Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark one)
        x    QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

 

OR

 

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

Commission file number 1-8606

Verizon Communications Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   23-2259884
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
140 West Street
  10007
New York, New York   (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)    

Registrant’s telephone number (212) 395-1000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  þ  No  ¨

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

Large accelerated filer  þ                 Accelerated filer  ¨                  Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

At June 30, 2006, 2,898,723,444 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding, after deducting 39,455,950 shares held in treasury.

 



Table of Contents
Table of Contents
          Page

Part I.

   Financial Information     

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

    
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

   1
    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
At June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005

   2
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the six months ended June 30, 2006 and 2005

   3
    

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   4

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition    25

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   46

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    46

Part II.

  

Other Information

    

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    47

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    47

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    48

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    48

Item 6.

   Exhibits    49

Signature

   50

Certifications

    


Table of Contents

Part I - Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements


Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)    2006      2005        2006      2005  


Operating Revenues

   $   22,678      $   18,053        $   44,736      $   35,735  

Operating Expenses

                                     

Cost of services and sales (exclusive of items shown below)

     8,778        6,077          17,367        12,029  

Selling, general and administrative expense

     6,679        5,110          12,867        10,187  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     3,630        3,410          7,319        6,786  

Sales of businesses, net

            (530 )               (530 )
    


Total Operating Expenses

     19,087        14,067          37,553        28,472  

Operating Income

     3,591        3,986          7,183        7,263  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

     171        178          328        371  

Other income and (expense), net

     60        77          163        202  

Interest expense

     (590 )      (528 )        (1,226 )      (1,076 )

Minority interest

     (986 )      (711 )        (1,854 )      (1,321 )
    


Income Before Provision For Income Taxes, Discontinued Operations
and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

     2,246        3,002          4,594        5,439  

Provision for income taxes

     (754 )      (933 )        (1,566 )      (1,684 )
    


Income Before Discontinued Operations and Cumulative Effect
of Accounting Change

     1,492        2,069          3,028        3,755  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     119        44          257        115  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                     (42 )       
    


Net Income

   $ 1,611      $ 2,113        $ 3,243      $ 3,870  
    


Basic Earnings Per Common Share(1)

                                     

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ .51      $ .75        $ 1.04      $ 1.36  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     .04        .02          .09        .04  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                     (.01 )       
    


Net Income

   $ .55      $ .76        $ 1.11      $ 1.40  
    


Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

     2,910        2,766          2,913        2,768  
    


Diluted Earnings Per Common Share(1)

                                     

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ .51      $ .74        $ 1.03      $ 1.34  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     .04        .02          .09        .04  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                     (.01 )       
    


Net Income

   $ .55      $ .75        $ 1.11      $ 1.38  
    


Weighted-average shares outstanding (in millions)

     2,949        2,818          2,955        2,819  
    


Dividends declared per common share

   $ .405      $ .405        $ .81      $ .81  
    


 

(1)

Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) (Unaudited)    At June 30, 2006     At December 31, 2005  


Assets

            

Current assets

            

Cash and cash equivalents

   $      1,186     $         776  

Short-term investments

   2,075     2,498  

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,394 and $1,190

   10,451     8,784  

Inventories

   1,698     1,714  

Assets held for sale

   3,577     3,336  

Prepaid expenses and other

   2,289     2,168  
    

Total current assets

   21,276     19,276  
    

Plant, property and equipment

   200,080     188,278  

Less accumulated depreciation

   119,083     115,125  
    

     80,997     73,153  
    

Investments in unconsolidated businesses

   4,206     4,604  

Wireless licenses

   48,250     47,781  

Goodwill

   5,387     392  

Other intangible assets, net

   5,290     4,193  

Other assets

   18,437     18,731  
    

Total assets

   $  183,843     $  168,130  
    

Liabilities and Shareowners’ Investment

            

Current liabilities

            

Debt maturing within one year

   $    10,326     $      6,688  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   14,335     12,066  

Liabilities related to assets held for sale

   2,080     1,865  

Other

   7,598     5,551  
    

Total current liabilities

   34,339     26,170  
    

Long-term debt

   32,030     31,569  

Employee benefit obligations

   19,680     18,198  

Deferred income taxes

   20,943     22,715  

Other liabilities

   4,327     3,363  

Minority interest

   27,745     26,435  

Shareowners’ investment

            

Series preferred stock ($.10 par value; none issued)

        

Common stock ($.10 par value; 2,938,179,394 shares and
2,774,865,381 shares issued)

   294     277  

Contributed capital

   30,381     25,369  

Reinvested earnings

   16,729     15,905  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   (1,497 )   (1,783 )

Common stock in treasury, at cost

   (1,284 )   (353 )

Deferred compensation – employee stock ownership plans and other

   156     265  
    

Total shareowners’ investment

   44,779     39,680  
    

Total liabilities and shareowners’ investment

   $  183,843     $  168,130  
    

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions) (Unaudited)    2006     2005  


Cash Flows from Operating Activities

            

Net Income

   $  3,243     $  3,870  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities –
continuing operations:

            

Depreciation and amortization

   7,319     6,786  

Sales of businesses, net

       (530 )

Employee retirement benefits

   1,040     815  

Deferred income taxes

   (663 )   (739 )

Provision for uncollectible accounts

   600     576  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

   (328 )   (371 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

   42      

Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects from
acquisition/disposition of businesses

   (1,021 )   (1,246 )

Other, net

   1,053     612  
    

Net cash provided by operating activities – continuing operations

   11,285     9,773  

Net cash provided by operating activities – discontinued operations

   252     139  
    

Net cash provided by operating activities

   11,537     9,912  
    

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

            

Capital expenditures (including capitalized software)

   (8,311 )   (7,538 )

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and investments

   1,471     (4,438 )

Proceeds from disposition of businesses

       1,326  

Net change in short-term investments

   1,026     534  

Other, net

   404     (689 )
    

Net cash used in investing activities – continuing operations

   (5,410 )   (10,805 )

Net cash used in investing activities – discontinued operations

   (76 )   (117 )
    

Net cash used in investing activities

   (5,486 )   (10,922 )
    

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

            

Proceeds from long-term borrowings

   3,971     8  

Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations

   (8,689 )   (1,947 )

Increase in short-term obligations, excluding current maturities

   2,585     4,397  

Dividends paid

   (2,365 )   (2,188 )

Proceeds from sale of common stock

   69     32  

Purchase of common stock for treasury

   (1,009 )   (194 )

Other, net

   (27 )   39  
    

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities – continuing operations

   (5,465 )   147  

Net cash used in financing activities – discontinued operations

   (176 )   (22 )
    

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   (5,641 )   125  
    

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   410     (885 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

   776     2,290  
    

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $  1,186     $  1,405  
    

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Verizon Communications Inc. and Subsidiaries

(Unaudited)

 

1.    Basis of Presentation


 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules that permit reduced disclosure for interim periods. These financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations and financial condition for the interim periods shown including normal recurring accruals and other items. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, you should refer to the financial statements included in the Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

We have reclassified prior year amounts to conform to the current year presentation.

 

2.    Completion of Merger with MCI


 

On February 14, 2005, Verizon announced that it agreed to acquire 100% of the outstanding common stock of MCI, Inc. (MCI) for a combination of Verizon common shares and cash. MCI was a global communications company, providing Internet, data and voice communication services to businesses and government entities throughout the world and consumers in the United States. After receiving the required state, federal and international regulatory approvals, Verizon and MCI closed the merger on January 6, 2006.

 

On April 9, 2005, Verizon entered into a stock purchase agreement with eight entities affiliated with Carlos Slim Helu to purchase 43.4 million shares of MCI common stock for $25.72 per share in cash plus an additional cash amount of 3% per annum from April 9, 2005, until the closing of the purchase of those shares. The transaction closed on May 17, 2005. The total cash payment was $1,121 million and the investment was accounted for as a cost investment. No payments were made under a provision that required Verizon to pay an additional amount at the end of one year to the extent that the price of Verizon’s common stock exceeded $35.52 per share. We received the special dividend of $5.60 per MCI share on these 43.4 million MCI shares, or $243 million, on October 27, 2005.

 

Under the terms of the merger agreement, MCI shareholders received .5743 shares of Verizon common stock ($5,050 million in the aggregate) and cash of $2.738 ($779 million in the aggregate) for each of their MCI shares. The merger consideration was equal to $20.40 per MCI share, excluding the $5.60 per share special dividend paid by MCI to its shareholders on October 27, 2005. There was no purchase price adjustment.

 

The merger was accounted for using the purchase method in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141), and the aggregate transaction value was $6,889 million, consisting of the cash and common stock issued at closing ($5,829 million), the consideration for the shares acquired from the Carlos Slim Helu entities, net of the special dividend paid by MCI ($973 million) and closing and other direct merger-related costs, including financial advisory, legal and accounting services. The number of shares issued was based on the “Average Parent Stock Price,” as defined in the merger agreement. The consolidated financial statements include the results of MCI’s operations from the date of the close of the merger.

 

Prior to the merger, there were commercial transactions between us and the former MCI entities for telecommunications services at rates comparable to similar transactions with other third parties. Subsequent to the merger, these transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

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Reasons for the Merger

 

We believe that the merger will make us a more efficient competitor in providing a broad range of communications services and will result in several significant strategic benefits to us, including the following:

 

 

Strategic Position. Following the merger, it is expected that our core strengths in communication services will be enhanced by MCI’s employee and business customer base, portfolio of advanced data and IP services and network assets.

 

 

Growth Platform. MCI’s presence in the U.S. and international enterprise sector and its long haul fiber network infrastructure are expected to provide us with a stronger platform from which we can market our products and services.

 

 

Operational Benefits. We believe that we will achieve operational benefits through, among other things, eliminating duplicative staff and information and operation systems and to a lesser extent overlapping network facilities; reducing procurement costs; using the existing networks more efficiently; reducing line support functions; reducing general and administrative expenses; improving information systems; optimizing traffic flow; eliminating planned or potential Verizon capital expenditures for new long-haul network capability; and offering wireless capabilities to MCI’s customers.

 

Allocation of the cost of the merger

 

In accordance with SFAS No. 141, the cost of the merger was preliminarily allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of the close of the merger, with the amounts exceeding the fair value being recorded as goodwill. The process to identify and record the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed included an analysis of the acquired fixed assets, including real and personal property; various contracts, including leases, contractual commitments, and other business contracts; customer relationships; investments; and contingencies.

 

The fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were preliminarily determined using one or more of three valuation approaches: market, income and cost. The selection of a particular method for a given asset depended on the reliability of available data and the nature of the asset, among other considerations. The market approach, which indicates value for a subject asset based on available market pricing for comparable assets, was utilized for certain acquired real property and investments. The income approach, which indicates value for a subject asset based on the present value of cash flow projected to be generated by the asset, was used for certain intangible assets such as customer relationships, as well as for favorable/unfavorable contracts. Projected cash flow is discounted at a required rate of return that reflects the relative risk of achieving the cash flow and the time value of money. Projected cash flows for each asset considered multiple factors, including current revenue from existing customers; distinct analysis of expected price, volume, and attrition trends; reasonable contract renewal assumptions from the perspective of a marketplace participant; expected profit margins giving consideration to marketplace synergies; and required returns to contributory assets. The cost approach, which estimates value by determining the current cost of replacing an asset with another of equivalent economic utility, was used for the majority of personal property. The cost to replace a given asset reflects the estimated reproduction or replacement cost for the property, less an allowance for loss in value due to depreciation or obsolescence, with specific consideration given to economic obsolescence if indicated.

 

As a result of the preliminary allocation of the cost of the merger, we recorded the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from MCI at their respective fair values as of the close of the merger. As the values of certain assets and liabilities are preliminary in nature, they are subject to adjustment as additional information is obtained, including, but not limited to, valuation and physical counts of property, plant and equipment, deferred taxes, the resolution of pre-acquisition tax and other contingencies, exiting certain contractual arrangements and the expected plans to rationalize the combined workforce. The valuations will be finalized within 12 months of the close of the merger. When the valuations are finalized, any changes to the preliminary valuation of assets acquired or liabilities assumed may result in material adjustments to the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets acquired and goodwill.

 

The following table summarizes the current preliminary allocation of the cost of the merger to the assets acquired, including cash of $2,361 million, and liabilities assumed as of the close of the merger. Certain of the amounts in the

 

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Table of Contents

following table have been revised since the initial allocation to reflect information that has since become available. These amounts will likely continue to change until the valuation is finalized.

 

(Dollars in Millions)     

Assets acquired

      

Current assets

   $ 5,911

Property, plant & equipment

     6,462

Intangible assets subject to amortization

      

Customer relationships

     1,162

Rights of way and other

     202

Deferred income taxes and other assets

     1,780

Goodwill

     5,021
    

Total assets acquired

     20,538

Liabilities assumed

      

Current liabilities

     5,959

Long-term debt

     6,169

Deferred income taxes and other non-current liabilities

     1,521
    

Total liabilities assumed

     13,649
    

Purchase price

   $ 6,889
    

The goodwill resulting from the merger with MCI was assigned to the Wireline segment, which includes the operations of the former MCI. The customer relationships are being amortized on a straight-line basis over 3-8 years based on whether the relationship is with a consumer or a business customer since this correlates to the pattern in which the economic benefits are expected to be realized.

In connection with the merger, we recorded $168 million of severance and severance-related costs and $347 million of contract termination costs in the above allocation of the cost of the merger in accordance with the Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 95-3, “Recognition of Liabilities in Connection with a Purchase Business Combination.” We expect to pay the severance and severance-related costs and $72 million of contract termination costs in 2006 and the remaining costs will be paid over the remaining contract periods through 2009. The following table summarizes the obligations recognized in connection with the MCI merger and the activity to date:

 

(Dollars in Millions)   

Beginning

Balance

   Payments    

Other

Increases

(Decreases)

  

Ending

Balance


Severance costs and contract termination costs

   $  459    $  (48 )   $  56    $  467

Pro Forma Information

The following unaudited pro forma consolidated results of operations assume that the MCI merger was completed as of January 1 for the periods shown below:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    Six Months Ended June 30,
(Dollars in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)    2005    2006    2005

Revenues

   $  22,221    $  44,963    $  44,160

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of
accounting change

   $    2,190    $    3,028    $    3,833

Net income

   $    2,231    $    3,243    $    4,034

Basic earnings per common share:

              

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of
accounting change

   $        .75    $      1.04    $      1.31

Net income

   $        .76    $      1.11    $      1.38

Diluted earnings per common share:

              

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of
accounting change

   $        .74    $      1.03    $      1.29

Net income

   $        .75    $      1.11    $      1.36

 

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The unaudited pro forma information presents the combined operating results of Verizon and the former MCI, with the results prior to the acquisition date adjusted to include the pro forma impact of: the elimination of transactions between Verizon and the former MCI; the adjustment of amortization of intangible assets and depreciation of fixed assets based on the preliminary purchase price allocation; the elimination of merger expenses incurred by the former MCI; the elimination of the loss on the early redemption of MCI’s debt; the adjustment of interest expense reflecting the redemption of all of MCI’s debt and the replacement of that debt with $4 billion of new debt issued in February 2006 at Verizon’s weighted average borrowing rate; and to reflect the impact of income taxes on the pro forma adjustments utilizing Verizon’s statutory tax rate of 40%. The unaudited pro forma results for the six months ended June 30, 2005 include $86 million, or 3 cents per diluted share, and ($3) million during the second quarter of 2005 for discontinued operations that were sold by MCI during the first quarter of 2005.

The unaudited pro forma consolidated basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 and the three months ended June 30, 2005 are based on the consolidated basic and diluted weighted average shares of Verizon and the former MCI. The historical basic and diluted weighted average shares of the former MCI were converted for the actual number of shares issued upon the closing of the merger.

The unaudited pro forma results are presented for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect the realization of potential cost savings, or any related integration costs. Certain cost savings may result from the merger; however, there can be no assurance that these cost savings will be achieved. Cost savings, if achieved, could result from, among other things, the reduction of overhead expenses, including employee levels and the elimination of duplicate facilities and capital expenditures. These pro forma results do not purport to be indicative of the results that would have actually been obtained if the merger occurred as of the beginning of each of the periods presented, nor does the pro forma data intend to be a projection of results that may be obtained in the future.

3.    Stock-Based Compensation


Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) Share-Based Payment utilizing the modified prospective method. SFAS No. 123(R) requires the measurement of stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant. Under the modified prospective method, the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) apply to all awards granted or modified after the date of adoption. The impact to Verizon primarily resulted from Verizon Wireless, for which we recorded a $42 million cumulative effect of accounting change as of January 1, 2006, net of taxes and after minority interest, to recognize the effect of initially measuring the outstanding liability for Value Appreciation Rights (VARs) of the Verizon Wireless joint venture, at fair value utilizing a Black-Scholes model.

Previously, effective January 1, 2003, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation using the prospective method (as permitted under SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure) for all new awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003.

Verizon Communications Long Term Incentive Plan

The Verizon Communications Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), effective January 1, 2001, permits the grant of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance share units and other awards. The maximum number of shares for awards is 200 million.

Restricted Stock Units

The Plan provides for grants of restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest at the end of the third year of the grant. The RSUs are classified as liability awards because the RSUs will be paid in cash upon vesting. The RSU award liability is measured at its fair value at the end of each reporting period and, therefore, will fluctuate based on the performance of Verizon’s stock.

Included in Verizon’s stock-based compensation expense in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 is a portion of the cost related to restricted stock granted in 2006, 2005 and 2004.

 

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Changes in Verizon’s Restricted Stock Units outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)    Restricted Stock
Units
   

Weighted Average

Grant-Date Fair
Value


Outstanding restricted stock units at beginning of year

   6,869     $  36.12

Granted

   7,875     31.69

Cancellations/Forfeitures

   (278 )   35.71
    

   

Outstanding restricted stock units, June 30, 2006

   14,466     $  33.71
    

   

Performance Share Units

The Plan also provides for grants of performance share units (PSU) that vest at the end of the third year of the grant. The 2006, 2005 and 2004 performance share units will be paid in cash upon vesting. The 2003 PSUs were paid out in February 2006 in Verizon shares.

The target award is determined at the beginning of the period and can increase (to a maximum 200% of the target) or decrease (to zero) based on a key performance measure, Total Shareholder Return (TSR). At the end of the period, the PSU payment is determined by comparing Verizon’s TSR to the TSR of a predetermined peer group and the S&P 500 companies. All payments are subject to approval by the Board’s Compensation Committee. The PSUs are classified as liability awards because the PSU awards will be paid in cash upon vesting. The PSU award liability is measured at its fair value at the end of each reporting period and, therefore, will fluctuate based on the performance of Verizon’s stock as well as Verizon’s TSR relative to the peer group’s TSR and S&P 500 TSR.

Changes in Verizon’s Performance Share Units outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)    Performance Share
Units
   

Weighted Average

Grant-Date Fair
Value


Outstanding performance share units at beginning of period

   19,091     $  36.84

Granted

   12,008     31.76

Payments

   (3,607 )   38.54

Cancellations/Forfeitures

   (932 )   38.04
    

   

Outstanding performance share units, June 30, 2006

   26,560     $  34.27
    

   

As of June 30, 2006, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of Verizon’s RSUs and PSUs was approximately $705 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2 years.

MCI Restricted Stock Plan

MCI’s Management Restricted Stock Plan (MRSP) provides for the granting of stock-based compensation to management. Following the acquisition by Verizon on January 6, 2006, awards outstanding under the MRSP were converted into 3,456,108 shares of Verizon common stock in accordance with the Merger Agreement. MCI has not issued new MRSPs since February 2005.

Changes in the MRSP’s restricted stock outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)    Restricted
Stock
   

Weighted Average

Grant-Date Fair
Value


Outstanding restricted stock at beginning of year

       $         –

Acquisition by Verizon

   3,456     30.75

Payments

   (2,199 )   30.75

Cancellations/Forfeitures

   (19 )   30.75
    

   

Outstanding restricted stock, June 30, 2006

   1,238     $  30.75
    

   

As of June 30, 2006, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the MRSP restricted stock was approximately $18 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 2 years.

 

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Verizon Wireless Long-Term Incentive Plan

The 2000 Verizon Wireless Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Wireless Plan”) provides compensation opportunities to eligible employees and other participating affiliates of the Cellco Partnership, d.b.a. Verizon Wireless (the “Partnership”). The Wireless Plan provides rewards that are tied to the long-term performance of the Partnership. Under the Wireless Plan, Value Appreciation Rights (VARs) are granted to eligible employees. The aggregate number of VARs that may be issued under the Wireless Plan is approximately 343 million. The Company has not issued new VARs since 2004.

VARs reflect the change in the value of the Partnership, as defined in the Wireless Plan, similar to stock options. Once VARs become vested, employees can exercise their VARs and receive a payment that is equal to the difference between the VAR price on the date of grant and the VAR price on the date of exercise, less applicable taxes. VARs are fully exercisable three years from the date of grant with a maximum term of 10 years. All VARs are granted at a price equal to the estimated fair value of the Partnership, as defined in the Wireless Plan, at the date of the grant.

With the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Partnership began estimating the fair value of VARs granted using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. The following table summarizes the assumptions used in the model during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006:

 

     Ranges

Risk-free rate

   4.7% - 5.2%

Expected term (in years)

   1.5 - 3.5

Expected volatility

   17.6% - 22.3%

Expected dividend yield

   n/a

The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. The expected term of the VARs granted was estimated using a combination of the simplified method as prescribed in Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 107, “Share Based Payments,” historical experience, and management judgment. Expected volatility was based on a blend of the historical and implied volatility of publicly traded peer companies for a period equal to the VARs expected life, ending on the day of the grant, and calculated on a monthly basis. The Partnership does not pay dividends.

Changes in the VARs outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)    VARs    

Weighted Average

Grant-Date Fair
Value


Outstanding rights at beginning of year

   108,923     $  17.12

Exercised

   (4,196 )   12.75

Cancellations/Forfeitures

   (4,121 )   25.44
    

   

Outstanding rights, June 30, 2006

   100,606     $  16.96
    

   

As of June 30, 2006, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the VARs was approximately $126 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately one year.

Other Stock-Based Compensation Expense

After-tax compensation expense for other stock based compensation including RSUs, PSUs, MRSPs and VARs described above included in net income as reported for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006 was $141 million and $246 million, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, after-tax compensation expense for other stock based compensation was $78 million and $199 million, respectively.

Stock Options

The Verizon Long Term Incentive Plan provides for grants of stock options to employees at an option price per share of 100% of the fair market value of Verizon Stock on the date of grant. Each grant has a 10 year life, vesting equally over a three year period, starting at the date of the grant. We have not granted new stock options since 2004.

 

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Included in Verizon’s stock-based compensation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2006 is the applicable portion of the cost related to 2003 stock option grants. The stock options granted before 2003 were fully vested as of the beginning of 2005.

Changes in Verizon’s stock options outstanding for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)   

Stock

Options

   

Weighted
Average

Exercise Price


Options outstanding, beginning of year

   250,976     $  47.62

Exercised

   (237 )   31.98

Cancelled

   (15,312 )   42.50
    

   

Options outstanding, June 30, 2006

   235,427     $  47.97
    

   

Options exercisable, June 30, 2006

   230,679     $  48.20

The weighted average remaining contractual term was 4.3 years for stock options outstanding and exercisable as of June 30, 2006. The total intrinsic value was approximately $5 million for stock options outstanding and exercisable as of June 30, 2006. The total intrinsic value for stock options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2006 was approximately $0.4 million. The total intrinsic value for stock options exercised during the six months ended June 30, 2005 was approximately $4 million.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, the amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was approximately $1 million and $7 million, respectively, and the related tax benefits for the six months ended June 30, 2006 were approximately $0.2 million. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, the amount of cash received from the exercise of stock options was approximately $6 million and $27 million, respectively, and the related tax benefits were approximately $0.3 million and $2 million, respectively.

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, after-tax compensation expense for stock options was $7 million and $18 million, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, after-tax compensation expense for stock options was $13 million and $30 million, respectively.

As of June 30, 2006, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of stock options was approximately $24 million and is expected to be recognized over the next nine months.

4.    Strategic Actions


Merger Integration Costs

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, we recorded pretax charges of $76 million ($48 million after-tax) and $132 million ($83 million after-tax), respectively related to integration costs associated with the MCI merger that closed on January 6, 2006. These costs are primarily comprised of advertising and other costs related to re-branding initiatives and systems integration activities. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

Facility and Employee-Related Items

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, we recorded pretax charges of $45 million ($29 million after-tax) and $90 million ($57 million after-tax), respectively in connection with the relocation of several functions to Verizon Center. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

During the second quarter of 2006, we recorded a pretax charge of $300 million ($186 million after-tax) for employee severance and severance-related costs in connection with the involuntary separation of approximately 3,200 employees, the majority of whom will be terminated during the third and fourth quarters of 2006. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

Tax Matters

As a result of the capital gain realized in the second quarter of 2005 in connection with the sale of our Hawaii businesses, we recorded a tax benefit of $242 million related to capital losses incurred in previous years.

 

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Also during the second quarter of 2005, we recorded a net tax provision of $232 million related to the repatriation of foreign earnings under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which provides for a favorable federal income tax rate in connection with the repatriation of foreign earnings, in certain circumstances. Two of Verizon’s foreign investments repatriated earnings resulting in income taxes of $355 million, partially offset by a tax benefit of $123 million. There were no similar items incurred during the comparable periods in 2006.

5.    Discontinued Operations and Sales of Businesses, Net


Discontinued Operations

Verizon Dominicana C. por A. and Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc.

During the second quarter of 2006, we reached definitive agreements to sell our interests in our Caribbean and Latin American telecommunications operations in three separate transactions to América Móvil, S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil), a wireless service provider throughout Latin America, and a company owned jointly by Teléfonos de México, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and América Móvil. We have agreed to sell our 100 percent interest in Verizon Dominicana C. por A. (Verizon Dominicana) and our 52 percent interest in Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc. (TELPRI) to América Móvil. An entity jointly owned by América Móvil and Telmex has agreed to purchase our indirect 28.5 percent interest in Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (CANTV).

Upon closing, the transactions are expected to result in pretax proceeds of approximately $3,700 million, prior to purchase price adjustments as defined in the sale agreements, in exchange for the assets and liabilities, including the outstanding debt of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI, as well as our investment in CANTV. Each transaction is subject to separate regulatory approvals and none of the sales is contingent on the closing of any of the other transactions. We expect to close the sales of our interests in Verizon Dominicana, CANTV and TELPRI in 2006 or 2007. While the final purchase price for each of the transactions is subject to adjustment, the aggregate gain or loss on the three transactions is not expected to be material. Although we anticipate pretax gains on each of the transactions, in the case of Verizon Dominicana, taxes that will become payable and be recorded at the time that the transaction closes will likely exceed the amount of the pretax gain. In addition, the government tax authority in the Dominican Republic has issued an assessment of proposed capital gains tax in connection with the transaction. We believe that the assessment is without merit, we have filed an appeal and we intend to contest it vigorously. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding.

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, we have classified the results of operations of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI as discontinued operations in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. In addition, the assets and liabilities of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are aggregated and disclosed as current assets and current liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our investment in CANTV continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment in continuing operations. Additional detail related to the assets and liabilities of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are as follows:

 

(Dollars in Millions)    At June 30, 2006    At December 31, 2005

Current assets

   $     467    $     508

Plant, property and equipment, net

   2,164    2,152

Other non-current assets

   946    676
    

Total assets

   $  3,577    $  3,336
    

Current liabilities

   $     377    $     758

Long-term debt

   575    300

Other non-current liabilities

   1,128    807
    

Total liabilities

   $  2,080    $  1,865
    

Related to the assets and liabilities above is $879 million and $897 million included as Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively, comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustments.

 

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Income from discontinued operations, net of tax presented in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income included the following:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006      2005        2006      2005  


Operating Revenues

   $    529      $    516        $  1,215      $  1,014  

Income from operations

   197      92        400      191  

Provision for income taxes

   (78 )    (48 )      (143 )    (76 )
    

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $    119      $      44        $    257      $    115  
    

Sales of Businesses, Net

Verizon Hawaii Inc.

During the second quarter of 2005, we recorded a pretax gain of $530 million ($336 million after-tax) related to the sale of our wireline and directory businesses in Hawaii, including Verizon Hawaii Inc. which operated approximately 700,000 switched access lines, as well as the services and assets of Verizon Long Distance, Verizon Online, Verizon Information Services and Verizon Select Services Inc. in Hawaii, to an affiliate of The Carlyle Group.

6.    Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets


Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the six months ended June 30, 2006, were as follows:

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Wireline     Information
Services
    Total  


Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 315     $       77     $     392  

Acquisitions

     5,021             5,021  

Goodwill reclassifications and other

     (19 )     (7 )     (26 )
    


Balance at June 30, 2006

   $   5,317     $       70     $   5,387  
    


Other Intangible Assets

The major components and average useful lives of our other intangible assets follow:

 

     At June 30, 2006    At December 31, 2005
(Dollars in Millions)    Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization

Amortized intangible assets:

                   

Customer lists and relationships (3 to 8 years)

   $    1,290    $       187    $    3,436    $  3,279

Non-network internal-use software (1 to 7 years)

   7,775    3,803    7,377    3,365

Other (1 to 25 years)

   229    14    27    3
    

Total

   $    9,294    $    4,004    $  10,840    $  6,647
    

Unamortized intangible assets:

                   

Wireless licenses

   $  48,250         $  47,781     
    
       
    

Customer lists and relationships of $3,313 million were fully amortized and written-off during the second quarter of 2006. Amortization expense was $338 million and $790 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, amortization expense was $372 million and $735 million, respectively. It is estimated to be $668 million for the remainder of 2006, $1,137 million in 2007, $978 million in 2008, $779 million in 2009 and $573 million in 2010.

 

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7.    Debt


Redemption of Debt Assumed in Merger

On January 17, 2006, Verizon announced offers to purchase two series of MCI senior notes, MCI $1,983 million aggregate principal amount of 6.688% Senior Notes Due 2009 and MCI $1,699 million aggregate principal amount of 7.735% Senior Notes Due 2014, at 101% of their par value. Due to the change in control of MCI that occurred in connection with the merger with Verizon on January 6, 2006, Verizon was required to make this offer to noteholders within 30 days of the closing of the merger. Noteholders tendered $165 million of the 6.688% Senior Notes. Separately, Verizon notified noteholders that MCI was exercising its right to redeem both series of Senior Notes prior to maturity under the optional redemption procedures provided in the indentures. The 6.688% Notes were redeemed on March 1, 2006, and the 7.735% Notes were redeemed on February 16, 2006.

In addition, on January 20, 2006, Verizon announced an offer to repurchase MCI $1,983 million aggregate principal amount of 5.908% Senior Notes Due 2007 at 101% of their par value. On February 21, 2006, $1,804 million of these notes were redeemed by Verizon. Verizon satisfied and discharged the indenture governing this series of notes shortly after the close of the offer for those noteholders who did not accept this offer.

We recorded pretax charges of $26 million ($16 million after-tax) during the first quarter of 2006 resulting from the extinguishment of debt assumed in connection with the completion of the MCI merger described above.

Other Debt Redemptions/Prepayments

During the second quarter of 2006, we redeemed/prepaid several debt issuances, including: Verizon North Inc. $200 million 7.625% Series C debentures due May 15, 2026; Verizon Northwest Inc. $175 million 7.875% Series B debentures due June 1, 2026; Verizon South Inc. $250 million 7.5% Series D debentures due March 15, 2026; Verizon California Inc. $25 million 9.41% Series W first mortgage bonds due 2014; Verizon California Inc. $30 million 9.44% Series X first mortgage bonds due 2015; Verizon Northwest Inc. $3 million 9.67% Series HH first mortgage bonds due 2010 and Contel of the South Inc. $14 million 8.159% Series GG first mortgage bonds due 2018. The gain/(loss) from these retirements was immaterial.

Zero-Coupon Convertible Notes

Previously, Verizon Global Funding issued approximately $5,442 million in principal amount at maturity of zero-coupon convertible notes due 2021 which were callable by Verizon on or after May 15, 2006. On May 15, 2006, we redeemed the remaining $1,375 million accreted principal of the remaining outstanding zero-coupon convertible notes at a redemption price of $639.76 per $1,000 principal plus interest of approximately $0.5767 per $1,000 principal. The total payment on the date of redemption was approximately $1,377 million.

Issuance of Debt

In February 2006, Verizon issued $500 million of 5.35% notes due 2011, $1,250 million of 5.55% notes due 2016, $500 million of 5.85% notes due 2035 and $1,750 million of floating rate notes due 2007 resulting in proceeds, net of discounts, of $3,942 million.

Support Agreements and Guarantees

All of Verizon Global Funding’s debt had the benefit of Support Agreements between us and Verizon Global Funding, which gave holders of Verizon Global Funding debt the right to proceed directly against us for payment of interest, premium (if any) and principal outstanding should Verizon Global Funding fail to pay. The holders of Verizon Global Funding debt did not have recourse to the stock or assets of most of our telephone operations; however, they did have recourse to dividends paid to us by any of our consolidated subsidiaries as well as assets not covered by the exclusion. On February 1, 2006, Verizon announced the merger of Verizon Global Funding into Verizon. As a result of the merger, all of Verizon Global Funding’s debt has been assumed by Verizon by operation of law.

In addition, Verizon Global Funding had guaranteed the debt obligations of GTE Corporation (but not the debt of its subsidiary or affiliate companies) that were issued and outstanding prior to July 1, 2003. In connection with the merger of Verizon Global Funding into Verizon, Verizon has assumed this guarantee. As of June 30, 2006, $2,950 million principal amount of these obligations remained outstanding.

 

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Verizon and NYNEX Corporation are the joint and several co-obligors of the 20-Year 9.55% Debentures due 2010 previously issued by NYNEX on March 26, 1990. As of June 30, 2006, $92 million principal amount of this obligation remained outstanding. NYNEX and GTE no longer issue public debt or file SEC reports. See Note 12 for information on guarantees of operating subsidiary debt listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Debt Covenants

We and our consolidated subsidiaries are in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

8.     Comprehensive Income


Comprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting shareowners’ investment that, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, are excluded from net income.

Changes in the components of other comprehensive income (loss) were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006      2005        2006      2005  


Net Income

   $  1,611      $  2,113        $  3,243      $  3,870  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes

                             

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   167      (374 )      246      (545 )

Unrealized gain on net investment hedge

        2             2  

Unrealized derivative gains on cash flow hedges

   1      1        13      3  

Unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities

   (10 )    (20 )      14      (19 )

Minimum pension liability adjustment

               13      (1 )
    

     158      (391 )      286      (560 )
    

Total Comprehensive Income

   $  1,769      $  1,722        $  3,529      $  3,310  
    

The unrealized foreign currency translation gain in 2006 is primarily driven by the appreciation in the functional currency on our investment in Vodafone Omnitel N.V. (Vodafone Omnitel). The unrealized foreign currency translation loss in 2005 was primarily driven by a decline in the functional currencies on our investments in Vodafone Omnitel and CANTV.

During the third quarter of 2005, we entered into interest rate derivatives to limit our exposure to interest rate changes. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS No. 133), and related amendments and interpretations, changes in fair value of these cash flow hedges due to interest rate fluctuations were recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss. Also, during the second quarter of 2005, we entered into a zero cost euro collar to hedge a portion of our net investment in Vodafone Omnitel. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 133, changes in the fair value of this contract due to exchange rate fluctuations are recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss and offset the impact of foreign currency changes on the value of our net investment in the operation being hedged. As of June 30, 2006, our positions in the interest rate derivatives and the zero cost euro collar have been settled.

The components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss are as follows:

 

(Dollars in Millions)    At June 30, 2006        At December 31, 2005  


Foreign currency translation adjustments

   $     (621 )      $     (867 )

Unrealized gains on net investment hedges

   2        2  

Unrealized derivative losses on cash flow hedges

   (14 )      (27 )

Unrealized gains on marketable securities

   24        10  

Minimum pension liability adjustment

   (888 )      (901 )
    

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

   $  (1,497 )      $  (1,783 )
    

 

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9.     Earnings Per Share


The following table is a reconciliation of the share amounts used in computing earnings per share.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,      Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars and Shares in Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)    2006      2005      2006      2005  


Net Income Used For Basic Earnings Per Common Share

                                   

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ 1,492      $ 2,069      $ 3,028      $ 3,755   

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     119        44        257        115  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                   (42 )       
    


Net income

   $ 1,611      $ 2,113      $ 3,243      $ 3,870  
    


Net Income Used For Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

                                   

Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ 1,492      $ 2,069      $ 3,028      $ 3,755  

After-tax minority interest expense related to exchangeable equity interest

     8        7        16        14  

After-tax interest expense related to zero-coupon convertible notes

     4        7        11        14  
    


Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change – after assumed conversion of dilutive securities

     1,504        2,083        3,055        3,783  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     119        44        257        115  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                   (42 )       
    


Net income after assumed conversion of dilutive securities

   $ 1,623      $ 2,127      $ 3,270      $ 3,898  
    


Basic Earnings Per Common Share(1)

                                   

Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic

     2,910        2,766        2,913        2,768  
    


Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ .51      $ .75      $ 1.04      $ 1.36  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     .04        .02        .09        .04  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                   (.01 )       
    


Net income

   $ .55      $ .76      $ 1.11      $ 1.40  
    


Diluted Earnings Per Common Share(1)

                                   

Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic

     2,910        2,766        2,913        2,768  
    


Effect of dilutive securities:

                                   

Stock options

     1        6        1        5  

Exchangeable equity interest

     29        29        29        29  

Zero-coupon convertible notes

     9        17        12        17  
    


Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted

     2,949        2,818        2,955        2,819  
    


Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect
of accounting change

   $ .51      $ .74      $ 1.03      $ 1.34  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     .04        .02        .09        .04  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                   (.01 )       
    


Net income

   $ .55      $ .75      $ 1.11      $ 1.38  
    


 

(1)

Total per share amounts may not add due to rounding.

Stock options for 233 million shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the stock options was greater than the average market price of the common stock. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2005, the number of shares not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share were 253 million and 249 million, respectively.

The zero coupon convertible notes were retired on May 15, 2006.

10.     Segment Information


As a result of reaching definitive agreements to sell our interests in Verizon Dominicana, TELPRI and CANTV, which were included in the International segment, the operations of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are reported as discontinued operations and assets held for sale, while CANTV continues to be accounted for as an equity method

 

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investment. Accordingly, we now have three reportable segments, which we operate and manage as strategic business units and organize by products and services. Our segments include: Wireline – including the operations of the former MCI, consisting of Verizon Telecom’s telephone operations that provide telephone services, including voice, broadband, data, network access, long distance, video, and other services to consumer and small business customers and carriers and Verizon Business, which provides a broad range of telecommunications and next-generation IP network services globally to medium and large businesses and government customers; Domestic Wireless – primarily representing the operations of the Verizon Wireless joint venture with Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone), that provides domestic wireless products and services, including wireless voice and data services and equipment sales across the United States; and Information Services – representing our directory publishing businesses and electronic commerce services.

We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment income. This segment income excludes unallocated corporate expenses and other adjustments arising during each period. The other adjustments include transactions that the chief operating decision makers exclude in assessing business unit performance due primarily to their non-recurring and/or non-operational nature. Although such transactions are excluded from the business segment results, they are included in reported consolidated earnings. Gains and losses that are not individually significant are included in all segment results, since these items are included in the chief operating decision makers’ assessment of unit performance.

The following table provides operating financial information for our three reportable segments and a reconciliation of segment results to consolidated results. Prior period amounts are revised to reflect the change in reportable segments as discussed above.

 

Three Months Ended June 30,

       Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006        2005        2006        2005  


External Operating Revenues

                                         

Wireline

   $   12,511        $ 9,193        $   24,744        $   18,338  

Domestic Wireless

     9,227          7,825          18,023          15,224  

Information Services

     802          870          1,639          1,751  
    


Total segments

     22,540          17,888          44,406          35,313  

Reconciling items

     138          165          330          422  
    


Total consolidated – reported

   $ 22,678        $ 18,053        $ 44,736        $ 35,735  
    


Intersegment Revenues

                                         

Wireline

   $ 269        $ 252        $ 520        $ 474  

Domestic Wireless

     35          21          52          40  

Information Services

                                 
    


Total segments

     304          273          572          514  

Reconciling items

     (304 )        (273 )        (572 )        (514 )
    


Total consolidated – reported

   $        $        $        $  
    


Total Operating Revenues

                                         

Wireline

   $ 12,780        $ 9,445        $ 25,264        $ 18,812  

Domestic Wireless

     9,262          7,846          18,075          15,264  

Information Services

     802          870          1,639          1,751  
    


Total segments

     22,844          18,161          44,978          35,827  

Reconciling items

     (166 )        (108 )        (242 )        (92 )
    


Total consolidated – reported

   $ 22,678        $   18,053        $ 44,736        $ 35,735  
    


Operating Income

                                         

Wireline

   $ 1,226        $ 1,200        $ 2,306        $ 2,454  

Domestic Wireless

     2,374          1,782          4,489          3,322  

Information Services

     367          406          771          828  
    


Total segments

     3,967          3,388          7,566          6,604  

Reconciling items

     (376 )        598          (383 )        659  
    


Total consolidated – reported

   $ 3,591        $ 3,986        $ 7,183        $ 7,263  
    


Segment Income

                                         

Wireline

   $ 486        $ 459        $ 807        $ 963  

Domestic Wireless

     729          517          1,360          950  

Information Services

     229          255          479          519  
    


Total segment income

     1,444          1,231          2,646          2,432  

Reconciling items

     167          882          597          1,438  
    


Total consolidated net income – reported

   $ 1,611        $ 2,113        $ 3,243        $ 3,870  
    


 

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(Dollars in Millions)    At June 30, 2006    At December 31, 2005

Assets

         

Wireline

   $    91,962    $    75,188

Domestic Wireless

   77,507    76,729

Information Services

   1,488    1,525
    

Total segments

   170,957    153,442

Reconciling items

   12,886    14,688
    

Total consolidated

   $  183,843    $  168,130
    

Major reconciling items between the segments and the consolidated results are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,        Six Months Ended June 30,  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006      2005        2006      2005  


Total Operating Revenues

                                     

Hawaii operations

   $      $ 53        $      $ 202  

Corporate, eliminations and other

     (166 )      (161 )        (242 )      (294 )
    


     $   (166 )    $   (108 )      $   (242 )    $ (92 )
    


Operating Income

                                     

Severance costs (see Note 4)

   $ (300 )    $        $ (300 )    $  

Verizon Center relocation costs (see Note 4)

     (45 )               (90 )       

Merger integration costs (see Note 4)

     (76 )               (132 )       

Hawaii operations

            20                 78  

Sales of businesses, net (see Note 5)

            530                 530  

Corporate and other

     45        48          139        51  
    


     $ (376 )    $ 598        $ (383 )    $ 659  
    


Net Income

                                     

Debt extinguishment costs (see Note 7)

   $      $        $ (16 )    $  

Severance costs (see Note 4)

     (186 )               (186 )       

Verizon Center relocation costs (see Note 4)

     (29 )               (57 )       

Merger integration costs (see Note 4)

     (48 )               (83 )       

Cumulative effect of accounting change (see Note 3)

                     (42 )       

Sales of businesses, net (see Note 5)

            336                 336  

Tax benefits (see Note 4)

            242                 242  

Tax on repatriated earnings (see Note 4)

            (232 )               (232 )

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax (see Note 5)

     119        44          257        115  

Corporate and other

     311        492          724        977  
    


     $ 167      $ 882        $ 597      $   1,438  
    


Financial information for Wireline and Information Services excludes the effects of Hawaii access lines and directory operations sold in the second quarter of 2005.

Corporate, eliminations and other includes unallocated corporate expenses, intersegment eliminations recorded in consolidation, the results of other businesses such as our investments in unconsolidated businesses, primarily Omnitel and CANTV, lease financing, and asset impairments and expenses that are not allocated in assessing segment performance due to their non-recurring nature.

We generally account for intersegment sales of products and services and asset transfers at current market prices. We are not dependent on any single customer.

11.     Employee Benefits


We maintain noncontributory defined benefit pension plans for substantially all employees. In addition, we maintain postretirement health care and life insurance plans for our retirees and their dependents, which are both contributory and non-contributory and include a limit on the company’s share of cost for certain recent and future retirees.

In December 2005, we announced that Verizon management employees will no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy after June 30, 2006, after receiving an 18-month enhancement of the value of their pension and retiree medical subsidy. In addition, new management employees hired after

 

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December 31, 2005, are not eligible for pension benefits and managers with less than 13.5 years of service as of June 30, 2006, are not eligible for company-subsidized retiree healthcare or retiree life insurance benefits. Beginning July 1, 2006, management employees will receive an increased company match on their savings plan contributions.

Net Periodic Cost

The following tables summarize the benefit costs related to our pension and postretirement health care and life insurance plans:

 

     (Dollars in Millions)  
     Pension     Health Care and Life  
Three Months Ended June 30,    2006     2005     2006     2005  


Service cost

   $ 182     $ 174     $ 91     $ 91  

Interest cost

     509       499       380       371  

Expected return on plan assets

     (803 )     (818 )     (83 )     (88 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     11       10       91       74  

Actuarial loss, net

     45       26       74       63  
    


Net periodic benefit (income) cost

     (56 )     (109 )     553       511  
    


Termination benefits

     38             11        

Termination benefits – Hawaii operations sold

           8              

Settlement loss – Hawaii operations sold

           80              

Curtailment loss – Hawaii operations sold

           6              
    


Total (income) cost

   $ (18 )   $ (15 )   $ 564     $ 511  
    


     (Dollars in Millions)  
     Pension     Health Care and Life  
Six Months Ended June 30,    2006     2005     2006     2005  


Service cost

   $ 364     $ 351     $ 182     $ 182  

Interest cost

     1,017       1,000       760       742  

Expected return on plan assets

     (1,606 )     (1,639 )     (166 )     (176 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     22       21       180       144  

Actuarial loss, net

     90       62       148       128  
    


Net periodic benefit (income) cost

     (113 )     (205 )     1,104       1,020  
    


Termination benefits

     38             11        

Termination benefits – Hawaii operations sold

           8              

Settlement loss – Hawaii operations sold

           80              

Curtailment loss – Hawaii operations sold

           6              
    


Total (income) cost

   $ (75 )   $ (111 )   $ 1,115     $ 1,020  
    


The termination benefits, settlement loss and curtailment loss amounts pertaining to the Hawaii operations sold were recorded in Sales of Businesses, Net.

Employer Contributions

In 2006, based on the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2005, we anticipate contributions of $1 million to our qualified pension trust, $144 million to our nonqualified pension plans and $1,154 million to our other postretirement benefit plans. During the three months ended June 30, 2006, we made no contributions to our qualified pension trusts, and contributed $25 million to our nonqualified pension plans and $358 million to our other postretirement benefit plans. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, we made no contributions to our qualified pension trusts, and contributed $70 million to our nonqualified pension plans and $669 million to our other postretirement benefit plans. Our estimate of the amount and timing of required qualified pension trust contributions for 2006 is based on current regulations, including continued pension funding relief. The anticipated required qualified pension trust contributions disclosed in Verizon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 continue to be accurate.

Severance Benefits

During the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, we paid severance benefits of $69 million and $151 million, respectively. At June 30, 2006, we had a remaining severance liability of $791 million, which includes future contractual payments to employees separated, or to be separated within 12 months, as of June 30, 2006.

 

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12. Guarantees of Operating Subsidiary Debt

Verizon has guaranteed the obligations of the following two wholly-owned operating subsidiaries: $480 million 7% debentures series B, due 2042 issued by Verizon New England Inc. and $300 million 7% debentures series F issued by Verizon South Inc. due 2041. These guarantees are full and unconditional and would require Verizon to make scheduled payments immediately if either of the two subsidiaries failed to do so. Both of these securities were issued in denominations of $25 and were sold primarily to retail investors and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. SEC rules permit us to include condensed consolidating financial information for these two subsidiaries in our periodic SEC reports rather than filing separate subsidiary periodic SEC reports.

Below is the condensed consolidating financial information. Verizon New England and Verizon South are presented in separate columns. The column labeled Parent represents Verizon’s investments in all of its subsidiaries under the equity method and the Other column represents all other subsidiaries of Verizon on a combined basis. The Adjustments column reflects intercompany eliminations.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Three Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon
New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Operating revenues

   $     $     1,013     $     215     $     21,641     $ (191 )   $     22,678  

Operating expenses

     87       932       160       18,099       (191 )     19,087  
    


Operating income (loss)

     (87 )     81       55       3,542             3,591  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

     1,579       4             (226 )     (1,186 )     171  

Other income and (expense), net

     435       2       10       13       (400 )     60  

Interest expense

     (348 )     (47 )     (15 )     (187 )     7       (590 )

Minority interest

                       (986 )           (986 )
    


Income before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations

     1,579       40       50       2,156       (1,579 )     2,246  

Income tax benefit (provision)

     32       (13 )     (19 )     (754 )           (754 )
    


Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change

     1,611       27       31       1,402       (1,579 )     1,492  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

                       119             119  
    


Net income

   $     1,611     $ 27     $ 31     $ 1,521     $     (1,579 )   $ 1,611  
    


 

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

 

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Operating revenues

   $     $     1,951     $     428     $     42,731     $ (374 )   $     44,736  

Operating expenses

     92       1,806       320       35,709       (374 )     37,553  
    


Operating income (loss)

     (92 )     145       108       7,022             7,183  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

     3,133       7             (345 )     (2,467 )     328  

Other income and (expense), net

     731       4       13       95       (680 )     163  

Interest expense

     (552 )     (91 )     (31 )     (566 )     14       (1,226 )

Minority interest

                       (1,854 )           (1,854 )
    


Income before provision for income taxes, discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change

     3,220       65       90       4,352       (3,133 )     4,594  

Income tax benefit (provision)

     23       (20 )     (34 )     (1,535 )           (1,566 )
    


Income before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change

     3,243       45       56       2,817       (3,133 )     3,028  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

                       257             257  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

                       (42 )           (42 )
    


Net income

   $     3,243     $ 45     $ 56     $ 3,032     $     (3,133 )   $ 3,243  
    


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Three Months Ended June 30, 2005

 

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Operating revenues

   $     $ 979     $     227     $     16,962     $ (115 )   $     18,053  

Operating expenses

     (25 )     895       170       13,142       (115 )     14,067  
    


Operating income

     25       84       57       3,820             3,986  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses

     1,885       7             74       (1,788 )     178  

Other income and (expense), net

     129       1       1       47       (101 )     77  

Interest expense

     (13 )     (43 )     (16 )     (460 )     4       (528 )

Minority interest

                       (711 )           (711 )
    


Income before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations

     2,026       49       42       2,770       (1,885 )     3,002  

Income tax benefit (provision)

     87       (15 )     (16 )     (989 )           (933 )
    


Income before discontinued operations

     2,113       34       26       1,781       (1,885 )     2,069  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

                       44             44  
    


Net income

   $ 2,113     $ 34     $ 26     $ 1,825     $ (1,885 )   $ 2,113  
    


 

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Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005

 

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Parent    

Verizon New

England

    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Operating revenues

   $     $ 1,952     $ 456     $ 33,548     $ (221 )   $ 35,735  

Operating expenses

     (2 )     1,758       338       26,599       (221 )     28,472  
    


Operating income

     2       194       118       6,949             7,263  

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated

    businesses

     3,486       15             156       (3,286 )     371  

Other income and (expense), net

     235       2       2       170       (207 )     202  

Interest expense

     (18 )     (85 )     (32 )     (948 )     7       (1,076 )

Minority interest

                       (1,321 )           (1,321 )
    


Income before provision for income taxes

    and discontinued operations

     3,705       126       88       5,006       (3,486 )     5,439  

Income tax benefit (provision)

     165       (40 )     (34 )     (1,775 )           (1,684 )
    


Income before discontinued operations

     3,870       86       54       3,231       (3,486 )     3,755  

Income from discontinued operations,

    net of tax

                       115             115  
    


Net income

   $ 3,870     $ 86     $ 54     $ 3,346     $ (3,486 )   $ 3,870  
    


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

At June 30, 2006

 

 

(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Cash

   $     $     $     $ 1,186     $     $ 1,186  

Short-term investments

           137       20       1,918             2,075  

Accounts receivable, net

     8       769       115       10,518       (959 )     10,451  

Other current assets

     28,548       156       35       7,363       (28,538 )     7,564  
    


Total current assets

     28,556       1,062       170       20,985       (29,497 )     21,276  

Plant, property and equipment, net

     1       6,166       1,143       73,687             80,997  

Investments in unconsolidated businesses

     40,471       116             6,795       (43,176 )     4,206  

Other assets

     624       425       393       76,152       (230 )     77,364  
    


Total assets

   $     69,652     $     7,769     $     1,706     $     177,619     $ (72,903 )   $     183,843  
    


Debt maturing within one year

   $ 6,984     $ 321     $ 291     $ 31,526     $ (28,796 )   $ 10,326  

Other current liabilities

     2,692       1,049       163       20,810       (701 )     24,013  
    


Total current liabilities

     9,676       1,370       454       52,336       (29,497 )     34,339  

Long-term debt

     14,661       2,562       416       14,621       (230 )     32,030  

Employee benefit obligations

     352       1,983       253       17,092             19,680  

Deferred income taxes

     172       465       212       20,094             20,943  

Other liabilities

     12       131       26       4,158             4,327  

Minority interest

                       27,745             27,745  

Total shareowners’ investment

     44,779       1,258       345       41,573       (43,176 )     44,779  
    


Total liabilities and shareowners’ investment

   $ 69,652     $ 7,769     $ 1,706     $ 177,619     $ (72,903 )   $ 183,843  
    


 

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

At December 31, 2005

                                                
(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Cash

   $     $     $     $ 776     $     $ 776  

Short-term investments

           216       32       2,250             2,498  

Accounts receivable, net

     20       910       142       9,042       (1,330 )     8,784  

Other current assets

     9,365       166       185       6,999       (9,497 )     7,218  
    


Total current assets

     9,385       1,292       359       19,067       (10,827 )     19,276  

Plant, property and equipment, net

     1       6,146       1,158       65,848             73,153  

Investments in unconsolidated businesses

     32,593       116             10,017       (38,122 )     4,604  

Other assets

     532       472       390       69,933       (230 )     71,097  
    


Total assets

   $   42,511     $   8,026     $   1,907     $ 164,865     $ (49,179 )   $ 168,130  
    


Debt maturing within one year

   $ 22     $ 471     $     $ 15,999     $ (9,804 )   $ 6,688  

Other current liabilities

     2,511       1,049       176       16,769       (1,023 )     19,482  
    


Total current liabilities

     2,533       1,520       176       32,768       (10,827 )     26,170  

Long-term debt

     92       2,702       901       28,104       (230 )     31,569  

Employee benefit obligations

     205       1,892       254       15,847             18,198  

Deferred income taxes

           537       220       21,958             22,715  

Other liabilities

     1       146       27       3,189             3,363  

Minority interest

                       26,435             26,435  

Total shareowners’ investment

     39,680       1,229       329       36,564       (38,122 )     39,680  
    


Total liabilities and shareowners’ investment

   $ 42,511     $ 8,026     $ 1,907     $   164,865     $ (49,179 )   $   168,130  
    


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

                                                
(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Net cash from operating activities

   $ 1,615     $ 691     $ 134     $ 10,655     $ (1,558 )   $ 11,537  

Net cash from investing activities

     (780 )     (394 )     90       (4,454 )     52       (5,486 )

Net cash from financing activities

     (835 )     (297 )     (224 )     (5,791 )     1,506       (5,641 )
    


Net increase in cash

   $     $     $     $ 410     $     $ 410  
    


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005

                                                
(Dollars in Millions)    Parent     Verizon New
England
    Verizon
South
    Other     Adjustments     Total  


Net cash from operating activities

   $ 3,327     $ 310     $ 146     $ 9,285     $ (3,156 )   $ 9,912  

Net cash from investing activities

     (1,181 )     (263 )     (116 )     (9,421 )     59       (10,922 )

Net cash from financing activities

     (2,146 )     (47 )     (30 )     (749 )     3,097       125  
    


Net decrease in cash

   $     $     $     $ (885 )   $     $ (885 )
    


13.     Recent Accounting Pronouncements


Uncertainty in Income Taxes

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and

 

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measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. We are required to adopt FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of initially adopting FIN 48 will be recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings in the year of adoption and will be presented separately. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized upon adoption of FIN 48. We are currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on our future results of operations and financial position.

Leveraged Leases

In July 2006, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 13-2, “Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction” (FSP 13-2). FSP 13-2 requires that changes in the projected timing of income tax cash flows generated by a leveraged lease transaction be recognized as a gain or loss in the year in which change occurs. The pretax gain or loss is required to be included in the same line item in which the leveraged lease income is recognized, with the tax effect being included in the provision for income taxes. We are required to adopt FSP 13-2 effective January 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of initially adopting this FSP will be recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings in the year of adoption and will be presented separately. We are currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on our future results of operations and financial position.

14.     Commitments and Contingencies


Several state and federal regulatory proceedings may require our telephone operations to pay penalties or to refund to customers a portion of the revenues collected in the current and prior periods. There are also various legal actions pending to which we are a party and claims which, if asserted, may lead to other legal actions. We have established reserves for specific liabilities in connection with regulatory and legal actions, including environmental matters, that we currently deem to be probable and estimable. We do not expect that the ultimate resolution of pending regulatory and legal matters in future periods, including the Hicksville matters described below, will have a material effect on our financial condition, but it could have a material effect on our results of operations.

During 2003, under a government-approved plan, remediation commenced at the site of a former Sylvania facility in Hicksville, New York that processed nuclear fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s. Remediation beyond original expectations proved to be necessary and a reassessment of the anticipated remediation costs was conducted. A reassessment of costs related to remediation efforts at several other former facilities was also undertaken. As a result, an additional environmental remediation expense of $240 million was recorded in Selling, General and Administrative Expense in the consolidated statements of income in 2003, for remedial activities likely to take place over the next several years. In September 2005, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accepted the Hicksville site into the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. This may result in the ACE performing some or all of the remaining remediation effort for the Hicksville site with a corresponding decrease in costs to Verizon. To the extent that the ACE assumes responsibility for some or all of the remaining remedial work at the Hicksville site, an adjustment to this reserve may be necessary. Adjustments may also be made based upon actual conditions discovered during the remediation at any of the other sites requiring remediation.

There are also litigation matters associated with the Hicksville site primarily involving personal injury claims in connection with alleged emissions arising from operations in the 1950s and 1960s at the Hicksville site. These matters are in various stages, and no trial date has been set.

In connection with the execution of agreements for the sales of businesses and investments, Verizon ordinarily provides representations and warranties to the purchasers pertaining to a variety of nonfinancial matters, such as ownership of the securities being sold, as well as financial losses.

Under the terms of an investment agreement, Vodafone may require Verizon Wireless to purchase up to an aggregate of $20 billion worth of Vodafone’s interest in Verizon Wireless at designated times at its then fair market value. In the event Vodafone exercises its put rights, we have the right, exercisable at our sole discretion, to purchase up to $12.5 billion of Vodafone’s interest instead of Verizon Wireless for cash or Verizon stock at our option. Vodafone had the right to require the purchase of up to $10 billion during a 61-day period opening on June 10 and closing on August 9 in 2005, and did not exercise that right. As a result, Vodafone still has the right to require the purchase of up to $20 billion worth of its interest, not to exceed $10 billion in any one year, during a 61-day period opening on June 10 and closing on August 9 in 2006 and 2007. Vodafone also may require that Verizon Wireless pay for up to $7.5 billion of the required repurchase through the assumption or incurrence of debt.

 

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15.     Subsequent Event


In December 2005, we announced that we were reviewing strategic alternatives for the disposition of Information Services. On July 7, 2006, we filed a Form 10 registration statement with the SEC for Verizon Directories Disposition Corporation in a step toward a proposed spin-off of Information Services’ domestic print and Internet yellow pages directories to our stockholders. However, since this process, which could include a spin-off, sale or other transaction, or combination of these alternatives, is still ongoing, Information Services’ results of operations, financial position and cash flows remain in Verizon’s continuing operations.

On July 7, 2006, the FCC accepted an application that Verizon Wireless filed in June 2006 seeking to qualify to bid on any of the licenses being sold in the Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction scheduled to commence on August 9, 2006. On July 17, 2006, Verizon Wireless paid to the FCC a fully-refundable $383 million deposit in order to obtain 256 million bidding eligibility units for participation in this auction.

 

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


 

Overview

Verizon Communications Inc. (Verizon) is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services. Verizon’s Wireline telecommunications business provides local telephone services, including broadband, nationwide long-distance and other communications products and services. As a result of the MCI merger, which closed on January 6, 2006, we also own and operate one of the most expansive end-to-end global Internet Protocol (IP) networks providing access to over 140 countries worldwide and next-generation IP network services to medium and large businesses and government customers. Verizon’s domestic wireless business, operating as Verizon Wireless, provides wireless voice and data products and services across the United States using one of the most extensive wireless networks. Information Services operates directory publishing businesses and provides electronic commerce services. Stressing diversity and commitment to the communities in which we operate, Verizon has a highly diverse workforce of 252,000 employees.

The sections that follow provide information about the important aspects of our operations and investments, both at the consolidated and segment levels, and include discussions of our results of operations, financial position and sources and uses of cash. In addition, we have highlighted key trends and uncertainties to the extent practicable. The content and organization of the financial and non-financial data presented in these sections are consistent with information used by our chief operating decision makers for, among other purposes, evaluating performance and allocating resources. We also monitor several key economic indicators as well as the state of the economy in general, primarily in the United States where the majority of our operations are located, in evaluating our operating results and analyzing and understanding business trends. While most key economic indicators, including gross domestic product, impact our operations to some degree, we have noted higher correlations to housing starts, non-farm employment, personal consumption expenditures and capital spending, as well as more general economic indicators such as inflation and unemployment rates.

Our results of operations, financial position and sources and uses of cash in the current and future periods reflect Verizon management’s focus on the following four key areas:

 

 

Revenue Growth – Our emphasis is on revenue transformation, devoting more resources to higher growth markets such as wireless, long distance, wireline broadband connections, including digital subscriber lines (DSL) and fiber optics to the home (Verizon’s FiOS data and TV services), and other data services as well as expanded services to business markets, rather than to traditional wireline voice services, where we have been experiencing access line losses. In the second quarter of 2006, revenues from these growth areas were more than 50% of total revenue. Verizon reported consolidated revenue growth of 25.6% in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the similar period in 2005. This revenue growth was driven by the merger with MCI as well as higher revenue at Domestic Wireless and higher total data revenue growth at Wireline. Verizon added 1,815,000 wireless customers and 440,000 broadband connections in the second quarter of 2006.

 

 

Operational Efficiency – While focusing resources on growth markets, we are continually challenging our management team to lower expenses, particularly through technology-assisted productivity improvements including self-service initiatives. The effect of these and other efforts, such as real estate consolidations and call center routing improvements, has been to significantly change the company’s cost structure and maintain stable operating income margins. Real estate consolidations include our decision to establish Verizon Center for the leadership team. In 2005, Verizon restructured its management retirement benefit plans such that management employees no longer earn pension benefits or earn service towards the company retiree medical subsidy after June 30, 2006, after being provided an 18-month enhancement of the value of their pension and retiree medical benefits, but will receive higher savings plan matching contributions. The net effect of these management benefit plan changes is expected to be a reduction in pretax benefit expenses of approximately $3 billion over 10 years.

 

 

Capital Allocation – Our capital spending continues to be directed toward growth markets. High-speed wireless data (EV-DO) services, replacement of copper access lines with fiber optics to the home, as well as expanded services to business markets are examples of areas of capital spending in support of these growth markets. In the six months ended June 30, 2006, capital expenditures were $8,311 million compared to $7,538 million in the six months ended June 30, 2005. In 2006, Verizon management expects capital expenditures to be in the range of $17.0 billion to $17.4 billion. In addition to capital expenditures, Domestic Wireless continues to evaluate wireless spectrum acquisitions in support of expanding data applications and its growing customer base.

 

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Cash Flow Generation – The financial statements reflect the emphasis of management on not only directing resources to growth markets, but also using cash provided by our operating and investing activities for the repayment of debt in addition to providing a stable dividend to our shareowners. Verizon’s total debt increased to $42,356 million as of June 30, 2006 from $38,257 million as of December 31, 2005, primarily as a result of debt acquired in connection with the MCI merger. However, Verizon’s ratio of debt to debt combined with shareowners’ equity was 48.6% as of June 30, 2006 compared with 49.1% as of December 31, 2005 and 51.5% as of June 30, 2005. Verizon repurchased $1,009 million of its common stock as part of its previously announced program during the six months ended June 30, 2006. Additionally, Verizon’s balance of cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2006 of $1,186 million, increased $410 million, or 52.8% from December 31, 2005.

Supporting these key focus areas are continuing initiatives to effectively package and enhance the value of our products and services. In 2004, Verizon announced a deployment expansion of FiOS in several states in our service territory. As of the end of 2005, we met our goal of passing three million premises. We have achieved a data penetration rate of 15% where we have been selling FiOS data for twelve months, with 4.4 million premises passed, and continue to progress toward our goal of reaching 30% penetration in five years. As of June 30, 2006, FiOS data services are available in 16 states. In 2005, Verizon began offering video on the FiOS network in three markets and now video service is available in 7 states and we continue our efforts to acquire franchises to offer video services. As of June 30, 2006, Verizon had obtained 92 video franchises from local franchise authorities covering 2.6 million households and the penetration for video services was 10% in franchise areas that have been open for sales for six months. FiOS TV includes a collection of all-digital programming with more than 375 channels, 47 music channels and 22 high-definition television channels. Innovative product bundles include local wireline, long distance, wireless and broadband services for consumer and general business retail customers. These efforts will also help counter the effects of competition and technology substitution that have resulted in access line losses that have contributed to declining Wireline revenues over the past several years.

Our integration activities in connection with the MCI merger are continuing on plan. During this period, we have trained our salesforce regarding the products and services available, including new products and bundled product offerings, to the customers of the Verizon Business product line. In 2006, we expect to achieve $550 million of merger synergies, and incur integration expenses of approximately $400 million. During the second quarter of 2006, we achieved $150 million of pretax merger synergies, and incurred pretax integration expenses of $76 million. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, we achieved $200 million of pretax merger synergies, and incurred pretax integration expenses of $132 million. The synergies included, in part, workforce reductions and data traffic migration onto Verizon’s networks rather than utilizing third party access providers.

At Domestic Wireless, we will continue to execute on the fundamentals of our network superiority and value proposition to deliver growth for the business and provide new and innovative products and services for our customers such as Broadband Access, our EV-DO service. We achieved our goal of reaching one-half of the U.S. population by the end of 2005. During 2005, we launched V CAST, our consumer broadband wireless service offering, which provides customers with unlimited access to video and gaming content on EV-DO handsets. In the first quarter of 2006, Domestic Wireless launched V CAST Music, a comprehensive mobile music service in which customers can download music over the air directly to their wireless phones and to their personal computers.

In December 2005, we announced that we were reviewing strategic alternatives for the disposition of Information Services. On July 7, 2006, we filed a Form 10 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Verizon Directories Disposition Corporation in a step toward a proposed spin-off of Information Services’ domestic print and Internet yellow pages directories to our stockholders. However, since this process, which could include a spin-off, sale or other transaction, or combination of these alternatives, is still ongoing, Information Services’ results of operations, financial position and cash flows remain in Verizon’s continuing operations.

On April 3, 2006, we reached definitive agreements to sell our interests in Verizon Dominicana, C. por A. (Verizon Dominicana), Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc. (TELPRI) and Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (CANTV) in three separate transactions to América Móvil, S.A. de C.V. (América Móvil), a wireless service provider throughout Latin America, and a company owned jointly by Teléfonos de México, S.A. de C.V. (Telmex) and América Móvil.

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

In this section, we discuss our overall results of operations and highlight special and non-recurring items. As a result of reaching definitive agreements to sell our interests in Verizon Dominicana, TELPRI and CANTV, which were included in the International segment, the operations of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are reported as

 

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discontinued operations and assets held for sale, while CANTV continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment. Accordingly, we now have three reportable segments. Prior period amounts and discussions are revised to reflect this change. We include in our results of operations the results of the former MCI business subsequent to the close of the merger on January 6, 2006. We exclude the effects of the special and non-recurring items from the segments’ results of operations since management does not consider them in assessing segment performance, due primarily to their non-recurring and/or non-operational nature. We believe that this presentation will assist readers in better understanding our results of operations and trends from period to period. This section on consolidated results of operations carries forward the segment results, which exclude the special and non-recurring items, and highlights and describes those items separately to ensure consistency of presentation in this section and the “Segment Results of Operations” section.

 

Consolidated Revenues

 

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,           Six Months Ended June 30,        
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     % Change     2006     2005     % Change  


Wireline

                                    

Verizon Telecom

   $    8,407     $    8,035           $  16,779     $  16,012        

Verizon Business

   5,115     1,867           9,970     3,698        

Intrasegment eliminations

   (742 )   (457 )         (1,485 )   (898 )      
    

       

     
     12,780     9,445     35.3 %   25,264     18,812     34.3 %

Domestic Wireless

   9,262     7,846     18.0     18,075     15,264     18.4  

Information Services

   802     870     (7.8 )   1,639     1,751     (6.4 )

Corporate & Other

   (166 )   (161 )   3.1     (242 )   (294 )   (17.7 )

Revenues of Hawaii operations sold

       53     (100.0 )       202     (100.0 )
    

       

     

Consolidated Revenues

   $  22,678     $  18,053     25.6     $  44,736     $  35,735     25.2  
    

       

     

Consolidated revenues in the second quarter of 2006 were higher by $4,625 million, or 25.6% and $9,001 million, or 25.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily the result of significantly higher revenues at Wireline and Domestic Wireless, partially offset by the sale of Hawaii operations in the second quarter of 2005.

Revenues at the Wireline segment increased during the second quarter of 2006 by $3,335 million, or 35.3% and $6,452 million, or 34.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. The increase is primarily attributable to the acquisition of MCI and, to a lesser extent, growth from broadband and long distance. Broadband connections increased 47.9% to 6.1 million lines at June 30, 2006. These increases were partially offset by declines in Wholesale revenues at Verizon Telecom and continued downward pressure due to subscriber losses resulting from technology substitution, including Wireless and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Wholesale revenues at Verizon Telecom declined by $168 million, or 7.4% for the second quarter of 2006 and by $365 million, or 8.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to similar periods in 2005 primarily due to the exclusion of affiliated access revenues billed to the former MCI mass market entities in the current quarter and year-to-date periods.

Domestic Wireless’s revenues increased during the second quarter of 2006 by $1,416 million, or 18.0% and $2,811 million, or 18.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 due to increases in service revenues, including data revenues, and equipment and other revenues. These increases were primarily due to a 15.8% increase in customers as of June 30, 2006 compared to June 30, 2005. Data revenues were $1,035 million in the second quarter of 2006 and $1,907 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to $483 million and $899 million in the second quarter of 2005 and the six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively. Average service revenue per customer (ARPU) increased by 0.6% to $49.71 in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the similar period in 2005, primarily attributable to increases in data revenue per customer driven by increased use of our messaging and other data services. ARPU decreased by 0.1% to $49.20 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar period in 2005. ARPU per retail customer of $50.34 for the quarter ended June 30, 2006 also grew compared to the similar period in 2005. Increases in handsets sold and increased equipment upgrades also drove increases in equipment and other revenue in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005.

 

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Consolidated Operating Expenses

 

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,           Six Months Ended June 30,        
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005     % Change     2006    2005     % Change  


Cost of services and sales

   $    8,778    $    6,077     44.4 %   $  17,367    $  12,029     44.4 %

Selling, general and administrative expense

   6,679    5,110     30.7     12,867    10,187     26.3  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   3,630    3,410     6.5     7,319    6,786     7.9  

Sale of businesses, net

      (530 )   (100.0 )      (530 )   (100.0 )
    

       

     

Total Operating Expenses

   $  19,087    $  14,067     35.7     $  37,553    $  28,472     31.9  
    

       

     

Cost of Services and Sales

Consolidated cost of services and sales in the second quarter of 2006 increased $2,701 million, or 44.4% and $5,338 million, or 44.4 % for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily driven by higher costs attributable to the inclusion of the former MCI operations in the Wireline segment subsequent to the completion of the merger, higher wireless network costs, increases in wireless equipment costs and increases in pension and other postretirement benefit costs, partially offset by the net impact of productivity improvement initiatives.

The higher wireless network costs were caused by increased network usage relating to both voice and data services in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, partially offset by decreased roaming, local interconnection and long distance rates. Cost of wireless equipment sales increased in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 primarily as a result of an increase in wireless devices sold due to an increase in gross activations and equipment upgrades.

Costs in these periods were also impacted by increased pension and other postretirement benefit costs. As of December 31, 2005, we evaluated key employee benefit plan assumptions in response to current conditions in the securities markets. The overall impact of the 2006 assumptions, combined with the impact of lower than expected actual asset returns over the past several years, resulted in pension and other postretirement benefit expense of approximately $384 million in the second quarter of 2006 and $768 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to net pension and postretirement benefit expense of $307 million and $635 million in the second quarter of 2005 and six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Consolidated selling, general and administrative expense in the second quarter of 2006 increased $1,569 million, or 30.7% and $2,680 million, or 26.3% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily attributable to the inclusion of the former MCI operations in the Wireline segment subsequent to the completion of the merger, increases in the Domestic Wireless segment primarily related to increased salary and benefits expenses and special and non-recurring charges.

Special and non-recurring charges in the second quarter of 2006 included $300 million associated with employee severance and severance-related activities in connection with the involuntary separation of approximately 3,200 employees, the majority of whom will be notified during the third and fourth quarters of 2006. Special and non-recurring charges also included $76 million and $132 million in the second quarter of 2006 and six months ended June 30, 2006 respectively, of merger integration costs, primarily for advertising and other costs related to re-branding initiatives and systems integration activities. The second quarter of 2006 and six months ended June 30, 2006 included $45 million and $90 million, respectively, of special and non-recurring charges for Verizon Center relocation costs.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense in the second quarter of 2006 increased $220 million, or 6.5% and $533 million, or 7.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 primarily due to higher depreciable and amortizable asset bases as a result of the MCI merger and, to a lesser extent, increased capital expenditures.

 

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Sales of Businesses, Net

During the second quarter of 2005, we sold our wireline and directory businesses in Hawaii and recorded a pretax gain of $530 million.

 

Other Consolidated Results

 

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Businesses

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated businesses decreased by $7 million, or 3.9% in the second quarter of 2006 and by $43 million, or 11.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. The decrease for the second quarter of 2006 compared to the similar period of 2005 is primarily driven by lower tax benefits at Vodafone Omnitel N.V. (Vodafone Omnitel). The decrease for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar period of 2005 is primarily driven by lower tax benefits, lower operational results and unfavorable foreign exchange fluctuations at Vodafone Omnitel compared with the similar period in 2005.

Other Income and (Expense), Net

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

         

Six Months Ended

June 30,

       
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     % Change     2006    2005     % Change  


Interest income

   $  48     $  29      65.5 %   $  103    $    63     63.5 %

Foreign exchange gains (losses), net

   (7 )   1     nm     3    (1 )   nm  

Other, net

   19     47     (59.6 )   57    140     (59.3 )
    

       

     

Total

   $  60     $  77     (22.1 )   $  163    $  202     (19.3 )
    

       

     

nm – Not meaningful

The decrease in other income and expense, net in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the similar period of 2005 is primarily due to lower Other, net income as well as foreign exchange losses in the quarter ended June 30, 2006, partially offset by higher interest income. Lower Other, net income was primarily driven by higher leased asset losses and lower gains on investments. The decrease in other income and expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar period of 2005 is primarily due to lower Other, net income, partially offset by higher interest income. Lower Other, net income was primarily driven by leased asset losses in the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to leased asset gains in the similar period of 2005, as well as by a gain on the sale of an international wireless investment in the first quarter of 2005.

Interest Expense

 

    

Three Months Ended

June 30,

         

Six Months Ended

June 30,

       
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     % Change     2006     2005     % Change  


Interest expense

   $ 590     $ 528     11.7 %   $ 1,226     $ 1,076     13.9 %

Capitalized interest costs

     117       104     12.5       225       163     38.0  
    


       


     

Total interest costs on debt balances

   $ 707     $ 632     11.9     $ 1,451     $ 1,239     17.1  
    


       


     

Average debt outstanding

   $   42,461     $   40,349           $   42,693     $   39,549        

Effective interest rate

     6.7 %     6.3 %           6.8 %     6.3 %      

The increase in interest costs for the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 were due to higher average debt levels of $2,112 million and $3,144 million, respectively, driven by debt acquired in connection with the merger with MCI, and higher average interest rates, partially offset by a higher level of interest capitalized in connection with the build-out of our FiOS network.

 

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Minority Interest

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
         Six Months Ended
June 30,
      
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005    % Change     2006    2005    % Change  


Minority interest

   $ 986    $ 711    38.7 %   $ 1,854    $ 1,321    40.3 %

The increase in minority interest expense in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 is primarily due to the higher earnings at Domestic Wireless, which has a significant minority interest attributable to Vodafone Group Plc (Vodafone).

Provision for Income Taxes

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     % Change     2006     2005     % Change  


Provision for income taxes

   $ 754     $ 933     (19.2 )%   $   1,566     $   1,684     (7.0 )%

Effective income tax rate

     33.6 %     31.1 %           34.1 %     31.0 %      

The effective income tax rate is the provision for income taxes as a percentage of income before the provision for income taxes, discontinued operations and cumulative effect of accounting change. The effective tax rates for the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods of 2005 were higher due to the favorable impacts of tax benefits resulting from IRS audit settlements in 2005. These increases in the 2006 rates compared to 2005 were partially offset by lower state taxes and higher foreign related tax benefits in 2006. In addition, as a result of the capital gain realized in the second quarter of 2005 in connection with the sale of our Hawaii businesses, we recorded a tax benefit of $242 million related to prior year investment losses, which was largely offset by a net tax provision of $232 million related to the repatriation of foreign earnings under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, which revises SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized as compensation expense based on their fair value. Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, using the prospective method (as permitted under SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure) for all new awards granted, modified or settled after January 1, 2003. Under the prospective method, employee compensation expense in the first year is recognized for new awards granted, modified, or settled. The options generally vest over a term of three years, therefore the expenses related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for 2006, 2005 and 2004 are less than what would have been recorded if the fair value method had been applied to previously issued awards.

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) utilizing the modified prospective method. SFAS No. 123(R) requires the measurement of stock-based compensation expense based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant. Under the prospective method, the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) apply to all awards granted or modified after the date of adoption. SFAS No. 123(R) is supplemented by Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 107, “Share-Based Payments” (SAB No. 107). This SAB, which was issued by the SEC in March 2005, expresses the views of the SEC staff regarding the relationship between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations. In particular, this SAB provides guidance related to valuation methods, the classification of compensation expense, non-GAAP financial measures, the accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements, disclosures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis subsequent to adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), and interpretations of other share-based payment arrangements. We also adopted SAB No. 107 on January 1, 2006.

We recorded a $42 million cumulative effect of accounting change as of January 1, 2006, net of taxes and after minority interest, to recognize the effect of initially measuring the outstanding liability awards (VARs) of the Verizon Wireless joint venture at fair value utilizing a Black-Scholes model. Although we recorded a cumulative effect of adoption as of January 1, 2006, we do not expect SFAS No. 123(R) to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements in future periods (see Note 3).

 

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Discontinued Operations

Verizon Dominicana and Telecomunicaciones de Puerto Rico, Inc.

During the second quarter of 2006, we reached definitive agreements to sell our interests in our Caribbean and Latin American telecommunications operations in three separate transactions to América Móvil, a wireless service provider throughout Latin America, and a company owned jointly by Telmex and América Móvil. We agreed to sell our 100 percent interest in Verizon Dominicana and our 52 percent interest in TELPRI to América Móvil. An entity jointly owned by América Móvil and Telmex has agreed to purchase our indirect 28.5 percent interest in CANTV.

Upon closing, the transactions are expected to result in pretax proceeds of approximately $3,700 million, prior to purchase price adjustments as defined in the sale agreements, in exchange for the assets and liabilities, including the outstanding debt. Each transaction is subject to separate regulatory approvals and none of the sales is contingent on the closing of any of the other transactions. We expect to close the sales of our interests in Verizon Dominicana, CANTV, and TELPRI in 2006 or 2007. While the final purchase price for each of the transactions is subject to adjustment, the aggregate gain or loss on the three transactions is not expected to be material. Although we anticipate pretax gains on each of the transactions, in the case of Verizon Dominicana, taxes that will become payable and be recorded at the time that the transaction closes will likely exceed the amount of the pretax gain. In addition, the government tax authority in the Dominican Republic has issued an assessment of proposed capital gains tax in connection with the transaction. We believe that the assessment is without merit, we have filed an appeal and we intend to contest it vigorously. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding.

In accordance with SFAS No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” we have classified the results of operations of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI as discontinued operations in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. In addition, the assets and liabilities of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are aggregated and disclosed as current assets and current liabilities in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our investment in CANTV continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment in continuing operations.

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax increased by $75 million, or 170.5% in the second quarter of 2006 and $142 million, or 123.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily due to the cessation of depreciation on fixed assets during the second quarter of 2006, consistent with the accounting requirements for discontinued operations, and the sale of directory publication rights of TELPRI during the six months ended June 30, 2006.

 

Segment Results of Operations

As a result of reaching definitive agreements to sell our interests in Verizon Dominicana, TELPRI and CANTV, which were included in the International segment, the operations of Verizon Dominicana and TELPRI are reported as discontinued operations and assets held for sale, while CANTV continues to be accounted for as an equity method investment. Accordingly, we now have three reportable segments and prior period amounts and discussions are revised to reflect this change. Our segments are Wireline, Domestic Wireless, and Information Services. You can find additional information about our segments in Note 10 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on segment income, which excludes unallocated corporate expenses and other adjustments arising during each period. The other adjustments include transactions that the chief operating decision makers exclude in assessing business unit performance due primarily to their non-recurring and/or non-operational nature. Although such transactions are excluded from business segment results, they are included in reported consolidated earnings. We previously highlighted the more significant of these transactions in the “Consolidated Results of Operations” section. Gains and losses that are not individually significant are included in all segment results, since these items are included in the chief operating decision makers’ assessment of unit performance.

 

Wireline

 

The Wireline segment, which includes the operations of the former MCI, consists of the operations of Verizon Telecom, a provider of telephone services, including voice, broadband, data, network access, long distance, video, and other services to consumer and small business customers and carriers and Verizon Business, a provider of next-generation IP network services globally to medium and large businesses and government customers. As discussed earlier under “Consolidated Results of Operations,” in the second quarter of 2005, we sold wireline properties in

 

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Hawaii representing approximately 700,000 access lines or 1% of the total Verizon Telecom switched access lines in service. For comparability purposes, the results of operations shown in the tables below exclude the Hawaii properties that have been sold.

Operating Revenues

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
          Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     % Change     2006     2005     % Change  


Verizon Telecom

                                            

Mass Markets

   $ 5,693     $ 5,142     10.7 %   $   11,374     $   10,231     11.2 %

Wholesale

     2,097       2,265     (7.4 )     4,158       4,523     (8.1 )

Other

     617       628     (1.8 )     1,247       1,258     (0.9 )

Verizon Business

                                            

Enterprise Business

     3,525       1,594     121.1       6,907       3,166     118.2  

Wholesale

     786       273     187.9       1,540       532     189.5  

International and Other

     804           nm       1,523           nm  

Intrasegment Eliminations

     (742 )     (457 )   62.4       (1,485 )     (898 )   65.4  
    


       


     

Total Wireline Operating Revenues

   $ 12,780     $ 9,445     35.3     $ 25,264     $ 18,812     34.3  
    


       


     

nm – Not meaningful

In connection with the completion of the MCI merger, our product lines were realigned to be reflective of the Line of Business structure in which the product lines are currently being managed. Prior period amounts and discussions were reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Verizon Telecom

Mass Markets

Verizon Telecom’s Mass Markets revenue includes local exchange (basic service and end-user access), value-added services, long distance, broadband services for residential and certain small business accounts and FiOS TV services. Value-added services are a family of services that expand the utilization of the network, including products such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Home Voicemail and Return Call. Long distance includes both intraLATA toll services and interLATA long distance services. Broadband services include DSL and FiOS. In addition to subscriber services, Mass Markets offers non-subscriber services that include dial around long distance products.

The increase in mass market revenue of $551 million, or 10.7% in the second quarter of 2006 and $1,143 million, or 11.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 was due to the inclusion of revenues from the former MCI in the current year and growth from broadband and long distance, offset by lower demand and usage of our basic local exchange and accompanying services attributable to subscriber losses due to technology substitution, including wireless and VoIP.

We added 981,000 new broadband connections (DSL and FiOS) in the six months ended June 30, 2006, including 440,000 in the second quarter, for a total of 6.1 million lines at June 30, 2006, representing a 47.9% increase from June 30, 2005. Our Freedom service plans continue to stimulate growth in long distance services. As of June 30, 2006, approximately 56% of our legacy Verizon wireline customers have chosen Verizon as their long distance carrier.

A 7.4% decline in switched access lines in service from second quarter 2005 to second quarter 2006 was mainly driven by the effects of competition and technology substitution. Demand for legacy Verizon residential access lines declined 6.6% at June 30, 2006 compared to June 30, 2005, as customers substituted wireless, broadband and cable services for traditional landline services. At the same time, legacy Verizon business access lines declined 3.7% at June 30, 2006 compared to June 30, 2005, primarily reflecting competition and a shift to high-speed, high-volume special access lines.

We continue to seek opportunities to retain and win back customers. Our Freedom service plans offer local services with various combinations of long distance and Internet access services in a discounted bundle available on one bill. We have introduced our Freedom service plans in nearly all of our key markets.

 

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Wholesale

Wholesale revenues are earned from long distance and other competing carriers who use our local exchange facilities to provide usage services to their customers. Switched access revenues are derived from fixed and usage-based charges paid by carriers for access to our local network. Special access revenues originate from carriers that buy dedicated local exchange capacity to support their private networks. Wholesale services also include local wholesale revenues from unbundled network elements (UNEs), interconnection revenues from competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) and wireless carriers, and some data transport revenues.

Wholesale revenues decreased by $168 million, or 7.4% in the second quarter of 2006 and by $365 million, or 8.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, due to the exclusion of affiliated access revenues billed to the former MCI mass market entities in the current quarter and year-to-date periods, and declines in legacy Verizon switched access revenues and local wholesale revenues, offset by increases in special access revenues.

Switched minutes of use (MOUs) declined in the second quarter of 2006 and for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, reflecting the impact of access line loss and technology substitution. Wholesale lines decreased by 18.8% due to the impact of a decision by a major competitor to deemphasize their local market initiatives in 2005. Special access revenue growth reflects continuing demand in the business market for high-capacity, high-speed digital services, partially offset by lessening demand for older, low-speed data products and services. As of June 30, 2006, customer demand for high capacity and digital data services increased 10.8% compared to the similar period in 2005.

The FCC regulates the rates that we charge customers for interstate access services. See “Other Factors That May Affect Future Results – Regulatory and Competitive Trends – FCC Regulation” for additional information on FCC rulemaking concerning federal access rates, universal service and certain broadband services.

Other

Other revenues include services such as operator services (including deaf relay services), public (coin) telephone, card services and supply sales, as well as former MCI dial around services including 10-10-987, 10-10-220, 1-800-COLLECT and Prepaid Cards.

Verizon Telecom’s revenues from other services decreased by $11 million, or 1.8% in the second quarter, and by $11 million, or 0.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. Revenue increases, due to the inclusion of revenues from the former MCI in the current year, were more than offset by decreases due to the dissolution of non-strategic businesses, including the termination of a large commercial inventory management contract in 2005, and reduced business volumes.

Verizon Business

Enterprise Business

Our Enterprise Business market provides voice, data and internet communications services to medium and large business customers, multi-national corporations, and state and federal government customers. In addition, the Enterprise Business market also provides value-added services that make communications more secure, reliable and efficient, and managed network services for customers that outsource all or portions of their communications and information processing operations. Traditional local and long distance services comprise $1,687 million, or 48% of revenue in the quarter ended June 30, 2006, and $3,348 million or 48% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Enterprise Business also provides data services such as Private Line, Frame Relay and ATM services, both domestically and internationally, as well as managed network services to its customers.

Enterprise Business revenues increased by $1,931 million, or 121.1% in the second quarter of 2006 and by $3,741 million or 118.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to similar periods in 2005 primarily due to the acquisition of MCI, partially offset by continued volume declines in switched/special access lines and minutes of usage. Data services revenue represented $1,359 million, or 38% of Enterprise Business’s revenue stream in the second quarter of 2006 and $2,621 million or 38% for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Internet services revenue was $479 million in the second quarter of 2006, or 14% of Enterprise Business’s revenues and $938 million or 14% for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The Internet suite of products is Enterprise Business’s fastest growing and includes Private IP, IP VPN, Web Hosting and VOIP.

 

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Wholesale

Wholesale revenues relate to domestic wholesale services, which include all wholesale traffic sold in the United States, as well as traffic that originates in the United States and terminates in a different country.

Verizon Business wholesale revenues increased by $513 million, or 187.9%, in the second quarter of 2006 and by $1,008 million, or 189.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, primarily due to the MCI acquisition. Local and long distance voice products, including transport, represented $521 million or 66% of the market’s total revenue in the second quarter of 2006, and $1,024 million or 66% for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Wholesale revenue is influenced by aggressive competitive pricing, in particular long distance voice services. Wholesale data and Internet revenues were $265 million or 34% of total Wholesale revenue in the second quarter of 2006 and $516 million or 34% of total Wholesale revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

International and Other

International operations serve businesses, government entities and telecommunications carriers outside of the United States. Other operations include our Skytel paging business.

Our revenues from International and Other were $804 million in the second quarter of 2006 and $1,523 million in the six months ended June 30, 2006. This market represents a new revenue stream to Verizon resulting from the MCI acquisition. International and Other had voice revenues of $470 million, which comprised 58% of the total International and Other revenues in the second quarter of 2006, and $899 million or 59% of the total International and Other revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Internet revenues in the second quarter of 2006 represented $232 million, or 29%, of total International and Other revenues and $427 million or 28% of total International and Other revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Data revenues were $102 million, or 13% of total International and Other revenue in the second quarter of 2006 and $197 million or 13% of total International and Other revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,          Six Months Ended June 30,       
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005    % Change     2006    2005    % Change  


Cost of services and sales

   $    6,121    $  3,855    58.8 %   $  12,121    $    7,701    57.4 %

Selling, general and administrative expense

   3,026    2,192    38.0     6,049    4,272    41.6  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   2,407    2,198    9.5     4,788    4,385    9.2  
    
        
      
     $  11,554    $  8,245    40.1     $  22,958    $  16,358    40.3  
    
        
      

Cost of Services and Sales

Cost of services and sales includes the following costs directly attributable to a service or product: salaries and wages, benefits, materials and supplies, contracted services, network access and transport costs, computer systems support, costs to support our outsourcing contracts and technical facilities, contributions to the universal service fund, customer provisioning costs and cost of products sold. Aggregate customer care costs, which include billing and service provisioning, are allocated between cost of services and sales and selling, general and administrative expense.

Cost of services and sales increased by $2,266 million, or 58.8% in the second quarter of 2006 and $4,420 million, or 57.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. This increase was primarily due to the MCI merger partially offset by the net impact of other cost changes. Both periods in 2006 were also impacted by increased pension and other postretirement benefit costs. As of December 31, 2005, we evaluated key employee benefit plan assumptions in response to current conditions in the securities markets. The overall impact of the 2006 assumptions, combined with the impact of lower than expected actual asset returns over the past several years, resulted in pension and other postretirement benefit expense of $375 million (primarily in cost of services and sales) in the second quarter of 2006 and $749 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to net pension and postretirement benefit expense of $315 million and $619 million in the second quarter of 2005 and six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively. Higher costs associated with our growth businesses and annual wage increases were offset by productivity improvement initiatives, which reduced cost of services and sales expenses in the current periods. Further, expenses decreased in both periods due to the dissolution of non-strategic businesses, including the termination of a large commercial inventory management contract in 2005.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expense includes salaries and wages and benefits not directly attributable to a service or product, bad debt charges, taxes other than income, advertising and sales commission costs, customer billing, call center and information technology costs, professional service fees and rent for administrative space.

Selling, general and administrative expense increased by $834 million, or 38.0% in the second quarter of 2006 and $1,777 million, or 41.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. This increase was primarily due to the inclusion of expenses from the former MCI in the current year, partially offset by the impact of other cost changes. Expense reductions were attributable to cost reduction initiatives and lower bad debt costs.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense of $209 million, or 9.5% in the second quarter of 2006 and $403 million, or 9.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 was mainly driven by the acquisition of MCI’s depreciable property and equipment and finite-lived intangibles, including its customer lists and capitalized non-network software, measured at fair value and by growth in depreciable telephone plant, partially offset by lower rates of depreciation. Amortization expense increased by $70 million in the second quarter of 2006 and $149 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, primarily due to a higher level of capitalized non-network software and amortization of the acquired MCI intangibles.

Segment Income

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005      2006    2005   


Segment Income

   $  486    $  459    5.9 %   $  807    $  963    (16.2 )%

Segment income increased by $27 million, or 5.9% in the second quarter of 2006 and decreased $156 million, or 16.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005, primarily as a result of the MCI acquisition and after-tax impact of operating revenues and operating expenses described above and favorable income tax adjustments.

Special and non-recurring items not included in Verizon Wireline’s segment income totaled $196 million and $(199) million in the second quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively. Special and non-recurring items in the second quarter of 2006 included costs associated with severance activity, merger integration costs as well as Verizon Center relocation-related costs. Special and non-recurring items in the second quarter of 2005 included Hawaii results of operations and a gain of $191 million on the sale of the Hawaii wireline operations. Special and non-recurring items during the six months ended June 30, 2006 of $256 million included costs associated with severance activity, Verizon Center relocation-related costs, merger integration costs and costs associated with the redemption and refinancing of debt acquired from MCI. Special and non-recurring items totaling $(223) million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 related to the Hawaii results of operations and gain on sale.

 

Domestic Wireless

Our Domestic Wireless segment provides wireless voice and data services and equipment sales across the United States. This segment primarily represents the operations of the Verizon Wireless joint venture.

Operating Revenues

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005      2006    2005   


Wireless sales and services

   $  9,262    $  7,846    18.0 %   $  18,075    $  15,264    18.4 %

Domestic Wireless’s total revenues increased by $1,416 million, or 18.0% in the second quarter of 2006 and $2,811 million, or 18.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. Service revenue of $8,036 million in the second quarter of 2006 increased by $1,162 million, or 16.9%, compared to the similar period in 2005, and service revenue of $15,645 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased by $2,214 million, or 16.5%, compared to the similar period in 2005. The service revenue increases were primarily due to a 15.8% increase in customers as of June 30, 2006 compared to June 30, 2005 and increases in data revenue.

 

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Equipment and other revenue increased $254 million, or 26.1% in the second quarter of 2006 and $597 million, or 32.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 principally as a result of increases in wireless devices sold in addition to increases in revenue per unit sold.

Our Domestic Wireless segment ended the second quarter of 2006 with approximately 54.8 million customers, compared to 47.4 million customers at the end of the second quarter of 2005. Domestic Wireless added approximately 1.8 million customers during the second quarter of 2006 compared to 1.9 million during the second quarter of 2005. We added 3.5 million net customers during the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to 3.6 million during the similar period in 2005. All of the net customers added during the second quarter of 2006 and substantially all of the net customers added during the six months ended June 30, 2006 were retail customers. The overall composition of our Domestic Wireless customer base as of June 30, 2006 was 93% retail postpaid, 3% retail prepaid and 4% resellers. The average monthly churn rate, the rate at which customers disconnect service, decreased to 1.13% in the second quarter of 2006 and decreased to 1.16% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to 1.22% in the second quarter of 2005 and 1.28% for the six months ended June 30, 2005. Retail postpaid churn decreased to 0.87% in the second quarter of 2006 and decreased to 0.90% for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to 1.01% in the second quarter of 2005 and 1.06% for the six months ended June 30, 2005.

Average service revenue per customer per month increased slightly to $49.71 in the second quarter of 2006 and decreased slightly to $49.20 for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. Average service revenue per customer included an 84% increase in data revenue per customer for the second quarter of 2006 and an 82% increase for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to similar periods in 2005, driven by increased use of our messaging and other data services. However, Domestic Wireless continues to experience an increase in the proportion of customers on our family share and America’s Choice price plans, which put downward pressure on average service revenue per customer during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. Data revenues of $1,035 million, or 12.9% of service revenues in the second quarter of 2006 increased by $552 million, or 114.3% compared to the similar period in 2005. Data revenues of $1,907 million, or 12.2% of service revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2006 increased $1,008 million, or 112.1% compared to the similar period in 2005. Data revenue represented 7.0% and 6.7% of service revenues in the second quarter of 2005 and for the six months ended June 30, 2005, respectively.

Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005      2006    2005   


Cost of services and sales

   $  2,752    $  2,282    20.6 %   $    5,417    $    4,380    23.7 %

Selling, general and administrative expense

   2,946    2,607    13.0     5,705    5,237    8.9  

Depreciation and amortization expense

   1,190    1,175    1.3     2,464    2,325    6.0  
    
        
      
     $  6,888    $  6,064    13.6     $  13,586    $  11,942    13.8  
    
        
      

Cost of Services and Sales

Cost of services and sales, which are costs to operate the wireless network as well as the cost of roaming, long distance and equipment sales, grew by $470 million, or 20.6% for the second quarter of 2006 and $1,037 million, or 23.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. Cost of services increased due to higher wireless network costs in the current year periods caused by increased network usage relating to both voice and data services, partially offset by lower roaming, local interconnection and long distance rates. Cost of equipment sales grew by 25.1% in the second quarter of 2006 and 29.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. The increases were primarily attributed to an increase in wireless devices sold, resulting from an increase in equipment upgrades and gross retail activations in the second quarter of 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the similar periods in 2005.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Selling, general and administrative expenses grew by $339 million, or 13.0% in the second quarter of 2006 and $468 million, or 8.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily due to an increase in salary and benefits expense of $191 million for the second quarter of 2006 and $231 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the similar periods in 2005. The salary and benefits expense increase was the result of higher per employee salary and benefit costs, driven by an increase in employees, primarily in the sales and customer care areas. Increases in advertising and promotion expenses, as well

 

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as costs associated with regulatory fees, primarily the universal service fund, also contributed to the increases in the second quarter of 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2006, compared to the similar periods in 2005.

Depreciation and Amortization Expense

Depreciation and amortization increased by $15 million, or 1.3% in the second quarter of 2006 and $139 million, or 6.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These increases were primarily due to increased depreciation expense related to the increase in depreciable assets.

Segment Income

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005      2006    2005   


Segment Income

   $ 729    $ 517    41.0 %   $   1,360    $     950    43.2 %

Segment income increased by $212 million, or 41.0% in the second quarter of 2006 and by $410 million, or 43.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005 primarily as a result of the after-tax impact of operating revenues and operating expenses described above, partially offset by an increase in minority interest. The minority interest relates to the significant minority interest attributable to Vodafone.

 

 

Information Services

Information Services’ multi-platform business is comprised of: print yellow pages directories; SuperPages.com, our online directory and search services; and SuperPages On the Go, our directory and information services on wireless telephones. This segment’s operations are principally in the United States.

In 2005, in connection with the sale of Verizon’s wireline properties in Hawaii discussed earlier under “Consolidated Results of Operations,” we sold our directory operations in Hawaii. For comparability purposes, the results of operations shown in the tables below exclude the Hawaii operations that were sold.

Operating Revenues

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005      2006    2005   


Operating Revenues

   $ 802    $ 870    (7.8 )%   $   1,639    $   1,751    (6.4 )%

Operating revenues decreased $68 million, or 7.8% in the second quarter of 2006, and $112 million, or 6.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These decreases were primarily due to reduced domestic print advertising revenue and the impact of the sale of small international operations. Revenues for SuperPages.com increased 12.2% in the second quarter of 2006 and 9.2% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005.

Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     % Change     Six Months Ended June 30,     % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005       2006    2005    


Cost of services and sales

   $  139    $  148     (6.1 )%   $  289    $  303     (4.6 )%

Selling, general and administrative expense

   274    293     (6.5 )   534    574     (7.0 )

Depreciation and amortization expense

   22    23     (4.3 )   45    46     (2.2 )
    

       

     
     $  435    $  464     (6.3 )   $  868    $  923     (6.0 )
    

       

     

Cost of services and sales decreased $9 million, or 6.1% in the second quarter of 2006 and $14 million, or 4.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These decreases were primarily due to the sale of small international operations and decreased printing costs, partially offset by increased traffic expense associated with SuperPages.com.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $19 million, or 6.5% in the second quarter of 2006 and $40 million, or 7.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These decreases were the result of higher sales and marketing expenses in the domestic market offset by lower international expenses due to the sale of international directory publishing operations.

 

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Segment Income

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,    % Change    Six Months Ended June 30,    % Change  
(Dollars in Millions)    2006    2005       2006    2005   


Segment Income

   $ 229    $ 255    (10.2)%    $ 479    $ 519    (7.7 )%

Segment income decreased $26 million, or 10.2% in the second quarter of 2006 and $40 million, or 7.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar periods in 2005. These decreases are primarily the result of the after-tax impact of operating revenues and operating expenses described above.

 

Special Items

 

Merger Integration Costs

 

During the second quarter of 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2006, we recorded pretax charges of $76 million ($48 million after-tax, or $.02 per diluted share) and $132 million ($83 million after-tax, or $.03 per diluted share), respectively, related to integration costs associated with the MCI acquisition that closed on January 6, 2006. These costs are primarily comprised of advertising and other costs related to re-branding initiatives and systems integration activities. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

 

Facility and Employee-Related Items

 

During the second quarter of 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2006, we recorded pretax charges of $45 million ($29 million after-tax, or $.01 per diluted share) and $90 million ($57 million after-tax, or $.02 per diluted share), respectively, in connection with the planned relocation of several functions to Verizon Center. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

During the second quarter of 2006, we recorded a pretax charge of $300 million ($186 million after-tax, or $.06 per diluted share) for employee severance and severance-related costs in connection with the involuntary separation of approximately 3,200 employees, the majority of whom will be terminated during the third and fourth quarters of 2006. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

 

Sales of Businesses, Net

 

During the second quarter of 2005, we sold our wireline and directory businesses in Hawaii, including Verizon Hawaii Inc. which operates approximately 700,000 switched access lines, as well as the services and assets of Verizon Long Distance, Verizon Online, Verizon Information Services and Verizon Select Services Inc. in Hawaii, to an affiliate of The Carlyle Group for $1,326 million in cash proceeds. In connection with this sale, we recorded a pretax gain of $530 million ($336 million after-tax, or $.12 per diluted share). There were no similar items incurred during the comparable periods in 2006.

 

Tax Matters

 

As a result of the capital gain realized in the second quarter of 2005 in connection with the sale of our Hawaii businesses, we recorded a tax benefit of $242 million ($.09 per diluted share) related to capital losses incurred in previous years.

Also during the second quarter of 2005, we recorded a net tax provision of $232 million ($.08 per diluted share) related to the repatriation of foreign earnings under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, which provides for a favorable federal income tax rate in connection with the repatriation of foreign earnings, in certain circumstances. Two of Verizon’s foreign investments repatriated earnings resulting in income taxes of $355 million, partially offset by a tax benefit of $123 million. There were no similar items incurred during the comparable periods in 2006.

 

Other Special Items

 

During the first quarter of 2006, we recorded pretax charges of $26 million ($16 million after-tax, or $.01 per diluted share) resulting from the extinguishment of debt assumed in connection with the completion of the MCI merger. There were no similar charges incurred during the comparable periods in 2005.

 

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Consolidated Financial Condition

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,        
(Dollars in Millions)    2006     2005     $ Change  

Cash Flows Provided By (Used In)

                        

Operating activities

   $   11,537     $ 9,912     $ 1,625  

Investing activities

     (5,486 )     (10,922 )     5,436  

Financing activities

     (5,641 )     125       (5,766 )
    


Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   $ 410     $ (885 )   $ 1,295  
    


We use the net cash generated from our operations to fund network expansion and modernization, repay external financing, pay dividends and invest in new businesses. Additional external financing is utilized when necessary. While our current liabilities typically exceed current assets, our sources of funds, primarily from operations and, to the extent necessary, from readily available external financing arrangements, are sufficient to meet ongoing operating and investing requirements. We expect that capital spending requirements will continue to be financed primarily through internally generated funds. Additional debt or equity financing may be needed to fund additional development activities or to maintain our capital structure to ensure our financial flexibility.

 

Cash Flows Provided By Operating Activities

 

Our primary source of funds continues to be cash generated from operations. The increase in cash from operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to the similar period of 2005 was primarily due to lower pension and benefit fund contributions and lower dividends paid to minority partners. The six months ended June 30, 2005 includes taxes paid related to foreign operations and investments sold during the fourth quarter of 2004, partially offset by significant repatriations of foreign earnings of unconsolidated businesses.

 

Cash Flows Used In Investing Activities

 

Capital expenditures continue to be our primary use of capital resources and facilitate the introduction of new products and services, enhance responsiveness to competitive challenges and increase the operating efficiency and productivity of our networks. Including capitalized software, we invested $5,010 million in our Wireline business during the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $4,044 million in the similar period in 2005. We also invested $3,178 million in our Domestic Wireless business during the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to $3,339 million in the similar period in 2005. The increase in capital spending at Wireline is mainly driven by the acquisition of MCI, coupled with increased spending in high growth areas such as broadband. Capital spending at Domestic Wireless represents our continuing effort to invest in this high growth business. Capital expenditures including capitalized software are expected to be $17.0 billion to $17.4 billion for the full year 2006.

We received net cash proceeds of $1,471 million from acquisitions and investments in businesses during the six months ended June 30, 2006, primarily driven by MCI’s cash balances of $2,361 million at the date of the merger, partially offset by our cash payment to MCI shareholders of $779 million, and $50 million to acquire other wireless properties. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, we invested $4,438 million in acquisitions and investments in businesses, including $3,003 million to acquire NextWave’s personal communications services licenses, $677 million primarily to acquire 63 broadband wireless licenses in connection with FCC auction 58, $419 million to purchase Qwest Wireless, LLC’s spectrum licenses and wireless network assets in several existing and new markets, $230 million to purchase spectrum from MetroPCS, Inc. and $49 million for other wireless properties. During the six months ended June 30, 2005, we received cash proceeds of $1,326 million in connection with the sale of Verizon’s wireline and directory operations in Hawaii.

Other, net investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2006 includes cash proceeds of $315 million from leasing activities and $89 million from the sale of small international investments. Other, net investing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2005 includes $1,121 million for the purchase of 43.4 million shares

 

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of MCI stock from eight entities affiliated with Carlos Slim Helu, partially offset by cash proceeds of $276 million from leasing activities and $102 million from the sale of a small international investment.

Under the terms of an investment agreement, Vodafone may require Verizon Wireless to purchase up to an aggregate of $20 billion worth of Vodafone’s interest in Verizon Wireless at designated times at its then fair market value. In the event Vodafone exercises its put rights, we have the right, exercisable at our sole discretion, to purchase up to $12.5 billion of Vodafone’s interest instead of Verizon Wireless for cash or Verizon stock at our option. Vodafone had the right to require the purchase of up to $10 billion during a 61-day period opening on June 10 and closing on August 9 in 2005, and did not exercise that right. As a result, Vodafone still has the right to require the purchase of up to $20 billion worth of its interest, not to exceed $10 billion in any one year, during a 61-day period opening on June 10 and closing on August 9 in 2006 and 2007. Vodafone also may require that Verizon Wireless pay for up to $7.5 billion of the required repurchase through the assumption or incurrence of debt.

 

Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities

 

Cash of $2,133 million was used to reduce our total debt during the six months ended June 30, 2006. We repaid $6,826 million of Wireline debt, including premiums associated with the retirement of $5,665 million of aggregate principal amount of long-term debt assumed in connection with the MCI merger. The Wireline repayments also included the early retirement/prepayment of $697 million of long-term debt and $155 million of other long-term debt at maturity. Also, we redeemed the $1,375 million accreted principal of our remaining zero-coupon convertible notes and retired $482 million of other corporate long-term debt at maturity. These repayments were partially offset by our issuance of long-term debt with a total aggregate principal amount of $4,000 million, resulting in cash proceeds of $3,971 million, net of discounts and issuance costs. We also increased our short-term borrowings by $2,585 million.

The net cash proceeds of $2,458 million from the increase in our total debt during the six months ended June 30, 2005 was primarily due to an increase in our short-term borrowings of $4,397 million, partially offset by repayments of long-term debt at Verizon Wireless and Wireline of $1,533 million and $379 million, respectively.

Our ratio of debt to debt combined with shareowners’ equity was 48.6% at June 30, 2006 compared with 49.1% at December 31, 2005.

As of June 30, 2006, we had no bank borrowings outstanding. In addition, we had approximately $6.2 billion of unused bank lines of credit (including a $6.0 billion three-year committed facility which expires in June 2008 and various other facilities totaling approximately $400 million) and we had shelf registrations for the issuance of up to $4.5 billion of unsecured debt securities. The debt securities of Verizon and our telephone subsidiaries continue to be accorded high ratings by primary rating agencies. In order to simplify and streamline our financing entities, Verizon Global Funding merged into Verizon Communications on February 1, 2006. Verizon Communications is now the primary issuer of all long-term and short-term debt for Verizon. The short-term ratings of Verizon Communications are: Moody’s P-2; S&P A-1; and Fitch F1. The long-term ratings of Verizon Communications are: Moody’s A3 with stable outlook; S&P A with negative outlook; and Fitch A+ with stable outlook. In June 2006, the long-term debt rating of Verizon Wireless was upgraded by Moody’s to A2 from A3 and assigned a stable outlook and the long-term debt rating of Verizon Communications was affirmed at A3 with a stable outlook.

We and our consolidated subsidiaries are in compliance with all of our debt covenants.

During the six months ended June 30, 2006, we repurchased $1,009 million of our common stock as part of our previously announced common stock repurchase program.

As in prior quarters, dividend payments were a significant use of capital resources. We determine the appropriateness of the level of our dividend payments on a periodic basis by considering such factors as long-term growth opportunities, internal cash requirements and the expectations of our shareowners. In the first and second quarters of 2006 and 2005, we announced quarterly cash dividends of $.405 per share.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Our cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2006 totaled $1,186 million, a $410 million increase from cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2005 of $776 million.

 

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Market Risk

We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of our business, including the impact of interest rate changes, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in equity investment prices and changes in corporate tax rates. We employ risk management strategies using a variety of derivatives, including interest rate swap agreements, interest rate locks, foreign currency forwards and collars and equity options. We do not hold derivatives for trading purposes.

It is our general policy to enter into interest rate, foreign currency and other derivative transactions only to the extent necessary to achieve our desired objectives in limiting our exposures to the various market risks. Our objectives include maintaining a mix of fixed and variable rate debt to lower borrowing costs within reasonable risk parameters and to protect against earnings and cash flow volatility resulting from changes in market conditions. We do not hedge our market risk exposure in a manner that would completely eliminate the effect of changes in interest rates, equity prices and foreign exchange rates on our earnings. We do not expect that our net income, liquidity and cash flows will be materially affected by these risk management strategies.

 

Foreign Currency Translation

 

The functional currency for our foreign operations is primarily the local currency. The translation of income statement and balance sheet amounts of our foreign operations into U.S. dollars are recorded as cumulative translation adjustments, which are included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. We also transact and hold cash balances in foreign currencies. The translation gains and losses of foreign currency transactions and balances are recorded in the condensed consolidated statements of income in Other Income and (Expense), Net and Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax. During the second quarter of 2006, the translation of these cash balances was not material. At June 30, 2006, our primary translation exposure was to the Venezuelan bolivar, Dominican Republic peso, the British pound and the Euro.

 

Other Factors That May Affect Future Results

 

Recent Developments

 

Spectrum Purchases

On February 15, 2005, the FCC’s auction of broadband personal communications services licenses ended and Verizon Wireless and Vista PCS, LLC were the highest bidders for 63 licenses totaling approximately $697 million. On May 13, 2005, the licenses won by Verizon Wireless were granted by the FCC. The licenses won by Vista PCS were granted by the FCC during the first quarter of 2006.

On July 7, 2006, the FCC accepted an application that Verizon Wireless filed in June 2006 seeking to qualify to bid on any of the licenses being sold in the Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction scheduled to commence on August 9, 2006. On July 17, 2006, Verizon Wireless paid to the FCC a fully-refundable $383 million deposit in order to obtain 256 million bidding eligibility units for participation in this auction.

Dispositions of Businesses and Investments

Verizon Dominicana, TELPRI and CANTV

On April 3, 2006, we reached definitive agreements to sell our interests in our Caribbean and Latin American telecommunications operations in three separate transactions to América Móvil, S.A. de C.V., a wireless service provider throughout Latin America, and a company owned jointly by Teléfonos de México, S.A. de C.V. and América Móvil. In those transactions, we agreed to sell our 100% interest in Verizon Dominicana to América Móvil. Also, América Móvil agreed to purchase our 52 percent interest in TELPRI. Additionally, an entity jointly owned by América Móvil and Telmex has agreed to purchase our indirect 28.5 percent interest in CANTV.

Each transaction is subject to separate approvals by the various national regulatory agencies. Each proposed sale is a separate transaction, and none of the sales is contingent on the closing of any of the other transactions. We expect to close the sales of our interests in Verizon Dominicana, CANTV, and TELPRI in 2006 or 2007. While the final purchase price for each of the transactions is subject to adjustment, the aggregate gain or loss on the sales is not expected to be material. Although we anticipate pretax gains on each of the transactions, in the case of Verizon Dominicana, taxes that will become payable and be recorded at the time that the transaction closes will likely exceed the amount of the pretax gain. In addition, the government tax authority in the Dominican Republic has issued an assessment of proposed capital gains tax in connection with the transaction. We believe that the assessment is without merit, we have filed an appeal and we intend to contest it vigorously. We are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding.

 

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Information Services

In December 2005, we announced that we were reviewing strategic alternatives for the disposition of Information Services. On July 7, 2006, we filed a Form 10 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for Verizon Directories Disposition Corporation in a step toward a proposed spin-off of Information Services’ domestic print and Internet yellow pages directories to our stockholders. However, since this process, which could include a spin-off, sale or other transaction, or combination of these alternatives, is still ongoing, Information Services’ results of operations, financial position and cash flows remain in Verizon’s continuing operations.

Telephone Access Lines

We continually consider plans for a reduction in the size of our access line business through a spin-off, sale or otherwise, so that we may pursue our strategy of placing greater focus on the higher growth businesses of broadband and wireless.

Cellular Partnership

In August 2002, Verizon Wireless and Price Communications Corp. (Price) combined Price’s wireless business with a portion of Verizon Wireless. The resulting limited partnership is controlled and managed by Verizon Wireless. In exchange for its contributed assets, Price received a limited partnership interest in the new partnership which is exchangeable into common stock of Verizon Wireless if an initial public offering of that stock occurs, or into the common stock of Verizon on the fourth anniversary of the asset contribution date. Based on the terms of the agreement, we anticipate that we will issue approximately 29 million shares of Verizon common stock in August 2006 to acquire this minority interest. The potential issuance of these shares has been reflected in the diluted earnings per share as exchangeable equity interest.

Environmental Matters

During 2003, under a government-approved plan, remediation commenced at the site of a former Sylvania facility in Hicksville, New York that processed nuclear fuel rods in the 1950s and 1960s. Remediation beyond original expectations proved to be necessary and a reassessment of the anticipated remediation costs was conducted. A reassessment of costs related to remediation efforts at several other former facilities was also undertaken. As a result, an additional environmental remediation expense of $240 million was recorded in 2003, for remedial activities likely to take place over the next several years. In September 2005, the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) accepted the Hicksville site into the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program. This may result in the ACE performing some or all of the remaining remediation effort for the Hicksville site with a corresponding decrease in costs to Verizon. To the extent that the ACE assumes responsibility for remedial work at the Hicksville site, an adjustment to the remaining reserve may be necessary. Adjustments may also be made based upon actual conditions discovered during the remediation at any of the other sites requiring remediation.

New York Recovery Funding

In August 2002, President Bush signed the Supplemental Appropriations bill that included $5.5 billion in New York recovery funding. Of that amount, approximately $750 million has been allocated to cover utility restoration and infrastructure rebuilding as a result of the September 11th terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan. These funds will be distributed through the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation following an application and audit process. As of September 2004, we had applied for reimbursement of approximately $266 million under Category One, although we did not record this amount as a receivable. We received advances totaling $88 million in connection with this application process. On December 22, 2004, we applied for reimbursement of an additional $136 million of “category 2” losses, and on March 29, 2005 we amended our application seeking an additional $3 million. Category 2 funding is for permanent restoration and infrastructure improvement. According to the plan, permanent restoration is reimbursed up to 75% of the loss. On November 3, 2005, we received the results of preliminary audit findings disallowing all but $44 million of our original $266 million of costs in our Category One applications. On December 8, 2005, we provided a detailed rebuttal to the preliminary audit findings and are currently awaiting the final audit report. Our applications are pending.

 

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Regulatory and Competitive Trends

 

Competition and Regulation

Technological, regulatory and market changes have provided Verizon both new opportunities and challenges. These changes have allowed Verizon to offer new types of services in this increasingly competitive market. At the same time, they have allowed other service providers to broaden the scope of their own competitive offerings. Current and potential competitors for network services include other telephone companies, cable companies, wireless service providers, foreign telecommunications providers, satellite providers, electric utilities, Internet service providers, providers of VoIP services, and other companies that offer network services using a variety of technologies. Many of these companies have a strong market presence, brand recognition and existing customer relationships, all of which contribute to intensifying competition and may affect our future revenue growth. Many of our competitors also remain subject to fewer regulatory constraints than Verizon.

We are unable to predict definitively the impact that the ongoing changes in the telecommunications industry will ultimately have on our business, results of operations or financial condition. The financial impact will depend on several factors, including the timing, extent and success of competition in our markets, the timing and outcome of various regulatory proceedings and any appeals, and the timing, extent and success of our pursuit of new opportunities.

FCC Regulation

Our services are subject to the jurisdiction of the FCC with respect to interstate telecommunications services and other matters for which the FCC has jurisdiction under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

Broadband

The FCC has adopted a series of orders that recognize the competitive nature of the broadband market, and impose lesser regulatory requirements on broadband services and facilities than apply to narrowband. With respect to facilities, the FCC has determined that certain unbundling requirements that apply to narrowband facilities do not apply to broadband facilities such as fiber to the premise loops and packet switches. With respect to services, the FCC has concluded that broadband Internet access services offered by telephone companies and their affiliates qualify as largely deregulated information services. The same order also concluded that telephone companies may offer the underlying broadband transmission services that are used as an input to Internet access services through private carriage arrangements on negotiated commercial terms. In addition, a Verizon petition asking the FCC to forbear from applying common carrier regulation to certain broadband services sold primarily to larger business customers when those services are not used for Internet access was deemed granted by operation of law on March 19, 2006 when the FCC did not deny the petition by the statutory deadline. Both the FCC’s order addressing the appropriate regulatory treatment of broadband Internet access services and the relief obtained through the forbearance petition are the subject of pending appeals.

Video

The FCC has a body of rules that apply to cable operators under Title VI of the Communications Act of 1934, and these rules also generally apply to telephone companies that provide cable services over their networks. In addition, companies that provide cable service over a cable system generally must obtain a local cable franchise. The FCC currently is conducting a rulemaking proceeding to determine whether the local franchising process is serving as a barrier to entry for new providers of video services, like Verizon. In this proceeding, the FCC is evaluating the scope of its authority over the local franchise process and is considering adopting rules under Section 621 of the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that the local franchising process does not undermine competitive entry.

Interstate Access Charges and Intercarrier Compensation

The current framework for interstate access rates was established in the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance Services (CALLS) plan, which the FCC adopted on May 31, 2000. The CALLS plan has three main components. First, it establishes portable interstate access universal service support of $650 million for the industry that replaces implicit support previously embedded in interstate access charges. Second, the plan simplifies the patchwork of common line charges into one subscriber line charge (SLC) and provides for de-averaging of the SLC by zones and class of customers. Third, the plan set into place a mechanism to transition to a set target of $.0055 per minute for switched access services. Once that target rate is reached, local exchange carriers are no longer required to make further annual price cap reductions to their switched access prices. As a result of tariff adjustments which became effective in July 2003, virtually all of our switched access lines reached the $.0055 benchmark.

The FCC currently is conducting a broad rulemaking proceeding to consider new rules governing intercarrier compensation including, but not limited to, access charges, compensation for Internet traffic, and reciprocal compensation for local traffic. The notice seeks comments about intercarrier compensation in general, and requests input on seven specific reform proposals.

 

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The FCC also has pending before it issues relating to intercarrier compensation for dial-up Internet-bound traffic. The FCC previously found that this traffic is not subject to reciprocal compensation under Section 251(b)(5) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Instead, the FCC established federal rates per minute for this traffic that declined from $.0015 to $.0007 over a three-year period, established caps on the total minutes of this traffic subject to compensation in a state, and required incumbent local exchange carriers to offer to both bill and pay reciprocal compensation for local traffic at the same rate as they are required to pay on Internet-bound traffic. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rejected part of the FCC’s rationale, but declined to vacate the order while it is on remand. As a result, pending further action by the FCC, the FCC’s underlying order remains in effect. The FCC subsequently denied a petition to discontinue the $.0007 rate cap on this traffic, but removed the caps on the total minutes of Internet-bound traffic subject to compensation. That decision has been upheld on appeal. Disputes also remain pending in a number of forums relating to the appropriate compensation for Internet-bound traffic during previous periods under the terms of our interconnection agreements with other carriers.

The FCC also is conducting a rulemaking proceeding to address the regulation of services that use Internet protocol, including whether access charges should apply to voice or other Internet protocol services. The FCC also considered several petitions asking whether, and under what circumstances, services that employ Internet protocol are subject to access charges. The FCC previously has held that one provider’s peer-to-peer Internet protocol service that does not use the public switched network is an interstate information service and is not subject to access charges, while a service that utilizes Internet protocol for only one intermediate part of a call’s transmission is a telecommunications service that is subject to access charges. Another petition asking the FCC to forbear from applying access charges to voice over Internet protocol services that are terminated on switched local exchange networks was withdrawn by the carrier that filed that petition. The FCC also declared the services offered by one provider of a voice over Internet protocol service to be jurisdictionally interstate on the grounds that it was impossible to separate that carrier’s Internet protocol service into interstate and intrastate components. The FCC also stated that its conclusion would apply to other services with similar characteristics. That order has been appealed.

The FCC also has adopted rules for special access services that provide for pricing flexibility and ultimately the removal of services from price regulation when prescribed competitive thresholds are met. More than half of special access revenues are now removed from price regulation. The FCC currently has a rulemaking proceeding underway to evaluate experience under its pricing flexibility rules, and to determine whether any changes to those rules are warranted.

Universal Service

The FCC also has a body of rules implementing the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including rules governing support to rural and non-rural high-cost areas, support for low income subscribers, and support for schools, libraries and rural health care. The FCC’s current rules for support to high-cost areas served by larger “non-rural” local telephone companies were previously remanded by U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which had found that the FCC had not adequately justified these rules. The FCC has initiated a rulemaking proceeding in response to the court’s remand, but its rules remain in effect pending the results of the rulemaking. The FCC also has proceedings underway to evaluate possible changes to its current rules for assessing contributions to the universal service fund. As an interim step, in June 2006, the FCC ordered that providers of VoIP services are subject to federal universal service obligations. The FCC also increased the percentage of revenues subject to federal universal service obligations that wireless providers may use as a safe harbor. Any further change in the current assessment mechanism could result in a change in the contribution that local telephone companies, wireless carriers or others must make and that would have to be collected from customers.

Unbundling of Network Elements

Under section 251 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, incumbent local exchange carriers were required to provide competing carriers with access to components of their network on an unbundled basis, known as UNEs, where certain statutory standards are satisfied. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 also adopted a cost-based pricing standard for these UNEs, which the FCC interpreted as allowing it to impose a pricing standard known as “total element long run incremental cost” or “TELRIC.” The FCC’s rules defining the unbundled network elements that must be made available at TELRIC prices have been overturned on multiple occasions by the courts. In its most recent order issued in response to these court decisions, the FCC eliminated the requirement to unbundle mass market

 

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local switching on a nationwide basis, with the obligation to accept new orders ending as of the effective date of the order (March 11, 2005). The FCC also established a one year transition for existing UNE switching arrangements. For high capacity transmission facilities, the FCC established criteria for determining whether high capacity loops, transport or dark fiber transport must be unbundled in individual wire centers, and stated that these standards were only expected to affect a small number of wire centers. The FCC also eliminated the obligation to provide dark fiber loops and found that there is no obligation to provide UNEs exclusively for wireless or long distance service. In any instance where a particular high capacity facility no longer has to be made available as a UNE, the FCC established a similar one year transition for any existing high capacity loop or transport UNEs, and an 18 month transition for any existing dark fiber UNEs. This decision has been upheld on appeal.

As noted above, the FCC has concluded that the requirement under Section 251 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to provide unbundled network elements at TELRIC prices generally does not apply with respect to broadband facilities, such as fiber to the premises loops, the packet-switched capabilities of hybrid loops and packet switching. The FCC also has held that any separate unbundling obligations that may be imposed by Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 do not apply to these same facilities. The decision with respect to Section 271 is the subject of an ongoing appeal.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Uncertainty in Income Taxes

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (FIN 48). FIN 48 requires the use of a two-step approach for recognizing and measuring tax benefits taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and disclosures regarding uncertainties in income tax positions. We are required to adopt FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of initially adopting FIN 48 will be recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings in the year of adoption and will be presented separately. Only tax positions that meet the more likely than not recognition threshold at the effective date may be recognized upon adoption of FIN 48. We are currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on our future results of operations and financial position.

Leveraged Leases

In July 2006, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FAS 13-2, “Accounting for a Change or Projected Change in the Timing of Cash Flows Relating to Income Taxes Generated by a Leveraged Lease Transaction” (FSP 13-2). FSP 13-2 requires that changes in the projected timing of income tax cash flows generated by a leveraged lease transaction be recognized as a gain or loss in the year in which change occurs. The pretax gain or loss is required to be included in the same line item in which the leveraged lease income is recognized, with the tax effect being included in the provision for income taxes. We are required to adopt FSP 13-2 effective January 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of initially adopting this FSP will be recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings in the year of adoption and will be presented separately. We are currently evaluating the impact this new standard will have on our future results of operations and financial position.

 

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Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

In this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition, and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, we have made forward-looking statements. These statements are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “hopes” or similar expressions. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

The following important factors, along with those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report, could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements:

 

 

materially adverse changes in economic and industry conditions and labor matters, including workforce levels and labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational impact, in the markets served by us or by companies in which we have substantial investments;

 

 

material changes in available technology;

 

 

technology substitution;

 

 

an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations;

 

 

the final results of federal and state regulatory proceedings concerning our provision of retail and wholesale services and judicial review of those results;

 

 

the effects of competition in our markets;

 

 

the timing, scope and financial impacts of our deployment of fiber-to-the-premises broadband technology;

 

 

the ability of Verizon Wireless to continue to obtain sufficient spectrum resources;

 

 

changes in our accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC, may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings;

 

 

the timing of the closings of the sales of our Latin American and Caribbean properties; and

 

 

the extent and timing of our ability to obtain revenue enhancements and cost savings following our business combination with MCI.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


Information relating to market risk is included in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition in the section under the caption “Market Risk.”

Item 4. Controls and Procedures


Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, that ensure that information relating to the registrant which is required to be disclosed in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within required time periods. Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries would be accumulated and communicated to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Quarterly Report was being prepared, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

We completed the merger with MCI on January 6, 2006, at which time MCI became a subsidiary of Verizon. We considered the transaction material to the results of our operations, cash flows and financial position from the date of the acquisition through June 30, 2006, and believe that the internal controls and procedures of MCI have a material

 

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effect on our internal control over financial reporting. We are currently in the process of incorporating the internal controls and procedures of the former MCI into our internal controls over financial reporting. The Company has extended its Section 404 compliance program under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the applicable rules and regulations under such Act to include the former MCI. The Company will report on its assessment of its combined operations within the time period provided by the Act and the applicable SEC rules and regulations concerning business combinations.

There were no other changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this quarterly report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting, other than the merger with MCI.

 

Part II – Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings


Verizon and a number of other telecommunications companies have been the subject of multiple class action suits concerning its alleged participation in intelligence-gathering activities allegedly carried out by the federal government, at the direction of the President of the United States, as part of the government’s post-September 11 program to prevent terrorist attacks. Plaintiffs generally allege that Verizon has participated by permitting the government to gain access to the content of its subscribers’ telephone calls and/or records concerning those calls and that such action violates federal and/or state constitutional and statutory law. Relief sought in the cases including injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and statutory and punitive damages. On May 24, 2006, Verizon filed a motion before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“Panel”), asking the Panel to take jurisdiction of the then-pending actions and transfer, consolidate, and coordinate them, as well as similar actions pending against other telecommunications companies and any future “tag along” actions that may be filed, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Argument on the motion was heard on July 27, 2006, and a decision is pending. As appropriate, Verizon also has asked forum courts to stay further action on the cases before them pending a ruling from the Panel on the transfer motion. Verizon has not answered or otherwise responded to any of the complaints. Verizon believes that these lawsuits are without merit.

In In the Matter of Certain Baseband Processor Chips and Chipsets, Transmitter and Receiver (Radio) Chips, Power Control Chips, and Products Containing Same, Including Cellular Telephone Handsets, an action brought before the United States International Trade Commission, Broadcom Corporation alleges that certain chips and chipsets manufactured by respondent Qualcomm Corporation infringe Broadcom’s patents. Broadcom is currently seeking a ban on the importation of certain devices containing Qualcomm’s EV-DO chipsets, but not with respect to data cards, PDAs, smartphones or handheld email devices containing those chips. Verizon Wireless was granted permission to intervene in the proceeding on the issue of remedy but not on the issue of liability. The ITC staff, which is a party to the proceeding, has supported Broadcom’s position with respect to liability and remedy. The trial on remedy was completed on July 11, 2006 before an ITC administrative law judge. The Administrative Law Judge’s initial determination with respect to liability and recommended decision with respect to remedy are expected by August 21, 2006. Upon the vote of one ITC Commissioner, the full ITC will review the Administrative Law Judge’s determination with respect to liability. If it is finally determined that a violation exists, the full ITC will determine an appropriate remedy. Any determinations by the full ITC in this matter are expected to be made by December 21, 2006. During a 60-day period following any exclusion order by the ITC, the President of the United States may disapprove the order. Further, ITC exclusion orders are reviewable by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Disruption of the supply of Qualcomm EV-DO chipsets to a number of Verizon Wireless’ core suppliers or a ban on importation of handsets that include these chipsets could have a material adverse effect on the availability of handsets to sell to Verizon Wireless customers and could therefore have a material adverse effect on its business.

Item 1A. Risk Factors


Information related to our risk factors are disclosed under Item 1A to Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 as amended by Item 1A to Part II of our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds


The following table provides information about Verizon’s common stock repurchases during the second quarter of 2006.

 

Period    Total Number of
Shares Purchased
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or Programs
  

Maximum Number of Shares that

May Yet Be Purchased Under

Existing Plans or Programs

April 2006

   4,200,000    $  34.44    4,200,000    84,160,200

May 2006

   3,520,000      31.75    3,520,000    80,640,200

June 2006

   10,900,000      32.40    10,900,000    69,740,200
    
       
    
     18,620,000         18,620,000    69,740,200
    
       
    

On January 22, 2004 Verizon’s Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase program which authorized total repurchases of up to 80 million common shares and was to expire no later than the close of business on February 28, 2006. On January 19, 2006, the Board of Directors determined that no additional common shares may be purchased under previously authorized programs and gave authorization to repurchase up to 100 million common shares terminating no later than the close of business on February 28, 2008. Under this plan, Verizon has the option to repurchase shares for the corporation over time, with the amount and timing of repurchases depending on market conditions and corporate needs. Under this plan, Verizon may also, from time to time, enter into a Rule 10b5-1 plan, to facilitate repurchases of its shares under this authorization. A Rule 10b5-1 plan permits the company to repurchase shares at times when it might otherwise be prevented from doing so, provided the plan is adopted when the company is not aware of material non-public information.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders


Our 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on May 4, 2006. At the meeting, the following items were submitted to a vote of shareholders.

The number of common shares present at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Verizon Communications Inc. voting and withholding authority to vote in the election of Directors (the “Total Vote”) was 2,456,288,117 or 83.93% of the common shares outstanding on March 6, 2006, the record date for said meeting.

 

(a)

The following nominees were elected to serve on the Board of Directors:

 

Name of Nominee    Votes Cast For    Votes Withheld

James R. Barker

   2,361,704,915    94,583,202

Richard L. Carrión

   2,264,764,362    191,523,755

Robert W. Lane

   2,350,952,867    105,335,250

Sandra O. Moose

   2,301,423,908    154,864,209

Joseph Neubauer

   1,968,907,199    487,380,918

Donald T. Nicolaisen

   2,369,298,356    86,989,761

Thomas H. O’Brien

   2,344,883,936    111,404,181

Clarence Otis, Jr.

   2,366,542,002    89,746,115

Hugh B. Price

   2,361,973,324    94,314,793

Ivan G. Seidenberg

   2,338,232,279    118,055,838

Walter V. Shipley

   2,344,306,871    111,981,246

John R. Stafford

   2,345,488,102    110,800,015

Robert D. Storey

   2,348,000,495    108,287,622

 

(b)

The appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for 2006 was ratified with 2,397,147,416 votes for, 26,765,780 votes against, and 32,374,921 abstentions.

 

(c)

A shareholder proposal regarding Cumulative Voting was defeated with 846,485,363 votes for, 1,080,070,924 votes against, 106,916,417 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

(d)

A shareholder proposal regarding Majority Vote for Election of Directors was ratified with 1,218,511,104 votes for, 769,841,684 votes against, 45,119,916 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

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(e)

A shareholder proposal regarding Composition of the Board of Directors was defeated with 495,319,368 votes for, 1,493,144,361 votes against, 45,008,975 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

(f)

A shareholder proposal regarding Directors on Common Boards was defeated with 386,348,059 votes for, 1,597,591,962 votes against, 49,532,683 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

(g)

A shareholder proposal regarding Separate Chairman and CEO was defeated with 952,086,900 votes for, 1,038,192,636 votes against, 43,193,168 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

(h)

A shareholder proposal regarding Performance-Based Equity Compensation was defeated with 400,656,319 votes for, 1,595,238,731 votes against, 37,577,654 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

 

(i)

A shareholder proposal regarding Disclosure of Political Contributions was defeated with 608,924,992 votes for, 1,212,218,960 votes against, 212,328,752 abstentions and 422,815,413 broker non-votes.

Item 6. Exhibits


 

(a)

Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
Number


    
12      

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

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 Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.2   

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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Signature


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

 

       

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Date: August 4, 2006      

By

 

/s/ Thomas A. Bartlett

               

     Thomas A. Bartlett

               

     Senior Vice President and Controller

               

     (Principal Accounting Officer)

UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED, ALL INFORMATION IS AS OF AUGUST 1, 2006.

 

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