NOTE 1.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our unaudited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these unaudited consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported revenues and expenses during the reporting periods.

On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including but not limited to those related to revenue recognition, inventory reserves, receivable reserves, marketable securities, impairment of long-lived assets, income taxes, fair value of financial instruments and stock-based compensation. Management bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

The accounting policies that management believes are most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results include the following:

Revenue Recognition

Product revenue is recognized when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, the fee is fixed or determinable, delivery of the product and passage of title to the customer has occurred and we have determined that collection of the fee is probable. Title to the product generally passes upon shipment of the product, as the products are shipped freight on board shipping point, except for certain foreign shipments for which title passes upon entry of the product into the first port in the buyer’s country. If the product requires installation to be performed by TCC, or other acceptance criteria exist, all revenue related to the product is deferred and recognized upon completion of the installation or satisfaction of the customer acceptance criteria. We provide for a warranty reserve at the time the product revenue is recognized.

We perform funded research and development and technology development for commercial companies and government agencies under both cost reimbursement and fixed-price contracts. Cost reimbursement contracts provide for the reimbursement of allowable costs and, in some situations, the payment of a fee. These contracts may contain incentive clauses providing for increases or decreases in the fee depending on how actual costs compare with a budget. Revenue from cost reimbursement contracts is recognized as services are performed. On fixed-price contracts that are expected to exceed one year in duration, revenue is recognized pursuant to the proportional performance method based upon the proportion of actual costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs for the contract. In each type of contract, we receive periodic progress payments or payments upon reaching interim milestones, and we retain the rights to the intellectual property developed in government contracts. All payments to TCC for work performed on contracts with agencies of the U.S. government are subject to audit and adjustment by the Defense Contract Audit Agency. Adjustments are recognized in the period made. There have been no government audits in recent years and the Company believes the result of such audits, should they occur, would not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations. When current estimates of total contract revenue and contract costs for a product development contract indicate a loss, a provision for the entire loss on the contract is recorded. Any losses incurred in performing funded research and development projects are recognized as funded research and development expenses.

Cost of product revenue includes material, labor and overhead. Costs incurred in connection with funded research and development are included in cost of sales. Product development costs are charged to billable engineering services, bid and proposal efforts or business development activities, as appropriate. Product development costs charged to billable projects are recorded as cost of sales; engineering costs charged to bid and proposal efforts are recorded as selling expenses; and product development costs charged to business development activities are recorded as marketing expenses. Product development costs consist primarily of costs associated with personnel, outside contractor and engineering services, supplies and materials.

Inventories

We value our inventory at the lower of actual cost (based on the first-in, first-out method) to purchase and/or manufacture or the current estimated market value (based on the estimated selling prices, less the cost to sell) of the inventory. We periodically review inventory quantities on hand and record a provision for excess and/or obsolete inventory based primarily on our estimated forecast of product demand, as well as historical usage. The Company evaluates the carrying value of inventory on a quarterly basis to determine if the carrying value is recoverable at estimated selling prices. To the extent that estimated selling prices are less than the associated carrying values, inventory carrying values are written down. In addition, the Company makes judgments as to future demand requirements and compares those with the current or committed inventory levels. Reserves are established for inventory levels that exceed future demand. It is possible that additional reserves above those already established may be required in the future if market conditions for our products should deteriorate.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are reduced by an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future. The estimated allowance for uncollectible amounts is based primarily on a specific analysis of accounts in the receivable portfolio and historical write-off experience. While management believes no allowance is needed, if the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required, which would reduce net income. In addition, if the Company becomes aware of a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, a specific write-off is recorded in that amount.

Accounting for Income Taxes

The preparation of our unaudited consolidated financial statements requires us to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate, including those outside the United States, which may subject the Company to certain risks that ordinarily would not be expected in the United States. The income tax accounting process involves estimating our actual current exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatments of items, such as inventory obsolescence and stock-based compensation, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities. We must then record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2016 and October 1, 2016, we recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets of approximately $4.1 million due to uncertainties related to our ability to realize these assets. The valuation allowance is based on our estimates of taxable income by jurisdiction and the period over which our deferred tax assets will be recoverable. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates or we adjust these estimates in future periods, we may need to adjust our valuation allowance, which could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

The Company follows FASB ASC 740-10 relative to uncertain tax positions. This standard provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the financial statements. Uncertain tax positions must meet a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not in order for those tax positions to be recognized in the financial statements.

Due to the nature of our current operations in foreign countries (selling products into these countries with the assistance of local representatives), the Company has not been subject to any foreign taxes in recent years, and it is not anticipated that we will be subject to foreign taxes in the near future.

Fair Value Measurements

In determining fair value measurements, the Company follows the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. FASB ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under GAAP and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. The topic provides a consistent definition of fair value which focuses on an exit price, which is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The topic also prioritizes, within the measurement of fair value, the use of market-based information over entity-specific information and establishes a three-level hierarchy for fair value measurements based on the nature of inputs used in the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. At December 31, 2016 and October 1, 2016, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, marketable securities, other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value because of their short-term nature.

The three-level hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1	-	Pricing inputs are quoted prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the measurement date.
Level 2	-	Pricing inputs are quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or inputs that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term through corroboration with observable market data.
Level 3	-	Pricing inputs are unobservable for the assets or liabilities, that is, inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an asset’s or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment.

The Company’s held to maturity securities are comprised of investments in municipal bonds. These securities represent ownership in individual bonds issued by municipalities within the United States. The value of these securities is disclosed in Note 6. The Company also holds money market mutual funds in a brokerage account, which are classified as cash equivalents and measured at fair value. The fair value of these investments is based on quoted prices from recognized pricing services (e.g. Standard & Poor’s, Bloomberg, etc.) or, in the case of money market mutual funds, at their closing published net asset value.

The Company assesses the levels of the investments at each measurement date, and transfers between levels are recognized on the actual date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer in accordance with the Company’s accounting policy regarding the recognition of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy. During the three month period ended December 31, 2016 and the year ended October 1, 2016, there were no transfers between levels.

As of December 31, 2016 and October 1, 2016, the Company did not hold any assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis classified as Level 2 or Level 3. At December 31, 2016 and October 1, 2016, the Level 1 assets measured at fair value consisted of money market funds valued at $ 977,265 and $978,746, respectively.

There were no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2016 or October 1, 2016.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the calculated fair value of the award. The expense is recognized over the participant’s requisite service period, generally the vesting period of the award. The related excess tax benefit received upon the exercise of stock options, if any, is reflected in the Company’s statement of cash flows as a financing activity. There were no excess tax benefits recorded during the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model as the method for determining the estimated fair value of its stock awards. The Black-Scholes method of valuation requires several assumptions: (1) the expected term of the stock award, (2) the expected future stock price volatility over the expected term, (3) a risk-free interest rate and (4) the expected dividend rate. The expected term represents the expected period of time the Company believes the options will be outstanding based on historical information.

Estimates of expected future stock price volatility are based on the historic volatility of the Company’s common stock, and the risk free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury Note rate. The Company utilizes a forfeiture rate based on an analysis of its actual experience. The forfeiture rate is not material to the calculation of share-based compensation.

There were no options granted during the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016.

The following table summarizes stock-based compensation costs included in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the three month periods ended December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016:

	2017		2016

Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	2,740	$	2,449
Product development expenses		272		1,368
Total share-based compensation expense before taxes	$	3,012	$	3,817

As of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, there was $43,006 and $34,390, respectively, of unrecognized compensation expense related to options outstanding. The unrecognized compensation expense will be recognized over the remaining requisite service period. As of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the weighted average period over which the compensation expense is expected to be recognized is 3.8 and 4.2 years, respectively.

The Technical Communications Corporation 2005 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan and 2010 Equity Incentive Plan were outstanding at December 31, 2016. There are an aggregate of 400,000 shares authorized for issuance under these plans, of which options to purchase 242,181 shares were outstanding at December 31, 2016. Vesting periods are at the discretion of the Board of Directors and typically range between zero and five years. Options under these plans are granted with an exercise price equal to fair market value at time of grant and have a term of ten years from the date of grant.

As of December 31, 2016, there were 47,719 shares available for grant under the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan. On May 5, 2015 the 2005 Non-Statutory Stock Option Plan expired and options are no longer available for grant under such plan.

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the first three months of fiscal 2017:

	Options Outstanding
	Number of Shares						Weighted Average		Weighted Average
	Unvested		Vested		Total		Exercise Price		Contractual Life

Outstanding, October 1, 2016		26,700		216,981		243,681	$	8.69		4.57 years

Grants		-		-		-
Vested		-		-		-
Exercises		-		-		-
Cancellations/forfeitures		(600)		(900)		(1,500)		4.88

Outstanding, December 31, 2016		26,100		216,081		242,181	$	8.71		4.31 years

Information related to the stock options vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2016 is as follows:

			Weighted-Average						Exercisable
			Remaining		Weighted		Exercisable		Weighted-
Range of	Number of		Contractual		Average		Number of		Average
Exercise Prices	Shares		Life (years)		Exercise Price		Shares		Exercise Price

$2.01 - $3.00		14,000		9.11	$	2.90		-		-
$3.01 - $4.00		2,500		0.12	$	4.00		2,500	$	4.00
$4.01 - $5.00		40,500		5.63	$	4.52		29,300	$	4.71
$5.01 - $10.00		61,400		3.66	$	7.57		60,500	$	7.59
$10.01 - $15.00		123,781		3.73	$	11.41		123,781	$	11.41
		242,181		4.31	$	8.71		216,081	$	9.34

The aggregate intrinsic value of the Company’s “in-the-money” outstanding and exercisable options as of December 31, 2016 and January 2, 2016 was $0. Nonvested stock options are subject to the risk of forfeiture until the fulfillment of specified conditions.