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U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
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Form 10-K
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Annual Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997
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Commission File Number 1-6589
Wisconsin Bell, Inc.
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A Wisconsin Corporation
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722 North Broadway
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
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I.R.S. Employer Identification
Number 39-0716650
Telephone number (800) 257-0902
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:
Thirty-Six Year 7 1/4% Debentures, due February 1, 2007
These debt securities are registered on the New York Stock Exchange.
We are a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameritech Corporation and meet the
conditions set forth in general instructions J(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K,
therefore we are filing this form with reduced disclosure format according
to general instruction J(2).
We have no securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act. We are
subject to certain filing requirements under Sections 13 and 15 (d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and have filed all the required reports
during the preceding 12 months.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item Page
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1. Business......................................... 1
2. Properties....................................... 6
3. Legal Proceedings................................ 7
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders (Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2)).
PART II
5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters (Inapplicable).
6. Selected Financial and Operating Data............ 8
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
Operations (Abbreviated pursuant to
General Instruction J(2))....................... 9
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data...... 16
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.......... 28
PART III
10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2)).
11. Executive Compensation (Omitted pursuant to
General Instruction J(2)).
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management (Omitted pursuant to General
Instruction J(2)).
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
(Omitted pursuant to General Instruction J(2)).
PART IV
14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules,
and Reports on Form 8-K......................... 29
Glossary......................................... 31
i
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When reading this annual report, you should be familiar with the
terminology unique to our business. We have defined a number of
terms in the Glossary on page 31.
PART I
Item 1. Business.
The Company
Wisconsin Bell, Inc., incorporated under the laws of the State
of Wisconsin, has its principal office at 722 North Broadway,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin (telephone number 1-800-257-0902). We are one
of the five wholly owned landline communications subsidiaries of
Ameritech Corporation, incorporated in 1983 under the laws of the
State of Delaware. Ameritech is the parent company of numerous
other communications businesses with principal executive offices at
30 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (telephone number 1-
800-257-0902). Wisconsin Bell is managed by its sole shareowner
rather than a board of directors as permitted by Wisconsin law.
Ameritech is a global diversified, full-service communications
company which provides local and long distance telephone and
cellular service, paging, security, cable TV, Internet access and
directory publishing services. Ameritech's 1997 revenues were
$16.0 billion. The products and services of the Ameritech
companies are marketed under the "Ameritech" brand identity, in all
50 states and 40 countries. Wisconsin Bell is regionally
identified and does business as "Ameritech Wisconsin," selling
principally landline local telephone service as described below.
The Telecommunications Act
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the 1996 Act), signed into
law in February 1996, was intended to stimulate competition in the
market for communications services and to remove barriers that
prevented the telecommunications, cable TV and broadcast industries
from entering each others' businesses. The 1996 Act addresses
various aspects of competition within, and regulation of, the
communications industry. It provides that all conduct or
activities subject to the consent decree issued at the time of AT&T
Corp.'s (AT&T) court-approved divestiture in 1984 of certain assets
to seven regional holding companies (RHCs), including Ameritech,
are now subject to the provisions of the 1996 Act. Among other
things, the law defines the conditions under which Ameritech and
the other RHCs may offer long distance service and provides certain
mechanisms intended to facilitate local exchange competition. The
1996 Act gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
authority to determine when incumbent local exchange carriers have
satisfied the statutory criteria required to provide long distance
service in an in-region state, including meeting a 14-point
competitive checklist. For the RHCs, immediate relief under the
law included permission to provide in and out-of-region cellular
long distance, out-of-region landline long distance and certain
incidental long distance services.
Since passage of the 1996 Act, there have been numerous
challenges to the rules, discussed further in the section on
Regulatory Environment - Federal. It is difficult to determine how
the rules will evolve and exactly what effect competition fostered
by the 1996 Act will have on our business over time.
Wisconsin Bell's Full Service Communications Business
Wisconsin Bell is responsible within its service areas for
providing telephone and other communications services, subject to
regulation by the FCC and the state regulatory commission, the
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). We furnish a wide
variety of advanced communications services, including local
exchange and toll service and network access, and communications
products to business, residential and communications company
customers in an operating area comprised of four Local Access and
Transport Areas (LATAs) in Wisconsin . These LATAs are generally
centered on a city or other identifiable community of interest, and
each LATA marks the boundary within which we may provide telephone
service. We provide two basic types of communications services:
- - We transport communications traffic between a customer's
equipment and the telephone exchange offices located within the
same LATA (intraLATA service). These services include local
exchange, private line and intraLATA toll services (including
800 and special services for data, radio and video transport).
- - In addition, we provide exchange access service, which links a
subscriber's telephone or other equipment to the transmission
facilities of long distance carriers, which in turn provide
communications service between LATAs (interLATA, or long
distance, service).
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We serve about 67% of the population and 14% of the area of
Wisconsin. The remainder of the state is served by nonaffiliated
telephone companies.
In addition, we provide public telephone and local and toll
operator services (including collect calls, third number billing,
person-to-person and calling card calls). We offer call management
services (including voice mail, Caller ID, call waiting and call
forwarding), as well as digital network services (such as online
database access and fax messaging, document sharing functions and
video conferencing for desktop computers). We provide billing and
collection services for several companies, including billing for
long distance services offered by certain long distance carriers.
We currently offer a single monthly statement for phone service and
a variety of other Ameritech services as well as around-the-clock
customer service, for all residential, small business and home
office customers.
We market our local phone services on a wholesale basis to
certain other companies that resell our network services. Our
customers are other network and information providers, including
cellular and personal communications services and competing local
service companies, who buy our services to use in their product
offerings.
In 1997, we added 74,000 customer access lines. We now serve
more than 2,211,000 lines in Wisconsin, a 3.5% increase over lines
served in 1996. Customer access line growth was fueled by second
line additions and increased business usage. Demand for speed and
access drove record growth in our data services. Sales of high
speed access lines and high speed circuits increased. Demand for
call management services grew as customers sought greater
convenience and control over their telephone communications.
Until June 30, 1997, we had an agreement with Ameritech
Publishing, Inc., an Ameritech subsidiary doing business as
Ameritech Advertising Services, under which Ameritech Publishing
published and distributed classified directories under our license
and provided services to us relating to both classified and
alphabetical directories. Ameritech Publishing paid license fees
to us under that agreement. Under our subsequent agreement with
Ameritech Publishing, effective July 1, 1997, we furnish to
Ameritech Publishing certain services and data to be used by them
in publishing and distributing classified and alphabetical
directories. In exchange, we receive compensation for our services
and data.
Ameritech Services, Inc. (ASI), a company we own jointly with
the other four Ameritech landline communications subsidiaries,
provides us with technical services, procurement, marketing, human
resources management and regulatory planning, as well as labor
contract bargaining oversight and coordination. ASI is a shared
resource, providing operational support for the five landline
communications subsidiaries and integrated communications and
information systems for all Ameritech companies.
In 1997, about 92% of our total operating revenues were from
communications services and the remainder were principally from
billing and collection services, rents, directory advertising and
other miscellaneous nonregulated operations. About 75% of the
revenues from communications services were attributable to
intrastate operations.
In March 1998, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell to
Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. the assets related to a portion
of our local exchange business for approximately $225 million.
Under terms of the agreement, we will sell assets used to serve
about 85,000 residential and business access lines in northern and
parts of central Wisconsin. We anticipate that the transaction
will conclude in late 1998, pending regulatory approval.
Regulatory Environment - Federal
Among other things, the FCC develops and implements policies
concerning interstate communications by wire. In addition to
developing regulations to carry out the intent of the 1996 Act, the
FCC prescribes for certain communications companies a uniform
system of accounts and rules for apportioning costs between
regulated and nonregulated services. The FCC, in consultation with
representatives of state regulatory commissions, is also
responsible for the principles and standard procedures used to
separate regulated property, plant and equipment costs, revenues,
expenses, taxes and reserves between those applicable to interstate
services under FCC jurisdiction and those applicable to intrastate
services under the respective state regulatory commission's
jurisdiction.
Local competition
The 1996 Act directed the FCC to establish rules and regulations
to enforce the law and to preempt specific state provisions in
certain circumstances. As required by the 1996 Act, in August 1996
the FCC adopted rules to implement the local competition
provisions. The rules required local exchange carriers, including
Wisconsin Bell, among other duties, to:
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- - provide interconnection to any telecommunications carrier at any
technically feasible point, equal in quality to that provided
for the local exchange carrier's own operations;
- - provide those carriers with access to network elements on an
unbundled basis; and
- - offer for resale, at wholesale rates, any telecommunications
services that the local exchange carrier provides at retail to
subscribers who are not telecommunications carriers.
The FCC's rules addressed pricing for interconnection, unbundled
network elements and resale of telecommunications services. In
October 1996, in an order entered in an appeal filed by certain
local exchange carriers, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit stayed the portion of the FCC rules with respect to
pricing and the FCC's so-called "pick and choose" rule that would
allow requesting carriers to pick and choose among individual
provisions of existing interconnection agreements. The United
States Supreme Court declined to overturn the appeals court stay.
In July 1997, the Court of Appeals struck down several provisions
of the FCC's August 1996 order designed to implement the
interconnection provisions of the 1996 Act, ruling that:
- - the FCC's pricing guidelines intrude upon the rights of state
regulatory commissions to implement key elements of the 1996
Act;
- - the FCC lacks jurisdiction to review state regulatory commission
decisions regarding interconnection agreements between incumbent
local exchange carriers and their competitors;
- - the FCC's pick and choose rule does not promote negotiated
agreements and is unreasonable;
- - local exchange carriers must provide unbundled network elements
(including operations support systems and certain other
services) in a manner that allows competing carriers to combine
them, but they need not actually combine the elements; and
- - the 1996 Act does not require incumbent local exchange carriers
to provide competitors with superior quality connections.
In October 1997, the Eighth Circuit Court overturned the FCC
ruling requiring the Ameritech landline communications subsidiaries
and other incumbent local exchange carriers to resell bundled
network services at unbundled wholesale rates. As a result of the
court's decision, if new entrants to the local exchange market wish
to purchase network elements at unbundled discounted prices, they
must recombine the elements themselves. The incumbent local
exchange carriers had maintained that when a new entrant seeks a
preexisting combination of network elements, they are purchasing a
service for resale and do not qualify for the deep discounts
applicable to unbundled network elements.
In January 1998, the Eighth Circuit Court ordered the FCC to
uphold the court's earlier ruling transferring the power of the
federal agency to set terms on prices and connections to local
phone networks to the state commissions. The order came a day
before the United States Supreme Court agreed to consolidate
numerous appeals centering on the 1996 Act filed by AT&T, MCI, the
FCC and others. Barring additional action, the case will be argued
before the Supreme Court in October 1998.
In December 1997, the United States District Court in Wichita
Falls, Texas, declared unconstitutional a key part of the 1996 Act
that excludes only the RHCs' landline communications companies from
the long distance market. Two of those companies, SBC
Communications Inc. and US West Communications, Inc. initiated the
lawsuit. Long distance industry opponents of the ruling, the FCC
and the Department of Justice asked the court for an injunction
barring SBC Communications, US West and Bell Atlantic Corporation,
which joined in the suit, from preparing to provide in-region long
distance service until the court ruled on their stay requests. In
February 1998, the court issued two orders - the final judgment
giving legal effect to the court's earlier opinion and an order
staying that decision pending resolution of appeals from it. The
court denied the motions for injunctions.
In addition, BellSouth Communications, Inc. brought two appeals
to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
challenging the constitutionality of many of the same provisions of
the 1996 Act for which SBC Communications and US West sought review
in the Texas District Court. One action challenges the section of
the 1996 Act covering electronic publishing and another challenges
the sections which address long distance. Ameritech has intervened
in this later appeal. Consequently, the Fifth Circuit Court and
the D.C. Circuit Court are deciding the constitutionality of the
provisions of the 1996 Act specifically applicable to the RHCs'
landline communications companies.
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Price Cap Reform
Our interstate revenues are regulated by a price cap mechanism
rather than by rate-of-return regulation. The FCC's price cap
regulatory scheme sets maximum limits on the prices that local
exchange carriers can charge other carriers to access their
facilities to originate or terminate interstate long distance calls
and other communications. The limits are adjusted each year to
reflect inflation, a productivity factor and certain other cost
changes. Under price caps, local exchange carriers have increased
flexibility to change prices of access services, as well as prices
for interstate intraLATA service, provided they do not exceed the
allowed price cap.
In May 1997, the FCC issued three closely related orders
addressing revisions to the original price cap plan, interstate
access charge reform and funding for universal service. The new
price cap rules reduced access charges by increasing the price cap
productivity offset factor to 6.5% from the prior 5.3% and by
applying this factor uniformly to all access providers. The new
rates were effective July 1, 1997 and local exchange carriers were
required to compute the new rates as if the 6.5% productivity
factor had been in effect since July 1, 1996.
Access Charge Reform
The FCC's original structure was adopted at the time of the
divestiture by AT&T. These policies were designed primarily to
promote competition in the interstate long distance market by
ensuring that all long distance companies would be able to
originate and terminate their traffic over incumbent local exchange
carriers' networks at just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates.
Although these policies contemplated long distance competition,
they did not attempt to address the potential effects of local or
access competition. In December 1996, the FCC laid out its
proposals on access charge reform, asking for comments on a number
of steps it proposed to take to restructure the fees to make the
system compatible with the pro-competitive deregulatory framework
established by the 1996 Act.
In its May 1997 access charge reform order, the FCC adopted
changes to its tariff structure requiring usage-sensitive recovery
that is more reflective of the way in which costs are incurred. In
general, the order provides that only costs incurred on a usage-
sensitive basis should be recovered in per-minute access charges
and costs not incurred on a usage-sensitive basis should be
recovered through flat rate charges.
Universal Service
In November 1996, the Federal-State Universal Service Joint
Board issued its recommendations to the FCC for reforming the
existing system of subsidizing universal basic telephone service.
The goal was to preserve and advance universal service in a manner
that permits local telephone markets to move from monopoly to
competition. The FCC's May 1997 ruling required creation of a
multi-billion-dollar universal service fund for subsidizing low-
income customers, high cost service areas, rural health care
providers, schools and libraries. Telecommunications service
providers began to pay into the universal service fund beginning on
January 1, 1998. Subsidies to low-income and rural customers
became available on that date and funds for linking schools and
libraries to the Internet will be available as needed.
Other FCC Matters
The FCC ruled in April 1997 that Ameritech has met all
competitive requirements under the pay phone portion of the 1996
Act. The move to deregulate pay phone services culminated in
October 1997, when responsibility for setting the price of a local
pay phone call was transferred from state regulators to the
competitive marketplace. Many of the provisions included in the
1996 Act, which served as the road map for pay phone deregulation,
were patterned after competitive pay phone measures already in
place in Illinois and Michigan.
Regulatory Environment - State
We are also subject to regulation by the PSCW with respect to
certain intrastate rates and services. Under telecommunications
legislation passed in 1994, the PSCW regulates Ameritech
Wisconsin's prices rather than earnings. By the year 2000, we will
invest at least $700 million on new equipment and technology,
extending fiber optics to hundreds of secondary schools, technical
colleges, universities, hospitals and libraries in the state. We
have committed to meeting a number of infrastructure benchmarks
along with the deployment of the infrastructure investment.
<PAGE>
Beginning in 1994, residential and small business access line
rates were reduced by 10% and then frozen over the next three
years. IntraLATA access rates have also declined along with
interLATA access rates. Since September 1996, all of our service
area has had Dial-1-plus capability (dialing parity), the ability
to choose an alternate carrier for intraLATA toll calls by dialing
1 before the phone number.
Under the law, the Wisconsin Advanced Telecommunications
Foundation was established to fund advanced telecommunications
technology application projects and efforts to educate consumers
about advanced services. We have contributed over $6 million
through 1997 to the fund and have committed to funding at least an
additional $7 million through 2001.
Other state matters
In January 1998, the Michigan Public Service Commission ruled
that Ameritech Michigan owes compensation under interconnection
agreements to other local exchange carriers. This compensation
relates to calls made by Ameritech Michigan customers to the
Internet via Internet service providers who, in turn, are the
customers of those other local exchange carriers. Similar issues
involving the interpretation of the interconnection agreements are
the subject of regulatory proceedings pending in Wisconsin and the
other states in Ameritech's region. These issues ultimately may be
determined by the FCC, where a docket is currently pending.
Long Distance Services
InterLATA long distance is a $1 billion market in our local
service area. Under the 1996 Act, Ameritech and the other RHCs
must open their respective local markets to competition by
implementing a 14-point checklist before they can offer interLATA
long distance service to their local landline customers. In
considering an application to offer interLATA long distance
service, the FCC must determine whether or not an RHC has satisfied
the statutory criteria, including the competitive checklist,
compliance with structural and accounting rules, and whether its
entry into long distance is consistent with the public interest.
An RHC is restricted from providing interLATA long distance service
until the FCC determines that the statutory criteria have been met.
The FCC gives substantial weight to Department of Justice
recommendations in reviewing RHC applications to enter the market.
In preparation, we have negotiated or arbitrated numerous
agreements with competitors to allow interconnection access to our
network elements at cost-based rates and purchase of our local
services at wholesale rates for resale to the public.
FCC rules require that interLATA long distance service be
offered by Ameritech's long distance subsidiary, Ameritech
Communications Inc., which is certified to provide long distance
service in all states outside the Ameritech five-state region.
Accordingly, Ameritech Communications' entry into this market will
not generate long distance revenues for Wisconsin Bell.
With passage of the 1996 Act, Ameritech and the other RHCs were
allowed to provide long distance service to their cellular
customers, regardless of location.
Evolution of the Industry
Growing customer need for new services, new technologies,
regulatory reform and corporate alliances are accelerating the pace
of change and creating intense competition in the communications
industry. That will mean greater choice, an explosion of new
products and services and better values for consumers. More
competition in our industry is inevitable.
With the passage of the 1996 Act and earlier regulatory
initiatives, our local service market has been opened to
competition from long distance carriers, cable TV providers and
other local service providers. Interconnection agreements with
these providers require us to allow access to our network elements
at cost-based rates or purchase of our local services for resale at
wholesale rates. These agreements may result in some downward
pressure on local service revenues as a portion of our revenue
shifts from local service at retail rates to network access at
wholesale rates.
It is impossible to predict the specific impact of the 1996 Act
and other changes in the industry on our business or financial
results. Notwithstanding the potential for an adverse effect on
certain of our revenue streams, we expect to capture a significant
portion of the expected growth in the communications marketplace,
building on our strengths and branching into new services that are
a logical extension of our business.
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Patents, Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property
Wisconsin Bell, through its parent, Ameritech, has rights to use
various patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual
property necessary to conduct our business. We do not believe that
the expiration of any of our intellectual property, or the
nonrenewal of rights to use it, would have a material adverse
affect on our business.
Wisconsin Bell's Human Resources
We employed 4,080 people as of December 31, 1997, compared with
4,216 as of December 31, 1996. The Communications Workers of
America (CWA), which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents
about 85% of our employees. The current three-year contract with
the CWA expires this summer on August 8, 1998.
Item 2. Properties.
General
The large number and widespread locations of Wisconsin Bell's
properties make it difficult to provide detailed descriptions of
the physical characteristics of the individual components. In
general, however, we can categorize our investment in property,
plant and equipment at year-end 1997 as follows:
- - "Land and Buildings," consisting of land we own including
improvements (namely central and administrative offices),
represents 12% of our total investment;
- - "Central office equipment," including switching and transmission
equipment and related facilities, represents 37%;
- - "Cable, wiring and conduit (or outside plant)," including aerial
cable, poles, underground cable, conduit and wiring, represents
46%; and
- - "Other," including motor vehicles, computers and other support
assets, represents 5%
Capital Expenditures
We believe that investment in our business will:
- - facilitate the introduction of new products and services;
- - enhance our responsiveness to ever-increasing competitive
challenges; and
- - increase the operating efficiency and productivity of our
network.
Our total investment in property, plant and equipment increased
from about $2.7 billion at year-end 1992 to $3.0 billion at year-
end 1997, after giving effect to retirements but before deducting
accumulated depreciation at either date. Growth in capital
expenditures was driven by demand in our business and regulatory
requirements, such as those related to the 1996 Act. Capital
expenditures, the single largest use of our funds, were $208
million in 1997, $187 million in 1996 and $153 million in 1995.
Our capital spending is based on customer needs and Ameritech's
overall business plans. Investments in technologies that will
enable us to provide customers with new products and services
represent a high priority. We continued to modernize our network
throughout 1997. By investing in our telecommunications
infrastructure, we can anticipate and meet the demands on the
network by customers seeking Internet access, high speed data
transmission, information management and other communications
services.
Under terms of the Wisconsin telecommunications legislation
implementing incentive regulation passed in 1994, we committed to
spending at least $700 million on new equipment and technology over
five years ending in the year 2000 to extend fiber optics to
hundreds of Wisconsin secondary schools, technical colleges,
universities, hospitals and federated libraries.
<PAGE>
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The United States District Court for the District of Columbia
signed and approved a Plan of Reorganization in connection with
AT&T's divestiture, effective January 1, 1984, of certain assets to
the RHCs, including Ameritech. The Plan provides for the
recognition and payment of liabilities that are attributable to
predivestiture events (including transactions to implement the
divestiture) but that do not become certain until after the
divestiture. These contingent liabilities relate principally to
litigation and other claims with respect to the Bell Companies'
(the former Bell telephone company subsidiaries of AT&T) rates,
taxes, contracts, equal employment matters, environmental matters
and torts (including business torts, such as alleged violations of
the antitrust laws).
With respect to these liabilities, under agreements entered into
at divestiture AT&T and the Bell Companies will share:
- - the costs of any judgment or other determination of liability
entered by a court or administrative agency;
- - the costs of defending the claim (including attorneys' fees and
court costs); and
- - the cost of interest or penalties with respect to any judgment
or determination.
Unless the affected parties agree otherwise, the general rule is
that responsibility for contingent liabilities will be divided
among AT&T and the Bell Companies on the basis of their relative
net investment (defined as total assets less accumulated
depreciation) as of January 1, 1984. Different allocation rules
apply to liabilities which relate exclusively to predivestiture
interstate or intrastate operations.
In January 1995, Ameritech and the other RHCs agreed to
terminate the sharing arrangement among the Bell Companies with
respect to predivestiture contingent liabilities for certain
matters. AT&T did not enter into the agreement and, accordingly,
the sharing arrangement remains in effect with respect to AT&T's
predivestiture liabilities and AT&T's share of Bell Company
predivestiture liabilities.
In November 1997, we reached an agreement in principle to settle
class action lawsuits regarding our inside wire maintenance and
LINE-BACKERr services. Those customers who subscribe to these
services pay a monthly fee to cover repairs to inside telephone
wiring and jacks. They thereby avoid charges for labor and
material at the time of repair. The lawsuits charged unfair sales
practices and violations of the antitrust laws allegedly arising
from our sales and marketing practices. The settlement consists
of, among other things, free calling cards and pay-per-use services
over specified time periods, as well as billing credits.
We are also subject to claims arising in the ordinary course of
business. Although we cannot be sure of the outcome of any
litigation, in management's opinion any financial impact would not
have a material effect on our financial results.
<PAGE>
PART II
Item 6. Selected Financial and Operating Data.
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
(Dollars in Millions)
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Revenues
Local service........... $ 645.1 $ 610.3 $ 555.5 $ 516.6 $ 487.7
Interstate
network access......... 282.2 260.9 249.5 245.8 239.1
Intrastate
network access......... 56.7 60.1 62.1 77.5 88.6
Long distance........... 140.1 164.4 168.7 184.7 206.8
Other................... 96.4 105.6 96.4 105.2 110.5
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues........... 1,220.5 1,201.3 1,132.2 1,129.8 1,132.7
Operating expenses*...... 868.6 854.7 786.3 938.7 877.7
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income......... 351.9 346.6 345.9 191.1 255.0
Interest expense......... 30.3 28.1 29.5 28.5 31.6
Other income, net........ (5.7) (2.4) (2.0) (2.2) 11.1
Income taxes............. 130.9 126.6 122.9 57.5 74.3
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income before
extraordinary item...... 196.4 194.3 195.5 107.3 138.0
Extraordinary item ** ... - - - (240.4) -
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)........ $ 196.4 $ 194.3 $ 195.5 $ (133.1) $ 138.0
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total assets............. $1,617.3 $1,568.7 $1,556.9 $1,577.9 $2,038.3
Property, plant
and equipment, net...... $1,208.2 $1,175.7 $1,166.9 $1,185.8 $1,658.2
Capital expenditures,
net..................... $ 207.6 $ 186.7 $ 153.3 $ 145.4 $ 145.4
Long-term debt........... $ 430.1 $ 430.0 $ 305.8 $ 305.9 $ 306.5
Debt ratio............... 47.3 % 45.6 % 44.3 % 51.6 % 44.6 %
Return on average
equity.................. 35.0 % 35.8 % 39.1 % (20.9)% 20.9 %
Return on average
total capital........... 22.3 % 22.3 % 23.2 % (8.7)% 13.8 %
Pretax interest
coverage................ 11.8 12.6 12.0 6.7 7.4
Customer lines,
end of year (000s) ..... 2,211 2,137 2,048 1,976 1,898
Customer lines served by -
Digital electronic
offices................ 89.6 % 84.1 % 81.6 % 76.6 % 64.3 %
Analog electronic
offices................ 10.4 % 15.9 % 18.4 % 23.4 % 35.7 %
Customer lines
per employee............ 542 507 472 425 369
Employees, end of year... 4,080 4,216 4,336 4,651 5,137
- -------------------
* As discussed in Note E to the financial statements, 1995
operating expenses include a net work force restructuring
credit of $24.1 million, while 1994 operating expenses
include a nonmanagement work force restructuring charge of
$71.8 million.
** We had a noncash after-tax extraordinary charge in 1994 of
$240.4 million as a result of discontinuing the application
of FAS 71 (accounting in a regulatory environment).
<PAGE>
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations.
(Dollars in Millions)
Following is a discussion and analysis of the results of
operations of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1997 and
for the year ended December 31, 1996, which is based on the
Statements of Income and Accumulated Deficit. Other pertinent data
is also set forth in Selected Financial and Operating Data.
Results of Operations
Revenues
Total operating revenues were $1,220.5 million for 1997 and
$1,201.3 million for 1996. The increase of $19.2 million or 1.6%
consisted of the following:
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Local service......... $ 645.1 $ 610.3 $ 34.8 5.7
Local service revenues include basic monthly service fees and
usage charges, fees for call management services, installation and
connection charges and public phone revenues. Local service
revenues increased in 1997 due primarily to greater sales of call
management services, such as call waiting and Caller ID, as well as
increased usage of these services on a pay-per-use basis. Access
lines in service increased 3.5% to 2,211,000 as of December 31,
1997 compared with 2,137,000 as of December 31, 1996, largely due
to second line additions by residential and small business
customers for Internet access and data transport. Rate increases
also contributed to the revenue increase.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Network access
Interstate........... $ 282.2 $ 260.9 $ 21.3 8.2
Intrastate........... 56.7 60.1 (3.4) (5.7)
Network access revenues are fees charged to interexchange
carriers that use our local landline communications network to
connect customers to their long distance network. In addition, end
users pay flat rate access fees to connect to the long distance
networks. These revenues result from both interstate and
intrastate services. Interstate network access revenues increased
in 1997 due primarily to an increase in network minutes of use
resulting from overall growth in the volume of calls handled for
interexchange carriers. This increase was partially offset by net
rate reductions. Minutes of use related to interstate calls
increased 5.0% in 1997 compared with the prior year.
Intrastate network access revenues decreased in 1997 primarily
due to rate reductions, which were mostly offset by volume
increases. Minutes of use related to intrastate calls increased
10.5% in 1997 compared with the prior year.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Long distance......... $ 140.1 $ 164.4 $ (24.3) (14.8)
Long distance service revenues are derived from customer calls
to locations outside of their local calling areas, but within the
same Local Access and Transport Area (LATA). Long distance service
revenues decreased in 1997 due primarily to a decrease in network
usage resulting from increased competition from alternative
providers of intraLATA toll services. Rate increases partially
offset this decrease.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Other................. $ 96.4 $ 105.6 $ (9.2) (8.7)
<PAGE>
Other revenues include revenues derived from directory
advertising, billing and collection services, inside wire
installation and maintenance services and other miscellaneous
services. Other revenues decreased in 1997 due primarily to a
decrease in directory advertising revenues. Increased sales of
equipment and other nonregulated services, such as voice messaging
and inside wire installation and maintenance, partially offset this
decrease.
We have entered into a new agreement with Ameritech Publishing,
Inc. (API), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ameritech, for the
publishing and distribution of directories. This agreement, which
was effective July 1, 1997, reduced our revenues from directory
services by approximately $24.0 million on an annual basis, or
$12.0 million in 1997. For a complete discussion of the new
directory agreement, see the section entitled "Other Matters -
Directory Publishing Agreement."
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses in 1997 increased by $13.9 million or
1.6% to $868.6 million.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Employee-related
expenses............. $ 212.3 $ 211.1 $ 1.2 0.6
Employee-related expenses increased in 1997 due primarily to
increased wage and bonus rates, partially offset by a decrease in
force levels resulting from increased productivity.
Most of our nonmanagement work force (about 85% of total
employees) is represented by the Communications Workers of America
(CWA). In September 1995, members of the CWA ratified a three-year
contract with Ameritech, expiring on August 8, 1998. The contract
included basic wage increases and signing bonuses, and addressed
issues such as wages, benefits, employment security, training and
retraining and other conditions of employment. In addition, union
employees now receive their annual bonuses in the form of Ameritech
stock instead of cash.
There were 4,080 employees as of December 31, 1997, compared
with 4,216 as of December 31, 1996.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Depreciation and
amortization......... $ 174.8 $ 178.1 $ (3.3) (1.9)
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased in 1997 due
primarily to certain asset categories reaching full depreciation in
1996. Higher depreciation expense related to higher average
property, plant and equipment balances, as well as higher
depreciation rates on certain asset categories, partially offset
this decrease.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Other operating
expenses............. $ 414.3 $ 400.5 $ 13.8 3.4
Other operating expenses increased in 1997 due primarily to
higher contract and affiliated services expenses related primarily
to systems programming and reengineering, as well as increased
advertising expenses, resulting from increased sales efforts for
equipment and call management services, such as voice messaging and
other nonregulated services. A decrease in uncollectibles
resulting from improved collections of past-due accounts, combined
with lower cost of sales related to customer equipment, partially
offset these increases.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Taxes other than
income taxes......... $ 67.2 $ 65.0 $ 2.2 3.4
Taxes other than income taxes consist of property taxes, gross
receipts taxes and other taxes not directly related to earnings.
Taxes other than income taxes increased in 1997 due primarily to
increased gross receipts taxes, largely due to increased revenues.
<PAGE>
Other Income and Expenses
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Interest expense...... $ 30.3 $ 28.1 $ 2.2 7.8
Interest expense increased in 1997 due primarily to an increase
in interest on long-term debt. We issued $125 million of long-term
debt in November 1996 to reduce short-term borrowings (see Note G).
Lower interest on borrowings from the Ameritech short-term funding
pool, reflecting lower average debt balances, partially offset this
increase.
Change
Income Percent
1997 1996 (Expense) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Other income,
net.................. $ 5.7 $ 2.4 $ 3.3 137.5
Other income, net includes equity earnings of affiliates,
interest income and other nonoperating items. Other income
increased in 1997 due primarily to higher equity earnings from
Ameritech Services, Inc. (ASI), largely resulting from ASI's gain
on the sale of its investment in Bellcore in November 1997.
Increase Percent
1997 1996 (Decrease) Change
---- ---- -------- ------
Income taxes.......... $ 130.9 $ 126.6 $ 4.3 3.4
Income taxes increased in 1997 due primarily to the tax impacts
resulting from the centralization of the administration of benefits
for employees as further discussed in Note B, as well as the
increase in pretax earnings discussed above.
<PAGE>
Other Matters
Competition
Because of the 1996 Act, the communications landscape is rapidly
changing. The law, among other things, was designed to foster
local exchange competition by establishing a regulatory framework
to govern the provision of local and long distance
telecommunications services. The 1996 Act permits Ameritech and
the other RHCs to provide interLATA long distance services only
after satisfying the conditions of the new law for opening local
markets to competition and demonstrating to the FCC that such
provision is in the public interest. The 1996 Act establishes a
national policy that calls for competition and open markets, not
regulatory management, as the basic business environment. This
public policy change opens a host of business opportunities for
providers of all forms of communications, enabling them to become
full service providers of voice, video, data, local and long
distance services for their customers. As a result of the new law,
consumers can expect to see more choices and receive greater value
for these and other services.
With the passage of the 1996 Act and earlier regulatory
initiatives, our local service markets have been opened to
competition from interexchange carriers, cable TV providers and
other local service providers. Interconnection agreements with
these providers require us to allow access to network elements at
cost-based rates or services at wholesale rates for resale to the
public. Competitive entry by these providers may result in some
downward pressure on local service revenues as a portion of our
revenue shifts from local service at retail prices to network
access at lower rates.
We have signed a significant number of interconnection and
resale agreements with competitors as required by the 1996 Act to
gain permission for Ameritech to offer interLATA long distance
service. However, FCC rules require that interLATA long distance
service be offered by a separate Ameritech subsidiary. As a
result, Ameritech's entry into this market will not generate long
distance revenues for Wisconsin Bell to offset the potential
revenue decline brought by local service competition.
It is impossible to predict the specific impact of the 1996 Act
and other changes in the industry on our business or financial
results. Notwithstanding the potential for an adverse effect on
our revenue streams, we intend to pursue growth opportunities in
our local exchange business.
Regulatory developments
In July 1997, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis
struck down several provisions of an August 1996 FCC order
regarding the interconnection provisions of the 1996 Act. The
Court ruled, among other things, that the FCC's pricing guidelines
intrude upon the rights of state commissions to implement key
elements of the 1996 Act and that the FCC lacks jurisdiction to
review state commission decisions regarding interconnection
agreements between incumbent local exchange carriers (LECs) and
their competitors. The Court also ruled that the FCC's requirement
allowing requesting carriers to pick and choose among individual
provisions of other interconnection agreements does not promote
negotiated agreements and is unreasonable.
The Court also ruled, and clarified in a subsequent October
rehearing order, that if new entrants to the local exchange market
wish to purchase network elements at cost-based prices, they must
combine the elements themselves. The United States Supreme Court
is scheduled to review these and related rulings in October 1998,
with a decision expected late this year or the beginning of next
year.
In January 1998, the Eighth Circuit Court ordered the FCC to
uphold the court's earlier ruling transferring the power of the
federal agency to set terms on prices and connections to local
phone networks to the state commissions. The order came a day
before the United States Supreme Court agreed to consolidate
numerous appeals centering on the 1996 Act filed by AT&T, MCI, the
FCC and others. Barring additional action, the case will be argued
before the Supreme Court in October 1998.
In December 1997, the United States District Court in Wichita
Falls, Texas, declared unconstitutional a key part of the 1996 Act
that excludes only the RHCs' landline communications companies from
the long distance market. Two of those companies, SBC
Communications Inc. and US West Communications, Inc. initiated the
lawsuit. Long distance industry opponents of the ruling, the FCC
and the Department of Justice asked the court for an injunction
barring SBC Communications, US West and Bell Atlantic Corporation,
<PAGE>
which joined in the suit, from preparing to provide in-region long
distance service until the court ruled on their stay requests. In
February 1998, the court issued two orders - the final judgment
giving legal effect to the court's earlier opinion and an order
staying that decision pending resolution of appeals from it. The
court denied the motions for injunctions.
In addition, BellSouth Communications, Inc. brought two appeals
to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
challenging the constitutionality of many of the same provisions of
the 1996 Act for which SBC Communications and US West sought review
in the Texas District Court. One action challenges the section of
the 1996 Act covering electronic publishing and another challenges
the sections which address long distance. Ameritech has intervened
in this later appeal. Consequently, the Fifth Circuit Court and
the D.C. Circuit Court are deciding the constitutionality of the
provisions of the 1996 Act specifically applicable to the RHCs'
landline communications companies.
On May 7, 1997, the FCC issued three closely related orders
addressing revisions to the price cap plan for LECs, interstate
access charge reform and funding for universal service. In its
access charge reform order, the FCC adopted changes to its tariff
structure requiring LECs to use rates that reflect the type of
costs incurred.
The new price cap rules are reducing access charges by
increasing the price cap productivity offset factor to 6.5% from
the prior 5.3% and by applying this factor uniformly to all access
providers. The new rates were effective July 1, 1997 and LECs were
required to compute the new rates as if the 6.5% productivity
factor had been in effect since July 1, 1996.
The new rules also require creation of a multi-billion-dollar
interstate universal service fund for subsidizing low-income
customers, high cost service areas, rural health care providers,
schools and libraries. Telecommunications service providers began
paying into the universal service fund starting January 1, 1998.
Subsidies to low-income and rural customers became available
January 1, 1998, and funds for linking schools and libraries to the
Internet will be available as needed.
We do not expect these reforms to have a material impact on our
revenue streams; however, the nature and timing of these reforms
may evolve as the FCC considers input from state commissions,
potential legal challenges and the ongoing implementation of other
provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Directory Publishing Agreement
We had an agreement with Ameritech Publishing, Inc. (API), a
wholly owned subsidiary of Ameritech doing business as Ameritech
Advertising Services, under which API published and distributed
classified directories under our license and provided services to
us relating to both classified and alphabetical directories. API
paid license fees to us under the agreement. That agreement
terminated effective June 30, 1997. We have entered into a
subsequent agreement with API effective July 1, 1997 under which we
furnish to API certain services and data to be used by them in
publishing and distributing classified and alphabetical
directories. In exchange, we receive compensation for the services
and data.
Year 2000 costs
We currently operate numerous date-sensitive computer
applications and network systems throughout our business. As the
century change approaches, it is essential for us to ensure that
these systems properly recognize the year 2000 and continue to
process operational and financial information. In May 1996, we
began, through ASI, our internal assessment of our requirements and
made appropriate inquiries of vendors and consultants. We believe
that we have identified most application software and systems
issues and we are making changes to allow for almost a full year of
additional testing in 1999. During the next two years, Ameritech
and all of its subsidiaries, including Wisconsin Bell, anticipate
incurring additional costs in this effort of approximately $200
million, and expect to incur these costs ratably during this time
frame. However, because of the complexity of the issue and
possible unidentified risks, actual costs may vary from the
estimate. Management believes we can incur these costs without
adversely affecting future operating results.
<PAGE>
New accounting pronouncements
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) 130,
"Reporting Comprehensive Income." This statement establishes
standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income and
requires that all components of comprehensive income be reported in
a financial statement having the same prominence as other financial
statements. For us, FAS 130 is effective in 1998, and it requires
reclassification of prior period financial statements provided for
comparative purposes. Adoption of this standard should have little
effect on our financial statements, since the new requirements
primarily involve modifications to the way that existing
information is displayed.
Also in June 1997, the FASB issued FAS 131, "Disclosures about
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." This statement
supersedes FAS 14, "Financial Reporting of Segments of a Business
Enterprise," by establishing new standards for the way that a
public business enterprise reports operating segment information in
its annual and interim financial statements. In general, FAS 131
requires reporting of financial information as it is used by senior
company management for evaluating performance and deciding how to
allocate resources. The statement is effective in 1998, but need
not be applied to interim financial statements in that year.
Comparative information for earlier years must be restated.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants issued Statement of Position (SOP) 98-1, "Accounting
for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for
Internal Use." This SOP provides authoritative guidance for the
capitalization of certain computer software costs developed or
obtained for our internal applications, such as:
- - external direct costs of materials and services, such as
programming costs,
- - payroll costs for employees devoting time to the software
project, and
- - interest costs to be capitalized.
Costs incurred during the preliminary project stage, as well as
training and data conversion costs, are to be expensed as incurred.
The SOP is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
1998, however earlier application is encouraged. We have not yet
quantified the impacts of adopting this SOP on our financial
statements and have not determined the timing of our adoption. We
have historically expensed most computer software costs as
incurred.
Disclosures about market risk
We are exposed to market risks primarily from changes in
interest rates. To manage our exposure to these fluctuations,
Ameritech occasionally enters into various hedging transactions
that have been authorized according to documented policies and
procedures. Ameritech does not use derivatives for trading
purposes, or to generate income or to engage in speculative
activity, and Ameritech never uses leveraged derivatives.
Our exposure to interest rate fluctuations results primarily
from our borrowings from the Ameritech short-term funding pool,
which Ameritech funds using commercial paper borrowings, and from
potential changes in the fair value of our fixed rate bonds and
debentures. With respect to short-term and long-term debt,
Ameritech measures the duration of its overall debt portfolio,
including debt issued by Wisconsin Bell, to determine its exposure
to interest rate fluctuations. Ameritech then uses derivatives,
including interest rate swaps and swaptions, to manage the duration
of the portfolio.
As of December 31, 1997, Ameritech estimated the potential loss
that it could incur from adverse changes in interest rates using
the value-at-risk estimation model. The value-at-risk model uses
historical interest rates to estimate the volatility of these rates
in future periods, and to estimate a potential loss in fair market
value using statistical modeling techniques. Using a confidence
level of 95%, Ameritech estimated that we could incur potential
fair value losses of $2.6 million related to our fixed-rate bonds
and debentures in a given one day period. These fair value losses
would have no impact on our results of operations or financial
condition. They did not estimate potential losses related to the
short-term funding pool because their commercial paper borrowings
are not readily attributable to individual subsidiaries.
<PAGE>
The 95% confidence interval signifies Ameritech's degree of
confidence that actual losses would not exceed the estimated
losses. The estimated loss disregards the possibility that
interest rates could move in our favor, since the value-at-risk
model assumes that all movements in these rates will be adverse.
Actual experience has shown that gains and losses tend to offset
each other over time, and it is highly unlikely that we could
experience losses such as these over an extended period of time.
These amounts should not be considered projections of future
losses, since actual results may differ significantly depending
upon activity in the financial markets.
Private securities litigation reform act safe harbor statement
The above discussion contains certain forward-looking statements
that involve potential risks and uncertainties. Our future results
could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include:
- - changes in economic and market conditions,
- - effects of state and federal regulation, and
- - the impact of new technologies.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which are applicable only as of the date hereof. We
have no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the
date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
<PAGE>
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareowner of Wisconsin Bell, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Wisconsin
Bell, Inc. (a Wisconsin Corporation) as of December 31, 1997 and
1996, and the related statements of income and accumulated deficit
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1997. These financial statements and the schedule
referred to below are the responsibility of the company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and this schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Wisconsin, Bell, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the
results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Our audits are made for the purpose of forming an opinion on the
basic financial statements taken as a whole. The financial
statement schedule included in Item 14(a)(2) is presented for
purposes of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's
rules and is not a required part of the basic financial statements.
This schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied
in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our
opinion, fairly states in all material respects the financial data
required to be set forth therein in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Chicago, Illinois
January 13, 1998
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND ACCUMULATED DEFICIT
(Dollars in Millions)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Revenues
Local service................... $ 645.1 $ 610.3 $ 555.5
Interstate network access....... 282.2 260.9 249.5
Intrastate network access....... 56.7 60.1 62.1
Long distance................... 140.1 164.4 168.7
Other........................... 96.4 105.6 96.4
--------- --------- ---------
1,220.5 1,201.3 1,132.2
--------- --------- ---------
Operating expenses
Employee-related expenses....... 212.3 211.1 220.8
Depreciation and amortization... 174.8 178.1 171.2
Other operating expenses........ 414.3 400.5 357.2
Restructuring credits........... - - (24.1)
Taxes other than income taxes... 67.2 65.0 61.2
--------- --------- ---------
868.6 854.7 786.3
--------- --------- ---------
Operating income.................. 351.9 346.6 345.9
Interest expense.................. 30.3 28.1 29.5
Other income, net................. 5.7 2.4 2.0
--------- --------- ---------
Income before income taxes
........... 327.3 320.9 318.4
Income taxes...................... 130.9 126.6 122.9
--------- --------- ---------
Net income........................ 196.4 194.3 195.5
Accumulated deficit,
beginning of year................ (116.2) (126.9) (195.5)
Less, dividends................... 188.7 183.6 126.9
--------- --------- ---------
Accumulated deficit,
end of year...................... $ (108.5) $ (116.2) $ (126.9)
========= ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in Millions)
As of December 31,
-------------------
1997 1996
---- ----
Assets
Current assets
Cash and temporary
cash investments..................... $ 1.1 $ 0.1
Receivables, net
Customers and agents
(less allowance for
uncollectibles of $24.5 and
$25.3, respectively)................ 225.2 243.6
Other................................ 8.8 5.6
Material and supplies................. 3.9 2.9
Prepaid and other..................... 9.5 7.4
--------- ---------
248.5 259.6
--------- ---------
Property, plant and equipment
In service............................ 3,026.9 2,908.8
Under construction.................... 18.0 6.1
--------- ---------
3,044.9 2,914.9
Less, accumulated depreciation........ 1,836.7 1,739.2
--------- ---------
1,208.2 1,175.7
--------- ---------
Investments, principally
in affiliates.......................... 35.8 27.4
Other assets and deferred charges....... 124.8 106.0
--------- ---------
Total assets............................. $ 1,617.3 $ 1,568.7
========= =========
Liabilities and shareowner's equity
Current liabilities
Debt maturing within one year
Ameritech............................ $ 67.2 $ 19.2
Accounts payable
Ameritech Services, Inc. (ASI)....... 17.0 53.3
Ameritech and affiliates............. 21.8 21.3
Other................................ 70.5 67.8
Other current liabilities............. 63.0 52.3
--------- ---------
239.5 213.9
--------- ---------
Long-term debt.......................... 430.1 430.0
--------- ---------
Deferred credits and other long-term liabilities
Accumulated deferred
income taxes......................... 84.6 65.2
Unamortized investment
tax credits.......................... 16.6 21.0
Postretirement benefits
other than pensions.................. 257.3 262.7
Long-term payable to ASI.............. 7.2 7.7
Other................................. 28.2 32.8
--------- ---------
393.9 389.4
--------- ---------
Shareowner's equity
Common stock ($20 par value;
31,995,000 shares
authorized; 31,960,395
issued and outstanding).............. 639.2 639.2
Proceeds in excess of par value....... 23.1 12.4
Accumulated deficit................... (108.5) (116.2)
--------- ---------
553.8 535.4
--------- ---------
Total liabilities and
shareowner's equity..................... $ 1,617.3 $ 1,568.7
========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Millions)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income........................ $ 196.4 $ 194.3 $ 195.5
Adjustments to net income:
Restructuring credits,
net of tax..................... - - (14.4)
Depreciation and amortization... 174.8 178.1 171.2
Deferred income taxes, net...... 18.2 4.3 22.2
Investment tax credits, net..... (4.4) (5.0) (5.7)
Capitalized interest............ (0.6) (0.7) (1.2)
Change in accounts receivable... 15.2 8.7 (41.6)
Change in material and supplies. (6.4) (5.5) 0.9
Change in certain other
current assets................. (2.1) 3.3 7.7
Change in accounts payable...... (33.1) 4.9 (0.8)
Change in certain other
current liabilities............ 11.7 20.4 (18.8)
Change in certain noncurrent
assets and liabilities......... (19.2) (18.7) (12.3)
Other operating activities, net. 2.4 (4.7) (1.8)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash from operating
activities....................... 352.9 379.4 300.9
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures, net......... (207.4) (186.2) (152.1)
Additional investments............ (8.6) - -
Proceeds from
disposals of property,
plant and equipment, net........ 4.3 4.5 0.2
Other investing activities, net... 0.4 0.1 1.4
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash from investing
activities....................... (211.3) (181.6) (150.5)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Intercompany financing, net....... 48.0 (91.6) (69.4)
Issuance of long-term debt........ - 124.2 -
Retirements of long-term debt..... - (0.1) (0.7)
Dividend payments................. (188.7) (230.3) (80.2)
Other financing activities, net... 0.1 - -
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash from financing
activities....................... (140.6) (197.8) (150.3)
--------- --------- ---------
Net increase in cash and
temporary cash investments........ 1.0 - 0.1
Cash and temporary cash
investments, beginning of year... 0.1 0.1 -
--------- --------- ---------
Cash and temporary cash
investments, end of year......... $ 1.1 $ 0.1 $ 0.1
========= ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in Millions)
A. Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations - Wisconsin Bell, Inc. is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Ameritech Corporation (Ameritech). Ameritech is also
the parent of Illinois Bell Telephone Company; Indiana Bell
Telephone Company, Incorporated; Michigan Bell Telephone Company;
and The Ohio Bell Telephone Company (referred to with Wisconsin
Bell collectively as the "Ameritech landline communications
subsidiaries"). We provide a wide variety of communications
services, including local exchange and toll service, network access
and telecommunication products in Wisconsin.
See discussion of Competition and Regulatory developments in
Other Matters in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
Operations.
Basis of Accounting - We have prepared the financial statements
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
The financial statements include all accounts of Wisconsin Bell.
Use of Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Transactions with Affiliates - We have various agreements with
affiliated companies. Below is a description of the significant
arrangements followed by a table of the amounts involved.
1. Ameritech Services, Inc. (ASI) - ASI, an Ameritech-
controlled affiliate in which we have 10% ownership, provides
planning, development, management, procurement and support services
to all of the Ameritech landline communications subsidiaries. We
also provides certain services and facilities to ASI.
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Purchases of
materials and charges
for services from ASI..... $ 246.7 $ 249.8 $ 262.1
Recovery of
costs for services
provided to ASI........... 8.9 10.5 18.0
2. Ameritech (our parent) - Ameritech provides various
administrative, planning, financial and other services to us, which
are billed at cost.
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Charges incurred.......... $ 14.9 $ 13.6 $ 13.5
3. Ameritech Publishing, Inc. (API), a wholly owned subsidiary
of Ameritech doing business as Ameritech Advertising Services - We
have certain agreements with API under which we furnish to API
certain services and data to be used by API in producing and
distributing classified and alphabetical directories. In exchange,
we receive a fixed fee plus compensation for the services and data.
We have entered into a subsequent agreement with API effective July
1, 1997 under which we furnish to API certain services and data to
be used by them in publishing and distributing classified and
alphabetical directories. In exchange, we receive compensation for
the services and data
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Fees paid to Wisconsin Bell
by API.................... $ 15.2 $ 28.7 $ 31.9
Fees paid by Wisconsin Bell
to API.................... 0.3 0.3 0.3
<PAGE>
4. Ameritech Information Systems, Inc. (AIS), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Ameritech - We reimburse AIS for costs incurred by
AIS in connection with the sale of network services by AIS
employees.
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Charges incurred........... $ 16.6 $ 11.5 $ 8.7
5. Bell Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore) - Bellcore
provides research and technical support to the landline
communications subsidiaries. Prior to November 1997, ASI had a one-
seventh ownership interest in Bellcore and billed us for costs. In
November 1997, ASI sold its interest in Bellcore. The amount for
1997 below includes charges incurred through the date Bellcore was
sold.
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Charges incurred........... $ 9.7 $ 8.4 $ 8.7
Property, Plant and Equipment - We state property, plant and
equipment at original cost. The provision for depreciation is
based principally on the straight-line remaining life and the
straight-line equal life group methods of depreciation applied to
individual categories of property, plant and equipment with similar
characteristics.
The following is a summary of average lives used to determine
this provision for depreciation:
Asset Category Years
-------------- -----
Central office equipment
Digital switching.................. 7
Circuit accounts................... 7
Copper and fiber cable
and wire facilities................. 15
All other............................ various
Generally, when depreciable plant is retired, the amount at
which such plant has been carried in property, plant and equipment
in service is charged to accumulated depreciation. The cost of
maintenance and repairs of plant is charged to expense.
Investments - Our investment in ASI (10% ownership and $26.2
million as of December 31, 1997) is reflected in the financial
statements using the equity method of accounting. We carry all
other investments at cost. Derivative transactions, if any, are
executed by Ameritech. We had no derivative transactions in 1997
or 1996.
Material and Supplies - We state inventories of new and reusable
material and supplies at the lower of cost or market with cost
generally determined on an average-cost basis.
Income Taxes - Ameritech includes Wisconsin Bell in the federal
income tax return filed by Ameritech and its subsidiaries. We
determine our provision for income taxes on a separate company
basis.
We determine deferred tax assets and liabilities at the end of
each period based on differences between the financial statement
bases of assets and liabilities and the tax bases of those same
assets and liabilities, using the currently enacted statutory tax
rates. We measure deferred income tax expense as the change in the
net deferred income tax asset or liability during the year.
We use the deferral method of accounting for investment tax
credits by amortizing realized credits as reductions to tax expense
over the life of the plant that gave rise to the credits.
Temporary Cash Investments - We state temporary cash investments
at cost which approximates market value. We consider all highly
liquid, short-term investments with an original maturity of three
months or less to be cash equivalents.
Advertising Costs - We charge advertising costs to operations as
incurred.
<PAGE>
Revenue Recognition - We generally recognize revenues as
services are provided or products are delivered to customers. We
bill certain local telephone revenues in advance, resulting in
deferred revenues.
Short-Term Financing Arrangement - Ameritech provides short-term
financing and cash management services to its subsidiaries,
including Wisconsin Bell. Ameritech issues commercial paper and
notes and secures bank loans to fund the working capital
requirements of its subsidiaries and invests short-term excess
funds on their behalf. (See Note F).
The results were as follows:
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Interest charged to
Wisconsin Bell
by Ameritech
for financing............. $ 0.2 $ 5.9 $ 8.3
Cash management interest
income earned
by Wisconsin Bell......... 0.9 - -
Reclassifications - We made certain reclassifications to the
December 31, 1996 balances to correspond to the presentation as of
December 31, 1997.
B. Investment in Preferred Stock
In June 1997, Ameritech centralized the administration of
benefits for employees who had retired from Wisconsin Bell and
other subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996. In connection
therewith, we hold approximately $8.8 million in preferred stock
issued by the Ameritech subsidiary responsible for administration
of these benefits. This subsidiary began paying benefits on our
behalf in July 1997. We account for these benefit payments made on
our behalf as a capital contribution in the shareowner's equity
section of the balance sheets, with a corresponding reduction in
the postretirement benefit obligation. This contribution for the
year ended December 31, 1997 was $10.6 million.
C. Income Taxes
The components of income tax expense were as follows:
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Federal
Current........................ $ 94.6 $ 102.8 $ 78.3
Deferred, net................... 13.4 0.2 23.2
Investment tax credits, net..... (4.4) (5.0) (5.7)
--------- --------- ---------
Total............................. 103.6 98.0 95.8
--------- --------- ---------
State and local
Current......................... 22.5 24.5 18.4
Deferred, net................... 4.8 4.1 8.7
--------- --------- ---------
Total........................... 27.3 28.6 27.1
--------- --------- ---------
Total income tax expense.......... $ 130.9 $ 126.6 $ 122.9
========= ========= =========
Total income taxes paid were $126.9 million, $112.9 million, and
$107.2 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
<PAGE>
The following is a reconciliation of the statutory federal
income tax rate for each of the past three years to our effective
tax rate (computed by dividing total income tax expense by income
before income taxes):
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Statutory federal income
tax rate......................... 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
State income taxes, net of
federal benefit................. 5.4 5.8 5.5
Reduction in tax expense due to
amortization of investment tax
credits........................ (0.9) (1.0) (1.2)
Other............................ 0.5 (0.3) (0.7)
-------- -------- --------
Effective income tax rate......... 40.0% 39.5% 38.6%
======== ======== ========
As of December 31, 1997 and 1996 the components of long-term
accumulated deferred income taxes were as follows:
1997 1996
---- ----
Deferred tax assets
Postretirement and
postemployment benefits....... $ 91.1 $ 109.0
Other.......................... 6.4 18.6
--------- ---------
97.5 127.6
--------- ---------
Deferred tax liabilities
Accelerated depreciation....... 143.4 135.4
Prepaid pension cost........... 25.7 35.4
Other.......................... 13.0 22.0
--------- ---------
182.1 192.8
--------- ---------
Net deferred tax liability...... $ 84.6 $ 65.2
========= =========
Deferred income taxes in current assets and liabilities relate
primarily to temporary differences resulting from vacation pay and
uncollectibles, and amounts in 1997 and 1996 were not material. We
had immaterial valuation allowances against certain deferred tax
assets as of December 31, 1997 and 1996.
D. Property, Plant and Equipment
The components of property, plant and equipment are as follows:
1997 1996
---- ----
Land............................ $ 16.3 $ 16.5
Buildings....................... 336.4 330.2
Central office equipment........ 1,123.1 1,061.3
Cable, wiring and conduit....... 1,401.7 1,330.3
Other........................... 149.4 170.5
--------- ---------
3,026.9 2,908.8
Under construction.............. 18.0 6.1
--------- ---------
3,044.9 2,914.9
Less, accumulated depreciation.. 1,836.7 1,739.2
--------- ---------
$ 1,208.2 $ 1,175.7
========= =========
Depreciation expense on property, plant and equipment was $174.8
million, $178.1 million and $171.2 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
<PAGE>
E. Employee Benefit Plans
Pension Plans - Ameritech maintains noncontributory defined
benefit pension plans for substantially all of our employees, as
well as postretirement healthcare and life insurance plans for
substantially all retirees and their dependents. We accrue the
cost of postretirement benefits granted to employees as expense
over the period in which the employee renders services and becomes
eligible to receive benefits. The costs of these plans for current
and future retirees is determined using the projected unit credit
actuarial method.
The pension plans were amended in 1996 to provide a 4.5% pension
increase, effective February 1, 1997, to retirees who retired prior
to April 1, 1994 and are receiving annuity pension benefits. More
recent retirees receive lower rates of increase. Our funding
policy is to contribute an amount up to the maximum that can be
deducted for federal income tax purposes. Due to the funded status
of the plans, we have made contributions only to the nonqualified
plan. The following table provides information on our pension
credits and postretirement benefit costs for the Ameritech plans:
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Pension credits............. $ (7.9) $ (12.1) $ (9.9)
Postretirement
benefit costs............. 23.7 26.7 24.5
Ameritech allocates pension credits to us based upon the
percentage of compensation for the management plan and based on
number of employees for the nonmanagement plan. They allocate
retiree health care cost to us on a per participant basis, whereas
group life insurance is allocated based on compensation levels.
For the pension plans, the fair value of plan assets available for
plan benefits as of December 31, 1997 exceeded the projected
benefit obligations. For the postretirement health care and life
insurance plans, the postretirement benefit obligation as of
December 31, 1997 exceeded the fair value of plan assets available
for plan benefits.
Ameritech has provided for part of the cost of the
postretirement plans by making contributions for health care
benefits to voluntary employee benefit association trust funds
(VEBAs) and maintaining retirement funding accounts (RFAs) to
provide life insurance benefits. Ameritech intends to continue to
fund the nonmanagement VEBA. The nonmanagement VEBA and the RFAs
earn income without tax. Plan assets consist principally of
corporate securities and bonds.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FAS 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement
Benefits," in February 1998. The new standard does not change the
measurement or recognition of costs for pension or other
postretirement plans. It standardizes disclosures and eliminates
those that are no longer useful.
Certain disclosures are required to be made of the components of
pension credits, postretirement benefit costs and the funded status
of the plans, including the actuarial present value of accumulated
plan benefits, accumulated or projected benefit obligation and the
fair value of plan assets. We do not present such disclosures
because the structure of the Ameritech plans does not permit the
plans' data to be readily disaggregated.
Ameritech has advised us of the following assumptions used to
calculate pension credits, postretirement benefit costs and the
funded status of the plans:
Pension BenefitsRetiree Health and Life
---------------- ----------------------
1997 1996 1997 1996
---- ---- ---- ----
Discount rate................ 7.0 % 7.5 % 7.0 % 7.5 %
Expected return
Pension plans............... 8.4 % 8.0 % - -
VEBAs....................... - - 8.4 % 8.0 %
RFAs........................ - - 8.4 % 8.0 %
Compensation increase rate... 4.1 % 4.2 % 4.1 % 4.2 %
The assumed health care cost trend rate for 1997 was 8.0% and
8.4% in 1996 and is assumed to decrease by 0.4% per year to 4.0% in
2007 and remain at that level. A one percentage-point increase in
the assumed health care cost trend rate would have increased the
1997 annual expense by approximately 16.7%, while a one percentage-
point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rate would
have decreased 1997 annual expense by approximately 13.4%.
<PAGE>
Work Force and Other Restructuring - In March 1994, we announced
a plan to reduce our existing nonmanagement work force.
Approximately 1,125 employees left Wisconsin Bell as a result of
this restructuring.
The cumulative gross program cost totaled $110.1 million,
partially offset by settlement gains of $62.4 million for an
aggregate pretax net program cost of $47.7 million, or $28.5
million after-tax. We recorded a pretax charge of $71.8 million,
or $42.9 million after-tax in 1994 and in 1995, a credit of $24.1
million, or $14.4 million after-tax, as a result of this
restructuring.
Management Work Force Reductions - Effective January 1, 1995,
management employees who are asked to leave Wisconsin Bell will
receive a severance payment under the Management Separation Benefit
Program (MSBP). We account for this benefit in accordance with FAS
112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits," accruing
the separation cost when incurred. The number of employees leaving
under the MSBP and the predecessor plan was 3 in 1997, 23 in 1996
and 20 in 1995.
Settlement gains result from the payment of lump-sum
distributions from the pension plans to former employees and are
recorded as a credit to other operating expense. Settlement gains,
net of termination costs, under the plans were $0.6 million, $2.0
million and $4.1 million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The
involuntary plans are funded from our operations and required cash
payments of $0.1 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million in 1997,
1996 and 1995, respectively.
F. Debt Maturing Within One Year
We include debt maturing within one year as debt in the
computation of debt ratios. Debt maturing within one year
consisted of the following as of December 31:
1997 1996
---- ----
Notes payable - Ameritech....... $ 67.2 $ 19.2
========= =========
Weighted average interest
rate of notes payable,
year-end....................... 5.8% 5.4%
========= =========
G. Long-Term Debt
Long-term debt consists principally of debentures issued by the
Company.
The following table sets forth interest rates, scheduled
maturities and other information on long-term debt outstanding as of
December 31:
1997 1996
---- ----
Forty year 4 3/8% debentures,
due May 1, 2002 ........................ $ 20.0 $ 20.0
Thirty-six year 6 1/4% debentures,
due August 1, 2004 ..................... 50.0 50.0
Thirty-six year 7 1/4% debentures,
due February 1, 2007.................... 90.0 90.0
Thirty-one year 6 3/4% debentures,
due August 15, 2024..................... 150.0 150.0
Thirty year 6.35% debentures,
due December 1, 2026.................... 125.0 125.0
--------- ---------
435.0 435.0
Unamortized discount, net ................. (4.9) (5.0)
--------- ---------
Total ..................................... $ 430.1 $ 430.0
========= =========
In November 1996, we issued $125 million of 6.35% noncallable
debentures due December 1, 2026. These debentures have a provision
that allows the holders to require us to redeem the debentures on
December 1, 2006, ten years from the date of issue. This
provision, also known as a "put provision," is not operable until
2006, and if not redeemed at that date, they are not redeemable
until 2026. We used the proceeds from this issue to repay
outstanding balances in the Ameritech short-term funding pool.
Following this debt issuance, we had $75 million remaining
available for issuance of unsecured debt securities under a
registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Over the next five years, the 4 3/8% debentures are scheduled to
be retired in 2002.
<PAGE>
H. Commitments and Contingencies
We lease certain facilities and equipment used in our operations
under operating leases. Rental expense under operating leases was
$12.2 million, $14.3 million and $13.9 million for 1997, 1996, and
1995, respectively. In addition, rental expense for the leasing of
equipment through Ameritech's lease financing subsidiary was
approximately $0.8 million in 1997. As of December 31, 1997, the
aggregate minimum rental commitments under external noncancelable
leases were approximately as follows:
Years Operating
----- ---------
1998.............................. $ 5.6
1999.............................. 5.0
2000.............................. 2.9
2001.............................. 2.0
2002.............................. 1.8
Thereafter........................ 2.1
--------
Total minimum lease commitments... $ 19.4
========
In November 1997, we reached an agreement in principle to settle
a class action lawsuit regarding our inside wire maintenance and
LINE-BACKERr services, subject to court approval. Those customers
who subscribe to these services pay a monthly fee to cover repairs
to inside telephone wiring and jacks. They thereby avoid charges
for labor and material at the time of repair.
The lawsuit charged unfair sales practices and violations of the
antitrust laws allegedly arising from our sales and marketing
practices. The settlement consists of, among other things, free
calling card and pay-per-use services over specified time periods,
as well as billing credits. Although the value to the class
members is much greater, we recorded a pretax charge of
approximately $1.7 million ($1.0 million after-tax) in the fourth
quarter of 1997 based on the negotiated settlement terms.
I. Financial Instruments
The following table presents the estimated fair value of our
financial instruments as of December 31, 1997 and 1996:
1997
-------------
Carrying Fair
Value Value
----- -----
Cash and temporary cash
investments.................... $ 1.1 $ 1.1
Debt............................ 515.8 514.1
Long-term payable to ASI
(for postretirement benefits).. 7.2 7.2
Other assets.................... 3.4 3.4
Other liabilities............... 0.5 0.5
1996
-------------
Carrying Fair
Value Value
----- -----
Cash and temporary cash
investments.................... $ 0.1 $ 0.1
Debt............................ 462.8 432.6
Long-term payable to ASI
(for postretirement benefits).. 7.7 7.7
Other assets.................... 3.6 3.6
Other liabilities............... 0.6 0.6
<PAGE>
We used the following methods and assumptions to estimate the
fair value of financial instruments:
Cash and temporary cash investments - The carrying value
approximates fair value because of the short-term maturity of these
instruments.
Debt - The carrying amount (including accrued interest) of debt
maturing within one year approximates fair value because of the
short-term maturities involved. We estimated the fair value of
long-term debt based on the year-end quoted market price for the
same or similar issues.
Other assets and liabilities - These financial instruments
consist primarily of other investments and customer deposits. We
based the fair values of these items on expected cash flows or, if
available, quoted market prices.
Long-term payable to ASI (for postretirement benefits) -
Carrying value approximates fair value.
J. Stock Options
During 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FAS
123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." This pronouncement
requires that Ameritech calculate the value of stock options at the
date of grant using an option pricing model. Ameritech elected the
"pro forma, disclosure only" option permitted under FAS 123,
instead of recording a charge to operations. Some of our
management personnel receive Ameritech stock options; however, the
portion of the option programs allocable to Wisconsin Bell
employees is not significant.
K. Additional Financial Information
As of December 31,
------------------
1997 1996
---- ----
Balance Sheets
Other current liabilities:
Accrued payroll....................... $ 7.1 $ 5.7
Compensated absences.................. 14.5 14.7
Accrued taxes......................... (17.7) (8.5)
Income taxes deferred one year........ (5.8) (7.0)
Advance billings and customer
deposits............................ 32.2 31.0
Accrued interest...................... 14.6 9.5
Other................................. 18.1 6.9
--------- ---------
Total................................ $ 63.0 $ 52.3
========= =========
Advertising costs were $18.2 million, $13.2 million and $15.9
million in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Interest paid was
$25.2 million, $28.6 million and $29.8 million in 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively.
Revenues from AT&T, consisting principally of network access and
billing and collection services revenues, comprised approximately
10% of total revenues in 1995. No other customer accounted for
more than 10% of total revenues in that year. No customer
accounted for more than 10% of revenues in 1996 and 1997.
L. Other Income, Net
The components of other income, net were as follows:
1997 1996 1995
---- ---- ----
Equity earnings of ASI..... $ 5.5 $ 3.9 $ 3.6
Other, net................. 0.2 (1.5) (1.6)
--------- --------- ---------
Total.................... $ 5.7 $ 2.4 $ 2.0
========= ========= =========
<PAGE>
M. Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
Operating Net
Revenues Income Income
-------- ------ -----
1997
----
First Quarter ............. $ 302.6 $ 93.5 $ 52.8
Second Quarter ............ 313.6 100.2 56.8
Third Quarter ............. 301.8 83.0 44.7
Fourth Quarter ............ 302.5 75.2 42.1
-------- -------- --------
1997 Total .............. $1,220.5 $ 351.9 $ 196.4
======== ======== ========
1996
----
First Quarter ............. $ 296.7 $ 86.9 $ 50.1
Second Quarter ............ 305.1 90.1 53.2
Third Quarter ............. 299.7 82.9 48.8
Fourth Quarter ............ 299.8 86.7 42.2
-------- -------- --------
1996 Total .............. $1,201.3 $ 346.6 $ 194.3
======== ======== ========
We have included all adjustments necessary for a fair statement
of results for each period.
N. Subsequent Event
In March 1998, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell to
Century Telephone Enterprises, Inc. the assets related to a portion
of our local exchange business for approximately $225 million.
Under terms of the agreement, we will sell assets used to serve
about 85,000 residential and business access lines in northern and
parts of central Wisconsin. We anticipate that the transaction
will conclude in late 1998, pending regulatory approval.
O. Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges of Wisconsin Bell for the
years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 was 10.35,
10.52, 10.01, 5.87 and 6.73, respectively.
For the purpose of calculating this ratio, (i) we have
calculated earnings by adding to income before interest expense and
extraordinary item the amount of related taxes on income, the
portion of rentals representative of the interest factor and
undistributed equity earnings, (ii) we consider one-third of rental
expense to be the amount representing return on capital, and (iii)
fixed charges comprise total interest expense, capitalized interest
and such portion of rentals.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
We have agreed with our accountants on all matters concerning
accounting principles and practices, financial statement
disclosure, auditing scope and procedure during the period covered
by this annual report.
<PAGE>
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-
K.
(a) Documents filed as part of the report:
(1) Financial Statements:
Page
----
Selected Financial and Operating Data..................... 8
Report of Independent Public Accountants.................. 16
Statements:
Statements of
Income and Accumulated Deficit........................ 17
Balance Sheets.......................................... 18
Statements of Cash Flows................................ 19
Notes to Financial Statements........................... 20
(2) Financial Statement Schedule:
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.................. 33
Glossary......................................
............... 31
We have omitted financial statement schedules other than the
one listed above because the required information is contained
in the financial statements and notes, or because such schedules
are not required or applicable.
(3) Exhibits
We incorporate by reference the exhibits identified in
parentheses below, which are on file with the SEC.
Exhibit
Number
------
3a - Articles of Association of the Company as amended
March 27, 1990 (Exhibit 3a to Form 10-K for 1989,
File No. 1-6589).
3b - By-laws of the Company, as amended March 27, 1990
(Exhibit 3b to Form 10-K for 1989, File No. 1-
6589).
4 - We are not required to file documents which define
the rights of holders of long and intermediate
term debt of Wisconsin Bell. We have agreed to
furnish a copy of these documents to the SEC on
request.
10 - Reorganization and Divestiture Agreement between
American Telephone and Telegraph Company, American
Information Technologies Corporation and
Affiliates, dated as of November 1, 1983 (Exhibit
10a to Form 10-K for 1983 for American Information
Technologies Corporation, File No. 1-8612).
12 - Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
for the five years ended December 31, 1997.
23 - Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
27 - Financial Data Schedule for the year ended
December 31, 1997.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
We did not file a Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of 1997.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
----------
Under the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, an
authorized company official has signed this report on our behalf.
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
/s/ Ronald G. Pippin
-----------------------------
Ronald G. Pippin,
Vice President and Comptroller
March 12, 1998
Under the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
following persons have signed this report on our behalf in the
capacities indicated.
Principal Executive Officer:
/s/ Ellen M. Gardner
- -----------------------------
Ellen M. Gardner,
President
Principal Financial and Accounting Officer:
/s/ Ronald G. Pippin
- -----------------------------
Ronald G. Pippin,
Vice President and Comptroller
Ameritech Corporation:
/s/ Barry K. Allen
- -----------------------------
Barry K. Allen,
Executive Vice President,
Regulatory and Wholesale Operations
The sole shareowner of the registrant, which is
managed by its sole shareowner rather than by
a board of directors.
March 12, 1998
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY
Access charges -
- ---------------
fees that local phone companies charge to long distance carriers
for the handling of long distance calls on our local network.
Access line -
- ------------
a telephone line for voice, data or video reaching from a local
phone company to a home or business.
Bell Companies -
- --------------
the former Bell telephone subsidiaries of AT&T, including
Ameritech's five local exchange companies in Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Bundled (unbundled) network elements -
- ------------------------------------
two or more components of a regulated service for which one
inclusive rate is charged; separate components of a regulated
service for which separate rates are charged.
Call management services -
- -------------------------
services that add value and convenience for phone customers, such
as call waiting, call forwarding and Caller ID. These services are
sold to customers individually or in packages.
Customer premises equipment (CPE) -
- ----------------------------------
communications equipment owned by customers, including telephones,
faxes and switches.
Data services -
- ----------------------
services that use advanced technology to allow faster network
access to the Internet and other multimedia and data services.
Derivative -
- ----------
an instrument that derives its value from the value of something
else, usually a price index, an interest rate, a foreign exchange
rate, or the price of a financial instrument or commodity.
Dial-1-plus -
- ---------
a feature that allows local phone customers to designate a carrier
other than the local service provider for toll calls within their
calling area by simply dialing 1 plus the telephone number.
Digital -
- --------
an alternative to traditional analog communications, digital
systems transport information in computer code for improved clarity
and quality.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) -
- ----------------------------------------
the federal agency responsible for regulating the interstate
aspects of telecommunications activities.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) -
- --------------------------------------------
the independent body responsible for setting accounting and
financial reporting standards to be followed by U.S. business
enterprises.
Gross receipts taxes -
- ---------------------
state and local taxes based upon the gross operating revenues
earned in a particular jurisdiction. These taxes may be imposed on
general businesses or public utilities in lieu of other taxes.
Hedging -
- -------------------
risk management activities involving derivatives.
Interconnection -
- ----------------
allowing a competitive local service provider to use the local
phone company's network, or elements of the network, to provide
local phone service to its customers.
Interexchange carriers (IXCs) -
- ------------------------------
those companies primarily involved in providing long distance voice
and data transmission services, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint.
Internet -
- ---------
the global web of networks that connects computers around the
world, providing rapid access to information from multiple sources.
Internet service providers (ISPs) -
- ----------------------------------
those companies providing access to the Internet and other computer-
based information networks.
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY (cont'd.)
Intrastate revenues -
- --------------------
that portion of revenues regulated by state rather than federal
authorities.
Landline -
- --------
referring to conventional wired phone service.
Local access -
- ------------
the local portion of long distance calls.
Local access and transport area (LATA) -
- ---------------------------------------
the boundary within which a local telephone company may provide
phone service. It is usually centered around a city or other
identifiable community of interest.
Local exchange carriers (LECs) -
- -------------------------------
those companies primarily involved in providing local phone service
and access to the local phone network, including Ameritech's
landline communications subsidiaries in Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Operations support systems (OSS) -
- ---------------------------------
the databases and information used to support the provision of
telephone service to end users.
Price caps -
- -----------
a form of regulation that sets maximum limits on the prices that
LECs can charge for access services instead of limits on rate of
return or profits.
Productivity factor -
- --------------------
a portion of the interstate price cap formula that requires LECs to
reduce the price cap based on an assumed increase in productivity.
RHCs -
- ----
the seven regional holding companies formed in connection with the
court-approved divestiture of certain assets of AT&T Corp.,
formerly American Telephone and Telegraph Company. With the 1997
mergers of two of the RHCs, Pacific Telesis Group into SBC
Communications Inc. and NYNEX Corporation into Bell Atlantic
Corporation, five RHCs remain.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) -
- -----------------------------------------
the federal agency that regulates the issuance and trading of
public debt and equity securities in the United States and monitors
compliance with these regulations.
Switched Minutes of Use -
- -----------------------
the measure of time used to bill IXC's for access to our public
switched network.
Universal service -
- ------------------
a concept designed to ensure access to the telecommunications
network in rural and low-income areas at affordable prices.
Funding typically comes from urban telecommunication operators.
<PAGE>
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
ALLOWANCE FOR UNCOLLECTIBLES
(Dollars in Millions)
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D COL. E
------ ------ ----------------- ------ ------
Additions
-----------------
Balance at Charged Charged Balance
Beginning to to Other at End of
of Period Expense (a) Accounts (b) Deductions (c) Period
--------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------
Year 1997........ $ 25.3 $ 25.4 $ 48.0 $ 74.2 $ 24.5
Year 1996........ 10.9 30.6 50.8 67.0 25.3
Year 1995........ 11.5 15.7 25.6 41.9 10.9
----------------------
(a)Excludes direct charges and credits to expense on the statements of
income and accumulated deficit related to interexchange carrier
receivables.
(b)Includes principally amounts related to the interexchange carrier
receivables which are being billed by us and amounts previously
written off which were credited directly to this account when
recovered, as well as the reclassification in 1996 of $4.6 million
from current liabilities to more accurately state the allowance.
(c)Amounts written off as uncollectible.
Exhibit 12
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(Dollars in Millions)
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1. EARNINGS
a) Income before interest expense,
income tax, extraordinary
item and undistributed
equity earnings (2)...... $ 358.0 $ 348.8 $ 348.8 $ 192.4 $ 242.2
b) Portion of rental expense
representative of the
interest factor (1)...... 4.1 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.7
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 1(a) and 1(b) . $ 362.1 $ 353.6 $ 353.4 $ 196.8 $ 246.9
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
2. FIXED CHARGES
a) Total interest expense
including capital
lease obligations........ $ 30.3 $ 28.1 $ 29.5 $ 28.5 $ 31.6
b) Capitalized interest ..... 0.6 0.7 1.2 0.6 0.4
c) Portion of rental expense
representative of the
interest factor (1)...... 4.1 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.7
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total 2(a) through 2(c). $ 35.0 $ 33.6 $ 35.3 $ 33.5 $ 36.7
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO
FIXED CHARGES................. 10.35 10.52 10.01 5.87 6.73
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
(1) One-third of rental expense is considered to be the amount representing
return on capital.
(2) The results for 1995 reflect a $24.1 million pretax credit primarily
from settlement gains resulting from lump sum pension payments from the
pension plan to former employees who left the business in the
nonmanagement work force restructuring. Results for 1994 reflect a
$71.8 million pretax charge associated with the nonmanagement work force
restructuring.
Exhibit 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report dated January 13, 1998,
included in this Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, into
Wisconsin Bell, Inc.'s previously filed Registration Statement File No.
33-53510.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 12, 1998
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
WISCONSIN BELL, INC.'S DECEMBER 31, 1997 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 129-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997
<CASH> 1,100
<SECURITIES> 0<F1>
<RECEIVABLES> 258,500
<ALLOWANCES> 24,500
<INVENTORY> 3,900
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 248,500
<PP&E> 3,044,900
<DEPRECIATION> 1,836,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,617,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 239,500
<BONDS> 430,100
0
0
<COMMON> 639,200
<OTHER-SE> (85,400)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,617,300
<SALES> 0<F2>
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,220,500
<CGS> 0<F3>
<TOTAL-COSTS> 868,600
<OTHER-EXPENSES> (5,700)
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30,300
<INCOME-PRETAX> 327,300
<INCOME-TAX> 130,900
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 196,400
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 196,400
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.00
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.00
<FN>
<F1>WE HAVE NOT STATED SECURITIES SEPARATELY IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT MATERIAL. WE HAVE INCLUDED THEM IN THE "CASH" TAG.
<F2>NET SALES OF TANGIBLE PRODUCTS IS NOT MORE THAN 10% OF TOTAL OPERATING
REVENUES. WE THEREFORE HAVE NOT STATED THESE SALES SEPARATELY IN THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PER REGULATION S-X, RULE 5-03(B). WE HAVE INCLUDED
THESE SALES IN THE "TOTAL REVENUES" TAG.
<F3>WE HAVE INCLUDED COST OF TANGIBLE GOODS SOLD IN OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
IN OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE "TOTAL COST" TAG, PER
REGULATION S-X, RULE 5-03(B).
</FN>
</TABLE>
