## Overview 

ADTRAN designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and services a broad range of high-speed network access products utilized by providers of telecommunications services (serviced by ADTRAN’s Carrier Networks Division) and corporate end-users (serviced by ADTRAN’s Enterprise Networks Division). We currently sell our products to a large number of carriers, including all Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), and to private and public enterprises worldwide. 

Sales decreased this year compared to last year due to an overall downturn in the telecommunications market. However, we believe we have protected our sources of revenue by maintaining our strategy of increasing unit volume and market share through the introduction of succeeding generations of products having lower selling prices and increased functionality as compared to both the prior generation of a product and to the products of competitors. An important part of ADTRAN’s strategy is to engineer the reduction of the product cost of each succeeding product generation and then to lower the product’s price based on the cost savings achieved. As a part of this strategy, we seek in most instances to be a high-quality, low-cost provider of products in our markets. ADTRAN’s success to date is attributable in large measure to our ability to design our products initially with a view to their subsequent redesign, allowing both increased functionality and reduced manufacturing costs in each succeeding product generation. This strategy enables ADTRAN to sell succeeding generations of products to existing customers, while increasing our market share by selling these enhanced products to new customers. 

Our operating results have fluctuated on a quarterly basis in the past, and operating results may vary significantly in future periods due to a number of factors. We operate with very little order backlog. A majority of our sales in each quarter result from orders booked in that quarter and firm purchase orders released in that quarter by customers under agreements containing non-binding purchase commitments. Furthermore, a majority of customers typically require prompt delivery of products. This results in a limited backlog of orders for these products and requires us to maintain sufficient inventory levels to satisfy anticipated customer demand. If near-term demand for ADTRAN’s products declines, or if potential sales in any quarter do not occur as anticipated, our financial results could be adversely affected. Operating expenses are relatively fixed in the short term; therefore, a shortfall in quarterly revenues could significantly impact ADTRAN’s financial results in a given quarter. Further, maintaining sufficient inventory levels to assure prompt delivery of our products increases the amount of inventory which may become obsolete and increases the risk that the obsolescence of such inventory may have an adverse effect on our business and operating results. 

ADTRAN’s operating results may also fluctuate as a result of a number of other factors, including increased competition, customer order patterns, changes in product mix, timing differences between price decreases and product cost reductions, product warranty returns, and announcements of new products by ADTRAN or our competitors. Accordingly, ADTRAN’s historical financial performance is not necessarily a meaningful indicator of future results, and, in general, management expects that ADTRAN’s financial results may vary from period to period. See Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

## Critical Accounting Policies 

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied across our two reportable segments: (1) Carrier Networks Division and (2) Enterprise Networks Division. 

■ We review customer contracts to determine if all of the requirements for revenue recognition have been met prior to recording revenues from sales transactions. We generally record sales revenue upon shipment of our products, net of any discounts, since: (i) we generally do not have significant post-delivery obligations, (ii) the product price is fixed and determinable, (iii) collection of the resulting receivable is probable, and (iv) product returns are reasonably estimable. We generally ship products upon receipt of a purchase order from a customer. We evaluate shipping terms and we record revenue on products shipped in accordance with the applicable terms of each respective contract. We participate in cooperative advertising and market development programs with certain customers. We use these programs to reimburse customers for certain forms of advertising and to provide 

