Note 7 - Restructuring Charge

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]

7.  RESTRUCTURING CHARGE

On October 19, 2012, the Company committed to a plan intended to improve the balance between the Company’s telecommunications product expenses with the reduced revenue levels of this product line.  Under the 2012 restructuring plan, the Company reduced its workforce by 10 regular full-time positions.  As a result of the 2012 restructuring plan, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $253,000, classified as an operating expense, in the fourth quarter of 2012 related to future cash expenditures to cover employee severance and benefits.  The following table summarizes the timing of payments under the restructuring plan (in thousands):

Description	Severance & Fringe Benefits
Restructuring charge	$	253
Cash payments during quarter ended December 31, 2012		(91	)
Remaining liability as of December 31, 2012	$	162

On September 30, 2010, the Company initiated a restructuring plan to mitigate gross margin erosion by reducing manufacturing and procurement costs, streamline research and development expense and focus remaining resources on key strategic growth areas, and reduce selling and administrative expenses through product rationalization and consolidation of support functions.  Under the 2010 restructuring plan, the Company reduced its worldwide workforce by 39 regular full-time positions, including the closure of its European engineering and support center located in Chaville, France.  As a result of the 2010 restructuring plan, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $3.3 million, classified as an operating expense, in the third quarter of 2010 related to future cash expenditures to cover employee severance and benefits and other related costs.  These amounts were paid out under the restructuring plan by the end of 2011.

On December 11, 2009, the Company adopted a plan to restructure its worldwide operations.  The primary goal of the restructuring program was to align the Company’s current spending with recent revenue trends and to enable additional investments in strategic growth areas for the Company.  Under the restructuring plan, the Company reduced its workforce by 12 positions.  As a result of the restructuring plan, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $1.2 million, classified as an operating expense, in the fourth quarter of 2009, of which approximately $1.1 million resulted in cash expenditures to cover employee severance and benefits.  The remaining $173,000 included in the restructuring charge related to certain non-cash software impairment charges.  These amounts were paid out under the restructuring plan by the end of 2010.