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Basis of Presentation (Policy) | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2024
Basis of Presentation [Abstract] |
Basis of Presentation | BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 for SBA Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. In the opinion of the Company’s management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals and deferrals) considered necessary for fair financial statement presentation have been made. The results of operations for an interim period may not give a true indication of the results for the year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts or balances to conform to the presentation adopted in the current year.
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The significant estimates made by management relate to the allowance for doubtful accounts, the costs and revenue relating to the Company’s construction contracts, stock-based compensation assumptions, valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets, fair value of long-lived assets, the useful lives of towers and intangible assets, anticipated property tax assessments, incremental borrowing rate for lease accounting, fair value of investments, and asset retirement obligations. Management develops estimates based on historical experience and on various assumptions about the future that are believed to be reasonable based on the information available. These estimates ultimately may differ from actual results and such differences could be material. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company completed its assessment on the remaining estimated useful lives of its towers and intangible assets. The Company concluded through its assessment that, for U.S. GAAP purposes, it should modify its current estimates for asset lives based on its historical operating experience and the findings obtained by its independent consultant. The Company previously depreciated its towers on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the (i) term of the underlying ground lease (including renewal options) taking into account residual value or (ii) estimated useful life of a tower, which the Company had historically estimated to be 15 years. Based on its assessment, the Company revised the estimated useful lives of its towers and certain related intangible assets (which are amortized on a similar basis to its tower assets, as their useful lives correlate to the useful life of the towers) from 15 years to 30 years, effective January 1, 2024. The Company accounted for the change in estimated useful lives as a change in estimate under ASC 250 “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” The impact of the change in estimate was accounted for prospectively effective January 1, 2024, resulting in a reduction in depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $103.0 million ($93.3 million after tax, or an increase of $0.86 per diluted share) and $308.5 million ($279.2 million after tax, or an increase of $2.58 per diluted share) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. This change in useful lives is expected to reduce depreciation and amortization expense by approximately $411.5 million ($372.5 million after tax, or an increase of $3.45 per diluted share) for the year ended December 31, 2024.
Foreign Currency Translation | Foreign Currency Translation All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries that do not utilize the U.S. dollar as its functional currency are translated at period-end exchange rates, while revenues and expenses are translated at monthly average exchange rates during the period. Unrealized translation gains and losses are reported as foreign currency translation adjustments through Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Deficit. For foreign subsidiaries where the U.S. dollar is the functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities of such subsidiaries, which are not denominated in U.S. dollars, are remeasured at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, and revenues and expenses are remeasured at monthly average rates prevailing during the year. Remeasurement gains and losses are reported as Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement | Intercompany Loans Subject to Remeasurement In accordance with ASC 830, the Company remeasures foreign denominated intercompany loans with the corresponding change in the balance being recorded in Other income (expense), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as settlement is anticipated or planned in the foreseeable future. The Company recorded a $16.2 million gain and a $31.2 million loss, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and a $78.5 million loss and a $24.1 million gain, net of taxes, on the remeasurement of intercompany loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company funded $9.3 million and $132.1 million was repaid under its intercompany loan agreements. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate amount outstanding under the intercompany loan agreements subject to remeasurement with the Company’s foreign subsidiaries was $1.2 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively.
Accounting Standards Updates | Accounting Standards Updates In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new guidance to enhance reportable segment disclosures, primarily through additional disclosures of significant segment expenses regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), along with disclosure of the title and position of the CODM. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with retrospective application to all prior periods presented. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In December 2023, the FASB issued new guidance requiring public companies to provide improved income tax disclosures on an annual basis, primarily through enhanced disclosures related to rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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