Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A

Amendment No. 1

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005 OR

o                                 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 001-14157

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 630-1900

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   o     No               ý

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   ý     No               o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes   o     No               ý

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Explanatory Note

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) is filing this Amendment No. 1 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2005, which was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on May 4, 2005 (“Original Form 10-Q”), to amend Part I Financial Information – Item 1 “Financial Statements,” Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”), and Item 4 “Controls and Procedures,” and Part II Other Information – Item 6 “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.”

As discussed in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, on November 9, 2005, TDS and its audit committee concluded that TDS would amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 to restate its financial statements and financial information for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, including quarterly information for 2004 and 2003 and certain selected financial data for the years 2001 and 2000.  TDS and its audit committee also concluded that TDS would amend its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005 to restate the financial statements and financial information included therewith.

The restatement adjustments principally correct items that were recorded in the financial statements previously but not in the proper periods and certain income tax, interest income and consolidation errors. Correction of the errors, with the exception of income taxes discussed below, individually did not have a material impact on income before income taxes and minority interest, net income or earnings per share; however, when aggregated, the items were considered to be material. The restatement adjustments to correct income tax accounting had a material impact individually on net income and earnings per share in prior periods. The restated financial statements are adjusted to record certain obligations in the periods such obligations were incurred, correct the timing of the reversal of certain tax liabilities, correct the consolidation of an 80% owned subsidiary, and record revenues in the periods such revenues were earned.  The adjustments are described below.

•      Income taxes – In the restatement, TDS corrected its income tax expense, federal and state taxes payable, liabilities accrued for tax contingencies, deferred income tax assets and liabilities and related disclosures for the first quarter of 2005 and the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 for items identified based on a reconciliation of income tax accounts.  The reconciliation compared amounts used for financial reporting purposes to the amounts used in the preparation of the income tax returns, and took into consideration the results of federal and state income tax audits and the resulting book/tax basis differences which generate deferred tax assets and liabilities.  In addition, a review of the state deferred income tax rates used to establish deferred income tax assets and liabilities identified errors in the state income tax rate used which resulted in adjustments to correct the amount of deferred income tax assets and liabilities recorded for temporary differences between the timing of when certain transactions are recognized for financial and income tax reporting.

•      Federal universal service fund (“USF”) contributions – In 2004 and 2003, Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) billings to U.S. Cellular for USF contributions were based on estimated revenues reported to USAC by U.S. Cellular in accordance with USAC’s established procedures. However, U.S. Cellular’s actual liability for USF is based upon its actual revenues and USAC’s established procedures provide a method to adjust U.S. Cellular’s estimated liability to its actual liability. In the first six months of 2005 and the full years of 2004 and 2003, U.S. Cellular’s actual revenues exceeded estimated revenues reported to USAC on an interim basis.  As a result, additional amounts were due to USAC in 2005 and 2004 based on U.S. Cellular’s annual report filings.  Such additional amounts were incorrectly expensed when the invoices were received from USAC rather than at the time the obligation was incurred.  In the third quarter of 2005, U.S. Cellular corrected its accounting for USF contributions to record expense reflecting the estimated obligation incurred based on actual revenues reported during the period.  Accordingly, in the restatement, TDS has adjusted previously reported USF contributions expense by U.S. Cellular to reflect the estimated liability incurred during the period.

•      Customer contract termination fees – In the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular revised its business practices related to the billing of contract termination fees charged when a customer disconnected service prior to the end of the customer’s contract.  This change resulted in an increase in amounts billed to customers and revenues even though a high percentage of the amounts billed were deemed uncollectible. At the time of the change in business practice, U.S. Cellular incorrectly recorded revenues related to such fees at the time of billing, as generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) would preclude revenue recognition if the receivable is not reasonably assured of collection.  In the first quarter of 2005, U.S. Cellular corrected its accounting to record revenues related to such fees only upon collection, in recognition of the fact that the collectibility of the revenues was not reasonably assured at the time of billing.  In the restatement, TDS made adjustments to properly reflect U.S. Cellular’s revenues for such fees upon collection beginning on October 1, 2003.

•      Leases and contracts – TDS and U.S. Cellular had entered into certain operating leases (as both lessee and lessor) that provide for specific scheduled increases in payments over the lease term.  In the third quarter of 2004, TDS made adjustments for the cumulative effect which were not considered to be material to either that quarter or to prior periods to correct its accounting and to recognize revenues and expenses under such agreements on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” as amended, and related pronouncements.  In addition, the accounting for certain other long-term contracts, for which a cumulative effect adjustment was made in the first quarter of 2005, was corrected to recognize expenses in the appropriate periods.  The restatement adjustments reverse the cumulative amounts previously recorded in the third quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, and properly record such revenues and expenses on a straight-line basis in the appropriate periods.

•      Promotion rebates – From time to time, U.S. Cellular’s sales promotions include rebates on sales of handsets to customers.  In such cases, U.S. Cellular reduces revenues and records a liability at the time of sale reflecting an estimate of rebates to be paid under the promotion.  Previously, the accrued liability was not adjusted on a timely basis upon expiration of the promotion to reflect the actual amount of rebates paid based upon information available at the date the financial statements were issued.  In the restatement, TDS has corrected revenues and accrued liabilities to reflect the impacts associated with promotion rebates in the appropriate periods.

•      Operations of consolidated partnerships managed by a third party – Historically, U.S. Cellular recorded the results of operations of certain consolidated partnerships managed by a third party on an estimated basis, and adjusted such estimated results to the actual results upon receipt of financial statements in the following quarter. However, GAAP requires that the actual amounts be used. In the restatement, TDS has corrected its financial statements to recognize results of operations in the appropriate period based on the partnerships’ actual results of operations reported for such period.

•      Investment income from entities accounted for by the equity method – Historically, U.S. Cellular recorded an estimate each quarter of its proportionate share of net income (loss) from certain entities accounted for by the equity method, and adjusted such estimate to the actual share of net income (loss) upon receipt of financial statements in the following quarter. However, GAAP requires that the actual amounts be used. In the restatement, TDS has corrected its financial statements to recognize investment income in the appropriate period based on the entities’ actual net income (loss) reported for such periods.

•      Historically, TDS had not fully consolidated its 80%-owned subsidiary, Suttle Straus, to present the operating results of such subsidiary in revenues, cost of service, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation. Previously, the net operating results of the subsidiary were included in other income (expense).  However, the non-operating portion of the income statement of Suttle Straus was properly presented. The restatement correctly consolidates the results of Suttle Straus. Also, property, plant and equipment was corrected to properly include Suttle Straus’ fixed assets.  Previously, the balances were included in other assets and deferred charges. In addition, certain intercompany elimination entries between TDS, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom and Suttle Straus have been recorded. 

•      Revenue and cost of service accruals – TDS Telecom reviewed accruals in the first and second quarter of 2004 and determined that an adjustment was required to record unbilled revenue related to its competitive local exchange carrier that were not previously recorded.  TDS Telecom also reduced cost of service accruals related to long-distance service as a result of shifting long-distance traffic to a second provider. In the restatement, the adjustments reverse the cumulative amounts previously recorded in the first and second quarters of 2004, and record such revenues and expenses in the appropriate periods.

•      Consolidated statements of cash flows – In the restatement, the classification of cash distributions received from unconsolidated entities has been corrected to properly reflect cash received, which represents a return on investment in the unconsolidated entities, as cash flows from operating activities; previously, the cash received on such investments was classified as cash flows from investing activities. Also, the classification of certain noncash stock-based compensation expense has been corrected to properly reflect such noncash expense as an adjustment to cash flows from operating activities; previously, such expense was classified as cash flows from financing activities.

•      Interest income – In the restatement, TDS corrected its accounting for recording interest income earned by its subsidiaries through a cash management agreement for the first quarter of 2005 and the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.  TDS subsidiaries participating in the cash management agreement had not recorded an accrual to increase cash and interest income for their portion of the interest income earned.  The correcting entries increased cash and interest income for each period presented.

•      Other items – In addition to the adjustments described above, TDS recorded adjustments to correct and record revenues and expenses in the periods in which such revenues and expenses were earned or incurred. These adjustments were not significant, either individually or in aggregate.

In connection with the restatement, TDS concluded that certain material weaknesses existed in its internal control over financial reporting.  See Part I – Item 4 “Controls and Procedures.”

For the convenience of the reader, this Form 10-Q/A sets for the Original Form 10-Q, as amended hereby, in its entirety.  However, this Form 10-Q/A amends and restates only Items 1, 2, and 4 of Part I and Item 6 of Part II of the Original From 10-Q, in each case solely as a result of and to reflect the adjustments discussed above and more fully in Note 1 of the accompanying financial statements, and no other information in the Original Form 10-Q is amended hereby. The foregoing items have not been updated to reflect other events occurring after the filing of the Original Form 10-Q, or to modify or update those disclosures affected by other subsequent events.  In particular, forward-looking statements included in the Form 10-Q/A represented management’s views as of the date of filing of the Original Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 on May 4, 2005. Such forward-looking statements should not be assumed to be accurate as of any future date. TDS undertakes no duty to update such information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

As required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, new certifications by TDS’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are being filed with this Form 10-Q/A as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2, 32.1 and 32.2.

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

1ST QUARTER REPORT ON FORM 10-Q/A

AMENDMENT NO. 1

INDEX

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Unaudited

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

3

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Unaudited

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

4

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

Unaudited

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

5

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Unaudited

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

6

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.                     Basis of Presentation

The accounting policies of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TDS and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including TDS’s 81.7%-owned wireless telephone subsidiary, United States Cellular Corporation (“U.S. Cellular”), TDS’s 100%-owned wireline telephone subsidiary, TDS Telecommunications Corporation (“TDS Telecom”) and TDS’s 80%-owned printing and distribution company, Suttle Straus, Inc.  In addition, the consolidated financial statements include all entities in which TDS has a variable interest that requires TDS to absorb a majority of the entity’s expected gains or losses.  All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by TDS, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although TDS believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  It is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in TDS’s latest annual report on Form 10-K/A (See discussion of Restatement below).

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring items unless otherwise disclosed) necessary to present fairly the financial position as of March 31, 2005, and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 and the cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.  The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2005, are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

Certain amounts reported in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.  The reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income, financial condition or cash flows.

Restatement

TDS and its audit committee concluded on November 9, 2005, that TDS would amend its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 to restate its financial statements and financial information for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 including interim quarterly information for 2004 and 2003, and certain selected financial data for the years 2001 and 2000. TDS and its audit committee also concluded that TDS would amend its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2005 to restate the financial statements and financial information included therewith.

On November 11, 2005, TDS and U.S. Cellular announced that the staff of the Midwest Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) had advised both companies that it was conducting an investigation into the restatement of financial statements announced by TDS and U.S. Cellular on November 10, 2005.  TDS and U.S. Cellular intend to cooperate fully with the SEC staff in this investigation.

7

The restatement adjustments principally correct items that were recorded in the financial statements previously but not in the proper periods and certain income tax, interest income and consolidation errors. Correction of the errors, with the exception of income taxes discussed below, individually did not have a material impact on income before income taxes and minority interest, net income or earnings per share; however, when aggregated, the items were considered to be material. The restatement adjustments to correct income tax accounting had a material impact individually on net income and earnings per share in prior periods. The restated financial statements are adjusted to record certain obligations in the periods such obligations were incurred, correct the timing of the reversal of certain tax liabilities, correct the consolidation of an 80% owned subsidiary, and record revenues in the periods such revenues were earned.  The adjustments are described below.

•      Income taxes – In the restatement, TDS corrected its income tax expense, federal and state taxes payable, liabilities accrued for tax contingencies, deferred income tax assets and liabilities and related disclosures for the first quarter of 2005 and the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 for items identified based on a reconciliation of income tax accounts.  The reconciliation compared amounts used for financial reporting purposes to the amounts used in the preparation of the income tax returns, and took into consideration the results of federal and state income tax audits and the resulting book/tax basis differences which generate deferred tax assets and liabilities.  In addition, a review of the state deferred income tax rates used to establish deferred income tax assets and liabilities identified errors in the state income tax rate used which resulted in adjustments to correct the amount of deferred income tax assets and liabilities recorded for temporary differences between the timing of when certain transactions are recognized for financial and income tax reporting.

•      Federal universal service fund (“USF”) contributions – In 2004 and 2003, Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) billings to U.S. Cellular for USF contributions were based on estimated revenues reported to USAC by U.S. Cellular in accordance with USAC’s established procedures. However, U.S. Cellular’s actual liability for USF is based upon its actual revenues and USAC’s established procedures provide a method to adjust U.S. Cellular’s estimated liability to its actual liability. In the first six months of 2005 and the full years of 2004 and 2003, U.S. Cellular’s actual revenues exceeded estimated revenues reported to USAC on an interim basis.  As a result, additional amounts were due to USAC in 2005 and 2004 based on U.S. Cellular’s annual report filings.  Such additional amounts were incorrectly expensed when the invoices were received from USAC rather than at the time the obligation was incurred.  In the third quarter of 2005, U.S. Cellular corrected its accounting for USF contributions to record expense reflecting the estimated obligation incurred based on actual revenues reported during the period.  Accordingly, in the restatement, TDS has adjusted previously reported USF contributions expense by U.S. Cellular to reflect the estimated liability incurred during the period. 

•      Customer contract termination fees – In the fourth quarter of 2003, U.S. Cellular revised its business practices related to the billing of contract termination fees charged when a customer disconnected service prior to the end of the customer’s contract.  This change resulted in an increase in amounts billed to customers and revenues even though a high percentage of the amounts billed were deemed uncollectible. At the time of the change in business practice, U.S. Cellular incorrectly recorded revenues related to such fees at the time of billing, as generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) would preclude revenue recognition if the receivable is not reasonably assured of collection.  In the first quarter of 2005, U.S. Cellular corrected its accounting to record revenues related to such fees only upon collection, in recognition of the fact that the collectibility of the revenues was not reasonably assured at the time of billing.  In the restatement, TDS made adjustments to properly reflect U.S. Cellular’s revenues for such fees upon collection beginning on October 1, 2003.

8

•      Leases and contracts– TDS and U.S. Cellular had entered into certain operating leases (as both lessee and lessor) that provide for specific scheduled increases in payments over the lease term. In the third quarter of 2004, TDS made adjustments for the cumulative effect which were not considered to be material to either that quarter or to prior periods to correct its accounting and recognize revenues and expenses under such agreements on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,” as amended, and related pronouncements. In addition, the accounting for certain other long-term contracts, for which a cumulative effect adjustment was made in the first quarter of 2005, was corrected to recognize expenses in the appropriate periods. The restatement adjustments reverse the cumulative amounts previously recorded in the third quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005, and properly record such revenues and expenses on a straight-line basis in the appropriate periods.

•      Promotion rebates – From time to time, U.S. Cellular’s sales promotions include rebates on sales of handsets to customers.  In such cases, U.S. Cellular reduces revenues and records a liability at the time of sale reflecting an estimate of rebates to be paid under the promotion.  Previously, the accrued liability was not adjusted on a timely basis upon expiration of the promotion to reflect the actual amount of rebates paid based upon information available at the date the financial statements were issued.  In the restatement, TDS has corrected revenues and accrued liabilities to reflect the impacts associated with promotion rebates in the appropriate periods.

•      Operations of consolidated partnerships managed by a third party – Historically, U.S. Cellular recorded the results of operations of certain consolidated partnerships managed by a third party on an estimated basis, and adjusted such estimated results to the actual results upon receipt of financial statements in the following quarter. However, GAAP requires that the actual amounts be used. In the restatement, TDS has corrected its financial statements to recognize results of operations in the appropriate period based on the partnerships’ actual results of operations reported for such periods.

•      Investment income from entities accounted for by the equity method – Historically, U.S. Cellular recorded an estimate each quarter of its proportionate share of net income (loss) from certain entities accounted for by the equity method, and adjusted such estimate to the actual share of net income (loss) upon receipt of financial statements in the following quarter. However, GAAP requires that the actual amounts be used. In the restatement, TDS has corrected its financial statements to recognize investment income in the appropriate period based on the entities’ actual net income (loss) reported for such periods.

•      Historically, TDS had not fully consolidated its 80%-owned subsidiary, Suttle Straus, to present the operating results of such subsidiary in revenues, cost of service, selling, general and administrative expenses and depreciation. Previously, the net operating results of the subsidiary were included in other income (expense).  However, the non-operating portion of the income statement of Suttle Straus was properly presented. The restatement correctly consolidates the results of Suttle Straus. Also, property, plant and equipment was corrected to properly include Suttle Straus’ fixed assets.  Previously, the balances were included in other assets and deferred charges. In addition, certain intercompany elimination entries between TDS, U.S. Cellular, TDS Telecom and Suttle Straus have been recorded.

•      Revenue and cost of service accruals – TDS Telecom reviewed accruals in the first and second quarter of 2004 and determined that an adjustment was required to record unbilled revenue related to its competitive local exchange carrier that were not previously recorded.  TDS Telecom also reduced cost of service accruals related to long-distance service as a result of shifting long-distance traffic to a second provider. In the restatement, the adjustments reverse the cumulative amounts previously recorded in the first and second quarters of 2004, and record such revenues and expenses in the appropriate periods.

•      Consolidated statements of cash flows – In the restatement, the classification of cash distributions received from unconsolidated entities has been corrected to properly reflect cash received, which represents a return on investment in the unconsolidated entities, as cash flows from operating activities; previously, the cash received on such investments was classified as cash flows from investing activities. Also, the classification of certain noncash stock-based compensation expense has been corrected to properly reflect such noncash expense as an adjustment to cash flows from operating activities; previously, such expense was classified as cash flows from financing activities.

9

•      Interest income – In the restatement, TDS corrected its accounting for recording interest income earned by its subsidiaries through a cash management agreement for the first quarter ended 2005 and the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.  TDS subsidiaries participating in the cash management agreement had not recorded an accrual to increase cash and interest income for their portion of the interest income earned.  The correcting entries increased cash and interest income for each period presented.

•      Other items – In addition to the adjustments described above, TDS recorded a number of other adjustments to correct and record revenues and expenses in the periods in which such revenues and expenses were earned or incurred. These adjustments were not significant, either individually or in aggregate.

The table below summarizes the impacts of the restatement on income before income taxes and minority interest.

The table below summarizes the net income and earnings per share impacts from the restatement.

10

The table below summarizes the effects of consolidating Suttle Straus and recording certain intercompany eliminations as previously discussed.

The effect of the restatement on the previously reported Consolidated Statements of Operations is as follows:

11

The effect of the restatement on the previously reported Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows is as follows: