text: carrier accounts, but due to the telecommunication industry down-turn of the last few years, the Company experienced 
  write-offs in this area of the business totaling $0.5 million in 2002, due to bankruptcy filings of several significant 
  telecommunications companies. In 2003, the inter-carrier segment of the business improved and the Company 
  recovered $240 thousand of bad debt from the sale of certain accounts that were previously written-off. 
  
  Bad Debt expense summary, net of recoveries for the three years ended December 31, 2003: 
  
  In thousands 
  
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              [html]<thead><tr><td>2003</td><td>2002</td><td>2001</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>$ 1.716</td><td>$ 3.744</td><td>$ 1.241</td></tr><tr><td>48</td><td>488</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>71</td><td>170</td><td>82</td></tr><tr><td>$ 1.835</td><td>$ 4.402</td><td>$ 1.323</td></tr></tbody>
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  PCS subscribers 
  Interexchange carriers 
  Other subscribers and entities 
  Total bad debt expense 