UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 10-Q
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(Mark One)
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þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the quarterly period ended
September 30, 2006
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or
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period
from to
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Commission File Number
001-31673
Cingular Wireless LLC
Formed under the laws of the State of Delaware
I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number 74-2955068
5565
Glenridge Connector, Atlanta, Georgia 30342
Telephone Number:
(404) 236-6000
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 þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large
accelerated filers in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filer o Non-accelerated
filer þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I:
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Financial
Statements
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1
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Item 2.
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Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
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13
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Item 3.
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Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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25
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Item 4.
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Controls and
Procedures
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26
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PART II:
OTHER INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Legal
Proceedings
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27
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Item 1A.
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Risk
Factors
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27
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Item 2.
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Unregistered Sales
of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
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27
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Item 3.
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Defaults upon
Senior Securities
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27
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Item 4.
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Submission of
Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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27
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Item 5.
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Other
Information
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27
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Item 6.
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Exhibits
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27
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Signature
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29
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| EX-31.1 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CEO |
| EX-31.2 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF CFO |
| EX-32.1 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF CEO |
| EX-32.2 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF CFO |
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in
Millions)
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Item 1.
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Financial
Statements (Unaudited)
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CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
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Nine Months
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Three Months Ended
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Ended
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September 30,
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September 30,
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2005
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2006
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2005
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2006
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Operating revenues:
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Service revenues
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$
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7,721
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$
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8,661
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$
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22,859
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$
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24,961
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Equipment sales
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1,025
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892
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2,725
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2,790
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Total operating revenues
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8,746
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9,553
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25,584
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27,751
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Operating expenses:
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Cost of services (excluding
depreciation, included below, of $779 and $1,089, and $2,938 and
$3,323, respectively)
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2,464
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2,527
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6,901
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7,344
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Cost of equipment sales
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1,203
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1,198
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3,728
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3,874
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Selling, general and administrative
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2,881
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2,836
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8,835
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8,439
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Depreciation and amortization
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1,541
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1,576
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4,845
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4,854
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Total operating expenses
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8,089
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8,137
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24,309
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24,511
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Operating income
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657
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1,416
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1,275
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3,240
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Other income
(expenses):
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Interest expense
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(304
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)
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(306
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(968
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(901
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Minority interest in earnings of
consolidated entities
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(38
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(43
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(95
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(127
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Equity in net income of affiliates
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1
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4
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Other, net
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10
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5
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63
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20
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Total other income (expenses)
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(331
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(344
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(996
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(1,008
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Income before provision for
income taxes
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326
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1,072
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279
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2,232
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Provision for income taxes
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104
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225
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150
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491
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Net income
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$
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222
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$
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847
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$
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129
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$
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1,741
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See accompanying notes.
1
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in
Millions) (Continued)
Item 1. Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
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December 31,
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September 30,
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2005
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2006
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(Audited)
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ASSETS
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Current assets:
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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472
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$
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491
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Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful accounts of $286 and $193
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3,622
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3,921
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Inventories
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536
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583
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Prepaid assets
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320
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418
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Current deferred tax assets
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767
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987
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Other current assets
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332
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426
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Total current assets
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6,049
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6,826
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Property, plant and equipment, net
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21,745
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22,696
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Licenses, net
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25,242
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25,245
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Goodwill
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22,359
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22,004
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Customer relationship intangibles,
net
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2,998
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2,000
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Other intangible assets, net
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174
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152
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Other assets
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752
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1,369
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Total assets
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$
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79,319
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$
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80,292
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LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS
CAPITAL
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Current liabilities:
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Debt maturing within one year
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$
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2,036
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$
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2,829
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Accounts payable
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1,920
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1,212
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Due to affiliates, net
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54
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89
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Advanced billing and customer
deposits
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946
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1,088
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Accrued liabilities
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5,052
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4,325
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Total current liabilities
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10,008
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9,543
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Long-term debt:
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Debt due to members
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6,717
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6,717
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Other long-term debt, net of
premium
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12,623
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11,876
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Total long-term debt
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19,340
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18,593
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Deferred tax liabilities, net
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3,086
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3,375
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Other noncurrent liabilities
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1,364
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1,518
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Total liabilities
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33,798
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33,029
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Commitments and contingencies
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Minority interests in consolidated
entities
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543
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618
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Members capital:
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Members capital
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44,988
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46,655
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Accumulated other comprehensive
loss, net of taxes
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(10
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)
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(10
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)
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Total members capital
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44,978
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46,645
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Total liabilities and
members capital
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$
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79,319
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$
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80,292
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See accompanying notes.
2
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in
Millions) (Continued)
Item 1. Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
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Nine Months
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Ended
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September 30,
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2005
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2006
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Operating activities
|
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|
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|
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Net income
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$
|
129
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$
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1,741
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|
Adjustments to reconcile net
income to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
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|
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|
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|
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Depreciation and amortization
|
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4,845
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|
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4,854
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Provision for doubtful accounts
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|
412
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|
|
|
187
|
|
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Loss on disposal of fixed assets
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|
130
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|
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|
31
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Minority interest in earnings of
consolidated entities
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|
95
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|
|
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127
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Equity in net income of affiliates
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(4
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)
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Amortization of debt discount
(premium), net
|
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(175
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)
|
|
|
(141
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)
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Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
415
|
|
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Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
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|
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|
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Accounts receivable
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(439
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)
|
|
|
(482
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)
|
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Inventories
|
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|
163
|
|
|
|
(47
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)
|
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Other current assets
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
(231
|
)
|
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Accounts payable and other current
liabilities
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
|
(1,362
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)
|
|
Pensions and benefits
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
167
|
|
|
Other, net
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
5,537
|
|
|
|
5,346
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Construction and capital
expenditures
|
|
|
(4,505
|
)
|
|
|
(4,851
|
)
|
|
Receipts from (investments in)
equity affiliates, net
|
|
|
(199
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
Proceeds from dispositions of
assets
|
|
|
3,845
|
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
Acquisitions of businesses and
licenses, net of cash received
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
Deposits for license purchase
|
|
|
(143
|
)
|
|
|
(500
|
)
|
|
Redemption of
held-to-maturity
investments
|
|
|
219
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
|
|
(738
|
)
|
|
|
(5,240
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (repayments) borrowings under
revolving credit agreement
|
|
|
(1,667
|
)
|
|
|
1,041
|
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt and
capital lease obligations
|
|
|
(478
|
)
|
|
|
(1,017
|
)
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt due to
members
|
|
|
(2,675
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distributions paid to members
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(56
|
)
|
|
Net distributions to minority
interests
|
|
|
(43
|
)
|
|
|
(55
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in financing
activities
|
|
|
(4,863
|
)
|
|
|
(87
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(64
|
)
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period
|
|
|
352
|
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of period
|
|
$
|
288
|
|
|
$
|
491
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
3
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in
Millions) (Continued)
Item 1. Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS CAPITAL &
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS CAPITAL
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2004
|
|
$
|
44,536
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
Contribution of properties
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Other, net
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at September 30, 2005
|
|
$
|
44,778
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2006:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2005
|
|
$
|
44,978
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
1,741
|
|
|
Distributions to members
|
|
|
(74
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at September 30, 2006
|
|
$
|
46,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Comprehensive Income:
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
222
|
|
|
$
|
847
|
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
|
$
|
1,741
|
|
|
Other comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net foreign currency translation
adjustment
|
|
|
(6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income
|
|
$
|
216
|
|
|
$
|
847
|
|
|
$
|
123
|
|
|
$
|
1,741
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
4
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
1.
|
Summary
of Significant Accounting Policies
|
Basis
of Presentation
Cingular Wireless LLC (the Company) is a Delaware limited
liability company formed in 2000 by SBC Communications Inc.
(SBC)* and BellSouth Corporation (BellSouth) as the operating
company for their U.S. wireless joint venture. AT&T and
BellSouth, through their wholly-owned subsidiaries,
respectively, own approximate 60% and 40% economic interests in
the Company. Cingular Wireless Corporation (the Manager), which
is directed equally by AT&T and BellSouth, acts as the
Companys manager and controls the Companys
management and operations. The Company provides wireless voice
and data communications services, including local, long-distance
and roaming services using both cellular and personal
communications services (PCS) frequencies licensed by the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and equipment to
customers in 46 states, including service to all 100 of the
largest U.S. metropolitan areas. All of the Companys
operations, which primarily serve customers in the U.S., are
conducted through subsidiaries or joint ventures. Through
roaming arrangements with other carriers, the Company provides
its customers service in regions where it does not have network
coverage and is thus able to serve customers in virtually the
entire U.S. and over 180 foreign countries.
In October 2004, the Company acquired AT&T Wireless
Services, Inc. (AT&T Wireless) for aggregate consideration
of approximately $41,000 in cash. AT&T Wireless, which has
been renamed New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc. (NCWS), will
continue to be referred to herein as AT&T Wireless and is
now a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The
operations of AT&T Wireless are integrated with those of the
Company, and the business is conducted under the
Cingular brand name.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared
pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) that permit reduced disclosure for
interim periods. Management believes the consolidated financial
statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal
recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the results for
the interim periods shown. The results for the interim periods
are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year.
These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and
accompanying notes included in the Companys Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its Quarterly
Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2006 and
June 30, 2006.
Income
Taxes
The Company is not a taxable entity for federal income tax
purposes. Rather, federal taxable income or loss is included in
the Companys respective members federal income tax
returns. However, the Companys provision for income taxes
includes federal and state income taxes for certain of its
corporate subsidiaries, as well as for certain states that
impose income taxes upon non-corporate legal entities. After the
acquisition, AT&T Wireless, now known as NCWS, contributed
the majority of its assets and liabilities to Cingular
Wireless II, LLC (CW II),
* On November 18, 2005, SBC acquired AT&T
Corp. and changed the name of the surviving entity to AT&T
Inc. When used herein, AT&T will refer to the
surviving entity. AT&T Corp. refers to that entity prior to
November 18, 2005. In March 2006, AT&T and BellSouth
agreed to merge. The transaction has been approved by the Board
of Directors and shareholders of each company and reviewed by
the U.S. Department of Justice. It is subject to approval
by the FCC and satisfaction of normal closing conditions.
5
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
which it owns jointly with the Company. In exchange for the
assets and liabilities contributed to CW II, NCWS received
a 43% ownership interest in CW II, from which any income
(loss) is allocated and which is subject to federal and state
income taxes. The remaining income (loss) from CW II is
allocated to the Company and flows through to the members who
are taxed at their respective levels pursuant to federal and
state income tax laws.
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based
on differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of
assets and liabilities, applying enacted statutory rates. The
Company provides valuation allowances for deferred tax assets
for which it does not consider realization to be more likely
than not.
The Companys effective tax rates vary from the expected
federal statutory rate of 35% primarily from the exclusion from
the Companys income tax provision of operating results
that are wholly allocated to its respective members
federal income tax returns; these excluded results primarily
consist of 57% of the CW II earnings and interest expense on our
long-term member loans. The Companys effective income tax
rates for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2005 were 32.0% and 53.6%, respectively. The Companys
effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 were 20.9% and 22.0%, respectively. The
effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30,
2005 also reflects state income tax law changes and the reversal
of previously established valuation allowances.
New
Accounting Standards
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48), an
interpretation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes (SFAS 109). FIN 48 clarifies the
accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a
recognition threshold for tax positions taken or expected to be
taken in a tax return. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006. We are currently
evaluating the impact FIN 48 will have on our financial
position and results of operations.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157,
Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157). This Statement
defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.
SFAS 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that
require or permit fair value measurement. SFAS 157 does not
require any new fair value measurements and we do not expect the
application of this standard to change our current practices.
The provisions of SFAS 157 are effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal
years.
In September 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus on Emerging
Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue
No. 06-1,
Accounting for Consideration Given by a Service Provider to
Manufacturers or Resellers of Specialized Equipment Necessary
for an End-Customer to Receive Service from the Service
Provider,
(EITF 06-1).
The scope of
EITF 06-1
addresses whether the guidance in EITF
Issue 01-9,
Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer
(Including a Reseller of the Vendors Products), should
be applied when service providers give consideration to
manufacturers or resellers who are not an end-customer. In order
to apply
EITF 01-9
in these circumstances, there must be a direct link between the
consideration given by the service provider to the manufacturer
or reseller and the benefit received by the end-customer of the
service provider. This Issue requires a service provider to
characterize the consideration it gives to a manufacturer or
reseller as cash or non-cash, consistent with the basic guidance
provided in
EITF 01-9,
based on the form of consideration it directs the manufacturer
or reseller to provide to the service providers
end-customer. Non-
6
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
cash consideration would be characterized as an expense. Cash
consideration would be accounted for as a reduction of revenue.
The consensus on
EITF 06-1
will be effective for the first annual reporting period
beginning after June 15, 2007. The Company does not expect
the adoption of
EITF 06-1
to have a material impact on its consolidated results of
operations and financial condition.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158,
Employers Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and
Other Postretirement Plans An Amendment of FASB
Statements No. 87, 88, 106 and 132R (SFAS 158).
This new standard requires an employer to: (i) recognize
in its statement of financial position an asset for a
plans overfunded status or a liability for a plans
underfunded status; (ii) measure a plans assets and
its obligations that determine its funded status as of the end
of the employers fiscal year (with limited exceptions);
and (iii) recognize changes in the funded status of a
defined benefit postretirement plan in the year in which the
changes occur. Those changes will be reported in comprehensive
income. For the Company, the requirement to recognize the funded
status of a benefit plan and the disclosure requirements are
effective as of the end of the fiscal year ending after
June 15, 2007. The requirement to measure plan assets and
benefit obligations as of the date of the employers fiscal
year-end statement of financial position is effective for fiscal
years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company does not
expect the adoption of SFAS 158 to have a material impact
on its consolidated results of operations and financial
condition.
In September 2006, the SEC Staff issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin (SAB) Topic 1N, Financial Statements
Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When
Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements
(SAB 108). The adoption of SAB 108 will not have a
material impact on the Companys consolidated results of
operations and financial condition.
Reclassifications
Certain amounts have been reclassified in the 2005 consolidated
financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.
Summarized below are the carrying values for the major classes
of intangible assets:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Audited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
September 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Useful
|
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Carrying
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
Lives
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets subject to
amortization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer relationship intangibles
|
|
|
5 years
|
|
|
$
|
5,316
|
|
|
$
|
(2,318
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,974
|
|
|
$
|
(2,974
|
)
|
|
Other intangibles
|
|
|
1-18 years
|
|
|
|
306
|
|
|
|
(134
|
)
|
|
|
300
|
|
|
|
(150
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,622
|
|
|
$
|
(2,452
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,274
|
|
|
$
|
(3,124
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets not subject to
amortization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FCC (U.S.) licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,242
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
25,245
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,359
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
22,004
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
7
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
The $355 change in the carrying value of goodwill for the nine
months ended September 30, 2006 is primarily attributable
to deferred income tax adjustments in the second quarter of 2006
with respect to the AT&T Wireless transaction.
The following table presents current and estimated amortization
expense for each of the following periods:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aggregate amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the nine months ended
September 30, 2006
|
|
$
|
1,020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated amortization expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the remainder of 2006
|
|
$
|
295
|
|
|
For the years ending
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
955
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
603
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
237
|
|
|
2010 and thereafter
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, amortization
expense was $1,376.
In addition to the intangible assets noted above, the Company
had $2 of intangible assets at December 31, 2005 and
September 30, 2006 in connection with the recognition of an
additional minimum liability for its bargained pension plan
and/or other
unqualified benefit plans as required by SFAS No. 87,
Employers Accounting for Pensions.
In November 2000, the Company and Crowley Digital Wireless, LLC
(Crowley Digital) entered into an agreement, pursuant to which
Salmon PCS LLC (Salmon) was formed to bid as a very small
business for certain 1900 megahertz (MHz) band PCS
licenses auctioned by the FCC. The Company granted Crowley
Digital the right to put its approximate 20% economic interest
in Salmon to the Company at a cash price equal to Crowley
Digitals initial investment plus a specified rate of
return. The Company consolidates Salmon in accordance with FASB
Interpretation No. 46R, Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51. In
April 2006, Crowley Digital exercised its put right pursuant to
which the Company paid $187 in October 2006 upon FCC approval.
|
|
|
4.
|
Termination
of GSMF Network Infrastructure Joint Venture
|
In May 2004, the Company and
T-Mobile
entered into a comprehensive agreement to dissolve the GSM
Facilities, LLC (GSMF) joint venture, sell to
T-Mobile
certain spectrum licenses and other assets and exchange certain
other spectrum licenses.
Pursuant to the agreement, the joint venture was dissolved in
January 2005 and the Company sold its ownership of the
California/Nevada Major Trading Area network assets to
T-Mobile for
approximately $2,500. The Company retained the right to utilize
the California/ Nevada and New York
T-Mobile
networks during a four-year transition period and has committed
to purchase a minimum number of minutes over this term with
8
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
a purchase commitment value of $1,200 (see Note 8).
Additionally, in January 2005, the Company sold 10 MHz of
spectrum to
T-Mobile in
each of the San Francisco, Sacramento and Las Vegas Basic
Trading Areas for $180 as part of the agreement.
In connection with the dissolution, the Company and
T-Mobile are
contractually required to exchange certain spectrum licenses.
The Company expects the spectrum licenses to be exchanged on
January 1, 2007. Upon the completion of the spectrum
exchange, the Company expects to recognize a significant gain in
connection with the consummation of these transactions, based
upon the fair market value of the assets exchanged, net of $88
in deferred losses which are reflected in Other
Assets on the consolidated balance sheets and relate to
components of the transaction that have closed.
Revolving
Credit Agreement
Under a revolving credit agreement, AT&T and BellSouth
provide the Company unsubordinated short-term financing on a pro
rata basis at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.05% for the
Companys ordinary course operations. The revolving credit
agreement provides in the event that the Company has available
cash (as defined) on any business day, such amount shall first
be applied to the repayment of the revolving loans, and any
remaining excess shall then be applied to the repayment of the
subordinated member loans from AT&T and BellSouth at month
end if the Company does not then require a cash advance under
the agreement. As of December 31, 2005 and
September 30, 2006, the Company had an outstanding balance
of $511 and $1,552, respectively, under the revolving credit
agreement. The weighted average interest rate under this
agreement was 2.7% and 5.2% for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Debt
Repayment
The Company repaid $1,000 of 7.35% AT&T Wireless Services,
Inc. unsecured, unsubordinated Senior Notes when they matured on
March 1, 2006.
|
|
|
6.
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
These consolidated financial statements include charges from
AT&T and BellSouth for certain expenses pursuant to various
agreements.
In addition to the affiliate transactions described elsewhere in
these consolidated financial statements, other significant
transactions with the Companys members are as follows:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Type of Services(1)
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Agent commissions and compensation
|
|
$
|
18
|
|
|
$
|
20
|
|
|
$
|
54
|
|
|
$
|
49
|
|
|
Interconnect and long distance
|
|
|
333
|
|
|
|
467
|
|
|
|
925
|
|
|
|
1,395
|
|
|
Telecommunications and other
services
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
167
|
|
|
|
283
|
|
9
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See Note 11 to the Companys audited consolidated
financial statements included in Item 8 in the
Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 for a further
description of services. |
The Company had receivables from affiliates of $156 and $198 and
payables to affiliates of $210 and $287 at December 31,
2005 and September 30, 2006, respectively.
|
|
|
7.
|
Acquisition-Related
and Integration Costs
|
In 2005, management of the Company approved plans affecting the
integration of retail stores, administrative space and network
acquired in the merger with AT&T Wireless in October 2004
with those of legacy Cingular. These plans resulted in
adjustments in 2005 to the original purchase price allocation
for the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of AT&T
Wireless and the need to shorten the useful lives of certain
network and other property, plant and equipment.
The incremental depreciation expense related to the shortened
useful lives was $86 and $226 for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2005, respectively, and $42 and $175
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006,
respectively.
The following table displays the current period activity and
balances recorded under EITF Issue
No. 95-3,
Recognition of Liabilities in Connection with a Purchase
Business Combination, which are reflected in Accrued
liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Due to
ongoing monitoring of the integration plan, in the current
period, the Company recorded additional accruals for extended
lease notification periods and accrual reductions related to the
ongoing contract termination progress. In the table below,
accrual increases of $23 for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 are reflected as expense in the current
period consolidated statements of operations. Accrual decreases
of $40 are reflected as reductions to goodwill in the
consolidated balance sheets.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
EITF 95-3 Summary
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Accruals
|
|
|
Payments
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Lease terminations
|
|
$
|
262
|
|
|
$
|
23
|
|
|
$
|
(45
|
)
|
|
$
|
(28
|
)
|
|
$
|
212
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
Equipment removal costs
|
|
|
185
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(42
|
)
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
465
|
|
|
$
|
23
|
|
|
$
|
(96
|
)
|
|
$
|
(40
|
)
|
|
$
|
352
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A summary of total expected costs to be incurred under
SFAS No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with
Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS 146) for the
integration plans, and the amounts incurred through and for the
nine months ended September 30, 2006, are presented in the
table below. These costs are primarily included in Cost of
services in the consolidated statements of operations.
10
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimate of
|
|
|
Cumulative Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses Expected
|
|
|
Incurred through
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incurred through
|
|
|
|
|
to be
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Expenses Incurred
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Summary of SFAS 146 Costs
|
|
Incurred
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
During 2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Contract termination costs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease terminations
|
|
$
|
124
|
|
|
$
|
36
|
|
|
$
|
42
|
|
|
$
|
78
|
|
|
Agent terminations
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
Other contract terminations
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment removal costs
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
272
|
|
|
$
|
54
|
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
130
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table displays the SFAS 146 activity and
balances of the restructuring liabilities associated with the
integration plans which are reflected in Accrued
liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Activity
under SFAS No. 112, Employers Accounting for
Postemployment Benefits for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 was immaterial.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SFAS 146
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2005
|
|
$
|
37
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
Payments
|
|
|
(39
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at September 30, 2006
|
|
$
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
Commitments
The Company has unconditional purchase commitments for
advertising and marketing, computer equipment and services,
roaming, long distance services, network equipment and related
maintenance and software development and related maintenance.
These commitments totaled approximately $1,455 at
September 30, 2006. Included in this amount are commitments
aggregating $121 to AT&T, BellSouth and their affiliates for
telecommunications and other services.
In connection with the termination of the Companys GSMF
network infrastructure joint venture with
T-Mobile,
the Company made a $1,200 commitment to purchase a minimum
number of minutes from
T-Mobile
over a four-year transition period. This commitment became
effective in January 2005, and approximately $243 of the
purchase commitment remained outstanding as of
September 30, 2006. The Company believes the rates
reflected in this purchase commitment are indicative of market
rates based upon the volume of the commitment and the length of
the transition period.
See Note 15 to the Companys audited consolidated
financial statements included in Item 8 in the
Companys Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 for a further
description of these commitments.
11
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 1. |
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Contingencies
The Company is subject to claims arising in the ordinary course
of business involving allegations of personal injury, breach of
contract, anti-competitive conduct, employment law issues,
regulatory matters and other actions. To the extent management
believes a loss arising from litigation or regulatory
proceedings is probable and can reasonably be estimated, an
amount is accrued on the financial statements for the estimated
loss. As additional information becomes available, the potential
liability related to the matter is reassessed and the accruals
are revised, if necessary. While complete assurance cannot be
given as to the outcome of any legal claims, the Company
believes any financial impact would not be material to its
business, financial position or cash flows.
12
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
|
Item 2.
|
Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
The following should be read in conjunction with the
December 31, 2005 Cingular Wireless LLC audited
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes,
related information and Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and the unaudited
consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes,
related information and Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the three and six months ended March 31, 2006 and
June 30, 2006, respectively.
Overview
of Business
We earn revenues and generate cash primarily by offering a
comprehensive variety of high-quality wireless voice and data
communications services and products. Our services are available
in a variety of postpaid pricing plans and prepaid service
arrangements. Our voice and data offerings are tailored to meet
the communications needs of targeted customer segments,
including youth, family, active professionals, ethnic, local and
regional businesses and national corporate accounts.
At September 30, 2006, we served 58.7 million voice
and data subscribers over our cellular and PCS networks and were
the largest provider of wireless voice and data communications
services in the U.S., based on the number of wireless
subscribers. We had access to FCC licenses to provide cellular
or PCS wireless communications services covering
296 million POPs, or approximately 99% of the
U.S. population, including all of the 100 largest
U.S. metropolitan markets.
Industry
and Operating Trends
We compete for customers based principally on our reputation,
network quality, customer service, price and service offerings.
We face substantial and increasing competition in all aspects of
our business. Our competitors are principally three national
(Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel and
T-Mobile)
and a large number of regional providers of cellular, PCS and
other wireless communications services, as well as resellers. In
addition, we may experience significant competition from
companies that provide similar services using other current or
future communications technologies and services. Competition and
the high rate of wireless service penetration may continue to
adversely impact gross additions, revenue growth, expenses and
margins.
Our management focuses on key wireless industry
drivers subscriber penetration, average revenue per
user (ARPU), operating income, OIBDA (defined as operating
income before depreciation and amortization) and reputation
within the wireless industry to evaluate our
performance.
|
|
|
|
Subscriber Penetration The wireless
telecommunications industry is continuing to grow. A high degree
of competition exists among the current four national carriers,
their affiliates and the smaller regional carriers. This
competition and other factors will continue to put pressure on
pricing, margins and subscriber churn as the carriers compete
for customers. Future carrier revenue growth is highly dependent
upon the number of net subscriber additions a carrier can
achieve and the revenue derived from its subscribers. For the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, net
subscriber additions increased 56.6% and 42.3%, respectively,
from the comparative prior year period. These increases have
driven our overall market penetration to approximately 20.8% as
of September 30, 2006, an increase of approximately
250 basis points from September 30, 2005.
|
| |
|
|
ARPU Quarterly ARPU of $49.76 for the three
months ended September 30, 2006 increased slightly on a
year-over-year
basis. We experienced continued increased data revenues driven
by our competitive data products, such as ringtones and
messaging, which we expect to grow as we continue expanding our
UMTS/HSDPA (Universal Mobile Telephone System/High Speed
Downlink Packet Access) third-generation (3G) service. The
increase in data revenues was partially offset by the addition
of a disproportionately higher
|
13
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
|
|
|
percentage of lower-ARPU prepaid and reseller subscribers than
postpaid subscribers over the past four quarters. Reseller
subscribers have increased approximately 2.2 million over
the prior year comparable period and comprise 9.8% of our
subscriber base as of September 30, 2006, compared to 6.8%
at September 30, 2005. Other contributing factors include
competitive plan offerings that:
|
|
|
|
| |
|
add incremental revenue but at a lower rate through such
offerings as
FAMILYTALK®;
|
| |
| |
|
allow customers to carry over unused minutes to succeeding
months
(ROLLOVER®
plans), which reduces overage revenues;
|
| |
| |
|
include no roaming or long distance charges; and
|
| |
| |
|
allow our customers to call each other for free.
|
These plans effectively position Cingular to compete for
customers and add incremental revenue, including future data
revenues, though they may negatively affect ARPU. Additionally,
our ARPU is adversely affected by the general competitive
environment and increasing wireless penetration, which puts
pressure on the prices we can charge. Our ARPU growth in the
third quarter of 2006 also reflects the impact of $31 of service
credits, or approximately $0.20 ARPU impact, provided in the
third quarter of 2005 to customers affected by Hurricane Katrina.
|
|
|
|
Operating Income Our operating results for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were
significantly higher than the respective comparable periods in
2005 as our operating expenses remained essentially flat while
our revenues rose 9.2% and 8.5%, respectively, on a
year-over-year
basis. For the comparable three month periods, lower selling,
general and administrative expenses and slightly lower cost of
equipment sales were offset by increases in cost of service and
depreciation. For the comparable nine month periods, lower
selling, general and administrative expenses were more than
offset by increases in cost of service, cost of equipment sales
and depreciation. We expect cost of services to continue to
increase due to higher network system usage and continued
integration of AT&T Wireless network and operations,
as described below. We will continue to incur redundant expenses
related to operating multiple networks until our subscriber base
transitions from our Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
and analog networks to our Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) network and 3G network. If we are
successful in increasing the rate of gross subscriber additions,
our subscriber acquisition costs may also increase because of
sales commissions and handset subsidies. We also expect
increased costs to maintain and support our growing subscriber
base and for customer care initiatives to improve our level of
service to our subscriber base and to retain existing
subscribers. We expect to incur higher depreciation costs as a
result of the enhancement of the network coverage in our
footprint and installation of high-speed 3G technology in our
network infrastructure, together with the accelerated
depreciation of our TDMA network.
|
| |
|
|
OIBDA Our OIBDA margin continued to
strengthen as our integration initiatives progressed and was
higher in the three and nine months ended September 30,
2006 than in the respective corresponding prior year periods by
600 basis points and 560 basis points, respectively.
For more information on the calculation of OIBDA and OIBDA
margins, see OIBDA Discussion below.
|
| |
|
|
Reputation We continue to strive to be the
most highly regarded wireless company in the industry with a
driving focus on best of class sales and service. We primarily
use subscriber churn to evaluate our reputation within the
wireless industry. Over the eight calendar quarters since we
acquired AT&T Wireless, our overall customer churn has
declined from 2.8% to 1.8%, as customers have positively
responded to improved network quality, new products and
services, more attractive service plans and initiatives in
customer care intended to improve the total customer experience.
Our subscriber churn of 1.8% for the three months ended
September 30, 2006 represents an improvement of
50 basis points from the prior year corresponding period
and a sequential increase of 10 basis points from the three
months ended June 30, 2006. The sequential
|
14
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
|
|
|
increase resulted from normal seasonality patterns, the phasing
out of AT&T Wireless prepaid plans, and from certain actions
we took to recover increased costs associated with serving the
diminishing base of our TDMA customers and encourage migration
of these customers to our GSM network. While we anticipate
continued improvements to our network and customer care and more
compelling customer products and services, we continue to expect
higher disconnects from the continued phase out of our TDMA
prepaid platform and from our analog and TDMA service, which we
plan to discontinue in early 2008.
|
Integration
of AT&T Wireless
We acquired AT&T Wireless in October 2004 and have made
substantial progress in integrating its assets and operations.
We expect to continue to incur costs associated with integration
activities through the remainder of 2006, and to a lesser
degree, into 2007. The remaining integration costs expected to
be incurred primarily relate to lease termination and equipment
removal costs. As a result of our integration efforts, we are
realizing cost savings and improved operating performance. We
expect these to contribute further to operating margins going
forward.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, our
operating income was negatively impacted by $139 and $536,
respectively, of integration costs, which were reflected in our
consolidated statements of operations within Depreciation
and amortization, Cost of services and
Selling, general and administrative expenses.
Integration costs impacting Depreciation and
amortization expenses primarily included accelerated
depreciation of $52 and $299 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively. In addition, for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, integration
costs impacting Cost of services of $65 and $150,
respectively, and Selling, general and
administrative of $22 and $87 respectively, were primarily
comprised of network system costs and IT development. Also, for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, our
operating income was negatively impacted by approximately $314
and $1,009, respectively, of non-cash amortization expenses
related to amortizable intangible assets that were recorded with
the acquisition.
Selected
Financial and Operating Data
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Construction and capital
expenditures
|
|
$
|
1,346
|
|
|
$
|
1,828
|
|
|
$
|
4,505
|
|
|
$
|
4,851
|
|
|
Licensed cellular / PCS POPs (in
millions) (end of period)(1)
|
|
|
294
|
|
|
|
296
|
|
|
|
294
|
|
|
|
296
|
|
|
Total cellular / PCS subscribers
(in millions) (end of period)(2)
|
|
|
52.3
|
|
|
|
58.7
|
|
|
|
52.3
|
|
|
|
58.7
|
|
|
Net additions, cellular / PCS
subscribers (in millions)
|
|
|
0.9
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
|
Cellular / PCS subscriber churn(3)
|
|
|
2.3
|
%
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
Average cellular / PCS revenue per
user (ARPU) (4) (Actual dollars)
|
|
$
|
49.65
|
|
|
$
|
49.76
|
|
|
$
|
49.92
|
|
|
$
|
49.04
|
|
|
OIBDA(5)
|
|
$
|
2,198
|
|
|
$
|
2,992
|
|
|
$
|
6,120
|
|
|
$
|
8,094
|
|
|
OIBDA margin(6)
|
|
|
28.5
|
%
|
|
|
34.5
|
%
|
|
|
26.8
|
%
|
|
|
32.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Licensed POPs refers to the number of people residing in areas
where we have licenses to provide cellular or PCS service. |
| |
|
(2) |
|
Cellular/PCS subscribers include customers of other companies
served through reseller agreements. |
15
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Cellular/PCS subscriber churn is calculated by dividing the
aggregate number of cellular/PCS subscribers who cancel service
during each month in a period by the total number of
cellular/PCS subscribers at the beginning of each month in that
period. |
| |
|
(4) |
|
ARPU is defined as cellular/PCS service revenues during the
period divided by average number of cellular/PCS subscribers
during the period. For discussion of ARPU and a reconciliation
to its most comparable measure under U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP), see ARPU
Discussion below. |
| |
|
(5) |
|
OIBDA is defined as operating income before depreciation and
amortization. For discussion of OIBDA, including reasons we
believe its presentation is useful and a reconciliation to its
most comparable measure under GAAP, see OIBDA
Discussion below. |
| |
|
(6) |
|
OIBDA margin is defined as OIBDA divided by service revenues. |
OIBDA Discussion. OIBDA is defined as
operating income before depreciation and amortization. OIBDA
margin is calculated as OIBDA divided by service revenues. These
are non-GAAP financial measures. They differ from operating
income and operating margin, as calculated in accordance with
GAAP, in that they exclude depreciation and amortization. They
differ from net income, as calculated in accordance with GAAP,
in that they exclude, as presented in our consolidated
statements of operations: (i) depreciation and
amortization, (ii) interest expense, (iii) minority
interest in earnings of consolidated entities, (iv) equity
in net income of affiliates, (v) other, net, and
(vi) provision for income taxes. We believe these measures
are relevant and useful information to our investors as they are
an integral part of our internal management reporting and
planning processes and are important metrics that our management
uses to evaluate the operating performance of our consolidated
operations. They are used by management as a measurement of our
success in acquiring, retaining and servicing subscribers
because we believe these measures reflect our ability to
generate and grow subscriber revenues while providing a high
level of customer service in a cost-effective manner. Management
also uses these measures as a method of comparing our
performance with that of many of our competitors. The components
of OIBDA include the key revenue and expense items for which our
operating managers are responsible and upon which we evaluate
their performance. Lastly, we use this measure for planning
purposes and in presentations to our board of directors, and we
use multiples of this current or projected measure in our
discounted cash flow models to determine the value of our
licensing costs and our overall enterprise valuation.
OIBDA does not give effect to cash used for debt service
requirements and thus does not reflect available funds for
distributions, reinvestment or other discretionary uses. OIBDA
excludes other, net, minority interest in earnings of
consolidated entities and equity in net income (loss) of
affiliates, as these do not reflect the operating results of our
subscriber base and our national footprint that we utilize to
obtain and service our customers. Equity in net income (loss) of
affiliates represents our proportionate share of the net income
(loss) of affiliates in which we exercise significant influence,
but do not control. As we do not control these entities, our
management excludes these results when evaluating the
performance of our primary operations. OIBDA also excludes
interest expense and the provision for income taxes. Excluding
these items eliminates the expenses associated with our
capitalization and tax structures. Finally, OIBDA excludes
depreciation and amortization, in order to eliminate the impact
of capital investments.
We believe OIBDA as a percentage of service revenues to be a
more relevant measure of our operating margin than OIBDA as a
percentage of total revenue. We generally subsidize a portion of
our handset sales, all of which are recognized in the period in
which we sell the handset. This results in a disproportionate
impact on our margin in that period. Management views this
equipment subsidy as a cost to acquire or retain a subscriber,
which is recovered through the ongoing service revenue that is
generated by the subscriber. We also use service revenues to
calculate margin to facilitate comparison, both internally and
externally with our competitors, as they calculate their margins
using services revenue as well.
16
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
There are material limitations to using these non-GAAP financial
measures. OIBDA and OIBDA margin, as we have defined them, may
not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other
companies. Furthermore, these performance measures do not take
into account certain significant items, including depreciation
and amortization, interest expense, tax expense and equity in
net income (loss) of affiliates that directly affect our net
income. Management compensates for these limitations by
carefully analyzing how our competitors present performance
measures that are similar in nature to OIBDA as we present it,
and considering the economic effect of the excluded expense
items independently as well as in connection with its analysis
of net income as calculated in accordance with GAAP. OIBDA and
OIBDA margin should be considered in addition to, but not as a
substitute for, other measures of financial performance reported
in accordance with GAAP.
The following is a reconciliation of net income to OIBDA.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
222
|
|
|
$
|
847
|
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
|
$
|
1,741
|
|
|
Plus: Interest expense
|
|
|
304
|
|
|
|
306
|
|
|
|
968
|
|
|
|
901
|
|
|
Plus: Minority interest in
earnings of consolidated entities
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
95
|
|
|
|
127
|
|
|
Plus: Equity in net income of
affiliates
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plus: Other, net
|
|
|
(10
|
)
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
(63
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
|
Plus: Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
|
491
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
657
|
|
|
|
1,416
|
|
|
|
1,275
|
|
|
|
3,240
|
|
|
Plus: Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1,541
|
|
|
|
1,576
|
|
|
|
4,845
|
|
|
|
4,854
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OIBDA
|
|
$
|
2,198
|
|
|
$
|
2,992
|
|
|
$
|
6,120
|
|
|
$
|
8,094
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARPU Discussion. ARPU is defined as
cellular/PCS service revenues during the period divided by
average cellular/PCS subscribers during the period. This metric
is used to compare the recurring revenue amounts generated on
our cellular/PCS network to prior periods and internal targets.
Our ARPU calculation excludes data revenues from customers
retained in the sale of our Mobitex business in late 2004 and
thereby makes our metric more comparable with other wireless
carriers, which we believe makes it more useful to investors.
The following is a reconciliation of service revenues to service
revenues used to calculate ARPU.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
7,721
|
|
|
$
|
8,661
|
|
|
$
|
22,859
|
|
|
$
|
24,961
|
|
|
Less: Mobitex data revenues
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues used to calculate
ARPU
|
|
$
|
7,703
|
|
|
$
|
8,654
|
|
|
$
|
22,803
|
|
|
$
|
24,929
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
Consolidated
Results of Operations
Three
and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005 Compared with the
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30,
2006
Subscriber
Base
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Fav(Unfav)
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Fav(Unfav)
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of Period
|
|
|
51,442
|
|
|
|
57,308
|
|
|
|
5,866
|
|
|
|
11.4
|
%
|
|
|
49,132
|
|
|
|
54,144
|
|
|
|
5,012
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
%
|
|
Net Additions (Losses)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postpaid
|
|
|
664
|
|
|
|
928
|
|
|
|
264
|
|
|
|
39.8
|
%
|
|
|
2,680
|
|
|
|
2,869
|
|
|
|
189
|
|
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
|
Prepaid
|
|
|
(25
|
)
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
|
281
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
(317
|
)
|
|
|
480
|
|
|
|
797
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
Reseller
|
|
|
228
|
|
|
|
174
|
|
|
|
(54
|
)
|
|
|
(23.7
|
)%
|
|
|
823
|
|
|
|
1,186
|
|
|
|
363
|
|
|
|
44.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Net Additions
|
|
|
867
|
|
|
|
1,358
|
|
|
|
491
|
|
|
|
56.6
|
%
|
|
|
3,186
|
|
|
|
4,535
|
|
|
|
1,349
|
|
|
|
42.3
|
%
|
|
Other Adjustments
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
(26
|
)
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of Period
|
|
|
52,292
|
|
|
|
58,666
|
|
|
|
6,374
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
%
|
|
|
52,292
|
|
|
|
58,666
|
|
|
|
6,374
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Additions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Postpaid
|
|
|
3,336
|
|
|
|
3,174
|
|
|
|
(162
|
)
|
|
|
(4.9
|
)%
|
|
|
10,239
|
|
|
|
9,422
|
|
|
|
(817
|
)
|
|
|
(8.0
|
)%
|
|
Prepaid
|
|
|
787
|
|
|
|
1,136
|
|
|
|
349
|
|
|
|
44.3
|
%
|
|
|
2,173
|
|
|
|
2,958
|
|
|
|
785
|
|
|
|
36.1
|
%
|
|
Reseller
|
|
|
263
|
|
|
|
248
|
|
|
|
(15
|
)
|
|
|
(5.7
|
)%
|
|
|
938
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
|
|
391
|
|
|
|
41.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Gross Additions
|
|
|
4,386
|
|
|
|
4,558
|
|
|
|
172
|
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
|
13,350
|
|
|
|
13,709
|
|
|
|
359
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NM Not Meaningful
We had 58.7 million cellular/PCS subscribers at
September 30, 2006. We added approximately 1.4 million
and 4.5 million subscribers, net of disconnections, to our
subscriber base during the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively, up from 0.9 million
and 3.2 million additions in the respective corresponding
prior year periods. Gross subscriber additions for the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled approximately
4.6 million and 13.7 million, respectively. The slight
increase in total gross subscriber additions during the three
and nine month periods was primarily driven by new prepaid
offerings launched in the second half of 2005 and strong
reseller additions particularly in the first six months of 2006.
These additions were partially offset by decreased postpaid
additions due to planned distribution rationalization such as
the reduction of retail stores and agents, higher wireless
market penetration in general and lower churn among major
wireless carriers.
For both the three and nine months ended September 30,
2006, our monthly cellular/PCS churn rate was 1.8%, down from
2.3% and 2.2% in the corresponding prior year periods,
respectively. Postpaid churn for both the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006 was 1.5%, down from 2.0% and 1.9%
in the corresponding prior year periods, respectively. The
decline in our cellular/PCS churn was driven by a 9.1% and 9.7%
reduction in disconnections for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively, which we believe is
attributed primarily to better network quality and coverage, and
improvements in the overall customer experience.
18
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
Historical
Consolidated Data For the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2005 and 2006
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local service revenue
voice
|
|
$
|
6,313
|
|
|
$
|
6,762
|
|
|
$
|
449
|
|
|
|
7.1
|
%
|
|
$
|
18,809
|
|
|
$
|
19,892
|
|
|
$
|
1,083
|
|
|
|
5.8
|
%
|
|
Data revenue
|
|
|
689
|
|
|
|
1,106
|
|
|
|
417
|
|
|
|
60.5
|
|
|
|
1,913
|
|
|
|
2,968
|
|
|
|
1,055
|
|
|
|
55.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total local service revenue
|
|
|
7,002
|
|
|
|
7,868
|
|
|
|
866
|
|
|
|
12.4
|
|
|
|
20,722
|
|
|
|
22,860
|
|
|
|
2,138
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
|
Incollect roamer revenue
|
|
|
349
|
|
|
|
384
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
10.0
|
|
|
|
1,038
|
|
|
|
967
|
|
|
|
(71
|
)
|
|
|
(6.8
|
)
|
|
Long distance
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
16.8
|
|
|
|
352
|
|
|
|
408
|
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
15.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscriber revenue
|
|
|
7,476
|
|
|
|
8,398
|
|
|
|
922
|
|
|
|
12.3
|
|
|
|
22,112
|
|
|
|
24,235
|
|
|
|
2,123
|
|
|
|
9.6
|
|
|
Outcollect revenue
|
|
|
178
|
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
12.4
|
|
|
|
523
|
|
|
|
549
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
5.0
|
|
|
Other revenue
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
(6.0
|
)
|
|
|
224
|
|
|
|
177
|
|
|
|
(47
|
)
|
|
|
(21.0
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other service revenue
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
|
263
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
7.3
|
|
|
|
747
|
|
|
|
726
|
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(2.8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenue
|
|
|
7,721
|
|
|
|
8,661
|
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
12.2
|
|
|
|
22,859
|
|
|
|
24,961
|
|
|
|
2,102
|
|
|
|
9.2
|
|
|
Equipment sales
|
|
|
1,025
|
|
|
|
892
|
|
|
|
(133
|
)
|
|
|
(13.0
|
)
|
|
|
2,725
|
|
|
|
2,790
|
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
2.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating revenues
|
|
|
8,746
|
|
|
|
9,553
|
|
|
|
807
|
|
|
|
9.2
|
|
|
|
25,584
|
|
|
|
27,751
|
|
|
|
2,167
|
|
|
|
8.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of services (excluding
depreciation)
|
|
|
2,464
|
|
|
|
2,527
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
|
|
6,901
|
|
|
|
7,344
|
|
|
|
443
|
|
|
|
6.4
|
|
|
Cost of equipment sales
|
|
|
1,203
|
|
|
|
1,198
|
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)
|
|
|
3,728
|
|
|
|
3,874
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
|
|
|
2,881
|
|
|
|
2,836
|
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
(1.6
|
)
|
|
|
8,835
|
|
|
|
8,439
|
|
|
|
(396
|
)
|
|
|
(4.5
|
)
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
1,541
|
|
|
|
1,576
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
2.3
|
|
|
|
4,845
|
|
|
|
4,854
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
8,089
|
|
|
|
8,137
|
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
|
24,309
|
|
|
|
24,511
|
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
657
|
|
|
|
1,416
|
|
|
|
759
|
|
|
|
115.5
|
|
|
|
1,275
|
|
|
|
3,240
|
|
|
|
1,965
|
|
|
|
154.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income
(expenses):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(304
|
)
|
|
|
(306
|
)
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
0.7
|
|
|
|
(968
|
)
|
|
|
(901
|
)
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
(6.9
|
)
|
|
Minority interest in earnings of
consolidated entities
|
|
|
(38
|
)
|
|
|
(43
|
)
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
13.2
|
|
|
|
(95
|
)
|
|
|
(127
|
)
|
|
|
(32
|
)
|
|
|
33.7
|
|
|
Equity in net income of affiliates
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)
|
|
Other, net
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
|
|
(50.0
|
)
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
(43
|
)
|
|
|
(68.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other income (expenses)
|
|
|
(331
|
)
|
|
|
(344
|
)
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
(1,008
|
)
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
1.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for
income taxes
|
|
|
326
|
|
|
|
1,072
|
|
|
|
746
|
|
|
|
228.8
|
|
|
|
279
|
|
|
|
2,232
|
|
|
|
1,953
|
|
|
|
700.0
|
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
|
116.3
|
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
|
491
|
|
|
|
341
|
|
|
|
227.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
222
|
|
|
$
|
847
|
|
|
$
|
625
|
|
|
|
281.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
|
$
|
1,741
|
|
|
$
|
1,612
|
|
|
|
1,249.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
Revenues
Service revenue. Service revenue increased
$940 and $2,102 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively, when compared with the
corresponding prior year periods, primarily due to the increases
in local service voice and data revenues. The
nine-month period increase was partially offset by decreases to
roamer and other revenues. Our revenue growth in the three and
nine months periods also reflects the impact of $31 of service
credits provided in the third quarter of 2005 to customers
affected by
19
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
Hurricane Katrina. The local service revenue voice
component of total service revenues includes recurring monthly
access charges, airtime usage, including prepaid service, and
charges for optional features and services, such as voice mail,
mobile-to-mobile
calling, roadside assistance, caller ID and handset insurance.
Local service revenue -voice revenues also include billings to
our customers for the USF and other regulatory fees and taxes.
The key driver of the increase in local service revenue-voice
for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was
an increase of 12.1% and 11.3% in the monthly average number of
cellular/PCS subscribers for the three and nine months,
respectively, over the corresponding prior year periods. Data
revenues increased $417, or 60.5%, and $1,055, or 55.1%, for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006,
respectively, when compared with the corresponding prior year
periods. These increases were driven by greater data service
penetration and usage of SMS messaging, email and other data
services by our cellular/PCS subscribers.
Incollect roaming revenues increased by $35 when compared with
the three-month corresponding prior year period. The increase is
attributable to current quarter rate increases, which were
partly offset by decreased volume. Incollect roaming revenues
decreased $71 when compared with the amounts for the nine-month
period from the corresponding prior year period due to the
continued impact of bundling free roaming minutes
with all-inclusive regional and national rate plans.
Long distance revenues for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 increased from the corresponding prior
year periods $21 and $56, respectively, due to increases in
international long distance revenues resulting from the
successful marketing of international calling plan initiatives.
Outcollect revenues increased $22 and $26 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared to
the corresponding prior year period, primarily the result of
increased minutes of use. The nine month comparative period
increase in minutes of use was partly offset by decreases in
average rates over the period compared to the corresponding
prior year period.
Equipment sales. These sales are comprised of
product, accessory and upgrade revenues. Equipment sales
decreased $133 and increased $65 for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006, respectively, from the
corresponding prior year periods. The three-month period
decrease of $133 is primarily attributable to increased rebate
activity and reduced handset pricing partly offset by increased
accessory pricing and increased upgrade volume. The nine-month
period increase of $65 is primarily attributable to higher
volume of new customer handsets, increased volume and price of
upgrades by existing customers to devices with more advanced
features than those in the past, and accessory price increases.
These nine-month period increases were partly offset by
increased rebate activity.
Operating
Expenses
Cost of services (excluding
depreciation). Total cost of services, excluding
depreciation, increased $63 and $443 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, when
compared with the corresponding prior year periods. The increase
resulted from increases in local systems cost of $21 and $251
and third-party network system costs of $42 and $192 for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006,
respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2005
and 2006, cost of services included integration costs of $101
and $65, respectively, and for the nine months ended
September 30, 2005 and 2006, cost of services included
integration costs of $123 and $150, respectively. For both
periods, the integration costs primarily related to network
integration.
The increase in the local systems costs component of cost of
services resulted primarily from increases in interconnection
fees of $84 and $254 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 associated with
20
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
21.3% and 21.0% respective growth in system minutes of use, USF
and gross receipts tax increases of $41 and $47 for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively.
Offsetting the local system costs increases were decreases of
$30 and $94 related to reseller services expenses for the three
and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively. The
reseller services expense decreases primarily resulted from the
60.1% and 50.1% respective decreases in minutes of use for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, related to
the T-Mobile
purchase commitment, which were partially offset by higher
handset insurance claims and third-party content expenses for
both comparable prior year periods. Network systems costs for
the three months ended September 30, 2006, decreased by $76
from the comparable period in the prior year, largely due to the
recognition in 2005 of $78 in hurricane costs and lower network
integration costs in the current period, offset by increased
maintenance expenses. However, for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, network system costs increased by $44
compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, due
to higher lease termination buyouts and network integration
costs which exceeded the hurricane costs recorded in the
comparable period for the prior year.
The third-party network system costs component of cost of
services includes incollect roaming and long distance costs.
Roaming costs increased $17 and $82 for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, compared
with the corresponding prior year periods, and long distance
costs increased $25 and $110 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively. Roaming costs increased
primarily due to increased usage minutes over the comparable
prior periods. Increases in long distance costs were driven by
higher minutes of use resulting from the increased number of
average subscribers, offset by minor rate decreases.
Cost of equipment sales. For the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2006, cost of equipment
sales decreased $5 and increased $146 when compared to the
respective prior year periods. The three-month period decrease
is primarily the result of lower average per unit costs and
insurance program adjustments, partly offset by higher volumes.
The nine-month period increase is the net result of product and
upgrade device volume increases and increases in the average per
unit cost for upgrade devices, partly offset by decreases in the
average unit cost for products.
Selling, general and administrative
expenses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses (SG&A) for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 decreased $45 and $396, respectively,
when compared with the corresponding prior year periods. For the
three months ended September 30, 2005 and 2006, SG&A
included integration costs of $48 and $22, respectively, and for
the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2006, SG&A
included integration costs of $226 and $87, respectively. For
the 2005 periods, the integration costs primarily related to
employee termination benefits for former Cingular employees,
systems integration costs and sales distribution
rationalization. For the 2006 periods, the integration costs
primarily related to network integration and billing system
conversion costs.
Selling expenses, which include sales, marketing, advertising
and commission expenses, for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 increased $40 and decreased $49,
respectively, when compared with the corresponding prior year
periods. For the three months ended September 30, 2006, the
$40 increase over the corresponding prior year period is
primarily attributed to net increases in direct commissions
resulting from changes in the sales compensation plan and net
increases in sales expenses related to the long-term incentive
plan. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the $49
decrease over the corresponding prior year period is primarily
attributed to decreases in indirect commissions of which $73 are
largely attributable to reductions in average cost per
activation and reduced agent branding expenses. The decrease in
indirect commissions was partly offset by direct commissions
increases of $46 primarily due to changes in the compensation
plan. In addition, advertising and promotions expense decreases
were partly offset by increased internet and television
advertising.
21
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
Costs for maintaining and supporting our subscriber base for the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 decreased
$25 and $207, respectively, when compared with the corresponding
prior year periods. The decreases were primarily due to
reductions in bad debt expense of $108 and $225, respectively,
resulting from improved collections and improved involuntary
churn which contributed to lower net account write-offs. Other
factors contributing to the decreases included decreases to
customer service costs of $3 and $90, for the respective
periods, due to reduced outsourced professional services at
certain call centers. In addition, billing expenses decreased
$23 and $58 for the respective periods, resulting from the
continued migration to the combined billing systems. These
decreases were primarily offset by increased prepaid card
replenishment costs and increased migration and upgrade
transactions in the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006.
Other administrative costs for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 decreased $60 and $140, respectively,
when compared with the corresponding prior year periods. The
decrease in the three-month period primarily resulted from lower
IT and other professional services of $48 and lower litigation
related expenses of $46. These decreases were partly offset
primarily by higher third-party transaction processing fees of
$15. The decrease in the nine-month period primarily resulted
from headcount reductions of $20, lower IT and other
professional services of $20, lower litigation related expenses
of $61, lower rents realized by combining AT&T Wireless and
legacy Cingular office space of $18, and a federal excise tax
refund accrual. These decreases were partly offset primarily by
higher third-party transaction processing fees of $26.
Depreciation and amortization. Total
depreciation and amortization expense for the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006 was essentially flat with
the corresponding prior year periods. Increases in depreciation
of $129 and $364 for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, respectively, compared with the
corresponding prior year periods are largely attributable to
increased network investment and reductions to depreciation
expense recorded in 2005 associated with the revaluation of
acquired AT&T Wireless assets pursuant to the network
integration plans, partly offset by the impact of assets being
fully depreciated in 2006. Intangibles amortization expense for
the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were
$317 and $1,021, respectively, representing decreases of $94 and
$355, respectively, when compared with the corresponding prior
year periods, primarily due to declining amortization of the
customer relationship intangible assets recorded with the
AT&T Wireless acquisition. The decreases also resulted from
other intangible assets that became fully amortized in 2005 and
2006.
Other
Income (Expenses)
Interest Expense. For the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006, interest expense totaled
$306 and $901, respectively, and represented an increase of $2
and a decrease of $67, respectively, when compared with the
corresponding prior year periods. The slight increase for the
three-month period reflects a higher outstanding balance under
our revolving credit agreement, offset by reductions in the
balance of our member loans and the repayment of $1,000 of 7.35%
AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. unsecured and unsubordinated
Senior Notes that matured on March 1, 2006. The decrease in
member loans is the result of $2,911 of repayments made during
2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, the $67
decrease in interest expense reflects the lower average balance
of our member loans and Senior Notes, partially offset by higher
balances and rates on the revolving credit agreement and reduced
debt premium amortization.
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated
entities. For the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006, minority interest in earnings of
consolidated entities totaled $43 and $127, respectively, and
represented increases of $5 and $32, respectively, over the
corresponding prior year periods. The increases primarily
resulted from increased partnership net income in the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Other, net. For the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2006, other, net totaled $5 and $20,
respectively, and represented decreases of $5 and $43,
respectively, over the corresponding prior year periods.
22
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
The decreases resulted from higher interest income earned in the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, primarily
attributable to cash proceeds received from the sale of certain
network assets to
T-Mobile in
January 2005. Additionally, a gain on the sale of certain assets
of $13 was recognized in the 2005 period where minimal
comparable activity occurred in 2006.
Provision
for Income Taxes
Provision for income taxes. For the three and
nine months ended September 30, 2006, the provision for
income taxes was $225 and $491, representing increases of $121
and $341, respectively, as compared with the corresponding prior
year periods. The higher provision for income taxes resulted
from higher taxable income versus the prior year periods.
Our effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 was 20.9% and 22.0%, respectively. These
rates vary from the expected federal statutory rate of 35%
primarily as a result of the exclusion from our income tax
provision of operating results that are wholly allocated to our
respective members federal income tax returns. The income
tax provisions for the three and nine months ended
September 30, 2006 also include provisions for income taxes
in certain state and local jurisdictions.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
Flow Analysis
Cash
Flows for the Nine Month Ended September 30, 2005 Compared
with the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nine Months Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
$
|
5,537
|
|
|
$
|
5,346
|
|
|
$
|
(191
|
)
|
|
|
(3.4
|
)%
|
|
Net cash used in investing
activities
|
|
|
(738
|
)
|
|
|
(5,240
|
)
|
|
|
(4,502
|
)
|
|
|
610.0
|
%
|
|
Net cash used in financing
activities
|
|
|
(4,863
|
)
|
|
|
(87
|
)
|
|
|
4,776
|
|
|
|
(98.2
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(64
|
)
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
|
(129.7
|
)%
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period
|
|
|
352
|
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
|
34.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period
|
|
$
|
288
|
|
|
$
|
491
|
|
|
$
|
203
|
|
|
|
70.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities. For
the nine months ended September 30, 2006, cash provided by
operating activities was $5,346, a decrease of $191 from the
nine months ended September 30, 2005. Although we
experienced a $1,974 increase in operating income, excluding
depreciation and amortization, this was offset by decreases of
cash generated from working capital. This working capital
decrease, as compared with prior year activity for the
comparable period, was primarily attributable to the following
increases in uses of cash associated with accounts payable and
other current liabilities, $1,470; other current assets, $336;
and inventories, $210. The decrease in accounts payable and
other current liabilities for the nine months ended
September 30, 2006 primarily resulted from the payment of
capital expenditure obligations generated at the end of 2005.
Net cash used in investing activities. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash used in
investing activities was $5,240, an increase of $4,502 from the
corresponding prior year period. The increase was primarily the
result of decreased cash receipts from dispositions.
Additionally, the 2005 nine-month period included proceeds from
certain one-time transactions that were not present in the
comparable 2006 period. These one-time transactions included
$2,482 of proceeds from the sale of our California and Nevada
network
23
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART I FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (Dollars
in Millions)
|
|
| Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
assets to
T-Mobile in
January 2005; $432 of proceeds from the sale of wireless
properties, including those that we were required to divest;
$300 of proceeds from the sale of IDEA Cellular Ltd., $349 of
proceeds from the Atlantic West B.V. distribution, $180 from the
sale of spectrum to
T-Mobile,
and $36 from the partial sale of former AT&T Wireless
operations and telecommunications licenses in Bermuda and
certain Caribbean markets to Digicel. Increases in the use of
cash included an increase in capital expenditures of $346, an
increase in deposits for license purchases of $357 and the
impact of the 2005 redemption of $219 of held to maturity
investments. The primary offset was a $200 capital restoral
deficit payment made to GSMF upon its dissolution in January 2005
Net cash used in financing activities. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2006, cash used by
financing activities was $87, a decrease of $4,776 from the
corresponding prior year period. For the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, we made net draws of $1,041 under our
revolving credit agreement. This increase in cash was offset by
our $1,000 repayment of the 7.35% AT&T Wireless Services,
Inc. unsecured and unsubordinated Senior Notes. For the nine
months ended September 30, 2005, the primary use of cash
was the $1,667 of repayments to our members under our revolving
credit agreement, $2,675 of repayments to our members under our
Subordinated Notes, $250 in repayments of AT&T Wireless
Senior Notes and $211 for the redemption of the Telecorp Notes.
Sources
of Liquidity
Under a revolving credit agreement, AT&T and BellSouth
provide unsubordinated short-term financing on a pro rata basis
at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.05% for our ordinary course
operations. The revolving credit agreement provides that in the
event that we have available cash (as defined) on any business
day, such amount shall first be applied to the repayment of the
revolving loans, and any remaining excess then shall be applied
to the repayment of the subordinated member loans from AT&T
and BellSouth at month end if we do not then require a cash
advance under the agreement. For nine months ended
September 30, 2006, we made net draws of $1,041. For the
three months ended September 30, 2006, we made net
repayments of $151. At September 30, 2006, we had $1,552
outstanding under the revolving credit agreement.
As of September 30, 2006, we had cash and cash equivalents
totaling $491. We expect to fund our remaining capital
requirements for at least the next 12 months by using
existing cash balances, cash generated from operations and, if
necessary, draws under our revolving credit agreement with
AT&T and BellSouth.
Cash
Requirements
Our operating cash requirements during the remainder of 2006
will continue to be driven primarily by capital expenditures
associated with our network enhancement and integration
activities, interest payments and costs associated with
acquiring and retaining new and existing subscribers.
Network Upgrades, Integration and
Expansion. The expansion of our GSM/GPRS/EDGE
networks, the continued installation of UMTS/ HSDPA technology
in a number of markets and the construction and upgrade of
network facilities in California and Nevada following the sale
of facilities to
T-Mobile
upon the termination of our GSMF network infrastructure joint
venture will drive capital requirements through the remainder of
the year. For the three and nine months ended September 30,
2006, respectively, we spent $1,828 and $4,851 for network and
non-network capital expenditures. We expect our total capital
expenditures in 2006 to be in the low end of the $7,000 to
$7,500 range.
Spectrum Auction. We made a $500 deposit to
the FCC in July 2006 in connection with qualifying for the
auction of 90 MHz of spectrum in the 1700 and 2100 MHz
frequency bands that began in August 2006. Upon completion of
the auction in which we were the highest bidder for 48 licenses,
we made an additional payment for $835 in October 2006.
24
Integration of AT&T Wireless. For the
three and nine months ended September 30, 2006,
respectively, aside from integration activities impacting
depreciation and amortization, we incurred $87 and $237 of
integration costs, which are included in Selling, general
and administrative expenses and Cost of
services expenses in our consolidated income statements.
Although the integration is substantially complete, we expect to
continue to incur costs associated with integration activities
through 2006, and to a lesser degree, into 2007. The remaining
integration costs expected to be incurred primarily relate to
lease termination and equipment removal costs.
Contractual Obligations. Please see
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Contractual
Obligations in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Note 8 within
Item 1. Financial Statements of this Quarterly Report for a
description of our contractual obligations.
Debt Service. As of September 30, 2006,
we had $19,844 of consolidated indebtedness and capitalized
lease obligations, excluding unamortized premiums/discounts and
interest rate swap fair value adjustments. This debt includes:
$2,000 in unsecured Senior Notes of Cingular Wireless LLC;
$8,250 in unsecured senior and senior subordinated notes of
AT&T Wireless; $6,717 in unsecured, subordinated member
loans from AT&T and BellSouth; $1,552 in outstanding
borrowings under the revolving credit agreement; $1,206 in
capital lease obligations (excluding executory costs and imputed
interest); and $119 in other debt. During the first quarter of
2006, we repaid $1,000 of 7.35% AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
unsecured and unsubordinated Senior Notes. Additional capital
lease obligations for the three and nine months ending
September 30, 2006, respectively, were $26 and $63. See
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Contractual
Obligations in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 for our debt service
requirements.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reflected in the consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on
historical experience, where applicable and other assumptions
that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. Actual
results may differ from those estimates under different
assumptions or conditions. There have not been any material
changes in Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates from those
reported in Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Related
Party Transactions
See Related Party Transactions in Note 6 to our
consolidated financial statements included in Item 1,
Financial Statements.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
As of September 30, 2006, we had no material off-balance
sheet arrangements.
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|
|
Item 3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
The majority of our financial instruments are medium- and
long-term fixed rate notes and member loans. Fluctuations in
market interest rates can lead to significant fluctuations in
the fair values of these fixed rate instruments. In addition, we
are exposed to market risks, primarily from changes in interest
rates. To manage exposure to these fluctuations, manage capital
costs, control financial risks and maintain financial
flexibility over the long term, we engage from time to time in
hedging transactions that have been authorized by the board of
directors of our manager. We do not anticipate any significant
changes in our objectives and strategies with respect to
managing such exposures. We do not use derivatives for trading
purposes, to generate income or to engage in speculative
activity.
25
Item 3. Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk (Continued)
As of September 30, 2006, we had outstanding an aggregate
of $6,717 in unsecured, subordinated member loans from AT&T
and BellSouth with a fixed interest rate of 6.0% and a stated
maturity of June 30, 2008. In addition, as of
September 30, 2006, we had outstanding $10,250 of unsecured
senior notes with fixed interest rates ranging from 5.625% to
8.75% with maturity dates between 2006 and 2031. As of
September 30, 2006, we had $250 of
fixed-to-floating
interest rate swaps related to our five-year unsecured senior
notes. A change in interest rates of 100 basis points would
change our interest expense as a result of the swaps as of
September 30, 2006 by approximately $3 per annum. We also
have capital leases outstanding of $1,206 with fixed interest
rates ranging from 5.72% to 9.6%.
As of September 30, 2006, we had $1,567 of floating rate
borrowings. These borrowings primarily include amounts
outstanding under our revolving credit agreement with AT&T
and BellSouth, which carry an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.05%.
A change in interest rates of 100 basis points would change
our interest expense on floating rate debt balances as of
September 30, 2006 by approximately $16 per annum.
The risk management discussion above, related to our market
risks, contains forward-looking statements and represents, among
other things, an estimate of possible changes in fair value that
would occur assuming changes in interest rates. Future impacts
of market risk would be based on actual developments in the
financial markets. See Cautionary Language Concerning
Forward-Looking Statements immediately following Part II,
Item 6 of this Quarterly Report.
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|
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Item 4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
(a) We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by
us in the reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (Exchange Act) is recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SECs rules and forms.
As of September 30, 2006, management, including our
President and Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial
Officer, completed its evaluation of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.
Based on the foregoing, our President and Chief Executive
Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that we
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are effective
in providing reasonable assurance that information required to
be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that such
information is accumulated and communicated to management,
including our President and Chief Executive Officer and our
Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. Management necessarily
applied its judgment in assessing the costs and benefits of such
controls and procedures, which, by their nature, can provide
only reasonable assurance regarding managements control
objectives. We also have investments in certain unconsolidated
entities. As we do not control or manage these entities, our
disclosure controls and procedures with respect to such entities
are necessarily more limited than those we maintain with respect
to our consolidated subsidiaries.
(b) During the evaluation referred to in Item 4
(a) above, we have identified no change in our internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during our last
fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
26
CINGULAR
WIRELESS LLC
PART II
OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
Item 1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
In a jury trial, Freedom Wireless, Inc. (Freedom) was awarded
damages jointly against us and Boston Communications Group, Inc.
(BCGI) in the aggregate amount, including prejudgment interest,
of approximately $165 million for alleged past infringement
of two patents for technology allegedly owned by Freedom and
used by BCGI to provide to us and other carriers a prepaid
wireless telephone service technology platform. This litigation
has been settled, in connection with which we have paid
$20 million.
Several
class-action
lawsuits were filed against AT&T Corp. asserting claims
under the federal securities laws in connection with the
split-off of AT&T Wireless from AT&T Corp. in respect of
which we were alleged to be liable for 70% under a Separation
Agreement between AT&T Wireless and AT&T Corp. This
litigation has been settled, in connection with which we have
paid $105 million.
Except as noted above, there are no material changes in the
status of our legal proceedings from those described in our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 and in our Quarterly
Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and June 30,
2006, respectively.
Item 1A. Risk
Factors
See Risk Factors in Part I
Item 1A. in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 for information on
risk factors. There are no material changes in the status of our
risk factors from those described in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005.
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|
|
Item 2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
None.
|
|
|
Item 3.
|
Defaults
upon Senior Securities
|
None.
|
|
|
Item 4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
None.
|
|
|
Item 5.
|
Other
Information
|
None.
(a) Exhibits
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Title
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
.1
|
|
Certification of President and
Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
31
|
.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
|
|
|
32
|
.1 *
|
|
Certification of President and
Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|
|
|
32
|
.2 *
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
This exhibit is hereby furnished to the SEC as an accompanying
document and is not to be deemed filed for purposes
of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section, nor shall
it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the
Securities Act of 1933. |
27
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART II OTHER
INFORMATION
CAUTIONARY
LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information, this document contains
forward-looking statements regarding events, financial trends,
critical accounting policies, contractual obligations and
estimates that may affect our future operating results,
financial position and cash flows. These statements are based on
assumptions and estimates and are subject to risks and
uncertainties.
There are possible developments that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from those forecasted or implied by
our forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are
current only as of the date of this filing. We disclaim any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
While the below list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive,
some factors, in addition to those contained throughout this
document, that could affect future operating results, financial
position and cash flows and could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements are:
|
|
|
|
the pervasive and intensifying competition in all markets where
we operate;
|
| |
|
|
delays or inability of vendors to deliver hardware, software,
handsets or network equipment, including failure to deliver such
equipment free of claims, including patent claims, of other
parties;
|
| |
|
|
problems associated with the transition of our network to
higher-speed technologies;
|
| |
|
|
slowing growth of our data services due to lack of popular
applications, terminal equipment, advanced technology and other
factors;
|
| |
|
|
adverse economic, employment or interest rate trends;
|
| |
|
|
the final outcome of FCC proceedings, including rulemakings, and
judicial review, if any, of such proceedings;
|
| |
|
|
enactment of additional state and federal laws, regulations and
requirements pertaining to our operations; and
|
| |
|
|
the outcome of pending or threatened complaints and litigation.
|
28
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART II OTHER
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
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.
Cingular Wireless LLC
|
|
|
| |
By:
|
CINGULAR WIRELESS CORPORATION,
as Manager
|
| |
| |
By:
|
/s/ Peter
A. Ritcher
|
Peter A. Ritcher
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
Date: November 1, 2006
29
CINGULAR WIRELESS LLC
PART II OTHER
INFORMATION
Exhibit Index
(Exhibits Physically
Filed Herewith)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
Title
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
.1
|
|
Certification of President and
Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
31
|
.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002.
|
|
|
32
|
.1
|
|
Certification of President and
Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|
|
|
32
|
.2
|
|
Certification of Chief Financial
Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
|