Note 14 - Employee Benefit Program

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block]

14.   Employee Benefit Program

Employees of all subsidiaries except BTC participate in a defined contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which is sponsored by the Company. The terms of the plan provide for an elective contribution from employees not to exceed $16,500 for each of 2010, 2011 and not to exceed $17,000 for 2012. The Company matches the employee’s contribution up to 6% of the employee’s annual compensation. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the total expense associated with this plan was $742,288, $733,161 and $690,867, respectively.

The employees of BTC participate in a multiemployer Retirement and Security Program (“RSP”) as a defined benefit plan and a Savings Plan (“SP”) provided through the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (“NTCA”).    The risks associated with participating in a multiemployer plan are different from a single-employer plan.   Contributions to the multiemployer plan by the Company may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers.  If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers.   Participation in the RSP requires a minimum employee contribution of 1% of their annual compensation.  For each of 2010, 2011 and 2012, the Company contributes 6% of their annual compensation for every participating employee.  SP is a defined contribution savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code to which the Company made no contribution for 2010, 2011 or 2012.  The employee can make voluntary contributions to the SP as desired.  For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011 and 2012, the total expense associated with these plans was $60,030, $50,220, and $38,088, respectively.