text: Network operating costs were $33.6 million, an increase of $1.1 million or 3.4%. The largest item in network 
  operating costs is travel expense. These costs made up 31.8% and 32.9% of the total network and other costs in 2003 
  and 2002, respectively. Travel expense is the cost of minutes used by the Company’s PCS subscribers on Sprint or 
  other Sprint Affiliates’ networks. Travel expense in 2003 was $10.8 million, an increase of $0.1 million due to a 
  significant increase in travel minutes in 2003 which was offset by the impact of the rate decline. The travel rate 
  declined from $0.10 per minute in 2002 to $0.058 per minute in 2003. Our PCS customers increased their average 
  monthly travel minutes by 22% compared to 2002. In 2002, the average customer’s travel usage was 130 minutes per 
  month and in 2003 that average travel usage increased to 159 minutes per month. 
  
  Network infrastructure maintenance costs were $4.9 million or 14.6% of total network operating costs, a decrease of 
  $0.2 million from 2002. Rent for towers, tower sites, and buildings increased $0.9 million or 27.3% to $4.2 million. 
  Lease escalators plus the increase in the number of sites leased contributed to the increase. Line costs in 2003 were 
  $9.8 million or 29.1% of the network operating costs, an increase of $0.1 million. 
  
  Depreciation and amortization expense was $16.6 million, an increase of $2.1 million or 14.8%. The PCS operation had 
  depreciation expense of $10.2 million, an increase of $1.6 million or 18.9%. The 16 additional PCS base stations placed 
  in service during 2003 resulted in higher depreciation expense for the year. In the telephone operation, depreciation 