UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019

 

OR

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from __________ to __________

 

Commission file number: 1-32362

 

OTELCO INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
     

Delaware

 

52-2126395

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     

505 Third Avenue East, Oneonta, Alabama

 

35121

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)
     

(205) 625-3574

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
     

N/A

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class:  Trading Symbol:  Name of exchange on which
registered:
Class A Common Stock ($0.01 par value per share)  OTEL  The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

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 by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

 

Yes     x     No     ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company x Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

Yes     ¨     No     x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding at November 5, 2019

Class A Common Stock ($0.01 par value per share)   3,410,936
Class B Common Stock ($0.01 par value per share)   0

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTELCO INC.
FORM 10-Q
For the three-month period ended September 30, 2019

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION 2
   
Item 1.   Financial Statements 2
   
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2019 (unaudited) and December 31, 2018 (audited) 2
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 (unaudited) 5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) 6
   
Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 17
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 25
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures 26
   
PART II OTHER INFORMATION 27
   
Item 6.   Exhibits 27

 

i

 

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the words “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” and “Otelco” refer to Otelco Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries as of September 30, 2019.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we have made in light of our experience in the industry in which we operate, as well as our perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect our actual financial condition or results of operations or cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including the factors under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

 

1

 

 

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Financial Statements

 

OTELCO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share par value and share amounts)
(unaudited with the exception of December 31, 2018 being audited)

 

   September 30,
2019
   December 31,
2018
 
Assets          
Current assets          
Cash and cash equivalents  $5,298   $4,657 
Accounts receivable:          
Due from subscribers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $283 and $577, respectively   3,943    4,183 
Other   1,914    1,899 
Materials and supplies   4,250    2,802 
Prepaid expenses   1,182    1,198 
Other assets   260     
Total current assets   16,847    14,739 
           
Property and equipment, net   54,283    52,073 
Goodwill   44,976    44,976 
Intangible assets, net   625    919 
Operating lease right-of-use asset   907     
Investments   1,479    1,498 
Interest rate cap       4 
Other assets   496    143 
Total assets  $119,613   $114,352 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
Current liabilities          
Accounts payable  $1,997   $1,331 
Accrued expenses   6,131    5,054 
Advance billings and payments   1,508    1,614 
Customer deposits   45    48 
Current operating lease liability   325     
Current maturity of long-term notes payable, net of debt issuance cost   3,922    3,904 
Total current liabilities   13,928    11,951 
           
Deferred income taxes   20,145    20,145 
Advance billings and payments   2,092    2,234 
Other liabilities   1    13 
Long-term operating lease liability   582     
Long-term notes payable, less current maturities and debt issuance cost   66,157    69,107 
Total liabilities   102,905    103,450 
           
Stockholders’ equity          
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value-authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,410,936 and 3,388,624 shares, respectively   34    34 
Additional paid in capital   4,203    4,213 
Retained earnings   12,471    6,655 
Total stockholders’ equity   16,708    10,902 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $119,613   $114,352 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2

 

 

OTELCO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Revenues  $15,762   $16,252   $47,175   $49,867 
                     
Operating expenses                    
Cost of services   7,542    7,578    22,630    23,026 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   2,506    2,382    7,535    7,691 
Depreciation and amortization   1,873    1,756    5,698    5,382 
Total operating expenses   11,921    11,716    35,863    36,099 
                     
Income from operations   3,841    4,536    11,312    13,768 
                     
Other income (expense)                    
Interest expense   (1,315)   (1,459)   (4,044)   (4,384)
Other income   5    83    604    252 
Total other expense   (1,310)   (1,376)   (3,440)   (4,132)
                     
Income before income tax expense   2,531    3,160    7,872    9,636 
Income tax expense   (712)   (834)   (2,056)   (2,406)
                     
Net income  $1,819   $2,326   $5,816   $7,230 
                     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:                    
Basic   3,410,936    3,388,624    3,410,936    3,388,624 
Diluted   3,431,229    3,454,936    3,431,229    3,438,386 
                     
Basic net income per common share  $0.53   $0.69   $1.71   $2.13 
                     
Diluted net income per common share  $0.53   $0.67   $1.70   $2.10 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

3

 

 

OTELCO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

   Class A
Common Stock
   Additional
Paid-In
       Total
Stockholders
 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Retained Earnings   Equity 
Balance, January 1, 2019   3,388,624   $34   $4,213   $6,655   $10,902 
                          
Net income                  2,281    2,281 
Stock-based compensation expense             71         71 
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units             (183)        (183)
Issuance of Class A Stock   22,312    -              - 
Balance, March 31, 2019   3,410,936    34    4,101    8,936    13,071 
                          
Net income                  1,716    1,716 
Stock-based compensation expense             43         43 
Balance, June 30, 2019   3,410,936    34    4,144    10,652    14,830 
                          
Net income                  1,819    1,819 
Stock-based compensation expense             59         59 
Balance, September 30, 2019   3,410,936   $    34   $4,203   $     12,471   $  16,708 

 

   Class A
Common Stock
   Additional
Paid-In
   (Accumulated
Deficit)/
   Total
Stockholders’
 
   Shares   Amount   Capital   Retained Earnings   Equity 
Balance, January 1, 2018   3,346,689   $   34   $4,285   $         (2,812)  $     1,507 
                          
Net income                  1,996    1,996 
Stock-based compensation expense             71         71 
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units             (380)        (380)
Issuance of Class A Stock   41,935    -              - 
Balance, March 31, 2018   3,888,624    34    3,976    (816)   3,194 
                          
Net income                  2,908    2,908 
Stock-based compensation expense             80         80 
Balance, June 30, 2018   3,888,624    34    4,056    2,092    6,182 
                          
Net income                  2,326    2,326 
Stock-based compensation expense             56         56 
Balance, September 30, 2018   3,888,624   $34   $4,112   $4,418   $8,564 

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

4

 

 

OTELCO INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)
(unaudited)

 

    Nine Months Ended September 30,  
    2019     2018  
Cash flows from operating activities:                
Net income   $ 5,816     $ 7,230  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation     5,465       5,135  
Amortization     233       247  
Amortization of loan costs     342       354  
Non-cash lease amortization     166        
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable     163       283  
Stock-based compensation     173       207  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities                
Accounts receivable     (198 )     (704 )
Materials and supplies     (1,448 )     (73 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets     (337 )     2,030  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     1,743       959  
Advance billings and payments     (248 )     (223 )
Other liabilities     (182 )     15  
Net cash from operating activities     11,688       15,460  
                 
Cash flows used in investing activities:                
Acquisition and construction of property and equipment     (7,594 )     (5,710 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (7,594 )     (5,710 )
                 
Cash flows used in financing activities:                
Loan origination costs     (12 )     (37 )
Principal repayment of long-term notes payable     (3,262 )     (9,262 )
Interest rate cap     4       (40 )
Retirement of CoBank equity           119  
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units     (183 )     (380 )
Net cash used in financing activities     (3,453 )     (9,600 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     641       150  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     4,657       3,570  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 5,298     $ 3,720  
                 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:                
Interest paid   $ 3,717     $ 4,029  
                 
Income taxes paid (refund)   $ 1,243     $ (563 )

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

5

 

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2019
(unaudited)

 

1.Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting

 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Otelco Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, all of which are either directly or indirectly wholly owned. These include: Blountsville Telephone LLC; Brindlee Mountain Telephone LLC; CRC Communications LLC; Granby Telephone LLC; Hopper Telecommunications LLC; Mid-Maine Telecom LLC; Mid-Maine TelPlus LLC; Otelco Mid-Missouri LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary I-Land Internet Services LLC; Otelco Telecommunications LLC; Otelco Telephone LLC; Pine Tree Telephone LLC; Saco River Telephone LLC; Shoreham Telephone LLC; and War Telephone LLC.

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of the aforesaid subsidiaries after elimination of all material intercompany balances and transactions. The unaudited operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019, or any other period.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. The interim condensed consolidated financial information herein is unaudited, with the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018, being derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. The information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods included in this report.

 

Certain items in prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with 2019 presentation.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASU 2014-09”). This ASU requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also provides a more robust framework for revenue issues and improves comparability of revenue recognition practices across industries. This ASU was the product of a joint project between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard. ASU 2014-09 permits the use of either a retrospective or modified retrospective application. This guidance was to be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption not permitted. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. This ASU confirmed a one-year delay in the effective date of ASU 2014-09, making the effective date for the Company the first quarter of fiscal 2018 instead of the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenues Gross versus Net). This ASU is further guidance to ASU 2014-09, and clarifies principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. This ASU is also further guidance to ASU 2014-09, and clarifies the identification of performance obligations. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients. This ASU is also further guidance to ASU 2014-09, and clarifies assessing the narrow aspects of recognizing revenue. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This ASU is also further guidance to ASU 2014-09, and clarifies technical corrections and improvements for recognizing revenue.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic 250) and Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323) (“ASU 2017-03”). This ASU requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU 2014-09 will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU 2014-09 on the financial statements when adopted. The Company commenced its assessment of ASU 2014-09 beginning in June 2016. This assessment included analyzing ASU 2014-09’s impact on the Company’s various revenue streams, comparing the Company’s historical accounting policies and practices to the requirements of ASU 2014-09, and identifying potential differences from applying the requirements of ASU 2014-09 to the Company’s contracts. The Company has used a five-step process to identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company has implemented the appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under ASU 2014-09.

 

6

 

 

The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 at the beginning of its 2018 fiscal year using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were not completed as of January 1, 2018. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historic accounting standards in effect during those periods. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 and related amendments did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) (“ASU 2016-01”). This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU 2016-01 requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. That presentation provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about an entity’s involvement in financial instruments. The provisions of this ASU were to be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), which made targeted improvements to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This ASU also confirmed a six-month delay in the effective date of ASU 2016-01, making the effective date for the Company the second quarter of fiscal 2018 instead of the first quarter of fiscal 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2016-01 as of March 31, 2018, and that adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”). This ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. The provisions of this guidance are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-03, which requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU 2016-02 will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU 2016-02 on the financial statements when adopted. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842. This ASU provides an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under ASU 2016-02 existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases under ASC Topic 840, Leases. An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under ASU 2016-02 beginning at the date that the entity adopts ASU 2016-02. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, which provides improvements and clarifications for ASU 2016-02. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements (“ASU 2018-11”). This ASU provides an additional transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new lease standard at the date of adoption with a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balances of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This ASU also gives lessors the option of electing, as a practical expedient by class of underlying asset, not to separate the lease and non-lease components of a contract when those lease contracts meet certain criteria. In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20, Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors. This ASU clarifies lessor treatment for sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from lessees, certain lessor costs, and recognition of variable payments for contracts with lease and non-lease components. In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Codification Improvements. This ASU clarifies determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers, presentation on the statement of cash flows for sales-type and direct financing leases, and transition disclosures related to Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The Company has completed its evaluation of the requirements of this guidance and implemented the processes necessary to adopt ASU 2016-02, as amended. The Company has elected certain practical expedients available at adoption. The Company elected the package of practical expedients upon transition not to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease; not to reassess the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and not to reassess whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under ASU 2016-02. In evaluating certain equipment rental arrangements such as cable, internet and security service contracts, the Company considered the practical expedient that allows lessors to elect, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard. The Company elected this practical expedient as the following two criteria are met; the lease component and the associated non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer; and the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. The Company elected to adopt the new standard using the transition method provided by ASU 2018-11; therefore, prior periods will not be restated. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to real property leases and is consistent with industry practices. Adoption of the new standard resulted in the Company recognizing an aggregate of $1,073,919 in lease liabilities and corresponding right of use (“ROU”) assets and no impact on the opening retained earnings balances. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 had an immaterial impact on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

7

 

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU addresses how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718) (“ASU 2017-09”). ASU 2017-09 provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, Stock Compensation. ASU 2017-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for any interim period for which financial statements have not been issued. ASU 2017-09 should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-10, Service Concession Arrangements (Topic 853) (“ASU 2017-10”). The objective of this ASU is to specify that an operating entity should not account for a service concession arrangement that meets certain criteria as a lease in accordance with ASC Topic 840, Leases. ASU 2017-10 further states that the infrastructure used in a service concession arrangement should not be recognized as property, plant, and equipment of the operating entity. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740). The objective of this ASU is to amend ASC 740, Income Taxes to reflect Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which addresses the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). SAB 118 outlines the approach companies may take if they determine that the necessary information is not available (in reasonable detail) to evaluate, compute, and prepare accounting entries to recognize the effects of the Tax Act by the time the financial statements are required to be filed. Companies may use this approach when the timely determination of some or all of the income tax effects from the Tax Act are incomplete by the due date of the financial statements.  A reporting entity must act in good faith and update provisional amounts as soon as more information becomes available, evaluated and prepared, during a measurement period that cannot exceed one year from the enactment date. Initial reasonable estimates and subsequent changes to provisional amounts should be reported in income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations in the period in which they are determined.  As of December 31, 2017, the provisional amount recorded related to the remeasurement of the Company’s deferred tax liability balance was $9.3 million and reflected a one-time reduction in the Company’s income tax provision. As of December 31, 2017, the Company finalized its accounting estimates for income tax effects related to the Tax Act. The Company elected to not utilize the measurement window provided under SAB 118 that ended in 2018. The Company did not record any adjustments to its 2017 income tax effects resulting from the Tax Act.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718). This ASU expands the scope of ASU 2017-09, which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to also include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods and services. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, but no earlier than the Company’s adoption date of ASU 2014-09. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

During 2018, the FASB issued ASUs 2018-01 through 2018-15 and, during 2019, the FASB has issued ASUs 2019-01 through 2019-07. Except for the ASUs discussed above and below, these ASUs provide technical corrections or simplifications to existing guidance and to specialized industries or entities and therefore have minimal, if any, impact on the Company.

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820) (“ASU 2018-13”). This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASU 2018-13, based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. This ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements as part of its disclosure framework project. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of this ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

8

 

 

In November 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASU 2018-19”). This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”) issued in June 2016, to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the amendments are effective. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU 2016-13, as amended by ASU 2018-19. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU 2016-13 issued in June 2016, to allow the measurement of allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable balances separately from other components of the amortized cost basis of associated financial assets. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326). This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU 2016-13 issued in June 2016, to allow companies to irrevocably elect, upon adoption of ASU 2016-13, the fair value option on financial instruments that (1) were previously recorded at amortized cost and (2) are within the scope of ASC 326-20 if the instruments are eligible for the fair value option under ASC 825-10. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU 2016-13, as amended by ASU 2018-19. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt as of the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

2.Notes Payable

 

Notes payable consists of the following (in thousands, except percentages) as of:

 

           September 30,   December 31, 
   Current   Long-term   2019   2018 
Loan with CoBank, ACB (the “Credit Facility”); variable interest rate of 6.36% at September 30, 2019, interest is monthly, paid in arrears on the last business day of each month.  The Credit Facility is secured by the total assets of the subsidiary guarantors.  The unpaid balance is due November 3, 2022.  $4,350   $66,950   $71,300   $74,562 
                     
Debt issuance cost   (428)   (793)   (1,221)   (1,551)
                     
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost  $3,922   $66,157   $70,079   $73,011 

 

Associated with the Credit Facility, the Company incurred $2.1 million in deferred financing cost. Amortization expense for the deferred financing cost associated with the Credit Facility was $342 thousand and $354 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively, which is included in interest expense.

 

The revolving credit facility associated with the Company’s Credit Facility had a maximum borrowing capacity of $5.0 million on September 30, 2019. The revolving credit facility is available until November 3, 2022. There was no balance outstanding as of September 30, 2019. The Company pays a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, on the unused portion of the revolver loan under the Credit Facility. The rate declined from 0.50% per annum to 0.38% per annum on October 22, 2018. The commitment fee expense was $14 thousand and $19 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

 

Maturities of notes payable for the next five years, assuming no future annual excess cash flow payments, are as follows (in thousands):

 

2019 (remaining)  $1,088 
2020   4,350 
2021   4,350 
2022   61,512 
2023    
Total  $71,300 

 

A total of $2.1 million of debt issuance cost is being amortized over the life of the loan and is recorded net of the notes payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

The Company’s notes payable agreements are subject to certain financial covenants and restrictions on indebtedness, financial guarantees, business combinations and other related items. As of September 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all such covenants and restrictions.

 

9

 

 

3.Income Tax

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the effective tax rate was 26.1%, compared to 25.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The effective tax rate varies from the federal corporate tax rate of 21.0% largely due to state income taxes and other permanent differences.

 

4.Net Income per Common Share

 

Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per common share reflects the potential dilution that would occur should all of the shares of Class A common stock underlying restricted stock units (“RSUs”) be issued.

 

A reconciliation of the common shares for purposes of the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income per common share is as follows (weighted average number of common shares outstanding in whole numbers and net income in thousands):

 

  

Three Months

Ended September 30,

  

Nine Months

Ended September 30,

 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic   3,410,936    3,388,624    3,410,936    3,388,624 
                     
Effect of dilutive securities   20,293    66,312    20,293    49,762 
                     
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares - diluted   3,431,229    3,454,936    3,431,229    3,438,386 
                     
Net income  $1,819   $2,326   $5,816   $7,230 
                     
Net income per common share - basic  $0.53   $0.69   $1.71   $2.13 
                     
Net income per common share - diluted  $0.53   $0.67   $1.70   $2.10 

 

5.Revenue Streams and Concentrations

 

Revenue Streams

 

The Company identifies its revenue streams with similar characteristics as follows (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
 
Local services  $4,717   $14,585 
Network access   5,436    15,970 
Internet   3,673    10,996 
Transport services   1,091    3,143 
Video and security   691    2,028 
Managed services   154    453 
Total revenues  $15,762   $47,175 

 

10

 

 

The Company identifies its revenue streams with similar characteristics as follows (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2018
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018
 
Local services  $5,162   $15,799 
Network access   5,261    16,338 
Internet   3,774    11,484 
Transport services   1,211    3,613 
Video and security   689    2,143 
Managed services   155    490 
Total revenues  $16,252   $49,867 

 

ASU 2014-09 requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As stated above in Note 1, Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting – Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, the Company has used a five-step process to identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized at the point in time control of the service is transferred to the customer. For certain other services, such as unlimited long distance, revenue is recognized over the period of time the service is provided. The Company has implemented the appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under ASU 2014-09.

 

The following table identifies revenue generated from customers (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
 
Local services  $4,717   $14,585 
Network access   1,086    3,273 
Internet   3,673    10,996 
Transport services   1,054    3,030 
Video and security   691    2,028 
Managed services   154    453 
Total revenues generated from customers  $11,375   $34,365 

 

The following table identifies revenue generated from customers (in thousands):

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30, 2018
   Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018
 
Local services  $5,162   $15,799 
Network access   1,130    3,551 
Internet   3,774    11,484 
Transport services   1,173    3,500 
Video and security   689    2,143 
Managed services   155    490 
Total revenues generated from customers  $12,083   $36,967 

 

11

 

 

The following table summarizes the revenue generated from contracts with customers among each revenue stream for the three and nine month periods (in thousands, except percentages):

 

   Three Months Ended         
   September 30, 2019   % In-Scope   % Total 
Month to month (“MTM”) customers  $6,847    61.0%   43.4%
Competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) business customers   3,288    29.3    20.9 
Network access   640    5.7    4.1 
Total revenue streams   10,775    96.0    68.4 
Global access*   446    4.0    2.8 
Total revenue from contracts with customers   11,221    100.0%   71.2 
Managed services**   154                     n/a    1.0 
Total revenue generated from customers   11,375                     n/a    72.2 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**   37                     n/a    0.2 
Network access**   4,350                     n/a    27.6 
Total revenues  $15,762         100.0%

 

*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.

** Revenue generated from sources not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.

 

   Nine Months Ended         
   September 30, 2019   % In-Scope   % Total 
MTM customers  $20,769    61.3%   44.0%
CLEC business customers   9,870    29.1    20.9 
Network access   1,908    5.6    4.1 
Total revenue streams   32,547    96.0    69.0 
Global access*   1,365    4.0    2.9 
Total revenue from contracts with customers   33,912    100.0%   71.9 
Managed services**   453                     n/a    1.0 
Total revenue generated from customers   34,365                     n/a    72.9 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**   113                     n/a    0.2 
Network access**   12,697                     n/a    26.9 
Total revenues  $47,175         100.0%

 

*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.

** Revenue generated from sources not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.

 

12

 

 

The following table summarizes the revenue generated from contracts with customers among each revenue stream for the three and nine month periods (in thousands, except percentages):

 

   Three Months Ended         
   September 30, 2018   % In-Scope   % Total 
MTM customers  $7,351    61.6%   45.2%
CLEC business customers   3,447    28.9    21.2 
Network access   666    5.6    4.1 
Total revenue streams   11,464    96.1    70.5 
Global access*   464    3.9    2.9 
Total revenue from contracts with customers   11,928    100.0%   73.4 
Managed services**   155                     n/a    1.0 
Total revenue generated from customers   12,083                     n/a    74.4 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**   38                     n/a    0.2 
Network access**   4,131                     n/a    25.4 
Total revenues  $16,252         100.0%

 

*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.

** Revenue generated from sources not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.

 

   Nine Months Ended         
   September 30, 2018   % In-Scope   % Total 
MTM customers  $22,337    61.2%   44.8%
CLEC business customers   10,589    29.1    21.2 
Network access   2,074    5.7    4.2 
Total revenue streams   35,000    96.0    70.2 
Global access*   1,477    4.0    3.0 
Total revenue from contracts with customers   36,477    100.0%   73.2 
Managed services**   490                     n/a    1.0 
Total revenue generated from customers   36,967                     n/a    74.2 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**   113                     n/a    0.2 
Network access**   12,787                     n/a    25.6 
Total revenues  $49,867         100.0%

 

*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.

** Revenue generated from sources not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.

 

Payment terms vary by customer. The Company typically invoices customers in the month following when the service was provided. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is less than a year and is not considered significant. Certain customers are invoiced in advance of the service being provided. Revenue is deferred until the point in time control of the service is transferred to the customer or over the term the service is provided.

 

Revenue is recognized net of taxes collected on behalf of third parties.

 

As of September 30, 2019, the Company had approximately $8.1 million of unsatisfied performance obligations. As of September 30, 2019, the Company expected to recognize approximately $1.2 million of revenue within the next year and $6.9 million in the next two to five years related to such unsatisfied performance obligations. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected life of one year or less or for contracts for which the Company has a right to invoice for services performed.

 

The deferred revenue balance as of June 30, 2019, was $3.7 million. Approximately $1.4 million of revenue from that balance was recognized as revenue during the three months ended September 30, 2019, offset by payments received as of September 30, 2019, in advance of control of the service being transferred to the customer.

 

Revenue Concentrations

 

Revenues from the Federal Communications Commission’s (the “FCC”) Universal Service Fund, Connect America Fund, and Alternative Connect America Cost Model funding are used to improve and upgrade the Company’s network to promote support for the availability and affordability of advanced telecommunications services. Revenues from these sources amounted to 23.1% and 21.2% of the Company’s total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

 

13

 

 

6.Commitments and Contingencies

 

From time to time, the Company may be involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings incidental to and in the ordinary course of business, including administrative hearings of the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, the Missouri Public Service Commission, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, the Vermont Public Utility Commission and the West Virginia Public Service Commission, relating primarily to rate making and customer service requirements. In addition, the Company may be involved in similar proceedings with interconnection carriers and the FCC. Currently, none of the Company’s legal proceedings are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.

 

7.Leases

 

ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. As stated above in Note 1, Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting – Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements, the Company has elected certain practical expedients available at adoption. The Company elected the package of practical expedients upon transition not to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease; not to reassess the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and not to reassess whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under ASU 2016-02. In evaluating certain equipment rental arrangements such as cable, internet and security service contracts, the Company considered the practical expedient that allows lessors to elect, by class of underlying asset, to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard. The Company elected this practical expedient as the following two criteria are met; the lease component and the associated non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer; and the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. The Company elected to adopt the new standard using the transition method provided by ASU 2018-11; therefore, prior periods will not be restated. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to real property leases and is consistent with industry practices. This ASU was effective January 1, 2019, the Company recognized an aggregate of $1,073,919 in lease liabilities and corresponding ROU assets and no impact on the opening retained earnings balances.

 

In consideration of whether an agreement contains a lease as defined under ASU 2016-02, the Company answered these three questions; has an asset been identified, is the asset physically distinct, and does the customer have the right to control the asset. The Company determined based on the three-step questions above, the arrangements pertaining to real property building and office facilities in Alabama, Maine and Massachusetts are within the scope of ASU 2016-02.

 

In calculating the lease liability, the Company considered the lease term in which the Company would include any periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option. The Company evaluated factors that might create an economic incentive to exercise options to extend, including contract, asset, entity and market-based factors. The Company determined that there would be no significant relocation and interruption costs associated with moving to alternative space that would disincentivize a move at renewal; therefore, renewals to extend the lease term are not included in the ROU asset and lease liabilities.

 

A lessee may recognize the lease payments in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The accounting policy election for short-term leases shall be made by class of underlying asset to which the right of use relates. A short-term lease is defined as a lease that, at the commencement date, has a lease term of 12 months or less and does not include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company elected to exclude short-term leases from the recognition requirements.

 

In discounting the liability, ASU 2016-02 indicates that the incremental rate used must be comparable to a rate attributable to a similar amount, for a similar term, and with similar collateral as the assets in the lease. The Company observed that published commercial borrowing rates were generally between 5.0% to 7.0% for loans collateralized by the real estate for terms ranging from 5-10 years. The Company has elected to use a discount rate of 6.5% for all leases.

 

14

 

 

Maturities of lease liabilities as of September 30, 2019 are as follows (in thousands):

 

   Leased Real
Property and
Office Facilities
 
2019 (remaining)  $109 
2020   312 
2021   203 
2022   185 
2023   166 
Thereafter   42 
Total lease payments  $1,017 
Less: Interest   (110)
Present value of lease liabilities  $907 

 

Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases was as follows (in thousands, except years and percentages):

 

    Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
    Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
  
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:          
Operating cash outflow from operating leases  $      (108)  $(325)
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases (in years)   3.6    3.6 
Weighted average discount rate – operating leases   6.5%   6.5%

 

8.Stock Plans

 

The Company has previously granted RSUs underlying 401,111 shares of Class A common stock. These RSUs (or a portion thereof) vest with respect to each recipient over a one to three year period from the date of grant, provided the recipient remains in the employment or service of the Company as of the vesting date and, in selected instances, certain performance criteria are attained. Additionally, these RSUs (or a portion thereof) could vest earlier in the event of a change in control of the Company, or upon involuntary termination without cause. Of the 401,111 previously granted RSUs, RSUs underlying 334,799 shares of Class A common stock have vested or were cancelled as of December 31, 2018. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, no RSUs were granted by the Company. The previous RSU grants were made primarily to executive-level personnel at the Company and, as a result, no compensation costs have been capitalized.

 

The following table summarizes RSU activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:

 

   RSUs  

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018   66,312   $9.06 
Granted      $ 
Vested   (34,202)  $5.09 
Forfeited or cancelled   (11,817)  $13.30 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019   20,293   $13.30 

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs was $108 thousand and $207 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Stock-based compensation related to RSUs is recognized over the 39-month vesting schedule. Accounting standards require that the Company estimate forfeitures for RSUs and reduce compensation expense accordingly. The Company has reduced its expense by the assumed forfeiture rate and will evaluate actual experience against the assumed forfeiture rate going forward. The forfeiture rate has been developed using historical performance metrics which could impact the size of the final issuance of Class A common stock. The Company has no history before 2014 with RSU forfeiture.

 

As of September 30, 2019, the unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested RSUs was $108 thousand. That cost is expected to be recognized by the end of 2021.

 

15

 

 

On October 15, 2018, the Company granted 29,460 incentive stock options (“ISOs”) and 20,540 non-qualified (“NQ”) stock options to purchase shares of Class A common stock. These options vest with respect to the recipient thereof over a five year period with 20% becoming exercisable on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date of October 15, 2019, provided the recipient remains in the employment or service of the Company as of the vesting date. Additionally, these options (or a portion thereof) could vest earlier in the event of a change in control of the Company. These option grants were made to one executive-level employee of the Company and, as a result, no compensation costs have been capitalized.

 

The following table summarizes ISO and NQ stock option activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2019:

 

   ISOs and NQ Stock Options  

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018   50,000   $16.97 
Granted      $ 
Vested      $ 
Forfeited or cancelled      $             — 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019   50,000   $16.97 

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to ISOs and NQ stock options was $65 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

As of September 30, 2019, the unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested ISOs and NQ stock options was $351 thousand. That cost is expected to be recognized by the end of 2023.

 

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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

General

 

Since 1999, we have acquired and operate eleven rural local exchange carriers (“RLECs”) serving subscribers in north central Alabama, central Maine, western Massachusetts, central Missouri, western Vermont and southern West Virginia. We also operate a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) serving subscribers in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Our services include a broad suite of communications and information services including local and long distance telephone services; internet and broadband data services; network access to other wireline, long distance and wireless carriers for calls originated or terminated on our network; other telephone related services; cloud hosting and professional engineering services for small and mid-sized companies who rely on mission-critical software applications; digital high-speed transport services (in our New England market); and video and security (in some markets). The majority of our revenue comes from providing local and long distance voice services and internet broadband data services to both enterprise and residential customers. In addition, a significant portion of our revenue comes from providing access to our customers for other service providers and the associated funds from programs initiated by the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”). Our organization is structured functionally across all states in which we operate. Therefore, we view, manage and evaluate the results of operations from the various telecommunications services as one company and have identified one reporting segment as it relates to providing segment information.

 

The FCC released its Universal Service Fund and Intercarrier Compensation Order (the “FCC ICC Order”) in November 2011. This order has made and continues to make substantial changes in the way telecommunication carriers are compensated for serving high cost areas and for exchanging traffic with other carriers. We began seeing the significant impact of the FCC ICC Order to our business in July 2012, with additional impacts beginning in July 2013 and July 2014. The initial consequence to our business was to reduce access revenue from intrastate calling in Maine and other states where intrastate rates were higher than interstate rates. A portion of this revenue loss for our RLEC properties has been replaced with the Connect America Fund (the “CAF”). There is no recovery mechanism for the lost revenue in our CLEC. The impact of the FCC ICC Order is expected to continue reducing our revenue and net income through 2020.

 

The FCC made additional offers for us to receive increased Alternative Connect America Model (“A-CAM”) model-based support in 2019. One company will receive an additional $442,000 in A-CAM support each year, and the overall 10-year A-CAM support program was extended two years for all ten of our companies that receive A-CAM support. One company, not included in previous A-CAM support offers, received an offer of A-CAM support on May 2, 2019, and filed a letter with the FCC on June 17, 2019, to accept the A-CAM support offer, which is effective as of January 1, 2019. The A-CAM support replaces the legacy rate-of-return support it currently receives. A-CAM support requires additional investment in plant and equipment to reach target broadband speeds and covered locations. A-CAM support will decline through 2028 as the additional investment is completed.

 

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which we refer to as the Tax Act, passed in December 2017, has reduced, and is expected to continue to reduce, our cash tax liability. Specifically, both the lower income tax rate and the extension of bonus depreciation under the Tax Act have positively impacted, and are expected to continue to positively impact, our federal tax requirements. The limitation on interest deductibility under the Tax Act is not expected to impact our tax liabilities.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Item 1 of Part I and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. The following discussion and analysis relates to our financial condition and results of operations on a consolidated basis.

 

Revenue Sources

 

Our revenues are derived from six sources:

 

·Local services. We receive revenues from providing local exchange telecommunication services in our eleven rural territories. In addition, we receive revenues on a competitive basis through both wholesale and retail channels throughout Maine, New Hampshire and western Massachusetts. These revenues include monthly subscription charges for basic service, calling beyond the local territory on a fixed price and on a per minute basis, local private line services and enhanced calling features, such as voicemail, caller identification, call waiting and call forwarding. We also provide billing and collections services for other carriers under contract and receive revenues from directory advertising. A significant portion of our rural subscribers take bundled service plans, which include multiple services, including unlimited domestic calling, for a flat monthly fee.

 

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·Network access. We receive revenues from charges established to compensate us for the origination, transport and termination of calls of long distance, wireless and other interexchange carriers. These include subscriber line charges imposed on customers and switched and special access charges paid by carriers. Switched access charges for long distance services within Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont and West Virginia have historically been based on rates approved by the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, the Missouri Public Service Commission, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, the Vermont Public Utility Commission and the West Virginia Public Service Commission, respectively, where appropriate. The FCC ICC Order preempted the state commissions’ authority to set terminating intrastate access service rates, and required companies with terminating access rates higher than interstate rates to reduce their terminating intrastate access rates to a rate equal to interstate access service rates by July 1, 2013, and to move to a “bill and keep” arrangement by July 1, 2020, which will eliminate access charges between carriers. The FCC ICC Order prescribes a recovery mechanism for the recovery of any decrease in intrastate terminating access revenues through the CAF for RLEC companies. This recovery is limited to 95% of the previous year’s revenue requirement. Interstate access revenue is based on an FCC-regulated rate-of-return on investment and recovery of expenses and taxes. From 1990 through June 2016, the rate-of-return had been authorized up to 11.25%. In March 2016, the FCC reduced the authorized rate-of-return to 9.75% effective July 1, 2021, using a transitional approach to reduce the impact of an immediate reduction. Rate-of-return transition began on July 1, 2016, with the authorized rate reduced to 11.0%, with further 25 basis points reductions each July 1 thereafter until the authorized rate reaches 9.75% on July 1, 2021. Switched and special access charges for interstate and international services are based on rates approved by the FCC. The FCC’s Order of October 23, 2018 (the “BDS Order”) provides an option for ten of our RLECs to move Special Access services (BDS) from a cost-based rate development (cost studies) to incentive regulation. We have exercised this option, which becomes effective July 1, 2019. We also receive revenue from the Universal Service Fund (“USF”) for the deployment of voice and broadband services to end-user customers. Since January 1, 2017, ten of our RLECs receive support payments through A-CAM and one of our RLECs receives support payments through modified legacy rate-of-return support mechanisms for USF, High Cost Loop and Interstate Common Line Support. Our RLEC currently receiving legacy rate-of-return support filed a letter on June 17, 2019 to accept the FCC’s offer to begin receiving A-CAM support in place of the legacy rate-of-return support, which will be effective retroactively to January 1, 2019.

 

·Internet. We receive revenues from monthly recurring charges for digital high-speed data lines delivered on fiber, coaxial and copper networks and ancillary services such as web hosting and computer virus protection.

 

·Transport services. We receive monthly recurring revenues for the rental of fiber to transport data and other telecommunication services in Maine and New Hampshire.

 

·Video and security. We offer basic, digital, high-definition, digital video recording and pay per view cable television services to a portion of our telephone service territory in Alabama, including Internet Protocol (“IP”) television (“IPTV”). We offer wireless security systems and system monitoring in Alabama and Missouri.

 

·Managed services. We provide private/hybrid cloud hosting services, as well as consulting and professional engineering services, for mission-critical software applications for small and mid-sized North American companies. Revenues are generated from monthly recurring hosting Infrastructure as a Service fees, monthly maintenance fees, à la carte professional engineering services and pay-as-you-use Software as a Service fees. Services are domiciled in two diverse owned data centers.

 

Customer and Service Trends

 

With the implementation of our new billing system supporting all of our customers, we have adopted managerial systems that focus on retaining customers and offering them a variety of service options. We offer competitively priced location-specific bundled service packages tailored to the varying telecommunications requirements of our customers.

 

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Key Operating Statistics

 

   September 30,   June 30,   Change from   March 31,   December 31,   Change from   September 30, 
   2019   2019   June 30, 2019   2019   2018   December 31, 2018   2018 
Customers served                                             
Business/Enterprise   5,438    5,547    (109)   (2.0)%   5,605    5,769    (331)   (5.7)%   6,005 
Residential   26,971    27,067    (96)   (0.4)%   27,346    27,734    (763)   (2.8)%   28,226 
Customers served   32,409    32,614    (205)   (0.6)%   32,951    33,503    (1,094)   (3.3)%   34,231 
                                              
Services provided                                             
Hosted PBX(1)   8,784    8,898    (114)   (1.3)%   8,962    9,008    (224)   (2.5)%   9,164 
Voice   34,695    35,529    (834)   (2.3)%   36,181    36,899    (2,204)   (6.0)%   38,043 
Data(1)   22,265    22,287    (22)   (0.1)%   22,333    22,514    (249)   (1.1)%   22,859 
Video   2,700    2,690    10    0.4%   2,714    2,734    (34)   (1.2)%   2,808 
Services provided   68,444    69,404    (960)   (1.4)%   70,190    71,155    (2,711)   (3.8)%   72,874 

 

(1) Services provided metrics for 2018 have been adjusted to reflect current service definitions.

 

One of our key performance measures is to track the number of business and residence customers served and the number of telecommunications services provided to these customers. The table above provides a summary of the change in customers and the change in the four largest telecommunications services beginning with September 30, 2018, shortly after our consolidated billing and operations system was completed.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, customers served decreased 0.6%, or 205 customers, an improvement when compared to a decrease of 1.0% and 1.6%, or 337 and 552 customers, in the three months ended June 30, 2019, and March 31, 2019, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, services provided to these customers decreased 1.4%, or 960 services, compared to 1.1% and 1.4%, or 786 and 965 services, in the three months ended June 30, 2019, and March 31, 2019, respectively. Data and video services have lower percentage decreases for the first nine months of 2019 than voice services, reflecting our focus on increasing data speeds available throughout our network. The continued deployment over the next two years of fiber-based services, the transition to VDSL in all of our networks and the deployment of DOCSIS 3.1 in our cable network are expected to improve the speed of our service offerings and further reduce the level of customer and service churn.

 

Our Rate and Pricing Structure

 

Our CLEC enterprise pricing is based on market requirements. We combine varying services to meet individual customer requirements, including technical support and managed services, and provide multi-year contracts which are both market sensitive for the customer and stabilizing for our sales process.

 

Our RLECs operate in six states and have limited regulation by the respective state regulatory authorities. The impact on pricing flexibility varies by state. Our rates for other services we provide, including cable, Internet Protocol (IP) television, long distance, data lines and high-speed internet access, are not price regulated. The market for competitors’ services, including wireless and IP based services, and the nationwide scope of their offering also affects our ability to adjust prices. We expect this trend to continue into the immediate future.

 

Categories of Operating Expenses

 

Our operating expenses are categorized as cost of services; selling, general and administrative expenses; and depreciation and amortization.

 

Cost of services. This includes expenses for salaries, wages and benefits relating to our telephone central office and outside plant operation, maintenance, sales and customer service; other plant operations, maintenance and administrative costs; network access costs; data center operations; and costs of services for long distance, cable television, internet and directory services.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. This includes expenses for salaries, wages and benefits and contract service payments (for example, legal fees and market studies) relating to engineering, financial, human resources and corporate operations; information management expenses, including billing; allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable; expenses for travel, lodging and meals; internal and external communications costs; insurance premiums; stock exchange and banking fees; and postage.

 

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Depreciation and amortization. This includes depreciation of our telecommunications, cable and internet networks and equipment, and amortization of intangible assets. Certain of these amortization expenses continue to be deductible for tax purposes.

 

Our Ability to Control Operating Expenses

 

We strive to control expenses in order to maintain our operating margins. As our revenue continues to shift to non-regulated services and our residential RLEC revenue continues to decline, operating margins decrease, reflecting the lower margins associated with non-regulated services and the level of fixed cost in our network. The years of reductions in FCC-controlled payments has made it difficult to fully offset revenue decline through expense control and pricing action. The introduction of A-CAM funding in 2017 provided support for additional capital investment in our network to enhance broadband speeds and coverage. The funds received through A-CAM funding will decline over the remaining years of the program.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth our results of operations as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30, 
   2019   2018   2019   2018 
Revenues                    
Local services   29.9%   31.8%   30.9%   31.7%
Network access   34.5    32.4    33.8    32.8 
Internet   23.3    23.2    23.3    23.0 
Transport services   6.9    7.4    6.7    7.2 
Video and security   4.4    4.2    4.3    4.3 
Managed services   1.0    1.0    1.0    1.0 
Total revenues   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%   100.0%
Operating expenses                    
Cost of services   47.8%   46.6%   48.0%   46.2%
Selling, general and administrative expenses   15.9    14.7    15.9    15.4 
Depreciation and amortization   11.9    10.8    12.1    10.8 
Total operating expenses   75.6    72.1    76.0    72.4 
                     
Income from operations   24.4    27.9    24.0    27.6 
                     
Other income (expense)                    
Interest expense   (8.4)   (9.0)   (8.6)   (8.8)
Other income       0.5    1.3    0.5 
Total other expense   (8.4)   (8.5)   (7.3)   (8.3)
                     
Income before income tax expense   16.0    19.4    16.7    19.3 
Income tax expense   (4.5)   (5.1)   (4.4)   (4.8)
                     
Net income available to common stockholders   11.5%   14.3%   12.3%   14.5%

 

Revenues by category for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2018, have been adjusted to be consistent with the revenues by category for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019, Compared to Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 

Total revenues. Total revenues decreased 3.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $15.8 million from $16.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. Total revenues decreased 5.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $47.2 million from $49.9 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in residential local services and traditional access revenue affected by the FCC ICC Order. The tables below provide the components of our revenues for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the same periods of 2018.

 

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For the three months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Local services  $4,717   $5,162   $(445)   (8.6)%
Network access   5,436    5,261    175    3.3%
Internet   3,673    3,774    (101)   (2.7)%
Transport services   1,091    1,211    (120)   (9.9)%
Video and security   691    689    2    0.3%
Managed services   154    155    (1)   (0.6)%
Total  $15,762   $16,252   $(490)   (3.0)%

 

Local services. Local services revenue decreased 8.6% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $4.7 million from $5.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. RLEC residential voice line revenue, including long distance and other related services, decreased $0.3 million. Revenue associated with the FCC ICC Order decreased $0.1 million, and fiber installation and rental revenue decreased $0.1 million.

 

Network access. Network access revenue increased 3.3% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $5.4 million from $5.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. A-CAM and CAF revenue increased $0.4 million, reflecting the FCC’s year-to-date adjustment of funding for our conversion of Vermont to A-CAM. Other transition support payments decreased $0.1 million. Switched and special access and end-user fees decreased $0.1 million.

 

Internet. Internet revenue decreased 2.7% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $3.7 million from $3.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. A decrease in customers and related equipment rental charges accounted for the decline.

 

Transport services. Transport services revenue decreased 9.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $1.1 million from $1.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting customer losses and market pricing.

 

Video and security. Video and security revenue was unchanged at just under $0.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, and the three months ended September 30, 2018. An increase in IPTV customers offset a decline in traditional cable customers.

 

Managed services. Managed services revenue was basically unchanged at under $0.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, and the three months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting slightly lower cloud hosting revenue offset by slightly higher professional services revenue.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Local services  $14,585   $15,799   $(1,214)   (7.7)%
Network access   15,970    16,338    (368)   (2.3)%
Internet   10,996    11,484    (488)   (4.2)%
Transport services   3,143    3,613    (470)   (13.0)%
Video and security   2,028    2,143    (115)   (5.4)%
Managed services   453    490    (37)   (7.6)%
Total  $47,175   $49,867   $(2,692)   (5.4)%

 

Local services. Local services revenue decreased 7.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $14.6 million from $15.8 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. RLEC residential voice line revenue, including long distance and other related services, decreased $1.0 million. Revenue associated with the FCC ICC Order decreased $0.2 million.

 

Network access. Network access revenue decreased 2.3% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $16.0 million from $16.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. A-CAM and CAF revenue increased $0.2 million, reflecting the FCC’s year-to-date adjustment of funding for our conversion of Vermont to A-CAM. Other transition support payments decreased $0.2 million. Switched and special access and end-user fees decreased $0.4 million.

 

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Internet. Internet revenue decreased 4.2% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $11.0 million from $11.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Customers and equipment rental charges decreased $0.4 million and wireless internet and related services decreased $0.1 million.

 

Transport services. Transport services revenue decreased 13.0% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $3.1 million from $3.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting a wholesale carrier disconnect, two retail customer disconnects and market pricing.

 

Video and security. Video and security revenue decreased 5.4% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $2.0 million from $2.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting a decrease in traditional cable customers, partially offset by an increase in IPTV customers.

 

Managed services. Managed services revenue decreased 7.6% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to under $0.5 million from just under $0.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting slightly lower professional services and cloud hosting revenue.

 

Operating expenses. Operating expenses in the three months ended September 30, 2019, increased 1.7% to $11.9 million from $11.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. Operating expenses in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, decreased 0.7% to $35.9 million from $36.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The tables below provide the components of our operating expenses for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, compared to the same periods of 2018.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Cost of services  $7,542   $7,578   $(36)   (0.5)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses   2,506    2,382    124    5.2%
Depreciation and amortization   1,873    1,756    117    6.7%
Total  $11,921   $11,716   $205    1.7%

 

Cost of services. Cost of services decreased 0.5% to $7.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $7.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. Customer service and sales costs decreased $0.1 million and network operations costs decreased by $0.1 million, which were partially offset by an increase in network access and toll expense of $0.1 million.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 5.2% to $2.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $2.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. During the three months ended September 30, 2018, the $0.1 million of conversion expenses associated with our new billing system had no comparable expense in the three months ended September 30, 2019. This decrease was offset by an increase of $0.1 million in legal expense and $0.1 million in senior management incentive compensation accrual reflecting a change from stock to cash incentive compensation for the 2019 performance year.

 

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased 6.7% to $1.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, from $1.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. An increase in RLEC depreciation combined with depreciation of our new billing system accounted for the increase.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Cost of services  $22,630   $23,026   $(396)   (1.7)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses   7,535    7,691    (156)   (2.0)%
Depreciation and amortization   5,698    5,382    316    5.9%
Total  $35,863   $36,099   $(236)   (0.7)%

 

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Cost of services. Cost of services decreased 1.7% to $22.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $23.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Network access and toll expense decreased $0.1 million and network operations cost decreased by $0.3 million.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 2.0% to $7.5 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $7.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the $0.5 million of conversion expenses associated with our new billing system had no comparable expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2019. In addition, accounting, finance and human resources expense decreased $0.2 million and uncollectible expense decreased $0.1 million. The decreases were partially offset by an increase of $0.1 million in legal expense and $0.4 million in senior management incentive compensation accrual reflecting a change from stock to cash incentive compensation for the 2019 performance year.

 

Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased 5.9% to $5.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, from $5.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Depreciation of our new billing system was $0.2 million with no comparable depreciation in 2018. RLEC depreciation increased $0.1 million.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018

 

   Three Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Interest expense  $(1,315)  $(1,459)  $(144)   (9.9)%
Other income   5    83    (78)   (94.0)
Income tax expense   (712)   (834)   (122)   (14.6)

 

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased 9.9% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to $1.3 million from $1.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018. Lower outstanding principal balance and lower interest rates under our Credit Facility accounted for the decrease. Our Credit Facility matures in November 2022. See additional information in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below.

 

Other income. Other income decreased 94.0% in the three months ended September 30, 2019, to less than $0.1 million from $0.1 million in the three months ended September 30, 2018, primarily related to the one-time CoBank dividend related to the impact of the Tax Act received in the third quarter of last year.

 

Income tax expense. The Tax Act enacted on December 22, 2017, reduced the maximum federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% which results in a lower effective income tax rate when compared to historical rates prior to 2018. For the three months ended September 30, 2019, our effective tax rate is 28.1%, as compared to 26.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2019. The effective income tax rate varies from the federal corporate tax rate of 21% largely due to state income taxes and other permanent differences.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

 

   Nine Months Ended September 30,   Change 
   2019   2018   Amount   Percent 
   (dollars in thousands) 
Interest expense  $(4,044)  $(4,384)  $(340)   (7.8)%
Other income   604    252    352    139.7 
Income tax expense   (2,056)   (2,406)   (350)   (14.5)

 

Interest expense. Interest expense decreased 7.8% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $4.0 million from $4.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Lower outstanding principal balance and lower interest rates under our Credit Facility accounted for the decrease. Our credit facility matures in November 2022. See additional information in the “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section below.

 

Other income. Other income increased 139.7% in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, to $0.6 million from $0.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily related to the annual CoBank dividend received in the first quarter of each year and the special CoBank dividend related to the impact of the Tax Act received in the third quarter of last year.

 

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Income tax expense. The Tax Act enacted on December 22, 2017, reduced the maximum federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% which results in a lower effective income tax rate when compared to historical rates prior to 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, our effective tax rate is 26.1%, as compared to 25.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The effective income tax rate varies from the federal corporate tax rate of 21% largely due to state income taxes and other permanent differences.

 

Net income. As a result of the foregoing, there was net income of $1.8 million and $2.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively. As a result of the foregoing, there was net income of $5.8 million and $7.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our liquidity needs arise primarily from: (i) interest and principal payments related to our credit facility; (ii) capital expenditures for investment in our business, including A-CAM requirements; and (iii) working capital requirements.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we generated cash from our business to invest in additional property and equipment of $7.6 million, pay loan principal of $3.3 million and pay scheduled interest on our debt of $3.7 million. After meeting all of these needs of our business, cash increased to $5.3 million as of September 30, 2019, from $4.7 million as of December 31, 2018.

 

Cash flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, amounted to $11.7 million compared to $15.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily reflecting lower net income, an increase in materials and supplies and accrued expenses associated with increased fiber builds and the change in prepaid expenses.

 

Cash flows used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, were $7.6 million compared to $5.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily reflecting RLEC fiber installation, including investments associated with the FCC’s A-CAM program. Plans have been announced that will increase investment in our network to an estimated $11.5 million in 2019, as we improve our network with additional fiber deployment and move to a VDSL delivery platform in all RLEC territories.

 

Cash flows used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, were $3.5 million compared to $9.6 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2018, reflecting $6.0 million in voluntary principal payments for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 with no comparable payment for the same period in 2019. Our plans are to continue reducing our debt through our required quarterly payments while utilizing available cash for network improvements.

 

We do not invest in financial instruments as part of our business strategy. However, our Credit Facility required that we acquire an interest rate hedge on at least 50% of our outstanding notes payable balance for a period of at least two years. Accordingly, we purchased a two-year 3.0% interest rate cap on one-month LIBOR covering $45.0 million on February 26, 2018. The interest rate cap is accounted for as an asset and marked to market each quarter.

 

On November 2, 2017, we refinanced our prior credit facilities with a new $92.0 million, five-year credit facility from a consortium of banks led by CoBank, ACB. Our Credit Facility includes an $87.0 million term loan and a $5.0 million revolving loan, which is undrawn. Our Credit Facility also includes a $20.0 million accordion feature that could be used to increase the term-loan portion of the credit facility, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and lender participation. Proceeds from the term loan and cash on hand were used to pay all amounts due in respect of principal, interest, prepayment premiums and fees under our prior credit facilities, as well as fees associated with the transaction. Our Credit Facility requires annual principal reduction of $4.3 million paid equally on a quarterly basis and, beginning in 2019, an annual principal payment equal to 50% of our excess cash flow for the year. During the nine months ended September 30, 2019, we made our scheduled principal payment of $3.3 million. We made no voluntary principal prepayments. The 2018 voluntary principal prepayments were used to offset the required 2019 excess cash flow payment due in first quarter 2019. No annual excess cash flow payment for 2019 is projected to be due in the first quarter of 2020.

 

We anticipate that operating cash flow, together with borrowings under our Credit Facility, will be adequate to meet our currently anticipated operating and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. Our cash position reflects the continuing strength of our operations.

 

We use consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Consolidated EBITDA”) and the ratio of our debt, net of cash, to Consolidated EBITDA for the last twelve months (the “Leverage Ratio”) as operational performance measurements. Consolidated EBITDA, as presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, corresponds to the definition of Consolidated EBITDA in our credit facility. Consolidated EBITDA and the Leverage Ratio, as presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). The lenders under our credit facility use Consolidated EBITDA to determine compliance with credit facility requirements. We report Consolidated EBITDA and the Leverage Ratio in our quarterly earnings press release to allow current and potential investors to understand these performance metrics and because we believe that they provide current and potential investors with helpful information with respect to our operating performance, including our ability to generate earnings sufficient to service our debt, and enhance understanding of our financial performance and highlight operational trends. However, Consolidated EBITDA and the Leverage Ratio should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our presentation of Consolidated EBITDA and the Leverage Ratio may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. Consolidated EBITDA for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2019, and 2018, and the twelve months ended September 30, 2019, and its reconciliation to net income, is reflected in the table below (dollar amounts in thousands):

 

24

 

 

   Three Months Ended
September 30,
  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

   Twelve
Months Ended
September 30,
 
   2019   2018   2019   2018   2019 
Net income  $1,819   $2,326   $5,816   $7,230   $8,054 
Add: Depreciation   1,798    1,677    5,465    5,135    7,236 
Interest expense less interest income   1,198    1,343    3,692    4,029    5,030 
Interest expense - amortized loan cost   112    116    342    354    464 
Income tax expense   712    834    2,056    2,407    2,395 
Amortization - intangibles   75    79    233    247    312 
Loan fees   17    19    52    56    69 
Stock-based compensation (senior management)   59    56    172    207    273 
Consolidated EBITDA  $5,790   $6,450   $17,828   $19,665   $23,833 

 

The table below provides the calculation of the Leverage Ratio as of September 30, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

Notes payable  $70,079 
Debt issuance costs   1,221 
Notes outstanding  $71,300 
      
Less cash   (5,298)
Notes outstanding, net of cash  $66,002 
Consolidated EBITDA for the last twelve months  $23,833 
      
Leverage Ratio   2.77 

 

As we reduce our debt, our Leverage Ratio will vary based on changes in Consolidated EBITDA.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 1, Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting, to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of the recently adopted accounting pronouncements that are applicable to us, including details relating to our adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), at the beginning of 2019, which adoption did not have a material impact on our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 1, Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting, to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of the recent accounting pronouncements that are applicable to us.

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Our short-term excess cash balance is invested in short-term commercial paper. We do not invest in any derivative or commodity type instruments. Accordingly, we are subject to minimal market risk on our investments.

 

25

 

 

Interest rates applicable to the term loans (including any incremental term loans incurred under the accordion feature) and the revolving loans under our credit facility are set at a margin over an adjusted LIBOR rate (which is defined as the higher of (1) LIBOR multiplied by the statutory reserve rate and (2) 0.0% per annum) or a base rate (which is defined as the highest of (1) the prime rate, (2) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% per annum, (3) the adjusted LIBOR rate for an interest period of one month plus 1.0% per annum and (4) 0.0% per annum). Accordingly, we are exposed to interest rate risk. A one percentage point change in one-month LIBOR interest rates from the interest rates actually applicable to the loans under our credit facility during the period would have resulted in an increase of $0.6 million in our interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

 

With the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, management has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2019.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2019, that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

26

 

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 6.Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.   Description
10.1   Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of July 1, 2019, effective as of September 30, 2019, by and between Otelco Inc. and Dennis K. Andrews (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Otelco Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32362), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 8, 2019)
31.1   Certificate pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Chief Executive Officer
31.2   Certificate pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 of the Chief Financial Officer
32.1   Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Chief Executive Officer
32.2   Certificate pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of the Chief Financial Officer
101   The following information from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2019, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (iv) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

27

 

 

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.

 

Date: November 5, 2019 OTELCO INC.
     
     
By:   /s/ Curtis L. Garner, Jr.
    Curtis L. Garner, Jr.
    Chief Financial Officer

 

28

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

I, Robert J. Souza, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Otelco Inc.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 5, 2019

 

/s/ Robert J. Souza  
Robert J. Souza  
Chief Executive Officer  

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION BY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

I, Curtis L. Garner, Jr., certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Otelco Inc.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

(a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a)All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: November 5, 2019

 

/s/ Curtis L. Garner, Jr.  
Curtis L. Garner, Jr.  
Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Otelco Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert J. Souza, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ Robert J. Souza  
Robert J. Souza  
Chief Executive Officer  
November 5, 2019  

 

 

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. §1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Otelco Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Curtis L. Garner, Jr., Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

 

1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

/s/ Curtis L. Garner, Jr.  
Curtis L. Garner, Jr.  
Chief Financial Officer  
November 5, 2019  

 

 

v3.19.3
Note 7 - Leases
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block]
7.
Leases
 
ASU
2016
-
02
requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. As stated above in Note
1,
Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting –
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
, the Company has elected certain practical expedients available at adoption. The Company elected the package of practical expedients upon transition
not
to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease;
not
to reassess the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and
not
to reassess whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under ASU
2016
-
02.
In evaluating certain equipment rental arrangements such as cable, internet and security service contracts, the Company considered the practical expedient that allows lessors to elect, by class of underlying asset, to
not
separate non-lease components from the associated lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard. The Company elected this practical expedient as the following
two
criteria are met; the lease component and the associated non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer; and the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease. The Company elected to adopt the new standard using the transition method provided by ASU
2018
-
11;
therefore, prior periods will
not
be restated. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to real property leases and is consistent with industry practices. This ASU was effective
January 1, 2019,
the Company recognized an aggregate of
$1,073,919
in lease liabilities and corresponding ROU assets and
no
impact on the opening retained earnings balances.
 
In consideration of whether an agreement contains a lease as defined under ASU
2016
-
02,
the Company answered these
three
questions; has an asset been identified, is the asset physically distinct, and does the customer have the right to control the asset.  The Company determined based on the
three
-step questions above, the arrangements pertaining to real property building and office facilities in Alabama, Maine and Massachusetts are within the scope of ASU
2016
-
02.
 
In calculating the lease liability, the Company considered the lease term in which the Company would include any periods covered by an option to extend the lease if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option. The Company evaluated factors that might create an economic incentive to exercise options to extend, including contract, asset, entity and market-based factors. The Company determined that there would be
no
significant relocation and interruption costs associated with moving to alternative space that would disincentivize a move at renewal; therefore, renewals to extend the lease term are
not
included in the ROU asset and lease liabilities.
 
A lessee
may
recognize the lease payments in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term and variable lease payments in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. The accounting policy election for short-term leases shall be made by class of underlying asset to which the right of use relates. A short-term lease is defined as a lease that, at the commencement date, has a lease term of
12
months or less and does
not
include an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise. The Company elected to exclude short-term leases from the recognition requirements.
 
In discounting the liability, ASU
2016
-
02
indicates that the incremental rate used must be comparable to a rate attributable to a similar amount, for a similar term, and with similar collateral as the assets in the lease. The Company observed that published commercial borrowing rates were generally between
5.0%
to
7.0%
for loans collateralized by the real estate for terms ranging from
5
-
10
years. The Company has elected to use a discount rate of
6.5%
for all leases.
 
Maturities of lease liabilities as of
September 30, 2019
are as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Leased Real
Property and
Office Facilities
 
         
2019 (remaining)
  $
109
 
2020
   
312
 
2021
   
203
 
2022
   
185
 
2023
   
166
 
Thereafter
   
42
 
Total lease payments
  $
1,017
 
Less: Interest
   
(110
)
Present value of lease liabilities
  $
907
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases was as follows (in thousands, except years and percentages):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurment of lease liabilities:
               
Operating cash outflow from operating leases
   
(108
)    
(325
)
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)
   
3.6
     
3.6
 
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases
   
6.5
%
   
6.5
%
v3.19.3
Note 4 - Net Income Per Common Share (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic
   
3,410,936
     
3,388,624
     
3,410,936
     
3,388,624
 
                                 
Effect of dilutive securities
   
20,293
     
66,312
     
20,293
     
49,762
 
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares - diluted
   
3,431,229
     
3,454,936
     
3,431,229
     
3,438,386
 
                                 
Net income
  $
1,819
    $
2,326
    $
5,816
    $
7,230
 
                                 
Net income per common share - basic
  $
0.53
    $
0.69
    $
1.71
    $
2.13
 
                                 
Net income per common share - diluted
  $
0.53
    $
0.67
    $
1.70
    $
2.10
 
v3.19.3
Note 8 - Stock Plans - Summary of RSU Activity (Details) - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] - $ / shares
6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares) 66,312 66,312  
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) $ 9.06 $ 9.06  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period 0 401,111
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)    
Restricted stock units vested (in shares)   (34,202)  
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)   $ 5.09  
Restricted stock units forfeited or cancelled (in shares)   (11,817)  
Forfeited or cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)   $ 13.30  
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares)   20,293 66,312
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)   $ 13.30 $ 9.06
v3.19.3
Note 7 - Leases (Details Textual) - USD ($)
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2019
Jan. 01, 2019
Operating Lease, Liability, Total   $ 907,000 $ 1,073,919
Operating Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent 6.50% 6.50%  
Minimum [Member]      
Commercial Borrowing Rate   5.00%  
Loan Collateralized by Real Estate, Term 5 years    
Maximum [Member]      
Commercial Borrowing Rate   7.00%  
Loan Collateralized by Real Estate, Term 10 years    
v3.19.3
Note 1 - Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting (Details Textual) - USD ($)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2017
Sep. 30, 2019
Jan. 01, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Lease, Liability, Total   $ 907,000 $ 1,073,919  
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset   $ 907,000  
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Adjustment of Deferred Tax (Asset) Liability $ 9,300,000      
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member]        
Operating Lease, Liability, Total     1,073,919  
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset     $ 1,073,919  
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable - Maturities of Notes Payable (Details)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2019
USD ($)
2019 (remaining) $ 1,088
2020 4,350
2021 4,350
2022 61,512
2023
Total $ 71,300
v3.19.3
Note 5 - Revenue Streams and Concentrations - Revenue Streams (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues $ 15,762 $ 16,252 $ 47,175 $ 49,867
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09   12,083   36,967
Sales Channel, Directly to Consumer [Member]        
Revenues 11,375 $ 12,083 34,365 $ 36,967
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 11,375   $ 34,365  
Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Revenue Benchmark [Member] | Sales Channel, Directly to Consumer [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 72.20% 74.40% 72.90% 74.20%
Month-to-Month Customers [Member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 6,847 $ 7,351 $ 20,769 $ 22,337
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 61.00% 61.60% 61.30% 61.20%
Month-to-Month Customers [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 43.40% 45.20% 44.00% 44.80%
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business Customers [Member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 3,288 $ 3,447 $ 9,870 $ 10,589
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 29.30% 28.90% 29.10% 29.10%
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business Customers [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 20.90% 21.20% 20.90% 21.20%
Network Access Customers [member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 640 $ 666 $ 1,908 $ 2,074
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 5.70% 5.60% 5.60% 5.70%
Network Access Customers [member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 4.10% 4.10% 4.10% 4.20%
Month-to-Month, Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business, and Network Access Customers [Member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 10,775 $ 11,464 $ 32,547 $ 35,000
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 96.00% 96.10% 96.00% 96.00%
Month-to-Month, Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business, and Network Access Customers [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 68.40% 70.50% 69.00% 70.20%
Global Access Customers [Member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 [1] $ 446 $ 464 $ 1,365 $ 1,477
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 [1] 4.00% 3.90% 4.00% 4.00%
Global Access Customers [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage [1] 2.80% 2.90% 2.90% 3.00%
Month-to-Month, Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business, Network Access, and Global Access Customers [Member]        
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 $ 11,221 $ 11,928 $ 33,912 $ 36,477
Revenues, percentage within scope of ASU 2014-09 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Month-to-Month, Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Business, Network Access, and Global Access Customers [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage 71.20% 73.40% 71.90% 73.20%
Managed Services [Member]        
Revenues [2] $ 154 $ 155 $ 453 $ 490
Managed Services [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage [2] 1.00% 1.00% 1.00% 1.00%
Local services [Member]        
Revenues $ 4,717 $ 5,162 $ 14,585 $ 15,799
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 4,717 5,162 14,585 15,799
Network Access [Member]        
Revenues 5,436 5,261 15,970 16,338
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 1,086 1,130 3,273 3,551
Internet [Member]        
Revenues 3,673 3,774 10,996 11,484
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 3,673 3,774 10,996 11,484
Transport Services [Member]        
Revenues 1,091 1,211 3,143 3,613
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 1,054 1,173 3,030 3,500
Video and Security [Member]        
Revenues 691 689 2,028 2,143
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 691 689 2,028 2,143
Management Service [Member]        
Revenues 154 155 453 490
Revenues, within scope of ASU 2014-09 154 155 453 490
Indefeasible Rights-Of-Use Agreements, Outside of ASU 2014-09 Scope [Member]        
Revenues [2] $ 37 $ 38 $ 113 $ 113
Indefeasible Rights-Of-Use Agreements, Outside of ASU 2014-09 Scope [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage [2] 0.20% 0.20% 0.20% 0.20%
Network Access, Outside of ASU 2014-09 Scope [Member]        
Revenues [2] $ 4,350 $ 4,131 $ 12,697 $ 12,787
Network Access, Outside of ASU 2014-09 Scope [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member]        
Revenues, percentage [2] 27.60% 25.40% 26.90% 25.60%
[1] Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.
[2] Revenue generated from sources not within the scope of ASU 2014-09.
v3.19.3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,298 $ 4,657
Accounts receivable:    
Due from subscribers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $283 and $577, respectively 3,943 4,183
Other 1,914 1,899
Materials and supplies 4,250 2,802
Prepaid expenses 1,182 1,198
Other assets 260
Total current assets 16,847 14,739
Property and equipment, net 54,283 52,073
Goodwill 44,976 44,976
Intangible assets, net 625 919
Operating lease right-of-use asset 907
Investments 1,479 1,498
Interest rate cap 4
Other assets 496 143
Total assets 119,613 114,352
Current liabilities    
Accounts payable 1,997 1,331
Accrued expenses 6,131 5,054
Advance billings and payments 1,508 1,614
Customer deposits 45 48
Current operating lease liability 325
Current maturity of long-term notes payable, net of debt issuance cost 3,922 3,904
Total current liabilities 13,928 11,951
Deferred income taxes 20,145 20,145
Advance billings and payments 2,092 2,234
Other liabilities 1 13
Long-term operating lease liability 582
Long-term notes payable, less current maturities and debt issuance cost 66,157 69,107
Total liabilities 102,905 103,450
Stockholders' equity    
Additional paid in capital 4,203 4,213
Retained earnings 12,471 6,655
Total stockholders' equity 16,708 10,902
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 119,613 114,352
Common Class A [Member]    
Stockholders' equity    
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value-authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 3,410,936 and 3,388,624 shares, respectively $ 34 $ 34
v3.19.3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net income $ 5,816 $ 7,230
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows provided by operating activities:    
Depreciation 5,465 5,135
Amortization 233 247
Amortization of loan costs 342 354
Non-cash lease amortization 166
Provision for uncollectible accounts receivable 163 283
Stock-based compensation 173 207
Changes in operating assets and liabilities    
Accounts receivable (198) (704)
Materials and supplies (1,448) (73)
Prepaid expenses and other assets (337) 2,030
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,743 959
Advance billings and payments (248) (223)
Other liabilities (182) 15
Net cash from operating activities 11,688 15,460
Cash flows used in investing activities:    
Acquisition and construction of property and equipment (7,594) (5,710)
Net cash used in investing activities (7,594) (5,710)
Cash flows used in financing activities:    
Loan origination costs (12) (37)
Principal repayment of long-term notes payable (3,262) (9,262)
Interest rate cap 4 (40)
Retirement of CoBank equity 119
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units (183) (380)
Net cash used in financing activities (3,453) (9,600)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 641 150
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 4,657 3,570
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 5,298 3,720
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:    
Interest paid 3,717 4,029
Income taxes paid (refund) $ 1,243 $ (563)
v3.19.3
Note 5 - Revenue Streams and Concentrations (Details Textual) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount $ 8.1     $ 8.1  
Contract with Customer, Liability, Total   $ 3.7      
Contract with Customer, Liability, Revenue Recognized   $ 1.4      
Revenue Benchmark [Member]          
Concentration Risk, Percentage 100.00%   100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
Customer Concentration Risk [Member] | Revenue Benchmark [Member] | National Exchange Carrier Association [Member]          
Concentration Risk, Percentage       23.10% 21.20%
Short-term Contract with Customer [Member]          
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount $ 1.2     $ 1.2  
Long-term Contract with Customer [Member]          
Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount $ 6.9     $ 6.9  
Long-term Contract with Customer [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Revenue, Expected to Recognize, Term       2 years  
Long-term Contract with Customer [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Revenue, Expected to Recognize, Term       5 years  
v3.19.3
Note 8 - Stock Plans (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Tables  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Restricted Stock Unit, Activity [Table Text Block]
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
   
 
 
 
 
Grant Date
 
   
RSUs
   
Fair Value
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
66,312
    $
9.06
 
Granted
   
-
    $
-
 
Vested
   
(34,202
)   $
5.09
 
Forfeited or cancelled
   
(11,817
)   $
13.30
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019
   
20,293
    $
13.30
 
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block]
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
   
ISOs and NQ
   
Grant Date
 
   
Stock Options
   
Fair Value
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
50,000
    $
16.97
 
Granted
   
-
    $
-
 
Vested
   
-
    $
-
 
Forfeited or cancelled
   
-
    $
-
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019
   
50,000
    $
16.97
 
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable - New Credit Facility (Details) (Parentheticals)
Sep. 30, 2019
New Credit Facility [Member]  
Notes payable, interest rate 6.36%
v3.19.3
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 283 $ 577
Common Class A [Member]    
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0.01 $ 0.01
Common stock, authorized (in shares) 10,000,000 10,000,000
Common stock, issued (in shares) 3,410,936 3,388,624
Common stock, outstanding (in shares) 3,410,936 3,388,624
v3.19.3
Note 1 - Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Nature of Operations [Text Block]
1.
Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting
 
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Otelco Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, all of which are either directly or indirectly wholly owned. These include: Blountsville Telephone LLC; Brindlee Mountain Telephone LLC; CRC Communications LLC; Granby Telephone LLC; Hopper Telecommunications LLC; Mid-Maine Telecom LLC; Mid-Maine TelPlus LLC; Otelco Mid-Missouri LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary I-Land Internet Services LLC; Otelco Telecommunications LLC; Otelco Telephone LLC; Pine Tree Telephone LLC; Saco River Telephone LLC; Shoreham Telephone LLC; and War Telephone LLC.
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of the aforesaid subsidiaries after elimination of all material intercompany balances and transactions. The unaudited operating results for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
are
not
necessarily indicative of the results that
may
be expected for the year ending
December 31, 2019,
or any other period.
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form
10
-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10
-K for the year ended
December 31, 2018.
The interim condensed consolidated financial information herein is unaudited, with the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of
December 31, 2018,
being derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. The information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods included in this report.
 
Certain items in prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with
2019
presentation.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
May 2014,
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2014
-
09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
)
(“ASU
2014
-
09”
). This ASU requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also provides a more robust framework for revenue issues and improves comparability of revenue recognition practices across industries. This ASU was the product of a joint project between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard. ASU
2014
-
09
permits the use of either a retrospective or modified retrospective application. This guidance was to be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after
December 15, 2016,
with early adoption
not
permitted. In
July 2015,
the FASB issued ASU
2015
-
14,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Deferral of the Effective Date.
This ASU confirmed a
one
-year delay in the effective date of ASU
2014
-
09,
making the effective date for the Company the
first
quarter of fiscal
2018
instead of the
first
quarter of fiscal
2017.
 
In
March 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
08,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenues Gross versus Net)
. This ASU is further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies principal versus agent considerations. In
April 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
10,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies the identification of performance obligations. In
May 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
12,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies assessing the narrow aspects of recognizing revenue. In
December 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic
606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies technical corrections and improvements for recognizing revenue.
 
In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
03,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic
250
) and Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic
323
)
(“ASU
2017
-
03”
). This ASU requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU
2014
-
09
will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU
2014
-
09
on the financial statements when adopted. The Company commenced its assessment of ASU
2014
-
09
beginning in
June 2016.
This assessment included analyzing ASU
2014
-
09’s
impact on the Company’s various revenue streams, comparing the Company’s historical accounting policies and practices to the requirements of ASU
2014
-
09,
and identifying potential differences from applying the requirements of ASU
2014
-
09
to the Company’s contracts. The Company has used a
five
-step process to identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company has implemented the appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under ASU
2014
-
09.
 
The Company adopted ASU
2014
-
09
at the beginning of its
2018
fiscal year using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were
not
completed as of
January 1, 2018.
Prior period amounts have
not
been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historic accounting standards in effect during those periods. The adoption of ASU
2014
-
09
and related amendments did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
January 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
01,
Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic
825
-
10
)
(“ASU
2016
-
01”
). This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU
2016
-
01
requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. That presentation provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about an entity’s involvement in financial instruments. The provisions of this ASU were to be effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In
February 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
03,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic
825
-
10
),
which made targeted improvements to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This ASU also confirmed a
six
-month delay in the effective date of ASU
2016
-
01,
making the effective date for the Company the
second
quarter of fiscal
2018
instead of the
first
quarter of fiscal
2018,
with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU
2016
-
01
as of
March 31, 2018,
and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
February 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
02,
Leases (Topic
842
)
(“ASU
2016
-
02”
)
.
This ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. The provisions of this guidance are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
03,
which requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU
2016
-
02
will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU
2016
-
02
on the financial statements when adopted. In
January 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
01,
Leases (Topic
842
): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic
842
.  This ASU provides an optional transition practical expedient to
not
evaluate under ASU
2016
-
02
existing or expired land easements that were
not
previously accounted for as leases under ASC Topic
840,
Leases
.  An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under ASU
2016
-
02
beginning at the date that the entity adopts ASU
2016
-
02.
  In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
10,
Codification Improvements to Topic
842,
Leases,
which provides improvements and clarifications for ASU
2016
-
02.
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
11,
Leases (Topic
842
): Targeted Improvements
(“ASU
2018
-
11”
). This ASU provides an additional transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new lease standard at the date of adoption with a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balances of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This ASU also gives lessors the option of electing, as a practical expedient by class of underlying asset,
not
to separate the lease and non-lease components of a contract when those lease contracts meet certain criteria.  In
December 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
20,
Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors.
  This ASU clarifies lessor treatment for sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from lessees, certain lessor costs, and recognition of variable payments for contracts with lease and non-lease components.  In
March 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
01,
Codification Improvements.
  This ASU clarifies determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are
not
manufacturers or dealers, presentation on the statement of cash flows for sales-type and direct financing leases, and transition disclosures related to Topic
250,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The Company has completed its evaluation of the requirements of this guidance and implemented the processes necessary to adopt ASU
2016
-
02,
as amended.  The Company has elected certain practical expedients available at adoption.  The Company elected the package of practical expedients upon transition
not
to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease;
not
to reassess the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and
not
to reassess whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under ASU
2016
-
02.
  In evaluating certain equipment rental arrangements such as cable, internet and security service contracts, the Company considered the practical expedient that allows lessors to elect, by class of underlying asset, to
not
separate non-lease components from the associated lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard.  The Company elected this practical expedient as the following
two
criteria are met; the lease component and the associated non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer; and the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease.  The Company elected to adopt the new standard using the transition method provided by ASU
2018
-
11;
therefore, prior periods will
not
be restated. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to real property leases and is consistent with industry practices.  Adoption of the new standard resulted in the Company recognizing an aggregate of
$1,073,919
in lease liabilities and corresponding right of use (“ROU”) assets and
no
impact on the opening retained earnings balances.  The adoption of ASU
2016
-
02
had an immaterial impact on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019.
 
In
August 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
15
, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic
230
): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
. This ASU addresses how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic
230,
Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after
December 15, 2017,
with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
May 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
09,
Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic
718
)
(“ASU
2017
-
09”
). ASU
2017
-
09
provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic
718,
Stock Compensation
. ASU
2017
-
09
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for any interim period for which financial statements have
not
been issued. ASU
2017
-
09
should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
May 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
10,
Service Concession Arrangements (Topic
853
)
(“ASU
2017
-
10”
). The objective of this ASU is to specify that an operating entity should
not
account for a service concession arrangement that meets certain criteria as a lease in accordance with ASC Topic
840,
Leases
. ASU
2017
-
10
further states that the infrastructure used in a service concession arrangement should
not
be recognized as property, plant, and equipment of the operating entity. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
March 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
05,
Income Taxes (Topic
740
)
. The objective of this ASU is to amend ASC
740,
Income Taxes
to reflect Staff Accounting Bulletin
No.
118
(“SAB
118”
), issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which addresses the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). SAB
118
outlines the approach companies
may
take if they determine that the necessary information is
not
available (in reasonable detail) to evaluate, compute, and prepare accounting entries to recognize the effects of the Tax Act by the time the financial statements are required to be filed. Companies
may
use this approach when the timely determination of some or all of the income tax effects from the Tax Act are incomplete by the due date of the financial statements.  A reporting entity must act in good faith and update provisional amounts as soon as more information becomes available, evaluated and prepared, during a measurement period that cannot exceed
one
year from the enactment date. Initial reasonable estimates and subsequent changes to provisional amounts should be reported in income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations in the period in which they are determined.  As of
December 31, 2017,
the provisional amount recorded related to the remeasurement of the Company’s deferred tax liability balance was
$9.3
million and reflected a
one
-time reduction in the Company’s income tax provision. As of
December 31, 2017,
the Company finalized its accounting estimates for income tax effects related to the Tax Act. The Company elected to
not
utilize the measurement window provided under SAB
118
that ended in
2018.
The Company did
not
record any adjustments to its
2017
income tax effects resulting from the Tax Act.
 
In
June 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
07,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic
718
).
This ASU expands the scope of ASU
2017
-
09,
which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to also include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods and services. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018,
and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, but
no
earlier than the Company’s adoption date of ASU
2014
-
09.
The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
During
2018,
the FASB issued ASUs
2018
-
01
through
2018
-
15
and, during
2019,
the FASB has issued ASUs
2019
-
01
through
2019
-
07.
Except for the ASUs discussed above and below, these ASUs provide technical corrections or simplifications to existing guidance and to specialized industries or entities and therefore have minimal, if any, impact on the Company.
 
In
August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
13,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820
)
(“ASU
2018
-
13”
)
.
This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASU
2018
-
13,
based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. This ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements as part of its disclosure framework project. ASU
2018
-
13
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of this ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company does
not
expect this ASU to have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
November 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
19,
Codification Improvements to Topic
326,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses
(“ASU
2018
-
19”
)
.
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic
326
): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
(“ASU
2016
-
13”
) issued in
June 2016,
to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the
first
reporting period in which the amendments are effective. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
as amended by ASU
2018
-
19.
In
April 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
04,
Codification Improvements to Topic
326,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic
815,
Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic
825,
Financial Instruments.
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13
issued in
June 2016,
to allow the measurement of allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable balances separately from other components of the amortized cost basis of associated financial assets. In
May 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
05,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic
326
).
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13
issued in
June 2016,
to allow companies to irrevocably elect, upon adoption of ASU
2016
-
13,
the fair value option on financial instruments that (
1
) were previously recorded at amortized cost and (
2
) are within the scope of ASC
326
-
20
if the instruments are eligible for the fair value option under ASC
825
-
10.
The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
as amended by ASU
2018
-
19.
ASU
2016
-
13
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt as of the fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018,
including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does
not
expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
v3.19.3
Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]
6.
Commitments and Contingencies
 
From time to time, the Company
may
be involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings incidental to and in the ordinary course of business, including administrative hearings of the Alabama Public Service Commission, the Maine Public Utilities Commission, the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable, the Missouri Public Service Commission, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, the Vermont Public Utility Commission and the West Virginia Public Service Commission, relating primarily to rate making and customer service requirements. In addition, the Company
may
be involved in similar proceedings with interconnection carriers and the FCC. Currently,
none
of the Company’s legal proceedings are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business.
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt [Table Text Block]
2019 (remaining)
  $
1,088
 
2020
   
4,350
 
2021
   
4,350
 
2022
   
61,512
 
2023
   
-
 
Total
  $
71,300
 
New Credit Facility [Member]  
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block]
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
Current
   
Long-term
   
2019
   
2018
 
Loan with CoBank, ACB (the "Credit Facility"); variable interest rate of 6.36% at September 30, 2019, interest is monthly, paid in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Credit Facility is secured by the total assets of the subsidiary guarantors. The unpaid balance is due November 3, 2022.   $
4,350
    $
66,950
    $
71,300
    $
74,562
 
                                 
Debt issuance cost
   
(428
)    
(793
)    
(1,221
)    
(1,551
)
                                 
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost
  $
3,922
    $
66,157
    $
70,079
    $
73,011
 
v3.19.3
Note 8 - Stock Plans - Summary of Stock Option Activity (Details) - Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
$ / shares
shares
Stock options outstanding (in shares) | shares 50,000
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 16.97
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross | shares
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares
Stock options vested (in shares) | shares
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares
Stock options forfeited or cancelled (in shares) | shares
Forfeited or cancelled, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares
Stock options outstanding (in shares) | shares 50,000
Outstanding, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 16.97
v3.19.3
Note 7 - Leases - Undiscounted and Discounted Cash Flows for Leases (Details) - USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2019
Jan. 01, 2019
Undiscounted cash flows, 2019 (remaining) $ 109,000  
Undiscounted cash flows, 2020 312,000  
Undiscounted cash flows, 2021 203,000  
Undiscounted cash flows, 2022 185,000  
Undiscounted cash flows, 2023 166,000  
Undiscounted cash flows, thereafter 42,000  
Total lease payments 1,017,000  
Less: Interest (110,000)  
Present value of lease liabilities $ 907,000 $ 1,073,919
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable (Details Textual) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
9 Months Ended
Oct. 22, 2018
Nov. 02, 2017
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2019
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs     $ 342 $ 354  
Debt Issuance Costs, Current, Net, Total         $ 2,100
New Credit Facility [Member]          
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross         2,100
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs     342 354  
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity         5,000
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage 0.38% 0.50%      
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Amount     14 $ 19  
Debt Issuance Costs, Current, Net, Total     $ 428    
Previous Credit Facility [Member]          
Long-term Line of Credit, Total         $ 0
v3.19.3
Note 3 - Income Tax (Details Textual)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, Percent, Total 26.10% 25.00%
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate, Percent 21.00%  
v3.19.3
Note 3 - Income Tax
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block]
3.
Income Tax
 
For the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
the effective tax rate was
26.1%,
compared to
25.0%
for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2018.
The effective tax rate varies from the federal corporate tax rate of
21.0%
largely due to state income taxes and other permanent differences.
v3.19.3
Document And Entity Information
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
shares
Document Information [Line Items]  
Entity Registrant Name OTELCO INC.
Entity Central Index Key 0001288359
Trading Symbol otel
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Entity Small Business true
Entity Shell Company false
Document Type 10-Q
Document Period End Date Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q3
Amendment Flag false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock
Common Class B [Member]  
Document Information [Line Items]  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) 0
Common Class A [Member]  
Document Information [Line Items]  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) 3,410,936
v3.19.3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Common Stock [Member]
Common Class A [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Retained Earnings [Member]
Total
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017 3,346,689      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ 34 $ 4,285 $ (2,812) $ 1,507
Net income   1,996 1,996
Stock-based compensation expense   71   71
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units77   (380)   (380)
Issuance of Class A Stock (in shares) 41,935      
Issuance of Class A Stock    
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018 $ 34 3,976 (816) 3,194
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017 3,346,689      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017 $ 34 4,285 (2,812) 1,507
Net income       7,230
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018 $ 34 4,112 4,418 8,564
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance at Mar. 31, 2018 $ 34 3,976 (816) 3,194
Net income 2,908 2,908
Stock-based compensation expense 80 80
Balance at Jun. 30, 2018 $ 34 4,056 2,092 6,182
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2018 3,388,624      
Net income 2,326 2,326
Stock-based compensation expense 56 56
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018 $ 34 4,112 4,418 8,564
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018 $ 34 4,213 6,655 10,902
Net income   2,281 2,281
Stock-based compensation expense   71   71
Tax withholdings paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units77 (183) (183)
Issuance of Class A Stock (in shares) 22,312      
Issuance of Class A Stock    
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019 $ 34 4,101 8,936 13,071
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019 3,410,936      
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018 3,388,624      
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018 $ 34 4,213 6,655 10,902
Net income       5,816
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019 $ 34 4,203 12,471 16,708
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019 3,410,936      
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2019 3,410,936      
Balance at Mar. 31, 2019 $ 34 4,101 8,936 13,071
Net income 1,716 1,716
Stock-based compensation expense 43 43
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019 $ 34 4,144 10,652 14,830
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019 3,410,936      
Net income 1,819 1,819
Stock-based compensation expense 59 59
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019 $ 34 $ 4,203 $ 12,471 $ 16,708
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019 3,410,936      
v3.19.3
Note 8 - Stock Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Oct. 15, 2018
Jun. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Dec. 31, 2018
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage 20.00%        
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period   0   401,111
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested or Cancelled         334,799
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Amount Capitalized $ 0 $ 0      
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense     $ 108 $ 207  
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total     108    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period         1 year
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period         3 years
Incentive Stock Options [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross 29,460        
Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross 20,540        
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 5 years        
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense     65    
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total     $ 351    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross        
v3.19.3
Note 4 - Net Income Per Common Share
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Earnings Per Share [Text Block]
4.
Net
Income
per Common Share
 
Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per common share reflects the potential dilution that would occur should all of the shares of Class A common stock underlying restricted stock units (“RSUs”) be issued.
 
A reconciliation of the common shares for purposes of the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted net income per common share is as follows (weighted average number of common shares outstanding in whole numbers and net income in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic
   
3,410,936
     
3,388,624
     
3,410,936
     
3,388,624
 
                                 
Effect of dilutive securities
   
20,293
     
66,312
     
20,293
     
49,762
 
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares - diluted
   
3,431,229
     
3,454,936
     
3,431,229
     
3,438,386
 
                                 
Net income
  $
1,819
    $
2,326
    $
5,816
    $
7,230
 
                                 
Net income per common share - basic
  $
0.53
    $
0.69
    $
1.71
    $
2.13
 
                                 
Net income per common share - diluted
  $
0.53
    $
0.67
    $
1.70
    $
2.10
 
v3.19.3
Note 8 - Stock Plans
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Shareholders' Equity and Share-based Payments [Text Block]
8.
Stock Plans
 
The Company has previously granted RSUs underlying
401,111
shares of Class A common stock. These RSUs (or a portion thereof) vest with respect to each recipient over a
one
to
three
year period from the date of grant, provided the recipient remains in the employment or service of the Company as of the vesting date and, in selected instances, certain performance criteria are attained. Additionally, these RSUs (or a portion thereof) could vest earlier in the event of a change in control of the Company, or upon involuntary termination without cause. Of the
401,111
previously granted RSUs, RSUs underlying
334,799
shares of Class A common stock have vested or were cancelled as of
December 31, 2018.
During the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
no
RSUs were granted by the Company. The previous RSU grants were made primarily to executive-level personnel at the Company and, as a result,
no
compensation costs have been capitalized.
 
The following table summarizes RSU activity for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019:
 
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
   
 
 
 
 
Grant Date
 
   
RSUs
   
Fair Value
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
66,312
    $
9.06
 
Granted
   
-
    $
-
 
Vested
   
(34,202
)   $
5.09
 
Forfeited or cancelled
   
(11,817
)   $
13.30
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019
   
20,293
    $
13.30
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs was
$108
thousand and
$207
thousand for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
and
2018,
respectively. Stock-based compensation related to RSUs is recognized over the
39
-month vesting schedule. Accounting standards require that the Company estimate forfeitures for RSUs and reduce compensation expense accordingly. The Company has reduced its expense by the assumed forfeiture rate and will evaluate actual experience against the assumed forfeiture rate going forward. The forfeiture rate has been developed using historical performance metrics which could impact the size of the final issuance of Class A common stock. The Company has
no
history before
2014
with RSU forfeiture.
 
As of
September 30, 2019,
the unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested RSUs was
$108
thousand. That cost is expected to be recognized by the end of
2021.
 
On
October 15, 2018,
the Company granted
29,460
incentive stock options (“ISOs”) and
20,540
non-qualified (“NQ”) stock options to purchase shares of Class A common stock. These options vest with respect to the recipient thereof over a
five
year period with
20%
becoming exercisable on each anniversary of the vesting commencement date of
October 15, 2019,
provided the recipient remains in the employment or service of the Company as of the vesting date. Additionally, these options (or a portion thereof) could vest earlier in the event of a change in control of the Company. These option grants were made to
one
executive-level employee of the Company and, as a result,
no
compensation costs have been capitalized.
 
The following table summarizes ISO and NQ stock option activity for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019:
 
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average
 
   
ISOs and NQ
   
Grant Date
 
   
Stock Options
   
Fair Value
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2018
   
50,000
    $
16.97
 
Granted
   
-
    $
-
 
Vested
   
-
    $
-
 
Forfeited or cancelled
   
-
    $
-
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2019
   
50,000
    $
16.97
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense related to ISOs and NQ stock options was
$65
thousand for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019.
 
As of
September 30, 2019,
the unrecognized total compensation cost related to unvested ISOs and NQ stock options was
$351
thousand. That cost is expected to be recognized by the end of
2023.
  
v3.19.3
Note 5 - Revenue Streams and Concentrations (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Tables  
Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
                 
Local services
  $
4,717
    $
14,585
 
Network access
   
5,436
     
15,970
 
Internet
   
3,673
     
10,996
 
Transport services
   
1,091
     
3,143
 
Video and security
   
691
     
2,028
 
Managed services
   
154
     
453
 
Total revenues
  $
15,762
    $
47,175
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
 
                 
Local services
  $
5,162
    $
15,799
 
Network access
   
5,261
     
16,338
 
Internet
   
3,774
     
11,484
 
Transport services
   
1,211
     
3,613
 
Video and security
   
689
     
2,143
 
Managed services
   
155
     
490
 
Total revenues
  $
16,252
    $
49,867
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
                 
Local services
  $
4,717
    $
14,585
 
Network access
   
1,086
     
3,273
 
Internet
   
3,673
     
10,996
 
Transport services
   
1,054
     
3,030
 
Video and security
   
691
     
2,028
 
Managed services
   
154
     
453
 
Total revenues generated from customers
  $
11,375
    $
34,365
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
 
                 
Local services
  $
5,162
    $
15,799
 
Network access
   
1,130
     
3,551
 
Internet
   
3,774
     
11,484
 
Transport services
   
1,173
     
3,500
 
Video and security
   
689
     
2,143
 
Managed services
   
155
     
490
 
Total revenues generated from customers
  $
12,083
    $
36,967
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
Month to month ("MTM") customers
  $
6,847
     
61.0
%
   
43.4
%
Competitive local exchange carrier ("CLEC") business customers
   
3,288
     
29.3
     
20.9
 
Network access
   
640
     
5.7
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
10,775
     
96.0
     
68.4
 
Global access*
   
446
     
4.0
     
2.8
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
11,221
     
100.0
%
   
71.2
 
Managed services**
   
154
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
11,375
     
n/a
     
72.2
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
37
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
4,350
     
n/a
     
27.6
 
Total revenues
  $
15,762
     
 
     
100.0
%
   
Nine Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
20,769
     
61.3
%
   
44.0
%
CLEC business customers
   
9,870
     
29.1
     
20.9
 
Network access
   
1,908
     
5.6
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
32,547
     
96.0
     
69.0
 
Global access*
   
1,365
     
4.0
     
2.9
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
33,912
     
100.0
%
   
71.9
 
Managed services**
   
453
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
34,365
     
n/a
     
72.9
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
113
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
12,697
     
n/a
     
26.9
 
Total revenues
  $
47,175
     
 
     
100.0
%
   
Three Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
7,351
     
61.6
%
   
45.2
%
CLEC business customers
   
3,447
     
28.9
     
21.2
 
Network access
   
666
     
5.6
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
11,464
     
96.1
     
70.5
 
Global access*
   
464
     
3.9
     
2.9
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
11,928
     
100.0
%
   
73.4
 
Managed services**
   
155
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
12,083
     
n/a
     
74.4
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
38
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
4,131
     
n/a
     
25.4
 
Total revenues
  $
16,252
     
 
     
100.0
%
   
Nine Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
22,337
     
61.2
%
   
44.8
%
CLEC business customers
   
10,589
     
29.1
     
21.2
 
Network access
   
2,074
     
5.7
     
4.2
 
Total revenue streams
   
35,000
     
96.0
     
70.2
 
Global access*
   
1,477
     
4.0
     
3.0
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
36,477
     
100.0
%
   
73.2
 
Managed services**
   
490
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
36,967
     
n/a
     
74.2
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
113
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
12,787
     
n/a
     
25.6
 
Total revenues
  $
49,867
     
 
     
100.0
%
v3.19.3
Note 7 - Leases - Lease Information (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Operating cash outflow from operating leases $ (108) $ (325)  
Weighted-average remaining lease term – operating leases (Year) 3 years 219 days 3 years 219 days  
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases 6.50% 6.50% 6.50%
v3.19.3
Note 7 - Leases (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes Tables  
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Maturity [Table Text Block]
   
Leased Real
Property and
Office Facilities
 
         
2019 (remaining)
  $
109
 
2020
   
312
 
2021
   
203
 
2022
   
185
 
2023
   
166
 
Thereafter
   
42
 
Total lease payments
  $
1,017
 
Less: Interest
   
(110
)
Present value of lease liabilities
  $
907
 
Lease, Cost [Table Text Block]
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurment of lease liabilities:
               
Operating cash outflow from operating leases
   
(108
)    
(325
)
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)
   
3.6
     
3.6
 
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases
   
6.5
%
   
6.5
%
v3.19.3
Note 5 - Revenue Streams and Concentrations
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block]
5.
Revenue
Streams
and
Concentration
s
 
Revenue Streams
 
The Company identifies its revenue streams with similar characteristics as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
                 
Local services
  $
4,717
    $
14,585
 
Network access
   
5,436
     
15,970
 
Internet
   
3,673
     
10,996
 
Transport services
   
1,091
     
3,143
 
Video and security
   
691
     
2,028
 
Managed services
   
154
     
453
 
Total revenues
  $
15,762
    $
47,175
 
 
The Company identifies its revenue streams with similar characteristics as follows (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
 
                 
Local services
  $
5,162
    $
15,799
 
Network access
   
5,261
     
16,338
 
Internet
   
3,774
     
11,484
 
Transport services
   
1,211
     
3,613
 
Video and security
   
689
     
2,143
 
Managed services
   
155
     
490
 
Total revenues
  $
16,252
    $
49,867
 
 
ASU
2014
-
09
requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. As stated above in Note
1,
Organization and Basis of Financial Reporting
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
, the Company has used a
five
-step process to identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized at the point in time control of the service is transferred to the customer. For certain other services, such as unlimited long distance, revenue is recognized over the period of time the service is provided. The Company has implemented the appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under ASU
2014
-
09.
 
The following table identifies revenue generated from customers (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
September 30, 2019
 
                 
Local services
  $
4,717
    $
14,585
 
Network access
   
1,086
     
3,273
 
Internet
   
3,673
     
10,996
 
Transport services
   
1,054
     
3,030
 
Video and security
   
691
     
2,028
 
Managed services
   
154
     
453
 
Total revenues generated from customers
  $
11,375
    $
34,365
 
 
The following table identifies revenue generated from customers (in thousands):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
September 30, 2018
 
                 
Local services
  $
5,162
    $
15,799
 
Network access
   
1,130
     
3,551
 
Internet
   
3,774
     
11,484
 
Transport services
   
1,173
     
3,500
 
Video and security
   
689
     
2,143
 
Managed services
   
155
     
490
 
Total revenues generated from customers
  $
12,083
    $
36,967
 
 
The following table summarizes the revenue generated from contracts with customers among each revenue stream for the
three
and
nine
month periods (in thousands, except percentages):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
Month to month ("MTM") customers
  $
6,847
     
61.0
%
   
43.4
%
Competitive local exchange carrier ("CLEC") business customers
   
3,288
     
29.3
     
20.9
 
Network access
   
640
     
5.7
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
10,775
     
96.0
     
68.4
 
Global access*
   
446
     
4.0
     
2.8
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
11,221
     
100.0
%
   
71.2
 
Managed services**
   
154
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
11,375
     
n/a
     
72.2
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
37
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
4,350
     
n/a
     
27.6
 
Total revenues
  $
15,762
     
 
     
100.0
%
 
*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.
** Revenue generated from sources
not
within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09.
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2019
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
20,769
     
61.3
%
   
44.0
%
CLEC business customers
   
9,870
     
29.1
     
20.9
 
Network access
   
1,908
     
5.6
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
32,547
     
96.0
     
69.0
 
Global access*
   
1,365
     
4.0
     
2.9
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
33,912
     
100.0
%
   
71.9
 
Managed services**
   
453
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
34,365
     
n/a
     
72.9
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
113
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
12,697
     
n/a
     
26.9
 
Total revenues
  $
47,175
     
 
     
100.0
%
 
*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.
** Revenue generated from sources
not
within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09.
 
The following table summarizes the revenue generated from contracts with customers among each revenue stream for the
three
and
nine
month periods (in thousands, except percentages):
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
7,351
     
61.6
%
   
45.2
%
CLEC business customers
   
3,447
     
28.9
     
21.2
 
Network access
   
666
     
5.6
     
4.1
 
Total revenue streams
   
11,464
     
96.1
     
70.5
 
Global access*
   
464
     
3.9
     
2.9
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
11,928
     
100.0
%
   
73.4
 
Managed services**
   
155
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
12,083
     
n/a
     
74.4
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
38
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
4,131
     
n/a
     
25.4
 
Total revenues
  $
16,252
     
 
     
100.0
%
 
*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.
** Revenue generated from sources
not
within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09.
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
September 30, 2018
   
% In-Scope
   
% Total
 
                         
MTM customers
  $
22,337
     
61.2
%
   
44.8
%
CLEC business customers
   
10,589
     
29.1
     
21.2
 
Network access
   
2,074
     
5.7
     
4.2
 
Total revenue streams
   
35,000
     
96.0
     
70.2
 
Global access*
   
1,477
     
4.0
     
3.0
 
Total revenue from contracts with customers
   
36,477
     
100.0
%
   
73.2
 
Managed services**
   
490
     
n/a
     
1.0
 
Total revenue generated from customers
   
36,967
     
n/a
     
74.2
 
Indefeasible rights-of-use agreements**
   
113
     
n/a
     
0.2
 
Network access**
   
12,787
     
n/a
     
25.6
 
Total revenues
  $
49,867
     
 
     
100.0
%
 
*Fixed fees charged to MTM customers and CLEC business customers.
** Revenue generated from sources
not
within the scope of ASU
2014
-
09.
 
Payment terms vary by customer.  The Company typically invoices customers in the month following when the service was provided. The term between invoicing and when payment is due is less than a year and is
not
considered significant. Certain customers are invoiced in advance of the service being provided. Revenue is deferred until the point in time control of the service is transferred to the customer, or over the term the service is provided.
 
Revenue is recognized net of taxes collected on behalf of
third
parties.
 
As of
September 30, 2019,
the Company had approximately
$8.1
million of unsatisfied performance obligations.  As of
September 30, 2019,
the Company expected to recognize approximately
$1.2
million of revenue within the next year and
$6.9
million in the next
two
to
five
years related to such unsatisfied performance obligations. The Company does
not
disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an original expected life of
one
year or less or for contracts for which the Company has a right to invoice for services performed.
 
The deferred revenue balance as of
June 30, 2019,
was
$3.7
million. Approximately
$1.4
million of revenue from that balance was recognized as revenue during the
three
months ended
September 30, 2019,
offset by payments received as of
September 30, 2019,
in advance of control of the service being transferred to the customer.
 
Revenue Concentrations
 
Revenues from the Federal Communications Commission’s (the “FCC”) Universal Service Fund, Connect America Fund, and Alternative Connect America Cost Model funding are used to improve and upgrade the Company’s network to promote support for the availability and affordability of advanced telecommunications services. Revenues from these sources amounted to
23.1%
and
21.2%
of the Company’s total revenues for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
and
2018,
respectively.
v3.19.3
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Otelco Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries, all of which are either directly or indirectly wholly owned. These include: Blountsville Telephone LLC; Brindlee Mountain Telephone LLC; CRC Communications LLC; Granby Telephone LLC; Hopper Telecommunications LLC; Mid-Maine Telecom LLC; Mid-Maine TelPlus LLC; Otelco Mid-Missouri LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary I-Land Internet Services LLC; Otelco Telecommunications LLC; Otelco Telephone LLC; Pine Tree Telephone LLC; Saco River Telephone LLC; Shoreham Telephone LLC; and War Telephone LLC.
 
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of the aforesaid subsidiaries after elimination of all material intercompany balances and transactions. The unaudited operating results for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
are
not
necessarily indicative of the results that
may
be expected for the year ending
December 31, 2019,
or any other period.
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form
10
-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10
-K for the year ended
December 31, 2018.
The interim condensed consolidated financial information herein is unaudited, with the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of
December 31, 2018,
being derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. The information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations for the periods included in this report.
 
Certain items in prior year’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with
2019
presentation.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
 
In
May 2014,
the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)
2014
-
09,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
)
(“ASU
2014
-
09”
). This ASU requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This ASU also provides a more robust framework for revenue issues and improves comparability of revenue recognition practices across industries. This ASU was the product of a joint project between the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard. ASU
2014
-
09
permits the use of either a retrospective or modified retrospective application. This guidance was to be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after
December 15, 2016,
with early adoption
not
permitted. In
July 2015,
the FASB issued ASU
2015
-
14,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Deferral of the Effective Date.
This ASU confirmed a
one
-year delay in the effective date of ASU
2014
-
09,
making the effective date for the Company the
first
quarter of fiscal
2018
instead of the
first
quarter of fiscal
2017.
 
In
March 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
08,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenues Gross versus Net)
. This ASU is further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies principal versus agent considerations. In
April 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
10,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies the identification of performance obligations. In
May 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
12,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic
606
): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies assessing the narrow aspects of recognizing revenue. In
December 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
20,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic
606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
This ASU is also further guidance to ASU
2014
-
09,
and clarifies technical corrections and improvements for recognizing revenue.
 
In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
03,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections (Topic
250
) and Investments-Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic
323
)
(“ASU
2017
-
03”
). This ASU requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU
2014
-
09
will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU
2014
-
09
on the financial statements when adopted. The Company commenced its assessment of ASU
2014
-
09
beginning in
June 2016.
This assessment included analyzing ASU
2014
-
09’s
impact on the Company’s various revenue streams, comparing the Company’s historical accounting policies and practices to the requirements of ASU
2014
-
09,
and identifying potential differences from applying the requirements of ASU
2014
-
09
to the Company’s contracts. The Company has used a
five
-step process to identify the contract with the customer, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. The Company has implemented the appropriate changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support revenue recognition and disclosures under ASU
2014
-
09.
 
The Company adopted ASU
2014
-
09
at the beginning of its
2018
fiscal year using the modified retrospective method applied to those contracts which were
not
completed as of
January 1, 2018.
Prior period amounts have
not
been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historic accounting standards in effect during those periods. The adoption of ASU
2014
-
09
and related amendments did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
January 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
01,
Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic
825
-
10
)
(“ASU
2016
-
01”
). This ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. ASU
2016
-
01
requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset (that is, securities or loans and receivables) on the balance sheet or in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. That presentation provides financial statement users with more decision-useful information about an entity’s involvement in financial instruments. The provisions of this ASU were to be effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In
February 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
03,
Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic
825
-
10
),
which made targeted improvements to address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. This ASU also confirmed a
six
-month delay in the effective date of ASU
2016
-
01,
making the effective date for the Company the
second
quarter of fiscal
2018
instead of the
first
quarter of fiscal
2018,
with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU
2016
-
01
as of
March 31, 2018,
and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
February 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
02,
Leases (Topic
842
)
(“ASU
2016
-
02”
)
.
This ASU requires lessees to recognize most leases on the balance sheet. The provisions of this guidance are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2018,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. In
January 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
03,
which requires registrants to evaluate the impact ASU
2016
-
02
will have on financial statements and adequately disclose this information to assist the reader in assessing the significance of ASU
2016
-
02
on the financial statements when adopted. In
January 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
01,
Leases (Topic
842
): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic
842
.  This ASU provides an optional transition practical expedient to
not
evaluate under ASU
2016
-
02
existing or expired land easements that were
not
previously accounted for as leases under ASC Topic
840,
Leases
.  An entity that elects this practical expedient should evaluate new or modified land easements under ASU
2016
-
02
beginning at the date that the entity adopts ASU
2016
-
02.
  In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
10,
Codification Improvements to Topic
842,
Leases,
which provides improvements and clarifications for ASU
2016
-
02.
In
July 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
11,
Leases (Topic
842
): Targeted Improvements
(“ASU
2018
-
11”
). This ASU provides an additional transition method by allowing entities to initially apply the new lease standard at the date of adoption with a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balances of retained earnings in the period of adoption. This ASU also gives lessors the option of electing, as a practical expedient by class of underlying asset,
not
to separate the lease and non-lease components of a contract when those lease contracts meet certain criteria.  In
December 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
20,
Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors.
  This ASU clarifies lessor treatment for sales taxes and other similar taxes collected from lessees, certain lessor costs, and recognition of variable payments for contracts with lease and non-lease components.  In
March 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
01,
Codification Improvements.
  This ASU clarifies determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are
not
manufacturers or dealers, presentation on the statement of cash flows for sales-type and direct financing leases, and transition disclosures related to Topic
250,
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. The Company has completed its evaluation of the requirements of this guidance and implemented the processes necessary to adopt ASU
2016
-
02,
as amended.  The Company has elected certain practical expedients available at adoption.  The Company elected the package of practical expedients upon transition
not
to reassess whether expired or existing contracts contain leases under the new definition of a lease;
not
to reassess the lease classification for expired or existing leases; and
not
to reassess whether previously capitalized initial direct costs would qualify for capitalization under ASU
2016
-
02.
  In evaluating certain equipment rental arrangements such as cable, internet and security service contracts, the Company considered the practical expedient that allows lessors to elect, by class of underlying asset, to
not
separate non-lease components from the associated lease components if the non-lease components otherwise would be accounted for in accordance with the new revenue recognition standard.  The Company elected this practical expedient as the following
two
criteria are met; the lease component and the associated non-lease components have the same timing and pattern of transfer; and the lease component, if accounted for separately, would be classified as an operating lease.  The Company elected to adopt the new standard using the transition method provided by ASU
2018
-
11;
therefore, prior periods will
not
be restated. The Company has determined that the impact of adoption is limited to real property leases and is consistent with industry practices.  Adoption of the new standard resulted in the Company recognizing an aggregate of
$1,073,919
in lease liabilities and corresponding right of use (“ROU”) assets and
no
impact on the opening retained earnings balances.  The adoption of ASU
2016
-
02
had an immaterial impact on the condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019.
 
In
August 2016,
the FASB issued ASU
2016
-
15
, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic
230
): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments
. This ASU addresses how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic
230,
Statement of Cash Flows, and other Topics. This ASU is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods therein, beginning after
December 15, 2017,
with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
May 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
09,
Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic
718
)
(“ASU
2017
-
09”
). ASU
2017
-
09
provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic
718,
Stock Compensation
. ASU
2017
-
09
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for any interim period for which financial statements have
not
been issued. ASU
2017
-
09
should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
May 2017,
the FASB issued ASU
2017
-
10,
Service Concession Arrangements (Topic
853
)
(“ASU
2017
-
10”
). The objective of this ASU is to specify that an operating entity should
not
account for a service concession arrangement that meets certain criteria as a lease in accordance with ASC Topic
840,
Leases
. ASU
2017
-
10
further states that the infrastructure used in a service concession arrangement should
not
be recognized as property, plant, and equipment of the operating entity. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual periods beginning after
December 15, 2017,
and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
March 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
05,
Income Taxes (Topic
740
)
. The objective of this ASU is to amend ASC
740,
Income Taxes
to reflect Staff Accounting Bulletin
No.
118
(“SAB
118”
), issued by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which addresses the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). SAB
118
outlines the approach companies
may
take if they determine that the necessary information is
not
available (in reasonable detail) to evaluate, compute, and prepare accounting entries to recognize the effects of the Tax Act by the time the financial statements are required to be filed. Companies
may
use this approach when the timely determination of some or all of the income tax effects from the Tax Act are incomplete by the due date of the financial statements.  A reporting entity must act in good faith and update provisional amounts as soon as more information becomes available, evaluated and prepared, during a measurement period that cannot exceed
one
year from the enactment date. Initial reasonable estimates and subsequent changes to provisional amounts should be reported in income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations in the period in which they are determined.  As of
December 31, 2017,
the provisional amount recorded related to the remeasurement of the Company’s deferred tax liability balance was
$9.3
million and reflected a
one
-time reduction in the Company’s income tax provision. As of
December 31, 2017,
the Company finalized its accounting estimates for income tax effects related to the Tax Act. The Company elected to
not
utilize the measurement window provided under SAB
118
that ended in
2018.
The Company did
not
record any adjustments to its
2017
income tax effects resulting from the Tax Act.
 
In
June 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
07,
Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic
718
).
This ASU expands the scope of ASU
2017
-
09,
which currently only includes share-based payments issued to employees, to also include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods and services. The amendments in this ASU are effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018,
and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, but
no
earlier than the Company’s adoption date of ASU
2014
-
09.
The Company adopted this ASU and that adoption did
not
have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
During
2018,
the FASB issued ASUs
2018
-
01
through
2018
-
15
and, during
2019,
the FASB has issued ASUs
2019
-
01
through
2019
-
07.
Except for the ASUs discussed above and below, these ASUs provide technical corrections or simplifications to existing guidance and to specialized industries or entities and therefore have minimal, if any, impact on the Company.
 
In
August 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
13,
Fair Value Measurement (Topic
820
)
(“ASU
2018
-
13”
)
.
This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in ASU
2018
-
13,
based on the concepts in the Concepts Statement, including the consideration of costs and benefits. This ASU eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements as part of its disclosure framework project. ASU
2018
-
13
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of this ASU and delay adoption of the additional disclosures until their effective date. The Company does
not
expect this ASU to have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In
November 2018,
the FASB issued ASU
2018
-
19,
Codification Improvements to Topic
326,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses
(“ASU
2018
-
19”
)
.
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic
326
): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments
(“ASU
2016
-
13”
) issued in
June 2016,
to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the
first
reporting period in which the amendments are effective. The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
as amended by ASU
2018
-
19.
In
April 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
04,
Codification Improvements to Topic
326,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses, Topic
815,
Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic
825,
Financial Instruments.
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13
issued in
June 2016,
to allow the measurement of allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable balances separately from other components of the amortized cost basis of associated financial assets. In
May 2019,
the FASB issued ASU
2019
-
05,
Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic
326
).
This ASU improves the disclosure requirements in ASU
2016
-
13
issued in
June 2016,
to allow companies to irrevocably elect, upon adoption of ASU
2016
-
13,
the fair value option on financial instruments that (
1
) were previously recorded at amortized cost and (
2
) are within the scope of ASC
326
-
20
if the instruments are eligible for the fair value option under ASC
825
-
10.
The effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in this update are the same as the effective dates and transition requirements in ASU
2016
-
13,
as amended by ASU
2018
-
19.
ASU
2016
-
13
is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2019,
and interim periods within those fiscal years. An entity is permitted to early adopt as of the fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2018,
including interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does
not
expect this ASU to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable - New Credit Facility (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Sep. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Debt issuance cost, current   $ (2,100)  
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost, current $ 3,922   $ 3,904
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost, long-term 66,157   69,107
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost 71,300    
New Credit Facility [Member]      
Notes payable, current 4,350    
Notes payable, long-term 66,950    
Notes payable, face amount 71,300   74,562
Debt issuance cost, current (428)    
Debt issuance cost, long-term (793)    
Debt issuance cost (1,221)   (1,551)
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost, current 3,922    
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost, long-term 66,157    
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost $ 70,079   $ 73,011
v3.19.3
Note 4 - Net Income Per Common Share - Reconciliation of Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Jun. 30, 2019
Mar. 31, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Jun. 30, 2018
Mar. 31, 2018
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares) 3,410,936     3,388,624     3,410,936 3,388,624
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) 20,293     66,312     20,293 49,762
Weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares - diluted (in shares) 3,431,229     3,454,936     3,431,229 3,438,386
Net income $ 1,819 $ 1,716 $ 2,281 $ 2,326 $ 2,908 $ 1,996 $ 5,816 $ 7,230
Net income per common share - basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.53     $ 0.69     $ 1.71 $ 2.13
Net income per common share - diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.53     $ 0.67     $ 1.70 $ 2.10
v3.19.3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Sep. 30, 2019
Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues $ 15,762 $ 16,252 $ 47,175 $ 49,867
Operating expenses        
Cost of services 7,542 7,578 22,630 23,026
Selling, general and administrative expenses 2,506 2,382 7,535 7,691
Depreciation and amortization 1,873 1,756 5,698 5,382
Total operating expenses 11,921 11,716 35,863 36,099
Income from operations 3,841 4,536 11,312 13,768
Other income (expense)        
Interest expense (1,315) (1,459) (4,044) (4,384)
Other income 5 83 604 252
Total other expense (1,310) (1,376) (3,440) (4,132)
Income before income tax expense 2,531 3,160 7,872 9,636
Income tax expense (712) (834) (2,056) (2,406)
Net income $ 1,819 $ 2,326 $ 5,816 $ 7,230
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:        
Basic (in shares) 3,410,936 3,388,624 3,410,936 3,388,624
Diluted (in shares) 3,431,229 3,454,936 3,431,229 3,438,386
Basic net income per common share (in dollars per share) $ 0.53 $ 0.69 $ 1.71 $ 2.13
Diluted net income per common share (in dollars per share) $ 0.53 $ 0.67 $ 1.70 $ 2.10
v3.19.3
Note 2 - Notes Payable
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Notes to Financial Statements  
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]
2.
Notes Payable
 
Notes payable consists of the following (in thousands, except percentages) as of:
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
Current
   
Long-term
   
2019
   
2018
 
Loan with CoBank, ACB (the "Credit Facility"); variable interest rate of 6.36% at September 30, 2019, interest is monthly, paid in arrears on the last business day of each month. The Credit Facility is secured by the total assets of the subsidiary guarantors. The unpaid balance is due November 3, 2022.   $
4,350
    $
66,950
    $
71,300
    $
74,562
 
                                 
Debt issuance cost
   
(428
)    
(793
)    
(1,221
)    
(1,551
)
                                 
Notes payable, net of debt issuance cost
  $
3,922
    $
66,157
    $
70,079
    $
73,011
 
 
Associated with the Credit Facility, the Company incurred
$2.1
million in deferred financing cost.  Amortization expense for the deferred financing cost associated with the Credit Facility was
$342
thousand and
$354
thousand for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
and
2018,
respectively, which is included in interest expense.
 
The revolving credit facility associated with the Company’s Credit Facility had a maximum borrowing capacity of
$5.0
million on
September 30, 2019.
The revolving credit facility is available until
November 3, 2022.
There was
no
balance outstanding as of
September 30, 2019.
The Company pays a commitment fee of
0.50%
per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, on the unused portion of the revolver loan under the Credit Facility. The rate declined from
0.50%
per annum to
0.38%
per annum on
October 22, 2018.
The commitment fee expense was
$14
thousand and
$19
thousand for the
nine
months ended
September 30, 2019,
and
2018,
respectively.
 
Maturities of notes payable for the next
five
years, assuming
no
future annual excess cash flow payments, are as follows (in thousands):
 
2019 (remaining)
  $
1,088
 
2020
   
4,350
 
2021
   
4,350
 
2022
   
61,512
 
2023
   
-
 
Total
  $
71,300
 
 
 
A total of
$2.1
million of debt issuance cost is being amortized over the life of the loan and is recorded net of the notes payable on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
 
The Company’s notes payable agreements are subject to certain financial covenants and restrictions on indebtedness, financial guarantees, business combinations and other related items. As of
September 30, 2019,
the Company was in compliance with all such covenants and restrictions.