CenturyLink 2004 Annual Report Download

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CENTURYTEL 2004 ANNUAL REPORT
To Serve aCustomer
THE STORY OF WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS WANT AND OUR STRATEGY FOR PROVIDING IT.
BUILDING STRONG CONNECTIONS
Best
Seller!

Table of contents

  • Page 1
    t ! s Be ller Se CENTURYTEL 2004 ANNUAL REPORT B U I L D I N G S T R O N G C O N N E C T I O N S To Serve aCustomer THE STORY OF WHAT OUR CUST OMERS WANT AND OUR STRATEGY FOR P R O V I D I N G I T.

  • Page 2
    ..., Inc. (NYSE: CTL) provides a full range of local, long distance, Internet and broadband services to consumers in 22 states. Included in the S&P 500 Index, CenturyTel is a leading provider of integrated communications services to rural areas and small to mid-size cities in the United States...

  • Page 3
    ...in our nation's communications infrastructure and delivering high-quality service to millions of individuals, families, small companies and large corporations. At CenturyTel, we believe the best way to meet these challenges is by understanding what our customers need and developing insights into how...

  • Page 4
    ... lines broadband enabled. In addition, we completed implementation of a new billing and customer care system that will enable our employees to more easily offer and provision our increasing array of services to our customers. These efforts also paid significant dividends for our shareholders in 2004...

  • Page 5
    ... working to enhance the services that we will include in future bundled offerings. Over the last several months we have been field-testing a switched digital video service that delivers high-quality video services, broadband and traditional voice and long distance services over our existing network...

  • Page 6
    ...service is too high to be borne entirely by customers. The national communications network is made stronger and more valuable through the universal availability of communications services, and it is sound public policy to support the economic development of non-urban areas. We also believe companies...

  • Page 7
    ... to increasing shareholder value in the future. In the years ahead, we expect to continue driving revenue growth through value-added bundling of products and services and by offering additional services to our customers through the deployment of new technology over our high-quality advanced networks...

  • Page 8
    ... of Conv enience" In Corinth, Texas, CenturyTel provides Robert Scott, his wife Lisa and their three children with local, long distance and Internet service as well as Voice Mail and Caller ID. By choosing a bundle with the communications services they need, CenturyTel customers can save money. And...

  • Page 9
    ...make it easy with Simple Choiceâ„¢ bundles. In these bundles, customers choose a plan with the services they want such as enhanced calling features, long distance, Voice Mail and Internet access. One plan, one price, one bill and one company to call for service. " An Ea sy Ca ll" Bundling services...

  • Page 10
    ...Plenty " A full menu of CenturyTel business services - including DSL and a modular integrated communications system - enables Peninsula Gardens and its suppliers to offer one of the most comprehensive and competitively priced inventories of plants and garden supplies in Gig Harbor, Washington. [8]

  • Page 11
    ...our customers. Multi-channel digital TV is now part of our one-bill, one-point-of-contact bundled service in several markets, and we expect to expand availability during 2005. " I' m M ob ile" Through a reseller relationship, we provide CenturyTel-branded wireless voice and text messaging services...

  • Page 12
    ...3 4 " W ell-scrip ted Pla y " Good communications enable Marine Quest of Lake Dallas, Texas, to offer a high-quality leisure experience to its customers. Using local, long distance, DSL and data services from CenturyTel, Marine Quest can better coordinate parts orders across five marinas. [ 10 ]

  • Page 13
    ...) and switched digital video service over our existing phone lines. F ive years ago, high-speed Internet access was available mainly for business applications. Now people use DSL connections at home to e-mail, check headlines, shop, pay bills and make reservations for their next vacation. DSL is...

  • Page 14
    TO SERVE A CUSTOMER C H A P T E R 4 4 4 " A Tex tb ook Ap p roa ch" We provide videoconferencing service and support to the College of Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia for a program that enables student athletes and student teachers to read and discuss books with children ...

  • Page 15
    ...fiber network. Now LightCore can offer wholesale IP services and CenturyTel can more readily develop IP-based solutions that business customers and others demand. H ow will you communicate with your friends and family 10 years from now? No one knows, but everyone wants a provider who can adapt to...

  • Page 16
    ... m itted , Ded ica ted Tea m w ork " Our employees are committed to delivering convenience, value and flexible advanced solutions to our customers. Thanks to their discipline and hard work, we have been able to grow our business year after year and deliver solid returns to our shareholders. [ 14 ]

  • Page 17
    ...Our customers know they can count on us in 2005 and in the years to come. This stability allowed us to complete a $400 million stock repurchase program in 2004, returning cash to our shareholders while maintaining the flexibility to invest in and grow our business. N et Ca sh Prov id ed from O p era...

  • Page 18
    TO SERVE A CUSTOMER Access Lines Total Access Lines State Wisconsin Missouri Alabama Arkansas Washington Michigan Louisiana Colorado Ohio Oregon Montana Texas Minnesota Tennessee Mississippi New Mexico Wyoming Idaho Indiana Iowa Arizona Nevada December 31, 2004 Percent 20.1 19.8 11.9 11.1 7.9 ...

  • Page 19
    CENTURYTEL 2004 ANNUAL REPORT Financial Highlights Dollars, except per share amounts, and shares in thousands 2004 ...Dividends per common share Average diluted shares outstanding Number of common shareholders Total assets Long-term debt Stockholders' equity Telephone access lines Long distance lines...

  • Page 20
    ... will be mailed to shareholders. A copy of the Company's Form 10-K can be obtained at no charge by contacting the Company's Investor Relations department at 800.833.1188 or by accessing the Company's Web site at www.centurytel.com. In addition to historical information, this Annual Report includes...

  • Page 21
    CENTURYTEL 2004 ANNUAL REPORT Consolidated Statements of Income Year ended December 31, Dollars, except per share amounts, and shares in thousands 2004 $2,407,372 2003 2,367,610 2002 1,971,996 Operating Revenues Operating Expenses Cost of services and products (exclusive of depreciation and ...

  • Page 22
    ... Liabilities Current maturities of long-term debt Accounts payable Accrued expenses and other current liabilities Advance billings and customer deposits Total current liabilities Long-Term Debt Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities Stockholders' Equity Common stock, $1.00 par value, authorized...

  • Page 23
    ... Proceeds from issuance of common stock Payment of debt issuance costs Payment of equity unit issuance costs Cash dividends Other, net Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations Net cash provided by discontinued operations Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash...

  • Page 24
    ... A CUSTOMER 2 0 0 4 A N N U A L R E P O R T CenturyTel Management Centur y Tel M a na g em ent (clock w ise): Stacey W. Goff, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | R. Stewart Ewing, Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Glen F. Post, III...

  • Page 25
    ...that can grow as our bundled packages expand. â- Grew our premier Simple Choiceâ„¢ bundle customer base by 51 percent and increased residential bundles penetration by 60 percent. â- â- Grew features revenue by 13 percent. Added 136,000 long distance lines, to end 2004 with more than 1,067,800...

  • Page 26
    ... Operations Support Stacey W. Goff Occupation: President and private investor River City Electric Company West Monroe, Louisiana Joined Board: 1968 Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary Michael E. Maslowski Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer [ 24...

  • Page 27
    ..., 2005, at 2 p.m. Central Time at the following location: Corporate Headquarters 100 CenturyTel Drive Monroe, Louisiana 71203 Tra d ing a nd Div id end Inform a tion High 2004 1st Quarter $33.40 2nd Quarter 30.32 3rd Quarter 34.47 4th Quarter 35.54 Low Dividends Close Declared $26.20 26.22 29.79 31...

  • Page 28
    CenturyTel, Inc. 100 CenturyTel Drive Monroe, Louisiana 71203 800.833.1188 www.centurytel.com