The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2013
Principles of consolidation	*Principles of consolidation* The Company’s 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 2013 refer to the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. The Company’s quarters for fiscal year 2013 ended on June 29, 2012, September 28, 2012, December 28, 2012 and March 29, 2013. This results in a 53 week fiscal year approximately every four to five years. Fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 were each 52 week years.
Management estimates and assumptions	*Management estimates and assumptions* The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (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 accruals, 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.
Cash equivalents	*Cash equivalents* Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts	*Accounts receivable, unbilled accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts* The Company records receivables at net realizable value including an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of accounts receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are charged or written off against the reserve. Historically, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts has been minimal primarily because a significant portion of its sales has been to the U.S. government or with respect to its satellite services commercial business, the Company bills and collects in advance.
Unbilled accounts receivable	Unbilled accounts receivables consist of costs and fees earned and billable on contract completion or other specified events. Unbilled accounts receivables are generally expected to be billed and collected within one year.
Inventory	*Inventory* Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined by the weighted average cost method.
Property, equipment and satellites	*Property, equipment and satellites* Satellites and other property and equipment are recorded at cost or in the case of certain satellites and other property acquired, the fair value at the date of acquisition, net of accumulated depreciation. Capitalized satellite costs consist primarily of the costs of satellite construction and launch, including launch insurance and insurance during the period of in-orbit testing, the net present value of performance incentives expected to be payable to satellite manufacturers (dependent on the continued satisfactory performance of the satellites), costs directly associated with the monitoring and support of satellite construction, and interest costs incurred during the period of satellite construction. The Company also constructs gateway facilities, network operations systems and other assets to support its satellites, and those construction costs, including interest, are capitalized as incurred. At the time satellites are placed in service, the Company estimates the useful life of its satellites for depreciation purposes based upon an analysis of each satellite’s performance against the original manufacturer’s orbital design life, estimated fuel levels and related consumption rates, as well as historical satellite operating trends. The Company computes depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from two 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. Interest expense is capitalized on the carrying value of assets under construction, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the capitalization of interest (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 835-20). With respect to assets under construction, the Company capitalized $3.1 million of interest expense during the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. With respect to ViaSat-1, related gateway and networking equipment and other assets, the Company capitalized $25.9 million and $28.3 million of interest expense during the fiscal years ended March 30, 2012 and April 1, 2011, respectively. The Company owns two satellites: ViaSat-1 (its high-capacity Ka-band spot-beam satellite, which was successfully launched into orbit in October 2011 and commenced commercial operation in January 2012) and WildBlue-1 (which was placed into service in March 2007). Subsequent to the fiscal year end, the Company announced the entry into a satellite construction contract for ViaSat-2, a second high-capacity Ka-band satellite. In addition, the Company has 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 owns related gateway and networking equipment for all of its satellites. The Company periodically reviews the remaining estimated useful life of its satellites to determine if revisions to estimated lives are necessary. The Company procured indoor and outdoor customer premise equipment (CPE) units leased to subscribers under a retail leasing program as part of the Company’s satellite services segment, which are reflected in investing activities and property and equipment in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 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 March 29, 2013 were $170.9 million and $51.5 million, respectively. The total cost and accumulated depreciation of CPE units included in property and equipment, net, as of March 30, 2012 were $85.3 million and $33.1 million, respectively. Occasionally, the Company may enter into capital lease arrangements for various machinery, equipment, computer-related equipment, software, furniture or fixtures. The Company records amortization of assets leased under capital lease arrangements within depreciation expense.
Capitalized interest policy	Interest expense is capitalized on the carrying value of assets under construction, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the capitalization of interest (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 835-20). With respect to assets under construction, the Company capitalized $3.1 million of interest expense during the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. With respect to ViaSat-1, related gateway and networking equipment and other assets, the Company capitalized $25.9 million and $28.3 million of interest expense during the fiscal years ended March 30, 2012 and April 1, 2011, respectively.
Goodwill and intangible assets	*Goodwill and intangible assets* The authoritative guidance for business combinations (ASC 805) requires that all business combinations be accounted for using the purchase method. The authoritative guidance for business combinations also specifies criteria for recognizing and reporting intangible assets apart from goodwill; however, acquired workforce must be recognized and reported in goodwill. The authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets (ASC 350) requires that intangible assets with an indefinite life should not be amortized until their life is determined to be finite. All other intangible assets must be amortized over their useful life. The authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets prohibits the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, but instead requires these assets to be tested for impairment at least annually and more frequently upon the occurrence of specified events. In addition, all goodwill must be assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing.
Patents, orbital slots and other licenses	*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 March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012. The Company has capitalized costs of $8.6 million and $8.4 million related to acquiring and obtaining orbital slots and other licenses included in other assets as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Accumulated amortization related to these assets was approximately $0.7 million and $0.4 million as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Amortization expense related to these assets was an insignificant amount for each of the fiscal years ended March 29, 2013, March 30, 2012, and April 1, 2011. If a patent, orbital slot or orbital license is rejected, abandoned or otherwise invalidated, the unamortized cost is expensed in that period. During fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not write off any significant costs due to abandonment or impairment.
Debt issuance costs	*Debt issuance costs* Debt issuance costs are amortized and recognized as interest expense on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the related debt, the results of which are not materially different from the effective interest rate basis. During fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company paid and capitalized approximately $8.1 million, $5.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively, in debt issuance costs. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to extinguished debt are expensed at the time the debt is extinguished and recorded in loss on extinguishment of debt in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Other unamortized debt issuance costs are recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets and in other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets, depending on the amounts expected to be amortized to interest expense within the next twelve months.
Software development	*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 $60.6 million and $42.0 million related to software developed for resale were included in other assets as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. The Company capitalized $25.8 million and $22.7 million of costs related to software developed for resale for fiscal years ended March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Amortization expense for software development costs was $7.2 million and $5.2 million during fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was no amortization expense of software development costs during fiscal year 2011.
Impairment of long-lived and other long-term assets (property, equipment, and satellites, and other assets, including goodwill)	*Impairment of long-lived and other long-term assets (property, equipment, and satellites, and other assets, including goodwill)* In accordance with the authoritative guidance for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets (ASC 360), the Company assesses potential impairments to long-lived assets, including property, equipment and satellites, and other assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset (or group of assets) is less than its carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, and would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of operations. No material impairments were recorded by the Company for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011. The Company accounts for its goodwill under the authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets (ASC 350) and Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08 (ASU 2011-08), Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which simplifies how the Company tests goodwill for impairment. Recent authoritative guidance allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. If, after completing the qualitative assessment the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is greater than the carrying value, the Company concludes that no impairment exists. If it is more likely than not that the carrying value of reporting unit exceeds estimated fair value, the Company compares the fair value of reporting unit to its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a second step is performed in which the implied fair value of goodwill is compared to its carrying value. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value, goodwill must be written down to its implied fair value, resulting in goodwill impairment. The Company tests goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter every fiscal year and when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist.
Warranty reserves	*Warranty reserves* 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 (see Note 13).
Fair value of financial instruments	*Fair value of financial instruments* The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term borrowings and other long-term interest bearing liabilities is determined by using available market information for those securities or similar financial instruments (see Note 3).
Self-insurance liabilities	*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 plans include policies which 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 plan year. Based on these actuarial methods, along with currently available information and insurance industry statistics, the Company has recorded self-insurance liability for its plans of $2.3 million and $1.7 million as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. 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	*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 March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, no such amounts were accrued related to the aforementioned provisions.
Noncontrolling interest	*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 (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) are reported in the consolidated financial statements at the consolidated amounts, which include the amounts attributable to both the controlling and noncontrolling interest.
Derivatives	*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.
Foreign currency	*Foreign currency* In general, the functional currency of a foreign operation is deemed to be the local country’s currency. Consequently, assets and liabilities of operations outside the United States are generally translated into U.S. dollars, and the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within ViaSat, Inc. stockholders’ equity.
Revenue recognition percentage of completion method	*Revenue recognition* A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues is 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 (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	In accordance with the authoritative guidance for revenue recognition for multiple element arrangements, 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, 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, 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.
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 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 consolidated financial statements.
Advertising costs	*Advertising costs* In accordance with the authoritative guidance for advertising costs (ASC 720-35), advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A). Advertising expenses for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $21.8 million, $2.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
Commissions	*Commissions* The Company compensates third parties based on specific commission programs directly related to certain product and service sales. These commission costs are recorded as an element of SG&A expense as incurred.
Stock-based compensation	*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 employee’s requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 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.
Independent research and development	*Independent research and development* Independent research and development (IR&D), which is not directly funded by a third party, is expensed as incurred. IR&D expenses consist primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses, supplies, prototype materials and other expenses related to research and development programs.
Rent expense, deferred rent obligations and deferred lease incentives	*Rent expense, deferred rent obligations and deferred lease incentives* The Company leases all of its facilities under operating leases. Some of these lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances funded by landlord incentives, rent holidays and rent escalation clauses. The authoritative guidance for leases (ASC 840) requires rent expense to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the rent due under the stated periods of the lease compared to that of the straight-line basis is recorded as deferred rent within accrued and other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of recognizing landlord incentives and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, the Company uses the date that it obtains the legal right to use and control the leased space to begin recording rent expense, which is generally when the Company enters the space and begins to make improvements in preparation of occupying new space. For tenant improvement allowances funded by landlord incentives and rent holidays, the Company records a deferred lease incentive liability in accrued and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred liability as a reduction to rent expense on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) over the term of the lease. Certain lease agreements contain rent escalation clauses which provide for scheduled rent increases during the lease term or for rental payments commencing at a date other than the date of initial occupancy. Such increasing rent expense is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Income taxes	*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 fiscal 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. The Company’s analysis of the need for a valuation allowance considered the loss incurred during the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. However, a substantial portion of the loss incurred in such period was the result of an extinguishment of debt charge that was recorded upon the refinancing of the Company’s former 8.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the 2016 Notes) with additional 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the Additional 2020 Notes), which is expected to provide a benefit to net income in the future due to the lower interest rate of the Additional Notes. The Company’s evaluation considered other factors, including the Company’s history of positive earnings, taxable income adjusted for certain items, the Company’s significant growth in contractual backlog, and trends and forecasted income by jurisdiction. Consideration was also given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and the Company’s history of not having federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused.
Earnings per share	*Earnings per share* Basic earnings per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potential common stock, if dilutive during the period. Potential common stock includes options granted and restricted stock units awarded under the Company’s equity compensation plan which are included in the earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method, common shares expected to be issued under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, and shares potentially issuable under the amended ViaSat 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in connection with the Company’s decision to pay a discretionary match in common stock or cash. The weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to ViaSat, Inc. common stockholders is the same for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013, as the Company incurred a net loss for fiscal year 2013 and inclusion of common share equivalents would be antidilutive.
Segment reporting	*Segment reporting* The Company’s satellite services, commercial networks and government systems segments are primarily distinguished by the type of customer and the related contractual requirements. The Company’s satellite services segment provides retail and wholesale satellite-based broadband services for its consumer, enterprise and mobile broadband customers in the United States, as well as managed network services for the satellite communication systems of the Company’s consumer, enterprise and mobile broadband customers worldwide. The Company’s commercial networks segment develops and produces a variety of advanced end-to-end satellite and other wireless communication systems and ground networking equipment and products, some of which are ultimately used by the Company’s satellite services segment. The Company’s government systems segment develops and produces network-centric, internet protocol (IP)-based secure fixed and mobile government communications systems, products, services and solutions. The more regulated government environment is subject to unique contractual requirements and possesses economic characteristics which differ from the satellite services and commercial networks segments. 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 (see Note 15).
Recent authoritative guidance	*Recent authoritative guidance* In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. The authoritative guidance became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company retrospectively adopted the new accounting standard for the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements which resulted in the presentation of a total for comprehensive income (loss), and the components of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) in one statement. The adoption of this standard only changed how the Company presents comprehensive income (loss) and did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The new authoritative guidance simplifies how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The new authoritative guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The two-step quantitative impairment test is required only if, based on its qualitative assessment, an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. This authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted if an entity’s financial statements for the more recent interim and annual period have not yet been issued. The Company early adopted this authoritative guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. Adoption of this authoritative guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (ASC 210): Disclosures about offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of this authoritative guidance. This authoritative guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this authoritative guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. The new authoritative guidance simplifies the requirements for testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual and, if any, interim impairment tests in fiscal year 2014 with early adoption permitted. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. The guidance, effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, requires changes in presentation only and the Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (ASC 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. ASU 2013-05 clarifies that the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only when a reporting entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a business within a foreign entity. Further, for an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment. The guidance, effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
Acquisitions policy	*Stonewood acquisition* On July 8, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of all outstanding shares of the parent company of Stonewood. Stonewood is a leader in the design, manufacture and delivery of data at rest encryption products and services. Stonewood products are used to encrypt data on computer hard drives so that a lost or stolen laptop does not result in the compromise of classified information or the loss of intellectual property. The purchase price of approximately $18.8 million was comprised of $4.6 million related to the fair value of 144,962 shares of the Company’s common stock issued at the closing and $14.2 million in cash consideration paid to former Stonewood stockholders. The $14.2 million in cash consideration paid to the former Stonewood stockholders less cash acquired of $0.7 million resulted in a net cash outlay of approximately $13.5 million. In accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations (ASC 805), the Company allocated the purchase price of the acquired company to the net tangible assets and intangible assets acquired based upon their estimated fair values. Under the authoritative guidance for business combinations, acquisition-related transaction costs and acquisition-related restructuring charges are not included as components of consideration transferred but are accounted for as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred. Total merger-related transaction costs incurred by the Company were approximately $0.9 million, all of which were incurred and recorded in SG&A expenses in fiscal year 2011. The intangible assets acquired in the Stonewood business combination were determined, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations, based on the estimated fair values using valuation techniques consistent with the market approach and/or income approach to measure fair value. The remaining useful lives were estimated based on the underlying agreements and/or the future economic benefit expected to be received from the assets. The acquisition of Stonewood is beneficial to the Company as it enhances the Company’s current encryption security offerings within the Company’s information assurance products and provides additional solutions in the design, manufacture and delivery of data at rest encryption products and services. These benefits and additional opportunities were among the factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill, which was recorded within the Company’s government systems segment. The intangible assets and goodwill recognized are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company recorded a $0.5 million adjustment to the preliminary purchase price allocation for Stonewood related to pre-acquisition net operating loss carryovers, reducing the Company’s government systems segment goodwill with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities. The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of Stonewood from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of the acquisition was insignificant to the financial statements for all periods presented.

The Company and a Summary of Its Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Mar. 29, 2013

Principles of consolidation

The Company’s 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 2013 refer to the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. The Company’s quarters for fiscal year 2013 ended on June 29, 2012, September 28, 2012, December 28, 2012 and March 29, 2013. This results in a 53 week fiscal year approximately every four to five years. Fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 were each 52 week years.

Management estimates and assumptions

Management estimates and assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (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 accruals, 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.

Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.

Accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

Accounts receivable, unbilled accounts receivable and allowance for doubtful accounts

The Company records receivables at net realizable value including an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, the age of accounts receivable balances and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay. Amounts determined to be uncollectible are charged or written off against the reserve. Historically, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts has been minimal primarily because a significant portion of its sales has been to the U.S. government or with respect to its satellite services commercial business, the Company bills and collects in advance.

Unbilled accounts receivable

Unbilled accounts receivables consist of costs and fees earned and billable on contract completion or other specified events. Unbilled accounts receivables are generally expected to be billed and collected within one year.

Inventory

Inventory

Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market, cost being determined by the weighted average cost method.

Property, equipment and satellites

Property, equipment and satellites

Satellites and other property and equipment are recorded at cost or in the case of certain satellites and other property acquired, the fair value at the date of acquisition, net of accumulated depreciation. Capitalized satellite costs consist primarily of the costs of satellite construction and launch, including launch insurance and insurance during the period of in-orbit testing, the net present value of performance incentives expected to be payable to satellite manufacturers (dependent on the continued satisfactory performance of the satellites), costs directly associated with the monitoring and support of satellite construction, and interest costs incurred during the period of satellite construction. The Company also constructs gateway facilities, network operations systems and other assets to support its satellites, and those construction costs, including interest, are capitalized as incurred. At the time satellites are placed in service, the Company estimates the useful life of its satellites for depreciation purposes based upon an analysis of each satellite’s performance against the original manufacturer’s orbital design life, estimated fuel levels and related consumption rates, as well as historical satellite operating trends. The Company computes depreciation using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from two 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.

Interest expense is capitalized on the carrying value of assets under construction, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the capitalization of interest (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 835-20). With respect to assets under construction, the Company capitalized $3.1 million of interest expense during the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. With respect to ViaSat-1, related gateway and networking equipment and other assets, the Company capitalized $25.9 million and $28.3 million of interest expense during the fiscal years ended March 30, 2012 and April 1, 2011, respectively.

The Company owns two satellites: ViaSat-1 (its high-capacity Ka-band spot-beam satellite, which was successfully launched into orbit in October 2011 and commenced commercial operation in January 2012) and WildBlue-1 (which was placed into service in March 2007). Subsequent to the fiscal year end, the Company announced the entry into a satellite construction contract for ViaSat-2, a second high-capacity Ka-band satellite. In addition, the Company has 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 owns related gateway and networking equipment for all of its satellites. The Company periodically reviews the remaining estimated useful life of its satellites to determine if revisions to estimated lives are necessary. The Company procured indoor and outdoor customer premise equipment (CPE) units leased to subscribers under a retail leasing program as part of the Company’s satellite services segment, which are reflected in investing activities and property and equipment in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 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 March 29, 2013 were $170.9 million and $51.5 million, respectively. The total cost and accumulated depreciation of CPE units included in property and equipment, net, as of March 30, 2012 were $85.3 million and $33.1 million, respectively.

Occasionally, the Company may enter into capital lease arrangements for various machinery, equipment, computer-related equipment, software, furniture or fixtures. The Company records amortization of assets leased under capital lease arrangements within depreciation expense.

Capitalized interest policy

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and intangible assets

The authoritative guidance for business combinations (ASC 805) requires that all business combinations be accounted for using the purchase method. The authoritative guidance for business combinations also specifies criteria for recognizing and reporting intangible assets apart from goodwill; however, acquired workforce must be recognized and reported in goodwill. The authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets (ASC 350) requires that intangible assets with an indefinite life should not be amortized until their life is determined to be finite. All other intangible assets must be amortized over their useful life. The authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets prohibits the amortization of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, but instead requires these assets to be tested for impairment at least annually and more frequently upon the occurrence of specified events. In addition, all goodwill must be assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing.

Patents, orbital slots and other licenses

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 March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012. The Company has capitalized costs of $8.6 million and $8.4 million related to acquiring and obtaining orbital slots and other licenses included in other assets as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Accumulated amortization related to these assets was approximately $0.7 million and $0.4 million as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Amortization expense related to these assets was an insignificant amount for each of the fiscal years ended March 29, 2013, March 30, 2012, and April 1, 2011. If a patent, orbital slot or orbital license is rejected, abandoned or otherwise invalidated, the unamortized cost is expensed in that period. During fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company did not write off any significant costs due to abandonment or impairment.

Debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs

Debt issuance costs are amortized and recognized as interest expense on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the related debt, the results of which are not materially different from the effective interest rate basis. During fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company paid and capitalized approximately $8.1 million, $5.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively, in debt issuance costs. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to extinguished debt are expensed at the time the debt is extinguished and recorded in loss on extinguishment of debt in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss). Other unamortized debt issuance costs are recorded in prepaid expenses and other current assets and in other long-term assets in the consolidated balance sheets, depending on the amounts expected to be amortized to interest expense within the next twelve months.

Software development

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 $60.6 million and $42.0 million related to software developed for resale were included in other assets as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. The Company capitalized $25.8 million and $22.7 million of costs related to software developed for resale for fiscal years ended March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. Amortization expense for software development costs was $7.2 million and $5.2 million during fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. There was no amortization expense of software development costs during fiscal year 2011.

Impairment of long-lived and other long-term assets (property, equipment, and satellites, and other assets, including goodwill)

Impairment of long-lived and other long-term assets (property, equipment, and satellites, and other assets, including goodwill)

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for impairment or disposal of long-lived assets (ASC 360), the Company assesses potential impairments to long-lived assets, including property, equipment and satellites, and other assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset (or group of assets) is less than its carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured as the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, and would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of operations. No material impairments were recorded by the Company for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011.

The Company accounts for its goodwill under the authoritative guidance for goodwill and other intangible assets (ASC 350) and Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-08 (ASU 2011-08), Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment, which simplifies how the Company tests goodwill for impairment. Recent authoritative guidance allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. If, after completing the qualitative assessment the Company determines that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is greater than the carrying value, the Company concludes that no impairment exists. If it is more likely than not that the carrying value of reporting unit exceeds estimated fair value, the Company compares the fair value of reporting unit to its carrying value. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, a second step is performed in which the implied fair value of goodwill is compared to its carrying value. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value, goodwill must be written down to its implied fair value, resulting in goodwill impairment. The Company tests goodwill for impairment during the fourth quarter every fiscal year and when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist.

Warranty reserves

Warranty reserves

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 (see Note 13).

Fair value of financial instruments

Fair value of financial instruments

The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximate their fair values due to their short-term maturities. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term borrowings and other long-term interest bearing liabilities is determined by using available market information for those securities or similar financial instruments (see Note 3).

Self-insurance liabilities

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 plans include policies which 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 plan year. Based on these actuarial methods, along with currently available information and insurance industry statistics, the Company has recorded self-insurance liability for its plans of $2.3 million and $1.7 million as of March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, respectively. 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

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 March 29, 2013 and March 30, 2012, no such amounts were accrued related to the aforementioned provisions.

Noncontrolling interest

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 (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) are reported in the consolidated financial statements at the consolidated amounts, which include the amounts attributable to both the controlling and noncontrolling interest.

Derivatives

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.

Foreign currency

Foreign currency

In general, the functional currency of a foreign operation is deemed to be the local country’s currency. Consequently, assets and liabilities of operations outside the United States are generally translated into U.S. dollars, and the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within ViaSat, Inc. stockholders’ equity.

Revenue recognition percentage of completion method

Revenue recognition

A substantial portion of the Company’s revenues is 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 (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

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for revenue recognition for multiple element arrangements, 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, 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, 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.

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 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 consolidated financial statements.

Advertising costs

Advertising costs

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for advertising costs (ASC 720-35), advertising costs are expensed as incurred and included in selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A). Advertising expenses for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $21.8 million, $2.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively.

Commissions

Commissions

The Company compensates third parties based on specific commission programs directly related to certain product and service sales. These commission costs are recorded as an element of SG&A expense as incurred.

Stock-based compensation

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 employee’s requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 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.

Independent research and development

Independent research and development

Independent research and development (IR&D), which is not directly funded by a third party, is expensed as incurred. IR&D expenses consist primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses, supplies, prototype materials and other expenses related to research and development programs.

Rent expense, deferred rent obligations and deferred lease incentives

Rent expense, deferred rent obligations and deferred lease incentives

The Company leases all of its facilities under operating leases. Some of these lease agreements contain tenant improvement allowances funded by landlord incentives, rent holidays and rent escalation clauses. The authoritative guidance for leases (ASC 840) requires rent expense to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between the rent due under the stated periods of the lease compared to that of the straight-line basis is recorded as deferred rent within accrued and other long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

For purposes of recognizing landlord incentives and minimum rental expenses on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases, the Company uses the date that it obtains the legal right to use and control the leased space to begin recording rent expense, which is generally when the Company enters the space and begins to make improvements in preparation of occupying new space. For tenant improvement allowances funded by landlord incentives and rent holidays, the Company records a deferred lease incentive liability in accrued and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred liability as a reduction to rent expense on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) over the term of the lease.

Certain lease agreements contain rent escalation clauses which provide for scheduled rent increases during the lease term or for rental payments commencing at a date other than the date of initial occupancy. Such increasing rent expense is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Income taxes

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 fiscal 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. The Company’s analysis of the need for a valuation allowance considered the loss incurred during the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013. However, a substantial portion of the loss incurred in such period was the result of an extinguishment of debt charge that was recorded upon the refinancing of the Company’s former 8.875% Senior Notes due 2016 (the 2016 Notes) with additional 6.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the Additional 2020 Notes), which is expected to provide a benefit to net income in the future due to the lower interest rate of the Additional Notes. The Company’s evaluation considered other factors, including the Company’s history of positive earnings, taxable income adjusted for certain items, the Company’s significant growth in contractual backlog, and trends and forecasted income by jurisdiction. Consideration was also given to the lengthy period over which these net deferred tax assets can be realized, and the Company’s history of not having federal tax loss carryforwards expire unused.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is computed based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potential common stock, if dilutive during the period. Potential common stock includes options granted and restricted stock units awarded under the Company’s equity compensation plan which are included in the earnings per share calculations using the treasury stock method, common shares expected to be issued under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan, and shares potentially issuable under the amended ViaSat 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in connection with the Company’s decision to pay a discretionary match in common stock or cash. The weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to ViaSat, Inc. common stockholders is the same for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2013, as the Company incurred a net loss for fiscal year 2013 and inclusion of common share equivalents would be antidilutive.

Segment reporting

Segment reporting

The Company’s satellite services, commercial networks and government systems segments are primarily distinguished by the type of customer and the related contractual requirements. The Company’s satellite services segment provides retail and wholesale satellite-based broadband services for its consumer, enterprise and mobile broadband customers in the United States, as well as managed network services for the satellite communication systems of the Company’s consumer, enterprise and mobile broadband customers worldwide. The Company’s commercial networks segment develops and produces a variety of advanced end-to-end satellite and other wireless communication systems and ground networking equipment and products, some of which are ultimately used by the Company’s satellite services segment. The Company’s government systems segment develops and produces network-centric, internet protocol (IP)-based secure fixed and mobile government communications systems, products, services and solutions. The more regulated government environment is subject to unique contractual requirements and possesses economic characteristics which differ from the satellite services and commercial networks segments. 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 (see Note 15).

Recent authoritative guidance

Recent authoritative guidance

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new authoritative guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. The authoritative guidance became effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, the Company retrospectively adopted the new accounting standard for the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements which resulted in the presentation of a total for comprehensive income (loss), and the components of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss) in one statement. The adoption of this standard only changed how the Company presents comprehensive income (loss) and did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment. The new authoritative guidance simplifies how an entity tests goodwill for impairment. The new authoritative guidance allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. The two-step quantitative impairment test is required only if, based on its qualitative assessment, an entity determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. This authoritative guidance is effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted if an entity’s financial statements for the more recent interim and annual period have not yet been issued. The Company early adopted this authoritative guidance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012. Adoption of this authoritative guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (ASC 210): Disclosures about offsetting Assets and Liabilities. The new authoritative guidance requires an entity to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position, including the effect or potential effect of rights of setoff associated with certain financial instruments and derivative instruments in the scope of this authoritative guidance. This authoritative guidance will be effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 and should be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that this authoritative guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (ASC 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment. The new authoritative guidance simplifies the requirements for testing for indefinite-lived intangible assets other than goodwill and permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform a quantitative fair value test. The guidance is effective for the Company for annual and, if any, interim impairment tests in fiscal year 2014 with early adoption permitted. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (ASC 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. ASU 2013-02 requires an entity to provide information about the amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component. In addition, an entity is required to present, either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or in the notes, significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income by the respective line items of net income. The guidance, effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014, requires changes in presentation only and the Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a significant impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (ASC 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. ASU 2013-05 clarifies that the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only when a reporting entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a business within a foreign entity. Further, for an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment. The guidance, effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015, is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

Acquisitions policy

Stonewood acquisition

On July 8, 2010, the Company completed the acquisition of all outstanding shares of the parent company of Stonewood. Stonewood is a leader in the design, manufacture and delivery of data at rest encryption products and services. Stonewood products are used to encrypt data on computer hard drives so that a lost or stolen laptop does not result in the compromise of classified information or the loss of intellectual property. The purchase price of approximately $18.8 million was comprised of $4.6 million related to the fair value of 144,962 shares of the Company’s common stock issued at the closing and $14.2 million in cash consideration paid to former Stonewood stockholders. The $14.2 million in cash consideration paid to the former Stonewood stockholders less cash acquired of $0.7 million resulted in a net cash outlay of approximately $13.5 million.

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations (ASC 805), the Company allocated the purchase price of the acquired company to the net tangible assets and intangible assets acquired based upon their estimated fair values. Under the authoritative guidance for business combinations, acquisition-related transaction costs and acquisition-related restructuring charges are not included as components of consideration transferred but are accounted for as expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred. Total merger-related transaction costs incurred by the Company were approximately $0.9 million, all of which were incurred and recorded in SG&A expenses in fiscal year 2011.

The intangible assets acquired in the Stonewood business combination were determined, in accordance with the authoritative guidance for business combinations, based on the estimated fair values using valuation techniques consistent with the market approach and/or income approach to measure fair value. The remaining useful lives were estimated based on the underlying agreements and/or the future economic benefit expected to be received from the assets.

The acquisition of Stonewood is beneficial to the Company as it enhances the Company’s current encryption security offerings within the Company’s information assurance products and provides additional solutions in the design, manufacture and delivery of data at rest encryption products and services. These benefits and additional opportunities were among the factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill, which was recorded within the Company’s government systems segment. The intangible assets and goodwill recognized are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company recorded a $0.5 million adjustment to the preliminary purchase price allocation for Stonewood related to pre-acquisition net operating loss carryovers, reducing the Company’s government systems segment goodwill with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities.

The consolidated financial statements include the operating results of Stonewood from the date of acquisition. Pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effect of the acquisition was insignificant to the financial statements for all periods presented.