GENERAL COMMUNICATION INC
11-K, 1998-06-30
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                              --------------------

                                    FORM 11-K

                                   (Mark One)
              [ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997

                                       OR

             [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
         For the transition period from ______________ to ______________

                           Commission File No. 0-15279


A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan if different  from that of
the issuer named below:

                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of
its principal executive office:

                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                         2550 Denali Street, Suite 1000
                             Anchorage, Alaska 99503



                                       1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                         INDEX

                                              GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                         QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                                                       FORM 11-K

                                          FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Page Number
                                                                                        -----------------
<S>                                                                                           <C>  
Independent Auditors' Report dated June 12, 1998                                               3

Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits at December 31, 1997 and 1996             4

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the Years
Ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995                                                         5

Notes to Financial Statements                                                                  6

Supplemental Schedule I                                                                       13

Supplemental Schedule IV                                                                      14

Consent of Independent Auditors                                                               15

Signature                                                                                     16
</TABLE>



                                       2
<PAGE>
                          Independent Auditors' Report




The General Communication, Inc. Qualified
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan Trustees
General Communication, Inc. Qualified
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan


We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for plan
benefits of General  Communication,  Inc. Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan
as of December 31, 1997 and 1996,  and the related  statements of changes in net
assets  available  for plan  benefits  for each of the  years in the  three-year
period  ended   December  31,  1997.   These   financial   statements   are  the
responsibility of the Plan  Administrator.  Our  responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements 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 net assets  available  for plan benefits of General
Communication,  Inc. Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan at December 31, 1997
and 1996,  and the changes in those net assets  available  for plan benefits for
each  of the  years  in the  three-year  period  ended  December  31,  1997,  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial  statements taken as a whole. The supplemental  schedules I and IV are
presented for the purpose of additional  analysis and are not a required part of
the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the
Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations  for Reporting and Disclosure  under
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental  schedules
have been  subjected  to the  auditing  procedures  applied in the audits of the
basic  financial  statements  and,  in our  opinion,  are  fairly  stated in all
material  respects  in  relation to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a
whole.




                                               KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP

Anchorage, Alaska
June 12, 1998






                                       3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                          QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                                   Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        December 31,
                                                                                  1997               1996
                                                                              --------------    ---------------
<S>                                                                        <C>                      <C>  
Cash and cash equivalents (note 6)                                         $        322,862            462,139
                                                                              --------------    ---------------

Investments (notes 7 and 8):
  General Communication, Inc. common stock                                       14,212,992         15,710,456
  MCI Communications Corp. common stock                                             300,547             31,707
  Tele-Communications, Inc. common stock                                            161,366              9,057
  Mutual fund investments                                                         2,992,635            255,616
  Participant notes receivable                                                      463,876            306,343
                                                                              --------------    ---------------
                                                                                 18,131,416         16,313,179
                                                                              --------------    ---------------
Contributions receivable:
  Employee                                                                           88,807             57,870
  Employer                                                                           76,891             52,135
                                                                              --------------    ---------------
                                                                                    165,698            110,005

Investment income receivable                                                          2,959              2,259
                                                                              --------------    ---------------

Net assets available for plan benefits                                     $     18,622,935         16,887,582
                                                                              ==============    ===============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.



                                       4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                           QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits
<CAPTION>

                                                                                  Years Ended December 31,
                                                                         1997              1996                1995
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------
<S>                                                             <C>                         <C>                <C>
Contributions:
    Employee                                                    $         2,184,207         1,170,538            918,423
    Employer                                                              1,717,527         1,033,618            872,388
    Rollover from cable entities (note 7)                                 1,563,137               ---                ---
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------
                                                                          5,464,871         2,204,156          1,790,811
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------

Investment income:
    Interest income                                                          83,519            20,642              9,840
    Dividend income                                                          68,377             8,113                155
    Capital gains distributions                                             256,775               ---                ---
    Net realized losses                                                   (267,048)               ---                ---
    Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of
      investments                                                       (2,495,729)         5,550,089          1,960,257
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------
                                                                        (2,354,106)         5,578,844          1,970,252
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------

Increase in net assets available for plan benefits                        3,110,765         7,783,000          3,761,063

Employee withdrawals                                                      1,375,412           799,994            554,618
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------

Net increase in net assets available for plan benefits                    1,735,353         6,983,006          3,206,455

Net assets available for plan benefits at beginning of period            16,887,582         9,904,576          6,698,131
                                                                    ---------------   ---------------    ---------------

Net assets available for plan benefits at end of period         $        18,622,935        16,887,582          9,904,576
                                                                    ===============   ===============    ===============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to financial statements.




                                       5
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                                    
(1)      Description of Plan

         The following description of the General Communication,  Inc. Qualified
         Employee  Stock  Purchase Plan ("Plan")  provides  general  information
         only.  Participants  should  refer  to the  Plan  agreement  for a more
         complete description of the Plan's provisions.

            General
            The  Plan is a  defined  contribution  plan  covering  employees  of
            General  Communication,  Inc. ("GCI") and affiliated companies (GCI,
            Inc., GCI Holdings, Inc., GCI Communication Corp., GCI Communication
            Services,  Inc.,  GCI  Leasing  Co.,  Inc.,  GCI  Cable,  Inc.,  GCI
            Cable/Fairbanks,  Inc.,  GCI  Cable/Juneau,  Inc.,  Prime  Cable  of
            Alaska,  L.P., GCI Transport Co., Inc., GCI Satellite Co., Inc., GCI
            Fiber Co., Inc., Fiber Hold Co., Inc. and Alaska United Fiber System
            Partnership)  ("Company") who have completed one year of service, as
            defined in the Plan agreement.

            Contributions
            The Plan provides for a qualified  cash or deferred  arrangement  as
            defined  in  Section  401(k) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986
            ("Code").  A  participant  may elect the  following  methods to make
            employee contributions:

               (1) Salary Reduction Contributions  ("before-tax  contributions")
                   which  will  not be  included  in the  participant's  current
                   earnings  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  but rather are
                   taxable upon distribution; or,

               (2) Non-qualified     Voluntary     Contributions     ("after-tax
                   contributions")  which will be included in the  participant's
                   current earnings for federal income tax purposes.

            Eligible  employees  of  the  Company  may  elect  to  reduce  their
            compensation  in any amount up to 10% of such  compensation  up to a
            maximum of $10,000 in 1998,  $9,500 in 1997 and 1996,  and $9,240 in
            1995;  they  may  contribute  up to 10% of their  compensation  with
            after-tax  dollars;  or they  may  elect  a  combination  of  salary
            reduction  and  after-tax  contributions.  The  Company  will  match
            employee salary reduction and after-tax  contributions in any amount
            determined  by the Company  each year,  but not more than 10% of any
            one  employee's  compensation  will be  matched  in any pay  period.
            Forfeitures  will be  allocated  along  with  the  Company  matching
            contributions.  All matching contributions are invested in GCI class
            A or class B common  stock.  The  combination  of salary  reduction,
            after-tax,  forfeited and matching  contributions  cannot exceed the
            lesser  of 25%  of any  employee's  compensation  (determined  after
            salary reduction) for any year, or $30,000.  Compensation considered
            for all Plan  purposes  is  subject  to a  compensation  ceiling  of
            $160,000 for 1998 and 1997, and $150,000 for 1996 and 1995.

            Through June 30, 1995, the Company matched employee salary reduction
            and after-tax contributions 100% with GCI Class A and Class B common
            stock,  limited to 10% of any one employee's  compensation  each pay
            period.  Commencing July 1, 1995, employee contributions invested in
            GCI Class A and Class B common stock  continue to receive up to 100%
            matching, as determined by the Company each year, in GCI Class A and
            Class B common stock. Employee  contributions invested in other than
            GCI Class A and Class B common stock receive up to 50% matching,  as
            determined  by the  Company  each  year,  in GCI Class A and Class B
            common stock.

            Amounts  contributed to the Plan by the Company are not taxed to the
            employee until distribution upon retirement, hardship or termination
            of employment. Plan earnings are taxable to the employee either upon
            distribution  or, in the case of GCI stock  distributions,  upon the
            eventual disposition of the stock.




                                       6
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


            Participant Accounts
            Each  participant   account  is  credited  with  the   participant's
            contributions,  the employer matching  contributions and allocations
            of Plan earnings. Plan earnings are allocated quarterly. Earnings of
            assets other than GCI Class A and Class B common stock are allocated
            based  on the  participant's  weighted  account  balance  (excluding
            Company  stock) as a proportion of total weighted  account  balances
            (excluding  Company stock) during the calendar quarter.  Earnings on
            Company  stock are  allocated to the  accounts  holding such Company
            stock,  based  upon the  number of shares  held by each  participant
            account at the end of the calendar quarter.

            Vesting
            A participant's  interest in his or her Salary Reduction Account and
            Non-qualified  Voluntary  Account is always  fully vested and is not
            subject to forfeiture.
<TABLE>
            The participant's interest in the Company Matching Account is vested
            based upon years of service with the Company (as defined in the Plan
            agreement), in accordance with the following schedule:
<CAPTION>
                                   Years of Service               Vested Percentage
                            -----------------------------     ------------------------
                            <S>                                         <C> 
                            Less than 1                                   0%
                            1 or more but less than 2                    20%
                            2 or more but less than 3                    30%
                            3 or more but less than 4                    45%
                            4 or more but less than 5                    60%
                            5 or more but less than 6                    80%
                            6 or more                                   100%
</TABLE>
            Any portion of a participant's account which is forfeitable shall be
            forfeited  on the  earlier  of the  date  a  terminated  participant
            receives  a  distribution  or the  date  on  which  the  participant
            experiences five consecutive  one-year breaks in service (as defined
            in the Plan agreement).

            A participant's interest in the Company Matching Account fully vests
            without   regard  to  the  number  of  years  of  service  when  the
            participant, while still employed: (i) attains Normal Retirement age
            and retires under the terms of the Plan; (ii) dies, or (iii) becomes
            totally and permanently  disabled.  A participant's  interest in the
            Company Matching Account fully vests upon the termination or partial
            termination of the Plan or upon complete  discontinuance  of Company
            contributions.

            If a participant terminates  participation for any reason other than
            retirement,  death or  disability  while any  portion  of his or her
            account in the Plan is  forfeitable,  and receives a distribution of
            his or her vested account balance  attributable to Company  matching
            contributions  not  later  than the  close of the  second  Plan year
            following the Plan year in which participation terminated, then upon
            becoming an eligible employee,  the participating employee will have
            the right to repay the  distribution  to the Plan in accordance with
            Plan provisions. The shares of that participating employee's account
            previously forfeited will be restored.

            Forfeitures
            If a participating employee terminates  participation for any reason
            other than retirement,  death or disability,  that portion of his or
            her  account  attributable  to Company  contributions  which has not
            vested will be forfeited. All amounts so forfeited will be allocated
            along  with the  employer  matching  contribution  to the  remaining
            participating  employees during the first calendar quarter 



                                       7
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


            after  the  end  of  the  year  in  which  the  forfeitures   occur.
            Forfeitures  are  immaterial to the financial  statements as a whole
            and are not accrued at year end.

            Participant Notes Receivable
            Participants  may borrow from their  accounts a minimum of $1,000 up
            to a maximum  equal to the  lesser  $50,000  or 50% of their  vested
            account  balance.  Loan  transactions  are  treated as a transfer to
            (from) the investment  fund from (to) the  Participants  Notes fund.
            Loan terms range from 1-5 years. The loans are secured by the vested
            balance in the  participant's  account and bear interest at National
            Bank of  Alaska's  prime  rate  plus 2%,  fixed  at the  loan  date.
            Interest  rates for all notes  receivable at December 31, 1997,  are
            10.50  percent.  Principal  and  interest  is paid  ratably  through
            semi-monthly payroll deductions.

(2)      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

         The Plan  financial  statements  are  based on the  accrual  method  of
         accounting with Plan investments stated at current value.

         The current  value of GCI Class A and Class B common  stock is based on
         the average of the closing bid and ask prices as listed on the National
         Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) National
         Market System.  The current value of MCI  Communications  Corp. ("MCI")
         common stock,  Tele-Communications,  Inc.  Series A TCI Ventures  Group
         common stock, TCI Satellite  Entertainment,  Inc. Series A common stock
         and   Tele-Communications,   Inc.  Series  A  TCI  Group  common  stock
         (collectively "TCI") is based on the average of the closing bid and ask
         prices as listed on the NASDAQ  National  Market  System.  Mutual  fund
         investments  are  carried  at  fair  market  value,  as  determined  by
         individual fund management, based upon quoted market prices.

         Purchases and sales of securities  are recorded on a trade-date  basis.
         The cost of securities  purchased is determined  using the average cost
         method.

         Certain  reclassifications  of activity have been made in the statement
         of changes of net assets  available for plan benefits in the prior year
         balances in order to conform to the current year presentation.

(3)      Administration of Plan Assets

         On July 1,  1995,  The  Heintzberger  Company  ("Recordkeeper")  became
         recordkeeper of the Plan and National Bank of Alaska ("Trustee") became
         trustee of the Plan.  Administrative  expenses  related to the Plan are
         paid  directly  by the  Company to the  Recordkeeper  and the  Trustee.
         Company  employees  continue to provide  administrative  support to the
         Plan but no employee receives compensation from the Plan.

(4)      Amendment or Termination

         The  Company's  Board of  Directors  has reserved the right to amend or
         terminate the Plan. No amendment may reduce the accrued benefits of any
         participant or give the Company any interest in the trust assets of the
         Plan.  In the event of  termination  of the Plan,  a  participant  with
         respect to the Plan becomes fully vested in his or her Company Matching
         Account.

         The Plan was  amended  in 1992 to conform  with  revised  Rule  16(b)-3
         adopted  pursuant to the 1934  Securities  Exchange Act. Such amendment
         provides  restrictions  on  participation  after an officer or director
         makes a withdrawal from the Plan,  limitations on further participation
         by officers and  directors  



                                       8
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


         after  ceasing  to  participate  in  the  Plan,   approval  of  certain
         amendments by shareholders, and transferability restrictions.

         In December 1994 the Plan was amended and restated  effective  January,
         1989 to comply  with the Tax Reform  Act of 1986 and other  legislation
         ("TRA  '86").  Also in  December  1994 the Plan was  amended  to modify
         matching  contribution  requirements  and to allow  diversification  of
         investments into selected securities or funds as described in Footnotes
         (1)  and  (7),  respectively.   Investment  and  matching  contribution
         revisions  to the Plan were  implemented  during  the third  quarter of
         1995.

(5)      Refunded and Refundable Contributions

         During  1995,  the  Plan  did not  meet  the  requirements  of  certain
         discrimination   tests  related  to  employee  and  employer   matching
         contributions  for certain highly  compensated  employees (as defined).
         Corrective  distributions  were made in  December  1995 to satisfy  the
         non-discrimination  test  requirements for the Plan year ended December
         31, 1995.

(6)      Cash and Cash Equivalents

         Included in cash and cash equivalents are interest bearing certificates
         of deposit.  Cash and cash  equivalents  at December  31, 1997 and 1996
         include  restricted cash of $107,431 and $116,214,  respectively.  This
         cash has been restricted by participants  from use in purchasing  stock
         or other investments.

(7)      Investments

         Through  June  30,  1995,  the  Plan  was  self-administered  and  Plan
         participants  invested  contributions in GCI Class A and Class B common
         stock only. Commencing July 1, 1995, the Plan diversified with expanded
         investment choices offered to Plan participants as follows:

              GCI  Stock  Fund - a fund  invested  in  shares of GCI Class A and
              Class B common stock.

              MCI Stock Fund - a fund invested in shares of MCI common stock.

              TCI Stock Fund - a fund invested in shares of TCI common stock.




                                       9
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


         Mutual Funds:

                  Fidelity  Puritan  Trust  Fund  ("Fidelity")  - a mutual  fund
                  seeking high income with  preservation of capital by investing
                  in a broadly diversified portfolio of securities.

                  Heartland  Value Fund  ("Heartland")  - a mutual fund  seeking
                  long term capital  appreciation  through  investment  in small
                  company stocks selected on a value basis.

                  Meridian Fund  ("Meridian") - a mutual fund seeking  long-term
                  growth of  capital  through  investments  in small and  medium
                  sized companies  considered to be  experiencing  above-average
                  growth in revenue and earnings.

                  Neuberger & Berman Guardian Fund ("Neuberger") - a mutual fund
                  seeking primarily capital appreciation and secondarily current
                  income  through  investment in a large number of common stocks
                  of long-established, high quality companies.

                  Vanguard  Short-term  Corporate  Fund  ("Vanguard") - a mutual
                  fund seeking to provide  investors with a high level of income
                  consistent  with  maintenance  of principle and liquidity with
                  primary   investment  in  investment   grade   corporate  debt
                  securities,  federal,  state and municipal agency obligations,
                  certificates of deposit and commercial paper.





                                       10
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


<TABLE>
         Changes  in  investments  by  investment  account  for the  year  ended
December 31, 1997 are as follows.

<CAPTION>
                              Balance                    Rollover                                                    Balance
                            December 31,   Contri-      from Cable   Investment                      Employee        December
                               1996        butions       Entities      Income        Transfers      Withdrawals      31, 1997
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
          <S>            <C>               <C>            <C>         <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>
          Cash & cash
          equivalents    $       462,139         ---            ---        25,474       (164,751)             ---        322,862
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------

          Investments:
          GCI                 15,710,456   3,409,099        857,261   (2,651,497)     (1,578,963)     (1,533,364)     14,212,992
          MCI                     31,707      63,606         53,778        32,513         136,108        (17,165)        300,547
          TCI                      9,057      16,104         12,456        59,272          68,854         (4,377)        161,366
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
          Mutual fund
          investments:
            Fidelity              34,028      74,753         78,461        24,578         167,732        (12,454)        367,098
            Heartland            108,020     158,854        176,935        51,318         564,251        (23,688)      1,035,690
            Meridian              42,834     102,755         81,639        24,264          82,708         (6,697)        327,503
            Neuberger             61,674     152,623        176,542        22,149         329,451         (8,433)        734,006
            Vanguard               9,060      43,551         79,023        13,623         394,610        (11,529)        528,338
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
                                 255,616     532,536        592,600       135,932       1,538,752        (62,801)      2,992,635
          Participant
            notes
            receivable           306,343   (175,304)         47,042        43,500             ---         242,295        463,876
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
                              16,313,179   3,846,041      1,563,137   (2,380,280)         164,751     (1,375,412)     18,131,416
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------

          Contributions
            receivable:
            Employee              57,870      30,937            ---           ---             ---             ---        88,807
            Employer              52,135      24,756            ---           ---             ---             ---        76,891
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------
                                 110,005      55,693            ---           ---             ---             ---       165,698

          Investment
          income
          receivable               2,259         ---            ---           700             ---             ---          2,959
                           ------------- -----------   ------------ -------------  --------------  --------------  -------------

                         $    16,887,582   3,901,734      1,563,137   (2,354,106)             ---     (1,375,412)     18,622,935
                           ============= ===========   ============ =============  ==============  ==============  =============
</TABLE>
         During the second quarter of 1997,  participants were allowed to make a
         one-time  transfer  of their  investment  in GCI Class A and B stock to
         another investment choice(s) offered by the Plan.

         Effective  October 31, 1996, GCI acquired seven Alaska cable television
         companies ("Cable Systems").  During 1997, the 401(k) accounts of those
         employees  previously  employed  by the  Cable  Systems  and  currently
         employed by GCI were rolled into the Plan. Contributions from the Cable
         Systems' rollovers totaled $1,563,137.

         At December 31, 1997 the GCI Class A and Class B common stock price was
         $6.6875.  At June 12,  1998 the GCI  Class A and  Class B common  stock
         price was $5.9688. Stock value is based upon fluctuating market demand.



                                       11
<PAGE>
                           GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                     QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


<TABLE>
         Investments  which  represent  5% or more of the  Plan's  net assets at
         December 31, 1997 and 1996 follow:
<CAPTION>
                                                                         1997              1996
                                                                     --------------    --------------
                    <S>                                           <C>                      <C>    
                    GCI Class A and Class B common stock          $    14,212,992          15,710,456
                    Heartland                                           1,035,690             108,020
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
         Employees may elect to participate in more than one fund. The following
         table summarizes the number of employees  participating in each fund at
         December 31:
<CAPTION>
                                                                            1997            1996           1995
                                                                         -----------    ------------    -----------
                    <S>                                                        <C>               <C>            <C>
                    GCI Stock Fund                                               578             345            234
                    MCI Stock Fund                                                92              46             32
                    TCI Stock Fund                                                40              23             13
                    Fidelity                                                      81              34             29
                    Heartland                                                    163              67             52
                    Meridian                                                      98              40             29
                    Neuberger                                                    135              41             29
                    Vanguard                                                      62              16              9
                                                                         -----------    ------------    -----------
                                                                               1,249             612            427
                                                                         ===========    ============    ===========
</TABLE>

(8)      Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Investments
<TABLE>
         The gross  unrealized  appreciation  (depreciation)  of Plan  assets at
         December 31 was as follows:
<CAPTION>
                                                                           1997           1996            1995
                                                                       ------------    -----------    -------------
                    <S>                                              <C>                 <C>               <C> 
                    GCI Stock Fund                                   $    5,981,174      9,160,059        3,922,986
                    MCI Stock Fund                                           26,819          5,731              404
                    TCI Stock Fund                                           49,915        (2,955)              117
                    Mutual fund investments                               (183,322)          7,933          (1,166)
                                                                       ------------    -----------    -------------
                                                                     $    5,874,586      9,170,768        3,922,341
                                                                       ============    ===========    =============
</TABLE>

(9)      Income Taxes

         The Plan is qualified  under  Section  401(a) of the Code pursuant to a
         tax  determination  letter  obtained from the Internal  Revenue Service
         ("IRS").  The trust  established  pursuant  to the Plan is,  therefore,
         exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code.

         In  December  1994,  an  application  was  submitted  to the  IRS for a
         determination  as to the  Plan's  qualification  status  under  Section
         401(a) of the Code associated with Plan changes for TRA '86, investment
         diversification and modification of the employer matching  contribution
         percentage.  On March 13,  1996 the IRS issued a  determination  letter
         stating  that these  amendments  to the Plan meet the  requirements  of
         section 401(a) of the Code.




                                       12
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                                                           Supplemental Schedule I

                                              GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                        QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                              Item 27a - Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes

                                                   December 31, 1997
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       Current
              Identity of Issue                           Description of Investment                  Cost               Value
- --------------------------------------------    --------------------------------------------    ---------------    ---------------
<S>                                             <C>                                          <C>                        <C>  
General Communication, Inc *                    2,125,307 shares of Class A and Class B
                                                   common stock                              $        8,231,818         14,212,992

MCI Communications Corp. *                      7,020 shares of common stock                            273,728            300,547
                                                                                                ---------------    ---------------

Tele-Communications, Inc. Series A 
 TCI Group                                      4,997 shares of Class A common stock                     98,542            139,606
Tele-Communications, Inc. Series A 
 Ventures Group                                 753 shares of Class A common stock                       11,871             21,320
TCI Satellite Entertainment, Inc. 
 Series A                                       64 shares of Class A common stock                         1,038                440
                                                                                                ---------------    ---------------
                                                                                                        111,451            161,366
                                                                                                ---------------    ---------------
Mutual fund investments:
   Heartland Value Fund                         30,578 shares                                         1,113,221          1,035,690
   Neuberger & Berman Guardian Fund             28,340 shares                                           827,772            734,006
   Vanguard Short-term Corporate Bond Fund      48,875 shares                                           525,761            528,338
   Fidelity Puritan Trust Fund                  18,942 shares                                           357,252            367,098
   Meridian Fund                                10,657 shares                                           351,951            327,503
                                                                                                ---------------    ---------------
                                                                                                      3,175,957          2,992,635

Participant notes receivable                                                                            463,876            463,876
                                                                                                ---------------    ---------------

Investments at December 31, 1997                                                             $       12,256,830         18,131,416
                                                                                                ===============    ===============
</TABLE>
* Party-in-interest



                                       13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
                                                                                                           Supplemental Schedule IV


                                              GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                        QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                                    Item 27d - Schedule of Reportable Transactions

                                                   December 31, 1997
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          Current
                                                                                                         Value of
                                                                                                         Asset on
                                                          Purchase        Selling        Cost of        Transaction        
 Identity of Party Involved     Description of Asset        Price          Price          Asset            Date         Net Gain
- ---------------------------    ----------------------    -----------    -----------    ------------    ------------    -----------
<S>                            <C>                    <C>                 <C>             <C>              <C>             <C>
Series of transactions -       GCI Class A & B
purchases                      common stock           $    3,805,989      3,805,989       3,805,989        3,805,989           ---

transactions - sale            GCI Class A & B
                               common stock                1,403,672      1,691,702       1,403,672        1,691,702       288,030

Series of transactions -       Heartland Value Fund,
purchases                      Inc.                        1,044,810      1,044,810       1,044,810        1,044,810           ---

Series of transactions -       Heartland Value Fund,
sales                          Inc.                           34,216         35,013          34,216           35,013           797

Series of transactions -       Federated Government
purchases                      Obligation Fund #5
                                                           6,274,974      6,274,974       6,274,974        6,274,974           ---

Series of transactions -       Federated Government
sales                          Obligation Fund #5
                                                           6,423,682      6,423,682       6,423,682        6,423,682           ---
</TABLE>




                                       14
<PAGE>
                                                                         Exhibit


                         Consent of Independent Auditors




The General Communication, Inc. Qualified
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan Trustees
General Communication, Inc. Qualified
     Employee Stock Purchase Plan


We consent to incorporation by reference in the Form S-8 Registration  Statement
(No.  33-24029) of our report dated June 12, 1998 related to the  statements  of
net assets available for plan benefits of General Communication,  Inc. Qualified
Employee  Stock  Purchase  Plan as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and the related
statements of changes in net assets  available for plan benefits for each of the
years in the three-year  period ended December 31, 1997, which report appears in
the December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 11-K of General Communication,  Inc.
Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan.




                                         KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

June 29, 1998





                                       15
<PAGE>
                                    SIGNATURE

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



                                         GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC.
                                         QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN


            June 29, 1998                      By:    /s/  Alfred J. Walker
               (Date)                                 Alfred J. Walker
                                                      Plan Administrator








                                       15


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