Edgar Filing: HICKORY TECH CORP

form10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
	EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the transition period from to .

Commission file number 0-13721

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota	41-1524393
(State or other jurisdiction of	(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)	Identification No.)

221 East Hickory Street

Mankato, Minnesota 56002-3248

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(800) 326-5789

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 þNo ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, and smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No þ

The total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of July 27, 2012: 13,494,399.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011	3
	Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (unaudited) for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011	4
	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011	5
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2012 and 2011	6
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	7
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	17
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	30
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	30

PART II Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	30
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	30
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	31
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	31
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	31
Item 5.	Other Information	31
Item 6.	Exhibit Listing	31
	Signatures	32
	Exhibits	33

Part I Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Operating revenue:
Equipment	$	10,740		$	9,035		$	26,039		$	17,230
Services		33,117			31,073			64,762			61,500
Total operating revenue		43,857			40,108			90,801			78,730

Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization		9,292			7,924			22,758			14,923
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization		15,905			14,771			31,231			29,506
Selling, general and administrative expenses		7,441			6,729			14,147			13,272
Depreciation and amortization		6,732			5,682			12,926			11,361
Total costs and expenses		39,370			35,106			81,062			69,062

Operating income		4,487			5,002			9,739			9,668

Other income and expense:
Interest and other income		14			14			34			24
Interest expense		(1,482	)		(1,015	)		(2,846	)		(2,083	)
Total other (expense)		(1,468	)		(1,001	)		(2,812	)		(2,059	)

Income before income taxes		3,019			4,001			6,927			7,609
Income tax provision		1,210			1,307			2,796			2,773

Net income	$	1,809		$	2,694		$	4,131		$	4,836


Basic earnings per share	$	0.13		$	0.20		$	0.31		$	0.36

Weighted average common shares outstanding		13,487,553			13,367,083			13,469,303			13,348,447


Diluted earnings per share	$	0.13		$	0.20		$	0.31		$	0.36

Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding		13,500,046			13,380,186			13,483,967			13,360,949

Dividends per share	$	0.14		$	0.135		$	0.28		$	0.27

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Net Income	$	1,809		$	2,694		$	4,131		$	4,836
Other comprehensive income:
Interest rate swaps:
Changes in designated interest rate swaps		(117	)		(574	)		(164	)		(235	)
Income tax (expense) benefit		46			229			65			94
Unrealized holding gains (loss) on interest rate swaps		(71	)		(345	)		(99	)		(141	)

Post-retirement benefit plan:
Amounts included in net periodic benefit cost:
Net actuarial loss		135			107			270			214
Prior service credit		(19	)		(14	)		(38	)		(28	)
Transition asset		15			15			30			30
Adjustment to post-retirement benefit plan		(1,034	)		-			(1,034	)		-
Income tax expense		360			(43	)		308			(86	)
Change in post-retirement benefit plan		(543	)		65			(464	)		130

Other comprehensive income (loss)		(614	)		(280	)		(563	)		(11	)

Comprehensive Income	$	1,195		$	2,414		$	3,568		$	4,825

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)	June 30, 2012			December 31, 2011
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	14,431		$	13,057
Short-term investments		2,998			-
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $215 and $436		21,403			25,317
Inventories		5,060			9,297
Income taxes receivable		639			498
Deferred income taxes, net		1,559			1,559
Prepaid expenses		2,202			1,801
Other		960			964
Total current assets		49,252			52,493

Investments		3,210			4,277

Property, plant and equipment		415,545			396,816
Accumulated depreciation		(241,395	)		(242,886	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		174,150			153,930

Other assets:
Goodwill		29,028			27,303
Intangible assets, net		5,257			2,314
Deferred costs and other		3,689			3,669
Total other assets		37,974			33,286

Total assets	$	264,586		$	243,986

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	3,135		$	4,661
Extended term payable		8,191			6,920
Deferred revenue		5,658			6,251
Accrued expenses and other		8,781			10,175
Current maturities of long-term obligations		1,614			1,407
Total current liabilities		27,379			29,414

Long-term liabilities:
Debt obligations, net of current maturities		139,874			118,828
Accrued income taxes		143			154
Deferred revenue		1,046			1,131
Financial derivative instruments		2,633			2,469
Accrued employee benefits and deferred compensation		19,724			18,166
Deferred income taxes		30,253			30,627
Total long-term liabilities		193,673			171,375

Total liabilities		221,052			200,789

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value, $.10 stated value
Shares authorized: 100,000,000
Shares issued and outstanding: 13,494,399 in 2012 and 13,396,176 in 2011		1,349			1,340
Additional paid-in capital		16,211			15,683
Retained earnings		32,160			31,797
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)		(6,186	)		(5,623	)
Total shareholders' equity		43,534			43,197

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	264,586		$	243,986

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2012			2011
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	4,131		$	4,836
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		12,926			11,361
Accrued patronage refunds		(345	)		(189	)
Stock based compensation		375			636
Other		773			474
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquired net assets
Receivables		4,070			455
Prepaid expenses		(401	)		(446	)
Inventories		4,350			405
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		(3,419	)		143
Deferred revenue, billings and deposits		(683	)		355
Income taxes		(138	)		5,359
Other		1,552			1,037
Net cash provided by operating activities		23,191			24,426

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(10,969	)		(8,616	)
Broadband stimulus grant received		1,426			125
Acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom		(28,180	)		-
Purchase of short-term investments		(2,998	)		-
Proceeds from sale of assets		-			105
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(40,721	)		(8,386	)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings on extended term payable arrangement		22,772			14,296
Payments on extended term payable arrangement		(21,501	)		(11,489	)
Borrowings on credit facility		22,000			25,700
Payments on credit facility and capital lease obligations		(761	)		(26,031	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		163			180
Change in cash overdraft		-			(238	)
Dividends paid		(3,769	)		(3,601	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		18,904			(1,183	)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		1,374			14,857
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period		13,057			73
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	14,431		$	14,930

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	2,868		$	2,164
Net cash paid (received) for income taxes	$	2,934		$	(2,586	)
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Property, plant and equipment acquired with capital leases	$	14		$	64
Change in other comprehensive (loss) from financial derivatives
and post-retirement benefits	$	(563	)	$	(11	)

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

June 30, 2012

Item 1. Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of HickoryTech Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements and present fairly the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and related disclosures at the date of the financial statements and during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The results of operations for the interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year as a whole or any other interim period.

Our consolidated financial statements report the financial condition and results of operations for HickoryTech Corporation and its subsidiaries in three business segments: Fiber and Data, Equipment and Telecom. Inter-company transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Cost of Sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)

Cost of sales for the Equipment Segment are primarily for equipment and materials associated with the installation of products for customers. Labor associated with installation work is not included in this category, but is included in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) described below.

Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization)

Cost of services includes all costs related to delivery of communication services and products for all segments. These operating costs include all costs of performing services and providing related products including engineering, customer service, billing and collections, network monitoring and transport costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses include direct and indirect selling expenses, advertising and all other general and administrative costs associated with the operations of the business.

Recent Accounting Developments

We reviewed all significant newly issued accounting pronouncements and determined they are either not applicable to our business or that no material effect is expected on our financial position, results of operations or disclosures.

Note 2. Earnings and Cash Dividends per Common Share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the applicable period. Shares used in the EPS dilution calculation are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period increased by potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially dilutive common shares include stock options and stock subscribed under the HickoryTech Corporation Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Dilution is determined using the treasury stock method.

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	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands, except share and earnings per share amounts)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Net Income	$	1,809	$	2,694	$	4,131	$	4,836

Weighted average shares outstanding		13,487,553		13,367,083		13,469,303		13,348,447
Stock options (dilutive only)		12,493		13,103		14,664		12,502
Stock subscribed (ESPP)		-		-		-		-
Total dilutive shares outstanding		13,500,046		13,380,186		13,483,967		13,360,949

Earnings per share:
Basic and Diluted	$	0.13	$	0.20	$	0.31	$	0.36

Dividends per share	$	0.14	$	0.135	$	0.28	$	0.27

Options to purchase 83,900 and 195,250 for the three months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively and 78,900 and 195,250 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively were not included in the computation of diluted EPS, because their effect on diluted EPS would have been anti-dilutive.

Cash dividends are based on the number of common shares outstanding at their respective record dates. The number of shares outstanding as of the record date for the first and second quarters of 2012 and 2011, respectively, are as follows:

Shares outstanding on record date	2012		2011
First quarter (February 15)		13,409,941		13,311,817
Second quarter (May 15)		13,479,677		13,358,971

Dividends per share are based on the quarterly dividend per share as declared by the HickoryTech Board of Directors. HickoryTech paid dividends of $0.14 and $0.135 per share in the second quarter of 2012 and 2011, respectively. During the first six months of 2012 and 2011, shareholders have elected to reinvest $147,000 and $135,000, respectively, of dividends into HickoryTech common stock pursuant to the HickoryTech Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Note 3. Acquisition

On March 1, 2012, we acquired all of the membership units of IdeaOne Telecom Group, LLC. for cash consideration of $28,180,000 expanding our business and broadband services in the Fargo, North Dakota market. The acquisition was funded with existing liquidity through cash reserves of $6,180,000 and $22,000,000 of term loan debt which is integrated with our senior credit facility.

The table below sets forth the provisional estimates of fair value of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and goodwill. The difference between the fair value of the consideration transferred and net assets acquired resulted in goodwill of $1,725,000. The fair value of the property and equipment, intangible assets and other assets and liabilities was determined based on level 3 inputs.

(Dollars in thousands)	2012
Property and equipment	$	23,077
Accounts receivable		310
Identifiable intangible assets:
Customer relationships and contracts		3,200
Trade name		100
Goodwill		1,725
Other assets		273
Liabilities		(505	)
Total cash consideration	$	28,180

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Goodwill from our acquisition is a result of the value of acquired employees along with the expected synergies from the combination of IdeaOne Telecom and our operations. IdeaOne Telecom operations have been integrated with and goodwill is recorded within our Fiber and Data Segment. Goodwill resulting from this acquisition is deductible for tax purposes.

Of the identified intangible assets above, customer relationships and contracts have useful lives between four and seven years and the trade name has a useful life of two years. Useful lives for identifiable intangible assets were estimated at the time of the acquisition based on the period of time from which we expect to derive benefits from the identifiable intangible assets. The identifiable intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method, which reflects the pattern in which the assets are consumed.

Acquisition related expenses of $510,000 were reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. In 2012, acquisition related expenses were insignificant and are reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company has expensed all acquisition related costs except those related to the incremental debt. The costs incurred related to the incremental term debt financing have been capitalized and are amortized over the life of the debt facility using the effective interest rate method.

The amount of IdeaOne revenue and net income included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the six months ended June 30, 2012, and the following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, have been prepared as if the acquisition of IdeaOne had occurred at January 1, 2011:

(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)	Revenue		Net Income		Diluted Earnings Per Share
Actual from March 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012	$	4,186	$	279	$	0.02
Supplemental pro forma for the six months ended June 30, 2012	$	92,918	$	4,218	$	0.31
Supplemental pro forma for the six months ended June 30, 2011	$	84,576	$	4,970	$	0.37

The proforma results are presented for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be indicative of the results that would have actually been obtained if the merger had occurred as of the date indicated, nor do the pro forma results intend to be a projection of future results that may be obtained.

Note 4. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The carrying value of our goodwill and intangible assets increased during the first quarter of 2012 due to our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom which closed on March 1, 2012. Goodwill was $29,028,000 as of June 30, 2012 compared to $27,303,000 at December 31, 2011. We have goodwill in all three of our operating units: Fiber and Data Segment goodwill resulted from our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom in 2012, CP Telecom in 2009 and Enventis Telecom in 2005. Equipment Segment goodwill also resulted from our acquisition of Enventis Telecom and Telecom Segment goodwill resulted from our acquisition of Heartland Telecommunications in 1997.

(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Fiber and Data	$	5,384	$	3,659
Equipment	$	596	$	596
Telecom	$	23,048	$	23,048

The components of intangible assets are as follows:

		As of June 30, 2012				As of December 31, 2011
		Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Gross Carrying		Accumulated
(Dollars in thousands)	Useful Lives	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	1 - 8 years	$	8,499	$	5,016	$	5,299	$	4,746
Other intangibles	1 - 5 years		2,930		1,156		2,830		1,069
Total		$	11,429	$	6,172	$	8,129	$	5,815

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Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $357,000 and $177,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Total estimated amortization expense for the remaining six months of 2012 and the five years subsequent to 2012 is as follows: 2012 (July 1 – December 31) – $447,000; 2013 - $893,000; 2014 - $762,000; 2015 - $629,000; 2016 - $567,000; 2017 - $554,000.

Note 5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, net accounts receivables and payables, other short-term monetary assets and liabilities was estimated by management to approximate fair value due to the relatively short period of time to maturity for these instruments.

The fair value estimate for our long-term debt is based on the overall weighted average interest rates and maturity compared to rates and terms currently available in the long-term financing markets. The fair value estimate of our interest rate swaps represent the net present value of future cash flows based on projections of the three-month LIBOR rate over the life of each swap. Our interest rate swaps are recognized at fair value under the long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Our short-term investment in a United States Treasury Bill matures in February of 2013 and is recognized at fair value on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The fair value and carrying value of our long-term debt, after deducting current maturities, our interest rate swaps and our short-term investments are as follows at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

			June 30, 2012				December 31, 2011
(Dollars in thousands)	Input Level		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
Short-term investments		1	$	2,998	$	2,998	$	-	$	-
Long-term debt		2	$	139,874	$	144,223	$	118,828	$	122,886
Interest rate swaps		2	$	2,633	$	2,633	$	2,469	$	2,469

Note 6. Debt and Other Obligations

Our long-term obligations as of June 30, 2012 were $139,874,000, excluding current maturities of $1,420,000 on debt and $194,000 on current maturities of capital leases. Long-term obligations as of December 31, 2011 were $118,828,000 excluding current maturities of $1,200,000 on debt and $207,000 of capital leases.

On August 11, 2011, we entered into a $150,000,000 credit agreement with a syndicate of nine banks that matures on December 31, 2016. The credit facility is comprised of a $30,000,000 revolving credit component ($29,965,000 available to borrow as of June 30, 2012; $35,000 is reserved for outstanding letters of credit) and a $120,000,000 term loan component. On March 1, 2012 we borrowed an additional $22,000,000 of incremental term loan debt under our existing credit facility to fund our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom.

The term loans are structured in a Term Loan B facility. The outstanding principal balance of (the initial) Term Loan is $119,100,000 as of June 30, 2012 and requires us to make quarterly principal payments of $300,000. The outstanding principal balance of the Incremental Term is $21,945,000 as of June 30, 2012 and requires us to make quarterly principal payments of $55,000. There was no outstanding principal balance under the revolving credit component as of June 30, 2012 and the revolving credit component does not require quarterly principal payments. Any remaining amounts outstanding on the revolving credit component and Term Loans will be due at maturity on December 31, 2016.

The term loan component has a provision whereby we periodically receive patronage capital refunds. Patronage refunds are recorded as an offset to interest expense and amounted to $345,000 in the six months of 2012 compared to $189,000 in the first six months of 2011.

At June 30, 2012 we are in full compliance with specified financial ratios and tests required by our credit facility. The credit facility includes new allowances for continued payment of dividends and common stock repurchases and eliminates a specific capital expenditures limitation which was in place in our previous facility.

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Our obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first-priority lien on the property and assets, tangible and intangible, of HickoryTech and its current subsidiaries, which includes total assets except for the Equipment Segment accounts receivable and inventory. We have also given a first-priority pledge of the capital stock of our current subsidiaries to secure the credit facility. The credit facility contains certain restrictions that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability to create liens or encumbrances; incur additional debt; issue stock; make asset sales, transfers, or dispositions; and engage in mergers and acquisitions, pay dividends or purchase/redeem Company stock over specified maximum values.

The credit facility requires us to enter in or maintain effective interest rate protection agreements on at least 50% of the Term Loans outstanding balance for a period of two years to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. We currently have interest rate swap agreements, effectively fixing the LIBOR rate portion of the interest rate on $72,000,000 of our variable interest debt. Additional information on our interest-rate swap agreements can be found under Note 7 “Financial Derivative Instruments.”

Note 7. Financial Derivative Instruments

We utilize interest-rate swap agreements that qualify as cash-flow hedges to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our variable-interest rate debt. Our interest-rate swaps increase or decrease the amount of cash paid for interest depending on the increase or decrease of interest required on the variable rate debt. We account for derivative instruments on the balance sheet at fair value.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements were determined based on Level 2 inputs. Listed below are the interest-rate swap agreements which lock in our interest rates on existing variable-interest rate debt.

Interest-Rate Swap Agreement Effective Dates	Coverage Amount		Rate
September 2011 - September 2014	$	24,000,000		1.66	%
September 2011 - March 2015	$	24,000,000		1.91	%
September 2011 - September 2015	$	24,000,000		2.14	%

The fair value of our derivatives at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are recorded as financial derivative instruments under the long-term liabilities section of our balance sheet. The fair value of our derivatives at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 is a net liability of $2,633,000 and $2,469,000, respectively. The cumulative gain or (loss) on the market value of financial derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity, net of tax. If we were to terminate our interest rate swap positions, the cumulative change in fair value at the date of termination would be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), which is classified in shareholders’ equity, into earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The table below illustrates the effect of derivative instruments on consolidated operations for the periods ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

(Dollars in thousands)	Gain (Loss) Reported in		Location of Gain/Proceeds Reclassified	Amount of Gain/Proceeds
Derivative Instruments	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		from Accumulated Other	Recognized in Income on Derivative
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	2012	2011	Comprehensive Income into Income	2012	2011

Interest Rate Contracts	$(99)	$(141)	Interest Expense	$-	$-

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Note 8. Extended Term Payable

Enterprise Integration Services, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HickoryTech, has an $18,000,000 wholesale financing agreement with a financing company to fund equipment purchases from certain approved vendors. Advances under this financing arrangement are collateralized by the assets of our Equipment Segment and a guaranty of an amount up to $2,500,000 by HickoryTech. The agreement requires Enterprise Integration Services to maintain specific levels of collateral relative to the outstanding balance due, provide selected monthly financial information, and make all payments when due or on demand in the event of a collateral shortfall, among other requirements. A default on the financing agreement by Enterprise Integration Services would require HickoryTech to perform under the guaranty. The financing agreement provides 60 day, interest-free payment terms for working capital and can be terminated at any time by either party. The balance outstanding under the financing arrangement was $8,191,000 and $6,920,000 at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. These balances are classified as current liabilities in the accompanying Balance Sheets and are excluded from our debt financing per our senior credit agreement.

Note 9. Employee Post-Retirement Benefits

HickoryTech provides post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits for eligible employees. We are currently not funding these post-retirement benefits, but have accrued these liabilities. We are required to recognize the funded status of our post-retirement benefit plans on our consolidated balance sheet and recognize as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, the gains and losses and prior service costs or credit that arise during the period but are not recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost. New employees are not eligible for post-retirement health care and life insurance benefits.

	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2012			2011			2012			2011
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	150		$	127		$	300		$	254
Interest cost		188			200			376			400
Expected return on plan assets		-			-			-			-
Amortization of transition obligation		15			15			30			30
Amortization of prior service cost		(19	)		(14	)		(38	)		(28	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		135			107			270			214
Net periodic benefit cost	$	469		$	435		$	938		$	870


Employer's contributions for current premiums:											June 30, 2012
Contributions made for the six months ended June 30, 2012										$	168
Expected contributions for remainder of 2012											169
Total estimated employer contributions for fiscal year 2012										$	337

Note 10. Inventories

Inventory includes parts, materials and supplies stored in our warehouses to support basic levels of service and maintenance as well as scheduled capital projects and equipment awaiting configuration for customers. Inventory also includes parts and equipment shipped directly from vendors to customer locations while in transit and parts and equipment returned from customers which is being returned to vendors for credit, as well as maintenance contracts associated with customer sales which have not yet transferred to the customer. The inventory value in the Fiber and Data Segment and the Telecom Segment are comprised of raw materials. The inventory value in the Equipment Segment is primarily comprised of finished goods in transit to customers or at customers’ locations of which title has not yet transferred. The inventory level in the Equipment Segment is subject to the fluctuations in the equipment revenue and the timing of individual customer orders.

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(Dollars in thousands)	June 30, 2012		December 31, 2011
Fiber and Data	$	1,302	$	950
Equipment	$	2,073	$	6,631
Telecom	$	1,685	$	1,716

We value inventory using the lower of cost (perpetual weighted average-cost or specific identification) or market method. We adjust our inventory carrying value for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory to the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. As market and other conditions change, we may be required to record additional write-downs of the carrying value of inventories.

Note 11. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

In addition to net income, our comprehensive income includes changes in the market value of the cumulative unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, on financial derivative instruments qualifying and designated as cash flow hedges and unrecognized Net Periodic Benefit Cost related to our Post-Retirement Benefit Plans. Additional information on our interest-rate swap agreements, which are classified as financial derivative instruments, can be found under Note 7 “Financial Derivative Instruments.” In the second quarter of 2012 a valuation adjustment was recorded related to our post-retirement benefit plan increasing accumulated other comprehensive income by $622,000, net of tax. This adjustment was made to correct an immaterial valuation error made at December 31, 2011.

Note 12. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate from operations for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011 was 40.1% and 32.7%. In 2011, the effective tax rate was impacted by the release of income tax reserves and associated interest. The effective tax rate from operations differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes.

As of June 30, 2012, we had unrecognized tax benefits totaling $138,000 excluding interest. The amount of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would affect the effective income tax rates of future periods is $119,000. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by approximately $9,000, including interest, during the next 12 months as a result of expirations of the statute of limitations.

We file consolidated income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and combined or separate income tax returns in various state jurisdictions. In general, we are no longer subject to United States federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2008 except to the extent of losses utilized in subsequent years.

Note 13. Stock Compensation

Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 for a complete description of all stock-based compensation plans.

Our stock award plans provide for granting non-qualified stock options, stock awards and restricted stock awards to employees. We recognize stock compensation charges related to stock award plans when management concludes it is probable the participant will earn the award. Share-based compensation expense includes amounts recognized related to the Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This plan allows participating employees to acquire shares of common stock at 85% of fair market value on one specified date. Stock-based compensation expense was $375,000 and $636,000 respectively in the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011. The decrease in the stock-based compensation expense was primarily driven by the decrease we have realized in our stock price in 2012. This includes compensation expense for share-based payment awards granted prior to, but not vested as of June 30, 2012.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. We use a seven-year period to calculate the historical volatility of our stock price for use in the valuation model. The dividend yield rate is based on our current dividend payout pattern and current market price. The risk-free rate for options is based on a U.S. Treasury rate commensurate with the expected terms. The expected term of options granted is derived from historical experience and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Historical data is used to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures and are estimated at the time of the grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from the estimate.

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In April 2011, 10,000 options were granted associated with the acceptance of the Chief Operating Officer position. Other than this stock award issued, options were last granted under the Company’s Stock Award Plan in September 2006. The weighted average grant date fair value of options issued was $0.80.

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

				Weighted Average
	Options			Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2012		247,650		$	11.28
Granted		-			-
Exercised		(1,500	)		10.22
Forfeited		(4,050	)		10.88
Expired		(83,000	)		13.95
Outstanding at June 30, 2012		159,100		$	9.90
Exercisable at June 30, 2012		152,433		$	9.94

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options outstanding at June 30, 2012:

Range of		Stock Options		Weighted Average		Weighted Average Remaining
Exercise Prices		Outstanding		Exercise Price		Contractual Life
	$6.00 - $8.00		15,000	$	6.95		4.17
	$8.00 - $12.00		144,100		10.21		2.01
			159,100	$	9.90		2.21

Aggregate intrinsic value:				$	215,000

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options exercisable at June 30, 2012:

Range of		Stock Options		Weighted Average		Weighted Average Remaining
Exercise Prices		Exercisable		Exercise Price		Contractual Life
	$6.00 - $8.00		15,000	$	6.95		4.17
	$8.00 - $12.00		137,433		10.27		1.68
			152,433	$	9.94		1.92

Aggregate intrinsic value:				$	201,000

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Note 14. Quarterly Segment Financial Summary

Our operations are conducted in three segments: (i) Fiber and Data, (ii) Equipment and (iii) Telecom.

Our Fiber and Data Segment serves wholesale, enterprise and small-to-medium business customers with data and voice communications services supported by our extensive statewide fiber network and community access rings. With our communication expertise, we are able to provide standard and customized network solutions which can be extended beyond our network to provide end-to-end national connectivity. The Fiber and Data Segment also includes revenue from our SingleLink unified communication services and voice, data and Internet services sold to SMB business customers in several metropolitan markets.

Our Equipment Segment provides equipment solutions and support for a broad spectrum of business customers. Our equipment solutions team plans, designs and implements networks utilizing emerging technological advancements including TelePresence Video, Unified Communications and data center solutions. We provide a complete array of products and services to support the Cisco equipment sold to business customers including professional services, maintenance, total care support and security. Professional services include network assessments, planning, design, implementation and training. Our total care support team provides a single-point-of-contact for the support of applications, systems and infrastructure. We also offer security solutions combining leading network security products with our experience and expertise in integrated communications systems.

Our Telecom Segment provides bundled residential and business services including high-speed Internet, broadband services, digital TV, local voice and long distance services in our legacy telecom service area. Telecom is comprised of two markets. The first includes an incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”) operating in 13 south central Minnesota communities and 13 rural northwest Iowa communities. The second market is a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”) operation. We own our network in both the ILEC and CLEC communities. The Telecom Segment, through National Independent Billing, Inc., also provides data processing and related billing services to HickoryTech and external communication providers including wireline, wireless and entertainment providers.

Our presentation of segments has changed from our 10-Q filings prior to 2012 to better represent the organization as our chief operating decision-makers base their decisions. In 2011, as a result of changes to our organizational and management structure, as well as the formation of a separate entity to isolate our equipment distribution operation, we were able to more clearly and completely separate our Business Sector into two reportable segments for operating decision-making, giving us a total of three reporting segments overall. The segment information below has been reclassified to reflect these changes.

Segment information for the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)							Corporate and
Three Months Ended June 30, 2012	Fiber and Data		Equipment		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	15,177	$	12,864	$	15,816	$	-		$	43,857
Intersegment revenue		193		-		444		(637	)		-
Total operating revenue		15,370		12,864		16,260		(637	)		43,857

Depreciation and amortization		2,551		71		4,085		25			6,732
Operating income (loss)		2,284		399		1,993		(189	)		4,487
Interest expense		-		-		9		1,473			1,482
Income tax provision (benefit)		925		160		809		(684	)		1,210
Net Income (loss)		1,359		239		1,186		(975	)		1,809
Total assets		103,611		14,753		121,064		25,158			264,586
Property, plant and equipment, net		84,216		1,433		88,424		77			174,150
Additions to property, plant and equipment		3,603		117		2,203		-			5,923

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(Dollars in thousands)							Corporate and
Three Months Ended June 30, 2011	Fiber and Data		Equipment		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	11,067	$	11,746	$	17,295	$	-		$	40,108
Intersegment revenue		186		-		404		(590	)		-
Total operating revenue		11,253		11,746		17,699		(590	)		40,108

Depreciation and amortization		1,556		71		4,033		22			5,682
Operating income (loss)		1,922		706		2,699		(325	)		5,002
Interest expense		-		1		15		999			1,015
Income tax provision (benefit)		778		286		1,089		(846	)		1,307
Net Income (loss)		1,144		419		1,599		(468	)		2,694
Total assets		68,819		19,615		128,060		20,730			237,224
Property, plant and equipment, net		55,881		1,209		95,301		104			152,495
Additions to property, plant and equipment		2,417		87		2,309		-			4,813


							Corporate and
Six Months Ended June 30, 2012	Fiber and Data		Equipment		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	28,396	$	30,285	$	32,120	$	-		$	90,801
Intersegment revenue		386		-		854		(1,240	)		-
Total operating revenue		28,782		30,285		32,974		(1,240	)		90,801

Depreciation and amortization		4,517		142		8,218		49			12,926
Operating income (loss)		4,629		1,219		4,180		(289	)		9,739
Interest expense		-		-		22		2,824			2,846
Income tax provision (benefit)		1,875		494		1,692		(1,265	)		2,796
Net Income (loss)		2,754		725		2,485		(1,833	)		4,131
Total assets		103,611		14,753		121,064		25,158			264,586
Property, plant and equipment, net		84,216		1,433		88,424		77			174,150
Additions to property, plant and equipment		5,568		190		3,799		-			9,557


							Corporate and
Six Months Ended June 30, 2011	Fiber and Data		Equipment		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	21,928	$	22,170	$	34,632	$	-		$	78,730
Intersegment revenue		347		-		816		(1,163	)		-
Total operating revenue		22,275		22,170		35,448		(1,163	)		78,730

Depreciation and amortization		3,142		139		8,036		44			11,361
Operating income (loss)		3,407		1,204		5,600		(543	)		9,668
Interest expense		-		1		33		2,049			2,083
Income tax provision (benefit)		1,381		489		2,257		(1,354	)		2,773
Net Income (loss)		2,027		714		3,315		(1,220	)		4,836
Total assets		68,819		19,615		128,060		20,730			237,224
Property, plant and equipment, net		55,881		1,209		95,301		104			152,495
Additions to property, plant and equipment		4,223		93		4,239		-			8,555

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Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in certain contractual disputes in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2010, we were awarded a National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant to extend our middle mile fiber-optic network across greater Minnesota connecting health care facilities, schools, libraries, higher education institutions and public offices with an advanced high-capacity broadband network. This project involves approximately $24,000,000 of capital expenditures of which $16,800,000 is funded by the NTIA grant. We began capitalizing costs associated with this project in 2010 and began receiving grant funds in June 2011. The following table provides an overview of the capital expenditures incurred on or received from the program.

	Project Activity
(Dollars in thousands)	YTD June 30, 2012		YTD December 31, 2011		Project Total
Capital Expenditures Incurred	$	1,617	$	12,664	$	14,281
NTIA Reimbursements Received	$	1,426	$	6,945	$	8,371

We anticipate the completion of this project by August 2013.

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

Forward Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 contains certain safe harbor provisions regarding forward-looking statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include forward-looking statements. These statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operating and financial performance, growth opportunities and growth rates, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business strategies, business and competitive outlook, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “continues,” and “should,” and variations of these words and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those contained in Item 1A of Part II, “Risk Factors” of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 which is incorporated herein by reference.

Because of these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions and the fact that any forward-looking statements made by us and our management are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions of management, they are not guarantees of future performance and you should not place undue reliance on them. In addition, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. With the exception of the requirements set forth in the federal securities laws or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not undertake any obligations to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. A description of the accounting policies that we consider particularly important for the portrayal of our results of operations and financial position, and which may require a higher level of judgment by our management, is contained under the caption, “Critical Accounting Policies,” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 other than the following.

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Acquisition/Business Combinations

We account for each business combination by applying the acquisition method, which requires (i) identifying the acquiree; (ii) determining the acquisition date; (iii) recognizing and measuring the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest we have in the acquiree at their acquisition date fair value; and (iv) recognizing and measuring goodwill.

To establish fair value we measure the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The measurement assumes the highest and best use of the asset by the market participants that would maximize the value of the asset or the group of assets within which the asset would be used at the measurement date, even if the intended use of the asset is different.

Goodwill is measured and recorded as the amount, by which the consideration transferred, generally at the acquisition date fair value, exceeds the acquisition date fair value of identifiable and intangible assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest we have in the acquiree.

We also estimate the value of amortizable intangible assets such as customer relationships. These estimates are based on acquiree historical data such as experience based sales and retention rate assumptions.

Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

Results of Operations

We conduct our operations in three business segments: (i) Fiber and Data, (ii) Equipment and (iii) Telecom. An overall description of our three business segments can be found in Note 14 “Quarterly Financial Segment Summary.”

Executive Summary

Total consolidated revenue of $43.9 million during the second quarter of 2012 represents an increase of 9% over the second quarter of 2011.

Second quarter services revenue of $33.1 million is an increase of 7% over the second quarter of 2011 and represents a 37% increase in revenue from our Fiber and Data Segment offset by a 22% and 8% decline in services revenue from our Equipment and Telecom segments. We continue to have success in securing contracts for data services such as Ethernet, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (“MPLS”), Internet, and data center services, as well as VoIP and dynamic services. Our acquisition of IdeaOne in March of 2012 advances our strategy of growing our business and broadband services and contributed $3,137,000 and $4,186,000 to the Fiber and Data Segment services revenue in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012, respectively. Our organic revenue growth in the Fiber and Data Segment, excluding IdeaOne, was 9% for the second quarter and 10% year-to-date compared to the same periods in 2011.

Our Equipment Segment services revenue decline of 22% was the result of lower maintenance contract and contract services revenue. This segment is susceptible to fluctuations on a quarter to quarter basis based on customer contracts and project completion. The Telecom Segment services revenue decline of $1,479,000 or 8% for the second quarter is comparable to the 6% decline realized in the first quarter of 2012; however, it is higher than revenue declines realized in 2011 and 2010, which were less than 1%. This decline is primarily driven by the unique effects of the Federal Communication Commission’s (“FCC”) revision of Intercarrier Compensation and Federal Universal Service Support rules that significantly impact network access revenue and required the modification of a contract with an external communications provider who aggregated high volume traffic on our network. Changes required by the FCC, intense competition and price compression will continue to have a significant impact on this segment. Our Telecom bundled service plans, which include customizable broadband and voice services, were recently revised in an effort to improve our competitive position and reduce churn.

Revenue from equipment sales increased 19% in the second quarter compared to the same period in 2011, augmenting the 87% increase realized in the first quarter. For the first six months of 2012 total equipment revenue of $26 million represented a 51% increase over 2011.

Total costs and expenses increased 12% in the second quarter of 2012 as compared to 2011, reflecting higher sales volumes in our Equipment Segment combined with continued investment in growing our Fiber and Data Segment. Expenses include a full quarter of IdeaOne Telecom operations, which is incorporated into the Fiber and Data Segment.

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Depreciation and amortization increased more than $1 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 2011 and is directly related to our newly acquired IdeaOne plant and intangible assets. We have also realized a higher level of interest expense in 2012 as a result of higher interest rates associated with our new credit facility and increased debt level related to the purchase of IdeaOne. Even with the increases, our effective interest rate for the first six months of 2012 is approximately 4.2% on an annualized basis compared to 4.1% in 2011. The increased depreciation and amortization expense, combined with a $467,000 or 46% increase in interest expense in the second quarter, impacted overall net income, which was $1.8 million, a 33% decline from the second quarter of 2011.

2012 EBITDA, as defined in our credit agreement, increased 5% over the second quarter 2011 and 8% year-to-date over the same period in 2011. A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA as defined in our credit agreement can be found in the Non-GAAP measures section on page 30.

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Fiber and Data Segment

The following table provides a breakdown of the Fiber and Data Segment operating results.

Fiber and Data

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011		Change			2012		2011		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations:
Services	$	15,177	$	11,067		37	%	$	28,396	$	21,928		29	%
Intersegment		193		186		4	%		386		347		11	%
Total operating revenue	$	15,370	$	11,253		37	%	$	28,782	$	22,275		29	%

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		7,489		5,680		32	%		14,084		11,501		22	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,046		2,095		45	%		5,552		4,225		31	%
Depreciation and amortization		2,551		1,556		64	%		4,517		3,142		44	%
Total costs and expenses		13,086		9,331		40	%		24,153		18,868		28	%

Operating income	$	2,284	$	1,922		19	%	$	4,629	$	3,407		36	%
Net income	$	1,359	$	1,144		19	%	$	2,754	$	2,027		36	%

Capital expenditures	$	3,603	$	2,417		49	%	$	5,568	$	4,223		32	%

Revenue

Fiber and Data. We serve wholesale, enterprise, and small-to-medium business customers with high-speed communications products delivered through our extensive regional fiber network and community access rings supported by a 24x7x365 network operations center. This revenue stream is generally based on multi-year contracts with retail businesses, regional and national service providers, and wireless carriers, building a solid monthly recurring revenue base.

Fiber and Data services revenue increased $4,117,000 or 37% in the second quarter, extending the year-to-date increase to $6,507,000 or 29% as compared to the same periods in 2011. Organic growth in the second quarter and year-to-date period was $980,000 or 9% and $2,321,000 or 10%, led by revenue from data services such as Ethernet, MPLS, Internet, data center services, VoIP and dynamic services and includes provision of fiber service to wireless service provider towers.

Our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom, a metro fiber network provider serving Fargo, North Dakota, was completed on March 1, 2012 and contributed $3,137,000 and $4,186,000 to revenue in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012, respectively. The IdeaOne acquisition advances our strategy of growing our business and broadband services, as approximately 85% of IdeaOne revenue comes from business services. The IdeaOne acquisition added 225 fiber route miles to our regional network, extending to 650 on-net fiber-lit buildings within the Fargo market.

Total Cost and Expenses

IdeaOne Telecom’s operating results are reflected in our financial results of this segment beginning on March 1, 2012. The primary drivers of expense variances are noted below with the balance of the increases resulting from the inclusion of this new entity, which is reported within the Fiber and Data Segment.

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Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Fiber and Data Segment cost of services increased by $1,809,000 or 32% and $2,583,000 or 22% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods as compared to the same periods in 2011. The organic growth in cost of services excluding IdeaOne’s operations was 9% for the quarter and 8% year-to-date. Aside from IdeaOne, the primary drivers of the increase in cost of services were $191,000 quarterly and $336,000 year-to-date increases in volume-driven circuit costs supporting increased revenue and $237,000 quarterly and $349,000 year-to-date increases in wages and benefits supporting the organic growth in Fiber and Data services.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Fiber and Data Segment selling, general and administrative expenses increased $951,000 or 45% and $1,327,000 or 31% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. The organic growth in selling, general and administrative expenses excluding IdeaOne’s operations was 19% for the quarter and 15% year-to-date. Aside from IdeaOne, the primary drivers of the higher cost was due to a $169,000 quarterly and $130,000 year-to-date increase in commission expense and a $139,000 quarterly and $277,000 year-to-date increase in corporate overhead costs.

Depreciation and Amortization

Fiber and Data Segment depreciation and amortization increased by $995,000 or 64% in the second quarter and $1,375,000 or 44% in year-to-date 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. This increase was primarily due to our IdeaOne Telecom acquisition which added $836,000 and $1,119,000 of depreciation and amortization to the second quarter and year-to-date 2012 periods. The balance of the increase in depreciation is driven by continued investments made to expand and enhance our fiber and broadband network. Amortization expense remained constant except for the addition of IdeaOne Telecom intangible assets.

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Equipment Segment

The following table provides a breakdown of the Equipment Segment operating results.

Equipment

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011		Change			2012		2011		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations:
Equipment	$	10,740	$	9,035		19	%	$	26,039	$	17,230		51	%
Services		2,124		2,711		-22	%		4,246		4,940		-14	%
Total operating revenue	$	12,864	$	11,746		10	%	$	30,285	$	22,170		37	%

Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		9,292		7,924		17	%		22,758		14,923		53	%
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		1,627		1,696		-4	%		3,339		3,374		-1	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,475		1,349		9	%		2,827		2,530		12	%
Depreciation and amortization		71		71		0	%		142		139		2	%
Total costs and expenses		12,465		11,040		13	%		29,066		20,966		39	%

Operating income	$	399	$	706		-43	%	$	1,219	$	1,204		1	%
Net income	$	239	$	419		-43	%	$	725	$	714		2	%

Capital expenditures	$	117	$	87		34	%	$	190	$	93		104	%

Revenue

Equipment. We are a Master Unified Communications and Gold Certified Cisco partner providing Cisco equipment solutions and support for a broad spectrum of business clients. Our equipment solutions team plans, designs and implements networks utilizing emerging technological advancements including TelePresence Video, Unified Communications, and data center solutions. Equipment sales are non-recurring in nature, making this revenue dependent upon new sales to existing and new customers, which makes it susceptible to fluctuations on a quarter to quarter basis based on customer purchases and contracts and project completion.

Equipment sales revenue increased $1,705,000 or 19% and $8,809,000 or 51% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. The increase is driven by success in selling advanced unified computing system products and data center equipment. We also experienced success in selling new technology including Vblock services, which are complete infrastructure packages combining networking, computing, storage, security, and management technologies.

Equipment Services. Services include network assessments, planning, design, implementation, and training. Maintenance contracts (“Smartnet” contracts) are offered in conjunction with hardware solutions. Our total care support team provides a single-point-of-contact for the support of applications, systems and infrastructure. We also offer security solutions, combining leading network security products with our experience and expertise in integrated communications systems.

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Services revenue declined $587,000 or 22% and $694,000 or 14% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. The decline was primarily driven by lower maintenance revenue of $518,000 or 38% and $546,000 or 25% in the second and year-to-date periods compared to 2011 due to fewer large Smartnet maintenance renewals. Smartnet maintenance renewals are a product of timing. We also experienced a decline of $173,000 or 16% in the second quarter and $342,000 or 15% year-to-date in contract services revenue which includes the design, configuration, and installation of voice and data equipment. These services are a product of timing and tied to large equipment installations. Partially offsetting the equipment services decline is increased network and equipment monitoring revenue of $75,000 or 38% and $131,000 or 33% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to 2011. We continue to focus on growing our monitoring and support customer base in an effort to grow recurring revenue streams within this segment.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales is composed of equipment material costs and is directly related to equipment sales. The increase in equipment sales volume in both the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 drove a 17% and 53% increase in cost of sales compared to the same periods in 2011. Labor associated with installation of the equipment is included in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) described below.

Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Cost of services decreased $69,000 or 4% and $35,000 or 1% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011 driven by a $44,000 quarterly and $119,000 year-to-date decline in contract labor and a $21,000 quarterly and $38,000 year-to-date decline in postage and freight. These declines were offset by a $27,000 quarterly and $199,000 year-to-date increase in wages and benefits.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $126,000 or 9% and $297,000 or 12% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 compared to 2011. The increase is primarily driven by a $103,000 quarterly and $205,000 year-to-date growth in corporate overhead costs.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation expense remained constant in the second quarter and increased $3,000 or 2% in the year-to-date period of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011.

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Telecom Segment

The following table provides a breakdown of the Telecom Segment operating results.

Telecom

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011		Change			2012		2011		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations:
Local Service	$	3,348	$	3,595		-7	%	$	6,777	$	7,288		-7	%
Network Access		4,749		5,764		-18	%		9,652		11,576		-17	%
Broadband		4,977		5,090		-2	%		9,979		10,144		-2	%
Directory		770		846		-9	%		1,552		1,718		-10	%
Long Distance		636		727		-13	%		1,284		1,456		-12	%
Bill Processing		1,035		850		22	%		2,240		1,587		41	%
Intersegment		444		404		10	%		854		816		5	%
Other		301		423		-29	%		636		863		-26	%
Total Telecom operating revenue	$	16,260	$	17,699		-8	%	$	32,974	$	35,448		-7	%

Total Telecom revenue before intersegment eliminations
Unaffiliated customers	$	15,816	$	17,295				$	32,120	$	34,632
Intersegment		444		404					854		816
		16,260		17,699					32,974		35,448

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		7,365		7,935		-7	%		14,926		15,696		-5	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		2,817		3,032		-7	%		5,650		6,116		-8	%
Depreciation and amortization		4,085		4,033		1	%		8,218		8,036		2	%
Total Telecom costs and expenses		14,267		15,000		-5	%		28,794		29,848		-4	%

Operating Income	$	1,993	$	2,699		-26	%	$	4,180	$	5,600		-25	%

Net income	$	1,186	$	1,599		-26	%	$	2,485	$	3,315		-25	%

Capital expenditures	$	2,203	$	2,309		-5	%	$	3,799	$	4,239		-10	%

Key metrics
Business access lines		20,764		23,628		-12	%
Residential access lines		23,209		26,000		-11	%
Total access lines		43,973		49,628		-11	%
Long distance customers		30,872		32,950		-6	%
Digital Subscriber Line customers		19,364		19,638		-1	%
Digital TV customers		10,110		10,494		-4	%

Revenue

Local Service. We receive monthly recurring revenue from customers primarily for providing local telephone services, enhanced calling features, miscellaneous local services and reciprocal compensation from wireless carriers.

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Local service revenue declined by $247,000 in the second quarter of 2012 extending the year-to-date decline to $511,000 or 7% in both periods compared to the same periods in 2011. Total access lines as of June 30, 2012 were 43,973, down 5,655 subscribers or 11% from June 30, 2011. Our Telecom Segment’s access lines have declined at higher rates in the first two quarters of 2012 than we had experienced in recent years. Our residential subscriber base has consistently declined at a rate of 10% to 11% during the past three years while our business access line loss was 3% to 4% up until the 12% and 8% loss in the second and first quarter of 2012. Contributing to the decline in our business lines was the modification of a contract with an external communications provider as required by traffic stimulation provisions in FCC order 11-161. The majority of lines from this customer were removed in the first half of 2012. Our business customers are also replacing traditional wire-line services with VoIP services, including our Enventis Hosted VoIP Solution, Singlelink which is recorded within the Fiber and Data Segment.

Local service revenue will continue to be adversely impacted by the decline in access lines due to intense competition, changes within the regulatory environment and continued technological advances providing alternative communications offerings for our customers. In an effort to manage the decline, we launched new service bundles on July 1, 2012 which we believe are highly competitive in our markets and will aid in maintaining local service.

Network Access. We receive a variety of fees and settlements to compensate us for the origination, transport, and termination of calls and traffic on our network. These include the fees assessed to interexchange carriers, subscriber line charges imposed on end-users, and settlements from nationally administered and jointly funded revenue pools.

Network access revenue declined by $1,015,000 or 18% and $1,924,000 or 17% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. Traffic sensitive access revenue, including minute-of-use billing and tandem functions, accounted for $662,000 and $1,078,000 of the second quarter and year-to-date decline. Underlying the decrease in both periods is an 11% decline in access lines partially driven by the modification of a contract in January of 2012 with an external communications provider due to traffic stimulation provisions in FCC order 11-161 which was released in November of 2011.

FCC order 11-161 contains comprehensive rules reforming all forms of intercarrier compensation and implements a new support mechanism for the deployment of broadband services. Generally, the intercarrier compensation reform sets forth a path toward a “Bill & Keep” method where there is no compensation for termination of traffic received from another carrier. The timeline for this transition has numerous steps depending on the type of traffic exchanged and the regulated status of the affected local exchange carrier.

The National Exchange Carrier Association (“NECA”) reduced the amount of support we received by $161,000 in the second quarter and $511,000 on a year-to-date basis as compared to the same periods in 2011. Support received reimbursing us for significant investments made in our infrastructure ended in December of 2011 causing a revenue reduction of approximately $300,000 and combined with a one-time reduction of support in the first quarter of 2012 totaling $152,000 accounted for a majority of the decline experienced.

Long Distance. We charge our end-user customers for toll or long distance service on either a per-call or flat-rate basis. Services include the provision of directory assistance, operator service, and long distance private lines.

Long distance revenue declined by $91,000 or 13% and $172,000 or 12% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods 2011. This decrease is primarily due to the decline in our customer base, a growing number of residential customers selecting unlimited long distance calling plans and our decision to reduce rates-per-minute charged to customers due to aggressive competition in the markets we serve.

Broadband. We receive monthly recurring revenue for a variety of residential and business broadband data network services. Broadband services include: DSL, Internet, digital TV, and business Ethernet and other data services.

Broadband revenue declined $113,000 in the second quarter of 2012 extending the year-to-date revenue decline to $165,000, a 2% decline in both periods compared to the same periods in 2011. We face increased competition across all our markets and customer segments from providers offering competing or alternative services causing intense price compression on our products and services. This increase in competition has resulted in a 2% decline in our internet customer base, a 1% loss in our DSL customer base and a 4% loss in our DTV customer base. In July of 2012 we rolled out new bundles emphasizing our broadband services. We believe these bundles are competitive and are designed to reduce churn in our broadband and voice services.

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Directory. We receive monthly recurring revenue from end-user subscribers for yellow page advertising in our telephone directories, which are distributed in south central Minnesota and northwest Iowa.

Directory revenue declined by $76,000 or 9% and $166,000 or 10% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012, as compared to the same periods in 2011. This is primarily due to decreased demand for published advertising by local and national businesses and increased competition from other directories. We expect the trend of declining directory revenue to continue.

Bill Processing. We provide data processing and billing services to other communication service providers. We collect a combination of monthly recurring revenue, software license fees and integration services revenue from companies with whom we have established long-term data processing relationships.

Bill processing revenue increased by $185,000 or 22% and $653,000 or 41% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. We continue to have success selling our billing and customer management software system SuiteSolution® to competitive communications providers. SuiteSolution® provides communications billing, customer management and operations support systems coupled with the latest in database and screen presentation technology. Growth in our external customer base utilizing SuiteSolution® has increased demand for contract and support services strengthening revenue streams from this business.

Other Revenue. Other revenue consists primarily of sales of wholesale contract services, late fees applied to subscriber billings, and add, move, and change revenue on customer premise equipment.

Other revenue declined by $122,000 or 29% and $227,000 or 26% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. The decline in both periods is primarily due to a decline in revenue from a joint network arrangement combined with a decline in wholesale contract service revenue.

Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased by $570,000 or 7% and $770,000 or 5% in the second quarter and year-to-date period of 2012 compared to 2011. This decline is primarily due to a $257,000 quarterly and a $459,000 year-to-date decline in expense related to the loss of an external communications provider, a $245,000 quarterly and a $267,000 year-to-date decrease in wage and benefit costs offset by an $81,000 quarterly and a $179,000 year-to-date increase in programming costs related to digital TV.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $215,000 or 7% and $466,000 or 8% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 compared to 2011. This decline is primarily due to a decrease in corporate cost of $254,000 quarterly and $509,000 year-to-date, a $79,000 quarterly and $122,000 decline in advertising expense offset by a $119,000 quarterly and a $183,000 year-to-date increase in wage and benefit costs.

Depreciation and Amortization

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $52,000 or 1% and $182,000 or 2% in the second quarter and year-to-date periods of 2012 as compared to the same periods in 2011. This increase is primarily due to our continued investment to support broadband infrastructure enhancements on our network.

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Consolidated Results

Interest Expense

Consolidated interest expense increased 46% and 37% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2012 compared to the same periods in 2011. The quarterly increase is driven by higher interest rates associated with our debt refinancing which took place in the third quarter of 2011 and higher debt levels. For these reasons, we anticipate interest expense in 2012 will be approximately $1,500,000 higher than 2011. The outstanding balance of our debt obligations (long-term and current portion) has increased $22,796,000 from $118,692,000 at June 30, 2011 to $141,488,000 as of June 30, 2012. The June 30, 2012 debt balance is $21,253,000 higher than the December 31, 2011 balance of $120,235,000. The higher debt balance is associated with the $22,000,000 incremental debt we borrowed to fund the IdeaOne acquisition. Our effective interest rate for the first six months of 2012 was approximately 4.2% on an annualized basis compared to a 4.1% 2011 annualized rate.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2012 and 2011 was 40.1% and 32.7%, respectively. The effective tax rate in 2011 was impacted by the releases of income tax reserves and associated interest of $343,000. Without the release of income tax reserves and associated interest the effective tax rate would have been 41.2% in 2011. The effective tax rate from operations differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working Capital

Working capital (i.e. current assets minus current liabilities) was $21,873,000 as of June 30, 2012 compared to working capital of $23,079,000 as of December 31, 2011. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.8 as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

Capital Structure

The total capital structure (long-term and current maturities of long-term debt obligations plus shareholders’ equity) was $185,022,000 at June 30, 2012, reflecting 24% equity and 76% debt. This compares to a total capital structure of $163,432,000 at December 31, 2011, reflecting 26% equity and 74% debt. In the communications industry, the capacity for debt financing is most often based on multiples of operating cash flows. Specifically, our current use of the senior credit facility is in a ratio of approximately 2.96 times debt to Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization, (“EBITDA”) as defined in our credit agreement; well within the acceptable limit for our agreement of 3.5 times debt to EBITDA and well within the limits for our industry.

We employ an extended term payable financing arrangement for the equipment provisioning portion of our Equipment Segment and view this arrangement as a structured accounts payable that is paid within 60 days with no separate interest charge. As such, the extended term payable financing amount of $8,191,000 and $6,920,000 as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, is not considered to be part of our capital structure and has been excluded from the references above regarding debt and total capital (see Note 8 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Internal operations of our business continue to be our primary source of liquidity. We have invested in capital expenditures, paid interest, taxes, dividends and debt obligations. We have not changed our equity capitalization and new equity was not a source of liquidity during this period. Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2012 of $14,431,000 increased $1,374,000 compared to $13,057,000 at December 31, 2011.

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Cash Flows

Management believes we will have the ability to meet our current and long-term liquidity and capital requirements through operating cash flows, borrowings available under our credit facility and other internal and available external resources. For temporary increases in cash demand we use our cash inflow and utilize our senior credit facility for more significant fluctuations in liquidity driven by growth initiatives. These sources coupled with our access to a $30,000,000 revolving credit facility (presently unused) provide further assurance against interruption in our business plans due to financing. Our expected primary uses of cash include ongoing operating requirements, capital expenditures, scheduled principal and interest payments on our credit facility, temporary financing of trade accounts receivable and the payment of dividends as they are declared.

While it is difficult for us to predict the impact general economic conditions may have on our business, we believe that we will be able to meet our current and long-term cash requirements through our operating cash flows. As of June 30, 2012 we were in full compliance with our debt covenants and anticipate that we will be able to plan for and match future liquidity needs with future internal and available external resources. Our senior debt agreement will be the sole external source of financing for the foreseeable future.

We feel we can adjust the timing or the number of strategic and growth initiatives according to any limitation we may face or be imposed by our capital structure or sources of financing. We do not anticipate our capital structure will limit future growth initiatives over the next 12 months.

Cash generated from operations represents the amount of cash generated by our daily operations after the payment of operating obligations. This continues to be our primary source of funds. Cash generated from operations in the first six months of 2012 was $23,191,000 down $1,235,000 compared to the first six months of 2011. The decrease in our receivables and inventory balances, primarily in our Equipment Segment which is dependent on the timing and volume of equipment orders generated cash. This was offset by a lower accounts payable balance and lower receipts of routine income tax refunds served as uses of cash and contributed to lower cash generated from operations in 2012.

Cash used for investing activities was $40,721,000 up $32,335,000 driven primarily by our acquisition of IdeaOne Telecom for an adjusted purchase price of $28,180,000. The acquisition was funded partially with cash reserves and the remainder with additional term loan debt. Capital spending continues to be our primary recurring investing activity and allows us to expand and enhance our network, remain competitive and enhance and expand our service offerings. We continue to focus on strategic investments in success-based and network expansion projects along with required spend to maintain our network. Investment in business services will continue to support growth and demand in backhaul transport services and optimize long-term revenue opportunities. Capital spending increased 12% when comparing 2012 and 2011 after taking into account the receipt of $1,426,000 and $125,000 in National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant reimbursement. We expect our 2012 capital spending to range between $27,000,000 and $31,000,000 (net of government grant).

In 2012, construction will continue on our Greater Minnesota Broadband Collaborative project which is being funded in part by the NTIA BTOP. The project will extend our fiber-optic network across greater Minnesota to provide governmental, educational and healthcare organizations with a high-capacity broadband network. The project is anticipated to be complete by August 2013.

Financing activities primarily consist of borrowings and payments on our credit facility and the payment of dividends to our shareholders. Cash provided by financing activities was $18,904,000 in 2012 compared to cash used for financing activities of $1,183,000 in 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, we entered into an Incremental Term credit facility for $22,000,000, an extension of our senior credit facility we entered into in August 2011, with the proceeds used to fund our IdeaOne Telecom acquisition. Due to the timing and volume of equipment orders in our Equipment Segment, there was a $1,271,000 increase in our extended term payable in the first half of 2012 compared to an increase of $2,807,000 in 2011. During the first six months of 2012 and 2011, we used $3,769,000 and $3,601,000 in cash to make dividend payments to our shareholders, respectively. Our current quarterly dividend rate is $0.14 per share. We expect to pay similar dividends in the future; however, this will be dependent upon many factors, such as: operating results, capital requirements, debt compliance and other factors which are taken into account by the Board of Directors.

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Our long-term obligations, including current maturities of debt and capital leases as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were $141,488,000 and $120,235,000, respectively. Our credit facility requires us to comply with specified financial ratios and tests. The financial ratios required by our credit facility are not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“non-GAAP financial measures”). These calculations allow for the inclusion of historical EBITDA results for IdeaOne Telecom, our acquisition which closed on March 1, 2012. The non-GAAP financial measures are presented below for the purpose of demonstrating compliance with our debt covenants:

(Dollars in thousands)
Leverage Ratio:		June 30, 2012
(A)	Total debt (including outstanding letters of credit)	$	141,523

(B)	EBITDA per our credit agreement
	Three Months Ended 9-30-11		12,162
	Three Months Ended 12-31-11		10,069
	Three Months Ended 3-31-12		11,466
	IdeaOne Telecom Historical EBITDA (reflects eight months)		2,946
	Three Months Ended 6-30-12 (reflects four months of IdeaOne)		11,233
	Total EBITDA per our credit agreement	$	47,876

Total Leverage Ratio (A)/(B)			2.96

Maximum leverage ratio allowed			3.5

Debt Service Coverage Ratio:		June 30, 2012
(A)	EBITDA per our credit agreement, minus	$	47,876
	Income Taxes		(5,988	)
		$	41,888

(B)	the sum of (i) all scheduled principal payments to be made on debt and (ii) interest expense		6,933

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (A)/(B)			6.0

Minimum debt service ratio allowed			2.5

New Accounting Pronouncements

The financial statement impact relating to new accounting standards that have not yet been adopted by us can be found under Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Consolidation - “Recent Accounting Developments.”

Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures

In addition to the results reported in accordance with US GAAP, we also use certain non-GAAP measures including EBITDA (as defined in our credit agreement) to evaluate operating performance and to facilitate the comparison of our historical results and trends. These non-GAAP measures are also used to manage and evaluate the operating performance of our reportable segments. These financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) as a measure of performance and net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measure are provided below.

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	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2012		2011		2012		2011
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA:
Net income	$	1,809	$	2,694	$	4,131	$	4,836
Add:
Depreciation and amortization		6,732		5,682		12,926		11,361
Interest expense		1,482		1,015		2,846		2,083
Income taxes		1,210		1,307		2,796		2,773
EBITDA as defined in our credit agreement	$	11,233	$	10,698	$	22,699	$	21,053

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We do not have operations subject to risks of foreign currency fluctuations. We do, however, use derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Our objective for holding derivatives is to minimize interest rate risks using the most effective methods to eliminate or reduce the impact of these exposures. Variable rate debt instruments are subject to interest rate risk. For any portion of our debt not covered with interest rate swap agreements, our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates as a portion of its long-term debt has variable interest rates based on LIBOR. If interest rates for the portion of our long-term debt based on variable rates had averaged 10% more for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, our interest expense would have increased $65,000.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the Evaluation Date), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, regarding the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Our disclosures controls and procedures ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Our existing control environment will incorporate IdeaOne Telecom as we complete the integration of operational processes and procedures.

Part II Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Other than routine litigation incidental to our business there are no pending material legal proceedings to which we are a party or to which any of our property is subject.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have not been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.

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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. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits Listing.

Exhibit Number		Description
31.1		Certification of 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 Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2		Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS		XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE		XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

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Signatures

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

Dated: August 2, 2012

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

By: /s/ John W. Finke

John W. Finke, President and Chief Executive Officer

By: /s/ David A. Christensen

David A. Christensen, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer