Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Basis of Presentation [Abstract]

Consolidation

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of ViaSat, its wholly owned subsidiaries and TrellisWare Technologies, Inc. (TrellisWare), a majority-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated.

Fiscal period

The Company’s fiscal year is the 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Friday closest to March 31 of the specified year. For example, references to fiscal year 2012 refer to the fiscal year ending on March 30, 2012. The Company’s quarters for fiscal year 2012 end on July 1, 2011, September 30, 2011, December 30, 2011 and March 30, 2012. This results in a 53 week fiscal year approximately every four to five years. Fiscal years 2012 and 2011 are both 52-week years.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates have been prepared on the basis of the most current and best available information and actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates made by management include revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, self-insurance reserves, allowance for doubtful accounts, warranty accrual, valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, patents, orbital slots and other licenses, software development, property, equipment and satellites, long-lived assets, derivatives, contingencies and income taxes including the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.

Revenue recognition percentage of completion method

A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues are derived from long-term contracts requiring development and delivery of complex equipment built to customer specifications. Sales related to long-term contracts are accounted for under the authoritative guidance for the percentage-of-completion method of accounting (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605-35). Sales and earnings under these contracts are recorded either based on the ratio of actual costs incurred to date to total estimated costs expected to be incurred related to the contract or as products are shipped under the units-of-delivery method. Anticipated losses on contracts are recognized in full in the period in which losses become probable and estimable. Changes in estimates of profit or loss on contracts are included in earnings on a cumulative basis in the period the estimate is changed.

Revenue recognition sale of goods and services

The Company also derives a substantial portion of its revenues from contracts and purchase orders where revenue is recorded on delivery of products or performance of services in accordance with the authoritative guidance for revenue recognition (ASC 605). Under this standard, the Company recognizes revenue when an arrangement exists, prices are determinable, collectability is reasonably assured and the goods or services have been delivered.

Revenue recognition leases

The Company also enters into certain leasing arrangements with customers and evaluates the contracts in accordance with the authoritative guidance for leases (ASC 840). The Company’s accounting for equipment leases involves specific determinations under the authoritative guidance for leases, which often involve complex provisions and significant judgments. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for leases, the Company classifies the transactions as sales type or operating leases based on (1) review for transfers of ownership of the equipment to the lessee by the end of the lease term, (2) review of the lease terms to determine if it contains an option to purchase the leased equipment for a price which is sufficiently lower than the expected fair value of the equipment at the date of the option, (3) review of the lease term to determine if it is equal to or greater than 75% of the economic life of the equipment, and (4) review of the present value of the minimum lease payments to determine if they are equal to or greater than 90% of the fair market value of the equipment at the inception of the lease. Additionally, the Company considers the cancelability of the contract and any related uncertainty of collections or risk in recoverability of the lease investment at lease inception. Revenue from sales type leases is recognized at the inception of the lease or when the equipment has been delivered and installed at the customer site, if installation is required. Revenues from equipment rentals under operating leases are recognized as earned over the lease term, which is generally on a straight-line basis.

Revenue recognition multiple element arrangements

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2009-13 (ASU 2009-13), Revenue Recognition (ASC 605) Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which updates ASC 605-25, Revenue Recognition-Multiple element arrangements, of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) codification. ASU 2009-13 amended accounting guidance for revenue recognition to eliminate the use of the residual method and requires entities to allocate revenue using the relative selling price method. For substantially all of the arrangements with multiple deliverables, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on a selling price hierarchy at the arrangement inception. The selling price for each element is based upon the following selling price hierarchy: vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) if available, third party evidence (TPE) if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (ESP) if neither VSOE nor TPE are available (a description as to how the Company determines VSOE, TPE and ESP is provided below). If a tangible hardware systems product includes software, the Company determines whether the tangible hardware systems product and the software work together to deliver the product’s essential functionality and, if so, the entire product is treated as a nonsoftware deliverable. The total arrangement consideration is allocated to each separate unit of accounting for each of the nonsoftware deliverables using the relative selling prices of each unit based on the aforementioned selling price hierarchy. Revenue for each separate unit of accounting is recognized when the applicable revenue recognition criteria for each element have been met.

To determine the selling price in multiple-element arrangements, the Company establishes VSOE of the selling price using the price charged for a deliverable when sold separately and for software license updates and product support and hardware systems support, based on the renewal rates offered to customers. For nonsoftware multiple-element arrangements, TPE is established by evaluating similar and/or interchangeable competitor products or services in standalone arrangements with similarly situated customers and/or agreements. If the Company is unable to determine the selling price because VSOE or TPE doesn’t exist, the Company determines ESP for the purposes of allocating the arrangement by reviewing historical transactions, including transactions whereby the deliverable was sold on a standalone basis and considers several other external and internal factors including, but not limited to, pricing practices including discounting, margin objectives, competition, the geographies in which the Company offers its products and services, the type of customer (i.e., distributor, value added reseller, government agency or direct end user, among others) and the stage of the product lifecycle. The determination of ESP considers the Company’s pricing model and go-to-market strategy. As the Company, or its competitors’, pricing and go-to-market strategies evolve, the Company may modify its pricing practices in the future, which could result in changes to its determination of VSOE, TPE and ESP. As a result, the Company’s future revenue recognition for multiple-element arrangements could differ materially from those in the current period. The Company adopted this authoritative guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012 without a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Property, equipment and satellites

Equipment, computers and software, furniture and fixtures, the Company’s ViaSat-1 high-capacity satellite, and related gateway and networking equipment under construction are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. The Company computes depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from one to twenty-four years. Leasehold improvements are capitalized and amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the lease term or the life of the improvement. Costs incurred for additions to property, equipment and satellites, together with major renewals and betterments, are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining life of the underlying asset. Costs incurred for maintenance, repairs and minor renewals and betterments are charged to expense as incurred. When assets are sold or otherwise disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is recognized in operations.

Satellite costs, including launch services and insurance, are generally procured under long-term contracts that provide for payments over the contract periods and are capitalized as incurred. The Company is also constructing gateway facilities and network operations systems to support the ViaSat-1 satellite which are also capitalized as incurred. Interest expense is capitalized on the carrying value of the satellite, related gateway and networking equipment and other assets during the construction period, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the capitalization of interest (ASC 835-20). With respect to ViaSat-1, related gateway and networking equipment and other assets currently under construction, the Company capitalized $7.7 million and $15.3 million of interest expense during the three and six months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and $6.7 million and $12.7 million of interest expense during the three and six months ended October 1, 2010, respectively.

As a result of the acquisition of WildBlue Holding, Inc. (WildBlue) in December 2009, the Company acquired the WildBlue-1 satellite (which was placed into service in March 2007), an exclusive prepaid lifetime capital lease of Ka-band capacity over the continental United States on Telesat Canada’s Anik F2 satellite (which was placed into service in April 2005) and related gateway and networking equipment on both satellites. The acquired assets also included the indoor and outdoor customer premise equipment (CPE) units leased to subscribers under WildBlue’s retail leasing program. The Company depreciates the satellites, gateway and networking equipment, CPE units and related installation costs over their estimated useful lives. The total cost and accumulated depreciation of CPE units included in property and equipment, net, as of September 30, 2011 was $68.5 million and $26.3 million, respectively. The total cost and accumulated depreciation of CPE units included in property and equipment, net, as of April 1, 2011 was $61.6 million and $19.2 million, respectively.

Occasionally, the Company may enter into capital lease arrangements for various machinery, equipment, computer-related equipment, software, furniture or fixtures. As of September 30, 2011, assets under capital leases totaled approximately $3.1 million and accumulated amortization related to such capital leases was $0.4 million. As of April 1, 2011, assets under capital leases totaled approximately $3.1 million and had an immaterial amount of accumulated amortization. The Company records amortization of assets leased under capital lease arrangements within depreciation expense.

Patents, orbital slots and other licenses

The Company capitalizes the costs of obtaining or acquiring patents, orbital slots and other licenses. Amortization of intangible assets that have finite lives is provided for by the straight-line method over the shorter of the legal or estimated economic life. Total capitalized costs of $3.2 million related to patents were included in other assets as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011. The Company has capitalized costs of $5.9 million and $5.7 million related to acquiring and obtaining orbital slots and other licenses, included in other assets as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011, respectively. Accumulated amortization related to these assets was approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011, respectively. Amortization expense related to these assets was an immaterial amount for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and October 1, 2010, and approximately $0.1 million for each of the six months ended September 30, 2011 and October 1, 2010. If a patent, orbital slot or orbital license is rejected, abandoned or otherwise invalidated, the unamortized cost is expensed in that period. During the three and six months ended September 30, 2011 and October 1, 2010, the Company did not write off any material costs due to abandonment or impairment.

Software development

Costs of developing software for sale are charged to research and development expense when incurred, until technological feasibility has been established. Software development costs incurred from the time technological feasibility is reached until the product is available for general release to customers are capitalized and reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value. Once the product is available for general release, the software development costs are amortized based on the ratio of current to future revenue for each product with an annual minimum equal to straight-line amortization over the remaining estimated economic life of the product, generally within five years. Capitalized costs, net, of $31.5 million and $24.5 million related to software developed for resale were included in other assets as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011, respectively. The Company capitalized $4.1 million and $9.4 million of costs related to software developed for resale for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. The Company capitalized $4.1 million and $8.0 million of costs related to software developed for resale for the three and six months ended October 1, 2010, respectively. Amortization expense for software development costs was $1.1 million and $2.3 million for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. There was no amortization expense of software development costs for the three and six months ended October 1, 2010.

Self-insurance liabilities

The Company has self-insurance plans to retain a portion of the exposure for losses related to employee medical benefits and workers’ compensation. The self-insurance policies provide for both specific and aggregate stop-loss limits. The Company utilizes internal actuarial methods as well as other historical information for the purpose of estimating ultimate costs for a particular policy year. Based on these actuarial methods, along with currently available information and insurance industry statistics, the Company’s self-insurance liability for the plans was $1.5 million as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011. The Company’s estimate, which is subject to inherent variability, is based on average claims experience in the Company’s industry and its own experience in terms of frequency and severity of claims, including asserted and unasserted claims incurred but not reported, with no explicit provision for adverse fluctuation from year to year. This variability may lead to ultimate payments being either greater or less than the amounts presented above. Self-insurance liabilities have been classified as a current liability in accrued liabilities in accordance with the estimated timing of the projected payments.

Indemnification provisions

In the ordinary course of business, the Company includes indemnification provisions in certain of its contracts, generally relating to parties with which the Company has commercial relations. Pursuant to these agreements, the Company will indemnify, hold harmless and agree to reimburse the indemnified party for losses suffered or incurred by the indemnified party, including but not limited to losses relating to third-party intellectual property claims. To date, there have not been any material costs incurred in connection with such indemnification clauses. The Company’s insurance policies do not necessarily cover the cost of defending indemnification claims or providing indemnification, so if a claim was filed against the Company by any party that the Company has agreed to indemnify, the Company could incur substantial legal costs and damages. A claim would be accrued when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. At September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011, no such amounts were accrued.

Noncontrolling interest

A noncontrolling interest represents the equity interest in a subsidiary that is not attributable, either directly or indirectly, to the Company and is reported as equity of the Company, separately from the Company’s controlling interest. Revenues, expenses, gains, losses, net income or loss and other comprehensive income are reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements at the consolidated amounts, which include the amounts attributable to both the controlling and noncontrolling interest.

Derivatives

The Company enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts from time to time to hedge certain forecasted foreign currency transactions. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency forward and option contracts not designated as hedging instruments are recorded in other income (expense) as gains (losses) on derivative instruments. Gains and losses arising from the effective portion of foreign currency forward and option contracts which are designated as cash-flow hedging instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments until the underlying transaction affects the Company’s earnings, at which time they are then recorded in the same income statement line as the underlying transaction.

Stock-based compensation

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for share-based payments (ASC 718), the Company measures stock-based compensation cost at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and recognizes expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the employee’s award. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011 and October 1, 2010 only for those awards ultimately expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated at the date of grant. The authoritative guidance for share-based payments requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. The Company recognized $4.8 million and $9.0 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, and $4.1 million and $8.3 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three and six months ended October 1, 2010, respectively.

Income taxes

Accruals for uncertain tax positions are provided for in accordance with the authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes (ASC 740). The Company may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The authoritative guidance for accounting for uncertainty in income taxes also provides guidance on derecognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, and income tax disclosures. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense.

Current income tax expense is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is established for the expected future tax consequences resulting from differences in the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax credit and loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred income tax expense (benefit) is the net change during the year in the deferred income tax asset or liability.

Revenue recognition shipping and handling fees and costs

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for shipping and handling fees and costs (ASC 605-45), the Company records shipping and handling costs billed to customers as a component of revenues, and shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company for inbound and outbound freight are recorded as a component of cost of revenues.

Revenue recognition collections in excess of revenues and deferred revenues

Collections in excess of revenues and deferred revenues represent cash collected from customers in advance of revenue recognition and are recorded in accrued liabilities for obligations within the next twelve months. Amounts for obligations extending beyond twelve months are recorded within other liabilities in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Fair value measurements policy

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (ASC 820), the Company prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value from market-based assumptions to entity specific assumptions:

• Level 1 — Inputs based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.

• Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

• Level 3 — Inputs which reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The inputs are unobservable in the market and significant to the instruments valuation.

The following tables present the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011:

	Fair Value as  of September 30, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	1,593	$	1,593	$	—	$	—
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$	1,593	$	1,593	$	—	$	—
Liabilities
Foreign currency forward contracts	$	539	$	—	$	539	$	—
Total liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$	539	$	—	$	539	$	—

	Fair Value as  of April 1, 2011		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
	(In thousands)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	4,488	$	4,488	$	—	$	—
Foreign currency forward contracts		182		—		182		—
Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	$	4,670	$	4,488	$	182	$	—

The following section describes the valuation methodologies the Company uses to measure financial instruments at fair value:

Cash equivalents — The Company’s cash equivalents consist of money market funds. Money market funds are valued using quoted prices for identical assets in an active market with sufficient volume and frequency of transactions.

Foreign currency forward contracts — The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency risk relating to foreign exchange rates. The Company does not use these instruments for speculative or trading purposes. The Company’s objective is to reduce the risk to earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Derivative instruments are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and are measured at fair value. Gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair values of those derivative instruments are recorded to earnings or other comprehensive income (loss) depending on the use of the derivative instrument and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts are valued using quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Long-term debt — The Company’s long-term debt consists of borrowings under the revolving credit facility (the Credit Facility) reported at the borrowed outstanding amount, capital lease obligations reported at the present value of future minimum lease payments with current accrued interest, and the Company’s 8.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the Notes) reported at amortized cost. However, for disclosure purposes, the Company is required to measure the fair value of outstanding debt on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Company’s outstanding long-term debt related to the Notes is determined using quoted prices in active markets and was approximately $279.1 million and $293.6 million as of September 30, 2011 and April 1, 2011, respectively. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt related to the Credit Facility approximates its carrying amount due to its variable interest rate on the revolving line of credit, which approximates a market interest rate. The fair value of the Company’s capital lease obligations is estimated at their carrying value based on current rates.

Debt policy

The Notes are recorded as long-term debt, net of original issue discount, in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The original issue discount and deferred financing cost associated with the issuance of the Notes is amortized to interest expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the Notes.

Standard product warranty policy

The Company provides limited warranties on its products for periods of up to five years. The Company records a liability for its warranty obligations when products are shipped or they are included in long-term construction contracts based upon an estimate of expected warranty costs. Amounts expected to be incurred within twelve months are classified as a current liability. For mature products, the warranty cost estimates are based on historical experience with the particular product. For newer products that do not have a history of warranty cost, the Company bases its estimates on its experience with the technology involved and the type of failures that may occur. It is possible that the Company’s underlying assumptions will not reflect the actual experience and in that case, future adjustments will be made to the recorded warranty obligation.

Segment information

The Company’s segments are determined consistent with the way management currently organizes and evaluates financial information internally for making operating decisions and assessing performance.