the funding shortfall. This contingent liability becomes due and payable by us if we terminate our participation in the AEPF. Moreover, if another participant in the AEPF goes bankrupt, we would become liable for a pro-rata share of the bankrupt participant’s vested, but unpaid, liability for accrued benefits for that participant’s employees. This could result in a substantial unexpected contribution requirement and making such a contribution could have a material adverse effect on our cash position and other financial results. These sources of potential liability are difficult to predict.
Given the complexity of pension-related matters we may not, in every instance, be in full compliance with applicable requirements.
Key Members of Senior Management
We depend on key members of our senior management team; our performance could be adversely impacted if they depart and we cannot find suitable replacements.
Our success depends largely on the skills, experience and performance of key members of our senior management team as well as our ability to attract and retain other highly qualified management and technical personnel. There is competition for qualified personnel in our industry and we may not be able to attract and retain the personnel necessary for the development of our business. Our remote location also presents a challenge to us in attracting new talent. If we lose one or more of our key employees, our ability to successfully implement our business plan could be materially adversely affected. We do not maintain any “key person” insurance on any of our personnel.
Future Acquisitions
Future acquisitions could result in operating and financial difficulties.
Our future growth may depend, in part, on acquisitions. To the extent that we grow through acquisitions, we will face the operational and financial risks that commonly accompany that strategy. We would also face operational risks, such as failing to assimilate the operations and personnel of the acquired businesses, disrupting their ongoing businesses, increasing the complexity of our business, and impairing management resources and management’s relationships with employees and customers as a result of changes in their ownership and management. Further, the evaluation and negotiation of potential acquisitions, as well as the integration of an acquired business, may divert management time and other resources. Some acquisitions may not be successful, and their performance may result in the impairment of their carrying value.
Volatility Risks Related to our Common Stock
Continued volatility in the price of our common stock could negatively affect us and our stockholders.
The trading price of our common stock has been impacted by factors, many of which are beyond our control, including actual or anticipated variations in quarterly financial results, changes in financial expectations by securities analysts and announcements by our current and future competitors of significant acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments. In addition, our financial results in the future may be below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. Broad market and industry factors could also negatively affect the price of our common stock regardless of our operating performance. Future volatility in our stock price could materially adversely affect the trading market and prices for our common stock as well as our ability to issue additional securities or to secure additional financing.
Location Specific Risk
We operate in remote areas subject to geologic instability and other natural events which could negatively impact our operations.
Many of our operations are located in areas that are prone to earthquakes, fires, and other natural disturbances. Many of these areas have limited emergency response assets and may be difficult to reach in an emergency situation. Should an event occur, it could be weeks or longer before remediation efforts could be implemented, if they could be implemented at all. The scope and risk of such an event occurring is difficult to gauge.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our internal control over financial reporting may not be effective, which could cause our financial reporting to be unreliable.
Because of its inherent limitations, and irrespective of the existence of material weaknesses, our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that such controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with policies and procedures may deteriorate. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may also impact our financial reporting systems and internal control over financial reporting. In addition, deficiencies in the modification of existing internal controls or the implementation of new internal controls required as a result of the implementation of new IT systems as described above could impact our financial reporting systems and internal control over financial reporting. Any of these circumstances could cause our financial reporting to be unreliable.

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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
Our principal properties do not lend themselves to simple description by character and location. The components of our gross investment in property, plant and equipment consisted of the following as of December 31, 2020 and 2019:
(in thousands)
Land, buildings and support assets
$ 214,326
$ 204,834
Central office switching and transmission
402,182
396,565
Outside plant, cable and wire facilities
784,866
765,640
Other
32,391
25,423
Construction work in progress
19,178
32,442
$ 1,452,943
$ 1,424,904
Our property, plant and equipment are used in our communications networks.
Land, buildings and support assets consist of land, land improvements, central office and certain administrative office buildings as well as general purpose computers, office equipment, vehicles and other general support equipment. Central office switching and transmission and wireless switching and transmission consist primarily of switches, routers and transmission electronics for our regulated and wireless entities, respectively. Outside plant and cable and wire facilities include primarily conduit and cable. We own substantially all of our telecommunications equipment required for our business. However, we lease certain facilities and equipment under various financing and operating lease arrangements when the leasing arrangements are more favorable to us than purchasing the assets.
We own and lease office facilities and related equipment for our headquarters, central office buildings and operations in locations throughout Alaska and Oregon. Our principal executive and administrative offices are located in Anchorage, Alaska. We believe we have appropriate easements, rights-of-way and other arrangements for the accommodation of our pole lines, underground conduits, aerial, underground and undersea cables, and wires. However, these properties do not lend themselves to simple description by character and location.
In addition to land and structures, our property consists of equipment necessary for the provision of communication services. This includes central and IP office equipment, customer premises equipment and connections, towers, pole lines, remote terminals, aerial, underground and undersea cable and fiber optic and copper wire facilities, vehicles, furniture and fixtures, computers and other equipment. We also own certain other communications equipment held as inventory for sale or lease. Substantially all of our communications equipment and other network equipment are located in buildings that we own or on land within our local service coverage area.
We have insurance to cover certain losses incurred in the ordinary course of business, including excess general liability, property coverage including business interruption, director and officers and excess employment practices liability, excess auto, crime, fiduciary, workers’ compensation and non-owned aircraft insurance in amounts and with deductibles that are typical of similar operators in our industry and with reputable insurance providers. Central office equipment, buildings, furniture and fixtures and certain operating and other equipment are insured under a blanket property insurance program. This program provides substantial limits of coverage against “all risks” of loss including fire, windstorm, flood, earthquake and other perils not specifically excluded by the terms of the policies. As is typical in the communications industry, we are self-insured for damage or loss to certain of our transmission facilities, including our buried, undersea and above ground transmission lines. We self-insure with respect to employee health insurance, primary general liability, primary auto liability and primary employment practices liability subject to stop-loss insurance with insurance carriers that caps our liability at specified limits. We believe our insurance coverage is adequate; however, if we become subject to substantial uninsured liabilities due to damage or loss to such facilities, our financial position, results of operations or liquidity may be adversely affected.
Substantially all of our assets (including those of our subsidiaries) have been pledged as collateral for our 2019 Senior Credit Facility.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are involved in various claims, legal actions, personnel matters and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Refer to “Item 1, Business-Regulation” for a description of various legal proceedings involving regulatory matters.
We have recorded a liability for estimated litigation costs of $2.0 million as of December 31, 2020, against certain current claims and legal actions. We believe that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, comprehensive income or cash flows. It is the Company’s policy to expense costs associated with loss contingencies, including any related legal fees, as they are incurred.

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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
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ‘ALSK’. The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported by Nasdaq.
2020 Quarters
High
Low
2019 Quarters
High
Low
4th
$ 3.92
$ 1.85
4th
$ 1.90
$ 1.60
3rd
$ 2.86
$ 1.88
3rd
$ 1.98
$ 1.67
2nd
$ 2.80
$ 1.65
2nd
$ 1.97
$ 1.61
1st
$ 2.26
$ 1.55
1st
$ 2.10
$ 1.44
As of March 1, 2021, there were 54.1 million shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and approximately 308 record holders of our common stock. Because brokers and other institutions hold many of our shares of existing common stock on behalf of stockholders, we are unable to estimate the total number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Dividends
In the fourth quarter of 2012, our Board of Directors suspended the quarterly dividend paid to shareholders. The dividend suspension was required in connection with the amendment to our 2010 Senior Credit Facility as part of the sale of our wireless business in the first quarter of 2015. Under the terms of our 2019 Senior Credit Facility (the “Facility”), payment of cash dividends on our common stock is subject to certain conditions, after giving effect to such dividend. The conditions and terms are described in the Facility and summarized as follows:
(i)
The Company is not in default of the terms of the Facility;
(ii)
The Company is in compliance with the financial covenants of the Facility;
(iii)
The payment of such dividend is made solely from specified available funds, including (a) excess cash flow not required for mandatory repayment of principal, (b) specified distributions and (c) special projects; and
(iv)
The Company’s liquidity balance is not less than $10 million.
Additional factors that may affect our future dividend policy include:
●
our reliance on dividends, interest and other payments, advances and transfer of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service and pay dividends, if any;
●
reductions in the availability of cash due to changes in our operating earnings, working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs;
●
the discretion of our Board of Directors; and
●
restrictions under Delaware law.
Notably, nothing requires us to declare or pay dividends. Our stockholders have no contractual or other legal right to dividends.
On March 9, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a one-time cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock to be paid on June 18, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 20, 2020. The dividend totaled $4,852.
While payment of cash dividends is permitted under the terms of the Facility, the reinstitution of dividend payments also depends on future competitive market and economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.
See “Item 1A, Risk Factors-Volatility Risks Related to our Common Stock”.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The information set forth in this Report under “Item 12, Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters-Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans” is incorporated herein by reference.
Common Stock Performance Graph
As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide this information.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The Company does not currently have an authorized share repurchase program. Common stock repurchased under prior authorizations was accounted for as treasury stock.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide the information called for by this Item.

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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 discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
We are a fiber broadband and managed IT services provider, offering technology and service enabled customer solutions to business and wholesale customers in and out of Alaska. We also provide telecommunication services to consumers in the most populated communities throughout the state. Our facilities-based communications network extends through the economically significant portions of Alaska and connects to the contiguous states via our two diverse undersea fiber optic cable systems. Our network is among the most expansive in Alaska and forms the foundation of service to our customers. We operate in a largely two-player terrestrial wireline market and we estimate our market share to be less than 25% statewide. However, our revenue performance relative to our largest competitor suggests that we are gaining market share in the markets we are serving. A third-party market study indicates that we have a market share of close to 40% for “near net” opportunities, that is, within one mile of our fiber network.
The sections that follow provide information about important aspects of our operations and investments and include discussions of our results of operations, financial condition and sources and uses of cash. In addition, we have highlighted key trends and uncertainties to the extent practical. The content and organization of the financial and non-financial data presented in these sections are consistent with information we use in evaluating our own performance and allocating our resources.
We operate in a geographically diverse state with unique characteristics. We monitor the state of the economy in general. In doing so, we compare Alaska economic activity with broader economic conditions. In general, we believe that the Alaska telecommunications market, as well as general economic activity in Alaska, is affected by certain economic factors, which include:
●
investment activity in the oil and gas markets and the price of crude oil
●
tourism levels
●
governmental spending and activity of military personnel
●
the price and price trends of bandwidth
●
the growth in demand for bandwidth
●
decline in demand for voice and other legacy services
●
local customer preferences
●
unemployment levels
●
housing activity and development patterns
We have observed variances in the factors affecting the Alaska economy as compared to the U.S. as a whole. Some factors, particularly the price of oil and gas, have a greater direct impact on the Alaska economy compared to other macro-economic trends impacting the U.S. economy as a whole. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the Alaska economy beginning in the first quarter of 2020. Certain of these impacts are discussed below. The duration of the pandemic and ultimate impact on the Alaska and U.S. economy is uncertain.
Historically, the Alaska economy has benefited from a stable employment base, including a growing tourism industry. The Alaskan economy entered a moderate recession beginning in the second half of 2015 and certain areas of the economy showed improvement beginning in 2018. Employment levels declined approximately 1.3% and 0.3% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and increased approximately 0.6% in 2019. The increase in 2019 was driven by growth in leisure and hospitality, oil and gas, health care, professional and business services and construction, offset by declines in state government and retail. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the leisure and hospitality, retail and transportation segments of the Alaskan economy and the economy at large. Beginning in March 2020, unemployment claims increased significantly, primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. By December 2020, the state’s unemployment rate had improved to 6.0% which is more in line with historic levels. Anchorage’s unemployment rate was 10.6% in October, with job losses realized in almost all employment categories in 2020. Due to the volatility in reported employment levels, unemployment claims and the number of jobs during the pandemic, the calculated unemployment rates may be less precise than those reported in prior years. On balance, 2020 unemployment and job losses were at historically high levels through much of the year but showed some improvement during the third and fourth quarters. The population of Alaska declined marginally every year in 2017 through 2020. Economic indicators have been impacted by the substantial decline in the price of crude oil in 2015 through 2017. In 2018, oil prices recovered to their highest levels since 2014, but declined in 2019 and dropped dramatically in early 2020, in part as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In late 2020 they recovered to 2019 levels. State revenue relies on tax revenue from the production of crude oil and investment in resource development projects by exploration companies in Alaska. The state’s budget deficit was reduced from $3.7 billion in 2015 to $0.4 billion in 2019 primarily through spending reductions and utilization of interest earned on the state’s permanent fund. Due in part to recent significant declines in oil prices and other impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s 2020 budget deficit was $1.1 billion and the 2021 budget deficit, as enacted, is $1.0 billion. The prospect of continued lower tax revenue continues to impact the overall economy and may affect our future financial performance.
Management estimates the Alaska wireline telecom and IT services market to be approximately $1.65 billion. This market is comprised of the IT services market of approximately $840 million, the broadband market of approximately $700 million and the voice market of approximately $110 million. Management estimates that over 85% of this market opportunity is from the business and wholesale customer segment.
Our objective is to continue generating sector leading revenue growth in the broadband market through investments in sales, service, marketing and product development while expanding our broadband network capabilities through higher efficiencies, automation, new technology and expanded service areas. We intend to continue our growth in the managed IT services market by providing these services to our broadband customers and leveraging our position as the premier Cloud Enabler for business in the state of Alaska. We also seek to continuously improve our customer service and utilize the Net Promoter Score (“NPS”) framework to track the feedback of our customers for virtually all customer interactions. We believe that higher NPS scores will allow us to increasingly provide a differentiated service experience for our customers, which will support our growth. We are focused on expanding our margins, and we utilize the LEAN framework to eliminate waste and simplify how we do business.
Business Plan Core Principles
Our results of operations, financial position and sources and uses of cash in the current and future periods reflect our focus on being the most successful broadband solutions company in Alaska by delivering the best customer experience in the markets we choose to serve. To do this we will continue to:
●
Create a Workplace That Develops Our People and Celebrates Success. We believe an engaged workforce is critical to our success. We are deeply committed to the development of our people and creating opportunities for them.
●
Deliver an Exceptional Customer Experience. We strive to deliver service as promised to our customers and make it right if our customers are not satisfied with what we delivered. We track virtually every customer interaction and we utilize the Net Promoter Score framework for assessing the satisfaction of our customers.
●
Augment and Expand our Network Capabilities and Services Focusing on Efficient Delivery and Management. We are moving toward higher efficiencies and improved customer experience through automation, new technology and expanded geographic service areas. Our network architecture is a simpler mix of our fiber backbone, supported with fixed wireless (“FiWi”), WiFi and satellite.
●
Relentlessly Simplify and Transform How We Do Business to Drive Operational Excellence. We believe we must reduce waste, which is defined as any activity that does not add value to its intended customer. Doing so improves the experience we deliver to our customers. We make investments in technology and process improvement, utilize the LEAN framework, and expect these efforts to meaningfully impact our financial performance in the long-term.
●
Accelerate the Growth of Broadband and Managed IT Solutions that Create Market Differentiation. We are building on strength in designing and providing new products and solutions to our customers.
We believe we can create value for our shareholders by:
●
Driving revenue growth through increasing business broadband and managed IT service revenues,
●
Improving our operating and cash flow performance through margin management, and
●
Careful allocation of capital, including selectively investing success-based capital into opportunities that generate appropriate returns on investments.
Revenue Sources by Customer Group
We operate our business under a single reportable segment. We manage our revenues based on the sale of services and products to the three customer categories listed below. Revenue in the following management’s discussion and analysis is presented by customer and product category, combining revenue accounted for under Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) and other guidance.
●
Business and Wholesale (broadband, voice and managed IT services)
●
Consumer (broadband and voice services)
●
Regulatory (access services, high cost support and carrier termination)
Business and Wholesale
Providing services to Business and Wholesale customers generates the majority of our revenues and is expected to continue being the primary driver of our growth in the near term. Our business customers include large enterprises in the oil and gas industry, health care, education, Alaska Native Corporations, financial industries, Federal, state and local governments, and small and medium business. We were the first Alaska-based carrier to be Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Certified and are currently the only Alaska-based carrier certified for multipoint-to-multipoint services. This certification means that we meet international standards for the quality of our broadband services. We also offer IP based voice including the largest SIP implementations in the State of Alaska and are the first Microsoft Express Route provider in the state. We believe our network differentiates us in the markets we serve, because we prefer not to compete on price; but on the quality, reliability, customer service and the overall value of our solutions. Accordingly, we have significant capacity to “sell into” the network we operate and do so at what we believe are attractive incremental gross margins.
Business services have experienced significant growth and we believe the incremental economics of business services are attractive. Given the demand from our customers for more bandwidth and services, we expect revenue growth from these customers to continue for the foreseeable future. We provide services such as voice and broadband, managed IT services including remote network monitoring and support, managed IT security and IT professional services, and long-distance services primarily over our own terrestrial network. We are continuing our efforts to position the Company as the premier Cloud Enabler for business in the state of Alaska.
Our wholesale customers are primarily in-state, national and international telecommunications carriers who rely on us to provide connectivity for broadband and other needs to access their customers over our Alaskan network. The wholesale market is characterized by larger transactions that can create variability in our operating performance. We have a dedicated sales team that sells into this customer segment, and we expect wholesale revenue to grow for the foreseeable future.
Consumer
We also provide broadband and voice services to residential customers, including residential homes and multi-dwelling units. Given that our primary competitor has extensive quad play capabilities (video, voice, wireless and broadband) we target how and where we offer products and services to this customer group in order to maintain our returns. Our focus is to leverage the capabilities of our existing network and sell customers our highest available bandwidth. Our primary competitive advantage is that we offer reliable internet service without data caps, while our competitor, with certain exceptions, charges customers or throttles customers’ speeds for exceeding given levels of data usage. We also continue to expand product and service offerings to this customer group and have implemented fiber fed WiFi and certain fixed wireless technology solutions for providing broadband, all of which provided a basis for continued growth in this market in 2020.
Regulatory
Regulatory revenue is generated from three primary sources: (i) access charges, which include interstate and intrastate switched access and special access charges, and cellular access; (ii) surcharges billed to the end user (pass-through and non-pass-through); and (iii) federal and state support. We provide voice and broadband origination and termination services to interstate and intrastate carriers. While we are compensated for these services, these revenue streams have been in decline and we expect them to continue to decline, although at a relatively predictable rate. In addition, as regulators have reformed traditional access charges, they have simultaneously implemented new end user surcharges that contribute to our revenue.
The following table summarizes our primary sources of regulatory revenue and their contribution to total revenue in 2020 (dollars in thousands).
Source
Description
2020 Revenue
As a % of
Regulatory
Revenue
As a % of
Total
Revenue
Access Charges
Interstate and intrastate switched access are services based primarily on originating and terminating access minutes from other carriers. Special access is primarily access to dedicated circuits sold to wholesale customers, substantially all of which is generated from interstate services. Cellular access is the transport of local network services between switches for cellular companies based on individually negotiated contracts. Access charges have declined an average of approximately 11% annually over the past three years.
$ 3,418
8.3 %
1.4 %
Total Access Charges
$ 3,418
8.3 %
1.4 %
Surcharges
Pass-Through
We assess our customers for surcharges, typically on a monthly basis, as required by various state and federal regulatory agencies, and remit these surcharges to these agencies. These pass-through surcharges include Federal Universal Access and State Universal Access. These surcharges vary from year to year, and are primarily recognized as revenue, and the subsequent remittance to the state or federal agency as a cost of sale and service. The rates imposed by the regulators continue to increase. However, because the charges are only assessed on a portion of our services, and that portion continues to decline, we expect these revenue streams to decline over time as the revenue base declines.
$ 5,275
12.8 %
2.2 %
Other
Other non-pass-through surcharges are collected from our customers as authorized by the regulatory body. The amount charged is based on the type of line: single line business, multi-line business, consumer or lifeline. The rates are established based on federal or state orders. These charges are recorded as revenue and do not have a direct associated cost. Rather, they represent a revenue recovery mechanism established by the FCC or the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.
$ 9,882
24.0 %
4.1 %
Total Surcharges
$ 15,157
36.8 %
6.3 %
Federal and State Support
CAF II
In 2016, the FCC released the CAF Phase II order specific to Alaska Communications which transitioned from CAF Phase I frozen support to CAF Phase II. Funding under the new program generally requires the Company to provide broadband service to unserved locations throughout the designated coverage area by the end of a specified build-out period, and meet interim milestone build-out obligations. CAF II revenues are expected to be relatively stable through 2026.
$ 19,694
47.9 %
8.2 %
ENS
We are required by the State of Alaska to provide and maintain local services for retail and carrier-to-carrier telecommunication throughout certain local exchange facilities. Funds received from the State under the Essential Network Support ("ENS") program is to be used to fund capital expenditures or pay ongoing operation and maintenance expenses.
$ 2,873
7.0 %
1.2 %
Total Federal and State Support
$ 22,567
54.9 %
9.4 %
Total Regulatory Revenue
$ 41,142
17.1 %
Total Revenue
$ 240,569
Executive Summary
As described below, the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted year-over-year operating income by approximately $1.7 million in 2020. While the pandemic did not have a material effect on the Company’s revenue, free or upgraded service with a total value of approximately $2.2 million was provided to certain customers in 2020.
Operating Revenues
Total revenue of $240.9 million increased $8.9 million, or 3.8%, in 2020 compared with 2019. Business and wholesale revenue increased $12.3 million reflecting a $9.0 million increase in total broadband revenue and a $4.8 million increase in equipment sales and installations. Rural health care revenue was $12.8 million and $14.2 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Consumer revenue of $36.6 million was down marginally year over year. As anticipated, regulatory access revenue declined $3.0 million due to the restructuring and contribution capping (and thereby reducing) of AUSF support. The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material effect on revenue in 2020.
Operating Income
Operating income of $11.9 million in 2020 declined $10.0 million from $21.9 million in 2019. The growth in revenue was offset by higher operating expenses, including $9.6 million of merger transaction and termination costs and $1.5 million of incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These items are discussed in more detail below.
Operating Metrics
Business broadband average monthly revenue per user (“ARPU”) of $364.82 in 2020 increased from $342.05 in 2019. Business broadband connections of 14,652 at December 31, 2020, decreased from connections of 14,880 at December 31, 2019. We count connections on a unitary basis regardless of the size of the bandwidth. For example, a customer that has a 10MB connection is counted as one connection as is a customer with a 1MB connection. While we present metrics related to Business connections, we note that we manage Business and wholesale in terms of new Monthly Recurring Charges (“MRC”) sold. Achievement of sales performance in terms of MRC is the primary operating metric used by management to measure market performance. For competitive reasons, we do not disclose our sales or performance in MRC.
Consumer broadband connections of 30,598 at December 31, 2020 declined from 31,480 at December 31, 2019. Consumer broadband ARPU of $71.40 in 2020 increased from $68.89 in 2019.
The table below provides certain key operating metrics as of, or for, the periods indicated.
Voice
At December 31:
Business access lines
65,294
68,242
Consumer access lines
20,578
22,829
For the year ended December 31:
ARPU business
$ 27.95
$ 26.38
ARPU consumer
$ 34.65
$ 34.44
Broadband
At December 31:
Business connections
14,652
14,880
Consumer connections
30,598
31,480
For the year ended December 31:
ARPU business
$ 364.82
$ 342.05
ARPU consumer
$ 71.40
$ 68.89
Liquidity
We generated cash from operating activities of $57.1 million in 2020 compared with $58.8 million in 2019. Results in 2020 reflect cash payments of $7.2 for transaction and termination costs and cash outflows of approximately $1.0 million for incremental cash expenditures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020 and 2019, we invested a total of $50.2 million and $45.5 million, respectively, in capital, including capitalized interest and net of the settlement of items accrued in previous periods. Success based capital spending was $30.3 million in 2020 compared with $30.1 million in 2019.
In 2020, we made a one-time cash dividend payment totaling $4.8 million.
Net debt (defined as total debt excluding debt issuance costs, less cash and cash equivalents) at December 31, 2020 was $151.9 million compared with $153.8 million at December 31, 2019. The decrease reflects lower outstanding debt largely offset by lower cash due in part to the payment of transaction and termination costs totaling $7.2 million.
Other Initiatives
We have expanded our network to 181,000 terrestrial and submarine fiber miles. In 2020, we secured additional spectrum through the FCC auction for licenses in the shared Citizens Broadband Radio Service. We also continue to expand our MDU offering utilizing fiber or fixed wireless backhaul, with more than 7,000 MDUs now served.
On December 31, 2020, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by a newly formed entity owned by ATN International, Inc. and Freedom 3 Capital, LLC. The Company currently anticipates that the merger will close in the second half of 2021.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following tables summarize our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. Revenue information reflects the organization of revenue streams described in “Revenue Sources by Customer Group” above, combining revenue accounted for under ASC 606 and other guidance. All amounts are discussed at the consolidated level after the elimination of affiliate revenue and expense.
(in thousands)
Business and Wholesale Revenue
Business broadband
$ 64,238
$ 61,785
Business voice and other
28,936
28,660
Managed IT services
5,052
6,494
Equipment sales and installations
9,508
4,698
Wholesale broadband
49,878
43,310
Wholesale voice and other
5,256
5,617
Business and Wholesale Revenue
162,868
150,564
Growth in Business and Wholesale Revenue
8.2 %
Consumer revenue
Broadband
27,180
26,589
Voice and other
9,379
10,431
Consumer Revenue
36,559
37,020
Total Business, Wholesale, and Consumer Revenue
199,427
187,584
Growth in Business, Wholesale and Consumer Revenue
6.3 %
Growth in Broadband Revenue
7.3 %
Regulatory Revenue
Access
21,448
24,416
High cost support
19,694
19,694
Total Regulatory Revenue
41,142
44,110
Total Revenue
$ 240,569
$ 231,694
Growth in Total Revenue
3.8 %
Operating expenses:
Cost of services and sale (excluding depreciation and amortization)
112,443
105,615
Selling, general and administrative
65,773
66,718
Transaction and termination costs
9,550
-
Depreciation and amortization
40,667
37,276
Loss on disposal of assets, net
Total operating expenses
228,673
209,765
Operating income
11,896
21,929
Other income and (expense):
Interest expense
(11,000 )
(12,059 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt
-
(2,830 )
Interest income
Other
Total other income and (expense)
(10,387 )
(14,329 )
Income before income tax expense
1,509
7,600
Income tax expense
(2,665 )
(2,765 )
Net (loss) income
(1,156 )
4,835
Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
(83 )
(93 )
Net (loss) income attributable to Alaska Communications
$ (1,073 )
$ 4,928
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Operating Revenue
The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a material effect on the Company’s revenue in 2020.
Business and Wholesale
Business and wholesale revenue of $162.9 million increased $12.3 million, or 8.2%, in 2020 from $150.6 million in 2019. Wholesale broadband revenue increased $6.6 million, business broadband revenue increased $2.5 million and equipment sales and installations increased $4.8 million. These increases were partially offset by a $1.4 million decline in managed IT services and $0.4 million decline in voice and other. The increase in business broadband revenue was due primarily to an increase in ARPU to $364.82 in 2020 from $342.05 in 2019, partially offset by a decline in connections from 14,880 to 14,652 and lower rural health care revenue. Rural health care revenue of $12.8 million in 2020 decreased from $14.2 million in 2019 and represented 5% and 6% of consolidated revenue in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The increase in business broadband revenue in 2020 also reflects $0.4 million resulting from the resolution of a funding issue with one of the Company’s rural health care customers.
While connections and ARPU serve as data points to support the analysis of period-over-period changes in revenue, they are not critical indicators utilized by the Company to manage the Business and Wholesale customer group.
Business and wholesale revenue included the amortization of deferred revenue in 2020 and 2019 as follows:
GCI capacity revenue
$ 2,077
$ 2,071
Other deferred capacity revenue
4,593
2,584
Total deferred capacity revenue
6,670
4,655
Other deferred revenue
4,023
3,785
Total
$ 10,693
$ 8,440
Consumer
Consumer revenue of $36.6 million in 2020 declined $0.4 million, or 1.2%, from $37.0 million in 2019. Broadband revenue increased $0.6 million due to an increase in ARPU to $71.40 from $68.89, partially offset by a decline in connections to 30,598 from 31,480. Voice and other revenue decreased $1.0 million due primarily to 2,251 fewer connections, partially offset by an increase in ARPU to $34.65 from $34.44.
Regulatory
Regulatory revenue of $41.1 million decreased $3.0 million year over year due to lower access revenue resulting from reduced funding from the Alaska Universal Service Fund.
Operating Expenses
Cost of Services and Sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) of $112.4 million increased $6.8 million, or 6.5%, in 2020 from $105.6 million in 2019 due primarily to a $3.6 million increase in network support costs, a $2.0 million increase in labor costs and a $0.8 million increase in circuit installation costs. These increases are inclusive of approximately $0.8 million in costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, consisting primarily of incremental costs incurred due to delays in the activation of satellite service and disconnection of higher-cost third-party circuits as a result of travel restrictions, and incremental costs incurred from customer utilization of long-distance services. These increases were partially offset by lower utility costs and other expenses.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $65.8 million decreased $0.9 million, or 1.4%, in 2020 from $66.7 million in 2019 due primarily to lower labor costs and a decrease in the provision for doubtful accounts receivable. Labor costs in 2019 included $1.7 million of termination benefit expense for the Company’s former CEO. These decreases are net of approximately $0.7 million in incremental costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including the write-off of prepaid services to a vendor that ceased operations, an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts receivable and installation costs for free services.
Transaction and Termination Costs
The Company incurred costs totaling $9.6 million in 2020 associated with the Merger Agreement and the terminated agreement with Macquarie Capital and GCM Grosvenor. These costs consist of attorney, financial advisory and other fees of $2.8 million and a termination fee of $6.8 million paid upon termination of the merger agreement with Macquarie Capital and GCM Grosvenor as required under that agreement.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense of $40.7 million increased $3.4 million, or 9.1%, in 2020 from $37.3 million in 2019. This increase was due primarily to the completion of various capital projects.
Other Income and Expense
Interest expense of $11.0 million in 2020 declined from $12.1 million in 2019 due to a lower average interest rate and reduced borrowing levels. The loss on extinguishment of debt of $2.8 million in 2019 was associated with the settlement of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility in the first quarter.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense was $2.7 million on income before income of $1.5 million in 2020. Income tax expense included the effect of non-deductible transaction and termination costs totaling $7.6 million, which consisted primarily of the $6.8 million termination fee paid upon termination of the merger agreement with Macquarie Capital and GCM Grosvenor. Excluding the effect of non-deductible transaction and termination costs, the Company’s effective tax rate was 30.5% in 2020.
Income tax expense and the effective tax rate in 2019 was $2.8 million and 36.4%, respectively, and includes the impact of permanent book to tax differences of $0.6 million and 8.1%, respectively.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
The net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest of our joint venture with Quintillion Holdings, LLC was $83 thousand and $93 thousand in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Alaska Communications
The net loss attributable to Alaska Communications of $1.1 million in 2020 compares with net income of $4.9 million in 2019. The year over year results reflect the revenue and expense items discussed above.
FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash Flows
We satisfied our cash requirements for operations, capital expenditures, dividend payments and scheduled debt service under our 2019 Senior Credit Facility in 2020 through internally generated funds and cash on hand. At December 31, 2020, we had $19.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $20.0 million available under our revolving credit facility.
A summary of significant sources and use of funds for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is as follows:
(in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 57,119
$ 58,815
Capital expenditures
$ (48,243 )
$ (44,764 )
Capitalized interest
$ (1,364 )
$ (1,379 )
Change in unsettled capital expenditures
$ (579 )
$
Repayments of long-term debt
$ (8,908 )
$ (174,040 )
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt
$ -
$ 180,000
Debt issuance costs
$ -
$ (2,683 )
Cash paid for debt extinguishment
$ -
$ (1,252 )
Payment of cash dividend on common stock
$ (4,836 )
$ -
Purchases of treasury stock
$ -
$ (1,812 )
Interest paid (1)
$ 11,137
$ 12,228
Income taxes refunded, net (1)
$ 4,307
$ 5,041
(1)
Included in net cash provided by operating activities.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Cash provided by operating activities of $57.1 million in 2020 reflects net income excluding non-cash items (defined as cash provided by operating activities excluding changes in operating assets and liabilities) of $41.3 million and receipts associated with deferred revenue arrangements of $23.8 million, partially offset by upfront payments of $8.3 million associated with the lease of dark fiber to be utilized in the provision of services under deferred revenue arrangements. Cash provided by operating activities in 2020 reflects transaction and termination cost payments of $7.2 million, consisting primarily of the $6.8 million payment associated with termination of the agreement with Macquarie Capital and GCM Grosvenor, and cash outflows of approximately $1.0 million for incremental cash expenditures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cash provided by operating activities of $58.8 million in 2019 reflects net income excluding non-cash items of $48.8 million, $9.1 million of cash receipts associated with deferred revenue lease arrangements and a $1.0 million net decrease in accounts receivable and other assets and liabilities. Cash receipts from the rural health care program were $14.5 million in 2019.
Interest payments, net of cash interest income and including capitalized interest, were $11.1 million and $12.2 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Through interest rate swaps entered into on June 28, 2019, interest on approximately 75% of the term loan components of our 2019 Senior Credit Facility at December 31, 2020 was substantially fixed at an annual rate of 6.1735% for the period January 2021 through June 2022.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Cash used by investing activities of $50.2 million in 2020 consisted of expenditures on capital (capital expenditures including capitalized interest and net of the change in unsettled capital expenditures) totaling $50.2 million. Of $48.2 million incurred in 2020, $30.3 million was success based.
Cash used by investing activities of $45.5 million in 2019 consisted of expenditures on capital totaling $45.5 million. Of $44.8 million incurred in 2019, $30.1 million was success based versus maintenance.
Our networks require the timely maintenance of plant and infrastructure. Future capital requirements may change due to impacts of regulatory decisions that affect our ability to recover our investments, changes in technology, the effects of competition, changes in our business strategy, the age and condition of certain portions of our current infrastructure, and our decision to pursue specific acquisition and investment opportunities. We intend to fund future capital expenditures with cash on hand, net cash generated from operations and selected borrowings.
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Cash used by financing activities of $14.0 million in 2020 included principal payments on the 2019 Senior Credit Facility totaling $8.9 million, including a prepayment of $2.1 million required due to the generation of excess cash flow in 2019. On March 9, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a one-time cash dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock payable on June 18, 2020 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 20, 2020. The dividend payment totaled $4.8 million.
Cash used by financing activities was $29 thousand in 2019. Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $180.0 million consisted of the Term A Facility of the 2019 Senior Credit Facility. Repayments of long-term debt of $174.0 million consisted primarily of settlement of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility and the principal payments totaling $2.3 million on the 2019 Senior Credit Facility. Debt discount, issuance and extinguishment payments totaling $3.9 million were associated with the refinancing transaction. Payments of $1.8 million were made for the repurchase of the Company’s common shares.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Consistent with our history, our current and long-term liquidity could be impacted by a number of challenges, including, but not limited to: (i) potential future reductions in our revenues resulting from governmental and public policy changes, including regulatory actions affecting inter-carrier compensation, changes in revenue from Universal Service Funds, and the timing of Rural Health Care Program funding receipts; (ii) servicing our debt and funding principal payments; (iii) the funding of other obligations, including our pension plans and lease commitments; (iv) competitive pressures in the markets we serve; (v) the capital intensive nature of our industry; (vi) our ability to respond to and fund the rapid technological changes inherent to our industry, including new products; (vii) funding of costs associated with the Merger Agreement; and (viii) our ability to obtain adequate financing to support our business and pursue growth opportunities.
We are responding to these challenges by (i) driving top line growth in broadband service revenues with a focus on business and wholesale customers; (ii) managing our cost structure to deliver consistent Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash flow performance; and (iii) prioritizing our capital spending.
As described above in the discussion of cash flows, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an approximately $1.0 million reduction in cash provided by operating activities in 2020. However, it has not impacted the Company’s access to capital and financial resources, debt service and compliance with its debt covenants and overall liquidity through December 31, 2020. Management does not currently expect that it will have a material impact during the next twelve months. The Company has identified and implemented actions to proactively mitigate actual and potential impacts. This is a rapidly evolving situation and we cannot predict the extent or duration of the pandemic, its effects on the global, national or local economy and its longer-term effects on the demand for our products and services, operations, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, which could be material. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and make the appropriate adjustments to our operations as required and appropriate.
In February 2021, the Company and the Municipality of Anchorage entered into an agreement under which utility relief will be made available to certain of the Company’s residential and small business customers located in Anchorage. The program is supported by a grant from the Municipality of Anchorage. The funds will be applied by the Company to the accounts of customers who have experienced financial hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic and meet other requirements, subject to certain terms and conditions. Maximum funding under the grant is $0.7 million and is currently expected to be received during 2021.
Certain of our capital projects are prefunded, in part, by the customer to whom the associated services will be provided. We also enter into lease agreements, including for dark fiber, requiring significant long-term funding commitments. The leased fiber is typically subleased to our customers who, in some cases, prefund their payments to the Company.
As of December 31, 2020, total long-term obligations outstanding, including current portion, were $171.6 million, consisting of $168.9 million in term loans under our 2019 Senior Credit Facility and $2.7 million in capital lease and other obligations. As of December 31, 2020, we had $19.6 million in cash and access to the full amount of the $20.0 million revolving credit facility under our 2019 Senior Credit Facility. Certain deferred revenue lease arrangements for which cash was received in advance require future investments in capital to support the service to be provided.
We believe that we will have sufficient cash on hand, cash provided by operations and available borrowing capacity under our 2019 Senior Credit Facility to service our debt, and fund our operations, capital expenditures and other obligations over the next twelve months. However, our ability to make such an assessment is dependent upon our future financial performance, which is subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business, regulatory, competitive entry and many other factors, many of which are beyond our control and could impact us during the time period of this assessment. See Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information regarding these risks.
2019 Senior Credit Facility
The 2019 Senior Credit Facility consists of an Initial Term A Facility in the amount of $180 million, a Revolving Facility in an amount not to exceed $20 million and a Delayed-Draw Term A Facility in an amount not to exceed $25 million. The 2019 Senior Credit Facility also provides for Incremental Term A Loans up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of $60 million and trailing twelve month EBITDA, as defined. On January 15, 2019, proceeds from the Initial Term A Facility of $180 million were used to repay in full the outstanding principal balance of the Term A-1 Facility and Term A-2 Facility under the Company’s 2017 Senior Credit Facility totaling $171.8 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest, pay fees and expenses associated with the Agreement and for general corporate purposes.
Principal payments on the Initial Term A Facility, Delayed-Draw A Facility and any amounts outstanding under the Incremental Term A Loans are due commencing in the third quarter of 2019 as follows: the third quarter of 2019 through the second quarter of 2020 - $1,125 per quarter; the third quarter of 2020 through the second quarter of 2022 - $2,250 per quarter; the third quarter of 2022 through the second quarter of 2023 - $3,375 per quarter; and the third quarter of 2023 through the fourth quarter of 2023 - $4,500 per quarter. The remaining outstanding principal balance, including any amounts outstanding under the Revolving Facility, is due on January 15, 2024. This schedule is subject to mandatory prepayments under certain conditions, including the Company’s generation of excess cash flow as defined in the Agreement. As a result of the generation of excess cash flow in 2019, a prepayment of principal in the amount or $2,104 was required in the first quarter of 2020.
The obligations under the 2019 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the personal property and real property of the Company, subject to certain agreed exceptions. The 2019 Senior Credit Facility provides for events of default customary for credit facilities of this type, including non-payment defaults on other debt, misrepresentation, breach of covenants, representations and warranties, change of control, and insolvency and bankruptcy. The 2019 Senior Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants limiting the incurrence of debt, the payment of dividends and repurchase of the Company’s common stock.
Financial covenants as defined in the Agreement are summarized below.
Maximum Net Total Leverage Ratio: The ratio of our (a) total debt, less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents held in pledged accounts, less cash drawn under the Delayed-Draw Term A Facility held for specified capital projects to (b) Consolidated EBITDA (as defined more specifically below) for the consecutive four fiscal quarters ending as of the calculation date. The maximum allowable net total leverage ratio is provided in the table below.
Period
Ratio
January 15, 2019 through March 30, 2020
3.50 to 1.00
March 31, 2020 through September 29, 2020
3.35 to 1.00
September 30, 2020 through June 29, 2021
3.25 to 1.00
June 30, 2021 through June 29, 2022
3.00 to 1.00
June 30, 2022 and thereafter
2.50 to 1.00
The actual net total leverage ratio was 2.51 at December 31, 2020.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio: The ratio of our (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the applicable period (as defined below) to (b) (i) the sum of, for the same period, consolidated interest expense, capital expenditures (with certain exceptions), long term indebtedness (with certain exceptions) required to be paid, capital lease obligations required to be paid, restricted payments, cash payments for income taxes, (ii) minus, for the same period, specified capital expenditures. The remaining applicable periods for purposes of calculating this ratio are the four consecutive fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2020 and thereafter. The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio is 1.10 to 1.00. The actual fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.37 at December 31, 2020.
Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2019 Senior Credit Facility, is not a GAAP measure and is defined as consolidated net income attributable to Alaska Communications, plus (to the extent deducted in calculating net income) the sum of:
●
cash and non-cash interest expense;
●
depreciation and amortization expense;
●
income taxes;
●
other non-cash charges and expenses, including equity-based compensation expense;
●
the write down or write off on any assets, other than accounts receivable;
●
subject to limitation, fees, premiums, penalty payments and out-of-pocket transaction costs incurred in connection with the 2019 refinancing transactions;
●
non-cash cost of goods sold associated with certain projects;
●
subject to limitation, unusual, non-recurring losses, charges and expenses;
●
one-time costs associated with permitted acquisitions;
●
cost savings from synergies in connection with permitted acquisitions or dispositions;
●
certain costs required to be expensed in connection permitted acquisitions; and
●
investment losses of unconsolidated entities.
minus (to the extent included in calculating net income) the sum of:
●
unusual, non-recurring gains on permitted sales or dispositions of assets and casualty events;
●
cash and non-cash interest income;
●
other unusual nonrecurring items;
●
the write up of any asset;
●
patronage refunds or similar distributions from any lender;
●
deferred revenue associated with certain projects; and
●
investment income of unconsolidated entities.
The Initial Term A Facility, Revolving Facility, Delayed-Draw Facility and Incremental Term A Loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.5% per annum.
The weighted interest rate on the 2019 Senior Credit Facility was 5.81% at December 31, 2020.
Under the terms of the 2019 Senior Credit Facility, the Company is required to hedge interest payments on a minimum of $90.0 million, or 50%, of the outstanding principal. On June 28, 2019, the Company entered into interest rate swaps in the total notional amount of $135.0 million, effectively fixing the interest payments on 75% of the outstanding principle. Reference rate reform and the eventual transition from LIBOR-based interest rate expense is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s interest expense, interest payments or liquidity.
All terms are defined in the Agreement. See the “First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2019, by and among Alaska Communications, as the borrower, the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as guarantors, ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto,” filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 22, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference.
Other Matters
In 2019, the Company repurchased 1 million shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $1.81 per share with an aggregate value of $1,812. The repurchases were under a program authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors effective March 13, 2017 through December 31, 2019 and were accounted for as treasury stock.
The Federal Communications Act requires the FCC to establish a universal service program to ensure that affordable, quality telecommunications services are available to all Americans. We have received universal support in several forms, including support from the Federal Rural Health Care universal service support mechanism, which supports telemedicine and rural health care communications through increased connectivity. This program has been in existence since 1999 and is an important contributor in supporting health care programs in high cost areas of the United States, including Alaska. Following funding caps for the rural health care program in 2017, the FCC announced an increase in the annual program funding cap to $571 million from the prior cap of $400 million. This FCC order also provided for an annual adjustment to the funding cap to reflect inflation and the establishment of a process to carry forward unused funds from past funding years for use in future funding years. As of December 31, 2020, USAC had issued funding commitment letters for all of the Company’s rural health care customer applications for Funding Year 2018 (July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019). For Funding Year 2019 (July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020), the FCC had approved the Company’s cost-based rural rates and USAC had issued funding commitment letters. In January 2021, the FCC approved the company’s cost-based rural rates for Funding Year 2020 (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021) and USAC began issuing funding commitment letters in March 2021. We recorded revenue from the rural health care program of $12.8 million in 2020 and $14.2 million in 2019. Our accounts receivable balance for rural health care customers, net of amounts reserved, was $7.8 million at December 31, 2020 and $6.8 million at December 31, 2019. As a result of USAC’s more rigorous review in recent years of requests for support from the Telecommunications Program, the Company has received inquiries and requests for information from USAC about compliance with service eligibility and rate requirements, both with respect to both current and past funding requests. Due to the geographic remoteness and the limited availability of staff, telemedicine will be a key facilitator of more timely and advanced medical attention across the state of Alaska and the demand for technology-enabled health care delivery will remain strong. We currently believe that the rural health care market will continue to grow in future years and will continue to be an important part of our business. However, as a business matter, we intend to continue factoring any uncertainty into our future planning.
OUTLOOK
Operating Results, Liquidity and Capital Resources
We expect to see continued strength in business and wholesale revenues, led by broadband revenue and managed IT services, focused on the larger enterprise and carrier customer segments. These revenue increases are driven by continued demand for broadband as businesses migrate their IT infrastructure to the cloud, deployment of small cell networks, growth in managed IT services, investments by Federal agencies in long haul broadband infrastructure and continued progress in serving new school districts. Continued state of Alaska budget constraints and impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic may negatively impact these growth opportunities. We expect to see solid performance from our carrier and federal customers as well as opportunities in markets enabled by the North Slope networks. Driven by our network investments in fiber fed wifi, CBRS spectrum and fixed wireless, we expect to strengthen our competitive position serving small business and residential customers, including through the expansion of MDUs. Growth in these areas is expected to be somewhat offset by continued pressure in the rural health care program.
Additionally, we are focused on continued implementation of the CAF II program and expect to meet our obligations for 2021.
We also expect continued attention by our Board of Directors on the evaluation of value creating strategic opportunities that address our scale and geographic concentration issues.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no special purpose or limited purpose entities that provide off-balance sheet financing, liquidity or market or credit risk support and we do not engage in leasing, hedging, research and development services or other relationships that expose us to any material liabilities that are not reflected on our balance sheet or for which we are contractually obligated.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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.
We have identified certain policies and estimates as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our past or present results of operations. We consider these policies and estimates critical because they had a material impact, or they have the potential to have a material impact, on our financial statements and they require significant judgments, assumptions or estimates.
Revenue Recognition
At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services promised to the customer and identifies the performance obligation for each promise to transfer a good or service that is distinct.
The Company’s broadband and voice revenue includes service, installation and equipment charges. The primary performance obligation in contracts for broadband and voice services is the provision of that service over time to the customer and revenue is recognized as that service is provided to the customer. The Company also charges certain of its broadband and voice service customers for equipment installed on the customers’ premise, physical possession, control and ownership of which pass to the customer upon installation. Revenue is recognized for these obligations at the point of installation.
Managed IT revenues include the sale, configuration and installation of equipment and the subsequent provision of ongoing IT services. Revenue is recognized on the sale, configuration and installation of equipment when physical possession, control and ownership of the equipment has been passed to the customer.
The Company enters into contracts with its rural health care customers and is subject to various regulatory requirements associated with the provision of these services. Revenues associated with rural health care customers are recognized based on the amount the Company expects to collect as evidenced in its contract with the customer and the Company’s and customer’s agreement with the FCC as the relevant service is provided.
Deferred revenue capacity liabilities are established for indefeasible rights of use on the Company’s network provided to third parties and are typically accounted for as operating leases. A deferred revenue liability is established at fair value and amortized to revenue on a straight-line basis over the contractual life of the relevant contract.
Substantially all recurring non-usage sensitive service revenues are billed one month in advance and are deferred until the service has been provided to the customer. Non-recurring and usage sensitive revenues are billed in arrears and are recognized when the relevant service is provided. Equipment sales and installation are billed following customer acceptance. Payment terms for the contracts discussed above are typically thirty days.
Income Taxes
We use the asset-liability method of accounting for income taxes and account for income tax uncertainties using the “more-likely-than-not” threshold. Under the asset-liability method, deferred taxes reflect the temporary differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management determines it is more-likely-than-not that the value of our deferred tax assets will not be fully realized.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 “Description of Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of recently adopted accounting pronouncements and recently issued pronouncements not yet adopted.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
As a smaller reporting company, the Company is not required to provide the information called for by this Item.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Consolidated financial statements of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries are submitted as a separate section of this Form 10-K. See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements”, which appears on page hereof.

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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
a.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Based on the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer believe that, as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
b.
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 such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting refers to a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
●
pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets;
●
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and members of our board of directors; and
●
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria in the Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO 2013 Framework”).
Based on our evaluation using the Internal Control - Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, and its report is included in “Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
c.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
During the fourth quarter of 2020, we completed a series of changes to our information technology environment, including the implementation of certain critical new systems associated with sales and opportunities, customer service delivery, operational support, customer billing and collection, analytics, and other applications. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we have evaluated any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2020, including changes resulting from the implementation of new systems as described above, and have concluded that there were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information
Not applicable.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
The information required by this item is incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K on or before 120 days following December 31, 2020.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information on compensation of our directors and executive officers is incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K on or before 120 days following December 31, 2020.

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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 with respect to security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K on or before 120 days following December 31, 2020.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
Equity Compensation Plans
Number of
securities to be
issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights (1)
(b)
Number of securities
remaining available for future
issuance under equity
compensation plans (2)
(excluding securities reflected
in column (a))
(c)
Approved by security holders:
Restricted stock
2,227,269
$ -
2,404,020
(1)
Outstanding rights consist of stock units without any exercise price.
(2)
As of December 31, 2020, the number of shares remaining for issuance under equity compensation plans included 1,757,345 shares under the 2011 Plan and 646,675 under the Company’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information with respect to such contractual relationships is incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K on or before 120 days following December 31, 2020.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information on our audit committee’s pre-approval policy for audit services and information on our principal accounting fees and services is incorporated into this Form 10-K by reference to our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or will be filed as an amendment to this Form 10-K on or before 120 days following December 31, 2020.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibit and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
(1)
Financial Statements: Our consolidated financial statements are submitted as a separate section of this Form 10-K. See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” which appears on page.
(2)
Financial Statement Schedules: Financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required, or because the required information is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)
Exhibits: The exhibits to this report are listed below. Other than exhibits that are filed herewith, all exhibits listed below are exhibits of the Registrant and are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits thereto.
Exhibit No. Exhibit
Where Located
2.1** Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub., dated December 31, 2020
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed January 4, 2021)
2.2** Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 21, 2020, by and among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub.
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed December 22, 2020)
2.3** Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December 10, 2020, by and among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub.
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed December 10, 2020)
2.4** Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., Juneau Parent Co, Inc. and Juneau Merger Co, Inc., dated November 3, 2020.
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed November 3, 2020)
2.5** Stock Purchase Agreement, dated April 1, 2008, by and among the Registrant, Crest Communications Corporation, and the selling stockholders specified therein.
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed April 7, 2008)
2.6 Asset Purchase and Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2012, among Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., General Communication, Inc., ACS Wireless, Inc., GCI Wireless Holdings, LLC and The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC, with Form of First Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC among The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC, GCI Wireless Holdings, LLC, ACS Wireless, Inc., Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and General Communication, Inc. attached thereto as Exhibit A (portions of this Exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed August 6, 2012)
2.7 Amendment, dated as October 1, 2012, to Asset Purchase and Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2012, among Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc., General Communication, Inc., ACS Wireless, Inc., GCI Wireless Holdings, LLC and The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC.
Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K (filed October 2, 2012)
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant.
Exhibit 3.1 to Form S-1/A File No. 333-888753 (filed November 17,1999)
3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc, as Amended and Restated as of November 2, 2020.
Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K (filed November 3, 2020)
3.3 Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K (filed January 9, 2018)
4.1 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate.
Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-1/A File No. 333-888753 (filed November 17, 1999)
4.2 Section 382 Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of January 8, 2018 by and between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K (filed January 9, 2018)
4.3 Amendment No. 1, dated as of October 15, 2019, to the Tax Benefits Preservation Plan, dated as of January 8, 2018, by and between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent.
Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K (filed October 18, 2019)
4.4 Certificate of Elimination of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K (filed October 18, 2019)
4.5 Description of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.’s Securities
Filed herewith
10.1* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.8 to Form S-1/A File No. 333-888753 (filed November 17, 1999)
10.2* Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between the Registrant and certain participants in the Registrant’s 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q (filed August 3, 2007)
10.3* Form of Performance Share Unit Agreement.
Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K/A (filed June 12, 2008)
10.4* Form of Performance Cash Award Agreement
Exhibit 99.1 to Form 8-K (filed September 13, 2018)
10.5* Form of Time-Based Cash Award Agreement
Exhibit 99.2 to Form 8-K (filed September 13, 2018)
10.6* Amendment to Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
Exhibit 10.5 to Form 10-K (filed March 9, 2010)
10.7* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.
Exhibit 10.9 to Form S-1/A File No. 333-888753 (filed November 17, 1999)
10.8* Amendment to Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.
Exhibit 10.7 to Form 10-K (filed March 9, 2010)
10.9* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2020 Non-Employee Director Compensation and Reimbursement Policy
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q (filed August 10, 2020)
10.10* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Exhibit 10.10 to Form S-1/A File No. 333-888753 (filed November 17, 1999)
10.11* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Appendix A to Schedule 14A (filed April 25, 2012)
10.12* Amendment to Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K (filed March 9, 2010)
10.13 Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q (filed August 10, 2020)
10.14 Collective Bargaining Agreement, effective January 1, 2018, between Alaska Communications Systems Holdings, Inc. and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union No. 1547.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed March 5, 2018)
10.15 Confirmations of Convertible Bond Hedges by and between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and certain affiliates of the Initial Purchasers.
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K (filed April 14, 2008)
10.16 Confirmations of Warrant Transactions by and between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and certain affiliates of the Initial Purchasers.
Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K (filed April 14, 2008)
10.17 First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 15, 2019, by and among Alaska Communications, as the borrower, the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as guarantors, ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (portions redacted as marked pursuant to a confidential treatment request made with the Securities and Exchange Commission).
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed January 22, 2019)
10.18 First Amendment to First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2020.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed February 10, 2021)
10.19 Purchase Agreement, dated May 4, 2011, by and among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers name therein.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed May 11, 2011)
10.20* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan Restricted Stock Unit Agreement.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed July 8, 2011)
10.21* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2011 Incentive Award Plan Performance Stock Unit Agreement.
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K (filed July 8, 2011)
10.22* Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Post-Employment Stock Incentive Award Vesting Policy.
Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K (filed July 8, 2011)
10.23* Employment Arrangement between the Company and Leonard Steinberg.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed January 26, 2012)
10.24* The Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Award Plan.
Exhibit 99.1 to Form S-8 File No. 333-226124 (Filed July 11, 2018)
10.25 Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated December 4, 2014, by and between ACS, GCI, ACS Wireless, GCI Wireless, and AWN.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed March 5, 2015)
10.26* Employment Agreement between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Anand Vadapalli entered into on August 5, 2015.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed August 7, 2015)
10.27* Employment Arrangement between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Laurie Butcher.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed November 29, 2018)
10.28* The Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. 2016 Officer Severance Policy.
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K (filed November 29, 2018)
10.29* 2015 Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation and Reimbursement Policy.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q (filed May 9, 2016)
10.30 Credit Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2017, by and among Alaska Communications, as the borrower, the Company and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, as guarantors, ING Capital LLC, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed March 15, 2017)
10.31* Compensation Letter from Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. to Leonard Steinberg dated March 26, 2019.
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q (filed May 10, 2019)
10.32* Compensation Letter from Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. to Laurie Butcher dated March 26, 2019.
Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q (filed May 10, 2019)
10.33* Employment Agreement between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Diedre L. Williams dated September 20, 2019.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed September 26, 2019)
10.34* Employment Agreement between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and William H. Bishop effective October 14, 2019.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed October 15, 2019)
10.35* Compensation Letter between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and William H. Bishop dated July 5, 2019.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed July 2, 2019)
10.36* Separation Agreement and Officer’s Release between Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and Anand Vadapalli dated June 12, 2019.
Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q (filed August 8, 2019)
10.37* First Amendment to Employment Agreement between Anand Vadapalli and Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. entered into on August 5, 2015.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed October 6, 2017)
10.38* Second Amendment to Employment Agreement between Anand Vadapalli and Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. entered into on August 5, 2015.
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed May 14, 2018)
10.39* Form of Director’s and Officer’s Indemnification Agreement
Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K (filed December 22, 2017)
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
Filed herewith
23.1 Consent of Moss Adams LLP relating to the audited financial statements of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
Filed herewith
31.1 Certification of William Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Filed herewith
31.2 Certification of Laurie Butcher, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Filed herewith
32.1 Certification of William Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Furnished herewith
32.2 Certification of Laurie Butcher, Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Furnished herewith
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document (the Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
Filed herewith
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
Filed herewith
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
Filed herewith
Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the Inline XBRL document and included in Exhibit 101)
Filed herewith
* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
** Confidential treatment of certain portions of this exhibit has been granted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Omitted portions have been filed separately with the Commission.