EDINBURG, VA, (October 25, 2005) – The Board of Directors of Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel; NASDAQ: SHEN) declared a cash dividend of $0.46 per share. The dividend will be payable December 1, 2005, to shareholders of record on November 14, 2005. The dividend is an increase of $0.03 per share or 7.0 % over the 2004 dividend. Total payout to shareholders will be approximately $3.7 million.

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company also announced unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2005. Net income for the quarter was $3.2 million, compared to $3.1 million for the third quarter 2004. Total third quarter revenues grew by 20.0% from the same quarter last year, including a 17.1% increase in PCS revenues. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $8.1 million, $0.2 million less than the same period last year.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2005, net income was $3.2 million or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million or $0.41 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2004. The Company’s total revenues for the third quarter of 2005 were $37.3 million, compared to $31.1 million in the third quarter of 2004, which represented an increase of $6.2 million or 20.0%. The Company’s revenue growth was driven by a $3.6 million increase in its PCS operations and $2.3 million from NTC Communications (NTC), acquired on November 30, 2004.

Operating income for the third quarter of 2005 and 2004 was $5.9 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Operating income for the third quarter of 2005 includes an operating loss of $1.5 million from NTC. Operating income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 was $15.2 million and $15.8 million respectively, with the 2005 operating income including an operating loss of $3.2 million for NTC.

President and CEO, Christopher E. French commented, "We are pleased our financial results have again enabled us to increase our cash dividend to shareholders. Strong growth in our PCS business, along with solid results from our traditional telephone services, has enabled us to continue our diversification efforts while still delivering good overall financial results for our investors.”

PCS Operations

The Company experienced continued growth in third quarter wireless revenues as a Sprint PCS Affiliate of Sprint Nextel, increasing itsPCS subsidiary revenue to a total of $24.6 million, which represented an increase of $3.6 million over the 2004 third quarter. The PCS net income was $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2005 compared to a net income of $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2004. PCS net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $4.0 million, which represented a $1.3 million increase over the 2004 nine-month period. The third quarter of 2005 included a $750,000 settlement for the recovery of network costs for the period 2001 to 2004. The Company’s Sprint retail wireless customer count increased by 4,370, compared to an increase of 3,578 in the third quarter of 2004, to 116,460 retail customers. Wholesale users increased by 1,115, compared to a 1,544 increase in the third quarter of 2004, to 33,848 wholesale users. The Company’s third quarter retail customer turnover, or churn, was 2.1%, compared to 2.2% in the third quarter of 2004.

Telephone Operations

The local telephone operations’ net income for the 2005 third quarter was $1.9 million, which represented a $0.1 million increase compared to the 2004 third quarter. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 and 2004 was $5.6 million and $5.1 million, respectively. Telephone operations recorded a net loss of 66 access lines during the 2005 third quarter, but had cumulative net add of 120 access lines for the nine months ended September 30, 2005, to end the quarter with 24,811 access lines. DSL users increased 625 in the third quarter and 1,416 for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 for a total of 4,062 customers.

The Company invested and/or committed $13.7 million in plant in service and retired $1.1 million of scheduled debt during the third quarter of 2005. The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $12.2 million as of the end of the third quarter. At September 30, 2005, the Company’s debt/equity ratio was 30.1% and debt as a percent of total assets was 17.9%.

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company is a holding company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of telecommunications products and services through its operating subsidiaries. The Company is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "SHEN." The Company's operating subsidiaries provide local and long distance telephone, internet and data services, cable television, wireless voice and data services, alarm monitoring, and telecommunications equipment, along with many other associated solutions in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States.

Earle A. MacKenzie

Chief Financial Officer

     This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of unforeseen factors. A discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from management’s projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in the Company filings with the SEC. Those factors may include changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs and other competitive factors. For a discussion of these factors, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2005. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

 

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets		September 30,	December 31,
		2005	2004
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 12,165	$ 14,172
Other current assets		14,595	20,345
Total securities and investments		7,163	7,250
Property, plant and equipment		248,009	230,323
Less accumulated depreciation		(89,506)	(74,071)
Net property, plant and equipment		158,503	156,252
Other assets, net		14,954	13,228
Total assets		$ 207,380	$ 211,247
Current liabilities, exclusive of current maturities of $ 4,486 and $4,372, respectively		$ 20,245	$ 17,474
Long and short-term debt		37,024	52,291
Total other liabilities		27,431	27,685
Total shareholders' equity		122,680	113,797
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$ 207,380	$ 211,247

 

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

(unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
		Three months ended September 30,		Nine months ended September 30,
		2005	2004*	2005	2004*
Revenues		$ 37,320	$31,103	$ 107,184	$88,674
Expenses		31,418	24,633	92,006	72,893
Operating Income		5,902	6,470	15,178	15,781
Other Income & Expense		661	1,515	2,139	2,543
Income Tax Provision		2,083	1,844	4,973	4,934
Net income		$ 3,158	$ 3,111	$ 8,066	$ 8,304
Net earnings per share, basic		$ 0.41	$ 0.41	$ 1.05	$ 1.09
Net earnings per share, diluted		$ 0.41	$ 0.41	$ 1.05	$ 1.09

*Certain amounts for 2004 have been reclassified to conform with the 2005 presentation.