UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[ X ] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1997
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 0-556
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 68-0365195
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
211 Lincoln Street, Roseville, California 95678
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (916) 786-6141
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock - Without Par Value
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's
classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
As of April 30, 1997, 15,358,720 shares of the registrant's
Common Stock were outstanding.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Quarter Quarter
Ended Ended
March 31, March 31,
1997 1996
------------ ------------
Operating revenues:
Local service $13,190,000 $12,026,000
Network access service 9,440,000 8,477,000
Long distance service 300,000 1,037,000
----------- -----------
Total rate regulated revenues 22,930,000 21,540,000
Directory advertising 1,837,000 1,767,000
Nonregulated sales and service 1,641,000 1,025,000
Other 1,324,000 1,187,000
----------- -----------
Total operating revenues 27,732,000 25,519,000
Operating expenses:
Plant operations 6,435,000 6,538,000
Depreciation 4,705,000 5,237,000
Customer operations 3,510,000 3,440,000
General and administrative 5,099,000 4,044,000
Cost of nonregulated sales and 1,066,000 715,000
service
Property and miscellaneous taxes 452,000 459,000
----------- -----------
Total operating expenses 21,267,000 20,433,000
----------- -----------
Income from operations 6,465,000 5,086,000
Other income (expense):
Interest income 412,000 342,000
Interest expense (630,000) (712,000)
Equity in earnings of cellular 3,106,000 1,963,000
partnership
Other, net 41,000 72,000
----------- -----------
Total other income, net 2,929,000 1,665,000
----------- -----------
Income before income taxes 9,394,000 6,751,000
Income taxes 3,717,000 2,747,000
----------- -----------
Net income $ 5,677,000 $ 4,004,000
=========== ===========
Per share of common stock:
Net income (1) $0.37 $0.26
===== =====
Cash dividends (2) $0.15 $0.15
===== =====
Shares of common stock used to
calculate net income per share 15,358,720 15,358,720
========== ==========
(1) Shares used in the computation of net income per share of
common stock are based on the weighted average number of shares
outstanding in each period after giving retroactive effect to
stock dividends.
(2) Cash dividends per share of common stock are based on the
actual dividends per share, as declared by the Company's Board of
Directors, after giving retroactive effect to stock dividends.
See accompanying notes.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
March 31, 1997 December 31, 1996
-------------- -----------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 34,478,000 $ 24,435,000
Short-term investments 1,460,000 2,233,000
Accounts receivable, net 14,210,000 14,720,000
Inventories 2,995,000 2,895,000
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 1,638,000 1,635,000
------------ ------------
Total current assets 54,781,000 45,918,000
Property, plant and equipment
net, 183,881,000 184,182,000
Investments and other assets:
Cellular partnership 31,767,000 26,147,000
PCS license deposit 1,812,000 9,000,000
Deferred charges and other
assets 2,605,000 2,634,000
------------ ------------
36,184,000 37,781,000
------------ ------------
$274,846,000 $267,881,000
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of long-term
debt $ 5,714,000 $ 5,714,000
Accounts payable and accrued
liabilities 25,105,000 20,537,000
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 30,819,000 26,251,000
Long-term debt 26,607,000 28,036,000
Deferred credits 26,244,000 25,791,000
Minority interest in subsidiary 1,002,000 1,002,000
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock, without par
value; 100,000,000 shares
authorized, 15,358,720 issued
and outstanding shares 177,758,000 177,758,000
Retained earnings 12,416,000 9,043,000
------------ ------------
Total shareholders' equity 190,174,000 186,801,000
------------ ------------
$274,846,000 $267,881,000
============ ============
See accompanying notes.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Quarter Quarter
Ended Ended
March 31, March 31,
1997 1996
------------ ------------
Net cash provided by operating
activities $12,704,000 $ 9,850,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of held-to-maturity
investments (1,477,000) -
Maturities of held-to-maturity
investments 2,250,000 -
Capital expenditures for property,
plant and equipment (4,404,000) (4,220,000)
Investment in cellular partnership (2,514,000) (366,000)
Return of refundable deposit 7,188,000 8,960,000
Changes in deferred charges and
other assets 29,000 5,000
----------- -----------
Net cash provided by investing
activities 1,072,000 4,379,000
Cash flows from financing activities:
Principal payments of long-term
debt (1,429,000) (893,000)
Dividends paid (2,304,000) (2,237,000)
----------- -----------
Net cash used in financing
activities (3,733,000) (3,130,000)
----------- -----------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 10,043,000 11,099,000
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period 24,435,000 24,854,000
----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
period $34,478,000 $35,953,000
=========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. General and Basis of Accounting
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Roseville
Communications Company (the "Company") have been prepared
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and, in the opinion of
management, include all adjustments (consisting only of
normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly
the results for the interim periods shown. Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in
annual financial statements prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed
or omitted pursuant to such SEC rules and regulations and
generally accepted accounting principles applicable for
interim periods. Management believes that the disclosures
made are adequate to make the information presented not
misleading. These condensed consolidated financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included
in the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Shareholders.
The Company is a holding company with subsidiaries operating
in the communications services industry. The Company's
principal operating subsidiary, Roseville Telephone Company
("Roseville Telephone"), provides local and toll telephone
services, network access services, billing and collection
services, directory advertising services and certain
nonregulated services. Additionally, Roseville Telephone,
with an approximate 23.5% equity interest, is a limited
partner of Sacramento-Valley Limited Partnership ("SVLP"),
which provides cellular telephone service principally in
California. Roseville Telephone's wholly-owned subsidiary,
Roseville PCS, Inc., is the manager of and has an
approximate 89% interest in West Coast PCS LLC ("West
Coast"), which was formed together with an unrelated entity
for the purpose of providing personal communications
services ("PCS"). The Company recently formed a wholly-
owned subsidiary, Roseville Cable Company ("Roseville
Cable"), for the purpose of acquiring and operating a cable
television system currently serving approximately 18,000
subscribers in the City of Roseville and certain
unincorporated areas of Placer County, California. During
February 1997, Roseville Directory Company ("Roseville
Directory"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company,
commenced operations to produce, publish and distribute
Roseville Telephone's 1998 directory including the sale of
yellow pages advertising previously provided by an
unaffiliated company. In January 1997, the Company formed a
wholly-owned subsidiary, Roseville Long Distance Company
("Roseville Long Distance"), for the purposes of providing
long distance services. West Coast, Roseville Cable and
Roseville Long Distance have not generated any revenues or
incurred any significant costs and expenses for the period
from their inception to March 31, 1997. However, the
Company expects that the sources of its revenues and its
cost structure may be significantly different in the future
as a result of its entry into these communications markets.
The Company's consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting for the Effects of
Certain Types of Regulation" ("SFAS No. 71"), which require
companies meeting the criteria to give effect in
their financial statements to certain actions of regulators.
For example, amounts charged to operations for depreciation
expense reflect estimated lives and methods prescribed by
regulators rather than the economic lives that might
otherwise apply to nonregulated enterprises. A number of
telecommunications companies, including all of the Regional
Bell Operating Companies, have determined that they no
longer meet the criteria of SFAS No. 71. However, such
telecommunications companies are significantly different
from Roseville Telephone in the level and nature of
competition they experience and in the nature and mix of
services they offer. The Company believes its regulated
operations continue to meet the criteria of SFAS No.71 due
to its nature and mix of revenues, the authority of federal
and state regulators to establish rates and monitor
Roseville Telephone's earnings, the P.U.C.'s regulatory
authority to set Roseville Telephone's depreciation lives
and recent legal proceedings at the federal level which
prohibit a regulatory agency from setting rates and charges
at levels which do not allow telephone companies to recover
their cost of providing telephone services, including a
reasonable profit.
As a result of increasing competition and rapid changes in
the telecommunications industry, the Company periodically
monitors whether its regulated operations continue to meet
the criteria which require the use of SFAS No. 71. If it
becomes no longer reasonable to assume that Roseville
Telephone can recover its costs of providing regulated
services through rates charged to customers, whether
resulting from the effects of increased competition or
specific regulatory actions, SFAS No. 71 would no longer
apply. In the future, should the Company determine its
regulated operations no longer meet the SFAS No. 71
criteria, a material, extraordinary, noncash charge would
result. The approximate amount of Roseville Telephone's net
regulatory asset at December 31, 1996 was between $6 million
and $13 million, consisting principally of property, plant
and equipment. The estimate for property, plant and
equipment was calculated based upon a projection of useful
lives which may be affected by the increasing competition
and rapid changes in the telecommunications industry
referred to above.
2. Investment in SVLP
The Company has an approximate 23.5% interest in SVLP, which
operates a cellular mobile radiotelephone system principally
in California.
Summarized unaudited income statement information for the
quarters ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 for SVLP is as
follows (in thousands):
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended
March 31, 1997 March 31, 1996
-------------- --------------
Net revenues $37,920 $32,122
Costs and expenses 24,687 23,758
------- -------
Net income $13,233 $ 8,364
======= =======
3. Pending Acquisition
On October 14, 1996, Roseville Cable entered into an Asset
Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with IDS/Jones
Growth Partners 87-A, LTD ("Seller") under which Roseville
Cable agreed to purchase a cable television system (the
"System") currently serving approximately 18,000 subscribers
in the City of Roseville, California and certain
unincorporated areas of Placer County, California. The
consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase
Agreement is subject to various conditions including 1)
approval of the City of Roseville and Placer County to the
transfer of the franchises, 2) satisfaction of requirements
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, 3) a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission
of certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
and 4) approval of the Board of Directors of the Company and
the limited partners of the Seller.
Upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions of the
Purchase Agreement, Roseville Cable will purchase
substantially all of the assets of the System for a purchase
price of $30.9 million in cash. In accordance with the
provisions of the Purchase Agreement, $1.6 million of the
consideration was delivered to an escrow account in December
1996 as a refundable earnest money deposit. While certain
of these conditions have been satisfied, there can be no
assurance that the remaining waivers and approvals will be
obtained. However, the Company expects that the closing of
the transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement will
occur in the second half of 1997.
4. Pending Accounting Pronouncement
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standard Board
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS No. 128"). SFAS No. 128 is
effective for the Company in its annual 1997 financial
statements, and will require retroactive restatement of all
prior-period earnings per share ("EPS") data presented.
SFAS No. 128 simplifies the standards for computing EPS, and
replaces the presentation of primary EPS with a presentation
of basic EPS. Due to the Company's simple capital structure
and the absence of contingently issuable shares or
potentially dilutive securities, the Company does not
believe that its computation of EPS data under SFAS No. 128
will differ significantly from the calculations used for the
Company's prior EPS data.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
PART I
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.
Results of Operations
General
The Company is a holding company with subsidiaries operating in
the communications services industry. The Company's principal
operating subsidiary, Roseville Telephone Company ("Roseville
Telephone"), provides local and toll telephone services, network
access services, billing and collection services, directory
advertising services and certain nonregulated services.
Additionally, Roseville Telephone, with an approximate 23.5%
equity interest, is a limited partner of Sacramento-Valley
Limited Partnership ("SVLP"), which provides cellular telephone
service principally in California. Roseville Telephone's wholly-
owned subsidiary, Roseville PCS, Inc., is the manager of and has
an approximate 89% interest in West Coast PCS LLC ("West Coast"),
which was formed together with an unrelated entity for the
purpose of providing personal communications services ("PCS").
The Company recently formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Roseville
Cable Company ("Roseville Cable"), for the purpose of acquiring
and operating a cable television system currently serving
approximately 18,000 subscribers in the City of Roseville and
certain unincorporated areas of Placer County, California.
During February 1997, Roseville Directory Company ("Roseville
Directory"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, commenced
operations to produce, publish and distribute Roseville
Telephone's 1998 directory including the sale of yellow pages
advertising previously provided by an unaffiliated company. In
January 1997, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary,
Roseville Long Distance Company ("Roseville Long Distance"), for
the purposes of providing long distance services. West Coast,
Roseville Cable and Roseville Long Distance have not generated
any revenues or incurred any significant costs and expenses for
the period from their inception to March 31, 1997. However, the
Company expects that the sources of its revenues and its cost
structure may be significantly different in the future as a
result of its entry into these communications markets.
Operating Revenues
Revenues from rate regulated services, which include local
service, network access service and long distance service
revenues, constitute approximately 83% and 84% of the Company's
total operating revenues for the quarters ended March 31, 1997
and 1996, respectively. Rate regulated revenues are derived from
various sources, including billings to business and residential
subscribers for basic exchange services, extended area service
charges and transition revenues from Pacific Bell, surcharges
mandated by the Public Utilities Commission of the State of
California ("P.U.C."), billings to Pacific Bell, long distance
carriers and subscribers for network access services, interstate
settlement revenues from the National Exchange Carrier
Association ("NECA"), and support payments from the interstate
Universal Service Fund and California High Cost Fund. As
discussed below, beginning February 1, 1997 the sources of
Roseville Telephone's revenues were substantially modified as a
result of the rate restructure in its recent rate case decision.
Roseville Telephone bills Pacific Bell various charges for
certain local service, network access service and long distance
service revenues pursuant to agreements (the "Pacific Bell
Agreements") that arose as a result of the termination on January
1, 1992 of previous revenue sharing arrangements with Pacific
Bell. Of the Company's total revenues for the quarters ended
March 31, 1997 and 1996, 16% and 24%, respectively, were recorded
under the Pacific Bell Agreements. Included in such amounts were
transition revenues of $516,000 and $2.0 million in the quarters
ended March 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Effective February
1, 1997 transition revenues from Pacific Bell were eliminated as
a result of Roseville Telephone's recent rate case, as discussed
below.
On May 15, 1995, Roseville Telephone filed a rate case with the
P.U.C. requesting authority to restructure and increase rates for
certain telephone services and decrease rates for others. On
December 20, 1996, the P.U.C. issued Decision 96-12-074 (the
"Decision") granting an annual revenue increase of $470,000. The
P.U.C. also authorized Roseville Telephone to implement a new
regulatory framework for services furnished within the State of
California in order to accommodate market and regulatory movement
toward competition and greater pricing flexibility.
Additionally, the P.U.C. ordered the elimination of various
sources of revenue including a California High Cost Fund draw,
transition payments from Pacific Bell and a previously mandated
billing surcharge. Based on calculations by the P.U.C., the
elimination of these sources of revenues are expected to be
offset by ordered increases in Roseville Telephone's local
exchange and switched access rates. This rate restructure became
effective on February 1, 1997.
Roseville Telephone believes that the Decision contains various
miscalculations as well as legal and factual errors which will
not result in Roseville Telephone realizing the ordered annual
increase in revenues of $470,000. The Company believes that the
miscalculations and errors contained in the Decision could
instead result in an annual revenue reduction of up to $1.3
million. Accordingly, in January 1997 Roseville Telephone filed
a Petition for Modification and Application for Rehearing with
the P.U.C. requesting a reexamination and correction of the
miscalculations and errors. Roseville Telephone anticipates
that the P.U.C. will consider these issues during 1997, the
outcome of which cannot yet be determined.
The ordered changes in the sources of the Company's rate
regulated revenues resulting from the Decision significantly
affected the comparability between the 1997 and 1996 periods of
the related rate regulated revenue categories in the Company's
consolidated income statements, but had no significant effect on
total rate regulated revenues.
Rate regulated revenues increased $1.4 million or 6% for the
quarter ended March 31, 1997 compared to the same period in 1996
due to the combined effects of 1) access line growth of
approximately 9% and increased custom calling, voice mail and
enhanced network service revenues and 2) an increase in network
access revenues due to increased minute-of-use volumes and demand
for special access services and higher settlements from NECA.
Revenues from nonregulated sales and services increased by
$616,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 as compared to the
same period in 1996 due to the effects of several large equipment
sales in 1997.
Operating Expenses:
Operating expenses increased approximately $834,000 or 4% for the
quarter ended March 31, 1997 compared to the same period in 1996.
Plant operations expense decreased $103,000 due primarily to
switching software expenditures incurred during the quarter ended
March 31, 1996. This decrease was partially offset by costs
associated with a larger customer base and normal inflationary
factors. Depreciation expense decreased $532,000 due primarily
to the effect of the retirement in 1996 of certain equipment that
was depreciated over a relatively short life in anticipation of
its planned replacement. The quarter-to-quarter reduction in
depreciation of $873,000 relating to the retired equipment was
largely offset by a $341,000 increase in depreciation expense
resulting from higher average plant levels for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 compared to the same period in 1996. Customer
operations expense increased $70,000 primarily due to increased
labor costs. General and administrative expense increased $1.1
million due to start-up costs associated with Roseville
Directory, higher advertising costs and continuing improvements
to the Company's information systems. The cost of nonregulated
sales and services increased by $351,000 for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 as compared to the same period in 1996 due to the
effects of several large equipment sales in 1997.
Other Income, Net:
Other income, net, increased $1.3 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 compared to the same period in 1996. The increase
was primarily due to an increase of $1.1 million in income
attributable to the Company's interest in SVLP.
Income Taxes:
Income taxes for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 increased
$970,000 compared to the same period in 1996 due to the increase
in income subject to tax. The effective federal and state income
tax rate was approximately 39.6% and 40.7% for the quarters ended
March 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash
Flows, net cash provided by operating activities amounted to
$12.7 million and $9.9 million for the quarters ended March 31,
1997 and 1996, respectively. During the quarter ended March 31,
1997, the Company used cash flows from operations and existing
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund 1)
capital expenditures of $4.4 million pertaining to ongoing plant
construction projects, 2) dividends of $2.3 million, 3) principal
payments of $1.4 million to retire long-term debt and 4) capital
contribution to SVLP of $2.5 million.
The Company's most significant use of funds for the balance of
1997 is expected to be for 1) remaining budgeted capital
expenditures of approximately $21 million relating to Roseville
Telephone's operations 2) remaining scheduled payments of long-
term debt of $4.3 million 3) anticipated cash dividends of $6.9
million 4) purchase of a cable television system for $30.9
million, 5) remaining balance due of $7.1 million on the purchase
of PCS licenses, of which the Company's share is approximately
$6.3 million 6) expenditures of up to $3 million relating to West
Coast and 7) working capital requirements of up to $5 million
relating to the initial year of Roseville Directory's operations.
In addition to net cash provided by operations and existing cash,
cash equivalents and short-term investments, the Company is
currently considering various sources of external financing,
including short-term borrowings or long-term debt, for the
purposes of funding capital expenditures, potential investments
and pending acquisitions for 1997 and beyond.
Other Financial Information
As more fully discussed in the notes to the condensed
consolidated financial statements, the Company's consolidated
financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 71, "Accounting
for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation" ("SFAS No. 71"),
which require companies meeting the criteria to give effect in
their financial statements to certain actions of regulators. For
example, amounts charged to operations for depreciation expense
reflect estimated lives and methods prescribed by regulators
rather than the economic lives that might otherwise apply to
nonregulated enterprises. A number of telecommunications
companies, including all of the Regional Bell Operating
Companies, have determined that they no longer meet the criteria
of SFAS No. 71. However, such telecommunications companies are
significantly different from Roseville Telephone in the level and
nature of competition they experience and in the nature and mix
of services they offer. The Company believes its regulated
operations continue to meet the criteria of SFAS No.71 due to its
nature and mix of revenues, the authority of federal and state
regulators to establish rates and monitor Roseville Telephone's
earnings, the P.U.C.'s regulatory authority to set Roseville
Telephone's depreciation lives and recent legal proceedings at
the federal level which prohibit a regulatory agency from setting
rates and charges at levels which do not allow telephone
companies to recover their cost of providing telephone services,
including a reasonable profit.
As a result of increasing competition and rapid changes in the
telecommunications industry, the Company periodically monitors
whether its regulated operations continue to meet the criteria
which require the use of SFAS No. 71. If it becomes no longer
reasonable to assume that Roseville Telephone can recover its
costs of providing regulated services through rates charged to
customers, whether resulting from the effects of increased
competition or specific regulatory actions, SFAS No. 71 would no
longer apply. In the future, should the Company determine its
regulated operations no longer meet the SFAS No. 71 criteria, a
material, extraordinary, noncash charge would result. The
approximate amount of Roseville Telephone's net regulatory asset
at December 31, 1996 was between $6 million and $13 million,
consisting principally of property, plant and equipment. The
estimate for property, plant and equipment was calculated based
upon a projection of useful lives which may be affected by the
increasing competition and rapid changes in the
telecommunications industry referred to above.
PART II
Item 1. Regulatory and Legal Proceedings
Except for the proceedings described below, the Company is not
aware of any material pending legal proceedings, other than
ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business, to which
it is a party or to which any of its property is subject.
Roseville Telephone is subject to regulation by the Federal
Communications Commission ("F.C.C.") and P.U.C. In the past,
there have been various proceedings before these agencies to
which the Roseville Telephone has been a party.
The P.U.C. has instituted an investigation (I.87-11-033) into the
manner in which it regulates local exchange carriers, including
Roseville Telephone. It has announced that in the course of this
investigation it will consider the manner in which certain
services presently provided solely by Roseville Telephone within
its local exchange area should be opened to competition. On
September 15, 1994, the P.U.C. adopted Decision 94-09-065, its
opinion in this matter with respect to competition within each
Local Access and Transport Area ("LATA") and rate design issues.
The order revised basic exchange, toll, access, private line, and
service connection rates and authorized competition for toll and
toll-like services within Roseville Telephone's LATA effective
January 1, 1995. On April 23, 1997, the P.U.C. adopted Decision
97-04-083, which established the rules which will govern the
implementation of intraLATA equal access (the ability to place
toll calls within Roseville Telephone's LATA through other
telephone carriers without having to dial additional preliminary
numbers) and the means by which local exchange carriers may
recover the costs of implementing intraLATA equal access. In
anticipation of this order, Roseville Telephone, on April 15,
1997, submitted a proposal to the P.U.C. to implement intraLATA
equal access in its service territory. There is no assurance
that the P.U.C. will allow Roseville Telephone to set its rates
at levels that would permit timely recovery of all costs incurred
in implementing intraLATA equal access. Therefore, the ultimate
effects on Roseville Telephone of implementing intraLATA equal
access cannot yet be determined.
On May 15, 1995, Roseville Telephone filed a rate case with the
P.U.C. requesting authority to restructure and increase rates for
certain telephone services and decrease rates for others. On
December 20, 1996, the P.U.C. issued Decision 96-12-074 (the
"Decision") granting an annual revenue increase of $470,000. The
P.U.C. also authorized Roseville Telephone to implement a new
regulatory framework for services furnished within the State of
California in order to accommodate market and regulatory movement
toward competition and greater pricing flexibility.
Additionally, the P.U.C. ordered the elimination of various
sources of revenues including the California High Cost Fund draw,
certain settlement contract revenues with Pacific Bell and a
previously mandated billing surcharge. Based on calculations by
the P.U.C., the elimination of these sources of revenues are
expected to be offset by ordered increases in Roseville
Telephone's local exchange and switched access rates. This rate
restructure became effective on February 1, 1997.
Roseville Telephone believes that the Decision contains various
miscalculations as well as legal and factual errors which will
not result in Roseville Telephone realizing the ordered annual
increase in revenues of $470,000. The Company believes that the
miscalculations and errors contained in the Decision could
instead result in an annual revenue reduction of up to $1.3
million. Accordingly, in January 1997 Roseville Telephone filed
a Petition for Modification and Application for Rehearing with
the P.U.C. requesting a reexamination and correction of the
miscalculations and errors. Roseville Telephone anticipates
that the P.U.C. will consider these issues during 1997, the
outcome of which cannot yet be determined.
On April 7, 1993, the P.U.C. opened an investigation and
rulemaking proceeding (R. 93-04-003) to establish rules necessary
to provide nondiscriminatory access by competing service
providers to the network capabilities of local exchange carriers
necessary to ensure fair competition in accordance with the
mandate of Public Utilities Code Section 2282.5. In connection
with this proceeding, the P.U.C. issued a further order on August
5, 1993 proposing additional rules for implementation of the open
access principles proposed in its open access proceeding. On
April 26, 1995, the P.U.C. adopted Decision 95-04-073, an interim
opinion governing the provision of expanded interconnection and
restructuring of local transport rates by Pacific Bell and GTE
California. On December 6, 1995, the P.U.C. adopted Decision 95-
12-016 which adopted principles to govern the development of cost
studies for the basic network functions of the local exchange
networks of Pacific Bell and GTE California. In this order, the
P.U.C. ordered Roseville Telephone to participate in the process
of developing these cost studies in anticipation of a possible
order that Roseville Telephone designate and be bound for two
years by the results of the cost studies for a comparable Pacific
Bell or GTE California wire center and to develop a proposal for
how to account for shared and common costs, including overhead.
Also, on December 6, 1995, the P.U.C. adopted Decision 95-12-020
which modified the rate structure previously adopted for local
transport in order to bring it into parity with that adopted by
the F.C.C. in its own proceedings on local transport
restructuring. These proceedings may broaden the scope of
competition in the provision of intrastate services, the effects
of which on Roseville Telephone cannot presently be determined.
In November 1993, the P.U.C. issued a report to the Governor of
the State of California entitled "Enhancing California's
Competitive Strength: A Strategy For Telecommunications
Infrastructure" in which it proposes to open all markets to
competition and aggressively streamline regulation to accelerate
the pace of innovation in the telecommunications marketplace. In
connection with this report, on December 21, 1994, the P.U.C.
adopted Decision 94-12-053, an initial procedural plan to
facilitate opening local exchange telecommunications markets to
competition by January 1, 1997. In this decision, the Commission
expressed its intent to implement local exchange competition,
intraLATA presubscription, open access to local exchange carrier
networks based on an unbundled basis, and reform of the new
regulatory framework for local exchange carriers. In conjunction
with these proceedings, the P.U.C. adopted Rulemaking 95-01-020
and Investigation 95-01-021 on January 24, 1995, an order
instituting investigation and rulemaking to consider the goals of
and definition of universal telephone service in a changing
telecommunications environment, including examination of subsidy
support mechanisms and issues of "carrier of last resort" and
"franchise" obligations. After reviewing comments, the P.U.C.
issued Decision 95-07-050 on July 19, 1995 setting forth a set of
proposed rules pertaining to universal service responsibilities
in a competitive environment. On October 25, 1996, the P.U.C.
adopted Decision 96-10-066 setting forth the rules pertaining to
universal service. In this decision, the P.U.C. adopted a model
for determining universal service funding beginning February 1,
1997. The decision establishes Roseville Telephone's annual
universal service fund draw at approximately $500,000, subject to
offsetting rate reductions. In addition, the decision allows
Roseville Telephone to file its own cost study to determine its
draw from the universal service fund. Roseville Telephone is
reviewing this option. In December 1996, a number of parties
filed Applications for Rehearing, including Roseville Telephone,
on various issues which may result in changes to the rules and
amount of funds Roseville Telephone is entitled to receive.
Roseville Telephone anticipates that these issues will be
resolved in 1997, the effects of which on Roseville Telephone
cannot yet be determined.
On April 26, 1995, the P.U.C. adopted Rulemaking 95-04-043 and
Investigation 95-04-044, an order instituting investigation and
rulemaking to develop and adopt rules for local exchange
competition. On July 24, 1995, the P.U.C. issued Decision 95-07-
054 opening Pacific Bell and GTE California territories to
competition under interim rules by facilities-based competitors
on January 1, 1996 and by resale competitors on March 31, 1996.
Additional interim rules governing interconnection and related
matters were adopted on December 20, 1995 in Decision 95-12-057
approving the applications of an initial group of facilities-
based local service competitors. On February 23, 1996, the
P.U.C. adopted Decision 96-02-072 approving the applications of
an initial group of resale competitors. A companion decision
establishing the rates to be paid by resale competitors for
interconnection and related services was adopted on March 13,
1996 to be effective March 31, 1996. While the orders issued to
date on local service competition do not apply to Roseville
Telephone's territory, the P.U.C. has expressed its intention to
open all telecommunications markets, including Roseville
Telephone's territory, to competition. Comments on the rules for
local service competition in Roseville Telephone's territory were
filed on July 31, 1996. Roseville Telephone anticipates that
additional hearings may be held and an order likely issued during
1997 to finalize rules for local service competition in its
service territory, the effects of which on Roseville Telephone
cannot yet be determined.
On April 30, 1997, Electric Lightwave, Inc. filed an application
with the P.U.C. to amend its certificate of public convenience
and necessity for authority to provide competitive local exchange
services to include the local exchange service territory of
Roseville Telephone. Roseville Telephone is reviewing the
application and anticipates that the proceedings before the
P.U.C. discussed above may address this application, the outcome
of which and the effects of which on Roseville Telephone cannot
yet be determined.
On January 23, 1997, Roseville Long Distance filed an application
with the P.U.C. requesting a Certificate of Public Convenience
and Necessity for authority to provide interLATA and intraLATA
long distance services. This application is currently under
review by the P.U.C. and the Company anticipates an order
granting authority in 1997.
There are a number of regulatory proceedings occurring at the
federal level that may have a material impact on Roseville
Telephone. These regulatory proceedings include, but are not
limited to, consideration of changes to the interstate universal
service fund and the regulation of local exchange carriers. In
addition, the F.C.C. periodically establishes the authorized rate
of return for interstate access services. Since January 1, 1991,
the F.C.C. has established an 11.25% rate of return for
interstate access services.
Roseville Telephone's operations may also be impacted by the
recently enacted Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Act").
Beginning in 1996, the F.C.C. adopted orders implementing the
Act's provisions to open local exchange service markets to
competition. The F.C.C. rules outline pricing methodologies for
the states to follow when setting rates for resale,
interconnection and unbundled network elements. On October 15,
1996, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
issued a stay pending appeal of portions of the F.C.C. Orders.
Further legal proceedings considering the validity of the F.C.C.
Orders are anticipated to continue for some time. In addition,
the F.C.C. adopted orders on May 7, 1997 on access charge reform
and a new universal service program. Given the Act's recent
enactment, the pending appeals of the current rules adopted by
the F.C.C. and the recent actions taken by the F.C.C. to
promulgate rules and regulations thereunder, it is not yet
possible to determine fully the impact of the Act on Roseville
Telephone's operations.
The proceedings described above may broaden the scope of
competition in the provision of regulated services and change the
rates and rate structure for regulated services furnished by
Roseville Telephone, the effects of which on Roseville Telephone
cannot yet be determined.
On October 14, 1996, Roseville Cable entered into an Asset
Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with IDS/Jones
Growth Partners 87-A, LTD ("Seller") under which Roseville Cable
agreed to purchase a cable television system (the "System")
currently serving approximately 18,000 subscribers in the City of
Roseville, California and certain unincorporated areas of Placer
County, California. The consummation of the transaction
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement is subject to various
conditions including 1) approval of the City of Roseville and
Placer County to the transfer of the franchises, 2) satisfaction
of requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, 3) a waiver from the F.C.C. of certain
provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and 4) approval
of the Board of Directors of the Company and the limited partners
of the Seller. While certain of these conditions have been
satisfied, there can be no assurance that the remaining waivers
and approvals will be obtained. The Company expects that the
closing of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase Agreement
will occur in the second half of 1997.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.
a) None.
b) No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the first quarter of
1997.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ROSEVILLE COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
(Registrant)
Date: May 14, 1997 By: /s/BRIAN H. STROM
Brian H. Strom,
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Date: May 14, 1997 By: /s/LAUREL DISMUKES
Laurel Dismukes,
Controller
(Chief Accounting
Officer)
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