Edgar Filing: HICKORY TECH CORP

form10q.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

þ	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
	EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
	For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010

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

Commission file number 0-13721

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

221 East Hickory Street

Mankato, Minnesota 56002-3248

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(800) 326-5789

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þNo ¨

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

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

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

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

The total number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock outstanding as of July 26, 2010: 13,239,171.

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PART I Financial Information

Item 1.	Financial Statements	3
	Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 and 2009	3
	Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009	4
	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010 and 2009	5
	Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	6
Item 2.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	15
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	26
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	26

PART II Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	27
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	27
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	27
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	27
Item 4.	Removed and Reserved	27
Item 5.	Other Information	27
Item 6.	Exhibit Listing	27
	Signatures	28
	Exhibits

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Part I Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	June 30						June 30
(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)	2010			2009			2010			2009
Operating revenue:
Enventis Sector
Equipment	$	8,068		$	5,393		$	17,952		$	12,184
Services		13,060			9,229			24,530			18,227
Total Enventis Sector		21,128			14,622			42,482			30,411

Telecom Sector		17,140			17,781			34,506			35,453
Total operating revenue		38,268			32,403			76,988			65,864

Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales, excluding depreciation and amortization		6,974			4,717			15,449			10,716
Cost of services, excluding depreciation and amortization		14,766			11,948			28,944			24,413
Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,560			5,406			11,756			10,562
Depreciation		5,222			4,830			10,544			9,899
Amortization of intangibles		89			213			178			427
Total costs and expenses		32,611			27,114			66,871			56,017

Operating income		5,657			5,289			10,117			9,847

Other income and expense:
Interest and other income		14			32			51			41
Interest expense		(1,101	)		(1,719	)		(2,692	)		(3,427	)
Total other (expense)		(1,087	)		(1,687	)		(2,641	)		(3,386	)

Income before income taxes		4,570			3,602			7,476			6,461
Income tax provision		1,060			1,485			2,539			2,718

Net income	$	3,510		$	2,117		$	4,937		$	3,743


Basic earnings per share	$	0.27		$	0.16		$	0.37		$	0.29

Weighted average common shares outstanding		13,225,561			13,049,238			13,190,366			13,034,005


Diluted earnings per share	$	0.27		$	0.16		$	0.37		$	0.29

Weighted average common and equivalent shares outstanding		13,230,861			13,049,677			13,197,666			13,034,005

Dividends per share	$	0.13		$	0.13		$	0.26		$	0.26

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)	June 30, 2010			December 31, 2009
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	135		$	2,420
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $723 and $643		25,143			19,729
Inventories		5,826			5,069
Deferred income taxes, net		2,423			2,423
Prepaid expenses		2,215			1,751
Other		1,619			1,039
Total current assets		37,361			32,431

Investments		4,492			4,306

Property, plant and equipment		367,118			357,607
Accumulated depreciation		(213,670	)		(204,129	)
Property, plant and equipment, net		153,448			153,478

Other assets:
Goodwill		27,303			27,423
Intangible assets, net		2,847			3,025
Deferred costs and other		1,606			1,820
Total other assets		31,756			32,268

Total assets	$	227,057		$	222,483

LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Extended term payable	$	6,166		$	6,788
Accounts payable		7,542			2,883
Accrued expenses and other		6,595			7,792
Accrued income taxes		424			642
Deferred revenue		5,936			6,016
Current maturities of long-term obligations		912			620
Total current liabilities		27,575			24,741

Long-term liabilities:
Debt obligations, net of current maturities		120,343			119,871
Financial derivative instruments		1,410			1,908
Accrued income taxes		2,449			3,218
Deferred income taxes		22,452			21,895
Deferred revenue		1,462			2,095
Accrued employee benefits and deferred compensation		14,623			14,209
Total long-term liabilities		162,739			163,196

Total liabilities		190,314			187,937

Commitments and contingencies

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value, $.10 stated value
Shares authorized: 100,000,000
Shares issued and outstanding: 13,238,713 in 2010 and 13,100,568 in 2009		1,324			1,310
Additional paid-in capital		13,228			12,975
Retained earnings		26,198			24,687
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)		(4,007	)		(4,426	)
Total shareholders' equity		36,743			34,546

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	227,057		$	222,483

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
	Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2010			2009
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	4,937		$	3,743
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		10,722			10,326
Accrued patronage refunds		(247	)		(285	)
Other		914			827
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Receivables		(5,611	)		5,612
Prepaids		(464	)		(590	)
Inventories		(757	)		2,775
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		2,368			(3,799	)
Deferred revenue, billings and deposits		(711	)		(1,094	)
Income taxes		(708	)		2,201
Other		(303	)		602
Net cash provided by operating activities		10,140			20,318

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(10,492	)		(7,294	)
Other		152			-
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(10,340	)		(7,294	)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net change in extended term payables arrangement		(621	)		1,964
Change in cash overdraft		1,115			-
Borrowings on credit facility		9,900			-
Payments on credit facility and capital lease obligations		(9,171	)		(2,057	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock		119			136
Dividends paid		(3,427	)		(3,385	)
Net cash (used in) financing activities		(2,085	)		(3,342	)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		(2,285	)		9,682
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period		2,420			1,626
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	135		$	11,308

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	$	2,902		$	3,555
Net cash paid for income taxes	$	3,247		$	517
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Property, plant and equipment acquired with capital leases	$	35		$	299
Change in other comprehensive income from financial derivatives and post-retirement benefits	$	419		$	517

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

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HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

June 30, 2010

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

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of HickoryTech Corporation and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Certain information and disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such rules and regulations. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements and present fairly the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for the interim periods presented as required by Regulation S-X, Rule 10-01. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, together with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

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

Our consolidated financial statements include HickoryTech Corporation and its subsidiaries in the following two business segments: the Enventis Sector and the Telecom Sector. All inter-company transactions have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements.

Cost of Sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)

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

Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization)

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

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

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

Depreciation Expense

Depreciation expense is determined using the straight-line method based on the lives of various classes of depreciable assets. Enventis and Telecom Sector depreciation is entirely associated with services revenue.

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Recent Accounting Developments

In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance which clarifies that even though the signing dates of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were different, the two should be considered together for accounting purposes. This had no effect on our financials as both dates fell within the same reporting period.

In February 2010, the FASB issued guidance removing the requirement for SEC filers to disclose the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events. Our adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on our disclosures.

In January 2010, the FASB issued new guidance related to disclosures about the transfer in and out of levels 1 and 2 and the activity in level 3 fair value measurements. It also clarifies disclosures about the level of disaggregation and inputs and valuation techniques. Our adoption of this guidance, which was effective for us in Q1 2010 except for the new requirements relating to a Level 3 activity, did not have a material impact on our disclosures. Level 3 requirements are effective January 1, 2011 and are not expected to have a material impact.

In October 2009, the FASB issued new guidance for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements. The guidance will be effective for us January 1, 2011 and we are currently assessing the impact of this guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

In December 2008, the FASB issued guidance related to disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or post-retirement plan. Our adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2010 did not have a significant impact on our disclosures.

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

Note 2. Earnings and Cash Dividends per Common Share

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

	Three Months Ended June 30				Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands, except share and earnings per share amounts)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Net Income	$	3,510	$	2,117	$	4,937	$	3,743

Weighted average shares outstanding		13,225,561		13,049,238		13,190,366		13,034,005
Stock options (dilutive only)		1,571		439		2,488		-
Stock subscribed (ESPP)		3,729		-		4,812		-
Total dilutive shares outstanding		13,230,861		13,049,677		13,197,666		13,034,005

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.27	$	0.16	$	0.37	$	0.29
Diluted	$	0.27	$	0.16	$	0.37	$	0.29

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Options to purchase 351,700 and 415,950 shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS, because their effect on diluted EPS would have been anti-dilutive.

Cash dividends are based on the number of common shares outstanding at their respective record dates. The number of shares outstanding as of the record date for the first and second quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively, are as follows:

Shares outstanding on record date	2010		2009
First quarter (Feb. 15)		13,120,514		13,000,953
Second quarter (May 15)		13,223,197		13,041,891

Dividends per share are based on the quarterly dividend per share as declared by the HickoryTech Board of Directors. HickoryTech paid dividends of 13 cents per share in the second quarter of 2010 and 2009. During the first six months of 2010 and 2009, shareholders have elected to reinvest $119,000 and $136,000, respectively, of dividends into HickoryTech common stock pursuant to the HickoryTech Corporation Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

Note 3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

In addition to net income, our comprehensive income includes changes in the market value of the cumulative unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, on financial derivative instruments qualifying and designated as cash flow hedges and unrecognized Net Periodic Benefit Cost related to our Post-Retirement Benefit Plans. Additional information on our interest-rate swap agreements, which are classified as financial derivative instruments, can be found under Note 10. “Financial Derivative Instrument.” Comprehensive income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $3,701,000 and $2,321,000 respectively, in relation to reported net income of $3,510,000 and $2,117,000 for those periods. Comprehensive income for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 was $5,356,000 and $4,260,000, respectively, in relation to reported net income of $4,937,000 and $3,743,000 for those periods. The following summary sets forth the components of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax.

	Unrecognized			Unrecognized			Unrecognized			Unrealized			Accumulated Other
	Net Actuarial			Prior Service			Transition			Gain/(Loss)			Comprehensive
(Dollars in thousands)	Loss (1)			Credit (1)			Asset (1)			on Derivatives			Income/(Loss)
December 31, 2009	$	(3,380	)	$	213		$	(109	)	$	(1,150	)		(4,426	)
2010 Q1 Activity											168			168
Q1 Net Periodic Benefit Cost		59			(8	)		9						60
March 31, 2010	$	(3,321	)	$	205		$	(100	)	$	(982	)	$	(4,198	)
2010 Q2 Activity											131			131
Q2 Net Periodic Benefit Cost		59			(8	)		9						60
June 30, 2010	$	(3,262	)	$	197		$	(91	)	$	(851	)	$	(4,007	)

(1) Amounts pertain to our post-retirement benefit plans.

Note 4. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The fair value of our long-term obligations, after deducting current maturities, is estimated to be $123,623,000 at June 30, 2010 and $127,637,000 at December 31, 2009, compared to carrying values of $120,343,000 and $119,871,000, respectively. The fair value estimates are based on the overall weighted average interest rates and maturity compared to rates and terms currently available in the long-term financing markets. Our financial instruments also include cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable and accounts payable for which current carrying amounts approximate fair market value.

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Note 5. Inventories

Inventory includes parts, materials and supplies stored in our warehouses to support basic levels of service and maintenance as well as scheduled capital projects and equipment awaiting configuration for customers. Inventory also includes parts and equipment shipped directly from vendors to customer locations while in transit and parts and equipment returned from customers which are being returned to vendors for credit, as well as maintenance contracts associated with customer sales which have not yet transferred to the customer. The inventory value in the Enventis Sector, comprised of finished goods in transit to customers as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $3,574,000 and $2,770,000, respectively. The inventory level in the Enventis Sector is subject to the variations in Enventis equipment revenue and the timing of individual customer orders. The inventory value in the Telecom Sector, comprised of raw materials, as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $2,252,000 and $2,299,000, respectively.

We value inventory using the lower of cost (perpetual weighted average-cost or specific identification) or market method. We make estimates related to the valuation of inventory. We adjust our inventory carrying value for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory to the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. As market and other conditions change, we may establish additional inventory reserves.

Note 6. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We have goodwill in two of our reporting units. In our Enventis Sector, we have $4,255,000 of goodwill carrying value as of June 30, 2010, resulting from our acquisition of Enventis Telecom in 2005 and our acquisition of CP Telecom in 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, an adjustment was made to goodwill associated with the CP Telecom acquisition due to a change in working capital. In our Telecom Sector, we have $23,048,000 of goodwill carrying value as of June 30, 2010, resulting from our acquisition of Heartland Telecommunications in 1997. The changes to goodwill in the first six months of 2010 are summarized below.

(Dollars in thousands)	2010
Goodwill as of December 31, 2009	$	27,423
Goodwill adjustments associated with the purchase of CP Telecom		(120	)
Goodwill as of June 30, 2010	$	27,303

We are required to test acquired goodwill for impairment on an annual basis based upon a fair value approach. Additionally, goodwill shall be tested for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an entity below its carrying value. We completed our annual impairment test for acquired goodwill as of December 31, 2009, which resulted in no impairment charges to goodwill. In the first six months of 2010, there was no event or change in circumstance that would have more likely than not reduced the fair value below its carrying value.

Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual value. Identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are evaluated for impairment. The components of other intangible assets are as follows:

(Dollars in thousands)		As of June 30, 2010				As of December 31, 2009
		Gross Carrying		Accumulated		Gross Carrying		Accumulated
	Useful Lives	Amount		Amortization		Amount		Amortization
Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
Customer relationships	1 - 8 years	$	5,299	$	4,425	$	5,299	$	4,318
Other intangibles	1 - 5 years		2,830		857		2,830		786
Total		$	8,129	$	5,282	$	8,129	$	5,104

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We periodically reassess the carrying value, useful lives and classifications of identifiable assets. Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $89,000 and $213,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Amortization expense related to the definite-lived intangible assets was $178,000 and $427,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Total estimated amortization expense for the remaining six months of 2010 and the five years subsequent to 2010 is as follows: 2010 (July 1 – December 31) – $178,000; 2011 - $354,000; 2012 - $354,000; 2013 - $354,000; 2014 - $265,000; 2015 - $140,000.

Note 7. Quarterly Sector Financial Summary

(Dollars in thousands)					Corporate and
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010	Enventis		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	21,128	$	17,140	$	-		$	38,268
Intersegment revenue		97		468		(565	)		-
Total operating revenue		21,225		17,608		(565	)		38,268

Depreciation and amortization		1,406		3,875		30			5,311
Operating income		2,271		2,991		395			5,657
Interest expense		-		14		1,087			1,101
Income tax provision (benefit)		921		1,208		(1,069	)		1,060
Net Income		1,353		1,774		383			3,510
Total assets		83,416		137,074		6,567			227,057
Property, plant and equipment, net		50,901		102,325		222			153,448
Additions to property, plant and equipment		3,907		3,156		-			7,063


					Corporate and
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009	Enventis		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	14,622	$	17,781	$	-		$	32,403
Intersegment revenue		142		234		(376	)		-
Total operating revenue		14,764		18,015		(376	)		32,403

Depreciation and amortization		1,201		3,827		15			5,043
Operating income (loss)		1,703		3,708		(122	)		5,289
Interest expense		-		21		1,698			1,719
Income tax provision (benefit)		685		1,502		(702	)		1,485
Net Income (loss)		1,018		2,205		(1,106	)		2,117
Total assets		62,761		143,411		17,660			223,832
Property, plant and equipment, net		40,070		108,702		307			149,079
Additions to property, plant and equipment		2,262		2,351		45			4,658

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(Dollars in thousands)					Corporate and
Six Months Ended June 30, 2010	Enventis		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	42,482	$	34,506	$	-		$	76,988
Intersegment revenue		230		897		(1,127	)		-
Total operating revenue		42,712		35,403		(1,127	)		76,988

Depreciation and amortization		2,770		7,891		61			10,722
Operating income		4,178		5,816		123			10,117
Interest expense		-		39		2,653			2,692
Income tax provision (benefit)		1,731		2,606		(1,798	)		2,539
Net Income (loss)		2,475		3,180		(718	)		4,937
Total assets		83,416		137,074		6,567			227,057
Property, plant and equipment, net		50,901		102,325		222			153,448
Additions to property, plant and equipment		5,971		4,521		-			10,492


					Corporate and
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009	Enventis		Telecom		Eliminations			Consolidated
Revenue from unaffiliated customers	$	30,411	$	35,453	$	-		$	65,864
Intersegment revenue		283		477		(760	)		-
Total operating revenue		30,694		35,930		(760	)		65,864

Depreciation and amortization		2,350		7,947		29			10,326
Operating income (loss)		2,858		7,093		(104	)		9,847
Interest expense		-		54		3,373			3,427
Income tax provision (benefit)		1,159		2,876		(1,317	)		2,718
Net Income (loss)		1,699		4,183		(2,139	)		3,743
Total assets		62,761		143,411		17,660			223,832
Property, plant and equipment, net		40,070		108,702		307			149,079
Additions to property, plant and equipment		3,453		3,786		55			7,294

Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in certain contractual disputes in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe the ultimate resolution of any of these existing matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We did not experience any changes to material contractual obligations in the first six months of 2010. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for the discussion relating to commitments and contingencies.

Note 9. Stock Compensation

Refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 for a complete description of all stock-based compensation plans.

As of September 30, 2009 all stock options are fully vested and the associated compensation costs related to these options, last granted in September of 2006 under the Company’s Stock Award Plan, have been recognized. Share-based compensation expense includes amounts recognized related to the Company Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This plan allows participating employees to acquire shares of common stock at 85% of fair market value on one specified date. Share-based compensation expense was $6,000 and $8,000, respectively in the three months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009 and was $12,000 and $15,000, respectively in the six months ended June 30, 2010 and 2009.

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A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

			Weighted Average
	Shares		Exercise Price
Outstanding at January 1, 2010		430,950	$	12.87
Granted		-		-
Exercised		-		-
Forfeited		-		-
Expired		79,250		13.92
Outstanding at June 30, 2010		351,700	$	12.64
Exercisable at June 30, 2010		351,700	$	12.64

The following table provides certain information with respect to stock options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2010:

Range of		Stock Options		Stock Options		Weighted Average		Weighted Average Remaining
Exercise Prices		Outstanding		Exercisable		Exercise Price		Contractual Life
	$6.00 - $8.00		15,000		15,000	$	6.95		6.17
	$8.00 - $12.00		156,950		156,950		10.22		3.43
	$12.00 - $16.00		126,000		126,000		13.97		1.48
	$16.00 - $21.00		53,750		53,750		18.18		0.72
			351,700		351,700	$	12.64		2.43

Aggregate intrinsic value:						$	-

Note 10. Financial Derivative Instruments

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

Fair value is the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Three levels of inputs may be used to measure fair value:

·	Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

·	Level 2 – observable inputs other than quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

·	Level 3 – unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data available, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

The fair value of our interest rate swap agreements were determined based on Level 2 inputs. We currently have an interest-rate swap agreement effectively locking in the interest rate on $80,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt until September 2011. The interest rate locked in is 2.15%. This swap rate is in addition to the applicable margin under our credit agreement, which is currently 1.5%.

The fair value of our derivatives at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are recorded as financial derivative instruments under the long-term liabilities section of our balance sheet. The fair value of our derivatives at June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 is a net liability of $1,410,000 and $1,908,000, respectively. The cumulative gain or (loss) on the market value of financial derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) in shareholders’ equity, net of tax. If we were to terminate our interest rate swap positions, the cumulative change in fair value at the date of termination would be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss), which is classified in shareholder’s equity, into earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The table below illustrates the effect of derivative instruments on consolidated operations for the periods ending June 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

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(Dollars in thousands)	Gain Reported in					Amount of Gain/Proceeds
Derivatives in ASC 815	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss				Location of Gain/Proceeds Reclassified from Accumulated Other	Recognized in Income on Derivative
Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	2010		2009		Comprehensive Income into Income	2010		2009

Interest Rate Contracts	$	299	$	475	Interest Expense	$	-	$	-

Note 11. Employee Post-Retirement Benefits

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

	Three Months Ended June 30						Six Months Ended June 30
(Dollars in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	113		$	77		$	226		$	154
Interest cost		181			137			362			274
Amortization of transition obligation		15			15			30			30
Amortization of prior service cost		(14	)		(14	)		(28	)		(28	)
Recognized net actuarial loss		98			33			196			66
Net periodic benefit cost	$	393		$	248		$	786		$	496


Employer's contributions for current premiums:											June 30, 2010
Contributions made for the six months ended June 30, 2010										$	155
Expected contributions for remainder of 2010											152
Total estimated employer contributions for fiscal year 2010										$	307

Note 12. Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate from operations for the second quarter of 2010 was 23.2% as a result of the release of income tax reserves and associated interest during the quarter. The effective tax rate from operations differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes, accrued interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits and non-deductible acquisition costs.

As of June 30, 2010, we had unrecognized tax benefits totaling $2,195,000 excluding interest. The amount of the unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized, that would affect the effective income tax rates of future periods is $2,179,000. It is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by approximately $2,247,000, including interest, during the next 12 months as a result of expirations of the statute of limitations. In the second quarter of 2010, we have recognized approximately $680,000 of previously unrecognized tax benefits and $126,000 of associated interest as a result of the expiration of statute of limitations.

We recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters as income tax expense. As of June 30, 2010, we have accrued $255,000 (net of tax) for interest related to unrecognized tax benefits.

We file consolidated income tax returns in the United States federal jurisdiction and combined or separate income tax returns in various state jurisdictions. In general, we are no longer subject to United States federal income tax examinations for the years prior to 2006 except to the extent of losses utilized in subsequent years.

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Note 13. Acquisition

On August 1, 2009, we purchased all of the capital stock of CP Telecom for an adjusted purchase price of $6,625,000 to grow our small to medium-sized business customer base. This acquisition was funded with cash on hand. In the first quarter of 2010, an adjustment associated with a change in working capital of CP Telecom at closing, reduced the purchase price and associated goodwill by $120,000, resulting in an adjusted purchase price of $6,505,000. CP Telecom was formerly a privately held facilities-based telecom provider serving Minneapolis, St. Paul and northern Minnesota.

The table below sets forth the CP Telecom purchase price allocation. The purchase price allocation resulted in goodwill of $2,184,000 which has been reduced by $120,000 to $2,064,000 as of June 30, 2010 as noted in the table below. The fair value of the property and equipment were determined based on Level 1 inputs. The valuation of intangible assets was evaluated using Level 2 inputs. The valuation of net working capital and other assets and liabilities were evaluated using Level 3 inputs.

(Dollars in thousands)	2010
Property and equipment	$	3,986
Identifiable intangible assets:
Customer relationships and contracts		1,070
Supplier relationship		2,100
Goodwill		2,064
Other assets and liabilities		(653	)
Deferred income tax		(2,062	)
Allocation of purchase consideration	$	6,505

Of the identified intangible assets noted above, customer relationships and contracts have useful lives of five years and the supplier relationship has a useful life of 15 years. Useful lives for identifiable intangible assets were estimated at the time of the acquisition based on the periods of time from which we expect to derive benefits from the identifiable intangible assets. The identifiable intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method, which reflects the pattern in which the assets are consumed.

Goodwill in our CP Telecom acquisition is a result of the value of acquired employees along with the expected synergies from the combination of CP Telecom and our operations. Goodwill resulting from the acquisition of CP Telecom is not deductible for tax purposes.

Soon after acquisition, we began the integration of and reporting for CP Telecom operations with our Enventis fiber and data product line.

Note 14. Subsequent Events

We have evaluated and disclosed subsequent events through the filing date of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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

Forward Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 contains certain safe harbor provisions regarding forward-looking statements. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include forward-looking statements. These statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operating and financial performance, growth opportunities and growth rates, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business strategies, business and competitive outlook, and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “targets,” “projects,” “will,” “may,” “continues,” and “should,” and variations of these words and similar expressions, are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause HickoryTech’s actual results to differ materially from such statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those contained in Item 1A of Part II, “Risk Factors” of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 which is incorporated herein by reference.

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

Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. A description of the accounting policies that we consider particularly important for the portrayal of our results of operations and financial position, and which may require a higher level of judgment by our management, is contained under the caption, “Critical Accounting Policies,” in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Results of Operations

Overview-Trends and Highlights

We conduct our operations in two business segments: (i) Enventis Sector and (ii) Telecom Sector. Enventis serves business customers across a five-state region with Internet protocol (“IP”) based voice, transport, data and network solutions, managed services, network integration and support services. Enventis specializes in providing integrated unified communication solutions for businesses of all sizes - from small and medium-sized businesses to larger multi-office enterprise organizations, primarily in the upper Midwest. Enventis provides fiber and data services to wholesale service providers such as national and regional carriers and wireless carriers within the telecommunications business. Enventis is focused on providing services to business customers.

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

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We earned revenue of $38,268,000 in the second quarter of 2010, an 18.1% increase from the same period in 2009, primarily attributable to the 44.5% revenue increase in our Enventis Sector. Our Enventis equipment and services product line revenue improved from the economy-driven depressed sales in 2009, posting a second consecutive positive quarter with revenue of $10,420,000, up 28.0% from the same period in 2009. The remaining growth in our Enventis Sector is fueled by growth in our wholesale and retail transport business and is boosted by key strategic initiatives to expand our fiber network and data services.

Earlier this year, we announced an aggressive growth plan. We began on this path in the third quarter of 2009, when we broadened our small to medium-size business customer focus with our acquisition of CP Telecom. We have also defined several key initiatives to generate revenue growth within our fiber and data product line by extending these services into new markets. In April of 2010, we announced the expansion of our fiber network into Des Moines, Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Fargo, North Dakota, providing additional sales opportunities. As part of this expansion plan, we began a construction project with another carrier to extend our fiber network. We are receiving revenue from the other carrier for managing construction of this route.

Growth within our existing markets and customer base, new business accessed through the CP Telecom acquisition, and growth through our fiber route expansion resulted in an increase in revenue of $4,183,000 or 63.2% in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The revenue earned from constructing the above-mentioned fiber route contributed $1,095,000 or 26.2% to the increase seen in fiber and data revenue in the second quarter of 2010. We expect to receive additional revenue in the third and fourth quarter of 2010.

Telecom Sector broadband growth of 10.3% and 10.9% in the three and six month period ended June 30, 2010, compared to the same period in 2009, helped to offset the continued declines in network access and local service revenue. Our digital TV subscriber base grew to 9,841 customers, an increase of 10.6%, while our DSL customer base grew by 1.5% to 19,359 customers during the last year. While we continue to expand our digital TV services into small communities surrounding our largest market, Mankato, Minn., growth rates in our digital TV and DSL product lines have declined from those seen in prior years as our markets have matured due to successful market penetration.

Our capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $10,492,000, an increase over the comparable period in 2009 of $3,198,000. Dollars spent related to our Enventis Sector supported our strategic growth initiatives and accounted for 78.7% of the increase. The year-to-date Telecom Sector capital expenditure increase of $735,000 is primarily attributable to equipment and infrastructure related to our customer contract with a school consortium providing learning institutions in south central Minnesota with voice, data and video connectivity. Total revenues under the contract, which is effective July 1, 2010, will exceed $4,000,000 over three years.

Second quarter and year-to-date consolidated net income have also been impacted by lower interest and income tax expense resulting in a 65.8% and 31.9% increase in net income compared to the same periods in 2009. Interest expense decreased by $618,000 and $735,000 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009 due to debt pay-down of $3,991,000 in the past twelve months, lower interest rates and the ongoing implementation of interest rate protection strategies. Second quarter and year-to-date income tax expense has been impacted by two items. National health care legislation enacted in the first quarter of 2010 caused us to recognize non-cash income tax expense of $279,000 in the first quarter of 2010. In April of 2010, we benefitted from a reduction of accrued income taxes due to the expiration of a statute of limitations which added $807,000 to second quarter net income.

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Sector Results of Operations

Enventis Sector

The following table provides a breakdown of the Enventis Sector operating results.

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		2009		Change			2010		2009		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations

Operating revenue
Equipment	$	8,068	$	5,393		50	%	$	17,952	$	12,184		47	%
Services		2,352		2,749		-14	%		4,209		5,090		-17	%
Equipment and Services		10,420		8,142					22,161		17,274

Fiber and Data		10,708		6,480		65	%		20,321		13,137		55	%
Intersegment		97		142		-32	%		230		283		-19	%
Total Enventis operating revenue	$	21,225	$	14,764		44	%	$	42,712	$	30,694		39	%

Total Enventis revenue before intersegment eliminations
Unaffiliated customers	$	21,128	$	14,622				$	42,482	$	30,411
Intersegment		97		142					230		283
		21,225		14,764					42,712		30,694

Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		6,974		4,717		48	%		15,449		10,716		44	%
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		7,582		4,849		56	%		14,281		10,087		42	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		2,992		2,294		30	%		6,034		4,683		29	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,406		1,201		17	%		2,770		2,350		18	%
Total Enventis costs and expenses		18,954		13,061		45	%		38,534		27,836		38	%

Operating income	$	2,271	$	1,703		33	%	$	4,178	$	2,858		46	%
Net income	$	1,353	$	1,018		33	%	$	2,475	$	1,699		46	%

Capital expenditures	$	3,907	$	2,262		73	%	$	5,971	$	3,453		73	%

We manage and evaluate the Enventis operations in their entirety. The following table provides an illustration of the contributions and associated trends from each of the Enventis primary product lines. Certain allocations have been made, particularly in the area of selling, general and administrative expenses, in order to develop these tables.

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EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES PRODUCT LINE REPORTING

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		2009		Change			2010		2009		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations:
Equipment	$	8,068	$	5,393		50	%	$	17,952	$	12,184		47	%
Services		2,352		2,749		-14	%		4,209		5,090		-17	%
Total operating revenue	$	10,420	$	8,142		28	%	$	22,161	$	17,274		28	%

Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		6,974		4,701		48	%		15,449		10,699		44	%
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		1,693		1,649		3	%		3,412		3,601		-5	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,105		1,211		-9	%		2,228		2,499		-11	%
Depreciation and amortization		77		104		-26	%		150		186		-19	%
Total costs and expenses		9,849		7,665		28	%		21,239		16,985		25	%

Operating income	$	571	$	477		20	%	$	922	$	289		219	%
Net income	$	341	$	284		20	%	$	565	$	173		227	%

Capital expenditures	$	49	$	119		-59	%	$	134	$	262		-49	%

FIBER AND DATA PRODUCT LINE REPORTING

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
(Dollars in thousands)	2010		2009		Change			2010		2009		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations:
Services	$	10,708	$	6,480		65	%	$	20,321	$	13,137		55	%
Intersegment		97		142		-32	%		230		283		-19	%
Total operating revenue	$	10,805	$	6,622		63	%	$	20,551	$	13,420		53	%

Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)		-		16		-100	%		-		17		-100	%
Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		5,889		3,200		84	%		10,869		6,486		68	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,887		1,083		74	%		3,806		2,184		74	%
Depreciation and amortization		1,329		1,097		21	%		2,620		2,164		21	%
Total costs and expenses		9,105		5,396		69	%		17,295		10,851		59	%

Operating income	$	1,700	$	1,226		39	%	$	3,256	$	2,569		27	%
Net income	$	1,012	$	734		38	%	$	1,910	$	1,526		25	%

Capital expenditures	$	3,858	$	2,143		80	%	$	5,837	$	3,191		83	%

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Revenue

Equipment Sales. This revenue is generated primarily from the sale of communications and data products provided by third party manufacturers. Due to the “one-time” nature of equipment sales, equipment revenue is dependent upon new sales from existing and new customers.

Equipment sales volume increased by 49.6% in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 continuing the uptick in sales activity that we experienced in the first quarter of this year. Year-to-date sales of $17,952,000 represent a 47.3% increase over the same period in 2009 and are representative of business customers beginning to invest in state-of-the art communications infrastructure.

Equipment Services. This revenue includes services related to our equipment sales, such as network and equipment monitoring, maintenance, and equipment consulting and installation.

Equipment services revenue is down $397,000 and $881,000 for the second quarter of 2010 and the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. The second quarter decline is primarily due a decrease of $290,000 in network and equipment monitoring services caused by the loss of service to a large enterprise customer in late 2009. The decline of $881,000 or 17.3% in the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same period in 2009 is due to three factors. The first is a $585,000 decline in contracted services. Scheduled and performed contract services work was light in the first quarter of 2010, but has increased as the year has progressed. The second factor is a $578,000 decline in network and equipment monitoring services caused by the loss of service to a large enterprise customer in late 2009. The third factor, a $283,000 increase in maintenance contract revenue, offset the fore-mentioned declines.

Fiber and Data. This revenue is primarily of a recurring monthly basis and consists of billing for the use of our fiber network and network connections through multi-year contracts with retail business, regional and national service providers and wireless carriers. This product line also includes revenue from our hosted voice over Internet protocol (“VOIP”) Singlelink® product along with small to medium-sized business retail sales, including operating results for CP Telecom, our acquisition which closed on August 1, 2009.

Growth in wholesale and retail transport, providing high-capacity Ethernet, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and fiber services provided the base for the second quarter and year-to-date increase of 63.2% and 53.1% experienced in our fiber and data product line compared to the same period in 2009. Our pursuit of strategic growth initiatives is contributing to the high growth rate experienced in this product line. Our CP Telecom acquisition, which grows our small to medium business customer segment, accounted for approximately 19.0% and 21.0% of the second quarter and year-to-date revenue increase.

In the second quarter, we began a construction project with another carrier to extend our fiber network. We will receive revenue from the other carrier for overseeing this project, and will grant ownership of a portion of the route to the other carrier subsequent to its completion late in 2010. This project is part of our strategic initiative to grow our wholesale and B2B fiber and data services. Revenue related to this contract contributed 10.2% and 5.4% to total fiber and data revenue in the second quarter and year-to-date 2010 period.

Cost of Sales (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Enventis Sector cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) associated with equipment revenue was $2,273,000 and $4,750,000 higher in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. This increase is directly related to the 49.6% and 47.3% increase in equipment sales volume during the same periods, as noted above. Cost of sales for the Enventis Sector includes costs of equipment and materials associated with procurement and installation of products for customers, which increased significantly due to the increase in equipment sales. Labor associated with installation work is not included in this category, but is included in cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization).

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Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Enventis Sector cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased by $2,733,000 and $4,194,000 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. Costs associated with our pursuit of new strategic initiatives, primarily the growth in our small to medium business customer segment attributable to our CP Telecom acquisition and the agreement to construct a fiber network, accounted for $2,004,000 and $3,342,000 representing 73.3% and 70.6% of the overall increase in cost of services in the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. Volume-driven circuit costs in our fiber and data product line also contributed $510,000 and $885,000 to the increase in the periods noted above.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Enventis Sector selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 30.4% and 28.8% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. This increase is primarily attributable to the newly-acquired CP Telecom operations and our initiatives to expand our direct sales force focused on small to medium sized businesses.

Depreciation and Amortization

Enventis Sector depreciation and amortization increased by $205,000 and $420,000 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. Depreciation related to assets acquired as part of our CP Telecom acquisition constituted $192,000 and $384,000 of the increase in these periods.

Amortization expense of $89,000 in the second quarter and $177,000 on a year-to-date basis in 2010 is entirely due to acquired CP Telecom intangible assets. Amortization attributed to specific intangible assets related to the Enventis acquisition in 2005 became fully amortized at December 31, 2009.

Operating Income

Enventis Sector operating income of $2,271,000 and $4,178,000 increased 33.3% and 46.2%, respectively in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. This increase was primarily due to the increase realized in revenue across all product lines offset by higher overall expenses supporting revenue growth.

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Telecom Sector

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

	Three Months Ended June 30				%			Six Months Ended June 30				%
	2010		2009		Change			2010		2009		Change
Operating revenue before intersegment eliminations
Local Service	$	3,638	$	3,880		-6	%	$	7,303	$	7,757		-6	%
Network Access		5,851		5,955		-2	%		11,979		12,165		-2	%
Long Distance		800		1,027		-22	%		1,620		2,058		-21	%
Broadband		3,287		2,979		10	%		6,503		5,863		11	%
Internet		1,262		1,252		1	%		2,494		2,506		0	%
Directory		888		1,023		-13	%		1,805		2,100		-14	%
Bill Processing		802		961		-17	%		1,577		1,630		-3	%
Intersegment		468		234		100	%		897		477		88	%
Other		612		704		-13	%		1,225		1,374		-11	%
Total Telecom operating revenue	$	17,608	$	18,015		-2	%	$	35,403	$	35,930		-1	%

Total Telecom revenue before intersegment eliminations
Unaffiliated customers	$	17,140	$	17,781				$	34,506	$	35,453
Intersegment		468		234					897		477
		17,608		18,015					35,403		35,930

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization)		7,709		7,440		4	%		15,713		15,016		5	%
Selling, general and administrative expenses		3,033		3,040		0	%		5,983		5,874		2	%
Depreciation and amortization		3,875		3,827		1	%		7,891		7,947		-1	%
Total Telecom costs and expenses		14,617		14,307		2	%		29,587		28,837		3	%

Operating Income	$	2,991	$	3,708		-19	%	$	5,816	$	7,093		-18	%

Net income	$	1,774	$	2,205		-20	%	$	3,180	$	4,183		-24	%

Capital expenditures	$	3,156	$	2,351		34	%	$	4,521	$	3,786		19	%

Key metrics
Business access lines		24,479		25,034		-2	%
Residential access lines		28,839		32,334		-11	%
Total access lines		53,318		57,368		-7	%
Long distance customers		35,131		37,557		-6	%
Digital Subscriber Line customers		19,359		19,065		2	%
Digital TV customers		9,841		8,895		11	%

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Revenue

Local Service. We receive monthly recurring revenue primarily for local telephone services, enhanced calling features, miscellaneous local services from end-user customers and reciprocal compensation from wireless carriers. Local service revenue declined 6.2% and 5.8% in the three and six month period ending June 30, 2010. We continue to be impacted by our customer’s migration toward alternative communication services, especially in our residential service marketplace. The combined decline in access line revenue from our residential and business customers was $215,000 and $447,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009, respectively. Our customer base has continued its modest decline with a 7.1% decline in lines over one year ago. An increase in sales of ISDN Primary Rate Interface (“PRI”) T-1 services providing voice and data services, have helped to offset losses in business single and multi-line voice services.

We continue to focus on marketing a competitive bundle of services providing a compelling value for customers to maintain their local voice line. Bundled packages are customizable and offer discounts as more services, such as calling features, high-speed DSL, and digital TV are added to the bundle.

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

The decline experienced in network access revenue for the second quarter of 2010 and the six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009 was 1.7% and 1.5% respectively, consistent with the decline seen in the first quarter of 2010. While minutes-of-use revenue continues to decline, the primary reason behind the decline in network access revenue is due to special access circuits. Bi-annual rate decreases, which went into effect on July 1, 2009 along with the lowering of the demand for special access circuits negatively impacted our second quarter and year-to-date results by $234,000 and $461,000, respectively. The decline was partially offset by higher distributions from national pools impacting results by $230,000 and $451,000 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the same periods in 2009.

In October 2009, we filed a collection action in US District court against an interexchange carrier. The suit is a result of non-payment of network access charges. The carrier filed a counter claim against us. We cannot predict the outcome of our collection action or the carrier’s counter claims.

Long Distance. Our end-user customers are billed for toll or long distance service on either a per-call or flat-rate basis. This includes the provision of directory assistance, operator service and long distance private lines. Long distance revenue declined by $227,000 and $438,000 or 22.1% and 21.3% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. This decrease in revenue is the result of the loss of 2,426 long distance customers or 6.5% of our customer base during the past 12 months, a growing number of residential customers selecting unlimited long distance calling plans, and decreasing rates per minute we charge to customers due to aggressive competition in the markets we serve. Long distance revenue provided through our Singlelink product, which was previously recorded in this product line, is now recorded within our Enventis Sector to facilitate management of our small to medium business customer segment.

Broadband. We receive monthly recurring revenue for a variety of broadband data network services to our end-user customers. Broadband services include the DSL access portion of Telecom DSL service, digital TV program services and business Ethernet and other data services.

We continue to experience demand for our broadband services and grew this product line by $308,000 or 10.3% in the second quarter of 2010 and $640,000 or 10.9% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. Our digital TV customer base grew by 946 customers or 10.6% year-over-year and accounted for $257,000 and $511,000 of the broadband growth during the second quarter of 2010 and in the six months ended June 30, 2010, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2009. During the past year, we expanded our digital TV service to four additional communities, comprising approximately 900 households, bringing the total number of communities we serve with digital TV service to 16. While we continue to experience growth in our digital TV and DSL customer base, growth rates have declined from those seen in prior years as our markets have matured due to successful market penetration.

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Directory. We receive monthly recurring revenue from subscribers for yellow page advertising in our telephone directories. Directory revenue declined 13.2% in the second quarter of 2010 and 14.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. This decrease was the result of a decreased demand for yellow-page advertising due to reductions in published advertising by local and national businesses. We anticipate that our directory revenue will continue to trend lower for the remainder of 2010.

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

Bill processing revenue was $159,000 or 16.5% lower in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. The timing of performance on contract services including project integration services related to sales of our billing and management system SuiteSolution® decreased quarterly results by $148,000. Bill processing revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2010 of $1,577,000 is similar to revenue of $1,630,000 for the comparable period in 2009.

Other. Other revenue consists primarily of sales of customer premise equipment, circuit private lines, maintenance, and add, move and change revenue. Revenue from add, move, and change orders represented $64,000 of the $92,000 second quarter decline and $88,000 of the $149,000 decline in the six month period ended June 30, 2010 as compared to the prior periods in 2009. The number of orders we have experienced in 2010 has declined due to experienced access line loss and a migration of our business customers from Nortel to Cisco based telecommunications systems, which are supported by our Enventis Sector.

Cost of Services (excluding Depreciation and Amortization)

Cost of services (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased $269,000 or 3.6% and $697,000 or 4.6% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same quarters in 2009. In the second quarter, digital TV programming fees increased by $153,000 and wage and benefit costs increased by $149,000. In the sixth month period ending June 30, 2010, digital TV programming fees increased by $356,000 and wage and benefit costs increased by $268,000. Increases in digital TV programming fees support the growth of our broadband product. The wage and benefit increase seen in both periods is primarily due to a significant increase in benefit costs primarily resulting from the regular annual actuarial valuation of our postretirement benefits plan. This increase was driven by market interest rates used in the valuation and are increasing health care costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $109,000 in the six month period ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. In 2009, we experienced an expense reduction in market access fees due to the impact of a reversal of a previously established contingency reserve related to a civil suit. Without this reserve reversal selling, general and administrative expenses would have declined year-over-year primarily due to reductions in advertising expense of $86,000.

Operating Income

Telecom Sector operating income for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010 declined by $717,000 and $1,277,000 or 19.3% and 18.0%, respectively. The systematic decline of traditional telecom recurring revenue along with increases seen in our Cost of Services (excluding depreciation and amortization), which are driven by digital TV programming fees and benefit costs provide the basis for the decline in Telecom Sector operating income.

Net Income

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was impacted by noncash income tax expense of $262,000 due to tax changes related to the recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

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Consolidated Results

Interest Expense

Consolidated interest expense was down 35.9% and 21.4% in the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 compared to the same periods in 2009. Interest expense has decreased due to the pay-down of debt, lower interest rates and the implementation of interest rate protection strategies. The outstanding balance of our debt obligations (long-term and current portion) is down $3,991,000 from $125,246,000 at June 30, 2009 to $121,255,000 as of June 30, 2010.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate from operations for the second quarter of 2010 was 23.2%. In April 2010, we benefitted from a $807,000 reduction of accrued income taxes as a result of the release of income tax reserves and associated interest. The effective tax rate from operations differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes, accrued interest expense on unrecognized tax benefits and non-deductible acquisition costs.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Capital Structure

HickoryTech’s total capital structure (long-term and short-term debt obligations plus shareholders’ equity) was $157,998,000 at June 30, 2010, reflecting 23.3% equity and 76.7% debt. This compares to a total capital structure of $155,037,000 at December 31, 2009, reflecting 22.3% equity and 77.7% debt. In the telecommunications industry, debt financing is most often based on operating cash flows. Specifically, our current use of the senior credit facility is in a ratio of approximately 2.97 times debt to Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization, (“EBITDA”) as defined in our credit agreement; well within acceptable limits for our agreement and our industry. Management believes we will be able to meet our current and long-term liquidity and capital requirements through operating cash flows and other internal and available external resources. Our primary uses of cash include capital expenditures, business development, debt service, temporary financing of trade accounts receivable and the payment of potential dividends. We employ an extended term payable financing arrangement for the equipment provisioning portion of the equipment and services product line in the Enventis Sector and view this arrangement as more of a structured accounts payable that is paid within 60 days with no separate interest charge. As such, the extended term payable financing amount of $6,166,000 and $6,788,000 as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, is not considered to be part of our capitalization and has been excluded from the above discussion of capital structure.

Cash Flows

We expect our liquidity needs to arise from routine payment of dividends, interest and principal payments on our indebtedness, income taxes, and capital expenditures. We use our cash inflow to manage the temporary increases in cash demand, and can utilize our senior revolving credit facility for more significant fluctuations in liquidity caused by growth initiatives.

While it is often difficult for us to predict the impact of general economic conditions on our business, we believe that we will be able to meet our current and long-term cash commitments through our operating cash flows. We were in full compliance with our debt covenants as of June 30, 2010 and anticipate that we will be able to plan for and match future liquidity needs with future internal and available external resources.

Our primary source of funds continues to be cash generated from operations. Cash generated from operations was $10,140,000 in the first six months of 2010 compared to $20,318,000 in the first six months of 2009. Increased business volume in 2010 has caused an increase in our accounts receivable and inventory balances. In 2009, lower volumes combined with our internal focus on improving collection practices allowed increased cash flow from operations within our Enventis Sector.

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Capital expenditures were $10,492,000 during the first six months of 2010 compared to $7,294,000 in 2009. We expect our 2010 capital expenditures to range from $22,000,000 to $26,000,000. Growth initiatives, including expansion of our fiber capacity and fiber network, Telecom Sector equipment and infrastructure investments made to serve a consortium of 69 schools and libraries in south central Minnesota, and other opportunities to accelerate our growth will require our capital spending to exceed 2009 levels. This level of spending falls within our senior debt agreement and available sources of financing.

Cash used in financing activities was $2,085,000 in the first six months of 2010. Our long and short-term debt totals $121,255,000 as of June 30, 2010, a $5,090,000 increase from the first quarter of 2010 and a $764,000 decrease from December 31, 2009. Seasonality in our construction season along with the sales increase associated with our equipment business caused the temporary increase in our long and short-term debt at the end of the second quarter of 2010. We anticipate our year-end debt level to be similar to year-end 2009 levels.

Working Capital

Working capital (i.e. current assets minus current liabilities) was $9,786,000 as of June 30, 2010, compared to working capital of $7,690,000 as of December 31, 2009. The increase in working capital is primarily due to an increase in the accounts receivable balance in the Enventis Sector driven by increased equipment sales activity. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.4 and 1.3 as of June 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

Extended-Term Payable

Enventis has a $20,000,000 wholesale financing agreement with a financing company to fund inventory purchased from certain approved vendors. Advances under the financing arrangement are collateralized by the accounts receivable and inventory of Enventis and a guaranty of up to $18,000,000 from HickoryTech.

The financing agreement provides 60-day, interest-free payment terms for inventory purchases and can be terminated at any time by either party. The balance outstanding under the financing arrangement was $6,166,000 at June 30, 2010 and $6,788,000 at December 31, 2009. These balances are classified as current liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets.

Long-Term Debt Obligations

Our long-term obligations as of June 30, 2010 were $120,343,000 excluding current maturities of $600,000 on debt and of $312,000 on capital leases. Long-term obligations as of December 31, 2009, were $119,871,000 excluding current maturities of $200,000 on debt and of $420,000 on capital leases.

On December 30, 2005, we entered into a $160,000,000 credit agreement with a syndicate of banks (subsequently reduced to a $138,770,000 facility as of March 31, 2010 through normal quarterly amortization). The credit facility is comprised of a $30,000,000 revolving credit component that expires on December 30, 2011 and a $130,000,000 term loan component (subsequently reduced to $23,920,000 and $114,850,000 as of June 30, 2010, respectively).

The term loan is comprised of two components, which are defined as term loan B and term loan C. The outstanding principal balance of term loan B is $100,700,000 as of June 30, 2010, and is held in varying amounts by three lenders in the syndicate; US Bank, GE Commercial Distribution Finance Corporate and CoBank. Under the terms of term loan B, we are required to make quarterly principal payments of $275,000 from June 30, 2010 through December 31, 2011 with the remainder of the aggregate principal due in two payments on March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012. Due to the aggressive pay down of debt in 2009, we are not required to make quarterly principal payments on term loan B in 2010. The outstanding principal balance of term loan C is $14,150,000 as of June 30, 2010 and is held entirely by the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (“RTFC”). Under the terms of term loan C, we are required to make quarterly principal payments of $50,000 on the aggregate principal amount from March 31, 2010 through December 31, 2012 with the remainder of the aggregate principal due in two payments on March 31, 2013 and June 30, 2013.

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Our credit facility requires us to comply, on a consolidated basis, with specified financial ratios and tests. These financial ratios and tests include maximum leverage ratio, minimum interest coverage ratio and maximum capital expenditures. We were in full compliance with these ratios and tests as of June 30, 2010 as well as of December 31, 2009. Our obligations under the credit facility are secured by a first-priority lien on all property and assets, tangible and intangible of HickoryTech and its current subsidiaries, including, but not limited to accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and intellectual property; general intangibles, cash and proceeds of the foregoing. We have also given a first-priority pledge of the capital stock of HickoryTech’s current subsidiaries to secure the credit facility. Our credit facility permits us to pay dividends to holders of our common stock, or to make repurchases of our common stock with restrictions related to net income of the year prior to the dividend, offset by the dividend or repurchase or both. The credit facility contains certain restrictions that, among other things, limit or restrict our ability to create liens or encumbrances; incur additional debt; issue stock; make asset sales, transfers, or dispositions; and engage in mergers and acquisitions over a specified maximum value.

Regulation

In March 2010, the Federal Communication Commission released the National Broadband Plan which contemplates significant changes to overall telecommunications policy in relation to access charges and underlying support. Neither the outcome, timing or potential impact of recommended changes can be predicted at this time.

New Accounting Pronouncements

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

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We do not have operations subject to risks of foreign currency fluctuations. We do, however, use financial derivative instruments that qualify as cash-flow hedges to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations on a portion of our variable-interest rate debt. Currently we have an interest-rate swap agreement, effectively locking in the interest rate on $80,000,000 of variable-interest rate debt from March 2010 to September 2011. The interest rate we have locked is 2.15%. This swap rate is in addition to the applicable margin under our credit agreement, which is 1.5%.

The market value of the cumulative gain or (loss) on financial derivative instruments is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholder’s equity and is recognized in earnings when the term of a protection agreement is concluded. Additional information on our interest-rate swap agreements can be found under Note 10. “Financial Derivative Instruments.”

Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates as a portion of our long-term debt has variable interest rates based on LIBOR. If interest rates for the portion of our long-term debt based on variable rates had averaged 10% more for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, our interest expense would have increased $39,000.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

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

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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Part II Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

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

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There have not been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

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

None.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4. Removed and Reserved.

None.

Item 5. Other Information.

None.

Item 6. Exhibits Listing.

Exhibit 10.2 Executive Incentive Program, as amended and restated

Exhibit 31.1 Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 31.2 Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Exchange Act, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 32.2 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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Signatures

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

Dated: July 29, 2010

HICKORY TECH CORPORATION

By: /s/ John W. Finke

John W. Finke, President and Chief Executive Officer

By: /s/ David A. Christensen

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